The usual catch up

So this is it you lot.

In about 30 minutes we are loading the car and off to Heathrow for the 9pm to Addis. This is crunch time - where we find out if baby Noah is really, truly going to ours - imagine the most stressed you have ever been and then times it by 100 and you will be close to how I am feeling right now. Yesterday leaving work was horrible, Charmian my colleague cannot for the life of her understand why I was sad, but leaving all my lovely boys and girls was a bit gut wrenching - I got two brill cards and some awesome flowers from my first years - I think Siobhan and Milly werre behind it, so thank you lovelies!

This is basically a round up of what has gone down recently and today's unusual events - i.e. packing for an 11 month old!! 

How am I going to blog as a non textiles teacher?????? Well only temporarily......

After enjoying making the pics for Noah's room so much I thought I would make some for the stall - a lot of making took place over the Easter hols for fear of having no time or desire upon our return from Africa!

Birds of course!

My fabby pal Caroline had a birthday - she of  the "A year of living brilliantly" blog  http://carolinepeene.blogspot.co.uk/ and we had an amazing and incredibly boozy lunch with her and some of her other very nice friends - I have stolen these images from her blog!

I wish I hadn't seen this link on her blog though! http://www.husandhem.co.uk/

My birthday offering!

Back at college Emma-Jane has gone dino crazy - we found these on Pinterest and decided to have a go!

More spray paint coats needed but you get the idea!!!

 I became addicted to the idea for Noah's room - so she picked me up a handful from Hawkins Bazaar! What a sweet girl she is!

Here is my scarily good card from the first years - Yes I'm ALWAYS late and yes, I ALWAYS have a Costa in my hand!!!!

Let me tell you - the flowers were HUGE! I had a raging cold and couldn't smell them initially, apparently the staff room gave everyone a headache!! 

How sweet is this? Ivan's (Mr Bicknell's) last Rolo!

As a last Mum and daughter jolly (who are we kidding?) Mum and I went to Bournemouth for a spot of pampering - we also popped into the aquarium - oh I do love a good aquarium!

I wouldn't recommend the hotel we stayed in - the Royal Bath - more like a Royal Laugh, but my Mum is very good company so it was fine!

Blimey - you can't take her anywhere!!!

She didn't even pick them up!

Card number two - both made me cry!

And a final goodbye - so long Alton College!

The second years also made me endure this......

So, the next time I blog, hopefully this room will be occupied!

Easter holiday treats

I was lucky enough to get a huge amount of Amazon vouchers for my birthday and aside from spending them on crap American drama - this time round Parenthood - continuing with my addiction of the fabulous Lauren Graham, I invested in some inspirational material - I am planning on being one of those irritating Mums! Things I love is a book my Megan Morton - stylist extraordinaire, and a book I have been hankering after for ages - it doesn't disappoint! Has all sorts of goodies inside and a book I know I will return to time and time again. Organic by the Zapitza studio will provide lots of pattern inspiration - especially as I can feel a change of direction coming on! A Zeal of Zebras isn't really for me - but I love it and it is going to have to be looked after by our potential little man! And speaking of which - I think I might need some evening entertainment in Africa and wool is light right?.............

Megan Morton new book 'Things I Love' from Megan Morton on Vimeo.

http://www.meganmorton.com/things/

http://kapitza.com/

The flash cards are next - who knew that a group of polar bears was called an Aurora?!

I also discovered Sweet Paul Magazine - worth a look...

Check it out here...
http://www.sweetpaulmag-digital.com/sweetpaulmag/spring2013#pg1

Facebook goodies - Worth sharing I think!

You have to watch this!

Easter holiday productivity

So the Easter holidays have been productive for us - for example, lots of baby stuff and baby proofing has been taking place - I have discovered that after 12 years, Ivan (Mr Bicknell) can actually "do" DIY! Blimey, who would have thought that stair gates would be successfully hung, or cupboard doors could be beautifully fashioned? Err, not I, that's for sure! But it's true, and our house is slowly morphing into a place that is to accommodate a little person. I just hope that all goes well and he gets to see all our hard work! 

Aside from all the baby stuff Ivan (Mr Bicknell) has been squeezing in as much climbing as possible, and so far, I have been printing my little heart out, tidied up the garden, (- did you catch the sun last Saturday?), cleared out draws and cupboards, eaten chocolate eggs, entertained (swearing never to drink again after one such evening) and been to London. We still have a great deal to do before flying out in a couple of weeks, but at least our flights are now booked - bloody hell! Did I mention that I still need you all to keep your fingers crossed?!

The climber

Yikes.... 

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before, but when Ivan (Mr Bicknell) goes climbing/adventuring he finds me a stone - not just any old nondescript old rock, but something that comes shaped as a heart (awww) - I proudly (sadly?) have a whole dish of them on our hearth - this whopper came to me last week all the way from cheddar gorge - sunnyside terrace apparently!

New clutch purses
and books...

Did you have a lovely papier mache chicken? No? Well get yours next year from the Paisley Cat in Farnham..

https://www.facebook.com/PaisleyCatLtd

Deborah and I went to London - the dedicated lecturers that we are!

After admiring the skateboard graveyard on Hungerford footbridge we headed over to Somerset House to see the Crafted exhibit - I had no idea that this was on, but Deborah fortunately keeps her ear to the ground! It was well worth the visit and the craftsmanship simply took my breath away. I'm afraid that if you haven't seen it, it's too late, but check it out on line if you want to know more!

A spot of lunch at Tom's Deli also went down a treat!

Next stop was the Design Museum (always further along the Southbank than I think - so good exercise - not sure Deborah saw it that way though, but we did get to walk through Borough Market and sample some awesome chocolate - and well, maybe I might have bought some too, and as I sit here munching it, I can confirm it's just as good at home!) - I try to visit the Designs of the year exhibit every year - it blows my mind that so much great stuff is being designed every single day - especially when so much actually contributes to education and even saving lives. 

"The Designs of the Year awards, ‘The Oscars of the design world' showcase the most innovative and imaginative designs from around the world, over the past year, spanning seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Transport and Product. Category winners and the overall winner will be decided by a jury and announced on 16 April 2013."

And being the mug that I am -  I even spent a day at college so that the dedicated few could go in and work - it at least gave me the chance to put my books together which involves lots of hammering that my neighbours aren't particularly fond of - so everyone's a winner!

Nicole working hard!

Josie - not even a textile girlie - Charmian will be pleased!