The Big Craft Event

Today Wendy and I had arranged to go to The Big Craft Event in Lincoln.  I was going to drive to save Wendy's hurting shoulders but went out this morning to find a flat tyre (that pothole I hit on Friday must have done more damage than I thought!). 

Whilst I really enjoyed the day, and the two workshops that I will talk about in a minute, I did find that stalls which interested me, ie fabric, then had a lot of "I could make that" items whilst there were other stalls which had, quite frankly, poorly made items.  However I have come home with a number of ideas to add to the ever growing ideas for future cart projects!

We had chosen workshops which we were sure that we could probably do - given a pattern - but which would also give us a scheduled sit down time! The first was a no-sew Christmas bauble.  I have to say that they were extremely organised - with ready assembled kits welcoming us and every table having its own tutor.





The second workshop, after lunch, was to make a log cabin Santa. Again, we were pleased with the results and can now make several more if required!





However I am now officially shattered so tonight it's some quiet down time with the dogs, the tv and some hand sewing.  Tomorrow sees the start of the "Christmas Clean" - a bit like "Spring Clean" but done before filling the house with Christmas decorations next weekend.  Early?  Me?  Never!

Hunting the lining!

I guess that it must be my cold but I woke up just before 9am again.  No problem, I thought, I have nothing planned until tonight when I am helping out at the theatre and someone is coming round at 11 to sort the summer house out (it arrived without a shank for the handle so the joiner was popping back wen he was in the area).  Shower and dressed, I was just about to put the kettle on when he arrived (why is it that workmen can smell a kettle at 50 paces?) Anyway we now have a fully functioning handle so the building can be locked and, more importantly , I don't have to use a teaspoon to open the door!

The weather today is foul - so I chained myself to the sewing machine and started on a couple of similar items - both of which needed lining.  Having finished the first one, I hunted high and low, including Daisy's bed, for the second lining - only to find that it had been sewn within the first item - grrrr!!!!  However they both turned out well and just need a press before being wrapped up.  Apart from the blue project, there are just a couple of small Christmas presents left - plus a  couple of experimental projects -  and that's me finished!!

This afternoon was spent on more mundane matters - washing, ironing and tidying up the usual "Daisy Mess".  At this time of year there is always a trashy film on tv to curl up to and I must confess to catching 40 winks!

It's the unexpected moments in life

Today, being the 11th of November, we hold a two minutes silence to remember those who have given their lives for us to be free and hold our own views.  As I was driving at that moment, I pulled over and held the silence.  May I say how appalled I was at how many people just whizzed by - people of all ages it has to be said!

Anyway, that's off my chest now.  Today was one of those rare days with out any appointments etc.  The blue project is looking rather good so I took the opportunity to nip into Grimsby and buy some more supplies for it - and hit a large pot hole!  Cue another visit to the nice men in the garage to put more air in!  This time I went armed with short bread!




Once home, I took advantage of the nice weather to sweep up all the leaves that have begun to block the front door, and to plant some daffodil bulbs that will stand more chance of flowering in the ground than in a bag in my conservatory - even at this late stage-  before setting down to some sewing.  First on the list was block 5 of the Lynette Anderson wall hanging (I am only 5 months behind!!).  This block has been on the go since July!!



Then it was some fiddling round with a potential Christmas present - the present shows the predictable unpicking!!  It's going fairly well but will need some more work on it tonight.

Amongst this sewing disaster area I had a visitor - Jenny, who I take to book club.  Very needlessly, she had popped around to give me a lovely bunch of flowers to say thank you for all the lifts.  She really didn't need to but isn't it lovely getting an unexpected treat!



Mouse watch - there has been no signs of my furry friends  several days now and the bait in the two worktop traps appears untouched.  I had thought that I had heard some squeaking on several occasions - but that stopped once I turned the mouse sonic repeller off - duh!!  I will continue to monitor!!

In which I become an official guinea pig!

Well last night went well -I slept in until 8:30am in my old bedroom without a hint of a mouse - phew!

