Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Happy New Year xxxx

A Tutorial - How not to do things

Oohh I am the most annoying person !! Why do I print off instructions then
completely ignore them... Why can I not be patient grrrr.......
So I saw these wonderful journal covers, yes I thought I can do that.... mmmmmm
Now don't get me wrong I am fairly happy with my finished item...at least I am Karen happy.This means I am always chuffed when I manage to finish anything and I am most definitely not a perfectionist I frequently tell myself that my work has character, yes I like that it has character....
So here's what happened...

1. ignore the pattern.. you don't have time to read that Karen
2. Measure your journal without a tape measure.. what on earth would you need a tape measure for?
3. Cut cut cut mmmm yes that looks about right.
4. Stitch stitch stitch oh not quite right what have I done, ok add a border...
5. Oh bother... its slightly too small oh blimey I've got a headache coming on.
6. Must finish tonight everything depends on it it must be finished tonight.....
7. Add bits here and there to hide all the sins, breathe a sigh of relief..
that's better its got character now.
Now the thing that I find frustrating about myself is that if I just took a little bit of time I know I could do much better...sounds like a bad school report..could do better !!!!

Lets take a look at the finished items shall we..NOOOOOO don't look too closely
remember the mantra say after me CHARACTER.....

Now I am always printing off poems,sayings, sentiments etc and I end up with bits of paper everywhere the little book on the front is to store these until I get round to putting them in the journal.
Can you see the little keeper of the secrets


I have started the first pages, dedicated to my three children of course. My two girls both in their twenties now and my baby who is 17.
This journal although only just begun has been claimed by one of my daughters so when I leave this mortal coil
(not for quite some time I hope) this journal will be full of my thoughts,feelings
hopes and dreams to pass on to them. Looks like I'd better get on and make another two !!!!!

As I've got 5 followers over the weekend I'll be sending a little gift to you all.
If you havent already please email me with your address to get your suprise.
By the way do you like my status cloud. All these words are things I have been talking about on facebook. I particularly like the last one, STUPID Yes thats me I went out of the office on Friday and left the door unlocked for the whole weekend, eek....

Good grief I think I might have done it !!!!!What,what I hear you say,
something exciting... well not really,look at the right hand side of the page
I think I have finally managed to get the followers gadget on my page.
I only think I've done it cause I've got no followers yet.. ahhhh come on all say
ah........ thats it,now go and be a follower, go on you know you want to....
I might have a little suprise for the first 3 followers.

Just to prove to you I do sew sometimes I'm making this lap quilt,actually its going to go over the arm of my sofa,the colours go really well with my living room. I love the combination of colours here. It was a jelly roll that I received as a gift last Christmas. Yes it has taken me this long to use it, I'm very bad......The jelly rolls are very good for me as I hate cutting out, I'm not very accurate and these rolls are pre-cut, easy really.I'm also incorporating some stitcheries,just little sentiments that make me smile.

I'd like to share my little work space with you.... If I didn't have this space I doubt I would do any sewing, I'm so messy and its great to be able to leave the machine out and everything else for that matter. I've only just reclaimed this space
so its still a work in progress but it is good to have everything in one place. The only problem is I'm sharing the room with my husbands wardrobe if I could get rid of that I'd be even happier...now what can I do with his clothes !!!!!!!

 
I have been very bad...... no blogging, no sewing, no reading, no nothing............
Ok so I had an excuse but its about time I got my finger out.
I have no pics on my camera at the moment so I hope you enjoy this summer collage of my garden.
Thoughts are now turning to Autumn and soon Christmas. I have done no Christmas crafting but I am starting
to sew a little project which I will show you as soon as I get my camera out. I've got a lot of catching up to do and lots of bloggy visits to make.

Just thought I'd let you all know I'm still alive and recovering well. Thankyou for the good wishes. I've been home a week now and I'm fine although I just cannot be bothered to do anything.My crafty mojo is in hibernation I think, I suppose in another week or so I'll feel more like it. I dont feel ill as such just not all there(nothing new then) he he .....
I'll enjoy reading all of your exploites and hopefuly it will give me some inspiration as I said to my other half I cant keep blogging about car boot finds!!!
Hope to back with you all soon. xxxxx

More booty goodness

My last visit to the car boot for a while was quite a good one. I'm going into hospital tomorrow and will be laid up for a little while. I was considering blogging about my experience and recovery in the hope of helping anyone else going through the same thing (hysterectomy) but I don't know maybe this isn't the place to do that.
Anyway back to the booty......
Look at this lovely little wooden doll family, I've just noticed I left behind the tiny baby.... oh no,its ok they were only separated for the photo they are back together again now... he he he
These little dolls are wooden, they look Japanese and the paint colours are very dark.they are so cute as they have nodding heads... I love them.


