never ending

Do you ever have one of those weeks when it's non-stop, yes? Me too! This week. But slowly I feel like I am getting on top of things. 

We've been decorating the living room, with only a few dramas so far... 

Our joiner who was fitting our wooden floor cancelled the job just 5 days before he was due to do the job... we spent quite a lot of time finding a new one, but we found a good 'un and he did a great job! If you need the number of an amazing joiner in the Strathclyde area then let me know and I'll share his number!

Our new sofa was delivered on Tuesday and the chair had a wobbly leg... so that's sent back to get sorted and at this time I've not had an answer from DFS as to when it will be delivered {I'm not a happy chappy about that}

New sofa {minus the chair}.  The window dressing here is the ones I didn't like

I spent Tuesday night {all of Tuesday night} making new window dressings only to not like them at all once I put them up! So Wednesday I spent finding new fabric {I ended up buying a double duvet and using that!} and that night I made new ones... I'm not 100% happy with them but they'll do for now.

the new window dressing using a 'city scape' duvet cover

In-between all the chaos at home I've also been very busy at work {as always} but... I'm off on annual leave next week! Quite looking forward to it!

Have you been decorating lately? I've read a lot of great blogs with 'through the keyhole' type posts:  a million dresses (I love the décor in the new house) and some more over on The Dusty Attic.. I'm thinking of doing a series of similar posts, would you be interested in nosing through my keyhole?

Ax

Exciting Times

There has been a lot going on today, all very exciting.

First there's the small matter of this www.anneeapple.com a lovely surprise from my Husband!  I have wanted the domain for a very long time but it's just recently become available and now it's mine.

As if that wasn't enough exciting news for the one day, I woke up to read this very lovely blog post by Miss Beatrix.

You'll all know {unless you've been on your holidays for over a month} that I joined up with Miss Beatrix's #PostCircle and I am loving being part of it. I've had some gorgeous mail and little gifts sent through the post, there is something wonderful about snail mail. I've been on the hunt for some stationery and it was / is a hard task to find something that I liked, if you've ever looked online for stationery you'll understand what I mean. I even scoured local shops for some nice writing paper and envelopes and no joy! So I made my own!

I started off designing some envelopes which ended up rather complicated and fiddly so I scrapped that and focused on some writing paper designs. A few late nights and about 30 designs later I am kicking off my range with 'Tea Time', 'Yelo' and 'Grey Heart' {I might change the names as I develop the range}. I've also designed some lettergrams.  I love lettergrams, I used to buy these from the post office when I was little and I wrote to my pen friend in Australia, they were so convenient to use especially when I was writing abroad. I just knew I had to design some lettergrams as to me they are a symbol of snail mail.

I'm in the process of setting up my etsy shop  {you can come over just now and follow me there so you don't miss out on the launch} and I plan to offer sets of writing paper, personalised writing paper and also lettergrams. I have lots of other little things swimming about in my head too and I have also now mastered the envelope making {with a totally new design}, so there could be some handmade envelopes available too!

To celebrate the launch of my new etsy shop there will be a giveaway on my blog, right now I'm in the process of designing and organising the goodies for the giveaway.  I'm off on my jollidays next weekend {some lovely time in the sunshine} so when I come back it will be all systems go!

You can follow this blog using the link on the right {via bloglovin or you can follow by google connect or email} so that you don't miss out.  I'm also on Twitter and Facebook come over and say hello!

Thank you to you lovely people who are already supporting me and encouraging my new venture and a big thank you to Miss Beatrix for her lovely blog post and most importantly for setting up #PostCircle as without it none of this would be possible and let's not forget all the new friends I have made recently... hello to you all!

Ax

Lampshade making {with Cath Kidston}

Tada... I made a lampshade!

I signed up for the Lampshade Making event at the Glasgow Cath Kidston store and was lucky enough to get a ticket (£15 per person). Those of you who know me will know I absolutely adore Cath Kidston style, so I was really looking forward to this event.  

Another plus; I have been looking for new lampshades for my bedroom for so long but never found anything that was just right and if I can't find it... I make it!

I arrived at the store a bit early but was happy to window shop... the window display of HUGE clocks is amazing (some of you may know I have a clock obsession too.. I'm beginning to sound a little weird)... the lovely staff let us in early and we had a wander around... (I'm sure I drooled a little, hope no-one noticed).

We were shown to the fabric section and told to choose our fabric... Waaaaaaaaa choose?! I wanted them all.... after much 'humming and hawing' I opted for the Blue English Rose as it matches my bedroom colour scheme really well... I had planned on something not too floral.. but I really think the floral patterns are iconic of Cath Kidston.

I found a place at a table with three other lovely ladies, everyone was so nice and the staff made us all feel very welcome. There was endless supplies of cake, juices and sparkly wine! We were all given a lampshade kit (which you can buy from here) and the staff showed us in stages how to make. We worked in pairs as some of the stages were quite fiddly.. team work! As you can see from the photo above the end results are brilliant and you can see why I had such a hard choice choosing my fabric, they are all lush!

My lampshade is up already and I love it! I now plan on making two shades for my bedside lamps and to update my window dressing in the same fabric... although I just looked online at the Cath Kidston website and that fabric isn't listed! I wonder if it's now discontinued? I know the store has a huge roll, so hoping that no-one buys it all before Saturday, I'll be back in to buy some more!

