Giveaway Winner Announcement

It's time to announce my giveaway winner.  Thank you to EVERYONE who entered.  If only I could send you ALL a prize!!!

I put all of your names into a recently-washi-taped jar (a new crafty obsession of mine).

I gave them a good shake up.  

Then I delved in (taking care not to get my hand stuck inside, of course) and picked out a winner.  

And the winner is.....

Congratulations, Mia! Your prize (some Crafted by Carly bits and bobs) is all wrapped up, and will be on its way to you shortly.

See you all soon, my dears.....

Carly

x

  

Vintage Couture Exhibition

I just HAD to share a few more holiday snaps from Norfolk with you.....

While we were there, we visited Holkham Hall (well worth a visit if you’re in the area, as is Holkham beach, and Holkham village shops).  We were lucky enough to catch their ‘Glamour and Gowns’ exhibition – a collection of vintage ballgowns and sewing patterns created by the society dressmaker Belinda Bellville.

The gowns on display were from the 60s, 70s and 80s – and were all AMAZING!!!  I spent so long gawping at them that the curator-lady started giving me strange looks.  Maybe she was reading my mind as I considered how I might possibly sneak behind the barriers and have a quick try-on!?!

Here are some of the frocks.....

Aren’t they stunning???  Which one's your favourite?  I think mine’s the one with the red sticky-out skirt and pink bodice (in the top photo). 

If you're as in love with these dresses as I am, you can find out more about Belinda Bellville and the Holkham exhibition here.  You can even watch a video clip – and see more of the frocks!!!

I wonder if any of her patterns are still available anywhere on the internet.....  Off to have a look.....

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY if you haven't already.  You can find all the details here.  I'll be randomly picking a winner on Tuesday.

Carly

x

Handmade Fathers' Day Card

Happy (British) Fathers' Day to all the Dads out there!  And an extra-special happy Fathers' Day to the best dad of them all - mine (of course..... well, I think so)!

I've been really good so far this year in working on my aim of making more (and buying less) greetings cards.  But, so far, I haven't made any cards for men.  Making for men is difficult, don't you think?

So, I decided to challenge myself to make a Father's Day card.  And here's what I came up with.....

  

I hope he's going to like it.....

And, because I know he reads this (that's how brilliant a dad he is)......

HAVE A GREAT DAY, DAD!!!  LOVE YOU!!!

Carly

x

2nd Blogging Birthday Giveaway

Today’s my second ‘bloggiversary’ – hooray!  I really can’t believe that I’ve been doing this for two whole years!

I LOVE blogging.

 
I sometimes feel as though I put too much pressure on myself to get posts up, and I sometimes get annoyed with myself for spending too much time sitting in front of my computer. I get a bit nervous before I post things about myself, or before I do a show-and-tell of something I’ve made. I worry that people won’t visit me here, or that they might not like what I’m doing. I feel guilty if I haven’t visited certain blogs for a while, and I feel bad if I don’t get around to replying to the comments people leave me here..... 

But, I REALLY DO LOVE BLOGGING!!!

I love playing at being an author and a photographer, and I love keeping a record of all of the crafty (and some not so crafty) things that I do. I love receiving comments and emails from 'visitors', and having the chance to ask for feedback on what I’m doing. I love visiting other people’s blogs, getting inspired, and chit-chatting with like-minded souls from all around the globe. And, most of all, I LOVE all of the wonderful bloggy FRIENDS that I’ve made over the past two years!!!

I really can’t believe how great blogging pals are – and I’m so grateful to all of you for visiting me here, writing to me, encouraging me, and just being such blinking brilliant friends!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! 

 
And, to say THANK YOU once more, I’m going to host a little giveaway. If you enter, you could find yourself winning these summery Crafted by Carly goodies:

There’s a stripy (CK fabric) sunglasses case.....

..... with a spotty-dotty lining.....

..... and two little rosette pins (one blue and one red).....

All matchy-matchy, of course!

To enter, all you need to do is:

1)  Follow my blog

2)  Leave a comment under this post, letting me know what’s YOUR favourite thing about blogging 

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

I’ll leave the giveaway open for two weeks, and randomly pick a winner on Tuesday 25^th June.  Of course, it’s open to everybody, no matter whereabouts in the world you are. 

Good luck!

Hugs to you all!

Carly

x

Half-Term in Norfolk

Thank you all SO much for your comments on my previous two posts!  I scheduled them before we went away for our half-term holiday, and having your lovely messages waiting for me when we got back softened the blow of returning to ‘real life’!

We spent the week in a caravan, in beautiful Norfolk, with my parents.  I think Norfolk is my VERY favourite part of the UK, and (as some of you know already) I LOVE caravans!!!  So, this was the perfect break for me.  

We were pretty lucky with the weather (a few really sunny days, and no rain), and spent the week relaxing and exploring the charming little towns and villages, stunning coastline, and superb eateries of North Norfolk.

Of course, I’ve prepared a little ‘show-and-tell’ of our trip for you.  Here we go.....

Our caravan was a 2-minute walk from the wonderful Wells beach, with its pine forests, dunes, beach huts, miles and miles of soft, soft sand, and big blue skies that go on forever and ever.

If you’ve been visiting me here for a while, you’ll know that, wherever we go on holiday, I always befriend some ducks.  This trip was no exception!  Yippeeee!!!  Our caravan was right next to a lake, so we had plenty of ducky visitors. 

Of course, I lured them in by offering a range of tasty artisan breads......  then announced that I thought they might like a bowl of water.  Simon and my dad said they thought I was crazy (the ducks had an enormous lake – why would they need a bowl of water!?!).  But my mom was in agreement with me, and we scoured the caravan cupboards until we found a Pyrex casserole dish – perfect!  And, did the ducks appreciate it???

  

Of course they did!  Look at Mrs Duck’s face – she’s clearly smiling!

Here are a few more photos from our wonderful week away.....

Sigh!!!  Why do holidays always pass by so quickly?!? 

Do you have any holidays planned for the summer?

Carly

x