Are you too critical?

I have just finished my latest project. Whilst making him, I absolutely enjoyed every minute, however as I get nearer to finishing a project I become more and more critical and start finding fault. I drive myself and everyone around me mad with my criticism. May I add that I am never this critical about other peoples work. If I were to see some of my creations on other peoples sites I would love their work but I find it easier to find faults in my works than the positives. Anyway here he is and he will be staying here with us for the time being. He has a party blower and his party outfit on and is just waiting for an invitation to fall through the door!

A panda is next on the agenda as an Easter pressie for Will, not made one before and am quite excited. Its funny how every creation, even when following a pattern turns out very differently!!!

Am also covering some letters (bought from Hobbycraft some time ago) in old maps. Gavla says its very unoriginal “Home” but what does he know!

This week I will be booking tickets for the Country Living Spring Fair for myself and two friends which we visit every year. Its held at London Business Centre and I can throughly recommend it. Note to self, take camera to take lots of piccies this year!!!!

Have a good week my lovelies, there will be a giveaway coming up soon once I reach  20 “bloggie” followers for it to happen. More details to follow. Have a good week, lots of love Dottie May xxxx

PS Haven't posted any piccies of the white stuff, cant stand it and left it to Gavla and Will to go sledging at the country park and to build a snowman, bah humbug!

Why aren’t I losing weight?

Today I spent the day at home catching up on some much needed housework and baking. Was meant to be undercoating a cupboard but got abit distracted baking. First it was chocolate fudge which I had a really bad craving for after visiting Roly’s in Brighton and I have to say the results were quite yummy. Next were brownies which are Will’s favourite, although I cannot put nuts in so that he can take them in his lunch box. Finally some yummy scones which have to be eaten warm with REAL butter, none of this low fat margarine rubbish. Trouble is, every time I walked past the fudge a piece jumped into my mouth and I had to test run the brownies and scones as I thought I’d take some in for the girls at work tonight. I just don’t understand why my diet’s not working?!

Anyway, best go and get my head down for an hour before I head of to work for the night.

Big hugs, Sam (AKA Dottie May) xxx

Show and tell

On Friday I spent a lovely day with my eldest sister Joy in Brighton. We didn’t grow up together as there are 14 years between us and she literally had my first niece 18 months after my mum had me. My nieces and I grew up together and spent quite a lot of time together, so in a way we were more like sisters. Its funny though, as we have grown older we have grown closer and now have so much in common, the only thing she doesn’t get is Cath Kidston – I know, how could you not I hear you cry!

We love the North Laines in Brighton and that’s always our first port of call, there are lots of little shops selling unusual items, one offs and lots of vintage items, although being Brighton they are always totally overpriced. Discovered the best fudge shop in the world "Roly’s", they do have other branches all over the country. My Nanny and Mum used to make fudge (basic ingredients are evaporated milk and castor sugar) and this is the closest thing I’ve ever found to it. The smell is something else in the shop. Will defo be going back there for LOTS more. Sorry no piccies as have scoffed it all.

Last shop we went visited there was a jewellery (of the junk kind!) shop called Riley and Dowse. I fell in love with a necklace but walked away to “have a think about it”. Had a ponder and decided that I couldnt live without it and later went back for it.

Then we headed up to the main shops (well TK Maxx, Primark and Lego Shop). We don’t really venture up this end of town, we can visit most of the shops at a more local town for shops like that!

By now we were ready for lunch. We wandered down to the old Lanes to a pub that we have been to before, what a bargain lunch. A pint, prawn sarnie, chips and side salad for a fiver. A fiver! Blooming lovely aswell. Leaving there stuffed we headed to Cath, lots of lovelies but nothing that I couldn’t resist bringing home.

By now it was time to make our way home so I could pick Will up from drama.

What a fab day out and am looking forward to our next trip in four weeks time to Chichester, oh what a shame, theres a Cath shop there too!!!

