Contents of a fried brain

Goodbye Sindie

2009-10-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

Sindie passed away peacefully on Thursday 15th of October 2009.

If you would like to attend Sindie's funeral or give a gift to The Cavendish Centre in lieu of flowers, you can find details here.

We are all going to miss her.

Chris
[Sindie's brother]

Guessing Game And Broken Bones.

2008-10-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

Babs (Beetle) got it right first, it's a smashing set of drink coasters! They're very cool indeed. :0)

Just heard from my oncologist last night that I have fractured my pelvis! I had an x-ray taken on Monday due to pain in my pubic bone and it turns out there's a crack. The good news is that there are already signs of new bone growth. He reckons it fractured due to me using my walking stick and walking oddly causing stress on that area. He says it's nothing to do with progression of disease and in fact the original tumour on my pelvis is repairing itself due to the bone strengthening treatment I have been having. So good news really.

I'm off now for a weekend away in the camper so hopefully I'll have some nice photos to show you on my return.

Hamburger.

2008-10-13T02:58:00.001-07:00

Well, you've all had your guess and you're all wrong! This may not please you as much as it pleases me, but I love a bit of kitsch! Here's the hamburger seperated out:

I reckon this makes it obvious, but maybe not. It's a lifesize hamburger by the way.

Birthday Party.

2008-10-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

It was Emily's 17th birthday party last night and we agreed to a house party. I was very nervous about letting it go ahead mostly because of my mum and dad and my aunties winding me up about everything that could go wrong! There could be drunken fighting....party crashers...orgies...damage to our house...in the end it all went very well with nothing more than tipsy high spirits. I told you all it would be ok! I reasoned that any friends that Emily chose would be as nice and sweet as her and couldn't possibly cause trouble, and I was right! :0P

Emily's party was neon themed and here's her make-up that I did for her:

And here's her smashing neon outfit. Please note her birthday present that she's wearing on her feet:

Here's a beautiful photo of my little princess Suzie, just because:

And lastly, here's a guessing game. I was tickled pink to buy this today. What do you think it's for? It's made of ceramic and each layer comes apart for a special purpose:

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 8.

2008-10-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

And here, lastly but not leastly, is a pretty macro photo of some flowers in mum's (Sandie's) garden. :0)

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 7.

2008-10-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

This fantastic photo is from mum (Sandie). Well done mum, this is perfick!

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 6.

2008-10-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

Blimey, they're coming thick and fast now! Check this monster out from Paul:

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 5.

2008-10-07T07:33:00.001-07:00

And the award for the yukkiest macro shot goes to.....Babs!:

What we need now is a macro of a spider. Anyone brave enough?

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 4.

2008-10-07T05:21:00.001-07:00

Here's one from Tina. Poor little moth!:

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 3.

2008-10-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Here we have four more macro shots. Firstly Mum (Sandie) sent me this fantastic photo of a an orange. If you click you can see the dimples and moisture droplets on the skin:

This next one is of a cactus that I bought mum years ago and is now about three times the size. If you liked the spines on the feather Tina, try these for size!:

Here are some more offerings from Babs (I hadn't realised it was conker time yet. Sigh...the children are growing up and conker season suddenly seems unimportant):

And my favourite (because I think cabbage is most yummy!):

Guest Gallery Macro Shots 2.

2008-10-06T03:06:00.001-07:00

These two beautiful and very professional shots were taken by Bry who likes wander round Lincolnshire very early in order to catch the early morning light. Click on them both for a bigger view. Look closely at the spines on the feather and the 'seedy bits' (what are they called?) in the anemone. Aren't they wonderful?:

More please!

Guest Gallery Macro Shots.

2008-10-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Here are the first of my 'Guest Gallery' macro shots.

These first two are from Emily. She took them at college where she is delighted to be taking photography as one of her subjects:

These two are from Babs who has always been a bit of a whizz at photography. This first one is Sukie. Look at those beautiful eyes:

And this is Mitzi. I love this photo. Take a look at those marvelous fangs and if you click on the photo you can even see the spines on her tongue. Wonderful!:

Anyone else want to send some macro shots?

A Study of Arthur

2008-10-03T02:09:00.001-07:00

Just for want of something to do, I decided to share Arthur with you today. He's my constant companion and is always by my side to look after me. He sleeps with me at night, sleeps with me during the day...in fact he probably sleeps through his dinner too!

Here's a macro shot of his paw which I have to kiss, even though it's jolly unhygienic!:

And here he is in his favourite position, belly up for luvvahs. I kiss that too:

Here he is being shy and demure:

And lastly, check out his 'airbrushed' nose:

All of these are clickable and the nose and paw were taken with macro.

London Trip.

2008-09-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

Firstly, thank you for all the lovely comments from my last blog welcoming me back into Blog Land.

So many people have asked me to blog about London and I wasn't really in the mood to. But I've given in because Emily downloaded all the photos for me so I didn't really have an excuse! First of all, here are a few photos to cheer you up on this awful rainy day. Here is a vase of the orange Lillis that grow in so many of our gardens. They're often seen outside, but it never occurred to me to put some in a vase until now. It's like I brought a little bit of sunshine into the house:

And this is Emily's first day at college. She does make me laugh! What a get-up!:

Now for London. We had the most amazing time. This is the first hotel that Dawn got us cut-price:

We forgot to take photos of the hotel that The Willow Foundation got us, but they also set up £150 room service for us which we didn't manage to spend. Emily and Livvie did order an apple pie and ice cream and a fruit salad at about 11.45pm and then snitched all the chocolate out of the three mini bars! Here's all of us when we first arrived in London at the first hotel:

On the Saturday we spent the day at Camden Market. Livvie's head was swivelling and her eyes were on stalks! There were 12" mohicans, multiple facial piercings, 80's disco divas and every fashion trend from the past 60 or so years walking about. I thought it was quite hysterical that fully grown adults would dress in such ways!

On Saturday evening two chauffeur driven cars came to pick us up to take us to Planet Hollywood (a restaurant). Here we were given a £180 meal allowance. Here's me and Gary not looking too happy...but honest, we were!:

And here are my beautiful girlies acting like right plumbs:

Please notice Emily's new dress that she bought from Camden Market. Apparently she looks like a rock star here. After our meal we walked the short distance to the theatre to Hairspray. That was SUCH fun, even Gary loved it!

The next day we had an appointment to go on the London Eye. Again we were picked up by cars and this time driven to the South Bank. It was chucking down! The view wasn't so great. I think you can just about see Big Ben sprouting out the top of my head:

We had decided that we had so much fun at Camden that we'd go a second time instead of going to Covent Garden as planned. The trouble was it was still raining hard and I was feeling the cold sat in a wheelchair so I bought this rather fetching plastic poncho to cover me up. Isn't it smashing?:

We had such a fantastic time in London and The Willow Foundation were more than generous. It is definitely an experience that we wouldn't have otherwise been able to afford and I am so pleased that the girls in particular had such a fantastic time. :0)

Golly, It's Been a Long Time!

2008-08-28T02:29:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I last blogged! That's mainly because I don't want to bore people with illness related stuff. It would have been all about scooters, stair lifts and wheelchairs.

Today I have something mildly interesting to blog about. The builders have arrived and are finally building an end wall in Emily's garage bedroom. As usual it's chaos. All the packing up in boxes and trying to store everything somewhere.

Here's my lovely lounge, now turned into a bedsit:

Added to this were the horrible rows with Emily as she's SO lazy and had every excuse under the sun not to pack her bedroom up for the builders. This of course caused me no end of stress, but else can I expect from a teenager? Aren't all teenagers the same? :0)

Here's the progress in the garage so far:

Yesterday morning while I was having a little nappette, this appeared. Goodness knows how they didn't wake me delivering this lot!:

I shall of course keep you updated on the building work, but alas, there will be no beautifully decorated room at the end of it. Emily is such a slob that we are refusing to decorate the room for her! Until she can keep her bedroom reasonably tidy for six months, she's going to have to live with bare plaster! Oooh, I'm such a ruthless mother!!!

CRASH!

2008-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Firstly, here's a short video of me on my new scooter as promised:

Whilst out with dad and Pickles today I had the most spectacular crash on my scooter! Dad was egging me on to 'off road' down a steep, grassy path and I said no. Somehow though, I accelerated at full speed down the slope, tipped sideways and ended upside down with the scooter on top of me. I winded myself and had to lie there in thick thistles, upside down while dad pulled the scooter off me. I had to lay there a while to recover. I think all I did was bruised my knee and pull some muscles in my chest. I broke the brake lever off the scooter. I wonder how much that will cost to replace? Oh well, it could have been so much worst, think of Ozzy Osborne!

Oh and a little bit of good news; today they took the marks and tape off my upper back because they said they had done with that bit. That surely means that my throat and mouth can now start to recover? The doctor said it will still be a couple of weeks from now, but I wasn't expecting the radio' to stop on that bit till Friday so I'm quite pleased about that!

Fat Steroid Face and New Scooter.

2008-06-17T02:10:00.000-07:00

Look at my face! To my eyes I am now unrecognisable to the Sindie I saw in the mirror only a month ago. Bloody steroids have puffed me up like Joan Simms! Look, here's a most recent photo from a few months ago where I was actually 10lbs heavier than I am now:

And here is my steroid induced fat face today:

Look at those cheeks and fat neck! AND I am 10lbs lighter in this photo may I remind you !(diet's going well.) Oh well, I should be coming off the steroids in a few weeks time and lets hope it all comes off quickly.

I am doing quite well walking around in the house at the minute. The numbness has all but gone and I can get around holding onto things and for longer distances with the walking frame. Radiotherapy is torturous for my throat and mouth. I have ulcers I could fit my fist in and my throat is keeping me awake at night. Oh well, Friday is my last day at radio' so after the weekend I should start to see great improvements in my mouth and throat.

Next Tuesday is Emily's prom so today she's coming round to mum's for a final dress fitting. She bought a spangly new red bra to go with her dress, so today I have to make some straps for her dress and maybe a little wrist bag for her phone and camera etc. I also have to sequin up her little top hat. :0)

I received my new super-duper three wheeled mobility trike a few days ago. It does what it says on the packet and it roars up those hills and ditches and across grassy hills and up and down kerbs. Absolutely brilliant it is! I shall pop a video on as soon as I can for your delectation and delight.

4th July is our outing to London care of The Willow Foundation. Not long to wait now! For those of you that don't know, me, Gary, Emily, Livvie, Dawn and Glen are all going to London, care of the foundation and staying in a swish hotel, seeing the stage show Hairspray, seeing all the sights and all travel, food and expenses are paid for! I phoned today to advise that I was now in a wheelchair and they said it shouldn't make any difference and that they'd try and swap the Hairspray tickets to suit. I am getting quite excited now!

That's all for now. I shall put a video on of my new scooter ASAP. :0)

Physiotherapy Band

2008-06-05T00:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the nice physio lady came up to see me to sort me with some exercises. Although I have a nerve and not a muscle problem right now, my muscles will waste if I don't use them so I need to keep on top of it don't I? The exercises are quite small movements using a big resistant rubber band, but I can certainly feel them working. It's quite empowering doing something for myself! I am doing them three times a day and I am also adding some arm exercises as I'm having trouble sleeping on my bad side due to carpel tunnel type problems. I might actually ask the physio to furnish me with proper exercises for that when I next see her.

