House for rent!

I was watching some beautiful blue tits nesting in a friend's bird box and decided it was time I put up one of my own. This one was rather plain so I spruced it up, I think it resembles a Swiss cottage now! Hopefully Clive will put it up just at the apex of my little shed, it will give the birds a lot of shelter. Clive suggests I put it to one side to save being decorated when I step out the door, only time will tell which one of us is right!

I saw two sparrows munching on the bird seed I put out yesterday, such a joy to watch!

January has come to an end at last, lets hope the bitter cold of today gives way to a little spring sunshine! I bought a huge bunch of daffodils, which are to me like a vase of sunshine!

To give me something to look forward to I spent time this morning sowing seeds, carrots, sweet peas and tomatoes. I am hoping to get a green house but before we go to the expense of buying a glass one, Clive wants me to try a plastic one for the first year he seems to think I will lose interest after a while... me? er um...let me think... fads.... lets see shall we?

A touch of luxury

I am a fan of old fashioned white cotton sheets, this was a plain oxford pillowcase that I added a beautiful lace trim to. It looks far more expensive now!

Look What I found!

All the bags and magazines have been full of corsages, I am loving the vintage look that is currently in vogue! I made this little one a little while ago, (glue guns are so addictive!) the centre is a massive sparkly gem, I bought it at a discount store, two for 50p (they were enormous earrings!!!). These are really good fun to make, and the glue gun makes light work of it, far quicker than stitching!











I bought this adorable cardigan in the Oxfam shop this weekend, (the ribbon is my addition!) It is a beautifully fitted knit, in angora wool! a snip at £3.99 and luxuriously soft.

Yellow, I know is not every one's favourite choice, but about a year ago I sent for a dress from Jonnie Boden, when it arrived it was yellow! Yellow I said to myself, well that is going straight back!

Being firstly very inquisitive and secondly a strong believer in serendipity I decided to try it on! Oh it was really gorgeous! I have very pale porcelain skin, and the yellow did not make me sallow at all! I loved it so much I wore it for the Prima Photo shoot last year, (my profile picture is the one they used in the magazine!) So I am a yellow convert!

This looks gorgeous with my back dress, but today I wore it with a royal blue pinafore type dress! As you can tell I am a poor shy wallflower!

It has been quiet here lately, since the art booster I have been painting and catching up with some fabulous new friends I met at the group.

I also attended a meeting of the HSP group. I discovered I was HSP about three years ago, but only discovered the meet up group just before Christmas. It was absolutely wonderful, so nice to be in a room with people who struggled with the same things. HSP's are like Empaths, I can stand next to someone and experience their emotions, which is not always great fun! HSP are are more sensitive to their surroundings as well as the moods of people around them, they are unable to watch violent programmes, need to have time alone as they become overwhelmed more than non HSPs.

There are also HSS, which are high sensation seekers, (I am one of those too) who need to find new experiences enjoy novel items! They want to do it all, courses, classes, hobbies, etc, they get easily aroused, (not sexually but creatively) by objects such as fabric, or ideas but may become so overwhelmed they become exhausted at times and need to withdraw. (Find out if you are HSP here)

I recently bought the book and it has explained so many difficulties I had in my life. I was told as a child "don't be so sensitive, harden up" but I just could not do it and still can't. I have had so many problems with so called assertive people but never understood why I could not stand up for myself, I think I have at last found the reason! I feel as if I have been given the key to understanding how to stop making the same mistakes over and over again!

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store! I am going to the Brighton stiching show in a couple of weeks, should be great!

For Syd

As part of the creativity booster session we have to send a fellow artist a little piece of art, so on the same theme as the butterfly canvass, here is Syd's little canvass, (it is small 6cm by 4cm!) I hope he likes it!

Begin

Here is my latest picture, inspired by the workshop on Saturday, we discussed all the blockages that stop us painting, or engaging in art or craft activity. The background consists of comments from our 'inner critic' as well as all the excuses we use to stop us from being creative. On top is an intricate butterfly: black background with silver overlay. (I did these wings three times, once using parchment and once on the card and then again because the glue smudged all my intricate drawings!!!
At the bottom of the canvass is the word

'Begin'

Daily sketch and what I am reading

I apologise for the lack of craft at the moment, but I am concentrating on the daily sketch challenge set last Saturday. Here is today's sketch based on some beautiful tulips, a wonderful reminder that Spring is on its way despite the snow!