Oh sorry did you want to see some piccies of what I bought, oh go on then

My haul for the day

Lovely new towels

A little something for Valentines Day

Lovely new tea towels

This one may be framed

Lovely Christmas ribbon and dove cutter

Japanese tape

Mr Grumpy Big Bear necklace

Fab plates and cups for camping trips

Finally this is my latest project I'm working on. Can you tell what it is yet?





 Hope you all have a fab week and will catch up soon, big hugs, Dottie May xxxx

To cut or not to cut?

Today included a trip to town with Mum. I left mum mooching round BHS and shot to Oxfam to have a quick lookie at the books - I was looking for inspiration! You see I have this new obsession, making little cardboard houses covered in old books. Eventually they will be hung on a string at the windows (but dont tell Gavla, I know he wont be loving it, he just doesnt get it!).
These are the completed ones so far made vintage ladybird books and old maps. 
`

Well I came across this book in Oxfam, music sheets fantastic idea for my little houses I thought and only £2.99.

I trundled up to the counter to pay and the dear lady serving my said "Ohhh, thats nearly as old as me!" Inside the book was this inscription. A Grandma had given it to her Grand Daughter in 1933, 78 years ago!!!!

Now I am in a predicament, I dont know if I have the heart to cut it up but if I dont, it will just sit on a bookshelf unread and unloved. Whereas if I chop it up it will be enjoyed every day. So my question to you dear readers is what would you do? Toodle pip till next time xxx

My Dad, my inspiration

My Dad was my inspiration for this blog. It was something that I had wanted to do for a long time but did not feel that my life was interesting enough, or, that I had enough time to dedicate to this blog. That all changed on the 1st of October last year. My Dad, Bernie, aged 81 was in and out of hospital for quite along time with blood and kidney problems. Eventually, as agreed he began kidney dialysis in the summer of 2011. This was going to be the beginning and end of all his health problems. As hard as it seemed that he would have to go to hospital three times a week, to be hooked up to a machine for several hours a day, it seemed worth it, if it was going to give him a good quality of life for the other four days a week. He was not keen but basically there was no alternative. The doctors and nurses said that it would be four to five weeks before we noticed an improvement. Well we waited but he only seemed to get worse. Eventually they did a lumber puncture.

I had a cold so decided that it was best that I did not visit him this particular day and then I got the phone call. It was a Saturday, my eldest sister Joy phoned, , I kind of expected it. "Its not good news" were her words. I went onto autopilot, stuff the cold, I needed to be with him and my mum. My eldest sister picked me up and we drove there, there were lots of tears and total disbelief about what was happening.

My Dad was diagnosed with leukaemia and was given 3-6 months, selfishly I thought please don't die at Christmas, I love Christmas and didn't want it tarnished with such a sad thing happening. We bought my Dad home and had help from the Macmillan nurses to nurse and care for Dad at home. None of us could stand the thought of him going into a hospice and dying there.

Dad died peacefully on the 27th October 2011 just after 9pm. He had seen his three daughters and wife that day, whether he was aware or not we will never know.

My tribute to my Dad that I read at his funeral:

A Tribute For My Dad

I wanted to write something about my Dad, but didn’t know where to start.

No amount of words are enough to sum up how much I loved him and what a special man he was.

To me, my Dad was the best dad in the world and gave so much to me. I have such cherished memories of my childhood and things we did together – not the most conventional dad/daughter past times – skinning fish, making cider and mushroom hunting! We also spent many happy family days out at Pagham beach where Dad kept his boat. Myself, Nick and Min would be given some money and sent off to the slot machines, anything for a bit of peace and quiet!

 I know now that money was tight and Dad and Mum worked hard to give us a good life and I never felt I went without.

 About 10 years ago Dad got an allotment and I soon followed him when one became available. We spent some special times there, working together on each others allotment and would both come away after a hard days work feeling a real sense of achievement.

 I will miss you so much Dad and I am proud to have called you my Dad.

 Till we meet again and I know we will, I love you so much and thank you.

I know that this may seem a morbid opening to my blog but it is important that you all understand what the inspiration was to me starting this blog.    


Big hugs, Sam (AKA Dottie May) xxxxxx