Even though I got zero sleep last night because they forgot to give me my sleeping tablets, i feel quite bright and breezy and hugely encouraged by improvements in my legs. I am still very unsteady and will need a wheelchair, but I'm rather hoping to ditch the Zimmer frame for home use.

Today I am going to force myself to do some preliminary sketching for a new quilt. Gary bought all my pens and paper etc last week and I haven't touched it. I just need to force myself. You know ow it is when you're bored. Boredom breeds more boredom and then you can't be bothered t do anything! I shall of course keep you updated with any progress.

I am most uncomfortable talking about myself like this, but I know I shall be in trouble f I don't keep everyone updated, so you can stop nagging!

Bright and cheerful in Sheffield on another beautifully sunny day. X X X X X

Stuck In Hospital!

2008-06-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well, here I be, languishing in hospital again. This time I've been in for a week and will possibly be in for another couple yet. I had a creeping numbness in my legs and when it got to my waist I phoned my oncologist and he wanted me straight in. At first he thought it may be a drug reaction, but it soon became apparent that the cancer had spread into my spinal chord and was noshing on the nerves. By the next morning my right leg was dead and I couldn't walk so now I am confined to a wheelchair. Anyhoo...the upshot is pretty strong radiotherapy to my entire spine which is pretty tiring. It's hot and muggy and boring in here and did I mention BORING? I've been having lots of visitors and phone calls though. I have sewing and reading and laptop and TV, but I'm too tired to be bothered with it all really.

Today mum and dad and Gary came and we had coffee outside in the gorgeous sunshine before heading off to radiotherapy at another hospital. Not sure why dad's pulling that awful face!!!

I am having to stay in hospital until my house has been adapted for wheelchair, stairlift and ramps etc. I may ask my oncologist if I can at least go home to mum and dad's for the weekend as I don't have treatment then. I miss my family and little doggy so much!

I shall endeavour to keep you informed of anything interesting that happens. So far it has been dull, dull, DULL! In the meantime, I think that just possibly, maybe, there might be a slight improvement in my leg, so fingers crossed. :0)

Oh and of course now poor dad is having to decorate the bedroom and hall at break-neck speed in order to get me back home. I was SO determined to do most of it myself this time. I was even up a ladder stripping wallpaper only last Monday before all this happened. :0(

New Bedroom

2008-05-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I laid on the bed and watched hubbiest dismantle the horrendous dated swinging (yes swinging) wardrobes and also the built-in boiler cupboard. All the contents of the wardrobes are now in cardboard boxes in the lounge. After this was done it became apparent that the ceiling would need re-doing and the wall in the corner would need re-plastering. We got Eric in to do it as he's done work for both me and Babs and he does a very good job. He matched up the existing Artex on the ceiling which is obviously hundreds of £'s cheaper than re-plastering. He's done a great job and I don't think it will notice once it's all been painted. He also re-plastered the whole wall when he only quoted for doing the corner. :0) So here's where we're at:

Notice the rubble in the corner which I have yet to clear up!

This afternoon we went and spent over £1000 on new bedroom furniture. Ooooh, what a treat! It's all on a loan though, so we'll be paying it for the next five years. Ho hum. It's jolly nice though. Because our antique headboard is walnut we chose a walnut bedroom suite. Not that it will match at all though! Still, we made the effort. :0) Here's what we've bought:

http://tinyurl.com/5hkbs7

It's being delivered on 20th June so I have a month to get the bedroom decorated. That's more than enough time. We nipped into B&Q for some wallpaper samples while we were out. Here's what we came home with. My fave is currently No.2. I think it goes best with the bedspread. I don't think No.3 goes at all as it is too orangey. This loud paper is only for the bed wall, all the other walls will be in a much calmer colour!

Nothing else to report. Ta ta!

Drugs, Regrowth and Creativeness

2008-05-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

The bathroom is finished at last. The only things I need to do now are to varnish the boxing-in that hides all the pipes and to put my new towels in. I have bought the new towels but I am resisting using them until I get a second set. All the towels I have at the moment were ruined when we had the building work done. Everything was so filthy that they got stained with the constant hand washing. Anyway, here's a peek of the bath wall with a new art thing. It's a wall plaque that was plain black and I painted it to match everything:

Here's some more creativeness. We did this in craft class this week and I can't for the life of me figure out why?!!!

It's called napkin decor. You basically cut out a pretty picture from a paper napkin and then glue it on a candle or soap. Obviously there's more to it than that what with all the special stuff you have to paint on the candle first, but....well...I don't really get it. Once you've done it you're not supposed to burn the candles, they're for decoration only. Our teacher, bless her, loves it and has these things all over her house! Hmmmm. Still, I enjoyed doing it though and the companionship of the class is lovely. :0)

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Billy Bonsai is clawing his way back from the brink of death. Look at him now:

He has green shoots coming out from everywhere.

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Thought you might be interested to see how many tablets I take daily. At the moment I'm up to 40 a day! I used to be someone who didn't like to take paracetamol for a headache. Sigh.

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I'm going shopping with Emily this afternoon to try and get her some jewellery for her prom. Her red dress is in the shop getting taken up to a short length and she's now after white chunky plastic jewellery. Her shoes are white with red hearts and red bows at the back. She's hired a black Hummer limousine like this: http://tinyurl.com/6pr7at for her and all her friends. How cool is that?

MRI Results

2008-05-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Dr Manifold said that the report showed 'nothing significant' and that the tumour was not compressing my spine. Therefore we can assume that it is my medication that is causing the numbness and tingling. I now have to cut down my medication again. Today is my first day and already I'm feeling lousy. It is yet to be seen if the numbness will go away. Still, at least the tumour hasn't got any bigger. :0)

Red Buttons, Bathroom Tiles and MRI

2008-05-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

Daddy has more or less finished decorating and tiling the bathroom. The thing is, he ran out of tile spacers. I had an idea and after shuffling around in the craft room for a few minutes managed to find enough matching red buttons to do the job! Doesn't it look nice? Far better than those nasty white plastic crosses that they use! :0) Also, look at my new tiles:

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Today I went for my monthly bone strengthening infusion at the hospital. While there I told Dr Manifold about my numb feet. He said it could be one of two things. Either my medication or the tumour on my spine is pressing on some nerves. To see one way or the other he sent me down for an MRI scan. I've never had one of those before. I laid down and was put into a big tube. I say big but it was only just big enough for my fat bum! Then I had to wear headphones as the machine is so noisy. The scan took about half an hour and I had a nice little snoozy-poozy as is was being done. There is one thing that I have been thinking of, up until now it has been assumed that the little shadow that was seen on my spine on the bone scan was a tumour. there has been no real proof. I suppose there is a slight chance that this scan would rule that out. Maybe I'm just dreaming, but by tonight I should get the phone-call to tell me one way or the other. I'll also get to know if there's anything else going on in there. Of course I shall let you know the results...

Bonsai, Chain Stitch and Decorative Art & Weight Loss

2008-05-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I noticed that Billy Bonsai was looking a bit thirsty, the trouble was I didn't know just how thirsty he was! When I took him off the shelf and placed him on the table, every single leaf fell just like they would in a cartoon. PLOP! Here's what he looks like now:

Then after watering him for a few days I noticed a tiny green sprig. Can you see it?:

Hopefully he'll recover fully. I'm so ashamed. :0(

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Last week in craft class we did decorative painting. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. When the tutor showed us what we were going to do, everyone said they couldn't do it, but once you get the hang of the technique it's actually quite easy! Here's what I did:

And this is my favourite:

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My new project isn't really getting anywhere. I think it's the wrong sort of project for me, too grown-up if you like. I much prefer doing character portraits. I think I might leave this one and start another. Here's what I've done so far. This is fused applique ready to stitch:

And here's the tiny chain stitch I have done so far:

I think I'll do my own version of this, but with me and Gary as the main subject:

http://tinyurl.com/6ecpdq

I think this is much more my thing don't you? :0)

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Last week I lost 4lbs and this week I lost 4lbs too. I am so thrilled. I really hope that this diet continues to work. I'm finding it ok and don't feel deprived at all. The trouble is, my shopping bill has literally doubled! It's because of all the extra fruit and vegetables. I'm not we can continue this way, but we'll see how it works out.

Craft Classes And Suzie's First Walk

2008-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago me and mum started some mixed art classes. Little did we know, until we arrived for our first class, that we would be working towards a qualification! There are two parts to the 20 week course. At the moment we are doing NCFE Paper Crafting level 1. We are now officially students of Rotherham College and are now entitled to Student Cards which gives us healthy discounts on all sorts of things. After doing this weeks subject 'Paper Quilling', Mum leaned in and asked me 'Do you think anyone ever fails this course?' That set me off giggling as I replied 'You'd have to be some kind of mega idiot to fail!' The course is...how can I put it.....easy on the old grey matter! We're enjoying it though and I guess that's the main thing. :0) Next week is 'Decorative Painting'. I expect that will impress us a bit more as the finished result looks quite good. I'll keep you informed of how we're doing.

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Although Suzie has been allowed to go out for a walk for a week or more, we haven't had much success so far. Livvie took her out a week ago and Suzie point blank refused to walk on the lead so Livvie ended up carrying her for over a mile! Since then however, due to my training schedule, she has been doing reasonable well on the lead so I took mum and dad up on their offer of a dog walk yesterday afternoon. Here's Suzie starting out. There are so many sniffs and smells on the ground, she loved it!:

She walked very well indeed and I was very proud of her. Here's a short video of her playing fetch with mum:

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Puppy Training - Day Four

Well......Suzie is managing to do most of her wee-wees and poops outside, but that's only because I take her out so often. The minute I let my guard down, she does it in the house! I reckon this is going to take far longer than one week. Oh well, I am dedicated to the cause and willing to do this routine for six months if I have to! At least summer is coming up. This morning I was standing in the garden at 6am with the dog on a lead and me in my dressing gown in the pouring rain. You'll also find me there at 11pm with dressing gown on and the addition of a torch. Other training is coming on well though. She's excellent at night, in the bath and when I groom her. She sits on the sink unit (I can't bend down) as good as gold while I tug all the knots out of her moustache and beard. Then she sits patiently while I brush her entire body and then comb her hair and put her top-knot in. She's also good at travelling and when I say 'in you go' she hops into her crate and sits like a good girl while I fasten the door shut.

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Diet -Day Four

I have been stunning, stupendous, incredible, wicked, wonderful and also jolly good so far. I am eating a tonne of fruit and veg and salad and only smattering of anything else. I have been going by the book. I must admit to being hungry most of the time, but that can't be a bad thing to feel after nearly four years of being stuffed! I have to stop feeling sorry for myself and making excuses. I need to lose weight for my own good. I can just imagine how much easier I would be able to get around if I dropped 3-4 stone.

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At the moment I am listening to Livvie and her band having band practice in her little bedroom. It sounds quite good actually. :0) It's very rocky, like every other teen band I've ever heard! :0)

Diet And Puppy Training Day Two

2008-04-22T03:01:00.000-07:00

I decided my life was going far too well lately, so I have decided I needed to punish myself. Yesterday I started both a new diet and puppy training. The diet is well overdue. I have now reached 16 st and size 18/20. It's just not good enough. My face is now so fat I look like Squirrel Nutkins hiding nuts in my cheeks! So yesterday was Day One of the Rosemary Connolly GI Jeans Diet. It's alright so far and I'll keep you posted about my successes and failures.

