Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

Blog giveaways - I didn't know these wonderful things existed until a few months ago. But what a discovery they are! Creative people make things and like-minded people admire both their efforts and their blogs, random number generators are involved, and someone is the lucky winner. Last week I won a giveaway from Maggie's blog, mags creative meanderings, a lovely little blog by someone who describes herself as a "crafting beginner" but I beg to differ.

Such wonderful treasures came tumbling out. A beautiful, incredibly neat and carefully sewn pin cushion, some fabric, lots of sweet Beatrix Potter postcards, a little book about quilting, chocolate...

and these adorable buttons. Bella is captivated by them and keeps asking me to get them out so she can look at them.

Thank you Maggie for offering such a generous and delightful giveaway!

More goodies (it was a week of being spoilt!) to show you. I entered into a sort of crafty swap with some good friends who enjoy a bit of crafting. The idea is you give the recipient anything you have made yourself (food included) within a limited time frame. I offered embroidered tea towels and jam. It does not have to be perfect or expensive or time consuming, just something you made yourself. My friend Debora made me a beautiful crochet hook holder.

Isn't it gorgeous? I love the fabric she used. It is so handy for hooks, pens, scissors and other bits and bobs.

And it rolls up into this perfect little tube, so I will no longer be scrabbling around at the bottom of my sewing bag for things.

Thank you Debora!

Today is the first of May and, after one day of warm sunshine, the cold wet weather has returned. I don't really have a to do list for this month, I think I should focus on finishing all the things I had planned to do in April instead. I did make good headway with some crafty projects but the weather put a lot of gardening and outside jobs on hold. I would like to order one month of sunshine please. It can rain (despite a month of rain, we still need more here in the UK) but only at night. Thank you.