I've always wanted one of these egg cups (oh no I feel another collection coming on!!!!) this one has its own little woolen hat to keep your egg warm.

Who can resist wooden beads...not me that's for sure.

But just look at this... the bargain of the day, £1 yes £1 I nearly fainted. Its a hand painted cheese dish, I love it, its just my kind of thing a very good find I'm sure you'll agree.

Well that will be all for now I'm off to bite my finger nails, and as soon as I'm up to it I'll be in touch.
I'm hoping that this enforced rest will allow me to get some sewing done.I'm sure that I will still be able to visit your blogs. See you soon.

A little bit of craftiness

Don't you just love poppies... I do,I have lots in my garden sometimes they are only there for a short time depending on the weather but they are glorious, I love to watch them pop out from their cases, unfurling their creased petals and stretching up to meet the sun, hidden inside a wondrous inky blackness...... oops I'm dreaming again. I think I might do some more of these flower embroideries, they are just hand drawn and then filled in as the spirit moves me, I like doing this kind of thing I think it allows you to be more expressive, as you know I'm rubbish at following directions I like to be a free spirit.


I'm finding that I love projects that have a little bit of everything incorporated into them. This little stitchery has just that, I'm not sure what to do with it now
I might make a little wall hanging as I don't have much of the surrounding fabric,
I really like this fabric and would love to find some more to do a bigger project, it was given to me so I don't know the name of it. I'm sure someone out there will know.


Well...... this was my blanket, after realising I had nowhere near enough wool its now a cushion. Its a long time since I have done any crocheting and my squares leave a lot to be desired but I'm pleased with the overall result. I was quite shocked at the price of wool these days......
You know what this means don't you.. another cushion on the chair that no-one is allowed to sit on he he he..

Thankyou to Michela for the lovely blog award. In response here are:
5 Things Id love to do

1. Open a Craft shop/Tea Room
At this moment in my life I sit at my desk dreaming of a lovely little shop and tea room that I would love to own. I would be surrounded all day by wonderful fabrics, buttons and crafty things. I would get to chat,drink coffee and eat cake with all the wonderfully talented people that came to visit. sigh............

2. Own a beehive
I would love to own a beehive and produce my own honey, actually it wouldn't just be a beehive, I'd like a goat,a donkey,sheep, ducks !! You know what I think I'd like a farm..... I'd grow all the fruit and vegetables and make wonderful dishes to serve in the tea room.

3. This is something I wish I'd done
I wish I had been a nurse, its only as you get older and you look back on your life you wonder .. why didn't I do that. My life took a different direction and for me it wasn't to be. I don't believe in regrets but if I could go back I would have followed this dream. I can hear you all saying " you can still do it". But no its too late
I have taken a different path....

4. Id love to visit Machu Pichu
I have a poster taped to my desk at work and everyday I look at it and think one day....For anyone that knows me this is funny beacuse I dont like flying. I'm a real coward when it come to adventure and I spend more time dreaming about the things I should have done. (I think I'm having a mid life crisis) lol...

5. I'd love to spend more time enjoying life and less time worrying about it.
I'm not sure after all these years of how to do that. Maybe when my children are settled I'll suddenly shock everyone.

So thats my five. Which of these would I really like, probably number 5 because if I had got over that I could have probably achieved all the others.

I have nearly finished this little wall hanging, and then as usual because of my impatience I put the border on wrong, got fed up and put it in the drawer, its really sweet and I must unpick and put a new border and backing on it , as you can see I'm not the greatest quilter I seem to get very frustrated at keeping everything square ! I enjoy doing the stitcheries and embellishments but seem to spoil it when it comes to the quilting.
My new mantra I must take a class ...... I must take a class...... I'm sure if I did I would be a lot less disappointed.

A few weeks ago I found these two strangers from a foreign land (you guessed it at the car boot...) I loved them instantly they are made of wood and I have no idea what they are, they have a small indentation at the top but are not hollow any ideas ?















A few weeks later my other half and I were mooching around the age concern charity shop

when my husband saw this little lady at the back of the shelf. I was overjoyed I couldn't believe we had found another one.It certainly earned my husband some brownie points.















I took her home and reunited her with her family, how sweet are they. I wonder how many more of them are out there ?

Car Booty....

