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Emma Mitchell

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May 10, 2012 By silverpebble 40 Comments

Miscellany

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind: a birthday, chicken pox, a small knitting breakthrough and our village May Fair (washed out I’m afraid). The jewellery-making has been a joy recently, with several special and very lovely commissions and lots of teaching. It’s an old story, I’ve spoken of it before, but as I get a little busier I’m in danger of neglecting the silverpebble blog.

I thought I’d stop worrying about having a particular story to tell and instead log in and simply share snippets of what we’ve been up to. I hope you’ll forgive the mish mash.
I passed *that* landmark birthday last week. The Mr and Eldest bought the most exquisite posy of flowers for me (see above). I’m hoping that my birthday boots (Fly, Let II) defy the onset of middle age, just a little. They are the upside of the dreary weather.

As part of my birthday weekend I went to the Peacocks Tearoom with five good friends. Delicious things were brought out on cake stands. There was a spot of pink champagne and a mahoosive number of scones. It was wonderful.

I was thrilled to be asked by Stephanie from the blog Millefeuilles to make one of her daughter Heloise’s sixteenth birthday presents. We settled on a silver bell design: church-style rather than sleigh. They ring, in a tiny silvery way and Stephanie has written a lovely blogpost about the necklace here.

I’d heard over on twitter that the sixteen-year-old Teen Granny was to hold her very first knitting workshop recently. There was no doubt I needed help. I had been flummoxed by the Baktus and had all but given up. I was so glad I was in London that day because the workshop was excellent. I was taught new ways to cast on, re-learned long forgotten casting off skills and came away with confidence I didn’t have before. Huge thanks to Scarlett. I promptly knitted one of Julie’s teeny tiny rabbits (see top image). I was so excited about this success that I did a small dance. I had to make the bunny a pink swarovski tiara, to celebrate.

In a couple of days my blog reaches its fourth birthday. Here is my first ever post written just weeks before I gave birth to littlest, and this is one of the first images I ever uploaded. So much has happened since then. I will be marking the occasion next week…

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Magic Cochin says

    May 10, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    Those flowers are just gorgeous!

    A tiny bunny tiara sounds fab too.

    Ignoring the boot envy… your milestone birthday means your still a youngster! At the cinema the other night I had to insist I wasn't an 'oldie' – should've shut up and got a concessionary ticket I suppose :-/

    Celia
    xx

    Reply
  2. Ali says

    May 10, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    Happy belated birthday – I have boot envy!

    Reply
  3. Sue says

    May 10, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    Birthday, boots, bunny and bells. All beautiful.

    Reply
  4. Pennyblossoms says

    May 10, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    I am so behind on your blog; what a wonderful post to pop back on!
    A very belated Happy Birthday!
    What beautiful flowers, so pretty. And what fun that girlies tea looks. Pink fizz and scones…yummy!
    I adore your little pink rabbit and her pretty tiara, so cute. Must try to find a pattern to follow!
    Z xx

    Reply
  5. Rachel says

    May 10, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Oh, I've been to Peacocks – a great place for a birthday treat!

    Reply
  6. Anna at the Doll House says

    May 10, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    Pink champagne and a birthday tea with dear friends sounds like a perfect day.

    Anna

    Reply
  7. kristina says

    May 10, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    Happy belated birthday! And I LOVE the boots!

    K x

    Reply
  8. Country Girl says

    May 10, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Wonderful boots! Belated happy birthday to you.

    Reply
  9. Jane says

    May 10, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    What a lovely post Emma and a belated very happy birthday to you…good to see that it featured the essential cakes ;0)
    Congratulations on nearly 4 years of blogging, that's twice my milestone. It's such fun to look back ins't it? Life moves at a such a pace.
    Jane x

    Reply
  10. Gina says

    May 10, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    Lovely miscellany and especially lovely boots! Having been asked was I a "senior" when I was in NZ I think you are still very young!

    Reply
  11. Su says

    May 10, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    What lovely flowers!

    Gorgeous boots too. I'm lurching towards the next big milestone, which means that, compared to me, you're still a youngster!