My new book arrived today, after the great book Taking Flight, I thought I would try this as Amazon recommended it as a partner. It is all about making the most of your life!

It has been a really hectic day, so I have had a little tipple then I am off to the bath with this slotted into my bath book rest!

Oh look what arrived this week!

It's arrived from KapomCrafts Etsy store, a lovely new case for my new iPhone! When I saw it I fell in love with the gorgeous fabric, and when it arrived it is simply beautifully made, each stitch is perfect! The gorgeous soft fleecy fabric is going be a cosy place to keep my little toy!
I adore it.

If you do get the chance, it is well worth buying stuff on Etsy, not only do you have access to some very wonderful talented people, but it is so satisfying knowing you are giving your money to someone who will feel encouraged that their skills are appreciated, and not some poor child working in a sweat shop to make a profit for a huge business! So, not only do I get something wonderful and unique, but I also get to feel a little smug about it too!

I don't know if you remember back in November I covered a large A4 diary, well I had a great idea for using it. Laying in my lovely warm bubble bath the other night, (after hearing about a colleague's boiler break down) I felt incredibly grateful for the warm water, warm towels etc, so I decided I would start a diary called threes and fives. Now that sounds a strange name for a diary but bear with me.

I was listening to a programme on the radio, about how time seems to speed up as we get older. When we are children a year seemed such a long time, but when we are adults it just spins by. The presenter said it was all down to new experiences.

New Experiences are the markers in which our brains mark the passing of time, so as a child has lots of new experiences every day, time seems to be made up of lots of markers. Of course when you are an adult the new experiences reduce, hence fewer markers through out our year and therefore it seems to just vanish.

Well, back to threes and fives. Every day, I plan to put in three things that have made me happy. This may sound a little Pollyanna but it can actually lift depression. (Don't get me on to how our society is driven by making us always stay in a state of need) So that is the threes.

The five is my attempt to slow down time, I will try and find something every day, or at least once a week, where I experience it using one of my five senses - as if it was the first time!

So if I want to reach for a lovely bar of chocolate, i would record what that experience is actually like, what senses do i use? How does the chocolate smell? What does it feel like to have it melt on my tongue!

I am pledging to do this at least once a week, but I don't want to make this blog an extension of the book so I will post it on my flying blog, if you fancy a go just add your experiences in the comments part. I would love to hear about yours!

Happy New Year to you all.

here's to slowing down time!

Creativity Booster Workshop

I went to a creativity workshop at the Art House in Southampton today, what a wonderful work shop it was too. It was so nice to get together with like minded people and talk about all the fears that stop us expressing ourselves fully. I met some wonderful people today, their kindness was so encouraging. I have struggled a little at work, being myself, sometimes I worry that when I talk about all the things I do my colleagues think I am boasting! I was thinking of holding myself back, not talking about my art, painting or dancing. Not everyone has the courage to be creative, and sometimes it means they resent the people who do.

So I was absolutely delighted to receive this from the tutor on our course today, I thought I would share it with you.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - speech by Nelson Mandela was originally written by Marianne Williamson

So I was absolutely delighted to receive this from the tutor on our course today, I thought I would share it with you. If you have a talent then show it to the world, be proud of who you are and don't let others stop you.

Birthday card for Claire

I made this lovely card for my colleague Claire, as it is her birthday next week. It is all hand made, the handbags are made from label templates, folded into little bags with double sided stickers.

I went a little overboard with the glitter but it turned out OK, I hope she likes it. It is all January birthdays in our office, four in all. I had mine on Monday and C bought me a wonderful new toy - an iPhone. It is fantastic, I love it, the combination of iplayer, phone and contacts list. It is simply great fun, as I can keep in touch with my face book and email too.

We went dancing for New Year's Eve, it was a great way to see in the New Year surrounded by friends. Let's hope this year will be full of health, wealth and happiness! Happy New Year to you all.

Snow Day!

Well, I apologise to those of you suffering in the snow, but the weather today filled me with joy! I was able to work from home, so I did not have to struggle through the snow! All my clients were happy and accounted for by 10am!

I am so grateful that our boiler packed up a few months ago, as I woke to the sound of our nice new one working hard at six this morning!

