Faith, hope and charity swap

Hello there!  I recently took part in another blog-swap organised by the fabulous Lakota of Faith, Hope and Charity shopping and I was really excited to be teamed with the fabulous Clare of Miss Simmond Says!

I was so excited and happy to find a rather soggy parcel put behind my plant-plot outside my door (thanks postman- 0 out of 10 for common sense in the wettest December in memory!)

Upon opening I was greeted by a set of imaculately wrapped parcels in Nativity paper and raffia ribbon!

Here they are: 





How beautiful and generous Clare was (she managed to find things that suited me so well and miraculous within Lakota's set budget!)
A lovely handmade card sent a message from Clare followed by one of my favourite items- a gorgeous beret! I had been thinking for ages, how much I'd like a mustard coloured beret as a hat would be a way for me to wear yellow without my usual fear of it, and how fab I received one as a gift- it also came embellised with a home-made badge by Clare!
 2 cute exercise books which I can't wait to use, a fun green crayon necklace (I love quirky jewellery!) and some pretty green bead earrings and a Ladybird Little Lord Jesus book!
One of the gifts had to be handmade and Clare had me a beautiful felt and button velvet holly headband which she made especially for me!  I of course, wore it for the last day of school for the Carol service, teamed with a green and red outfit!





Thank you so so much Clare for an absolutely perfect and thoughtful parcel! If you don't know Clare's blog already, why not?  Get thee thence to her blog to say Hi!


I also wore that fabulous wool beret on the penultimate day of school teamed with Orla Keily top and my new gingerbread brooch from Jille!



Here's what I sent to Clare (plus some 18th century repro fortune-telling cards which I thought she might make into something!).  I made the Hello-Kitty earrings which may look simple but caused me unbelieveable hassle (like with Jille's earrings) with the eyes and whiskers that would not stay on- in the end I used stained-glass paint outliner which did the trick! Acrylic paint (blue) is supposed to stay put but oh no, this batch decided that vintage pearl buttons are too shabby for them to stay put!


Hope you are well and happy!  Have you done any swaps recently?  Do leave a link in the box-I love having a nosy!
xx

Pencils and ribbons!

Aloha! I hail here, fresh from an evening of lindy-hop!  It's just the best form of dance, it makes you feel so exuberant!  I want to do it well!!!! Got to go to regular classes!

Linking up to Lakota's 'Tah Dah! Tuesday' next week when it comes up!  (I shall be in Kent!) Back to my usual cards for the link-up!  Oh how I lack imagination! One day I will be linking up with some full-sized stonking-great Bayeaux tapestry-type contribution (Or maybe not? In your dreams girlie!)
Made 2 cards here:

One for CBC's art-genius sister- last year I made her origami pencils- this year, the humble cocktail stick is transformed into technicolour stationery! (Sorry about bad reflected photo! You get the idea though!)

 This card has been 'in the make' for about a year.  it is a variation on a design from my favourite mag, Papercraft inspirations, which was supposed to be lavender.  However, since I had the perfect-sized piece of electric blue ribbon, therefore, bluebells seemed in order.

Also it is serendipitous that the Daring Cardmakers blog has issued a challenge involving knots this week, so I am linking up to them with this design. As is usual with a Kezzie design, recycled elements, however small are a must so here I have recycled some white with lilac spots card for the background, the green stems are 2 envelopes, the pink ribbon comes from a top.

Likewise, through another blog, I discovered that the Pink elephant challenge blog was also linking up ribbon cards!I love discovering new crafty blogs!!!  So here I am with the cunning-use of knotted ribbon!!

I love seeing what people can do with ribbon!  Alas that I were more creative!

Also linking up to Annie the Felt-Fairy's 'Make a month' challenge- this is one of my August attempts!

Faith, hope and charity swap - what I sent!

Hello there!  How was your day?  Mine was very tiring but ok! I spent most of the morning (my non-contact time) trying to sort out the instrument lessons for children next year- it's a complete headache!  This evening was Exhibition evening at school where essentially turn the school into an exhibition zone for the parents to see the children's artwork, topic books and anything arty! 