The aim of today was to work on the blue project, recover lost time and get to the point that I should have got to on Sunday before it all went horribly wrong.  The only thing in the diary was a quick trip to the nurse to dress my leg.   Sadly the nurse isn't convinced that its getting much better and so called the tissue specialist through to give her opinion.  It turns out that the nurse is trialling some new ointment that she thought I would be a suitable guinea pig for and so dressed me and showed my nurse how to do it - let's see!

During the appointment, the nurse asked if I would do another blood test - so it was then onto Louth to the hospital for the test.    However I was home in time to work on the blue project and am delighted to announce that everything is back on track.  This might, just might get finished on time!

Tonight, the plan is to wrap a couple of presents (I know, I know) and then to settle with (wait for it) some "non Christmas" hand sewing.  I have actually run out of Christmas related hand sewing!!

Christmas Present Lottery

Last night was a return to my sewing class after an extended half term break and we are alwaus encouraged to take in other projects to "show and tell".  I took in a Christmas present that I had made for a member of my family and the teacher waxed lyrical about it - raving about how its the best present she has seen and could she take photos of it!  I wonder who the "lucky" recipient will be?

Last night my cold moved to my chest and I started with a chesty cough - so, not being able to sleep, I watched some of the US president race coverage.  As I have hinted before I am both intrigued by the battle and totally confused.  I understand the notion of a protest vote but worry that people have not been told full truths and are basing their decisions on undeliverable promises.  However I do believe in judging actions not words so time will tell whether this has been a good decision or not.

Waking up this morning, the cold is no better so it's a day for hunkering down.  The weather outside is both cold and wet so it was a morning of retracing my steps on the blue project. Whilst the machine was in use I also made the current splendid sampler block.  The design was a simple one but reminded me of the Mondrian designs so added some fusible bias binding to give definition.  This afternoon was spent in front of the lit fire, watching a rubbish Christmas film and doing some hand sewing with Daisy on my knee (not a lap dog, not a lap dog, not a lap dog ....).

This evening, wait for it, I am going back into he downstairs bedroom.  I am so tired that I hoe I will just fall asleep and not hear every slight movement imagining its another furry friend.  Wish me luck!

Thank heavens for Paracetamol!

Today was due to be a little busier than yesterday - with the main event being a WI planning meeting to discuss the programme of events for next year.  Just as well really since I now have a tiny squeak of a voice and am existing as normal as possible through the power of paracetamols!  So after a long lie in, it was up and getting ready before turning to preparation for tonight's sewing class.  Really!  Why is it that I have 4 weeks off but am still cutting out at the last minute!

The it was out to the meeting - which contained a lunch of pizza's (I took my own sandwiches Sewingbuddy!), salad, cheesecake (yes my finest black cherry one) and German apple cake - mmmm.  Surprisingly we got through everything in an hour and a half and so enjoyed a leisureley lunch of two hours!!

Once home, I finished the cutting out, packed my bags for tonight and made tea.  I would say, however, that the outlook for tomorrow looks surprisingly like a Duvet Day!!

A busy, busy, very busy day!

As the title of today's blog suggests, I am not sure if I could plan a busier day if I tried!  (What happened to retirement equals a life of quiet and peace?)  My morning started with an early visit to the nurse followed by a pop into the garage - my car had been indicating a low pressure in one of the tyres and one of the nice men just put some air into them all for me.  Whilst I was there a customer was just being told that she should leave her car there for the day for them to mend.  She was clearly not able to walk home - she has been in and out of hospital recently and is breathless just standing still - so I ran her home.

Next on the list of jobs was a visit to the Post Office to pay some money in, followed by a quick shop to buy the milk and cookies for the craft group.  Then it was home to make a cheesecake for a meeting tomorrow and then fitting some sealed poison boxes (courtesy of Sewingbuddy's husband - thank you) under the kitchen units behind the kick board - safely out of the way of the dogs. 

After a good clean down (I caught another mouse last night - darn it!), it was time to get ready for both the craft group and a church meeting (which follows the craft group).  I had to give my apologies and leave at 5pm - tonight I am out at the Theatre watching "Quartet" which I am hoping will be as funny as the film.  Given that I have now nearly lost my voice completely, an evening in would have been nice but you can't always get what you want in life and I suspect that I will be glad that I made the effort.

So - as I said - a busy, busy, very busy day!