Today has felt like a gift, time to relax and feel cosy at home! It has also been wonderful to hear the children's laughter as they travel down the little grass hill in the park at the end of our road. It isn't often that we are given the chance to simply stop, and as a Nation we have been given a little holiday!

Although we had snow falling most of the morning it was not as bad here as the rest of the country, listening to the local radio last night, I was so sorry to hear about people trapped in their cars but there were also some wonderful stories, like the cafe owner who had delivered over two hundred free cups of tea to stranded drivers. I think we are a caring nation, it is just sometimes we need adversity to bring us all together.

This has been a wonderful day, a chance to stop and enjoy the sensations, the crunch as it settles under my feet; the wonderful swirls and patterns left by the ice, there is nothing quite like the silence that comes with snow. A great opportunity for mindfulness, just enjoying the moments! What made a wonderful afternoon was that C had been sent home early so we had a lovely afternoon together!


The snow wasn't so popular with the chooks, they were reluctant to leave the coop this morning, usually they are squawking loudly! They spent most of the day in their little dirt den, which gives them an opportunity to scratch round the dirt, but protected from the weather as it has a little roof. However, Edna and Dolly were more than happy to eat the bird seed I put on the roof of the coop, their favourite place to watch the world go by!

What a fabulous day!

Taking Flight

Over the last couple of days I have been reading this book about discovering your creative self. My dearest friend Mel calls me her butterfly friend because I do so many different things, so I thought I would do the first creative project in the book and do a semi self portrait, the butterflies represent some of the different activities I do. My life coach Amy has worked very hard with me to help me accept myself just the way I am instead of feeling that I should be committed to one activity. I had a lot of fun doing this, as it was completely from imagination which frees up the obsession with getting it exactly right.

I have signed up to a exploring your creativity workshop in the New Year, so that is my plan over the next year.

By the way the colours in this painting are so much duller than the actual one, it seems a photograph can't do paintings justice!

Happy Christmas

Here is the lovely Oscar sleeping off his Christmas Turkey!

This has been the most relaxed Christmas for years! We decided to have a family Christmas and have a break from socialising! I let out the chooks around 7am, so I thought it was a great time to wake everyone up! I don't know what time they went to bed, I left L wrapping pressies just after midnight and W was out partying as usual! However, they managed to rouse themselves to open stockings.

We had turkey for the first time ever, in my twenty years since I left home I have never eaten turkey! It was lovely!

W and L headed off after lunch and we enjoyed a very peaceful afternoon cuddling up together.

Fabulous!

Christmas Cushion

I just love the retro colours in these fabrics!

Last October we stayed in a Warners Hotel, (the same one featured in to the Manor Born no less!) Well my favourite shop is very close by called Becca's Emporium and I found to my delight she was having a workshop on the Sunday.

So I went to the workshop which included a rummage in the shop to find fabric inspiration. This little combination really caught my eye and I created the templates myself! (not really all that difficult just a few triangles!) The background was some lovely stretchy velour fabric which really gave a lovely wintry feel. The only difficulty was the workshop was held in a very cold room with just a bar heater which needed to be unplugged if we wanted tea! So after cutting out the trees I decided to head home to complete the job!

The velvet material was just the right shade (I bought about 3 meters at a WI auction for a couple of pounds a few months before!) I stitched the stars above and finished the insert. I must say the colour combination is wonderful a nice change from the traditional reds. It was a wonderful project and I found Becca very inspirational, how anyone gets the time to sew with two little boys is amazing to me!

The weather today was amazing, we could not leave the house as there was a thick sheet of ice everywhere! The chooks just slid down their little slope, as if they were on a child's slide it was so funny! They are getting wiser and now spend wet days in their little dirt pen which has a nice roof! I have to admit I did work from home today as the forest roads were simply treacherous! I made up for the disappointment of not getting to work by creating a painting in the shed most of the afternoon with the heating up full blast! I just love winter!

Christmas Reading

A good Christmas read seems to put me in the festive mood so I thought I would give you a few recommendations:


Maeve is the Queen of warm Irish feel good novels, this collection of stories based around Christmas will gladden the heart. The good thing about story collections is you can fit the odd story in between all the hundreds of tasks to do this time of year. I particularly enjoyed the one where the little girl was given a digital camera, should be a warning to everyone!








