The British Homemaker - One day at a time

A couple of days ago I got my copy of this baby: {Photo courtesy of Amazon} The lovely bag on the front is the kit which was included, all cut to size and everything that was needed, including thread! I can’t wait to make it up. If you don’t already have a copy then you are seriously missing out! Cath Kidston is my ultimate favourite designer and whenever I get to buy some of her fabric I pretty much snatch the hands off the seller!! I guess a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! lol Anyway, this book has some really awesome projects in that I  cant wait to try out…but I’ve promised myself no more new projects till Kirsten’s room is finished. Probably in ten years at this rate! lol Debs

Don’t throw out any old video cases, they are ideal for recycling into secret boxes: With the plastic cover left on, pretty paper or card inserted  you can change whatever else you show. In Kirsten’s room she has a quote I found for her, a small wordart I made and a photo of my granddaughter. At any time she can swap for other photos or whatever. Inside, I’m sure she’ll find something to hide, such as chocolate! This is one I made for valentine. Inside are 14 red cards with a range of sayings, quotes and word arts. This was an ideal gift for someone. The sides can be covered too… I do recommend a stronger adhesive than double sided tape though. I ended up using my glue gun {it was not going to beat me!} Debs

I’m linking up to Just Drink a Coke who is hosting a fun link up willing us to share our beautiful mess. Fell on a good day for me because up until 7pm’ish I’ve been child free for 24 hours and as the house was already blitzed, the only mess is my dining table with my sewing stuff and 1/2 of Kirsten’s room that I haven’t got to yet {and not sure I want to!} so here is my input: Just for good measure, here is Charleys too: However, if we are talking beautiful mess, this is not to be confused: The other half of Kirsten’s room. A temporary dumping space…but wait till it’s been transformed into the shabby chic-cafe-beautification-salon-kinda-space!! Debs

I was without children for a good 24 hours and got crackin’ on the 8 month long slow process of Kirsten’s bedroom makeover. Initially it was planned out to be in baby blue and mocha and cream. So between my mom and I we made all kinds of goodness from a new headboard to a heart shaped name banner, from painting the walls to buying new bedding, only for the princess to change her mind. Now ordinarily I’d say ‘tough’ and carry on, but I am mostly glad because that mocha really didn’t go well in the room with the way the light went and I just couldn’t pull it together. So out came the blues and creams up to my room, off went the mocha and back came the magnolia walls! So bit by bit my former room of black, red and white slowly got transferred to Kirsten’s space only now it looks so much better. It’s not done yet but by jove I swear its going to finish me off! So far this is where I am at: The blinds took a little improvising. I wanted buttons not flowers but given that I was only ...

The giveaway over on The British Homemaker ’s Facebook page has been fun! I’ve even received a request to make one to order! Charley decided he was my assistant, the best I could find, said he. You are? I ask. Heck  yah! He said. So here we are, the winner: Congratulations! The Spring Banner will be posted out tomorrow…or as soon as I have received the full address! Debs

The lovely Josie sends me some really awesome emails, this was one of them: March was when my son celebrated his 15th birthday, and I got him an iPhone.   He just loved it. Who wouldn't? I celebrated my birthday in July, and my wife made me very happy when            she  bought me an iPad.  My daughter's birthday was in August so I got her an iPod Touch.  September came by so for her birthday I got my wife an iRon. It was around then that the fight started ...  What my wife failed to recognize is that the iRon can be integrated into the home network with the iWash, iCook and iClean. This inevitably activates the iNag reminder service. I should be ou...

…it’s now up and live over on The British Homemakers Facebook page……it runs till Friday at 6pm {UK time}…… HeRe

Later today {around 3pm} The British Homemaker over on Facebook is having its very first handmade giveaway….all you need to do to qualify is like the page, leave a comment and on Friday there will be a winner announced! Just click here and strut your stuff Simples! Come over and join in…. Debs

A couple of posts ago I talked about Charley probably being dyslexic. While he cant officially be assessed till he turns 7 in September, his teachers and I have been trying out some things that are commonly used for dyslexics and amazingly enough they are making his life a whole lot easier. Dyslexia is a broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or accuracy in being able to read, speak, and spell. Dyslexia does not affect a human's intelligence in how they learn or memorize information. {taken from Wikipedia} Because a few people have asked how the tinted strip was going for him I figured an update is required! The strip is proving to be priceless, Charley will now sit and read for hours using it. He is eager to do his reading and words after school, he will read most of the book at bedtime and he’ll sit happily on his bed and read whatever he fancies. There are words that are just not in his age capability to read yet but he is showing ...

I used to be big on scrapbooking. Very big but for quite a while now I have probably only done 8/9 layouts and they were for someone else! I’ve done a couple of commission albums for a friend but nothing for myself. I wish I had time to do some, really get back into it again. Instead these babies catch my eye and hit me with that guilty feeling for all the kids photos still untouched, neglected and waiting… One day I hope to open both of those folders and start scrapping again… What do you miss most? Debs

I love photos, especially of my kids. I also love their drawings and paintings. I love word art, the subway art kind as well as inspirational and funny quotes and saying. Throughout my home I have a range of things hanging around so it is no surprise that I enjoyed making one large piece for a gap in my living room wall space! This isn’t quite finished yet, I have a child missing in there! But what comes next is rather awesome so I’ll be back with this in a few days…. In its pride of place: But I also have: I have stuck with spray painted black frames throughout the living room, dining room, hallway and stairs with the odd white one thrown in. This makes the room pop no matter what my other decor is like! I’ll share more when I remember to get the camera out! What do you put on your walls? Debs

All moms are quick to shout out that they have the smartest and cutest kids, and rightfully so, but I am one of many who knows that my 6 yr old is very intelligent for his age. Yesterday his teacher was telling me that if Charley was a cd he’d be a great teaching tool with the knowledge and facts he has! She also told me that she agrees with me on a particular concern I’ve had with him for about a year now. That he may be dyslexic. Charley scores higher than most for his maths and other work but was breaking even with his reading this last few months, it was almost painful to watch him struggle and not lose his self esteem whilst we were reading. He loves books, he loves to read and be read to so I knew something wasn’t right. Three of Charley’s teachers (there are 5 altogether through the week) all agreed that while an official diagnosis couldn’t be offered or tested for till he is 7, it is familiar to them from former pupils who’ve gone on to learn they are dyslexic. Yes I ...