Disconnected

Good day to you.

As this is is the first time I've tried to use my pooter since my last post, it feels like a slightly strange thing to be doing. It cuts the power off so many times as I try to do anything that in the end I usually give up the battle with it. Today I'm home doing paperwork and I felt a need to write, so I powered up the old girl and here I am giving it a go. Writing a post quickly is about all the time it will allow me. With that said I'll have to keep it short and sweet. There's so many things buzzing around in my head that I want to chat about, but my pooter doesn't like wordy at the moment I'm afraid.

Little connection to a creative world that I love being a part of has felt unsettling at times. I feel out of the loop as it were. I do try and read your blogs on my phone, but I keep mucking up the reply bit, please don't think me rude that you have left your lovely thoughts here and that I'm ignoring you. It's the technology that's making me absent - honest injuns.

 

The most annoying part is that I can't run my etsy shop properly. I got excited about filling it with new makes and now I'm having to be patient and wait a while.

Between times that means I've been getting my stitching machine out more and more.

The other day I fiddled with a few trims, buttons and lovely fabrics to run up a couple of new Happy Shoppers. One is made from some gorgeous fabric from Jane, the other from a pair of teacloths via Ms Kidston's shop.

I liked the print too much to waste it on drying the dishes. One print for the front and one for the back to make it even cheerier.

I especially love making the labels to go inside. I enjoy making things to sell as much as I do making personal things.

As soon as I can get my shop running properly once more I'll be popping these bags straight onto the shelves.

Stitchin's the Thing

At the moment I'm in love with my sewing machine and all the things that can quickly whizz out of it. I do love to knit and crochet but they have completely different speeds. Straightforward knitting I can do snuggling up in the evenings watching TV. I'm a slow knitter. I can also knit without looking which is handy when I want to look around. More complicated knitting and crochet, the stuff which means lots of counting is involved, is something I have to do when I'm fully awake and there are no distractions. As much as I love knitting and crochet sometimes I fancy a change of direction.

Lately I'm on a roll with the dressmaking. That to be sure is testing my patience to the limits, but I'm learning so much as I go along. Right now I'm learning not to scream and attack the eggy dress I've made with a pair of scissors.

Dress all present and correct, but with a too big top half. I've hung it up to contemplate and ponder what to do next. I'm determined I'll win this battle.

On Saturday, as the rain poured down, I got more and more fixed on the need to make a squodgy floor cushion. For many a year I've meant to make one or two, I just never got round to it and then in a flash the need arose on Saturday. Now having two girls means that whenever I make one thing that they like I must make another. That means one floor cushion made and another is being planned for the next rainy day.

Alfie also has his eye fixed on it. It's just the right height to get on when you've short legs and it's very very comfy if you're small and chubby.

Today's sewing involved something it's only taken me six years or so to get around to doing. In our sitting room is a wee side window. In complete laziness I folded up some fabric and banged in a couple of nails not long after we moved in. Now lazy things can quickly become things you just get used to after a while. Last night I decided I was going to tidy up the window first thing. I had exactly the right fabric. A super soft barkcloth curtain given to me by a friend a while back.

There was just enough muslin left over from the squoshy floor cushion lining to back the curtain panel so that made the job even easier to fix. All I needed was some string and a couple of cup hooks and it was job done. A very very easy curtain panel indeed.

Midday and with the panel up I rushed through some other stuff I needed to do and then settled down with my bowl of hexies and a few books to browse through. I'm between books and trying to find one that feels right for my mood. Books and crafty projects are always dictated by how I'm feeling. Sometimes I need a quick fix distraction and other times it's something that I can get my teeth into.

Tommorow is May 14th. On May 14th 1969 I was coming up to five months old. On that day my mum and dad officially became my parents. It was all touch and go on the day as my dad was an older parent at 43. Despite having had me since I was ten days old the judges thought he might be too old to be there for me for as long as I needed him. On my wedding day he said he was glad I didn't want him to give me away as I was given to him once and he couldn't give me back now.