My 6-7 year old choir sang (only half of them as the others didn't turn up!) around 10 songs and did brilliantly.  Honestly, the older kids could really learn from them about performance presence, committment and enthusiasm!  The drumming club performed as well, some Brazilian samba and African drumming. 

ANyway, I've had thing post kicking around for a while, so I might as well publish it now!

I recently posted what Helen, my lovely Faith, Hope and Charity swap partner had sent me and here's what I sent her.

I tend to find, one of the most time-consuming elements of a swap is all the wrapping and frantic hoping that your gifts wont be crushed to smithereens!
Please notice the recycling of Jubilee bunting tablecloth for some wrapping!

I made this card to say Hi!  As is synonymous with Kezzie crafting- pretty much everything is recycled except the black card! (it says FHC swap!)

The Jewellery parcel. 

Helen said she liked locket necklaces so I was pleased to find this one.

One item at least had to be Jubilee themed and handmade, so I made these British flag coloured button earrings.

I really wanted to find Helen a pretty dress.  One item was to come from a charity shop at least, so I decided to look for something nice.  I was looking for ages and I kept thinking I'd found something great but then there'd be something wrong with e.g. wrong size etc!  Finally, I found this pretty Wallis dress in her size and added a a red belt to it to make it Jubilee coloured!!! I was nervous if she'd like this or not!

A bookmark (handmade) and some customised red pens  (i.e. add blue ribbon to make them Union flag coloured!) for Helen's teaching career which is soon to begin!!

I experimented with making a concertina-brooch. This was made from some lovely Union flag papers and a button with a brooch back.  It was pretty stubborn to get the thing to stay stuck!

I was handmaking some bath-fizzers for another swap and Helen said she liked baths so I thought to send her one of the bath bombs! I have to say thanks to my Mum here because she makes these herself and she very patiently supervised me making these with silicon heart-shaped moulds and I'm pretty sure that like anyone who supervises me doing something practical, she wanted to strangle me at the end! They use all natural oils including rose oil, rose maroc, sweet almond, olive oil, lavender oil, geranium oil, natural food colouring, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. With a Neal's yard rose bud!

Since Helen is training as a teacher,I sent 2 teaching books, one of which was really useful on my PGCE.  They looked pretty ugly so I bought a little folder to put them into to pretty them up!

All in all, I was pleased with what I had managed to compile here and really glad she  liked it!

As several items were handmade, I count this towards my Annie the felt fairy Make a month!

Have you done any swaps recently.  Put a link in the comments, I love having a nosy!!!!

Faith Hope and Charity swap... (and a peek at my Chap outfit!)

Hello there!  Hurrah, it's Sunday evening, that time of doom and gloom!  But I will not be downcast, because I have lots of fine thoughts and happy memories to think about! 
Yesterday, I went to my local town to pick up my Faith Hope and Charity swap parcel from the lovely Helen of I accidently spent my wages in Topshop, who excitingly for me, is soon to be a teacher too! She's lovely so you MUST go and check out her blog!
 Inside, I found all manner of Union flag covered parcels!



 First up was this beautiful card (which made me think wistfully of hot summers!) in which Helen had sent me a lovely message and explained each of her presents (I hurriedly put it down  at that moment to resume reading after opening them!)

 I adore bunting and I adore Cath Kidston- therefore, what could be more perfect than beautiful bunting made from Cath Kidston in two of my favourites- stars and flowers! Such a thoughful gift! (One shouldn't have favourites, but this is my favourite gift!)

 Helen very sweetly worriedly (and unnecessarily I might add!) mentioned in the card that she hoped this homemade heart was more shabby-chic than shabby which it certainly was.  She sewed it herself and it looks brilliant and it smells gorgeous!!!! It's scented with rose.  Such a great handmade gift- I am too scared to try to make one of these- my sewing is hopeless, so I am very impressed that Helen did!

