Birthday Parties in The Shed

One of the things I offer in my new workshop is Craft Parties.  Birthday Parties, Hen Parties, Baby Showers, Retirement Parties and more...

Last week I had my first two Birthday Parties for youngsters.

I cater for up to 12 children from age 8  (the birthday child can be 8, meaning some of the friends might be 7) but as a special favour for a friend I did a party for Ava age 6.

Ava wanted a Troll Party, so everything was Troll themed.

First we made some decoupaged rainbow houses for a little Troll to live in.

I was so busy that I completely forgot to take photos of all the fabulous little Troll houses, but they were great.

Then after some party food provided by Grandma and a fabulous Troll cake....

... we went on to make some Troll Hats.  Again I forgot photos, but the hats were fab, fleece strips glued onto a cardboard cone and decorated.

Lots of little girls (and a couple of boys) went away quite happy with their makes.


And just two days later another party happened.  This time it was for Izzy, who turned eight.

The theme this time was fairy gardens.

We started by painting Toadstools, which could be for little birds to feed, or of course Fairies to hide in.
They were painted beautifully in fabulous metallic colours.

After food, again brought to the event in party boxes, they went on to do some scratch-art magnets in the shape of fairies  (and a cat for the young man).
The more black you scratch off with these magnets, the more colour you reveal.  There was some lovely patterns here..

If you fancy a party for your youngster, we cater to all budgets and themes (if we can!)

Just contact us  :)

www.soozintheshed.co.uk/childrens_parties.htm

Surprise birthday trip to Newcastle

Do you remember I mentioned, in my Big Fat Birthday post that my sister had something planned for the Thursday of that week?

Well, yesterday was Thursday, and I had strict instructions to meet her in town at 10.00am sharp!   TEN AM !  TEN in the MORNING!, me??

As it happens, Hubster is off work this week so he was making breakfast and bringing brews to try and get me sorted and out in time.

I had an inkling that we might be going somewhere on the train, wasn't sure where as a previous guess had been denied, but I did think the surprise involved a train ride.

So, we were wandering around town, looking in various shops, when she got a phone call - apparently she had agreed to lend a friend a tenner so had to go down to the station RIGHT NOW to give her it.  I did chuckle to myself.  (He he he, she must think I am stupid or something).

We get onto the platform, find the train - I realise we are heading to Newcastle, but as I pass the carriage I spot the party banners and balloons.   Seriously, that better NOT be for me!

"Is that for me, that better not be for me" I said, refusing to get on the train.  "Honestly, that better not be for me!"

But as I glanced down the carriage I noticed people were sitting at the table so it can't have been for me after all - thank goodness for small mercies!

Only, it was.  Because as I approached the table there sat my besties Lezley and Lorraine  (and a rather copious amount of alcohol!!  - Well, it was 10.30am by this point)

The sly buggers!

Julie had organised a girls day out.  Apart from the balloons and the banners I was a happy bunny, and cheerfully sat down to have a sneaky wee drink.

(I don't actually like Pimms, but this was gorgeous.)

When we got to Newcastle we were looking for a restaurant called "GA GA" in a place called "The Wall".

We looked for ages and ages.  Julie had been just a few weeks earlier and was dragging us around to find it.  Upon realising that we were going around in circles we decided to Google it and discovered it was actually called "ZA ZA (Bazaar)" in a place called "The Gate".

So near, and yet so far....   :)

This restaurant is a massive buffet place, with all different styles of food - Chinese, Indian, Thai, Italian, Pizza, Mexican, Old English, and more. (Oh salad too, we skipped that bit).

After a bowl of pasta made just for me at the pasta station, and (ahem) 2 and a bit plates of food, we were starting to feel a little stuffed.

Pudding time!

There were many, many puddings on offer, luckily only 4 were available to me (as a veggie) and I only liked two of those.  I say 'luckily' as I literally had no room left to squeeze them in. 

But I tried.  A little lemon meringue pie and a little banoffee pie.

Couldn't finish it!

Feeling more than uncomfortable we set off for a bit of shopping.  It was blooming hard work carrying all that food around, I can tell you.