A very good days work at the car boot yesterday.See the picture with two.. yes two robins, well just had to come home with me.
I saw a lovely old song book,I might take this into choir and see if we can sing any of the songs. We are always looking for interesting material.
Look at that little jewellery box, it plays a lovely tune when you open it up, its a bit neglected (shabby chic I think you'd call it)!!! but I love it.
I found two lots of embroidered handkerchiefs which I am hoping to use in one of my sewing projects.
The children's books (my grown up children despair!!!!) I bought these as I thought I might transfer some of the pictures and make them into stitcheries, I'll keep you posted.
Also found an unused stamp set (you can never have too many) and a lovely horse money box. Much shaking of the head from two of my children that were with me. I told them I'm leaving them at home next time...............They just don't understand.

I'm so excited today I have become a member of The Toy Society (see link on right hand side)
If you don't know about this (I'm sure you do) pop over and have a look its a fabulous idea.
You make a small toy, label it and leave it for someone to find, the label will let them know that it is a gift and they can take it home, how great is that! I am definitely going to participate so I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I've nothing much to show today I had two attempts at the weekend at sewing and the first two pieces I sewed back to front doh........ so I put the machine away in disgust. I really need my sewing room back.
This morning I am not a happy bunny, I was looking for something in the bottom of my wardrobe and the iron fell of the shelf above me and hit me on the head....ouch.... I am feeling very sorry for myself and am nursing a big bump on the back of my head. I must admit I had a few tears. Hopefully will have something more interesting to report soon. bye for now.

And the winner is ........................... Nadine..... If you would like to email me Nadine with your address
and the colour of bird you would like, it will be winging its way to you.

I forgot to say when I would make the draw for one of the little birds. I will do it on Sunday
9th August, so if you havent already then leave a comment and tell me what you think about them.

World Picnic-Milton Keynes

Saturday - weather was awful, I stood gazing out of the window feeling a little sad that the World

Picnic would be cancelled. It rained and rained all day.

Sunday - Blue sky's, sunshine, I cant believe it. Well I never would have thought after yesterday the weather would turn out like this, someone was obviously smiling on us.

The day was a great success, there were stalls with different world foods and goods, and a very diverse programme of entertainment from Bollywood dancers, belly dancers, our choir of course,singers, musicians and lots more. The day stayed fine and we finished at 7pm tired but very happy. Hopefully in coming years this event will go from strength to strength.

GIVEAWAY

Good morning, look who has just flown in to the garden. It's the word birds !
These bright little birds have there tummy's filled with sweet words and sentiments.
They tell me they come in all colours, for any occasion, with words of your choice.
I'm going to give one of these sweet little birds
away so please leave a comment and tell me what you think.
I'll pop back later today and let you know how my choir performance went, stayed tuned.

Quick Friday post,
I'm so excited that I have been receiving comments you are all truly wonderful. This blogging lark is truly addictive. Can anyone tell me how to add the followers gadget to my sidebar, it doesnt seem to want to work for me. (not that I'm assuming I'll get any followers but you never know) Busy weekend ahead,I've got some ideas brewing and of course my choir performance on Sunday (fingers crossed no rain). Oh and I'd better fit in some housework somewhere (boo......).

I want to tell you a little story about the Robin Redbreast. A short while after my father passed away I started to get visits from the Robin. It became so frequent that we joked it must be grandad but then the visits became more and more unusual we would see him every where (and I mean everywhere) we went. The children would ring me with regular reports of seeing him .I decided that it was a message from my dad letting us know that he wasnt far away and it brought us all some comfort. It makes me sad and happy at the same time when I see him. My mother passed away recently and since then we have hardly seen him but the first week after she had gone I had two Robins in the apple tree.I smiled and knew that they were together and strangely I havent really seen them since.

Blankie

This is a comforter that I made for my daughter, its for when she is feeling sad or down,on the back is a lavender filled pouch to help relaxation. I made both of my daughters one of these and I hope they will always treasure them.These small quilts are about as much as I can handle at the moment until I improve my quilting skills. I keep threatening to take a class but I never quite get round to it, one day maybe.

World Picnic

Choir practice last night for the World Picnic on Sunday 2nd August
in Milton Keynes.
It should be a great day celebrating music, dance and the
cultures of the world. The choir are doing 2 sets with a live band
so it should be very exciting. Pray for fine weather,there is
such a lot of work from a lot of different people going into this day
it would be shame for the weather to spoil it.
Come along if you are in the area and enjoy a great day,
oh and bring a picnic.