If you're interested in events at your local Cath Kidston store then sign up for their Email Club I know I'll be looking out for more events and signing up so let me know if you do too!

I had a great time tonight and I met some really lovely people.

What are you crafting right now?

The Slaw {homemade coleslaw}

Happy Easter to you all!

It's been a very busy day in AnneeApple land but lots of fun too.  Hubber is working night shifts this weekend, so as he came home it was time for us to get up.  Baby, big girl and I made some Easter Baskets this morning... some sewing with ribbon and lots of stickers in preparation for our Easter Egg hunt later on, which was lots of fun!

Easter Egg Hunt in the garden {with bubbles too and Gran and Grandad}

Whilst baby napped I prepared dinner... I didn't do the traditional Easter Sunday Roast as it's big girl's 19th Birthday tomorrow and she wants to go to The Carvery for dinner.  I bought in some quiche {not had quiche in so long} and made my homemade 'The Slaw' and rustic wedges with roast onion and cheese {posh for chip n cheese}... here's the recipes:

The Slaw

This is so simple and once you make homemade you'll not buy shop bought again... {this served 5 as a side portion and there is still a little left}

3 carrots

1 red onion

1/4 of {the above} white cabbage

250ml mayo {I use Tesco or Asda Lighter than Light}

Sprinkle of mixed dried herbs

Splash of malt vinegar

Pinch of salt

Pinch of sugar

I use my vegetable peeler to peel the carrots into very thin ribbons, cut the red onion and cabbage into very thin strips.  Into a tub {one with a lid} put the mayo, big splash of malt vinegar, herbs, salt and sugar and stir until combined.  Toss in the veg and stir {If you need to add more mayo that's fine, just add until it's the right consistency... if it's too wet just add more veg}.  Put the lid on and give it a good shake.

This is best left in the fridge over night but if you're not that prepared {like me today} then leaving it a few hours is fine too.  Let me know if you make this and how you get on, I love it and I'm keen to know what others think of it.

Rustic Potato and Roast Onion Wedges with Cheese

We all like chips right?  This is a posh{er} version.

Chop the potatoes and a white onion into wedge chunks and put in an oven tray, drizzle with some sunflower oil and sprinkle with some dried Rosemary.  Cook in oven for 40mins {turning half way through}... for the last 5mins of cooking add grated cheese over the top {as much as you like for your own taste}... Mmmm loved these, very tasty!! {I forgot to take a photo of the finished dish... oops!}

Now to think of next week's Meal Plan... this week's went to pot as my oven broke! More on that tomorrow!

A x

Getting Organised {postcircle}

Have you signed up for #postcircle yet?  I must say, so far I am loving creating stationery and writing the letters. I had forgotten how good it is to actually write a letter!  

The suspense of having to wait to know the answer to your question, waiting for the postman each day hoping there's a handwritten envelope in his hand just for you!  It's great!

When I first signed up, I started the search for a nice writing set... not wanting to spend a fortune in-case I didn't really get into it.  How difficult is it to find nice writing paper?!  

So far all I've found is a writing set in WH Smith but it was quite expensive.  I don't have a Paperchase near me (was once my fav shop) and I know they will have some lovely things.  I decided to make my own!  It's been a bit of trial and error, putting the double sided tape on the wrong side of the envelope, cutting things too short... printing things too small but I'm getting there and my last batch was quite nice and instead of cutting the writing paper I tore it so it has a rustic edge.  I've got lots more ideas and I'm even contemplating making some sets up to sell on if anyone is interested as there is a serious lack of good paper / designs out there.

My stationery

We made a trip to Ikea tonight.  We had originally went to buy a new cabinet to house our printer (as little fingers are pulling the front open and close, open and close, open and close... so it will get broken!) but when we saw it in the showroom it looked a bit cheap (it was £60 too!) so we didn't bother buying it.  Whilst we were there we bought some new replacement canvas boxes (that we use for all of baby's toys and books, they slot perfectly into our TV cabinet, so when baby goes to bed we chuck everything back into it's box and close them over... toy free!).... so that inspired me to use some of the old boxes (the ones that are decent) and have a bit of a de-clutter and to sort all my craft things out... I didn't realise I had so much, it was all hiding in the garage (and I think there might be more in there)...

I've now got all I need for #postcircle in the one place.. I've got a box of coloured paper and card, a tub full of cards and envelopes, ribbons, embellishments  stickers, card toppers, buttons and other bits and bobs and another case full of pens, paints, fancy edging scissors, inks etc... so much good stuff that I can't wait to write more letters... although I'll wait now until I get some more.

I had been having a little 'poor me I've not had a #postcircle letter yet' moan on Twitter (I was just so desperate to get it all going) and the lovely @squeakypigshop sent me some happy mail.  It was so thoughtful, such a lovely long letter AND a chocolate bunny.  

I wrote my reply today... oops it might be a tad long (sorry!).  I also got my first #postcircle letter and it was so exciting... it was all so thoughtful the envelope was apples, I was giddy before I opened it!  Inside there was a beautiful letter and a gift of 3 fabric fish and some to do list paper, so pretty!

My first #postcircle mail

I hope you've got some exciting plans for the Easter weekend?  I'm working tomorrow but off on Sunday and Monday... and it's my BIG girl's birthday on Monday, exciting times!!

Have a lovely Easter!

A x