Day One of puppy training was middling. I am beginning to lead train the poppy puppy dog. She hasn't been best pleased about me putting on a lead and dragging her around the garden at all hours of the day and night. I am out there at 7.30am in my dressing gown and throughout the day and again at 11pm. I am using a book called How To Housebreak You Dog In 7 Days.

The basic idea is that the dog is penned in for long stretches of time. Because they don't like to soil their small area they wait for the loo until you let them out. They of course are like humans and pee and poop at certain times of the day and it's up to me to recognise when that will be. So far Suzie has managed one pee and one poop outside. She's a little confused though as she thinks it's correct to do it indoors at the moment. I was wandering around the garden with her on the lead waiting for her to poop and nothing happened. I then let her off the lead to go back indoors for ten minutes and she immediately rushed in and pooped in Emily's bedroom in a panic! I suppose it must be weird pooping outside with the wind whistling round your bum? Anyway, I shall persevere. :0)

Here's Suzie looking very sad in her pen. She wants to come out to play and it's not time yet. 'Look mummy, I'm so sad I even shredded my paper!'

Another thing I am trying to take care of is her constant barking. I am actually getting somewhere with that. I bought these little brass disks. When she barks I throw them noisily near her and it distracts her immediately. If she barks again, I throw them again and so on. I was doing at 6.30am this morning! She is now realising that when she barks these disks come flying from nowhere (I try and hide when I throw them) and she doesn't like it! The barking is much better. I was using a metal tray with a metal cake cooling rack to make noise but that was frightening the hell out of her so I changed to the disks.

Totally changing the subject, here's some Peyote beading I did yesterday:

I put it on the fork for a size comparison. The thread was stretching and the beads are a slightly irregular size so I gave up after 2". However, I have ordered the correct thread stuff and will definitely try again as it is addictive! I want to make a bracelet next.

I Will keep you regularly updated wit the diet, puppy training and beading. :0

Snow And Latest Project And Dyeing

2008-04-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

I awoke to a thick covering of snow this morning (in mid April?) and got out there to video Suzie's first snow experience before it melted:

She had a jolly nice time eating all the snow and scampering about. :0) Talking of Suzie, look what I pulled out yesterday morning:

It was hanging on a thread and I nipped it out and she didn't even notice. She was more interested gnawing on my fingers! How impossibly teeny tiny is this?

I have started on a new project and was running it by mum (as is always necessary on these occasions) when she pointed out the need for some yellow. As I told mum I didn't have any in my stash. So I decided that I needed another dyeing day. Here are today's results, just for mummy:

My monitor is showing those brightest colours as bright orange, when in fact they're a vivid lipstick red. I also did some flesh tones (or tried to) as I'll be needing them for more portrait quilts in the future. Do click on the photo and then you can see that some of it is muslin and some cotton and some velvet. I can't show you my latest project as hubble has invaded the sewing room with computer jiggery pokery, so it'll have to wait till next time. :0)

Quilt Challenge Revealed And Bathroom

2008-04-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

As some of you know I belong to a web group named The Fibre Pirates. Basically we are a group of rufty tufty pirates who swear and spit and sew. The latest piratey challenge that was thrown out was called Baggo 2008. Those who wished to participate had to collect together scraps of fabric, ribbon, thread and beads and put them in a zippy bag and mail them to the coordinator. 10 people took part so the coordinator (in the US) mailed them out to everyone so that we all had a mystery pack of scraps from a mystery donor. Then we had to make something from the scraps. Here's a sketch of my original idea:

I wanted to do something pirate themed and would you believe that the pack of scraps I received contained some skull and crossbones printed organza and some skull and crossbones beads? Perfick! Here's is the picture midway through fusing the collage pieces to the background:

Here is the finished article. I 'sketched' using free motion embroidery on my machine. I added organza layers, beads, couched threads and strings of pearls. I think it's suitably piratey, don't you? :0) This is Buxom Betty Bones:

The idea now is that whoever recognised these fabrics as their own can claim it and I will post it to them. In turn, I shall recognise my fabrics and claim mine back. I wonder what I'll get? The challenge has about six weeks to run yet and I was rather prompt at making this so I might have a long wait to claim mine!

Over a year ago we had a lot of building work done on the house which was supposed to include re plastering and beautifying of the upstairs bathroom. However, as is often the case in these situations, we ran out of money, but not before me and dad had pulled all the old tiles and most of the plaster off the walls first! So we have been living with a rather cool cave-look bathroom for over a year now. I have been so fed up with pieces of ceiling falling on my head while I luxuriate in a hot bath! This week, Steve the builder is here again to plaster the bathroom at last! Here's a pic of dad pulling the last of the tiles and hardboard off in readiness:

Hubble is a bit miffed as he was doing the hard work right up until this point when dad took over to give him a break. He says it looks like dad did it all!

At the moment we are widdling in an ancient portapotti that I was given by a Freecycler. I have bleached it all up (although it was spotless anyway) and that is now our upstairs loo. We had no choice because I am very unsteady at night with all the drugs I have to take. I would have killed myself having to go up and down the stairs about 3 or 4 times a night! Steve has plaster boarded the whole bathroom now so I guess he'll start plastering in the morning. I already bought the tiles and accessories last year so now all I have to do is choose the paint and get some new towels. Well, I say 'new' but I believe my matey Dawn has some that she is willing to donate. :0)

Lastly, here's a couple of photos of Suzie who is now 16 weeks old. I love her soooooo much and she's an absolute darling. She's certainly brightened my life up. It is now time to train her and I keep putting it off because I'm so lazy! Here's an action shot of her eating her favourite treat, a carrot:

And here's a shot of her after digging in the garden in the rain. I found her with her head in a muddy hole. This photo really does not do the mess justice!:

Portrait Quilt finished!

2008-03-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

At last, after nearly a month, I have finished my quilt. Uh-huh, oh yes, it's true. Loads and loads of hand stitching. I machine stitched the background quilting though as I didn't fancy hand sewing all that! Anyway, here's the finished quilt. See how I have all those pretty red buttons in my arms? That's my latest passion that is, red buttons! :0)

Tomorrow I start on a challenge quilt for my web group The Fibre Pirates. I have sent a package to the coordinator in the US which contains lots of lovely scraps of fabric, ribbons, threads and beads. Yesterday I received a similar package from the States (from a mystery donor) and I have to see what I can make from it. When everyone is finished we get to find out who got our package and then we send the finished piece back to them. I'm really looking forward to making my 'thing' and I already know what I am going to do, but it has to remain a secret for now! So you won't get to see the progress I'm afraid. I'll have to report back when the challenge is over in two months time.

Sewing For Pleasure And Hobby Crafts

2008-03-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

Our mini break was wonderful. First of all we spent two days at Clumber Park in the motorhome. We lost a day because I couldn't drive in the high winds, but we eventually got there at abort tea time. Here's the view through the front window:

We spent two lovely quiet days just reading and sewing. Unfortunately I couldn't go out walking because my hip is still giving me trouble. :0(

After that we drove home to exchange the camper for the car and then tootled off to a beautiful country club hotel in Birmingham for another two days where we met our friends Dawn and Glen. The purpose of the hotel stay was so that me and Dawn could take in the 'Sewing for Pleasure' and the 'Hobby Crafts' exhibitions at the NEC. Here's our room at the hotel:

Or should I say here's our first room at the hotel. I was really looking forward to spreading out in my own bed but that was before Gary threw a whole cup of tea over both beds and we had to be changed to another room! Although the new room had one ma-hoos-sive bed it was much the same as the first.

I was worried that my bad hip would put a stop to our day at the NEC, but on the day I was ok. There was so much to see, I was like a kid in a candy shop! The first hall was 'Sewing for Pleasure'. I had exactly £100 birthday money to spend. I of course bought some beads, then some glorious threads which Dawn and I plan to wind onto bobbins next weekend (our Easter camping trip) I also bought some wonderful polyester ribbon thread stuff which I plan to dye. Dawn bought a beautiful X-stitch kit depicting poppies that I love. I hinted so I might get a finished version one day!

One of the stalls was demonstrating lace making. A wonderful old guy was showing us how it's done. It looked so confusing with all those bobbins flying around! The old man let me have a go and I did realise that there is a simple method that can get as complicated as you like.

Then we found a knitted house! Absolutely everything was knitted from the chairs, stove, logs by the fire, sleeping cat on the bed to a box of Swan Vestas and a fire extinguisher on the black stove!

We also found this amazing beaded lizard made from thousands of tiny seed beads. Isn't he beautiful?:

Here's one last photo of a bin liner fashion. If you refer back to my New Year blog you'll find some photos of a game we play every year. Two teams have to come up with a fashion outfit using only a roll of bin liners, a pair of scissors and a reel of sticky tape. I'd say this outfit is rather better than our attempts!:

The next hall was 'Hobby Crafts' which held exhibitors showing all sorts of crafts but of course I homed in on the card making stuff. We were particularly taken with a demonstration on how to use mica powders. Leeta and mum had given me £20 each to spend on their behalf so I bought them each a set of the powders and a special ink pad while I spent my remaining £45 on a very cool set of roller stamps to use with the powders. No doubt I shall blog when the three of us get together to use them. :0)

Stitched Portrait Update

2008-03-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have now stitched all the main outlines on the portrait quilt. It came along much quicker than I expected. I am jolly proud of all the hand stitches because as Bry knows, I am not very patient with hand sewing usually! I am a bit miffed though that Gary reckons my nose looks like an erect penis! Now that's all I can see!!!!

I'm not really sure where to go from here. I wanted to stitch and embellish it to death and I feel like a need a day or two to mull over the next step. Here's my favourite bit in close-up:

All Change!

2008-03-06T14:02:00.001-08:00

Just a quickie to let you know that we are changing Bobbie's name to Suzie. We are sick of everyone calling her a 'he'! It will be difficult to change after three weeks though. :0)

New Piece Of Work

2008-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

I have started a new needlework project. It's a self portrait of sorts done in caricature.

Here's the first paper draft. I will surround myself with familiar words and symbols. Obviously the syringe is for chemo and not because I'm a drug addict!

Here is the start I already made on fabric. I fused the pieces onto the backing using my own hand dyed fabrics. From now on most of the work will be hand stitching. I really wanted to do something complicated with my hands and thought this would be fun to embellish with buttons and threads and beads. I shall keep you regularly updated on the progress. :0)

The Puppet Catcher!

2008-03-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

Last night was the premier of Emily's puppet film. She worked on it over the half term with the Puppetechnics team: http://www.puppetechnics.com/

There was a red carpet and the press were there and Emily's going to be in the paper. :0) When they gave the presentation speech Emily was mentioned because she had the biggest puppet parts and did most of the puppet work. Emily plays Robbie Green:

and Miss Hooper:

All the scenery is made and painted by the same people that do Coronation Street. It's all very cool. Here's the link to the film. You can watch the whole thing here (in two parts):

http://www.puppetechnics.com/My%20player%20Puppetcatcher%20part%20one.htm

I hope you enjoy it, we certainly did. We were roaring with laughter! Were's so proud of Emily. :0)

Poor Bobbie!