May 14th is my adopted birthday, the day my parents celebrate as the day I was born to them. On May 14th last year I saw my dad for the last time. In the nature of things we don't always know it will be the last time. On May the 18th dad died. I no longer feel an overwhelming sadness when he enters my thoughts. There are still lots of things I can't get my head around though. I doubt I ever will.

I simply wrote this as I needed to record the significance of the date. Please don't think I'm sitting here feeling melancholic or sad at all. Sadness and melancholy rise up when we least expect them, not at a planned time. I feel quite content to be honest, but I would love it if dad could be joining us tommorow too.

Prettying up The Chores

I loved reading your comments on my last post. I do agree with you all wholeheartedly about the housework thingy you know. It's just that when none gets done on the day off then it gets really stinky by the weekend, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes isn't it. I completely agree that blogging should just be about the fun of it, however, the odd comment is wonderful to let me know I'm not talking to myself, but then that always leaves me feeling guilty for the times when I fail to get back to say hello. So for now I need to banish all that catholic guilt and get on with the process of just being creative.

I'm massaging my pooter gently and thinking I may be a bit nearer a new one. I played the wheeler dealer today and sold two cars handsomely for cash. One I had dumped on our drive and the other I'd dumped at my mum's (in case you think I'm up to naughty stuff). 

At the beginning of the week, before all of this profitable dealing began I parted with a fair few pennies.

Off we went to a vintage fair in a fabulous Italianate garden. We went twice in fact as I got the date wrong, luckily one early, not late as that wouldn't have been good at all and I'd have missed all the goodies. Bundles of fabulous fabric and buttons along with an ironing board that I just fell in love with. If I have to iron then I want it to be pretty (and low, I forgot how these ones aren't made for 6 footers).

One bit of fabric was used for a tablecloth, so I collected that off the dealers friend on the market later in the week.

The Bun's bought hairbands and pretty earrings. Mr Bun settled for tea and cake in the sun.

Now isn't that a wee, but hard to resist ironing board no less? Plus a hint of bag making, more of another day. I have a bit of a backlog as I can't get this machine working often enough for me.

After a mornings perusing old treasure, it was home for lunch and time to keep the sewing itch scratched. I decided to brave dressmakers paper and see if I could transfer the designs from the Sewing Bee book onto paper. It was nowhere near as hard as I thought it would be. The squares translate as the same just bigger. I made marks where the line would cross and then joined them all up. As it looked like it should I went ahead and used the pattern I'd made to see what would happen.

I chose a simple dress and then made a few cock-ups. Not sure if mine or the patterns. Mine probably as I should know better having made clothes since my teens. Basically I made the bodice too short so it ended up in the middle of my bust. I should have measured it from shoulder to waist, but I forgot that dresses are never long enough here for me. I loved the pale pink spot I'd lined it with, but I'd used it all up in the first try so I had to go with what I had as you know what it's like once you're in the middle of something.

I measured and added another 4 inches to the length, cut the green spot and off I went. So confident was I that I added a label that I'd made too. Mistake number two.

The bodice wouldn't fit properly along the side then so there was no way a zip would have fitted in. All I could think of doing was adding a panel at the side. I left the dress alone in utter annoyance and waited for a solution. Then a dressmaker friend suggested I open the back seam and add a panel in there otherwise the front would have been wonky with more fabric on one side. 

Panel in and the bodice fits like a dream. I now need to add the zip and hem it to and see how it all looks. If I'm pleased I'll definately do a spin in it for you as it's been a blood sweat and tears kind of a dress. With my lovely new red sandals on and this sunny egg dress I think I'll soon forgot how hard it was to make you know.

Is it a SHow & Tell?

My laptop is playing ball right now so I'm grabbing my chance. No pennies for a new pooter at the mo so I can only dabble here.

I did say when I was back I'd to show you what I made the other day. The other day was quite a few days ago now and lots more has happened since. No big show and tell really, more do you fancy a look see. Lately I've been hankering after a few changes, getting restless and bored with some things and content with others. In my head most of the house has been re-decorated, in the real world it ain't happening so instead I stitch and make to bring about the small realisable changes.

