When life gives you lemons..

Today was a day of feeling like life had given me lemons.


And, as the good old saying goes.. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". 


Really love these art prints I found on Google..

So anyway, I did. And I really enjoyed it, it made my day that little bit better.

Some of it happened to get consumed before I even got to take the photograph. I knew there was a reason I kept this bottle, I love old fashioned bottles and labels (not that you can actually see the label here..)


It gave me a taste for making drinks, now I want to make Ginger Beer, but reading recipes online with warnings of releasing the gas frequently to avoid exploding bottles.. I think I might give it a miss until I have a shed where I could keep the bottles. The last thing I need in my kitchen is exploding bottles of pop! 


I'm sure I could find some other recipes to try though. Have any of you lovelies ever made your own drinks? 


Hope you're enjoying your weekends, and that life hasn't given you any lemons lately - unless you want to make lemonade of course :)


Hannah x

Jubilee Giveaway Winner :)

Thank you to all the lovely people who commented on my blog to enter my giveaway.

To pick a winner I just put the numbers into a random number generator to decide..as I'd want everyone to win, and could never decide for myself.


There were 15 lovely comments, unfortunately only 14 I could count as due to the postage costs I can only post to the UK (really sorry about that! I do really appreciate everyone who took the time to comment). 


And the winner is...

At Home With MelMel!

Thank you once again to everyone who took the time to comment on my blog. I've discovered lots of lovely new blogs to read in the process :)

Hannah x

Jubilee Weekend

So, did everyone enjoy the long weekend? I'm very pleased to say that I wasn't at work :)


And I was lucky enough to go away for it. I got to visit one of my favourite places..

(big lovely panoramic shot)

(I love standing here and just watching the water)

I also got to go to a street party..

Take some photographs of some beautiful creatures...

(This was so cute! The little lamb was wagging its tail so much whilst feeding)

And even better, I got to treat myself to some lovely things..

(I love when things get wrapped in tissue paper, I think it makes them more special. I might just be odd though!)

So, the above turned into these beautiful things..

Which made for a VERY happy Hannah :)

I hope you all had a lovely time yesterday, whatever it is you did. 

And dont forget, there is still plenty of time to enter my Jubilee Giveaway!

Hannah x

Jubilee Giveaway!

Hello any lovely blog readers of mine out there.

Is everyone enjoying the Jubilee weekend? I am. I meant to post this before now, but it's the first time I've had access properly to a computer for a few days, so now it is.

And, since I'm at a Jubilee street party tomorrow, I thought it was a good time to post about my Jubilee Giveaway.

Anyway, enough rambling on. Here is what my giveaway is..

There is :

- A Twinings Diamond Jubilee tea caddy/tin (with 20 Diamond Jubilee Tea Bags!)
- Diamond Jubilee Keyring
- Some Old Fashioned British Sweets
- A Keep Calm and Carry On Notebook
- Emma Bridgewater Union Jack Matches
- Union Jack Brooch
- A Beside The Sea Tea Towel
- A Union Jack Nail File (which you cant really see, as I didn't realise I hadn't angled it right, but it is there!)
- Handmade Lavender Jubilee/London Inspired Heart

To enter my giveaway, all you need to do is comment on this blog post and either leave an email address or be logged in via your blog so that I can message the winner.

Unfortunately, due to postage costs.. I would only be able to post to the UK. (Just incase there are any lovely people from abroad reading - sorry!)

If you know anyone that would like to be part of this giveaway, please let them know.

I'm not asking for people to follow me, but if you are here, and would like to.. then please do, the more the merrier! :)

I will pick a winner around the 11th, so you have a whole week to enter.

Hope you are all having a lovely long weekend and enjoying the festivities

Hannah x

Latest crafty makes.

I'm rather happy to say my sewing machine has been out again, oh how I have missed it!


I came home from work the other day, looked in my post box.. and I was a very happy bunny to see the new fabric that I splashed out on had arrived! So, I just had to get my sewing machine out. Cleaning had to wait, I had to get my priorities right of course :)


I am getting extremely excited about The Diamond Jubilee, is anyone else? 


So with being in the mood for Jubilee, I made these three cushions..

