Looking for some "idees"

I guess there has to be a plus side to having your parents living in another country. For me one of the bonuses of my mum being in France is getting my hands on copies of "Marie Claire idees" and with my sister returning from a holiday there the other day it means I get to have a flick through the summer issue.

And as ever it's full of lot's of inspiration

Gorgeous uses of colour and fabrics

I especially love the little girls dress.

What about this fish for an idea of what to do with your bottle tops!

This picture has given me lots of ideas of how to make the map on the wall in the boys room more inspiring!!

And I want the globes,

and love these badges!

Even the recipes make me want to get baking, 

I've got plenty of courgettes I could use in this courgette and goat cheese bread,

But enough of this relaxing, flicking through magazines, I have a boys uniform that needs naming ready for the start of school on Monday!

If like me you love magazines, you may be interested in the magazine swap going on over at Troc, Broc and Recup, you have until September the 10th to sign up to what looks like a great simple enjoyable swap. 

I can't wait to see what magazine I end up with!

Catching up

We're back from our camping trip a little exhausted, a bit damp, and with a new collection of sticks and stones collected by the boys!

I've spent the past couple of days since our return ploughing through our pile of washing and have been desperate to get reacquainted with my sewing machine. My poor machine has spent it's last days hidden under laundry, one of the draw backs of having it set up in our bedroom. But enough is enough so with the want to make something quick and fun, and after a quick flick through my new books which I had for my birthday,  

(no birthday is complete in our house without a present of books!)

and voilà a beetle bug was made!

It's a nice and easy softie to make and a perfect opportunity to use up some fabric from my vintage stash and also delve into my felt pack which I bought from Ray Stitch. I've been meaning to make #3 a soft toy for awhile now and seeing her reaction to "bug" I'm sure there'll be more to come.

I'm really pleased with the book, "softies Only a Mother Could Love".  I can imagine making most of the softies in it especially these, which would be just perfect for the boys

 I'm also looking forward to having a go at one of the patterns out of Emma Hardy's "Making Children's Clothes". I'm a little disappointed that a lot of the patterns start at age 2. I would have liked them to have started a little younger but I'm sure I can adapt them. #3 seems to have already chosen what she likes best out of the book. A very good choice as the bloomers are for her age.

I couldn't resist Anna Maria Homer's "handmade beginnings". I love the way her books are put together, the photographs are beautiful and even though I wish this book had been published when I was pregnant I'm sure there will be projects that I'll make. I especially like the look of this dad bag;

 It feels good to have had some sewing time but right now it's going grey outside and with more rain forecast I best go and get the washing in off the line.
Some chores are definitely never ending!