The Perfect Weekend

Honest no Stepford Wife stuff - just the truth - this has been the most perfect weekend. The sun has shone, the family have all got on (no arguments) and I've be lucky to spend time doing things I like (selling, making and meeting new friends);

I shall do the weekend in reverse as I know lots will want to know about today & the meet up in Southwold.

Its was great - there were 5 of us (Me, Dawn, Viv, Tracey and Shirl (plus Shirl's husband, daughter & dog). We met as planned near the Pier - Viv was first, followed by Dawn & I, then Tracey and Shirl. A quick lot of introductions and then we headed over to the Boating Lake Cafe - no boats today but plenty of ducks and their babies.

This is a lovely little place - quite hidden and even people who have been to Southwold lots aren't always aware that it exists. I only did to start with because it gets mentioned in Coast magazine on a couple of occasions.  It is a bloggers/shabby chic lovers dream - bunting, vintage china and lots of wicker chairs with cushions :)

I only had a cuppa but Tracey had a cream tea - it looked gorgeous - very pretty - watch out for a picture of that on her blog ;)

The sun continued to shine and we carried on chatty about our lives, families, crafting and blogging. A good mention was made of the Glastonbury festival and whether the cameraman filming the Scissor Sisters set last night was going to recover from his trauma ;)

Oh of course - you're all waiting for the group photo aren't you? Of course one was taken - here goes;

left to right - Viv, me, Dawn, Tracey & Shirl

Just before we said our goodbyes, Tracey handed out little tissue wrapped parcels - we were all to keen to open them (so no before photos) - inside were the most gorgeous crocheted dollies - I've seen these on her blog and have been impressed - crochet is still not liking me & I've currently given up trying to learn!! Thank you Tracey very much :)

Thanks girls for a great afternoon - there shall definitely be another meetup - Snape Maltings in the Autumn seemed a popular suggestion. More tea, cakes and nattering :) More details when they are decided - all welcome of course.

Right, re-wind just over 24 hours and we get to Saturday morning and the school fete at Little Son's school. I'd booked a table to share with a couple of sisters.  Wasn't sure what to expect but decided for the price it was worth a punt. It was definitely worth it - I sold quite a few items and most brilliantly of all came away with orders for more campervan cushions :)

As they had a few spare tables we got 2 for the price of 1 - good job we'd got a spare cloth in the bag;

Best I go and start on those orders - should get a good hours sewing in whilst the menfolk celebrate the return of Messrs Clarkson, Hammond & May.

I shall celebrate the end of a good weekend with one or two of these;

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Bargains, Lunch & the First Strawberry

Good evening

Been warm enough for you? Its been lovely here the past few days - have spent time outside weeding and occasionally sitting in the shade with a glass or 2 of something scrummy.

A quick hunt through the strawberry bed the other day revealed the first ripe one;

It was scrummy - still warm from the sunshine - am hoping lots of its little friends will ripen over the next few days - the dilemma, whether to tell the menfolk or not?

Sometime I think myself lucky - MrVV works from home and though he's often out & about too, several days a week its just the 2 of us for lunch. Most often its just a quick sandwich for lunch, occasionally chips on the seawall @ Aldeburgh and other times I find something nice in the shops in town.  The other day was one of those days;

Sourdough bread still warm from the bakers oven with local smoked salmon pate.

Followed by local strawberries - just plain, no sugar or cream.

Washed down with my homemade elderflower cordial - this is gorgeous and definitely something that I shall be making again. Hopefully next time I'll have found some nicer bottles - had to pinch these ones from MrVV's home brewing stash.

I forgot to show you last weekend the spoils of Sunday's bootsale;

A very shabby chic little cupboard - currently holding my vintage cotton reel collection.

Another Ladybird book - thought I might learn something ;)

Just checked the weekend forecast and so far its looking good for the school fete, brass engagement and of course the meet up on Sunday. Of course if it is too warm for some (Karen ;) ) - they can always have a paddle in the North Sea - that will cool you down ;)

See you soon

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Bloggy Meet-up @ Southwold - Just over a week to go :)

Morning all from sunny/showery Suffolk - am sure next weekend it will be so much nicer ;)

Just over a a week to go now till the bloggy meetup in Southwold - details as follows;

Date : Sunday 27th June

Time : 2pm

Where : The picnic benches by the entrance to Southwold Pier - then onto the cafe by the boating lake.

Who : leave a message below, or email me. Also do that if you want my mobile number too.

Go on - be brave - Southwold is lovely and so are all the ladies that did say they wanted to come too.

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Have been busy this week - sewing, stitching knitted things together and also family stuff. Hopefully today I'll get some pictures taken to share with you all.

Have also noticed several new swaps appearing in blogland so I need to have a think about whether I want to do those too. I must also contact my Strawberry Swap partner to arrange to do that swap - everything almost ready to send.

Best I have another coffee and kick myself into action!!

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Swap Shop but without Noel Edmonds!!

There always seem to be so many swaps going on in blogland and since I've been a blogger, I've taken part in quite a few.  I love them - the fun of 'meeting' a new blogger and getting to know them, the hunting out/ making of pressies for them and then the excitement of waiting for your parcel from them to arrive.

At the moment I'm signed up to 3 swaps (see below) - some of the bloggers I am familiar with and one is a new one to me (so I have been reading back and getting to know them).

I've been rummaging through my supplies this week and adding some more bits - some will be used in swaps and others for pressies for forthcoming birthdays;

Might use some of this fabric - might not ;)

Might use some of this ribbon - might not ;)

Might even raid my button tin - again I might not ;)

My 3 current swaps;

Organised by Em's Shabby Shack

Paired with At home with MelMel

Organised by Crafty Helen

Paired with Tilly Rose

Organised by Sarah @ Red Gingham

Paired with Traci @ My handmade happiness

Don't forget about the bloggy meetup in Southwold in June - all invited - it's a meeting in Suffolk for Bloggers - not just for bloggers from Suffolk ;)

I shall end now on a high note - Little Son passed his Grade 2 Violin exam (only just, but it was pass). Now means he needs to start practising and learning more stuff for his Grade 3 sometime next year.

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Ok who's feeling brave??

Been pondering this for a while and after consulting with my mate Country Girl, I've decided to put it to the rest of the bloggy world.

Who's up for a meet? In Southwold? Either Sunday 27th June or Sunday 4th July?

Would suggest meeting at either the cafe by the boating lake or the one at the beginning of the Pier. Could meet for tea&cakes or an ice-cream or both. Loads to do in Southwold - beach, shops, silly stuff on the Pier or just loads of nattering and getting to put faces to names.

Up for it? If so, please leave a comment & what day is best for you and we'll go with which one is most popular :)

If you want you can borrow this pic and put it in your blog too.

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Added 20th April - Looking like 27th June is the favoured date so far :)