2008-03-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

Look at my poor baby! I took her to the vet on Wednesday because she had a very sore eye and he said she had a pinprick ulcer. Despite eye ointment by Friday the ulcer had grown to about 1/4" across and he said that if he didn't operate the next day she may lose her eye. They have scraped away all the dead tissue on the eye (yuk!) and then sewn her third eyelid (where is the second one?) to her upper eyelid. She is so dopey after her anaesthetic and it's so cute. Doesn't she look like a little teddy bear in this picture. My poor, poor darling. :0(

Apart from that, I am on my second round of radiotherapy in as any weeks! First I had five days on my spine lesion as the pain was getting too much, now I am halfway through a nine day block on my hip again. Apart from being tired, there are no side effects. I will expect some burning in my groin like last time, but it shouldn't be as bad as it is a lesser dose apparently. Seeing as I am only allowed two goes at radiotherapy in any place I am expecting my mobility to be seriously compromised if the pelvis lesion starts playing me up again later on as this is already my second go. My Oncologist said this round of radio' should keep the pain away for many months, but not years. :0(

Frosty Days

2008-02-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

This is Bobbie taking a little excercise in the garden yesterday. It was very cold and the frost was thick, even in the afternoon.

I sat out with her for about an hour in the sun shine. The sky was clear and beautiful :0)

Today was even colder. The ice in my bucket is an inch thick and the hosepipe is frozen solid!

This afternoon we drove down by the resevoir and it looked beautiful with the white frosty trees and the mist hovering over the water. I don't know if you can make it out in this photo. I also found this perfectly frozen spiderweb.

Gary got his EEG results today and they're all clear as expected. That means he's not allowed to get his driving licence back until he's been a year free of fits. :0(

Bobbie Video

2008-02-14T03:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a little video of Bobbie. :0)

She's doing better at night now. We have discovered that we can have a peaceful evening if we put her on our bed. She sleeps all evening on her back with her stumpy legs in the air! Then at bedtime we just pop her into her crate and into Livvie's room. Livvie baracades her into a little space so that she can step out of her crate if she wants to for a pee or a poop. Two nights running Bobbie has created because she's pooped and wants me to change the paper. When the paper is changed she settles down to sleep again.

Gary's EEG At Last!

2008-02-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Today, after I had my radiotherapy we went to get Gary's EEG. It was a last minute cancellation appointment so we only found out about it yesterday. We arrived an hour early because the cancer hospital is a few minutes walk away from the hosital where Gary had his appointment. There were two hours between our appointments so we killed an hour in a cafe and then wandered over to The Royal Hallamshire Hospital for Gary. Luckily they saw Gary straight away. I asked if I could take photos and the nurse didn't mind. So here's what they did to him:

The nurse attached a rubber 'hairnet' and then placed little connector blocks under it that connected to Gary's scalp with a special gel. Once she had done this she clipped wires to them. It probably took about 20 minutes.

These wires were connected to the machine that could pick up Gary's brain waves.

Gary was then asked to lay on a couch as some of the tests might bring on a seizure. The tests were quite simple. First he had to close his eyes for two minutes and then open them for two minutes while the nurse took readings. I assume this was to gauge normal brain function. Then he had to do deep breathing for 3 minutes in order to make him hyper-ventilate. Then they flashed strobe lighting in his eyes at various speeds. Luckily/unluckily (depends on which way you look at it) it didn't bring on a fit. Being NHS, Gary won't find out the results for up to six weeks! Oh well, seeing as they probably won't even find anything I suppose it doesn't really matter!

My Name Is Bobbie, Pleased To Meet You!

2008-02-11T03:51:00.001-08:00

This is Bobbie, my new Shih Tzu baby girl. She was born on 17th December and she came home with us yesterday. Look at that little face, it looks like she's been smacked with a frying pan!!!

I'm sure she's going to be a beautiful little doggie, but for now she's very hard work what with my back paining me so much. Oh well, it's all my own fault! :0)

Last night, because we knew she'd cry, we put her in her little cage with her bed, then we put the cage with the door open in the shower and then we closed the shower door. She SCREAMED the place down! She would have woken the whole street so we took her in her cage upstairs next to our bed where she continued to scream. In the end Livvie came in and took her into her bedroom becuase se sleeps with a light on. Bobbie was better but continued to cry on and off in the night. Livvie was able to sleep through most of it. I was up at midnight trawling the web for puppy training advice! It would seem that most people say that you have to ignore the crying and screaming and that the baby will eventually get that I won't come running every time.

This is me at 7.30am after being woken by a poo covered puppy. Look at my pained expression! Me and Livvie had to bath her and then I had to hand wash her bed.

It's so difficult getting anything done with a puppy in the house. I had to get Livvie to look after Bobbie while I washed, made the bed and did the chores. Thank goodness Livvie's off school this week! It's also handy because I am having a week of radiotherapy on my back and of course Livvie can doggy-sit. I'll put a video on later of her little stubby legs and waddling bum. :0)

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-02-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

It was my 38th birthday yesterday and I got some lovely cards and presents. Gary took the day off to spend time with me and at 7.20am Livvie woke us both with a cup of tea and all my cards. Then she came in with a home made chocolate and banana cake with lighted candles. After this I was treated to a very loud rendition of Happy Birthday To You accompanied by the drums from her bedroom next door!

Here's Livvie's home made card. Isn't it lovely?

This one is from Tina. All the little concertina presents open to reveal peel offs inside them.

And here's Leeta's. Isn't it a gorgeous colour scheme? :0)

As I said, Livvie made me a cake. Mum got me something and I'm not telling you what as it's for making presents and I don't know who I'm going to make for so it's a secret! Babs and Mo gave me some squidlies which I'm saving with my other birthday money for a trip to the NEC in March. Mo also bought me a gorgeous lighted twig sculpture thingy. You stand it in a vase and it lights up with tiny LED lights. :0)

Emily bought me an exquisite gift box with a collection of red fabrics in it. I have a project in mind for that already.

Gary bought me 20 local craft lessons. I shall be:

*Making bags & boxes from card

*Using Fimo modelling clays as card toppers and embellishments

*Using paper folding for decoration

*Creating a variety of cards using different techniques

*Working wit mulberry papers

*Scrapbooking techniques

*Decorative painting used as embellishments for paper and cards

For me the classes are as much about getting out and meeting people as learning new techniques. I am very much looking forward to the classes which start in April. :0)

I broke my strict diet for a Pizza Hut lunch and shall try and claw back some points during the rest of the week.

We didn't do much as I have had a very bad back these past few weeks and couldn't stand a day out, but I'm sure we'll make up for it another time!

Cusworth Hall - Doncaster's Brightest Jewel

2008-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely magical mystery tour. First we ended up at a country house in Leeds which was the wrong one! It was wrong, because Mo intended to take us to another one that was free to get in. By a process of elimination we eventually found it. Cusworth Hall in Doncaster.

Even on a rainy day it looks impressive as you drive up to it. Built in the 1740's it is a typical imposing country house of that period. I forget the year, but the owner, Lord Battie-Wrightson died a premature death and having no eligible heir at that time it was left to his wife (his son and daughter were young at the time). This was the heyday of the house and 36 servants were employed. Mrs. Battie-Wrightson was well known for her lavish entertaining and was famous for her fancy dress balls. When her son Robert reached the age of 21 a huge party was given and all the servants were given the day off to attend. They got Harrods to cater for it. The house then passed onto the son Robert. Unfortunately his mother was dismayed by Robert's marriage to a publican's daughter. The ill fated marriage didn't last long and Robert started a long lasting affair with his house keeper. Over the years, Robert frittered away his fortune on wine and women and when he died in 1952 the crippling death duties meant his sister had to sell the entire contents of the Hall. It fell into disrepair until 1961 (I think) when it was sold to....er...let me look that bit up...Doncaster Rural District Council. Last year the hall underwent a £7.5 million restoration which means it is now lottery funded and free to get in. Tah-dah! I remembered most of that myself. :0)

When we arrived we went and had a lovely lunch in the cutest tea rooms you have ever seen. It looks like it was originally a stable and it has cobbled floors. The walls are all damp and there's a roaring fire in the corner. Absolutely gorgeous.

Then we went 'below stairs' in the old house to the kitchens. I tell you what, I wouldn't mind a kitchen like this, even now! It's certainly a very workable kitchen and somewhere where I'd want to cook all day. Look at that range!

Then there was the wash room which I wasn't so keen on! It looks like very hard work to me.

There are displays of all washing machines and implements through the years and guess what I spied mum? A Flatley Dryer! I immediately remembered it from my childhood. Do you remember the clicking noise it used to make as it sat on the landing?

There are lots of displays including babies things, toys, dresses, leisure and sports and the like which was all very interesting. We had the whole house to ourselves apart from two other couples. There was also a religious section which housed an amazing tiny chapel. I must say it smelled very peculiar, but then these places always do.

Mo almost fell over backwards trying to get a good look at the amazing ceilings!

Outside of the chapel we found this. It is made from an early form of plastic and looks to be hand carved. I was mesmerized by it. It is of the Lord's Prayer and I would LOVE to own it. Behind the 3D scroll work is different coloured silks.

This photo does not do it justice. I couldn't get a good picture as it was behind glass. I WANT IT!

So there you have it, our day out at Cusworth Hall in Doncaster. There are lots more pictures here: http://www.cusworth-hall.co.uk/

Trying a Video From My New Camera....

2008-01-14T12:15:00.000-08:00

Testing, testing, one two three! This how Livvie looks these days. :0)

Just Rambling!

2008-01-14T03:48:00.000-08:00

Now, what's happened since I last blogged? Er....I had treatment last Thursday and Auntie Mo took me because mum and dad were still ill with this nasty bug that's going round. Although the weather was absolutely atrocious, we still drove back through the lanes to take in the wonderful countryside after Mo treated me to a spot of lunch at a garden centre. Here's what we saw (even on a rainy day):

Oh, you know that cute little taggy quilt I made for baby Jake? Well, I received a phone call of thanks from Jake's mummy but she told me that her middle son Jo (aged just two) had been cuddling it all day as he was poorly. She said he was very taken with it. I had visions of the poor child being emotionally damaged for life if she ripped it from him, so I quickly made another one and put it in the post. They should receive it this morning (Monday):

It's not quite as grand as the first, but I don't suppose Jo will mind too much!

We went to Ikea on Saturday to try and buy something to fix the 'orrible mess in the corner of my dining room. I had a wire kitchen trolley filled with acrylic paints and then stacked high with painting rubbish in one corner. In front of this was my large metal paint box and a big cardboard box full of paper napkins. Then in another corner I had my huge studio easel and some canvases and about ten melamine shelves leaning against the wall. All in all it wasn't a pretty sight and such a shame to have all that in my beautiful kitchen/diner now that it's all so posh. We couldn't afford the high oak chest of drawers that I would have ideally liked, so we had to go with this instead:
Now it's not ideal, but it certainly is waaaay better in a house that doesn't even have room for an extra fag paper! All my painting stuff is now in there, the metal box is on top, the easel is hidden behind the lounge door, the TV tables that used to be behind the lounge door are now under the sofas, the canvases are secreted above kitchen cabinets out of view and the shelving has at last gone to the shed! All in all a more spacious dining room. By the way, I built that unit myself as I couldn't bare Gary being stubborn by not reading the instructions! Why is it that men see flat pack as a challenge? Gary thinks it shows a weakness to read instructions. 'Real men don't read instructions, GRRRRR' he told me. So I made him make the tea and, following the easy instructions it was made in a jiffy. It's alright I suppose, but I would still have preferred a tall oak chest of skinny drawers. :0(

On the way home from Ikea we stopped at Borders book shop. It's a massive two level superstore and I soon found the quilting section. This is usually how you'll find me in a book shop. :0) The books in there were SO expensive though. Most were around the £20 mark so I came home and ordered three from Amazon that I saw in the shop for £20.44!!! That's better!