The Dotty Blanket I'd hooked up for the back of the sofa where cats and a small black dog sleep in the sun was looking tired. I had an image in my head of a patchy throw so I mixed up a few fabric piles and got thinking about which would work best. 

Now while this is all very lovely, me showing and telling, it's not what I feel like chatting about right now. Right now I want to have a think about the whole blogging/creative thing. Lately I've felt rather overwhelmed by all the wonderful things I see out there. Too many things to take in and think about, too little time to truly appreciate them all. My laptop being poorly has forced me away from blogging world so I can't keep up with all of the new posts as they happen. It leaves me feeling separate from something that I really enjoy being part of. However, this world that we live in moves forward so quickly that we can get lost in the slipstream and find the moment has gone. I'm trying to slow down and appreciate as much as I can, even when it races elusively ahead of me.

Being able to give a whole day over to making a patchy throw became an impossible plan I had to think around. I made it on a day off when Miss Millie came out with a rash which meant late dr's appointments and then just a half day at school. I set myself to choosing the fabrics before the dr's and then decided the stitching was going to be all done and dusted by the afternoon no less.

A very quick stitchy throw followed. Only a simple stripy backing sheet folded over the edges to act as the binding and then it was finished within a hairs breadth of school pick up time.

No beds made, washing up done, food bought and house still as dirty as it was the day before. Sometimes it's good to just say let's be self-indulgent with our time and do what we want to do, not what we should do. I always catch up with everything in the end. So I've decided I'm going to have to be slow and patient about this blogging experience as I will with life for now. Always rushing isn't good.

I've been taking pictures of all that's caught my eye, so slowly slowly as my pooter allows I'll urge it onto my blog and show you. If you're interested that is. With my sitemeter broken so I can't see who's visited and it being hard to connect with your blogs easily, other than on my kindle (which isn't as easy for me somehow) I feel disconnected and that leads me to question the whole blogging thing more than I probably should. I try hard to keep the blog as the place I'm never too analytical. My worklife is analytical and depressing at times so I enjoy the fluff, beauty and fun I can have on here. I'm probably not making any sense at all am I. I'll be off before I waffle anymore. Ta ta for now.

Alfie Blue Superstar

There are many songs we sing to Alfie Blue, but our favourite by far is "Alfie Blue superstar rides a motorbike and drives a racing car". He is our best boy you know.

Best boys get special beds made for them to snuggle on. That's in those rare moments he's not on Mr Bun's lap snoozling away of course.

My laptop is sorely unhappy now and so I need to find the funds to buy another one. It keeps switching off whenever it likes now. It took me about eleven switch on's to get this far last night before I gave up. It means I can't blog as I like, set up my etsy store as I want with tunics and such like, nor visit your blogs. I'm feeling out of the loop and I don't like it at all.

In the between times, I've been gathering bits and bobs. Lining them up to shuffle new ideas around in my head.

I missed the programme that was on so many people's lips. Just plain forgot each time it was on. I don't watch that much tv really other than really late stuff when I finally sit down. All the same I'd heard how good it was, especially when I read about it from Daisy. Well I got the book, which seems a whole lot better than a programme to me. It's chock full of fabulous patterns of all the kinds of clothes me and the girls like best.

After taking Little Bun to the doctor's yesterday morning (a nasty rash which luckily turned out to be a post-viral thing), I got down to the business of sewing lots of lovely things.

Here's a sneaky peek of something that was jangling around in my head all weekend. Be back as soon as I can be to show you what it became.

Small Pockets of Joy

Last weekend I needed a treasure hunt fix. While Little Bun danced her socks off at her final Strictly show rehearsal I whizzed off to a favourite place of mine. In the morning the car boot next to Miss Rosey's netball practice had been completely lacking in any goodies. A lack of treasure there left me with the need to find something, just a wee joyful ancient thing. I knew I'd find something I'd like at Junk & Gems and I was right.