If you are up to your neck in Christmas preparations, your list of jobs to do is getting longer and longer and everyone is putting pressure on you then this book will appeal to you. The protagonist and his wife decide to completely skip the Christmas Celebrations and go off on a cruise instead - a wonderful idea! However, plans don't always work out the way we expect them to. Lovely read.





A gem of a writer, I love the way she adds just a little hint of magic to the ordinary! This is about a guy who would like to be in two places at once what a great gift! This is a quirky novel, but a great read all the same. A little bit like Christmas Carol in that our protagonist has a change of heart.

Play dough!

I made this large lump for my three year old nephew. It brought back some lovely memories making this with my two, how the time flies! One minute you are making pounds of play dough the next they are boxing up their things and moving to their own flat! (yes, W is leaving home and moving into his little flat tomorrow!) I will miss him, but he isn't all that far away.

Well, this is part of my nephew's present, he has a little baking kit, a gorgeous apron I bought at the University craft fair together with these colourful lumps! I was quite surprised how expensive play dough is compared to how cheaply you can make it!

I expect you all know how to make it yourself, but in case you don't here is the recipe for you.

1 measuring jug full of flour, (strong bread flour is best if you have it, or plain is fine)
1 measuring jug full of water (add drops of food colouring to the water)
1/2 measuring jug of salt
1table spoon of oil

Place in a saucepan and mix ingredients together to form a goo, don't worry too much about lumps.
cook the mixture slowly under a gentle heat
Keep the mixture moving, stirring all the time, this will get harder as the mixture thickens.
Remove from the heat when it starts to thicken, even though there will still be some gloopy mixture left.
Knead on a board, the mixture will eventually even out and become a nice dough. If it is still too gloopy return to the heat. (you could do this in the microwave but I am a little old fashioned! My adivice is put it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, then stir.)

Store in a plastic tub to keep it from drying out, it will last for a month or two and the salt will discourage eating!
The good news is that if you do get it on the carpet, just allow it to dry out and you will be able to hoover up the crumbs.

Can't wait to have grandchildren, I miss playing with this stuff!

Argentine Tango

Mel calls me a butterfly, in that I flit from one thing to another, this blog is testament to the many things I do but not a comprehensive list by any means. I have been dancing for over 18 years, regularly every week! It is simply one of the best ways to keep fit.

I started Argentine Tango over a year ago, Clive and I did an all day workshop and it is one of the most challenging dances to learn. After years of jive dancing, swing, Lindy hop, blues and salsa - tango is a completely different dance. It is a soulful dance, you are led by his energy alone responding to yours, the dancers have to connect on a deeper level than any other dance I know. I was only just really getting a feel for it before I hurt my leg, and there are people I know who have been dancing for years and still find it difficult.

Over the year I have watched lots of Tango lessons on you tube and seen some teachers and dancers at the Milonga's but Vincent and Flavia's Tango left me utterly speechless. It is the most wonderful dance I have ever seen, phenomenal and the epitome of why I go week after week, as it nearly breaks my heart every time I struggle. I would like to think that if I stick at it enough one day I will be good at it, but I don't think I will ever come close to this perfection. What I really mean is this is so difficult but they make it look easy!

So here it is for you to enjoy.

How Twilight should have ended,

I was reading fabulous since 1961's blog and saw this there, hope you don't mind but I loved it so much wanted to share it too.

hope this works!
enjoy

Vintage Apron

I just love the wonderful aprons I see in the advertising of the fifties, so when I saw this gorgeous vintage inspired strawberry fabric, it was just crying out to be made into a gorgeous vintage apron.

I used my gathering foot but unfortunately after attaching the bottom the pocket was not centred! I am not sure about the pocket, so I might remove it. But the apron is wonderful to wear, it is so feminine. Just in time for me to do some Christmas presents!

Feeling Christmassy

What a Christmassy weekend we had! The wonderful Christmas market opened in Winchester: there is a lovely ice rink surrounded by little log cabins full of crafty people! It is adorable, sadly no snow, but the mulled wine and stollen was absolutely perfect. (Thank you Dawn)

After my long weeks of convalescence I daren't hire skates! But it must be fantastic to skate in the open air!








We went with my best friend Dawn and her lovely hubby Gavin, Clive wrapped up warm for the trip as it was so cold last year. It was a tremendous atmosphere, very busy, Christmas does really seem right round the corner.


I love going with Gavin and Dawn, it gives Clive someone to chat to while he, very patiently, waits for me to browse through the stalls. Dawn is the only person I know who can actually out shop me, and that is saying something!