And lastly, here's a picture of Lovely Livvie for Auntie Gill if she's reading this. She's not the chubby little minx you met last year is she? :0) I shall put a video on of her when someone reminds me how!

Tomorrow Auntie Mo is taking me out for the day on a magical mystery tour. It is as much a mystery to her as she has the route plumbed into her sat nav but she can't remember where it goes!

Livvie playing her new drums.

2008-01-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

Baby Jake's Taggy Quilt.

2008-01-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

I made this yesterday morning. It only took a couple of hours and I'm jolly pleased with it! The front is a patchwork made from some yummy fabric that my friends Debra and Jo from Texas sent.
The back is red fleece and I appliqued a nice little 'J' on it. I have inserted lots of ribbons round the edge seams to serve as little taggies.

Here's a close-up of the applique.

I sent it Special Delivery, so Jakey should be receiving it tomorrow morning. I am safe to put this on the blog tonight (before they receive the parcel) as my wicked brother never reads my blog because it's girlie nonsense!

New Year & Party Games

2008-01-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas and New Year is over and of course I couldn't keep up with the blog-a-day idea! Not only was I busy, busy, busy over the holiday period, but with the children home from school I haven't been able to get near my laptop. Christmas was nice. I got a new watch from Mr.Wooks and some lovely threads from Emily. I got me and Gary some tickets to see Lee Evans next September. Both the girls had a very small pile of presents and were totally satisfied with that, but what they didn't know was that on 1st December we had an insurance policy mature so Emily had money and Livvie had a surprise later in the day when we got to mum's. Just when she thought it was all over we presented her with this:

Bless her, she wasn't expecting anything else and she was so excited she was shaking as she opened the boxes as she must have known what was inside. Not in her wildest dreams would she have expected such an extravagant gift. Thank you Mr. Prudential man! :0)

New year was a blast as usual with loads of silly party games which included Chin Heads:

Danglesplurge. Emily won the magnificent Golden Banana trophy this year:

And Bin Liner Fashions. My team won with this gorgeous creation modelled by Glen:

The other team did this...not entirely sure what it is, but please note the genitalia made from fruit!:

Babs and Mo couldn't join us this year and I must say it was extremely quiet without them cackling! Just for Babs, here's a photo of my new nephew Jake. :0)

I made something scrummy for little Jake today which I will show you in tomorrows blog.

Carols By Candlelight And New Baby - 2 Days To Go!

2007-12-24T02:23:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I was silly enough to forget to take my camera out today (Sunday) so this will be short blog. :0(

This evening we attended the carols by candlelight service at church. I love a good sing-song, TRA LA LA! Everyone carried a candle and there was no artificial light at all, it was very pretty. That got me into the Christmas spirit a bit. :0)

Afterwards we had to rush to mum's as Chris, Sarah and the boys had arrived earlier in the day and we wanted to see them before the boys went to bed. We just made it as Aaron had just gone to bed and Jo was on his way to sleepy land with his bottle. We nipped up to see 6 year old Aaron and wind him up a bit about Christmas Eve. He was a little disappointed as he had made some reindeer food at school but forgotten to bring it. I told him not to worry as we could make some Christmas Eve. Reindeer food, for those who don't know, is a mixture of oats and nuts with the addition of sparkly glitter. Apparently, the glitter glints in the moonlight and tempts the reindeer off the roof for a little snack.

Jo (aged 2) wasn't talking much as he had his bottle and was so tired from his exciting day.

Jake (9 days) was a little more receptive and gave us a full rendition of all his squeals, snorts, cross eyes and dribbles to coo over! This was the first time we'd seen him and he's such a little munchkin with the baggiest of little sticky legs and a nosey the size of my finger nail. I shall of course put some piccies on later. :0)

Pizza Night and Art Gallery - 3 days To Go!

2007-12-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

We spent today (Saturday) in Sheffield doing some last minute Christmas shopping. As a special treat for Livvie we let her spend some time in The Peace Gardens where all the 'Dirty Goffics' hang out. The thing is, all the 'Dirty Gofficks' are her friends! It's so funny to see all these lanky teenagers dressed in black and even the boys have black eyeliner and long black hair. They think they look so cool but I always have a private laugh at what idiots they all look! Livvie on the other hand, has the brightest blonde hair and bright clothes and really stands out from the crowd. As mean as they all look, they all came bounding over for a group hug when Livvie arrived. They're not so hard after all!

After that we took Livvie to the Graves Art Gallery for some sketching time. We sat opposite each other and decided to do portraits.

This the sketch I did of Liv, mmmmmm. More like Livvie in ten years time! It looks nothing like her.Well......the hair is good!And this is Liv's sketch of me:
I can see it's me, can you? :0)

Tonight we had a pizza night (not my favourite thing) and Vicki joined us as well. I had to put Vicki on the blog or she'd moan. All please say hello to Vicki! Vicki will be joining us for our New Years Eve party which is by now legendary. I'm sure she'll have great fun and not tell her mum too much!!! I just hope she doesn't win the Danglesplurge Championship or she'll steal the trophy. We have decided that if she does win, she can take the trophy home for a few weeks and then it'll have to be in Emily's room after that for viewing. :0)

Alternative Christmas Presents - Still 5 Days To Go!

2007-12-20T06:26:00.000-08:00

I just heard that my cousin Lynne has asked for something from this website for Christmas. What a fantasmagorical idea! I am so impressed that I am going to ask for things from here too when my birthdays comes round. That will be February 1st......I say FEBRUARY 1st. :0)

http://www.greatgifts.org/GiftCertificateSelection/Success07.aspx?adid=welcome6

Look at all the cool things you can buy! Please do take a look and put it in your favourites for when you have to buy a gift for someone.

We in the Western world want for practically nothing. A small purchase on this website can change a family or indeed a whole villages lives.

Someone get me a bog will they?!!!

Daddy's Home And Sausage Rolls - 5 Days To Go!

2007-12-20T03:56:00.000-08:00

Daddy's home! Mr. Wooks arrived home last night to the sweet smell of freshly cooked sausage rolls, yummy. I also did a batch of veggie rolls for Emily to my own recipe and they turned out really well. This has to be the most unflattering photo of us ever, but it captured the moment. *love*

These are the carniverous rolls with pastry just like Mr. Wooks mummy used to make:

Most of them are still plated up for you doubters out there! We all had a few and then had dinner, so there was no room for any more. I'm sure we'll polish them off tonight though! Below is the mess I get into when I make pastry. I just can't help it. Pastry making is the messiest job around!

Waiting For Mr.Wooks - 6 Days To Go!

2007-12-19T03:09:00.000-08:00

I am trying to look pensive for this photo, but instead look like I've just spied a spider on the ceiling! Oh Come All Ye Faithful is playing on the radio, the Chrissy decs are up and I can't wait for the children and Mr.Wooks to start their holiday on Friday. YAY!

I am off to post the one and only Christmas card I am sending this year to my dear Father-in-law and then when I get home it's sausage roll making time. Mr. Wooks will be pleased! I shall try and time the baking of them for when he gets home so that he is greeted by that lovely yummy smell. :0)

The Christmas Tree And The Meat Market.

2007-12-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

The Christmas decorations are finally up, PHEW! We really weren't in the mood, but we put a Christmas MP3 on and rocked around the Christmas tree and were soon in the festive spirit. I'm pleased it's done now as the girls get so excited when they see the tree go up. This year I added blue twinkling LED lights and blue tinsel and baubles to match my new colour scheme, very pretty. Today I even wrapped all the girls' presents.

Here are a couple of ornaments I begged from my mum and dad's tree a few years ago. This first one, a white plastic reindeer covered in silver glitter is from when they were first married in 1962.

And this little golden pixie is from Gran and Granddad's tree which I greatly admired as a small girl. :0)

Yesterday we took our yearly pilgrimage to Barnsley Market. The fruit and veg there is second to none and so cheap! Here's me and daddy at the fruit stall. Notice the rather smashing shopping trolley that we have to cart around. :0)

Then we met auntie Mo who happened to be doing her shopping too. We had a bite to eat and a cup of tea in Tilly's Cafe.

And here is the reason we really go to Barnsley Market every Christmas, Barker's Butchers in the meat & fish market. They sell the best meat in Yorkshire and we always have a laugh with them. I bought a huge corner of beef, some donkey's doo-dah's (don't ask!) a boiling ham and 2lb of sausage meat for my sausage rolls. Luverly jubbly.

I'll try and be a bit more festive and update you on the yuletide happenings at our house. Ta ta for now!

Motorhomes Galore and Other Interesting Stuff.

2007-11-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

Last night we had to take the motorhome back to it's mummy showroom for some repairs under warranty. I am now the designated driver as Gary doesn't have a licence, so I had to drive the van in the scary dark all the way to Newark! Anyway, no one died and we arrived safely in time for tea. Brownhill's Motorhomes has free overnight facilities so we stay there in order to get the van in the workshop nice and early. While the van was being fixed, we spend a few hours wandering around the lot.

This was probably a mistake as Brownhill's claims to have the largest stock of motorhomes in Europe and there was lots for us to drool over. Below is just a tiny selection of what's on offer.

It didn't take us long to fall in love with a 2000 Mercedes Rapido! It's the same size as ours, but so much swisher and the lay-out was so much more practical. It would only cost us another £5,000 which seems a lot but on a loan isn't so bad.......is it?!!!!

That's me in the driving seat down there.

The seating arrangement is smaller, but it has a fixed double bed which means someone can recline and read in comfort in the evenings. It had every little luxury like fly screens, sliding windows, bike rack, shower etc. All the fitments were top luxury. I honestly don't think I could have thought of any extras that weren't included.

Below is one we didn't want to buy as the price tag was £85,995!!!!

This is me driving our van home.

So we have come home upset that we don't have thousands of spare cash to spend on a new motorhome. We can't afford it as I am costing too much is driving offences this week. So far I have 2 x £30 fines for driving through the tram gate (damn Sheffield City Council for sneaking in a new camera!) and 3 points and a £60 fine for speeding! I blame Gary for not driving and making me do it all!!!

Our tumble dryer broke down last week and this time hubbiest could do nothing to save it. Well, it was 15 years old so we mustn't grumble. I found a bargain dryer on eBay from Manchester so a few nights ago we set out at about 4.30pm over the Woodhead Pass to fetch it home. It hadn't occurred to me that I would be driving over the mountain pass and across the moors in the dark and I certainly wasn't prepared for the swirling fog that engulfed us! I was literally terrified. I don't see too well in the dark anyway with oncoming traffic blinding me and the fog was so dense that at times I could not see past the bonnet!

When we got home I felt the need to make a stress-o-meter to illustrate how agitated I was. This week I had a root canal filling and driving over the Woodhead Pass was faaaaaar worse I can tell you!