We found a Primark (we don't have such a thing in our fair City back home)  and spent a good hour or so wandering up and down between the floors.

Julie bought two pairs of shoes.  She couldn't decide between white with blue stripes, or blue with white, so she got both  :)

All too soon it was time to come home again.   We jumped on the train, with out left-over cans of alco-pops and groaned all the way home about how much food we had eaten.

What a great day!   Thanks to all involved, but remember, I owe you one now  ;)

My big fat Birthday

Last Saturday (24th May) was my Birthday.

My own Birthday is never something I really bother with - I always tell people "not to bother", but they don't listen.

I think it stems from when I was young, we always seemed to be on Holiday on my birthday, which was great - it somehow feels more special as everyone is together.  However, it was usually a holiday camp like Pontins  (never Butlins) or Haven, or an independent, and there was usually entertainment.

Of course, the compare always asked "Any Birthdays in the house?" and the birthday kid would have to get up on stage while everyone sang 'Happy Birthday', then they got a t-shirt.   On my 10th birthday I remember the t-shirt being bright yellow with the camp's logo on the front.

My parents used to ask "don't you want a t-shirt?".  I kinda did want the t-shirt, I just didn't want to stand on stage while everyone sung to me, so I used to beg them to keep quiet.

I still feel the same, I like to brush my birthday under the carpet.  And, actually, I succeeded for many years until the good old rise of Facebook.  Even though I don't have my birthday listed on there, it only takes one person to know and put a "Happy Birthday" post on your wall for the WHOLE WORLD AND HIS WIFE to start wishing you birthday greetings.   :)

So, I suppose (begrudgingly) I should embrace the whole birthday thing and roll with it........ (I do like pressies though  ;) )

On the morning of "The Big Day", my lovely Hubster made me a brew and brought it up to bed, where he gave me a pressie from his Mum  (it has arrived in the week, addressed to him, because I cannot be trusted not to open it.  I accept and admit this allegation)

It was a cute owl bag, perfect for a project bag and just my kind of thing  :)

Look, full of wool already, how did that happen?

I always look forward to her beautiful cards, they are hand made using the craft of "quilling" (rolling paper up into little shapes, although I am sure there are better explanations)

Just look at the work that is put in, tiny little scrolls of paper, sprinkled with glitter..... gorgeous.

Speaking of home-made cards, I also got this beauty from my friend, Jan.  Isn't it just so pretty?

Hubster had got me tickets to go and see Dolly Parton in June, so really looking forward to that, apparently he has something else in mind too, but they were out of stock, so will have to wait for that :)

After a brew and toast it was time to go and visit Ruby the puppy.  Hopefully we are coming to the end of our visiting this week and will be bringing the little monkey home.

As it was my birthday, I bought 40 tennis balls for all the doggies they have in the refuge at the moment, that was my birthday gift to them.  Hope they enjoy them  :)

Then I had to wait patiently for Shona to finish work so she could give me her pressie.  She got me tickets to go and see "The South" a band made up of former members of "The Beautiful South".  We are going together, having a night away - a nice meal, a night in a hotel and a few glasses of something naughty I suspect  :).  Really looking forward to that.

Marie made me the most marvellous paper-cut of Ganesha, the work that has gone into this is amazing, I need to get it framed and on the wall as soon as  :)

On the evening, Hubster had booked a table at a posh restaurant, just out of town at a village called Wetheral, which incidentally is the same village as the refuge that Ruby is at.  The restaurant is called Fantails.

I had the most lovely nut roast, topped with goats cheese and served with home made chips and fresh veggies.   Stuffed as a little piglet I was!

We were offered desert, as you are, but decided - for some random reason - to land on my parents door step with some cake and have a little birthday get-together.  At 10pm at night!  Collected Shona & Marie and my sister Julie on the way, and we are ate cake and drank wine  :)

My birthday is continuing throughout the week, as my sister has something planned for Thursday, I have the concert with Shona  on Friday, and hopefully Ruby will be home at the weekend.

Happy days  :)