Zingy citrus orange plastic jam pots all shiny and lovely lured me in. To be true there were quite a few things that called my name, but as I was whisper away from my pay day I had to behave so we could stretch those pennies we had left just that bit further. I did gather up some needed white buttons and a sunshine floral bed sheet while I was at it though. That's it - honest.

I love these bright plastic pots. I've still not decided what I'll store in them. For now they are a thing of joy and need do no more than bring pleasure every time I look at them.

My need for treasure met I still wanted to find a spot of joyful sewing time. On Sunday afternoon I jumped straight in and got on with a project I've had in my head for only a short while.

I chopped up some fabric to make a halter neck top, just in case the summer really does come. I originally bought this sheeting to make a dress for Little Bun, I really must get on with that too. For now it seemed the perfect fabric for what I had in mind.

As I whizzed along and was nearly done with making my new top, I realised the fact I don't own any halter necks is that I just don't like them. The shape doesn't suit me at all and I find the neck tie uncomfortable. Instead I played with a change of direction for the neck ties and ended up with a completely different shaped top.

I crossed the straps at the back and thought that's just the thing for me. After stitching in some buttonholes and adding a pair of zingy yellow buttons I was thrilled with how my top ended up.

It's such a comfy shape and I felt really good in it so an all round top of joy I'd say. Little Bun fancies one long enough to be a dress and has already placed her order. I'll try to get going this weekend as there's a definate need for summery dresses for our girls these warmer days.

My most joyful thing this past week to be sure was watching our girl dance last night in the Strictly Dance tour of Pasha and Katya. It was a truly surreal evening with a cheesy compere. The highlights were the two performances from Little Bun's dance troupe. Girls from 9 - 18yrs had been chosen and they gave it their all. Our eyes were pretty soggy with pride and admiration by the end.

3 Bad Boys

Not too sure if the old adage Bad Luck runs in three's is true or not, but we've been testing this theory of late and it seems to hold true for us at least. Firstly the hot water tank fused the house before it started a fire (good luck there then), then my car got really angry and kept overheating (big hole in the radiator) and since last week the broadbands refused to work. I thought I'd just see if I could get on here and surprise surprise it's working just now - sssshhh.

I've missed blogging to be honest. I really enjoy writing a tale around the photos I take of our doings. I'm still not sure if I'll be able to visit any blogs yet, I'm going to try that theory out soon if I manage to post this. If not we've a new Hub thing coming this week apparently.

Now to briefly step back in time to catch up with the small happenings that make me glad to be alive.

The Bun's and I have had a go at plaiting some fabric and threading some buttons and beads on to make jolly bracelets. If I ever get patient enough I'd love to make a large plaited rug, for now wee projects like this are perfect.

Last week while hanging about to collect three girls from a very late dance rehearsal I managed to grab the book that has been tempting me with it's gorgeous cover. I'm so glad I did as it's a feel good one.

Crochet Living is well worth it. Beautiful photography with a lot of things I'll definately be making. The colours used are also great for ideas of putting things together whenever I'm drawing a blank. I started bashing out the doilies on the front as soon as I'd fed the girls the next evening. The late afternoon sun was pouring in the windows and it felt good to have a moment at the end of a busy mid-week day to actually sit a while.

I'm also seriously drawn to this simply poncho. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that grey with orange or mustard is doing it for me at the moment.

Then there's this hat which looks the right shape to frame my face. I love hats, but they don't usually like me. Here's hoping this one will.

Then there's this gratuitous shot of squishy blankets, just because.

Today the sun has been pouring in again. I realise I need the light far more than the warmth, although warm would be good too. It makes me feel so uplifted and far more positive than those dreary winter months.

While planning my weeks teaching in my head, I've sat down to start the cardi in Pom Pom this morning. I've stopped while I try to work out a stitch called 3 into 9? I wanted a challenge and I think I've most certainly found it. Debbie Bliss 2ply lace is soft and knits up beautifully is the yarn I've chosen, but is a bit of a deevil to keep hold of.

I've been on a making roll today to be sure. I've made a top which I love (I'm wearing it right now) and cut out two bags which will probably get stitched later in the week now. If this here link to the world keeps on working, I'll be back soon to show you.