 She made me laugh in the card with this present of Cath Kidston tissues as she said, 'Imagine my despair when I saw you'd received the same ones in your other swap!'.  I am always in need of a tissue and these ones are so so pretty, you can never have enough! No despair necessary, they are a perfect gift, even if I'd received them in 10 swaps!

 The next present was really useful as I lost my coin-token from my keyring some months ago and it was really irking me to have an empty keyring plus this one is so so much cuter than my lost frog one!

 The next present is absolutely adorable, a tea cup and spoon necklace that Helen found in a charity shop!  How could she bear to part with it?  It's so dainty and cute and totally me- I love this type of quirky necklace and I especially love tea-cups and pots!

 Here's the whole collection, looking lovely despite being on my messy table!

 Ahrgh, I forgot to take a picture of the notebook- look underneath that lot to see the fab Union-jack notebook!  This is a brilliant gift for me as I always want to write  notes, music, lyrics, lesson ideas, and anything that suddenly inspires me

Thank you so much to Helen (if you want to see what I sent Helen, click on this link.  I will do a post later though.)  for such a lovely parcel and being  a great swap partner and a big thanks to Lakota for her superwoman organisation skills with dishing out the partners!

Today, I spent much of my day at the Chap Olympiad in Bedford Square!  It was raining much of the time but we had a rather spiffing time.  I will post photos once I've had a chance to sort through them!

Here is a brief sneak peak at what I wore (Post Olympiad hence why hair and other accessories are missing.  When CBC sends me photos, I'll show you the proper thing!

So what have you been up to on this rather chilly but grand day?

Faith, hope and Charity swap!

Another post that failed to do as it was told!  Here it is a little late!
Hello there!  Taking part in Lakota's Christmas, Faith, Hope and Charity Swap, I was the lucky recipient of wonderful packages from the delightful Millicent of New World!

I was so overwhelmed with how carefully she's obviously looked at my posts and blog which is reflected so kindly and perfectly in the aptness of all her gifts! 

Firstly, a lovely vibrant card for her and a lovely Snow flake card from Master T her son, to say thank you for his book I sent him!

 A WONDEFUL pack of blank cards for card making!  I was just thinking I needed some new ones as my supply of plain cream ones is running pretty low!

 MMmMmmmmmmmmm chocolate.  Need I say more?!!!

 A lovely bright angel/fairy for a Christmas tree (which I lack but which will hang on a door!!)

 A wonderful K for Kezzie which I look forward to finding a place for!  Very suitable considering my proximity to London!  I presume this is the handmade element but I wasn't sure since it is so well made! (you can tell what is handmade of mine!)

 A Doctor Who guide!  Love it !!!!  Great since I am so behind with the Matt Smith era!!!

 A  hat a hat a hat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was so excited when I opened this parcel!!!!!  It's so fun- nothing like any hat I have!  It's a wonderful speckled pink colour with a cute ribbon around the brim!  It doesn't show how cute it is off, so I of course have to model it for you (Let them eat hats 30!)

 And my joint favourite, this wonderful note book which has a lovely textured cover and a protective elastic.  I always have to have a notepad with me to make notes, to write down poems, write down sudden inspiration for song writing, music writing, card ideas, and thoughts and prayers as I ponder!  I absolutely love this!

 And finally this lovely Charlotte Bronte bookmark.  She didn't know this but I was in Bronte house at school so I feel a real affection for the Bronte sisters (I read some of their books as a 12 year old purely for this reason!) Also, I really love this quote because I really feel it reflects my outlook on life.  I've always had a go at doing lots of things, always having a hectic life full of many activities,  and people have berated me through life saying that I could end up as a 'Jack of all trades and master of none' or worried that I am going to burn out but it reflects my zeal for life!

 Thank you sooo much for my wonderful gifts.  I feel in comparison that my presents, though I spent a long time thinking about them, really don't do justice to how thoughtful and clever she has been in buying me presents!   Thanks also to Lakota for organising this swap!  I enjoyed it! I also like the fact that you feel like you've made a new friend through a swap!

