My New Obsession...

Whilst being a lazy moo the other evening and skim-reading Google Reader my eyes honed in on this little beauty....

Erm, hello. Will you look at those colours?! And that bag.... oh my, that bag. I wanted that bag. I had my credit card in my hand, I wanted it that badly. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I realised that if I wanted it.... I was going to have to make it. I've never done any kind of needlepoint or embroidery, really, but, having stared at it, imagined it in my hands and then imagined being asked in the street where I got it..... I convinced myself I could do it. And, for probably the first time in my life, something I'm making actually looks like the tutorial I'm following. This does NOT happen very often. I'm much more arty and capable in my head than I ever am in practice. I love it. I can't believe I've never done it before. It's so relaxing!

The tutorial can be  found over at Craftzine and was designed by the wonderful Danielle Thompson over at Thompson Family Life which is one of my most favourite kitschy, vintage blogs ever. Danielle is one of those people that make you want to redecorate every time she posts a new photo containing new, gorgeous colours that you'd never have put together. I'm kind of in awe of her actually. And eternally grateful for the introduction to my new obsession.

Miracles....

Well, have we had some drama over the weekend. In our house, along with Baby Boo and myself, we have a dog, cat, a few resident spiders and, of course 'A Hamster called Ollie'. Ollie is such a little character. We've had a couple over the years but none have nibbled their way in to our hearts in quite the same way as he has. Whenever Boo comes home for the holidays her first port of call is Ollie's cage (read 'palace'. I still wince when I think of how much it cost). She then proceeds to prod and poke at his bedding until he pokes his twitchy, little nose out thus enabling her to reach in and proceed to hug him to within an inch of his life. On Saturday when we arrived home for half term, Boo headed for Ollie Pops and I headed for the kettle. It took a couple of seconds for me to realise that she had gone very quiet and I turned round to find her sobbing that Ollie was dead. I'm ashamed to say that, at this point, I also fell apart and we spent a good ten minutes crying all over poor Ollie's cold, little body. We then rang MY Mum and sobbed down the phone to her. She suggested that we lay him out in a shoe box ready for his burial and we began to scoop his bedding from around him so we could gently remove him from his cage. Still crying, Boo reached in, placed her wee, little hand around Ollie...... and then screamed and promptly dropped him. 'He moved, Mum! He did! He moved!'. Further inspection resulted in a knowing nod from me, a shout of laughter from us both and the realisation that, in the 24 hours I had been out of the house, Ollie must have taken it upon himself to try this hibernating whotsit. I have to say, the room he's in was freezing. I felt awful. I can only assume he'd got so cold that his body told him it was time for a loooooong nap. Poor thing. Two hours of cuddles in front of the fire, some cheese and lots of kisses and Ollie is back to his naughty, cheeky self. He is also now known as 'Miracle Boy'.... which we felt was quite fitting in the circumstances. Welcome Back, Ollie! We loves ya!

Via