    Reply
  12. Julie says

    May 10, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    Lovely bunny and tiara and I have boot envy too. I will be a senior in July so you have a long way to go 😉

    Reply
  13. millefeuilles says

    May 10, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    Happy, joyful, belated birthday to you, Emma! That milestone? I hit it three and a half years ago (spoken through gritted teeth) – so yes, you are younger than me too!v;-)

    I LOVE your boots. They certainly seem to have thwarted the grey dismal weather; is it sunny in your part of the world too today? If so I am sure they are magic boots indeed.

    I share everybody's enthusiastic thumbs up concerning your teeny tiny pink rabbit. Congratulations on the knitting break-through!

    Oh, and thanks you so much for linking to my blog, Emma. Your bells have been so admired at Héloïse's school today now they are back after the spring holidays. Maybe some of her friends will be wanting their own silver necklace? 😉

    Warmest wishes,

    Stephanie

    Reply
  14. Penelope says

    May 10, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Happy belated birthday, looks like the perfect way to celebrate! I love all the Fly London shoes and have a few pairs myself, I haven't seen those boots before they are rather gorgeous. Enjoy!

    I say Stephanie's post about the lovely little bell necklace you made for her daughter's 16th, it's too beautiful for words and I love that it tinkles so. It makes me smile when I see my first blogging post, it's great to chronicle the changes in our lives and be able to access them at a push of a button.

    Here's to many more years of happy blogging xox Penelope

    Reply
  15. Julie says

    May 10, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    Very happy special birthday to you. I'll be there on my next birthday! Lots of gorgeous things.
    I do love your bell necklace. Juliex

    Reply
  16. www.daisyley.co.uk says

    May 10, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Birthday wishes to you, love the boots and flowers. What a wonderful way to spend a birthday afternoon with friends tea and champagne. And what a gorgeous bell necklace (rather taken with the curtains behind too!).

    Reply
  17. trash says

    May 10, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    If you can make that bunny then the Wingspan will hold no fear for you.

    Reply
  18. pebbledash says

    May 10, 2012 at 10:36 pm

    Belated Birthday Wishes! And yes, you're still a youngster frankly!

    I also have boot envy and bunny envy (so cute!).

    Reply
  19. by Teresa says

    May 11, 2012 at 3:45 am

    Emma.. I just love the bells! I live on Bell Road and so I have an affinity for bells. Good job on those! I also love the bunny and especially the tiara. I crafted a sterling silver wire-wrapped Swaroski crystal tiara for my daughter's wedding. It was so neat to be able to make something like that for her special day.
    ((hugs)), Teresa 🙂

    Reply
  20. Menopausalmusing says

    May 11, 2012 at 6:24 am

    Belated Birthday greetings, oh Booted One……… A great "mixed bag" of a post!

    Reply
  21. thesnailgarden says

    May 11, 2012 at 9:08 am

    Happy Birthday. Gorgeous flowers and boots. I love that your cute bunny has a tiara – so pretty!
    Best wishes, Pj x

    Reply
  22. driftwood says

    May 11, 2012 at 9:35 am

    such loveliness everywhere

    Reply
  23. julie says

    May 11, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Belated happy Birthday Emma – so glad to see that you celebrated in style – pink champagne and scones sounds perfect! I think blogging about snippets with your accompanying gorgeous photos is always a good choice and I am so happy that you're officially now a knitter – a flippin good one too by the look of the bunny x

    Reply
  24. Beth says

    May 11, 2012 at 5:58 pm

    Happy birthday, sounds like you celebrated in style! Love the boots 😉

    Reply
  25. dottycookie says

    May 11, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    Look at the little eyes on your bunny! Gorgeous!

    And didn't we have the most delicious scones? I shall never bake them myself again. Mmmm.

    Reply
  26. Locket Pocket says

    May 11, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    So lovely to hear from you Emma! I was thinking about you at work today and nearly sent you a text to say hi but then I remembered I was meant to be working!!! ;o)

    Your knitted bunny is superb!

    Lots of love, Lucy xxx

    Reply
  27. Madelief says

    May 12, 2012 at 7:41 am

    Happy birthday Emma! Love your new boots!