Here's what I got her which seemed pathetic by comparisson!

Singing upbeat, Sunday upmarket!

Hello!  Brrrr, it's cold today!  I've had a lovely day with special moments.  I took my choir of 9-11 year olds to sing at an elderly nursing home at a nearby hospital.  They were in good spirits walking up there.   We sang in around 6 cluster lounges to a variety of residents some of whom were very very ill and the joy and delight and emotion we beheld in their eyes at the sound of the children was truly wonderful.  It made me feel truly humble and priveleged to be able to offer the gift of music and reminiscence through the voices of my young proteges.  I think it is so important for our children to serve the community they work in because it gives them a real sense of humanity, love, giving and humility- they were touched too.  2 particular old gentlemen were really affected by it- one had been a church organist for 60 years before he finally went blind, another conducted us as we sang.  An old lady called Lillian had a tear in her eye as we left and the smiles were ample reward for the long walk there.  There were many who could not speak and some who didn't seeem to respond to us but we do not know the blessings that we give in life sometimes.    Tomorrow we are going to sing at another Elderly care home and I am glad and honoured.  It will be the third public performance my choir has given in 4 days.

These photos were taken yesterday up at Spitalfields where I went Christmas shopping with CBC.  I adore it there- so many pretty things to see, admire and wonder at.  I may have mentioned before, that I am seriously rubbish at doing my hair!  Pretty much all I can do is a scruffy pony-tail, a plait, bunches and twisted up (which always falls down).  Inspired by my vintage feel dress (Pearl Lowe at Peacocks last year), I decided to try and do something different with my hair which worked out quite well and will try again if I perform a Great Gatsby music theatre piece again or Cabaret!!  

 Notice 2 unsmiling shots.  CBC told me I need to be more natural!  But I feel stupid in pictures so I just grin manically!  Not sure about this serious expression.  My past is littered with so many horrid unsmiling photos of me which are so unflattering!!!  We had tea, hot chocolate and cake in the lovely Market coffee house which we always seem to visit which dispelled the winter freeze. (I wore totally unmatching grey tights with butterfly print on! Just seen..)

 Didn't buy many presents unfortunately, except we paid a visit to Sunday Upmarket on Brick Lane where I bought this gorgeous bunny mirror brooch for my friend Anne and this bunny necklace for me! I wish they'd done earring versions!

 Inspired by Gem at Dreams of life in the country, I am reading a Christmas book - notably, DIckens, A Christmas carol  and 2 other Dickens Christmas offerings not yet previously read.  This is the first year in 4 years where I haven't been teaching a Literacy unit based on a Christmas Carol (my best Literacy plan ever I feel!!!)  and so I felt bereft!

How's your Christmas shopping going?  Are you up to any pursuits that are geting you into the spirit of it!  It's great being both a) a primary teacher and b) a musician as I am totally immersed in it!!!!!

400th post! A horrid awakening but think of a happy place with lucky finds!

This is my 400th post I just noticed! Due to the joys of scheduled posting, you may not have realised but I have been away for 10 days! I have been completely incommunicado (well apart from a sneaky check of e-mails) so I had no idea about the absolute horror and chaos that has been going on. I returned home late yesterday and resolved to watch no TV, so the first I heard was when my sister phone me to beg me to stay inside and not go anywhere some hours ago.

As she phoned, the imbecilic and egregious idiots that have chosen to wreak chaos in East London, descended on my home town (I live in a suburb nearby) to attack a supermarket and police station. I am staggered to believe that such things can occur. The problem quite simply is they fear no one- not their parents, the police, the government, God. A relative had a brick thrown at his car and we are praying for him as he works that all will be safe. A friend who I phoned to warn of the nearby events was driving home and she saw youths walking towards the town centre carrying sticks with their hoods up and handkerchiefs round their faces. Cowards. If you are going to do such cowardly deeds, at least have the courage to show your face. Where will they be if they need the police, if they need to buy food, if they need help. There will be nothing left. I hope and pray that they will realise what fallacies there are in their actions and gain some compassion and that all those who have to work (police, fire, ambulance, bus drivers etc) will be safe from harm.