 I really love the ribbon on these! I wasn't sure that it went with the cushion, but I just really wanted to use it. 
And I wasn't sure what else to use it for.

These lovelies are a Mouseykin that I did in Union Jack fabric, more getting in the mood for the Jubilee..

A Bunnykin, which is a new one for me. I always do them as mice, but thought I'd try out a Bunny.

And a knitted Bunny that I tried from a new pattern. The carrot was meant to be a lot smaller looking at the photo on the pattern, and I followed it perfectly..so I'm not quite sure what happened, but I think it's just a very lucky Bunny with a large carrot :)

 And this has been my new latest obsession. I wanted something to do that I didn't have to concentrate on too much whilst watching tv. And I'd been looking at some lovely blankets on Pinterest (If you have Pinterest and the Pinterest addiction that seems to go with it, and would like to 'follow' me... I'm here) so I decided I wanted to try my hand at crocheting Granny Squares, again.
I had tried, and failed before. And not just a little bit, I'd tried and tried to read the pattern, getting nowhere, and it just being all gobbledegook to me. So, I looked up to see if there were any local craft classes that I could go to, but unfortunately I didn't have any luck. 
So it had to be Youtube. I watched a great tutorial and just followed what the woman in the video was doing. And ta..da...!
Granny Squares :)
My intentions are for a blanket to snuggle under on the couch in Winter. So hopefully I will have it finished by then! lol.
I know they are not perfect, but I am really rather pleased with them, and I'm really enjoying doing them in different colours now that I know how to change the colours. In future I might have a go at doing them in more than two colours, I dont think it would be that different to how I've been doing it. It's just getting the confidence at something new I guess.

 I really just imagine sitting in front of a fire, drinking hot chocolate, curled up under this blanket and reading a good book..
Although that seems like a nightmare at the moment with this heat! Is everyone enjoying the sunshine?
I'm sure I'll enjoy it more when I get a couple of days off.


I will be updating again in a couple of days, as (fingers crossed!) my final item for my very first blog giveaway will have arrived and I can get it photographed.
So, look out for my post regarding the giveaway..and please share away!


Hope everyone is getting to enjoy the glorious weather!


:)

Titanic - Honour And Glory Exhibition

Apologies in advance, as this is a rather photography heavy post.

I went to the Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition at the start of this month at the Hull Maritime Museum. I was really looking forward to it, as I went to see the exhibition before when I was around 16/17 years old. So a good 8 years ago.. Although I really enjoyed it again, as I absolutely love the story of Titanic (obviously not that it sank and all those people died..but the history and reading about it, and of course, the film..) I was a little disappointed with it this time.

Last time that I saw it, there was the drawing from the film, and people could have their photograph taken wearing a replica Heart Of The Ocean. And at the time, all those years ago, I had been in town for an interview and didn't take any cash with me. So I couldn't get my photograph taken wearing it, I was really hoping to this time, but that part of it wasn't here this time. Nevermind though.

I have been in a very Titanic mood especially of late, with going to see the film at the cinema again in 3D. It made me feel rather old, as the first time I saw the film at the cinema..I had to lie about my age to get in! Didn't have to do that this time lol.

Anyway, here are some photographs that I took at the exhibition.. They are not fantastic quality, as I couldn't use a flash with them being protected and such. Hope you enjoy!

(The lights reflected off the glass on quite a few of the photographs)

(This is an external door from the RMS Olympic. The stained glass window depicts a life ring, and identical doors will have been on the Titanic)

(If only it was Unsinkable..)

(I never knew that this photograph existed, so this was a nice addition to the exhibition)

(So many people.. how awful)

(Photographs of what remains of the Titanic)

(A scale model of the remains of the Titanic)

(A Third Class Room) 

(A Third Class Room)

(Actual props from the film. The life jacket was worn by an extra.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the glimpse of the exhibition. I really loved looking at the old pottery, and I was amazed how good a condition it was still in after all this time. Hopefully if I get to see this exhibition again, I will be able to see one of the larger versions of it that consists of more than one room. As I know from looking at the website for it, that it does have the dresses worn by Kate Winslet, which I would love to see.

And of course, get photographed wearing the amazing Heart Of The Ocean.. one day..

:)

New update coming very soon!

