What's been happening?

Well hello there and welcome.  I'm back and with so much to tell you I hardly know where to begin.  I noted that my last post was on the 15th May 2018 and who could have even tried to predict what has happened since then?  Well the first thing is that on the 22nd May we viewed what has now become our new home.

We have holidayed many times in the last few years in a place called Winston in County Durham.  We absolutely loved the area and as my family originate from that area and my Mum apparently paddled in the River Tees when she was in her teens, I have a certain affinity with the place.  Anyway on our holiday in April we found quite by chance on a beautiful little cottage in Barnard Castle and decided to go to the estate agent to arrange a viewing.  This was purely for research you understand and no way were we serious about buying.  Anyway the house owners had already accepted an offer and it was at that moment that we decided that we definitely wanted to move to the area.  It was a lightening bolt and at the time totally out of the question but something we couldn't get out of our minds.
We went back to our home in Doncaster feeling totally disorientated and couldn't quite understand our emotions.
In the weeks that following we investigated more and more and on the 22nd May we arranged to go back and view 4 different properties, the cottage being one of them as we had learnt that it was back on the market.  After viewing the houses we decided on one which wasn't what we had expected but that we both fell in love with for different reasons.
To cut a very long story short we are now the proud owners of a dilapidated 1960's house in Barnard Castle.

Before - the rather unusual bathroom tiles

I live here and my hubby comes up for long weekends.  He lives in the old house which is sold but is pending the exchange of contracts.
The other massive change is the fact that I have now closed Needlecraft Corner, my shop, although the Website remains for the time being pending my next major decision which is to keep or wrap up that side of the business.  That decision is for another day.
So there you have it and there is the reason why I have been absent for so long even though on the 15th of May I promised that I was back in the land of blogging.  Maybe now you will understand and hopefully forgive me for my long absence.

After - A quick makeover to make bath time more bearable (the plug is disappearing into bubbles)

I can assure you that I have missed talking to you all and sending my messages to you.
It feels so good to be back and although this time I make no promises I hope to get back in to the swing and let you in to my world once again.

Peace and Tranquillity

I have been the worst blogger ever just lately and can't believe I have neglected this space so badly.  Unfortunately I have had quite a lot of stress due to my Mums illnesses and now to her recently being diagnosed with dementia.  She is coping well but it has been very difficult for the family.
Anyway I am here now and am determined to get back on track.  The blog may change a little as it is now connected directly to my revamped website.  I strongly suggest you hurry over there to Needlecraft Corner 

We have lots of lovely fabrics, wool and buttons on the site and there will be lots more added shortly as soon as I find the time to get them all on.
Obviously as the blog evolves it will also include items that have arrived in the shop but it will still include what I have been up to both out and about and at home in my little crafty world.  I hope you continue to drop by and I look forward to sharing my comings and goings with you all.

Last weekend we had a lovely time pottering about the house doing lots of jobs that we've been putting off.  Mainly gardening.  We love being outside and are determined this year to progress with our vegetable patch.  This consists of two 10 x 3 foot beds which currently have potatoes, leeks and cabbages in them.  Watch this space as more things will be going in as the weeks go by.

On Sunday afternoon after sorting the garden etc Steve suggested that we go out for a walk so we jumped in the car and set off for a new haunt of ours which we discovered a couple of weeks ago.

This is an absolutely beautiful stretch of canal at Sykehouse near Doncaster.

Hawthorne in full bloom

It is definitely a hidden treasure that is not often used by boats or walkers.  It is packed with fish of various sizes and types and there are plenty of fishermen sat enjoying the scenery.  We have walked several stretches of this waterway recently and love the tranquillity of the place.  We even came across a little bunny rabbit on the toll path this week together with herons too.

A heron landing on the opposite bank

 On a completely different topic, I wanted to create a little work of art using some of the plants found in our garden.  I had been browsing Pinterest as you do, and decided to mount a few of the items picked in the garden on a canvas.  I then sprayed them with craft paint bought at B & Q and this was the result.  I was so happy and it now sits proudly in our recently decorated kitchen.

My latest work of art

Well that's all I've got for you today but promise to be back soon with the reveal of my brand new patchwork quilt.
Thanks for dropping by x