    Just saw the necklace you made for Héloise on Stephanie's blog. It looks absolutely beautiful!

    Happy weekend!

    Madelief x

    Reply
  28. French Knots says

    May 13, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    Happy Birthday, milestones must be well celebrated and it looks like that is just what you did! Oh I have serious boot envy!!

    Reply
  29. Toffeeapple says

    May 13, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Oh, I missed your birthday. It does seem that you had a very good time though.

    Mish mash is good, very enjoyable.

    Reply
  30. andamento says

    May 14, 2012 at 11:43 am

    I just got round to reading my May Country Living. Did I spot you in the June preview? It looked very like you and very like your lovely studio. If so, how exciting – can't wait to see the feature. If not, you've a double out there!
    Belated Happy Birthdays, those boots are fab.
    Anne.

    Reply
  31. catkin tales says

    May 14, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    i followed the sound of tinkling bells from mille feuilles and as suspected find myself in a magical place.
    your work is so exquisite, so delicate – i feel that i am now going to be frantically saving my pennies, that i might purchase such a treasure.
    the pieces in your post below are prettier than i have ever dreamed of.

    many congratulations to you on your milestone birthday, i think your boots are lovely and you possess such sweet an youthful spirit that i think you will ever be young on the inside and well preserved on the outside too(for it always shines out).

    Reply
  32. Amanda says

    May 15, 2012 at 7:56 am

    Hello from sunny spain and I'm your newest follower.
    I've come over from Millefeuilles where I have been admmmiring that lovely bells necklace you have made for her daughter's birthday.
    And now I'm going to pop back into your blog to lokk look look and explore.

    Amanda

    at Crafty in the Med

    Reply
  33. Ginnie says

    May 15, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Nicest mish mash ever. Don't hesitate to share future ones! And happy 21st birthday (that must be it, right?) and soon to be 4th anniversary. And, btw, middle age doesn't come until at least 50, and maybe later than that. I dated a guy once who called himself middle-aged when he turned 30. What?! No need to rush into these labels, I say.

    Reply
  34. Cottage Garden says

    May 15, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    Happy belated birthday wishes Emma and what better way to celebrate with the girls than at Peacocks – funny I just mentioned that very same tea-room in a comment on another blog!

    Yep, I passed that milestone a way back too …

    Jeanne
    xox

    Reply
  35. The Coffee Lady says

    May 16, 2012 at 5:43 pm

    Those boots, lady!

    Reply
  36. Simone says

    May 19, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    Belated Birthday wishes!!! I have not visited here in an age and am happy to have stumbled on to you again via Millfeuille's blog. The silver bells you made were delightful and I can just imagine them tinkling! I love that little knitted bunny and the tiara makes a wonderful finishing touch. I hope you and your family are well. x

    Reply
  37. Monica says

    May 19, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    happy belated birthday!!!

    (nice boots indeed)

    Reply
  38. Subhash says

    May 20, 2012 at 10:40 am

    Emerald is a gemstone of green color belonging to the family of beryl gems. Emerald (Panna) is gemstone of Mercury(Budha Garha). Mercury is a karaka or indicator of intelligence, commerce, education, communication writing, books, humor, scholars, thieves and astrologers. Vedic sage Parasara describes him; Mercury is endowed with an attractive physique and the capacity to use words with many meanings. He is fond of jokes Mercury is called Yuwraj(Son of king) in the astrology), a strong mercury makes a person strong minded, situation handler, good speaker and famous. Emerald or Panna gemstone should be worn especially by teachers diplomats, scientists, astrologers, architects medical personalities, doctors, businessmen, property dealers, publishers, accountants, engineers, writers, post officers, insurance officers and intellectuals. Emerald or Panna gemstone increases reasoning power, presence of mind and spiritual power.

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    Reply
  39. Suse says

    May 23, 2012 at 6:16 am

    Happy birthday to you and the blog!

    I'm slightly in love with that wee rabbit.

    Reply
  40. Teje says

    May 27, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    Happy belated Birthday! I have passed that 'serious' date – so amazing blue boots would have helpped a lot! Enjoy and have fun! x Teje

    Reply

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