This stress-o-meter was really made for my journal.

Here's a few more pages. This watercolour is pretty self explanatory really!

I'm working on a whole series of self portraits. Can you tell it's me?

This is my favourite. My left foot!

Lastly for today's blog, a bargain. I picked up this digital Olympus Camedia C-40 ZOOM for £5.99!!! It even takes video. :0) It works perfectly and all it needs is a USB lead to download to my laptop and that has cost me £3.95. Bloody bargain mate!

Nanny Flo's Ring. :0)

2007-11-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

I often admired my Nanny Flo's jade ring when I was small. I just need to look at it and I can see in my mind's eye my Nan's hand with her soft skin and gorgeously shaped nails with pink nail varnish. Nanny Flo wasn't one to wear make-up or perfume, but she liked to have her hair set and she powdered her nose and wore nail varnish on special occasions. She was a big woman but had lovely, feminine hands and dad's nails are shaped just like hers. :0) Nanny Flo was a proper nan, always baking and treating the grand children. She was the best ever audience and when you had a song to sing or a line in the nativity play to recite, she would literally puff her chest out with pride. We often miss her and say quietly 'nan would have been so proud'.

Granddad Tom and Nanny Flo (Dad's parent's) and Granddad Sid (Mum's dad, the artist)

When nan died she left the jade ring to mum and mum has worn it ever since. Recently mum gifted it to me to give me a chance to wear it. I keep catching glimpses of it out of the corner of my eye and it's Nan's hand that I see, not mine. Often, when I open my mouth to giggle I can hear Nan's giggle and that makes me laugh even more. Mum has been telling me for years how I laugh just like her, but as I get older I can finally hear it for myself.

I don't suppose the ring is worth an awful lot in monetary value, but in sentimental value it's worth millions to me. I painted my nails pink for the photo, in honour of the bestest Nan in the world. X X X X

Flibble Fits and Mushrooms.

2007-11-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

First, about the flibble fits in brief:

I had to call an ambulance for poor Gary a few weekends ago as he was having a series of seizures/fits. They looked like full-on epileptic type fits to me, so an ambulance took him away for a few days. He had all the cat scans, heart checks etc and they found nothing. No explanation.

Then this weekend while we were away in the camper they had to call an ambulance for me!!! I was having chest pains and difficulty breathing. So they also took me away for all the same checks and yup...you've guessed it...they found nothing! I was on oxygen for a couple of days and then they chucked me out.

The worst thing is that they have taken Gary's driving licence away which is a huge blow. Fortunately his company are fabulous and are backing us all the way. I think they are going to let me keep the car for the odd occasion when I am brave enough to venture out! Gary will work mostly from home for the next year so some good has come of it all i.e. no more silly hours and driving thousands of miles a month. I believe it's a blessing in disguise as Gary will now be forced to take things easier. :0)

See, we're both fine this evening! :0)

Now for the mushrooms. The camp site we went to is called Quarry Walk in Staffordshire. It is totally amazing. We saw squirrels, rabbits galore, an owl, mushrooms, toadstools and there were also badgers and stoats. It was so pretty and so deathly quiet. We have to go back again. :0)

Me and Auntie Dawn (not mine, the children's) hunting for badgers.

You can just about see our van through the silver Birch trees from the quarry cliff overlooking the site.

I hope you can click on this to make it bigger. Can't you just smell the damp woodland air? There were so many fungi that I shall purchase a book specially to look them all up. It was fascinating. I would have loved to have been clever enough to know what was edible. Yummy!

Now this was interesting. Gary got on tippy toes to look down a hollow stump still attached to a tree and this is who he found inside! Cool huh?

Me and Uncle Glen (not mine, the children's!) having some love. Please excuse my hair but I was not long out of hospital and could not be bothered to do it. Maybe if I'd have looked in a mirror first I might have!!!

Gary's last sick day off is tomorrow so we're hoping to have a nice day out weather and health permitting. I shall of course report back if we manage it. :0)

Printing And Pumpkin Time!

2007-10-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for a while as I started chemo again and haven't been feeling too great. My mind is whizzing with great ideas for sewing, but alas, the body is not willing. I have been sitting around like a big fat slug for the past two weeks on an electric heat pad. It's quite nice actually! I did make a start on the three cat quilts though. I used my new fabric transfer dyes. They're very cool to use. You mix up the dye powder with water and then used them to paint a picture or pattern on paper. When it's dry...and here's the cool bit...you flip it over and iron it onto fabric and it transfers the print! Below is a photo of the painted paper.

Here is the fabric once the paper pattern has been iron-printed onto it.

And this is what I have done with them so far. I have pieced the backgrounds with different neutral pattern fabrics and stuck the cat shapes on ready for embroidering. This is fat boy Arthur.

This is Minnie Moochie Pie.

And here's Chicky Chick Chick.

I shall keep you up to date on any progress. It's funny actually because if you knew my three cats you'd see how these simple shapes truly represent them!

Yesterday I bought a big pumpkin. I can't decide whether to make soup, sweet pumpkin pie or wait for some nice pumpkin recipes from Jo in Texas. I did ask her, but I don't even know if she has any!
Obviously this photo illustrates how undecided I am about pumpkin usage!

Self Portrait.

2007-10-01T02:45:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some self portraits last night:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/selfportraittuesday/pool/

I don't know why, but I found them fascinating (and sometimes pretentious) and it occurred to me that unlike all these people, I usually avoid being photographed, or if I am photographed I do my utmost to make it look like I really don't mind! I try and reason that even if I don't like photographs of my big bum, it shouldn't matter because everyone can see it in real life whenever I turn round anyway!

The other night it was mum's birthday. We had an hilarious discussion about double chins and how best to avoid them in photographs. And so started an hour of different camera shots, from the floor, from above, from the side and even from the back. We eventually decided on a camera shot taken slightly from above with the photographee looking up Princess Diana stylee. It takes lbs off you! Here's my best shot (with cosmetic computer dentistry I might add!) Look, only the one chin :

And here's Gary. Now anyone that knows Gazza knows he's fat too. This photograph takes stones off him! Look at my hunka hunka burning love. X X X X

So, after much hilarity, I decided to take my self portrait. Digital cameras are very limiting and you can't do anything special with them. I decided I wanted a blurred background and of course my face in focus so I hit on the idea of whizzing round on the office chair! It worked (even if I do look a bit stern) Notice that the shot is taken from above, thus eliminating the multiple chin problem!

And here is a shot of me and daddy in the midst of much guffawing and cackling over something very rude that he'd said!

I have put another self portrait at the top of my blog.

New Shelves and Fabric Dyes.

2007-09-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

At last! Gary finally put my shelves up today. It's not his fault as he is working such long hours and hasn't had the time to put them up so far. However, this morning we awoke at 9.30am as Gary has the day off. I couldn't believe it when I saw the time, I never sleep past 8am. I bet I won't sleep tonight now. :0( Anyway, the shelving has been sitting here for over a week now, so I was glad to be able to organise at last. It didn't take Gary long and at last my desk is clear of clutter as it's all on the shelves now. Look at all my pretty colourful boxes and crates.

The little colourful plastic boxes near the top are empty and are waiting to be filled with gorgeousness. The shelf below that holds my dyeing powders and made-up dyes. The crates on the bottom shelf are filled with all my smashing variegated and metallic threads. The box to the left on the bottom shelf holds my silk threads which I think should be kept away from light. And all those those gorgeous little glass jars I got from Freecycle. They're baby food jars, perfect for all my beads and buttons and 'stuff'. I am collecting some more in the week that I'll need for storing some more made-up dyes.

I received some new dyes from Beary Cheap in Australia (wages for pattern sales) and I bought these from eBay:

One of these pots ranges from £5.21- £9.40 (depending on colour) on the website and I got them all from eBay for about £10 including P&P! I have purchased a yellow dye from the website to complete the set, but it's still such a bargain as each pot is 100g (a lot)! I have also purchased some pipettes and small spray bottles to aid with the dyeing process. So expect great things on the hand-dyed fabric front in the coming weeks.

I hand painted a couple pf pieces of fabric yesterday. I don't think I shall ever use them, but it was good to practice and experiment. :0)

I prefer a more subtle, subdued look to fabric. I might try some tie dyeing in the week, that's always fun!

Cat Quilt Sketch.

2007-09-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Nearly forgot! Here's one of the sketches for the trio of quilts I'm planning of the cats. This one is of Minnie. You have to imagine that the straight lines are different colour chunks of quilting. I think they'll make quite a cute set. :0)

Mum's Birthday Picture

2007-09-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

I sat down today to make mum a birthday card and I just had no botheration for it. So, I decided to do her an embroidered picture instead. I was inspired by a gorg book that Bry gave me. :0)

First I used my trusty airbrush to do a pretty blended background.

Then I machine embroidered some grass and greenery and added a bit more airbrushing.

This is the picture with finished airbrushing and embroidery. Next I sewed the little hand-dyed disks of fabric on to represent flowers and anchored them with French knots.

Here's the finished picture all trimmed up and sewn onto a border of hand-dyed fabric. It needs to go in a frame really, but I don't have one so mum will have to find one.

Here's a close-up. I added this because I think it's a cool photo!!!

I have banned mum from looking at my blog today as it's not her birthday til tomorrow and of course I don't want her seeing this til then. :0)

More on Cat Quilts.

2007-09-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

Firstly, let me show the pussy cats in question (requested by GoldAnne):

This is Minnie and she's a very delicate little lady. She's quite aloof and only gives affection on her terms. She likes a very gentle touch and lashings of cream and tuna. She's a bit naughty sometimes and breaks into food packets to eat the contents. A.K.A Minnie Winnie Moochie Pig.

Here we have Chicken, he's the baby of the bunch. he's very vocal and talks to me all the time. He's a real character and he's SO affectionate. If I look him in the eye he starts purring loudly! You can throw him about, drape him over your shoulders and carry him like a baby and he loves it. My mate Bry caught him when he was a wee ferrel kitten and in real danger of dying. He was born late in the year and the farmer's wife said she'd lost wild kittens before in the cold weather. You'd think the silly woman would round them all up and get them neutered at the Cats protection league or something wouldn't you? Anyway, we've caught five kittens from that farm so far. Chicken for me, then I went and caught a kitten for Auntie's Babs and Mo and then I think Bry had three? A.K.A Chicky Chick Chick Chick.

And lastly this is my big hunka furry love Arthur. He's so beautiful, look at that pretty nose! He's absolutely huge and makes me feel like I own a dog! He's always there. When I was going through chemo he kept me company for months as I languished in my pit. He wakes me at night by biting my nose if he wants love. He's so fat that his belly swings to and from when he walks. He just can't get enough love. A.K.A Aaaaaaaaaarfeeeeeeer.

As Babs says, it's so difficult to capture the essence of a cat so I shan't even try! I have decided to go with an abstract theme which will probably turn out quite grown up. Maybe I will capture the essence (rather than the likeness) by the time I have finished? I will go away now and do some preliminary sketches and maybe blog the results a bit later?

Nearly Forgot...New Painting!

2007-09-23T03:52:00.001-07:00

I spent all of last week creating a painting for mum and dad's wall. I say 'creating' because the actual painting was only the half of it! First I made a huge mask over the triptych canvases (see, there are three of them!) then I slopped some Artex on it to represent bark. Then I took the mask off revealing a raised and rough tree shape.

