Let me introduce....

A dog called Dill who was created by a very lovely lady called Beverley.

She has a facebook page and makes the most gorgeous handmade cards and invitations. Beverley is based in Yorkshire and her business is named after her little west highland terrier Dill.

As my Mam has a westie called Ted I asked Bev if she could make me a card with her westie logo on the front with a personalised message and this is the design isn't it fab!!! My Mam loved it :)

Bev also included this message with the card which I thought was a lovely touch. The quality of Bev's work is of a very high standard, better than the quality of mass produced cards you see in the shops. The fact that they can be personalised make them even better! 

If you are on facebook please go check out Bev's page here and say Hi :)

Bev has a fantastic range of Fathers day cards too!

A perfect gift...

I just had to show you what arrived in the post for me last week. Those of you who read the lovely Rachel's blog Contented will have already seen this but here I am with some photos of my own.

  

Rachel very kindly made this star mini quilt for my birthday, its made from the most gorgeous blue cottons and is bound to perfection along the edges.

And the back has a fabric label in the bottom right corner.......

Personalised and hand printed by Rachel, isn't it fabulous. At the moment its sitting proudly on the side of my sewing table....but I have plans for showing it somewhere lovely in the future.

A huge thank you to Rachel for making me another truly gorgeous gift, you're so talented Rachel thank you so much. If you've never visited Rachel's blog before you should definitely pop over and have a look at the lovely things she makes.

32

32 today, how the hell did that happen :D Its been a lovely relaxing day, breakfast courtesy of my very lovely other half and a huge bouquet of flowers. Lots of beautiful cards (thanks everyone) and some very thoughtful gifts (thanks Rach xx).

To say I feel different would be silly, but I feel like this year I have to step up to the mark on being 'grown' up. I dont think that has anything to do with a birthday just more to do with current events. I feel happy and content :D Happy Birthday me!!

Off to have a Sunday roast and a spot of Birthday cake!! Nom Nom!!

Happy Birthday Mama :)

Hope she doesn't mind me telling you how old she is today but I think its a pretty special one. My Step Dad and Mam are here for the weekend.......pressie opening time in a little while, then out for lunch with the rest of the family.

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA :) LOVE YOU LOTS**

Back tomorrow with tales of red hair, buying the same present 3 times! and some but not much sewing.

Birthday, bunting, ribbon and posh nosh.

So far being 31 isn't that bad :) thank you for all the birthday wishes and to my family for the gifts and Chris for the most quirkiest gifts as always.

A huge thank you to Rachel for sending me a card and gifts including this beautiful bunting, thanks Rach. I plan on putting it up in my studio tomorrow :D

My quirky gifts from Chris consisted of:
a potato ricer, a gourmet grater, a days cup cake making course and he took me out for a very posh meal at one of my fave restaurants (Darley's) on Saturday. (I've always wanted a potato ricer ever since I saw the lovely Nigella use one on TV).

I also treated myself to a selection of ribbon from here.....no I'm not addicted, I do actually use it and not hoard it away like a squirrel ;)

The photo's in this post were taken with my new all singing all dancing Nikon D5000, I have lots of links and books to read as I have no idea what I'm doing with it at the moment but I hope to be able to progress off the automatic settings and start taking some fabulous product shots.

You would laugh if I told you what I have been making today but I will save that for another post, don't forget you still have until Midnight tonight to enter my giveaway!!

Its my birthday!

31 today, crikey how did that one creep up on me????

Oh well they do say age is just a number :) Lovely start to the morning, cup of tea in bed whilst I opened my cards and pressies (will show you photos tomorrow). Popping into town shortly to buy a dress for tonight, C is taking me to a posh restaurant (no idea where as he wont tell me) and said I need to be 'dressed'. Now I'm taking he means smart and not actually just wearing clothes :D ha ha.

And then I will be coming back home to watch Sex and the City 2 before getting ready. Tomorrow I'm going to make Devils food chocolate cupcakes and sticky ginger cupcakes, partly for my birthday and partly for C's birthday which is Wednesday. (Oh I should say I did not make the ones in the photo above I found this in Google images, so thank you to the lovely person who did make them and took a photo of them :D)

Thank you's and gifts

Thank you so much for all the messages and congratulations, we're both so chuffed by all the comments. We've had lots of lovely cards :D and some champagne and some gorgeous flowers. Hopefully I should be getting my ring back tomorrow......I do hope so I know I only had it for 3 days before it had to go off to be re sized but I feel lost without it :(

I'm still pinching myself about it all and Madrid will definitely be a special place for me and Chris from now on.

OK back to crafting....the has been LOTS of sewing going on in the house of bagladee of late. 3 orders to get out by the end of August. Yikes!!!! And I've also had time to fit in a little gift for a friends birthday.
Andrea my friend loves VW camper vans as they remind her so much of her Dad. Last birthday (yes I know I'm bad for leaving it this long!!!) I bought a fat quarter of fabric which had the cutest print of camper vans for Andrea in the hopes of making her something. Time ran away with me so I decided I would get round to making something in time for this birthday.

I decided on a simple cushion made from Thai silk and of course the camper van fabric. I topped it off with some simple top stitching. I'm planning on making this cushion into a tutorial so watch this space :D

Birthday revisted

The gorgeous and vibrant bag and shoes that Chris bought me (All chosen by himself, he has impeccable taste)...

Beautiful sparkly open back dress, which I wore to my birthday surprise meal.....

My birthday cupcakes which came from Glasgow were so yummy, the icing is to die for :D

One single candle, not 30, at my request....

Yummy!!!