Sorry for the lack of posts lovely blog readers - I've had quite a few problems with my laptop, but.. fingers crossed.. I should be back for good now!


Hopefully no more being scared to move in fear of cutting out the power due to a dodgy cable.


Got a few things to blog about, and a few makes to show, so I promise an update very soon!


Hannah x

Happy Easter!

Just one final update..

Happy Easter to you all!

Hope you all have a lovely and relaxing time whatever you decide to do! :)

Patchwork Hexagon Cushion

Ooh, two blogs in one day.. whatever next!


I finally did something with the patchwork hexagons that I started a few months ago..
Originally I planned to make a quilt for our bed with them..but when I figured out how many I would actually need to make a full size quilt..it seemed a bit daunting really. And I decided for my quilt, I would need hexagons that are quite a bit bigger.


So, I pondered over what to do with them.. maybe make a small child's quilt like I did with this one..

(actually upside down, and I've finished the binding now)

Or maybe some pin cushions? But then, I decided, I'll make a cushion cover.

So, that's what I did, and here it is..

What do you think? Is it too busy? Or is it okay? I'm quite happy with it anyway. I really enjoyed sitting and hand sewing all the hexagons together whilst watching interesting television.


The cushion isn't the same on the back, it just has a lovely pink fabric which has pretty roses on it. Not sure if you can see it in this photo..

The only thing I plan on changing, is putting a little bit of velcro on the back, to secure the opening a little bit more. 

I'm really rather pleased with it :) Now I'm just debating whether to send it to "Next Door" for sale, or keep it for my bed... I suppose I could always make another one for my bed to match my quilt when I get around to that.

Has anyone ever done a patchwork hexagon quilt? How long did it take you? I'd be very interested to have a look if any of you would like to share :)

Garden Update

So after my last post.. my Garden area has improved a little bit more :)


We finally have a washing line now! I cannot express how happy having a washing line has made me.. haha. I've lived in this flat for 6 years now, and my lovely boyfriend finally put one up.
Watching washing blowing in the breeze..and drying in the sunshine.. it's relaxing somehow.
And I don't know, somehow the washing just feels different, and so much better when it has been blown and sun dried. And smells better too. So yes, a washing line has made me very happy.


Although yesterday I didn't get any washing done at all, as it was pouring down with rain and windy as anything all day. Very refreshing though. And then I was back at work today.. and it was sunshine. All day. Typical!


Just a quick photograph of my garden - before the windstorm yesterday anyway..

I have some sweet peas growing in the middle, which all got blown over yesterday, so I'm hoping I can save those and that they aren't destroyed. 

There is some lavender on the far left, and I have another pot waiting to go out. And I just adore my little hedgehog.

Anyway, a big improvement so far I think :)

A whole new project.. Gardening!

Another non crafty post today.. I will post something crafty soon enough. I do have plenty to blog about when I get the time. Still no luck on finding a time machine, unfortunately.

So, after being in the mood to watch "Just Like Heaven" and thinking about the lovely garden scenes in it.. I looked outside the window and saw the state of our yard/garden.
It used to be all tree sort of things, all leafy and green.. but then a new neighbour (that has thankfully moved out now! Long annoying story..) cut them down so they could walk their cat.
Since then, it has just shown how much rubbish is actually out there, and what a state it really is.


The before photos..

Not very nice is it? But, that's soon going to change... :)

I decided that it would look so much better if the rubbish was picked up, the dead branches cut down and some tubs outside with some lovely plants/flowers in.


And I finally want a washing line, having a clothes hanger in the living room is making our wall really really damp.


My wonderful boyfriend decided he would be great enough to help me on his day off, aww.
We were not too happy to find these among all the rubbish and leaves..

We called the council, and they are coming to collect them. I'm just so glad we didn't get pricked or something. I really don't like where we live. But, I hope to have our own little bit of heaven when we are finished.

This is how far we had got before our lunch break, which I think will turn into a rest of the day break. My feet are still absolutely killing from work, and now my boyfriend is sat down, he looks rather comfy..and I don't think I can pry him from his seat, haha.

The during photos..

And, hopefully, sometime soon.. there will be the "after" photos. I shall keep you posted!