I bought this adorable case for Lucy, it will hold all her stocking presents this year, she is a real box addict and will love it I am sure.










Sunday we went to another fabulous fair in Southampton University. (I cannot divulge the promises I made to Clive to go to yet another crafting event, needless to say I shall be busy over the next few days!)

I am so in awe of the talented people who run stalls there, I always come home laden and full of inspiration. One stall that simply took my breath away was from Jolly Interiors, Nikki's eye for design is stunning, I could not resist this little birdie! The journal book is also beautifully hand made. While buying it I convinced myself it would make a lovely gift for someone, but I don't think I can let it go! We had a lovely tea and cake with Sally and Tony, it was great to catch up with them.

I love going to these events, it is a great way of finding all the talented people in the area, so that I know about any workshops or courses in the area. Will definitely be checking out the courses at Jolly Interiors they look fab!

Inspired by the fair I finished putting the berries on my Christmas Wreath. It is made from a coat hanger and my wonderful Rosemary bush that grows in abundance just outside the back door. (Someone told me that Rosemary only flourishes in a home where the woman rules the roost, which just can't be right in my case!) I wanted it to look a little natural, and I am quite pleased with the results.

Now where did I put that mulled wine recipe?

Book Review - Found Wanting

I have been a fan of Robert Goddard for about ten years. I read hand in glove and could not put it down, it was absolutely brilliant. I think my favourite is In Pale Battalions, which had me desperate to read right to the end as the plot weaves its mysteries until the tension builds to fever pitch!

This is his latest out in paperback, a bundle of letters that could identify the mystery surrounding Anastasia the Russian Royal Family mystery. The story weaves around the colder countries in Europe during a cold February, and the protagonist, Richard Eusden is trying to help his school friend by delivering the case of letters to a buyer.

What follows is a wander from Belgium, Germany and Copenhagen and Iceland, Eusden getting his hands on the case only to have it snatched away. There are a number of interested parties trying to get their hands on the case, a world wide corporation, an American, a seedy guy called Straub and a young student. They all are trying to get at the case and its contents with their own motives, the contents was supposed to solve the mystery of Anastasia. There is a love interest for our protagonist, which is usual in Goddard's books.

I wanted to enjoy this novel, but I have to admit, after the fifth time Eusden was hit on the head after getting his hands on the case I just got bored. Basically I did not care about the mystery, it was just the same incident over and over, just different characters getting their hands on the case.

I have noticed the last few novels just don't seem to have the pace or the twists and turns of his previous books, Goddard always writes about historical facts, the JFK, Winston Churchill, WW 1, the mysteries believable and interesting, but this one is just boring. He writes that he was asked to write about this mystery, but it isn't written with enough passion or conviction. While he does give a sense of these bleak countries, the descriptions of the cold are very good, there just isn't enough to keep me reading. I actually skipped to the last chapter. The ending was a little predictable, but I would not recommend this book, it isn't his best. However, I think I will pick up the next one and hope the magic is back.

If you enjoy mysteries, then I would recommend Nicci French, Beneath the Skin, secret smile or land of the living. They are real terrifying page turners.

Yipeee

Well, I have my life back! The physiotherapist was delighted with my progress, and has given me the go ahead to go back to dancing! Yippee, I am thrilled!

I am making headway in the gym trying to get rid of the 10lb I had put on while sitting on the sofa for 9 weeks!

I have bought two new pairs of trousers for work as I am struggling to get into my uniform!

Tiffany, seems to be delighted to travel around with me, she is my beautiful red mx5. It is so delightful to have the music blaring travelling along. Only short journeys for now, but I am getting further and further away!

Once again still drooling over goreous Antonio tangoing!

New Moon was great, I am actually getting into the Jacob fan club! Pwaarh! He is a lovely young man!!!

OH Dear!

I thought I would post a little eye candy on this post because I have been rather lazy in terms of the crafting front lately!

Here is the lovely Edward Cullen, if you are already a fan of the Twilight books you will be in love, if not then I would advise you to try them, as I have mentioned before! Well the film is out this Friday, so I am hoping to go and see it on Sunday, can't wait!