Here is the painting half way through. At this point I always think I have ruined it, but I press on knowing it will probably be alright in the end. There are about five layers of paint here and I'm nowhere near finished.

This is the finished painting on mum and dad's wall, not sure if I like it though. Mum and dad seem to and Gary certainly does. I don't think Gary 'gets' my abstract paintings, but this one is something recognisable so he thinks it's great!

On cat Quilts.

2007-09-23T03:19:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie to vent my frustrations. I have been trying for two days to think of a stupendous way in which to portray my three beautiful pussy cats on quilts. My first idea was to do caricatures of them in silly poses and put them on bright backgrounds. So I have been chasing the cats around with the camera hoping for something funny to happen. Of course it did not.

Then I thought I'd get serious and terribly clever. I though that I would print a photo of the cats onto cotton which I had 'water coloured' in my art programme and simply embroider onto that giving a cool half painted/half embroidered look. However that failed too. So now I think I'll go back to my first plan of the caricature.

You see I have these smashing ideas but I can't follow them through as I'm not artistic enough. That's why I nicked cousin Lynne's sketch of Livvie for my last quilt as I'd never have been able to do the initial sketch in the first place! So frustrating. So, I shall persevere with the caricature idea as I usually find that the simplest ideas are the best. :0)

I shall let you know of any design breakthroughs as they happen.

Oh and by the way, I know there are many lurkers out there as my profile has had 175 views. So how come none of you leave me a comment? I'd really love it if you did as I'd love to know who's reading me. :0)

Finished At Last!

2007-09-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my quilt. We went away in the camper for the weekend and I spent my time hand beading and adding the little flowers and butterflies round the edges. Yesterday I machine embroidered a spider:

A ladybird (in honour of my friends in Texas):

A little bumble bee. If you look closely you can just about see his 3D gossamer wings:

Here you can just about see the beading:

And finally, the finished quilt. PHEW!:

A few days ago I was determined to figure out how to print from the computer onto cotton fabric. It was quite simple really. I sprayed a sheet of paper with temporary glue (like Spray Mount) and stuck the cotton to it before cutting the cotton to the exact size. It went through the printer like a dream (see below). I will see if I can find a spray that will make it UV stable so it doesn't fade. The quilting possibilities are limitless now! I might do a life size portrait of mummy!!!

Look at my little travel iron. It has to be 20 years old and never used. I dug it out to go with my the little ironing pad I made and it's perfect for my teeny tiny sewing room. :0)

Yesterday I started a triptych painting for mummy and daddy. It's all Artex and masking and stenciling and mess. I might blog about that later. Right, I'm off to add another layer...

Fabric Dying & Teflon Ironing Pad.

2007-09-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

I've been busy dyeing cotton fabric today after realising how expensive coloured blenders are per 1/4 metre. I'm frustrated that I can't show you the true colours, but you'll have to trust me when I tell you that they're pretty. :0) These all look quite samey, but they're not.

This at least shows you the mottled effect I achieved by sprinkling dye powder onto damp fabric and squishing it up. Then I blasted it for a minute in the microwave.

Look at the marbled effect. If I can find some more dye I shall do lots more.

I have been asking around for a sleeve ironing board or an ironing pad to press my appliques and small bits of scrap fabric in my sewing room. It's a pain having to keep running downstairs to set up the ironing board and then of course I have to leave it there in the way because I have to keep going back to it while I'm working. I was just in the process of ordering a rather expensive ironing pad when I saw that they also sold Teflon coated fabric for making your own pads. Well, being my Grandmother's granddaughter, I'm not one to spend out when I can make my own! So I rummaged through my pan drawer and found a Teflon baking sheet. I sewed it to four layers of old tea towels and Voila! a smashing new ironing pad with one non-stick surface for when I'm using sticky iron-on fusing and a cotton side for normal pressing. OK, so it smells of sausages....but you can't have everything can you? :0)

Banoffee Pie, Pincushions and Embellishments.

2007-09-13T01:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made a Banoffee Pie for Emily. She's been whinging at me to make one for days. So this just goes to show that spoilt brats do get what they want by going on and on and on and on.....

Just to give you an idea of all the lardy goodness that goes into it: half a packet of digestive biscuits, a pack of butter, a tub of double cream, black treacle, half a bar of dark chocolate, about a cup of sugar and four bananas. Real heart attack stuff! I had the tiniest slither but couldn't eat it as it's SO sweet so both the girls swooped in, forks at the ready to finish mine off!

I have recently purchased some huge quilters pins. They need to be very big so that they can get through all the layers of fabric. They have big pearly coloured flower heads. My little pin cushion is no good for them as it's already stuffed with my regular sized pins, so I thought I'd make a big pin cushion to go with my big pins.

The base is about 4" in diameter. It's a plastic tub that I covered with an iridescent fabric. I then filled it with plastic pellets for weight. The top is a piece of scrap cotton that I embroidered on the machine. There wasn't much point in embroidering it but for my own satisfaction! I then did a running stitch round the embroidered fabric and stuffed it with polyfil before gluing it in place with my hot glue gun. I glued some pretty braid round the base to finish it off. It's certainly 'home made', but it does the trick admirably! Oh, and I have a nasty blister on my pinkie after using the hot glue gun. Ouch!

I started hand embellishing my quilt yesterday. Apart from the chain stitch on the facial features, it's the only hand sewing I have done to it. I have added the butterflies and beaded them and am now in the process of sewing on the flowers with little beads and gems that Auntie Leeta gave me. See, I told you I'd be able to use them for sewing Leeta!

Delivery From India and 60's Machine Embroidery

2007-09-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

This morning parcel number two arrived courtesy of Debra in Texas. This time is was my scrummy variegated silk threads all the way from India. So pretty! I couldn't adjust the colours to show you how bright they really are so you'll have to take my word for it.

This morning I had a lovely visit from Auntie's Babs & Mo. We had a nice cup of tea and a chin-wag. It was so lovely to see them as I don't think I have seen them for a few months since becoming a hermit! They came to collect my old sewing machine which is going to Auntie Louie in Devon. While they were here they saw my new sewing machine, beads, threads and other shiny stuff. Babs gave me a few more pointers on machine embroidery and beading and while they were here I dug out some of Babs' embroideries that I have had since I was a wee girl. My girls have also enjoyed them and I used to let them sort through them when they were babies to keep them occupied. I assume Babs hasn't seen them since she made them at age 15? She was a trainee when she did them. They're great although they are so 60's!

They are something I wouldn't part with for the world and I hope my girls cherish them like I do. I can clearly remember gazing at them as a child.

Look at the work in this clown.

Yesterday I backed my quilt and put the binding on it, so the quilting stage is at last finished.

It's actually done very badly, but that's ok because I am an artiste! Now I can begin the fun of embellishing. This is the exciting bit for me now. I am going to bead and spangle it to within an inch of it's life!

I cut some butterflies and flowers from some pretty fabric and fused some backing onto them (circled). I will now bead them and maybe embroider on them and 3D them ready to attach to the quilt.

Geocaching in Yorkshire

2007-09-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

First of all, a quick explanation of what Geocaching is:

http://www.geocaching.com/faq/

Don't worry, it's a quick explanation and you'll understand within the first few lines.

Yesterday's geocache trip was to Wortley which is just a couple of miles from where we live. The cache was about a 3/4 mile walk down tracks, over fields and into the woods. Not a difficult one to find, but a lovely walk all the same. Another lovely spot that we didn't even know existed!

Livvie found the cache under a big log just inside the woods. It was a box covered in camouflage and inside were all sorts of kiddies goodies. Livvie chose a whistling string toy and left a little funny ornament.
When we got back to where we left the car there was a tiny tea room, Post Office and bed & Breakfast. We stopped for tea and scones. Yum yum! (This picture would have been slightly funnier if I had more mess on my face. However, I did not smear enough cream round my mouth and nose and now you all think I am just a messy eater!)

After our little break we went for a wander down the lane to Wortley Hall which used to be a stately home and is now an hotel and conference centre. They welcome visitors to the garden. It is so beautiful! http://www.wortleyhall.com/gardens.php It's set in 26 acres of formal gardens, woodland and Fields.

Definitely a place to take visitors for a stroll on a nice afternoon. :0)

Hard Work in The Sewing Room

2007-09-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, have I been working hard! My first package from America arrived a few days ago. It was the metallic threads that I have been longing for for ages. They are so beautiful.

If you remember, these are part payment for my bear patterns. Debra in Texas is sending me pressies rather than cash and it's SO exciting! I am now awaiting some variegated threads and fabric packs.

This inspired me to clear out and reorganise my tiny office, henceforth to be known as The Sewing Room. I very nearly killed myself. I am only a girlie and that desk must weigh as much as five grown men! You'd think there is only so much you can do to a 6' x 7' room, but it still took me two days.

Gary's stuff is OUT! Actually, Gary's stuff amounted to half a bin liner of rubbish and a few papers that I put on a shelf. So how come he completely took the room over? He now has one bottom drawer for the stuff that he doesn't know where to put. I managed to gather a carrier bag full of his wires and leads. They are for obsolete mobile pones, iPods, chargers, adapters and kettle leads. Of course they are all extremely important and must go in a big box in the shed. ;0)

While I was clearing the very top shelf I found my wedding flower circlet and a picture I made from my wedding flowers. The poor circlet has been abused for to long now and has to be thrown. :0) It is literally falling to bits and shedding all over the place. I took some final photos before ditching it. It's like Miss Haversham's wedding outfit! The first photo isn't good as the camera was trying to focus on the centre hole rather than the circlet.

The picture I made from my wedding bouquet had no glass and was so covered in dust that I thought the colours had faded completely. When I very carefully dusted it though, the colours were still there. I managed to find another piece of glass and restored it to it's former glory. Isn't it pretty?

And finally, here's a wedding photo to show what the flowers looked like when they were fresh. I honestly don't think I have ever seen prettier wedding flowers. And look at us, we're all so young!

A Christmas Gift

2007-09-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this with you. I was ranting to my Texan email buddy Debra about how people cross Christ out of Christmas by writing in their cards 'Merry Xmas' instead of 'Merry Christmas'. Christian or not, if we're going to celebrate Christmas let's do it properly people and remember what it's all about! I then told her how when the children were little we'd make a birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday Baby Jesus on Christmas Day. She then told me this utterly wonderful story of when her children were small:

I loved your rant about the "X" instead of Christ in Christmas! I too, refuse to X out His name. He came to specifically die on the cross for us and we celebrate Him. When our children were young we put our tree up Thanksgiving night. We put a baby cradle under the tree with a bag of hay off to the side. Each child's name was written on a piece of paper and they had to pick a name and keep it secret. The got to put a piece of hay in the cradle when they did something unnoticed for the person whose name they picked. That was the only way Jesus had any hay to lay on in the cradle. They had to anonymously work for their selected name without any thanks or glory. It was amazing to see the little cradle fill up with their unselfish deeds. It always makes me cry when I think about how they struggled not to get caught making someones bed or doing someones chores for our symbolic gift to the Lord.

