Happy Engagement to Steve and Emma

A lovely evening at Home to celebrate cousin Steve & Emma's engagement! Michelle & I travelled in & out of Belfast on the bus so a gin & wine were enjoyed!

Cinema - Little Women

A lovely Sunday outing to Ballymena cinema with Elizabeth and Ann to see new movie version of Little Women,  one of my favourite books.

Dinner in Monroe's too.

1st Birthday cake 2018

Catch up with James for his birthday turned into a celebration for both of us, thanks for the cake from Lynette & Pauline.

Fab meal at Le Winters.

Sewing Day Castle Ward

My sewing friends, that I met through reading their blogs, have started a new sewing group which meets once a month at Castle Ward.  The group started in January but this month was the first I was able to go and it was great!

Sewing is still a new skill for me, the others are dressmakers but I'm not ready for that yet so I made Halloween bunting! & A Halloween cushion cover.

Margaret MacQ also attends, a lovely opportunity to catch up with her.

a fab working space

A piece of bunting, right sides together !

Ruth, one of the many talented sewist! A beautiful dress in the making.

Sewing Retreat at Drumalis, Larne

Drumalis Arts and Retreat Centre, Larne, Friday 16 to Sunday 18 March with Amanda A.
I love a crafty weekend with other crafty ladies - so much to learn, lots of chat and a new skill.

The tutor was Mandy Pattullo, based in Newcastle, England and her passion is for textile collage, really unusual, using old quilts, tiny pieces of fabrics and embellished with different embroidery stitches.

I know nothing about embroidery but I am so keen to learn anything new.

Sample pieces were fab and I'm really pleased with what I created, although neither are finished, but I will finish them and display on a wall !

The venue was an old convent with a retreat residential accommodation and dining and meeting rooms building.  I will be happy to go there again.

Photos to follow

Happy 50th Birthday !

My 50th Birthday Celebration with family.  Lovely meal at McBrides in the Square and then back to my house for drinks and chat !

 

NI crafters - 1st meet up!

So I've been reading craft blogs for a few years now and I started my own a few years ago.  Recently I've started to become interested in fabric and sewing and learning to sew is moving up my to do list, just need to find more hours in the week!

 

I've been reading sewing blogs and came across a NI sewing girlie - I was delighted because I hadn't found any NI craft blogs before and I was thrilled to read Lynne's http://ozzyblackbeard.blogspot.co.uk/  I loved her fabrics and makes immediately.

In one of her blog posts Lynne stated she was planning a meet up of NI crafters and if anyone was interested to contact her so I did !

As it so happened the first meet up was that Saturday at Crumlin Road Gaol to see an exhibition of Russian opera and ballet costumes.



 So I met Lynne and Ruth https://corecouture.wordpress.com/  and Evelyn, 3 very talented sewists!

A lovely day out and I hope we will keep in touch and met up again

 

 

Holiday of a Lifetime - coming up!

I'm heading off on 4 June to visit the West Coast of America!  For 6 weeks ! Yes, really !  I can't wait and I'm planning to start a new travel blog to record my travels, experiences and the fun times !

Stephanie Spins the World

I'm back - just testing!

Wow ! It's been over a year but I'm determined to get back to blogging!  Just checking I remember how to do this!

A fav photo from Boxing Day 2013.

Rose Weekend - Lady Dixon Park

I nipped up to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park to see the craft stalls, roses and photography exhibition.

I'd entered a photograph into their Belfast Parks competition and was thrilled to see it on display - (I think all entries were on display but I was still thrilled !)

I took this photo of the photo with my phone !  The original was taken of Victoria and Kelsie in the Palm House in Botanic Gardens.

Just proof that it was on display.

Enjoyed a wander around the craft stalls and the roses - they were looking a bit battered but still beautiful.

13 July 2012

It's tradition that I look after my older nephews and niece on the 12 July night and then take them out on the 13th - last year was a fabulous day on Ballywalter Beach.

This year a fab day out to Tannaghmore Gardens.   One of our absolute favourite places to visit - there is plenty of carparking, a small farm to wander around, an excellent play park, a selection of small gardens and a maze - and all free !

 
We met up with my friends from school and their children too. 

Gary and Lois

Linda and Roslyn

It's great because the kids run around and we can sit and chat.  Kids only come back when they need fed or watered!

This year we were lucky to spot a squirrel

 and the kids found a tiny frog - brought it up for me to see and then gently returned it to the pond.

Hitchin a lift back to the carpark !

We always finish our day out with a visit to the nearest McDonald's - love it!