It's been too long!

Well it's been too long folks...

The last couple of years have whizzed by in a whirl of making new friends, setting up a business, settling into life in Lincoln and getting the teenager through college and off to University.

I've decided to resurrect this blog after deciding all work and no play was making this girl a very dull one...My main blogging is about all things confidence, business, success and leadership...and this one...well it won't be!

My new found passion for crochet has resurrected my desire to blog about life, crafts, family, creativity and generally all the things I love and enjoy in life - not that I don't enjoy my business, but you get my drift!

In  a month I have learned to crochet, with the help of a couple of workshops locally, and now there's no stopping me...my first granny blanket project is well under way, as you can see below.

 

This is the reverse of the blanket; I'm very chuffed I've managed to learn how to join the squares together with slip stitches :)

 

 

 

 

I've also learned how to make these cute little bubble stitches, which will be fashioned into granny squares too - granny squares rock! 

 

I'm an ambitious gal, and have this super-duper, mega gorgeous cardy in my sights, but I am very sensibly making myself wait until at least my first granny blanket is finished.

 

 

The pattern can be found at www.craftsy.com It's called the Pineapple Robe.

 

There are tons more things I love to do, and I hope that you'll enjoy seeing pictures - jewellery, sewing and more decoupage are also on the cards for me. 

 

So, I hope you come back soon and see what I'm up to :)

 

Sue xx 

 



 

 

 



Ice Cold in Lincoln

Bbbrrrrrrrr

It's been freezing here....... Minus 12 on the temperature gauge in the car the other morning, not nice. Hubby has been out traipsing around fields taking pictures- that's one of his, above, Hartsholme Country Park, which is just down the road from us. Cold as it is, it's also just gorgeous to look at...Lincolnshire is our adopted home, and we both think it is lovely, and pics like this prove it.He has taken about 500 this week, i'll get some more from him to show you at some point.

He has also been taking pictures of my new items for sale, what do you think? Some are going to be listed on Folksy, some are for a craft fair next weekend...i love the ring trees, although they are extrememly fiddly to make, but worth it.

One of the boxes has a decoupaged inside, the other i have painted gold. These are made of very lightweight wood, and are nice and long, perfect for necklaces.

Let's hope the snow melts soon....

Copyright on all pictures, @Nick Ritchie.

Top Ten Wish List...

This is my list of top ten presents that i would love to see in my Christmas stocking :) All of them are from very gifted crafters over at Folksy; take a look at their shops. Click on the name below the picture to go straight to the shops.

Here goes-

1. Any candle from this luurrvveeellyy shop would be welcome in my stocking this Christmas :) I have ordered some lavender ones in tins...two for me and one for my little sis-naughty, i know, but i do light candles when i am coaching, so it's work related luxury :) These snowball ones are so cute!

One Stop Pamper Shop

2.These delicate little foldout books are just breathtaking...as an ex-teacher, i would have loved some of these in my class! Just superb :)

Alix Swan

3. I wanna be a steam punk!! I went to an event at Lincoln castle earlier this year, and it was full of people walking around in Victorian garb..Steampunks! They  really caught my imagination and at some point i think i would love to be involved. A perfect excuse to purchase some jewellery from Ruby Spirit Designs..

Ruby Spirit Designs

4.Now these little cuties are right up my street...i love mini things...my idea of a blissful christmas present is a doll's house. Such attention to detail- i love them..they are on my wish list :)

Diddybears

5.Now technically speaking these would not be for me....but anything made from books would be! This is such an ingenious idea! What a clever thing to do....The shop is full of equally clever temptation...

Bookity

6.Now my next fave rave is something that would have to be near the top of my stocking in this weather! I saw one like this in a shop a while ago...but not at a price tag like this! What a treat- handmade luxury at affordable prices...mmm...can feel it snuggled round my neck now...hubby dearest are you taking note?

UniquelyYours 

7.I have had my eye on this print for such a long time...it would go beautifully in my bedroom.I really appreciate the amount of work involved, as my husband has just started experimenting with lino prints.Just exquisite.

Mangle Prints

8.To carry on my obsession with all things small, these tiny notebooks fit the bill perfectly. Any of the notebooks in the fabulous shop would do though...i'm not fussy...hint, hint..

Kate Bowles

9.I will be needing a business card holder, and i can't think of a better place to buy one from...infact, i will need more than one, and at these wondeful prices, i think i can have them :)

Baggie Agie too

10.Did i mention that i love jewellery? Give me some  dangly earrings and i am a happy girl...make them glamorous ones and i am just in heaven....these sumptuous delights would make an appearance night or day :)

MuranoMagic

So there you are....my pick for my Christmas stocking...now, where are you hubby dear??

This is my list of top ten presents that i would love to see in my Christmas stocking :) All of them are from very gifted crafters over at Folksy; take a look at their shops. Click on the name below the picture to go straight to the shops.

