Pretty Bags & Blooming Bottles!!

Well ... it seems like quite a while since I've been back here to chat to my blogging buddies properly ... where DOES the time go to?!?! I bet if someone ever answers that question and works out how to get that lost time back ... they'll be MILLIONAIRES! Tee! Hee! Hee! As usual, life seems to have been moving at break-neck speed and I'm struggling to catch up ... but if one more person cheerfully tells me "It'll be Christmas before you know it" I just might staple their lips shut, cos I still have lots of BIRTHDAYS to cope with, never mind CHRISTMAS! :0)

However ... in amongst the crazy busy-ness that is my life, I've managed to get a few things accomplished, one of which was FINALLY completing the editing and working out requirements for my newest pattern. Now, I DID show you a sneaky peek some time back, but it's been so long you may have forgotten, so here it is ...

"French Shopping Spree"!!

I know I am a little biased, but I LOVE how these bags came up!! :0) They're made using yummy Pom Pom de Paris charm squares, so VERY quick to piece together, then they have a silhouette applique of the Eiffel Tower ... you can't get much more French than that, right! :0) Add some cute pom-pom braid and shoulder straps with rich red rick-rack set in and you're on a winner. I've added the pattern to my website, so if you're looking to make a pretty gift for someone ... or to spoil yourself!! ... pop across and get your order in. In fact ... I managed to track down another charm pack of "Rural Jardin" fabrics and intend to make myself a version of the larger bag ... it's a great size and has a handy LARGE inner pocket to help keep track of the keys, mobile phone and sunnies ... something my current bag DOESN'T have!!

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On to the second part of my odd title ... I was having a little browse through some of my favourite giftie shops today, on the hunt for some birthday gifties (I am NOT thinking about Christmas yet!!!) when I came across some cute glass bottles that just HAD to come home wtih me! I was in such a hurry to decorate them and fill them with flowers ... trying to hurry spring along, don't you know!! Tee! Hee! Hee! ... that I forgot to take a photo of the bottles 'before' I played. So ... this is what they look like now ...

You can't see it very well in this photo, but the bottles are kind of like mini milk bottles ... heavy glass, wide-ish openings and a logo imprinted in the glass. they had some cutesy bows on them when I bought them, but I wanted a more rustic look, so wrapped some strands of raffia around the necks and just tied them in a knot. Then, I raided my poor, sad looking garden ... lavender and daisies were the sum total of colour out there ... see? ... Roll on spring, I say! :0) Here's a slightly closer look at my "blooming bottles" ...

The flash really does wash out the impressed logo, but they still look pretty so I don't really mind! :0) And after enjoying several wonderful warm, sunny days, we're bracing ourselves for some predicted rain, followed by another cold winter snap ... BRRRRR!!! ... so any hint of spring that I can grab onto is on my agenda! :0)

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Well ... that's about it from me ... still working on a couple of Secret Squirrel projects, one of which I hope to show you soon ... so I guess it's time to rustle up a cup of tea and get back to stitching. Before I sign off, though, I'd like to encourage you all to pop over to visit the very talented Rosalie Quinlan. Rosie has just been told that her breast cancer is recurring and she's facing a pretty tough battle in coming months, so why don't you all pop over to her blog and leave some encouraging words for her ... along with a BIG SQUOOSHY BEAR HUG or two ... or three ... or four!!! One can never have too many positive thoughts or too many bear hugs from friends!! :0) Right ... I'm off! Enjoy the end of your week and remember to hug someone you love!! Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS