My week #46

I have been very spoilt this week.. First a magnificent parcel from Anne-Flore with lots of beautiful handmade goodies for me, and books and games for the boys (merci beaucoup Anne-Flore!!), then Hermine's Advent calendar (merci Hermine!!), then Betsy's crocheted stars (thank you!!) / a 7th birthday party for M - treasure hunt, movie night and pancakes (he doesn't like cake anymore apparently..) / opening my Advent calendar (so excited!!)

Today..

The sweetest little package to ever land in my letterbox.. I'm in love!
These cute little creatures were made for me by Marie - thank you SO much, you have no idea how much I love them!!

Book swap

"A boat washes up on the shore of a remote lighthouse keeper's island. It holds a dead man and a crying baby. The only two islanders, Tom and his wife Izzy, are about to make a devastating decision.

They break the rules and follow their hearts. What happens next will break yours."

At a loss as to which book to buy to take on holiday, I chose this one purely based on Amazon customer reviews and it turned out to be one of my favourite summer reads - totally compelling and totally heartbreaking..

If you think you'd like to read it, let me know and I'll happily send it to you! And please feel free to pass it on once you've read it (or not!).

Reminder of previous book swaps here!

In the post..

Before leaving for France, I popped a couple of envelopes in the post..
My little surprise package..

And fabric squares for 2 Bai Jia Beis (or 100 Good wishes quilt)..

Have you ever heard of the Bai Jia Bei? It is a tradition in northern China for family and friends to each contribute a piece of fabric towards a quilt for a newborn baby and to accompany the fabric with some good wishes written on a card.

Bai Jia Beis have been popping up on lots of French blogs recently and although I might never make one for my boys (they each have a quilt my mum made for them), I love the idea of taking part and then spotting my little bits of fabric in the middle of so many others, just like here! I sent polka dots to Marie Dardennes for her little boy and pastel colours to Hermine for her new baby girl. Helene is looking for pink, grey, purple and turquoise squares for her 2 girls and Camille has just finished her little girl's BJB and is now looking for blue squares for her boy's - join in if you like!

Book swap

A little while ago, I saw The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Aprilfourteenth. I promptly ordered and read it. After seeing it there and here, Betsy was very keen to read it so I sent it to her, with my name, city and the date written at the back of the front cover, suggesting she might like to do the same once she's finished with it and send it on to someone else for them to enjoy. She then mentioned the idea of a book swap and I thought that was a lovely idea..

Usually I tend to keep my favourite things to myself.. My favourite books gather up dust on a shelf, destined in most cases never to be read again.. Today I'd like to share my latest read, the story of a shy, incredibly intelligent and not so popular teenage boy growing up.. A very touching read, highly recommended!


If you think you'd like to read it (and then pass it on if you wish), just leave a comment and I'll let a little hand draw a name on Friday.

What are you reading? I have nothing on the go, so any recommendations welcome!

In my letterbox.. #4

I feel very spoiled this week.. another lovely surprise in my letterbox today..
After I mentioned my mug rug debacle, Hermine offered to make some crocheted ones for me and a few days later.. here they are! No sooner had I received them than I put them to good use. I love them, thank you so much Hermine!

Hermine is making a Bai Jia Bei for her baby girl (born today!!) and needs some fabric squares (20x20cm) in pastel colours. If you'd like to take part, leave a comment here!

In my letterbox.. #3

After I sent her one of my mini-Advent-calendar-little-pocket-wall-hanging-thing as part of my Craft it forward, Eva-Mona sent me all those lovely goodies as part of hers: a beautiful crocheted potholder in one of my favourite colours, a Liberty bracelet with a teapot charm, sweets, tea and chocolate, a notebook and post it notes that I actually wanted to buy myself.. It's like she knew me, those are all my favourite things!!
Thank you so much Eva, you got it spot on!

And a few hundreds of miles away, someone else was enjoying my Craft it forward. I love seeing the things I send in their new homes!

In my letterbox.. #2

 

Another heavenly package from Anne-Flore.. I sent her this and she really spoilt me! A piece of my favourite Liberty and some other fabric, chocolate, masking tape, stamps and lots of other lovely goodies.. Look at those beautiful little mice, such delicate work, I love it!!

Check out her Playmobil DIYs here, here, here, here and here. Anne-Flore has got a wealth of original and cute ideas, with easy to follow instructions (in French but happy to help translate!), I'm a fan!

Thank you Anne-Flore!