Here goes-

1. Any candle from this luurrvveeellyy shop would be welcome in my stocking this Christmas :) I have ordered some lavender ones in tins...two for me and one for my little sis-naughty, i know, but i do light candles when i am coaching, so it's work related luxury :) These snowball ones are so cute!

One Stop Pamper Shop

2.These delicate little foldout books are just breathtaking...as an ex-teacher, i would have loved some of these in my class! Just superb :)

Alix Swan

3. I wanna be a steam punk!! I went to an event at Lincoln castle earlier this year, and it was full of people walking around in Victorian garb..Steampunks! They  really caught my imagination and at some point i think i would love to be involved. A perfect excuse to purchase some jewellery from Ruby Spirit Designs..

Ruby Spirit Designs

4.Now these little cuties are right up my street...i love mini things...my idea of a blissful christmas present is a doll's house. Such attention to detail- i love them..they are on my wish list :)

Diddybears

5.Now technically speaking these would not be for me....but anything made from books would be! This is such an ingenious idea! What a clever thing to do....The shop is full of equally clever temptation...

Bookity

6.Now my next fave rave is something that would have to be near the top of my stocking in this weather! I saw one like this in a shop a while ago...but not at a price tag like this! What a treat- handmade luxury at affordable prices...mmm...can feel it snuggled round my neck now...hubby dearest are you taking note?

UniquelyYours 

7.I have had my eye on this print for such a long time...it would go beautifully in my bedroom.I really appreciate the amount of work involved, as my husband has just started experimenting with lino prints.Just exquisite.

Mangle Prints

8.To carry on my obsession with all things small, these tiny notebooks fit the bill perfectly. Any of the notebooks in the fabulous shop would do though...i'm not fussy...hint, hint..

Kate Bowles

9.I will be needing a business card holder, and i can't think of a better place to buy one from...infact, i will need more than one, and at these wondeful prices, i think i can have them :)

Baggie Agie too

10.Did i mention that i love jewellery? Give me some  dangly earrings and i am a happy girl...make them glamorous ones and i am just in heaven....these sumptuous delights would make an appearance night or day :)

MuranoMagic

So there you are....my pick for my Christmas stocking...now, where are you hubby dear??

Snow days...

Well, not being able to go very far over the last couple of days, you'd think i would have got lots done....but no! I've listed a lovely new jewellery box on Folksy, it's here for you to look at....

I've started tweeting too...it takes a bit of getting used to, telling the world about your life!
My order finally arrived, so i have some lovely jewellery trees to get started on , and some paper mache animals.
I have been reading up on marketing too...i think i could quite easily spend a day on the internet finding different ways to promote The Orchid Room, and my coaching business, which will be launched in the new year. IT based marketing seems to be the way forward....the key is getting organised. So, two blogs a week on here i think, a tweet as often as i can :)
I have a craft fair on the 18th December...need to get cracking!
Until Sunday peeps....'You don't have to be great to get started but you have to get started to be great'-Les Brown...what will you start today??

Sunday morning lie-ins;love them!

Sunday morning, roast is in the oven, time for a quick blog before i put the potatoes on to roast!
The life coaching course went well, and i passed my assessment; next step is setting up my business-deciding on my market (which came to me in  a flash the other night), then getting a website, business cards etc sorted...then approaching clients. Take it one step at a time :) I am discussing ideas about a women's self development workshop with a friend and associate; our first joint venture, let's hope it's the first of many!

This weeks offering is this beautiful jewellery box. It's rather lovely-lightweight wood, painted gold inside and varnished, with an attractive gold swirl pattern and silver coloured clasp. The underside has been decoupaged too; seamless luxury :)

The craft fair booked for this week was cancelled by the organisers, but it gives us more time to get organised. I have decided to stock some Decopatch supplies too and sell those- it's a hobby that is taking off :) 

This week i am remembering to not be afraid to ask for advice; identifying successful people and emulating their style is a recipe for progress!

Life coaching

Part of the new 'me' is training to be a life coach....my last residential weekend starts tomorrow, with a live coaching assessment on Monday;You Time Coaching will then be launched! Coaching is like opening up a box full of promises and goodies....you get to see what's been hidden inside, maybe for years, and uncover all those wonderful things you had forgotten were there, along with infinite possibilites for the future...

It's a Post Grad course with Chester Uni and Barefoot Coaching.A year of academic writing looms..... Exciting times......need to do some reading later, but i have to make some more lovely boxes to list on my website before then.I have a craft fair booked for next weekend too-let's hope people bring their purses out shopping with them! 

'Paisley Park' is the name of the box above; i particularly love the shape of the lid and it's cute domed feet :)

Have a great day, and remember....'The definition of madness is doing the same thing, and expecting different results'( Mae West)
What will you do differently today?