In a bid to take my mind off the real world which has so rudely interrupted my seclusion from technology, I decided to post some pictures from my holiday.
I was camping in Buckinghamshire, practising and performing music with a large group of friends. The place I went to holds many dear memories, I have been going there since I was a teenager.

CBC and I arrived late on Friday night and grappled with our large tent (to feature in another post). Saturday morning was a delight, singing a beautiful Mass by a composer called Victoria
(a man, some 400 years ago or so). Then in the afternoon, it was time to go down to the local village for their annual fete which we were providing a windband for. We walked down the steep hill, through cool shady woods, through parched fields and along a winding road lined with beautiful houses to reach the village green.

This is your typical quintessentially English country fayre, so there were plenty of exhibits to view- vegetables, cakes, flower arrangements, crafts and all that!
I arrived early so I went to look in the exhibits.
These sweet peas caught my eye:

as did these proud looking onions.

Of course, it isn't a fayre without bunting and bouncy castles....

... knocking down skittles against bales of hay...

There was an amazing display of vintage vehicles including this funky tanker...

A rather lovely car. Please excuse the mangled individual attempting to break in...

Our favourite was this bus/coach. CBC really suited it, especially after he purchased a rather fetching picnic hamper in the brickabrack...

Imagine riding a bus with this interior!!!! I love this shot of CBC. He looks so cute!

I desperately tried to avoid the double chin...

The walk to the village was charming...

Don't you wish you lived in an ivy covered cottage!

In addition to CBC's hamper, buoyed by intense jealousy at one of our fellow campers who won an amazing hamper last year, we plagued the tombola with our business. At first our fruits were few: 2 cans of Pepsi for me, a bottle of sherrry for CBC and a Chilli notebook. Then AHA, I struck gold and won a small hamper (below) lovely basket stuffed with oriental goods, nice couscous, coconut milk, French duck pate and other things! I was soooooo chuffed!

However, the place I was looking forward to most was the Brickabrack tent. Fuelled by an intense longing to find exciting articles such as Vintage Vixen regularly finds, I was one of the first to enter the tent! I managed to find one or two really pleasing articles.

First, I found this ingenious bracelet which was crafted out of an old silver dessert fork. Not bad for less than a pound! There were also 2 spoon ones but they weren't as groovy!

Several friends went back to the tent after I showed them in hope of buying the spoon ones but they had gone sadly. Am sure it will look lovely after I've attacked with with a silver cloth.

This grey pearl (unlikely to be real) necklace was also pleasing!

My favourite purchase was a pure silk cream ankle length kimono which cost £2
- which was perfect as I'd forgotten to bring a dressing gown (useful for tramping across the field in) Photos are just a closeup of the fabric as it is too creased (stuffed in my suitcase) to show!

Then I found these pretty pearly clip-on earrings which I could imagine with lots of dresses!

Also, I gained this pretty shell bangle...

And SUNGLASSES, perfect since I'd forgotten mine and the sun was beating down intensely!

Finally, I bought the board game TABOO which is great fun- you have to describe words without saying certain Taboo words in order to do this!

Once I had prised myself away from the Brickabrack, I went to go and screech away on the piccolo for the band (great fun except for the usual problem of music flying away!). We played such classics as Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Edwardiana Waltz, The Banner of St George and other tunes that you'd recognise. Everyone was cheerful and the audience seemed to enjoy it. CBC had a delightful wander and we both ate delicious Beechdean ice-cream seperately and together, a South African barbecued sausage. As we delightedly regarded our haul we were suddenly aware that we had accumulated a rather large amount of luggage to lug up a very steep hill in boiling temperatures and that we must also try to stuff it into an already crammed car on the return journey....

More soon...