Clover Yard

Ahoy! finish something won't you

When I first considered starting a blog I had thought it would help me to be more creative and constructive with my time.  I know that I am happiest and most content when I am either playing around with graphics on the computer or pottering with plants and flowers.  Problem is, I very rarely finish anything!  I get caught up in the process, and while I love it, I'm sure I'm missing out on some of the satisfaction that goes with looking at an end product and saying, I made that.  Know what I mean?

Last July, for example, I made a feeble attempt to design a party invitation for my son's 3rd birthday, which evolved into a birthday card and then another (cos I felt I had to create a girl one too) and then several badge designs later I just stopped short of designing a matching t-shirt!  And on my desktop it has stayed ever since.  I ended up running out of time to get them printed and bought something half-heartedly from a shop.  Shame really, as I'd spent so much time on it all and it was personal in that I'd had the image of my little boy dressed as a pirate as I drew it. 

So this is me kicking my derriere to get it out there, if only on this post.  Who knows, perhaps the shame of me seeing it up here will get the whole process going and I'll actually get them printed.  Maybe little boy wouldn't mind them for his 4th birthday party? 

 

 

Ode to my boys

When I came home from work on Saturday I was greeted by my husband and my little boy sitting on our garden wall in the sunshine, kicking their heels without a care in the world.  They were waiting for me.  Such a small gesture but it made my day. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately of how fast my little boy is growing up, how there are less and less of his funny little mis-pronunciations, those strange little words that make perfect sense to me but I have to translate for others.  Recently, he has been dropping the mummy in favour of teenage grunts of mum which has just about pushed me over the edge - I'm not ready to be a mum yet!

So I want to dedicate this post to my lovely boys who really are my sunshine.

Thank you for...

...the many impromptu cups of tea

...renting The Devil Wears Prada when I know you'd rather be watching The Bourne Identity or Scooby Doo

...pausing the film after 3 mintues to give me a run down of the plot so far

...biting your tongue when yet another flowery teacup enters the building

...knowing the right (and wrong) moment to produce a Cadbury's Twirl

...making me appreciate just how funny it is to see sheep on a roundabout

...allowing me to completely "girlify" the four corners of the spare room

and as well as being a wife and mummy, for letting me be me.  xxx

My latest craze!

Now, I know these aren't a new concept amongst you uber-creatives, but humour me please as I have another shuffle through my very first moo cards.  Aren't they fab!  For all you moo-virgins out there, the mini cards are about half the width and roughly the same length of a business card and you can get 100 different images printed for a mere £9.99 (I uploaded photos straight from my Flickr pages).  Plus, you can have any info you want printed on the back.  I think I could become addicted.  I feel like my three year old with his Ben 10 top trump cards; I am a little possesive of them and have to take them out of their box every 5 minutes to see if they are all still in order.  I did, however, manage to part with about half of them and send them off to the lovely bride and groom from the wedding on Iona a fortnight ago.  I punched a little hole and threaded through some ribbon to use one of the cards as a gift tag which I must say, was very effective.  Stickers and postcards here I come.  I'm going to moo the world!  (Give it time, it will pass).

Vintage Inspired Jewellery

For some time now I have been looking for a piece of jewellery, a necklace preferably, which would have a connection with my blog.  A google search has produced countless links to clover pendants or charms and while they are all very nice I just felt them a bit run of the mill.  Until, however, I found Eclectic Eccentricity and this...

Isn't it lovely?  Secrets of a Butterfly was one of the first blogs I ever read - so Kat, if you're reading this, I am glad that I will also be reminded of you when I wear my clover necklace with it's little green butterfly! 

The pieces are reworked from old vintage jewellery which I am completely supportive of in our throwaway society.  Have a look at the site, (you can also find them on Etsy), I don't think you "vintage ladies" will be disappointed.  This is one of the bestsellers...

I don't think my first salary payment is going to last very long!

This is where I got the recommendation - http://www.letstalkjewellery.co.uk.  A useful site in itself for keeping up with the latest trends.   

Paradise Found

I am almost lost for words so forgive me that this is mostly piccies.  This is a post about a very special place, a place I believe could be heaven on earth.  Thank you to our lovely friends Katie and Michael for sharing their wedding day with us yesterday.

Come with me to Iona...

So much sea and sky...

Spectacular beaches with the purest white sand...

The locals were kinda cute...

My dream island bolthole...

The austere Iona Abbey...

..lit up by the beautiful bride and her yellow Jimmy Choo's...

Colourful bunting strung up on the village hall....

Friends in kilts and their best frocks heading for the reception...

My perfectly balanced husband - a drink in both hands...

Hat of the day!....

Shame the beach was a bit crowded this morning...

Sigh. It doesn't get much better than this.

A Spell in the Garden

{Apologies that you've been unable to leave comments lately.  I have been writing another blog for a youth group which is comment-free and I'd got myself all in a muddle.  Hope to hear from you all soon!}

Pots of pretty flowers nodding their heads in the warm spring sunshine...

Little carpets of blue flowers, settling roots into the cool earth...

Sleepy insects, stretching their wings and inspecting fresh green foliage...

Garden chairs and table, eagerly awaiting a fresh lick of paint and the first customers of the summer...

My lovely garden.  Opening for the new season very soon.

A New Job

Hello again, I've been neglecting you so have decided to post again tonight. 

I actually sat out in the sun today and it was warm enough for a few freckles to pop up...bliss.  Although my joy at the warm weather has been slightly marred by this groggy head of mine and scratchy throat which I hope I manage to shake off soon.

I have started a new job.  Yes, I'm back to that old familiar juggling-a-zillion balls-forgetting-my-keys-and-where-I-parked-the-car-mummy, again.  I have taken on a part-time museum assistant job.  It's local, in a tiny museum but has so much scope that I'm really quite looking forward to it all.  I'm told I will have the freedom to organise themed exhibits and be involved in accessioning which will be handling and numbering items.  Dull to some folks but with my love of vintage I think I'm going to quite enjoy it.  Apparently last year the ladies there decided things were getting a little too stuffy and staged a exhibition of "Bling"  each raiding their attics for vintage costume jewelery. They also had numerous donations from members of the public who brought in treasures such as evening bags from the 1920's.  I have convinced them to set up Bling 2 in the near future!

Speaking of bling, isn't this ring sweet! It's from www.alexmonroe.co.uk.  His designs are pricey but to die for.  Perhaps now that I'm a working girl I will be able to afford a little trinket ;o)

Tomorrow I am off on a tourist information training course (another part of my job) and I'm really looking forward to it as it involves visiting the beautiful Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mum.  What adventures she and her brother David must have had growing up there.

 

Must go and charge up the camera battery.  Bye for now xx