Daytime fun

Despite many happy hours spent looking at fabrics on the Internet, I somehow had previously completely failed to stumble upon Buttonberry. It was only when I was recently trying to find a UK stockist for a Melly & Me pattern, that I saw a link to it in Melly's sidebar. How very exciting, for Buttonberry is like a fabric-filled sweet shop - and I so love finding that wonderful fabrics are actually available in England when this so often feels not to be the case (normally after a browsing spell on New York's Purl Soho site). So, I ordered my much-wanted pattern and also this Moda Urban Chicks Swell charm pack, as it is always lovely to have a variety of little swatches around when doing projects like the applique doorstop that I was working on last week. What beautiful packaging my purchases arrived in too, which made the contents seem even more special - plain packaging gives me the same sensation as finding the perfect coat, but being aware that the lining is actually quite cheap and scratchy - such a missed opportunity to squeeze in extra loveliness that it just doesn't feel right.

This week it is my birthday (yes, I say week, because why limit ones self to one day?). I will be 31. That is a very short sentence and no amount of looking at it helps me think of something to tag on to the end of it to take away from its starkness....possibly because my feelings on being 31 are currently undecided. It's not the getting older that I mind so much, it's the passing of time and also the feeling that I might not have used all of it as well as I could have done...

Despite my ambivalence at being another year older, Ian has some time off work and we have lots of lovely things planned, not least, going to paint some pottery in a ceramics studio, alone, just me and Mr Teacakes*, which I am really looking forward to, because daytime time together seems like such a treat and it is one of my favourite places to go and spend time. I feel oddly guilty not taking at least one child along with us as it does seem like a completely self-indulgent activity without the presence of either of the small ones....but not so guilty that I shan't do it and enjoy every minute of it.

We will also be going to my sister's party in London because it is her birthday too...which will be followed by the picking out of some blue velvet the next day so that I might make her a window-seat cushion for her office at work...I am anticipating that we made need to take our sunglasses off to assess fabric colours properly - I am hoping it won't be too painful.

(* that was for you, Alice C! x)