So much to blog, so little space! part 2.

ok, ok, this is all upside down, back to front, and Topsy turvey - but hey, that seams to be life's theme at the moment!

Just take a look at these delicious fabrics - mum paid for me a 12 month subscription to 'the cotton patch' free spirit fabric club. I get 8 fat quarters - quarterly! and I can't bring myself to use them! they look so lovely together, although I do have the seed's of an idea for them - cutting them will be soooo hard!!! :~)

I have been experimenting with different applique techniques and colours I wouldn't normally use - quite liking the results, though I am not sure what to make out of my 'samples' as yet - I am sure inspiration is just around the corner...

And look what arrived! My gorgeous earrings from Kathy at My Life and Other Beads. I am so in love with them, I feel ever so feminine wearing them - and SSB's had to get the pliers out to get my last pair of earring out. I had been wearing them for 4 years, and they wouldn't budge (made from cocoa shells and a thorn!) but I felt it was time to make a change, and these lovely hearts could not have arrived at a better time!

but there is more to come...!!!

So much to blog, so little space! part 1.

Not sure where to start! I have been avidly reading blogs all week, and haven't had time to post anything to my own - then when it comes to it, I have so much I want to post, I can't fit it all onto one post (although I am sure there is a way...)


I have been working with some recycled fabrics. This is a cushion I have been working on - the main fabric is an old Ikea curtain, the pink lace is from 'grandma's' box of delights! the ribbon from a bag of bits Taryn bought me, and the patterned fabric was a dress sis-in-law's sis gave me that was a little bit on the tight side - but I loved the fabric I couldn't bear to part with it.


Finally finished some knitting - this little kit was bought from 'web of wool' at the knitting and stitching show a few years ago



I am NOT a quick knitter, but I absolutely love the way this wool knits up to look like fair isle.

I swapped the lining fabric that came with the kit to another fabric from the same people, but I



thought this looked nicer with the shades

it is actually turtles on the pattern.









Had to make something else from the dress fabric - so another pin cushion was created - yet to receive a pin.

and a lovely scented heart for another sis-in-law who's birthday was last week. I thought it would be nice to put a few essential oils into the stuffing, so she could hand it in the wardrobe - went a little over the top however, and now everything in the sewing room smells of bergamot.

Later found the rose maroc I had been trying to find for the heart - d'oh! oh well, next time.

It has just been another one of those incredibly busy weeks, I have no idea how I have managed to get into the sewing room at all, never mind make anything - it really is excellent therapy, unless I sew too late in the evening, then I can't sleep for idea's!

Clitheroe Festival

So, as usual, I get myself all worked up and terrified, and as usual, everything works out fine in the end! We had a great day at the festival, and the drumming went down really well - hard work, but worth it, my poor arms were aching, and my finger tips stung, but that is always a reminder of a good day. Here is a very rare photo of me, second from the left with the big doundounba drums.

There had been a flag making workshop a few weeks ago I was supposed to go to, but couldn't make it at the last minute. The flags were displayed above the shops through the town, and looked fab - I really liked this one, but couldn't read it as I had forgotten my glasses. I want my own flag now!!! Look at the lovely grey sky above it. The rain held off all day until our last performance, so we played under the shop canopy of 'cowman's famous sausage shop' - really, the only way is up from here on in!

With an hour to kill between each performance, I ended up, inevitably, in the charity shops. I think Clitheroe has to be the small town charity shop capital, there are at least 8!

One of those wonderful serendipitous events occurred. I had less that 24 hours earlier commented on the lovely Megan at maximum rabbit designs blog regarding her obsession and growing collection of Russian dolls, that I never ever see them around here. The first thing I spot in charity shop number one is a Russian doll. The woman behind the counter tells me she has just put it out, and does she know me? I turned out we were in Pinocchio together about 28 years ago in the Whalley Church Players.

Anyway, back to the Russian dolls... I couldn't wait to get back to the car and take them apart and see what was inside, as the main doll was quite small - just look! 10 dolls!!! - it is a 1p piece at the end, so 3 of the dolls are smaller than a penny!

My second charity shop moment of bliss was this coffee service. It had been in the shop a few weeks at £10, and I really couldn't justify spending that on it, even though it is royal doulton. anyway, I went in the shop, and it had gone. pottered about the brick a brack at the other end of the shop, and there it was! It had been reduced to £5. I decided it was meant to be mine, and swiftly took it to the counter. it is now sitting on the kitchen window sill. I took the shot with the back yard in just because everyone is showing off there gorgeous gardens at the moment. I have never managed to get a house with a garden, but love gardening, I even studied horticulture for a while. I love my tiny yard really, and just try and make the most of it, everything is in bright pots, and I couldn't help myself with the walls and shed door, blue and Post box red! ok ok, I like it! and finally - WHERE HAS THE SUNSHINE GONE?????

life is to hectic!