And on Tuesday it was Chris's birthday (yes 4 days between us, some say 2 Capricorns are a bad match, I say we both just know each others faults and traits VERY well) he had a Top Gear Cake with the Stig on it.

Surprises

First of all let me apologise for nil photos in this post, I have lost the battle with our main laptop and it has gone off on its travels to be well and truly sorted out. I'm going to fill you all in on last night from my net book.

So to recap from yesterday morning, there was a champagne breakfast, followed by cards and presents, and wow what presents....Chris bought me a dress, some shoes and a handbag. And then said that all the presents were on one condition that I was to be all dressed up and ready to leave for 8pm. So I spent a leisurely day, playing on the wii, sewing and relaxing. Just as I was making a cup of tea in the kitchen there was a knock at the door, Chris said "You get it and I'll make the tea"......so off I went to see who was there (I always look out the window before) and there stood at the door was my Mam and Step Dad. I was soooo shocked to see them, the first thing I said to them when I opened the door was "What are you doing here!!" Chris had arranged for them to be here to go for a meal with us. I was so pleased.

After catching up for a little while we all got ready (me in my sparkly new dress and gorgeous shoes) and off we set in the car, with me still having no idea where we were going. About half way there I kinda knew where we were going and again so pleased as we arrived at the Dog and Duck one of my fav restaurants.

As we walked in Chris pointed over to the bar area where not only were Chris's parents and his Uncle, Cousin and his girlfriend were sitting but also my very good friend Andrea was there too. I was so surprised...I had no idea that Chris was planning all this.

We had such a good night, the food was great, we had a few bottles of wine, the service was as always outstanding, and the best part was that everyone was there. There were more presents too, Andrea bought me the most thoughtful gifts, she had some polymer clay cats made that were Nell and Oliver...they are so sweet the one of Nell is even smaller than the one of Oli. She also got me the most beautiful pen which is full of Swarovski crystals in the top and best of all she had a silver ring embossed with "Happy 30th Emma, love Andrea xx" and I haven't taken it off since. Thank you again Andrea!! I love them.

Then when we returned home Chris gave me one last gift....a box of cup cakes!!! Yey. They have (I should say had now as most of them have been devoured) pink, yellow, blue and purple icing and they are so nice.

I had the best birthday ever!!! I cant thank Chris enough, he is so wonderful I'm a very lucky girl and I love him loads :D

Its official....

I am 30 today!!! I know I cant believe it. I had such a lovely morning, a cuppa in bed, a champagne breakfast, gorgeous gifts from Chris....a dress, a pair of shoes and a Calvin Klein handbag.

And apprently I have to be dressed and ready to leave the house for 8pm tonight?!?! I wonder where I'm going???

Thank you for the card and gifts Rachel....it was so very kind of you to think of me, I love them.

An unexpected day off...

The roads were atrocious this morning and the road where I drive up to the main road from the house was like an ice skating rink. There were cars and vans stuck, wheel spinning unable to get up the hill, cars sliding down and at least 3 accidents....reports from where I work were not good either, at one point they were stopping people driving down the hill into the business park because the road was so icy.

And since booking a days holiday is cheaper than repairing/replacing a bashed car I decided not to try and make it in so here I am.

Here are some new photos of the studio, looking a lot more homely than before. I wanted to have the lovely gifts that fellow blogger have made me out on display as I always feel inspired by other creative fellows. Plus they all make me smile :D

Lots of fashion and craft books, a lovely chest filled with buttons, rhinestones and sequins....a real treasure chest ;) my Speak and Spell (fav childhood toy still in perfect working condition) and a player for my ipod.

Still awaiting my sewing chair :( it is ordered and being delivered from the warehouse so shouldn't be too long before I can pick it up from the store.

My felt stash, which has been replenished since I took this photo so now its full to the brim. Top shelf: my tins of coloured zips and the gap if for my scraps of felt box which was downstairs at the time.

Oooooh still 2 empty boxes must fill them with other supplies.....still some boxes to sort out.

All my patterns, packaging, note cards, post cards, daylight lamp and other bits and bobs. My TV is also on the wall now, but still no power to the sockets, I cant believe how difficult it has been trying to get an electrician to come round to sort it.

Only 2 more days of my 20's left as its my 30th on Friday, and although I have spent quite a few weeks thinking and reminiscing of the years that have led me to this birthday I am strangely excited about it. Not just the day itself but the anticipation on what the next 30 years will bring. Some of the years have been tough, some that I'd rather erase from my memory....but then I think these experiences are what has made me the person I am.....and also the fact that there have been some pretty amazing things that have happened too. I am excited that this will be the next stage of my life which will lead onto more amazing times, but do wonder where has the time gone. The last 7 years of living down in Nottingham have whizzed by and would never have guessed when I left County Durham that I would be here doing what I am.

So this is me embracing turning 30th on Friday :D YEY!!!!

Mice and birthday celebrations...

Since I was such a ditz and forgot to take photo's of the swap items that I sent Denise she was ever so kind to allow me to use her photo's. And my what great photo's they are, she's such a talented photographer.

I bought some lovely Christmassy tissue and raffia for wrapping.....

Hello Mr. Mouse.....

A cosmetic pouch adorned with some lovelies.....

I 'LOVED' the fabrics that Denise chose, cotton, my favourite to work with. And I found some purply/lilac'y bits and bobs in my sewing stash to accompany the gorgeous cherry print.

Birthday Celebrations: I will be absent from blogland for this weekend as I am travelling up to Edinburgh in the morning to celebrate my good friend Kelly's 30th birthday. I cant wait, we've got Champagne, presents, a meal booked and lots of other friends too.

Hope you all have a good one. See you Sunday with some photos.