Went totally mad yesterday, took my beautiful little red MX 5 out for a spin the first time in 9 weeks! It was great, playing I Kissed a girl at full volume! (It happened to be on the CD!) Sadly all this progress went straight to my head, I played dance music most of the afternoon and was gigling about! I thought I would have a little go on the Wii fit, but sadly I discovered i have put on 10lbs in weight in the last 9 weeks!

So off I went swimming, which was not a great idea, as I ended up in a lot of pain this morning.

I have signed up to gym membership for the next five weeks and I am hoping that supervised exercise will soon have me slimming down into my clothes and getting me fit enough to dance! How I miss it! Still I can at least drive to the shops and back now, so I am grateful for small mercies!

if you want to see why I am so keen to get back to dancing take a look at this

Work is going great, it is sooooo good to have something to do at last.

Afternoon Tea

I simply adore the idea of tea at four, I am so pleased to hear it is making a come back. We had a great games evening last night, T, who works for a famous flour maker gave me a huge box of flour so it is a great excuse to do some baking. My cherries were a little bashful and sunk to the bottom, but I heard that if you replace a spoonful of ordinary flour for strong bread flour it supports the fruit much better (shame I did not hear that before I made my cake!). The chooks are laying some lovely golden eggs which gives the sponge a beautiful colour. The tea cups were a delightful find in the Broadwindsor Craft Centre a couple of years ago, they are Edwardian so almost qualify for antique status!

We spent a lovely hour tidying up the garden putting right all the mess the chooks made! It was such a lovely autumnal day, the sun shining while raking the leaves. Clive made the chooks a lovely dirt bath from an old pallet, he gave it a roof so they can stay dry and they love having all the leaves to rake over, it kept them quiet for an hour or two! After all the hard work I can eat cake!

At the bottom of the cake stand I have made some Ginger Snaps. I love the aroma of ginger, it seems to make me feel all Christmassy, as a biscuit they are so easy to make.

4 oz SR Flour
1 to 2 teaspoons ginger
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
2 oz butter (it should be butter for the flavour)
1 1/2 oz sugar
1 level teaspoon of black treacle (now that is christmassy!)
Milk to mix

Sift flour ginger and spices into a bowl, rub in the butter to resemble fine breadcrumbs, enjoying the delightful smell of the ginger.
Add sugar and mix to a stiff paste with the treacle and just enough milk to make a dough you can roll out
Roll out thinly and cut into 20 rounds using a 2in cutter and place on greased baking trays
Bake in a moderate oven 180C 350F GM4 for around 10 minutes
Leave in trays for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack
Store in airtight tin, or enjoy them while they are warm! ahh.

The boiler man came thursday and Friday spreading himself all over the house meaning I had to retreat to the shed! He is coming back tomorrow to finish off, but I shall be at work away from the chaos thank goodness! However, I won't complain we were so hot last evening we had to open all the windows!

I am counting down the days until my favourite Christmas Craft Fair on the 29th November, as well as the opening of the ice rink and craft village in Winchester Cathedral. Oh don't you just love this time of year?

My gorgeous vintage girl - vintage make over

Dear L is off on a golfing pub tour tonight! Apparently it is an eighteen pub tour dressed in vintage golfing gear! So I tried to give her a little bit of a vintage look. Doesn't she look fab, she liked it so much she is thinking of becoming a vintage girl!

There is a great tutorial on you tube if you fancy having a go yourself. I have already started using the vintage look, as I am an hour glass it really suits my body shape.

Good news, I spoke to my boss and she has organised me to return to work without having to drive. The doc is happy but I can only do part time for a couple of weeks, but I am so thrilled, it is good to get back to normal. Yippee. Maybe I will feel differently at 7am on Monday, but it feels like a step towards the dance floor! I will be tangoing soon!

Cover Job

It is the time of the year when a new diary raises its head. I was given a rather dull maroon page a day diary and while I love having the space to write the cover was just crying out for some beauty!






Here it is, the cover is padded and the button has an elastic closure to keep the book shut. I also added some elastic edges to keep the diary pages.




This is a little tricky to keep the edges straight with the glue gun, but I found edging it with a little lace covers a multitude of bumps and creases!

I am happy with the result and I am sure it will bring a smile on my face throughout the year.






It has been a strange day, I was not focused enough to finish the dress I started or the bag I cut out. Instead I made yet another wheat bag, this time for me. It is a little longer this time, which helps it to go round my neck and shoulders after being hunched over a machine. It also is very good for my leg!