Life is far too hectic at the moment! well, actually, life is pretty much the same as always, but when I don't get time to craft, then it is too hectic...
the new copy of country living was purchased last night, and only got 5 minutes to flick through it this morning before I left for work, but saying that, it has to entertain me for a whole month, so better to pace myself I think.

Tomorrow I am off to the Clitheroe Festival - and long story short, I am doing several performances playing the 'doundounba' accompanying a lovely Gambian called Mbackeh Darboe. the truly scary part is that we have only met a couple of times, we have never actually performed or even practiced or played together, and I have to just turn up at 11am, and launch straight into a piece I know nothing about! it should be interesting to say the least. I am trying to be calm and Buddhist about it, while my stomach is actually in knots! - oh, I am sure it will be fine...

Daughter unit has decided at the very last minute to go to London for the weekend to an art exhibition, not sure who it is, but his work includes a urinal - told her to fetch me a key ring back if they are urinal shaped, (can think of several people it would make an ideal gift for! hehehe) so also apprehensive about my baby going off to the big smoke all alone at her tender age - she will be stopping with relatives, so should be OK, and she has her mobile, but never quite sure if that is a good thing or not, because if she doesn't answer I go straight into panic mode.

then hopefully, at the end of all that, I have taken Monday off work with a view to actually getting onto the sewing room for a little therapy.

so - lets hope the weather holds up for the weekend, drumming is spectacular and child returns safely from big adventure, then all will be right with the world.

bargains in yorkshire!

Taryn and I went for a quiet day out in Skipton on Saturday. It was the hottest day all week, the market was on, it was a bank Holiday weekend, and there was a longboat festival on, so we shared the town with what felt like about ten million other people! still managed to get into a cafe for cool drinks and sandwiches, and squeezed through bits of the market until we got to the charity shop end of the town - look what I found!!! this was £4.50 - had to double check with the guy behind the counter, then carry it back to the car, it weighed a tonne but was worth it, I love it! SSB was unimpressed, and said he would continue to use the toilet, should the urge take him in the night.Same shop, found this gorgeous white work linen table cloth - £1 - it greeves me that someones hard work is only sold for a £1, but really glad I found it all the same! So Taryn and I left Skipton, windows down in the car, and singing erasure's 'chorus' at the top of our lungs. hehehe, one of those mother daughter moment! the cheesier the better we say!

OK - today I have been mostly working on my doll for the doll swap - I have in fact got it finished, but it isn't ready to post off yet...so here are some sneaky peeks. Hope I haven't given too much away!

what could it be????

Elephants and Silverdale

At the beginning of the week, I had a fit of Elephant making come over me. I found some wonderful buttons in Grandma's button tin that made perfect eyes. so two days later here are the elephants all on parade in front of the machine. I love this pattern, but feel it is time to stop the herd from growing any further...and move onto one of the million other projects I have stuck in my head at the moment.

On the strength of someone mentioning a heat wave last week, I booked Friday off work. It then proceeded to rain every day up to Friday. We decided to go to Silverdale, north of Lancaster, for the day anyway. This is my favourite chilling out place possibly on the planet! And it couldn't have been a more wonderful day. Coffee at Wolf House Gallery first, sitting in the sunshine watching Shauny sugar buns eat Sticky toffee pud... then down to the sea front. Took loads of pickies, the sun was out, the tide was out-ish, and there was no sound pollution at all, the only noise was the from the seabirds and the odd pheasant.

The smell of these wall flowers was sooo delicious, of course SSB had to climb up for a closer look, while I sat on a big rock waiting for the crash

Further along the shore was a tree stump. it had been there for a long time, and the whole thing had the most amazing colouring, it looks like some kind of fungus or weathering - took loads of photo's of it close up, but I think this one shows it best

and a view of Morcambe Bay - through the stump...And finally, the lane leading down to the cove where we left the car - look, no people either!!!

I love this place, it has everything, Sea, cliffs, ancient woodland, sweet meadows, stone cottages, old wells, walled gardens, sunsets, and about 37 years of memories - ahhhhh! wonderful

oh curtains!

let me first introduce you to a friend of mine! this little fellow came right up to the fence, let me tickle his nose, then had a nibble on my finger! he seams to have a faulty ear, so we named him 'loppy lamb' - his mum didn't seam too pleased about him fraternising with humans though...

I teach African Style Drumming on a monday night, and where we have the class, they always have fresh flowers in every room, the light was just right, and I thought these roses were just stunning! so as with everything else in life now, I have to take a photo to share with you all on my blog. I went out for lunch on Sunday, and took my camera to photograph the food...forgot...then took a photo of my daughters half eaten meal - I have desided you will be glad to hear, not to share such a delightful scene with you.

Finally managed to finish my patchwork curtains! woohoo!! I stayed up late to get them finished on Saturday night, just so I could lie in bed on Sunday morning and admire them...Husband thought they were a little too girly for him, but pointed out I had added some 'blue' patches for boys...he still thought they were girly, but conceded 'if you like them, then I am happy' 'right answer' say I!

they were a nightmare to photograph though - wrong time of day, and couldn't get them at an angle that got the whole of them in the shot...

so, now back to planning my doll for the swap!

Grandma Day

oooh! I love grandma day - me n me mum toddle off to Warrington to visit my Grandma once a month, the visit includes a trip to Ikea (just for a few bags of coffee you understand...) and a really good catch up and natter in the car going and coming home again.

It was a lovely sunny day all day - although back home it had sleeted, rained and been generally miserable!

when I returned, a wee package of Kaffe Fassett had arrived! oh joy of joys! especially as it had been only 1/3 the normal price :~)

bought these gorgeous cards at Ikea - just for inspiration you understand...

and here is Grandma, 93 years old!

she baked her own bread, knitted her own socks, tatted, drafted her own patterns, made lace, and cooked the best chips egg and mushy peas in the northern hemisphere!

this is a rare photo as she is smiling, instead of looking worried..Then, to top the day off, the most amazing sun set that made even a humble terraced row look spectacular.
oooh! before I forget, a doll swap!!!! not sure how to do a fancy link thingy, so just go here and take a look! http://meecrafty.blogspot.com/2008/04/doll-swap.html

when inspiration grabs you - run with it!

After a truly miserable week at work, which I endured with a stinking cold, chapped lips and about as much enthusiasm as I would put into jumping naked or otherwise into a swimming pool full of raw sewage - I was absolutely determined to get into my sewing room.

Daughter decided to rearrange her bedroom at the same time, and Husband wanted access to the loft to sort some stuff out up there - I am amazed I managed to get anything done at all! I do find it easier and easier to switch off these days though - at the drop of a hat, and after 12 hours solid and restorative sleep Friday night, got to work!

Inspired by other blogs as always (you wonderful giant therapy group out there - you know who you are!!!) I decided the way to go was miniature quilts... I am a little obsessed with using some flannelet cot sheeting I got from the local mill shop - I think it has a comforting homely look and feel to it, and you bloggers are converting me to the loveliness of pink...

but then, pink aside, had to use up some of my lovely bright scraps as well, some kaffe fassett, a little bit of vintage liberty...and loads of beady things from a £1 ASDA kids craft pack I picked up - gasp! horror!

Eager to continue on to the next project with immediate effect, searched for inspiration - I have commented on a couple of peoples 'light houses' recently, and remembered my sewing room light house statue I have had for donkeys years, mainly because I love the New England style colours, so made almost a replica of it.

Then last night, while running over idea's in the seconds between my head hitting the pillow, and sleep enveloping me I thought of perfume bottles - no idea why, except that maybe thinking about nostalgia and images etc, one immage that always makes me smile is the huge apothecary bottles with coloured water in in chemists of yesteryear - I don't know, they may still have them in boots - note to self to take a look next time I am in town!

Really struggled photographing everything today, it has either been very dark and overcast, or incredibly bright, and walked into the door frame after staggering back inside after taking these!

I am itching to make something else now but can't decide weather to continue with the quilt theme or go back to the curtain project, or start something completely different...if only every decision in life was this temptingly wonderful.

stuffoholic

No photo's today - been a busy girl this week, back at work after my nice relaxing break. I hate that feeling when after half an hour back in the office, I feel like I have never been away. Having to work overtime today, and taking a 'drum circle' tomorrow afternoon, so pretty busy al weekend as well - booooo!

to keep myself sane, sloped off to the next town where there is a wonderful little craft shop. They don't have a great deal of fabrics, but I still managed to find 4 fat quarters I didn't need, but really liked - an extra hour overtime next weekend to make up for that I think!

Also bout 10 tall candles at 10p each so I could make myself feel better knowing I had got such a bargain.

nipped to the sewing room as soon as I got home with a big cup of earl grey, and radio 4's woman's hour to sit and stare at my new fabric, look longingly through various books at stuff I would love to make, then came and checked out yet more fabric on the Internet - Is there such a thing as a fabricoholic? I think I may possibly be a chocofabricobitnpiecesblogoholic... or stuffoholic for short!

Thank you for the lovely comments y'all, and your lovely blogs. If I can't get into my sewing room, just 5 minutes flicking through blogs keeps me alive! (of course it's just 5 minutes!)