Isn't that the most tear jerking thing you ever heard? What a valuable lesson for her chidren to learn in life. :0)

Sewing Rooms and Fabric Stash

2007-09-06T04:49:00.000-07:00

SEWING ROOMS

You know how I often mention some bits and bobs from my Gran's sewing box that I have used? Well, in total, it probably amounts to half a carrier bag of stuff and it's most precious to me. I dip into it often. Well, I found this video clip on t'interweb and I was amazed! It's a 06.12 min clip. If you get the chance, watch it to the end as the last thing she says brought tears to eyes! What a lucky, lucky young lady. I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven if I were her. :0)

http://tinyurl.com/ysy6fr

FABRIC STASH

Why is it that some people have a fabric stash like this:

And mine is only this big?:

Now, I know mine is very pretty too, but it is 'quantity challenged' if you know what I mean? My stash is only about 12" wide and the one above is about 8' high and 6' wide! Not fair! I am used to having materials at my fingertips in every colour and texture. To have everything there, colour sorted and before your eyes was so inspirational. When I was making bears I had a mohair and synthetic stash that was every bear makers envy. But alas, that is not my obsession now and the mohair and synthetic stash has been broken up and sold or given away.

I must now issue a warning to all friends and family. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT turn up at my house wearing a pretty blouse or shirt. I will not be responsible for the actions of my scissors!!!

I do have the pleasure of receiving some fabric and threads from America soon though, so I am really excited about that. :0)

Right, I am off to bejewel some fabric butterflies now. Will blog about that later.

How I Did The Word Embroidery.

2007-09-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

I have been asked how I did the embroidered wording. I printed out the words and then placed them on the fabric. I then pin pricked them (a bit like tracing). I could just about make out the pricked lines in order to trace them with a fine pen before machine embroidering. It's a bit like painting. I start by 'drawing' a little balloon at the start of each line. I then do four sweeps of each line and finish with another little balloon. It gives it a cheeky chirpy look I think. :0)

Free-Motion Embroidered Lettering

2007-09-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have finished embroidering the lettering round the edge of the quilt. I am very pleased with it (and my smashing new machine!) I slipped up a few times and it's not prefect, but I think that adds to the hand-made feel that you don't get with automated machines. All the slip-ups make it look arty! :0)

Sewing and stiff shoulders

2007-09-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I have spent the last few days trawling t'interweb for tutorials regarding sewing machine stuff and quilting. I have been making copious notes and learning lots. It would seem I have got one thing very wrong and that is that I used very thick polyester wadding instead of nice thin wool batting to layer my quilt. That's what I get for making things up as I go along! Now my quilt is all poofy and silly and it wibbles at the corners and won't lay flat. I shall now have to glue the whole thing to a thin piece of wood in order to hang it. How silly.

I have learnt how to thread-paint and have spent many hours making secret stuff that you can't see yet. My shoulders are almost seized up as I have been hunched over the machine for so long. I really must adjust my sewing position. The secret things are small tokens of my appreciation to lovely Debra and her daughter Jo in Texas who have been so sweet to me. Debra and I have done a deal for nine of my patterns. Debra is paying me by purchasing me some gorgeous threads and fabric from America and shipping them to me. I am SO excited. It was like Christmas choosing what I wanted! I am putting a little bit of vintage velvet in the parcel with Debra's patterns. Unfortunately I don't have much left though. I am also putting a few other bits in and then these two secret things that I have made. They are not perfect and are probably technically wrong, but they took me hours and they were made with much love!!! And anyway, any irregularities are artistic!

I just thought I'd put this photo on to show what Minnie likes to do best. If she sees a box she says to herself ' I must sit in that box'. And she does!

Winner of Medical Bills Competition.

2007-08-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

And the winner is......Auntie Kay with a guess of £150,000! The actual total was £153,355.15. Auntie Kay shall be receiving a box of chocolates or sweeties or whatever she chooses very soon. Well done Aunty Kay! :0)

Oh. My. Goodness!

2007-08-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

You probably all know by now as I think I have told the world. This morning I had a surprise delivery. The doorbell rang and when I answered it the delivery man plopped two parcels inside the door. It was a Brother Innov-IS 400 computerised sewing machine and a full set of Brother embroidery threads! I just clamped my hand over mouth and burst into tears! The poor man was most befuddled as he didn't know what he had given me. I explained that it was a sewing machine and he said 'You must have wanted it for a long time then?' I said 'No actually, it's just that I had absolutely no idea I was getting it!'. He went away smiling.

I immediately rang Gary who is now away til Monday night and blubbed and snivelled my thanks to him. I said I was worried about the money it cost, but he said I mustn't worry my pretty little head about it as he had it covered. So I shan't worry. :0) I know he's doing nights next week and overtime at the weekend, so I guess that's how he's paying for it. Bless his heart. I was so touched to know how much he must love me!

I didn't open it immediately as I wanted to have all my chores done first so that I'd have the rest of the day to play. I was so excited when I did eventually get to open it that I was actually shaking!

This box is double sided. See how ridiculously excited I am? It was a free gift and retails at £159.99!!! Look at all those yummy quality threads.

Look at all the stuff that came with it. There were loads of different feet and tools, an extension table that clips on and a hard cover.

After about two hours I managed this! It was all so confusing. You'll see that I still need a bit of practice, but I'm getting there. :0)

Look at the pretty lighty-uppy bits!

See how it glides with the greatest of ease.

This is what I did today. All that smashing gold stitchery. Doesn't it look pretty?

And here's the tiny chain stitch I've been doing. It gets a bit lost in the felt, but is effective from a distance.

And the Spoiled Brat of the Year Award goes to............SINDIE!!!!!

Happy Monday!

2007-08-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

Emily's friend Basher came in on Tuesday with this lovely present for us! It's a sponge cake with chocolate cream filling, iced in mint green with pastel coloured flowers and Happy Monday spelled out with metallic sugar balls on top. All finished off with a pretty silver ribbon.

If you're wondering who Basher is, it's Katie. We call her Basher because she once decked a girl who slapped Emily. So Basher is our hero. :0)

Livvie was so impressed with Basher's cake that she decided to make some cakes of her own. She made them all on her own and even tidied up after herself bless her. The recipe was for feather cakes, but she decided to drop them like cookies. They were absolutely delicious. :0)

Tomorrow I shall continue with my quilt. I have already stitched the facial features with the teeniest chain stitch. I'm quite proud actually! It's all coming together quite well considering that I still don't have my new sewing machine. I mean, c'mon, I've been wanting it for five whole days now! I wonder if I have a rich old Great-Aunt ready to pop her clogs any time soon?...

News On The Sewing Machine Front

2007-08-29T02:21:00.000-07:00

There is none. I am devoid of luxury sewing machines. Yesterday I spent a very unhappy 1 1/2 hours unpicking all the awful machine embroidery done on my old machine. Isn't it funny that when you want something new, the old thing that has served you so well all these years is suddenly 'an awful old thing'? The trouble is, I didn't know how badly my machine sewed until I had a go on the new machine that glides effortlessly over everything! In truth, my old machine is very nice and was quite expensive when new. It just can't handle the fancy stuff I am now wanting to do. My old machine does all the normal stuff OK.

Quite simply put put, we do not have £500. Of course I knew that as I look at our bank statements regularly. However, I will have finished paying up the leather suite in two months time so I could always buy it on tick? Also, my car loan is finished very soon so we'll be a bit better off each month. But I don't want to wait. I want it NOW! *stamps foot in childish tantrum*

Medical Bills Competition.

2007-08-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

My medical insurance company have been messing me around again. On the whole they're great, but quite often they send duplicate invoices, send me invoices on a fictitious membership number and their current favourite is asking me for £100 excess which I already paid at the beginning of the year. Today I have a demand for another £100 and final notice to pay a bill that should have been sorted weeks ago!

Considering all this, I decided to sort out my 121 invoices dating from the Jan 2005 - Aug 2007. I know that all of them aren't there as I sometimes get invoiced direct from an NHS hospital and I have to send that to the insurance company myself. The rest of the time the insurance company are invoiced directly by the private hospital. So quite a few of the invoices are missing from my stack.

Anyway, once me and Emily spent ages sorting them chronologically, we totalled the bills up. Here's the fun bit. Me, Emily and Livvie made guesses before we started as to what the total would be. Emily is the winner so far. I say 'so far' because I am throwing the guessing game open to everyone. Here are a few points that we were already furnished with:

1. There are 121 invoices.
2. They date from Jan 2005 - Aug 2007.
3. We previously thought that 2005 totalled about £40,000.
4. 2005 was the year I was diagnosed.
5. 2006 was a calmer year.
6. 2007 I was diagnosed with another nasty so more treatment.

Everyone is welcome to guess, but bare in mind that those who know me personally might have an unfair advantage as they know more details. I will give a prize to the winner, even if it has to be diabetic or sent to Spain! I must say though, it is an astonishing amount of money.

'Because I'm worth it'. LOL

Spiders, or lack thereof.

2007-08-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Me and Gary have just spent two days clearing out the shed, sorting through damp boxes of 'stuff', sweeping 6" deep leaf debris and tidying. I wore flip-flops, a sleeveless shirt and 3/4 length trousers. I know this will freak certain people. Then all the unwanted rubbish (and believe me it was rubbish) was hauled to the Dumpit Site. Then Gary spent today erecting racking shelves and sorting again and categorising etc. Through all of this, not one, single, solitary spider was seen. To all of you arachnophobes that are continually reporting huge spiders attacking you in your homes, I say PAH in your general direction!

Freecycle Freebies and Lost Things

2007-08-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to tell you about my latest Freecycle 'gift'. I have just collected from Rotherham a carrier bag full to the brim of cotton threads.

I misunderstood the original offer and thought I was going to collect cotton fabric, but was delighted to find it was spools of thread instead! If anyone reading this has never heard of Freecycle, then take a look:

http://www.freecycle.org/groups/unitedkingdom/

It's a fantastic way to recycle unwanted stuff and also to receive some great free bits and bobs. I have given away so much stuff now that I can't remember it all, but some of the things I have received have been a table top cooker for the camper van which is fabulous. A bag of cotton scraps and buttons for my sewing. A stack of paperback books. All of the chrome light switches, plug plates etc for the kitchen which all seemed brand new and then today all the cotton threads.

Talking of old stuff, I found two precious things today that have been missing for ages. We have been clearing out the shed these past couple of days and amongst Gary's stuff was this old knitting needle case that his mum made at school. Can you imagine a daughter being so disrespectful of something of such sentimental value? SHAME ON YOU GARY!

It was totally smelly and damp. It has been duly laundered with love and now I shall keep it somewhere safe and dry for one of my girls to inherit one day. :0)

Something else I found was a crazy memory quilt I made when the girls were small.

It is made up of patches from Emily's and Livvie's toddler dresses, Livvie's favourite jim-jams from when she was about two, mum's old duvet cover, and several pieces of Gran's lace and trim from her sewing box. It's only small and was made for Livvie's birthday for her dolls. Livvie had stuffed it at the bottom of her wardrobe so I have confiscated it now and it shall reside with the needle case in happy retirement. :0)

A message from beyond the grave?

2007-08-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened to me the other day. It may be a coincidence or it may be Granny sending me a message.....

I have been having a devil of a time with my blasted sewing machine. As lovely and expensive as it was, it's had it's day. It is now 15 years old and I am having to have it serviced about twice a year. Bits pop off, the tension goes awry and it gets jammed. When it is working though it's still lovely to use. Anyway, my little experiment with the credit card as a feed cover didn't work and I'm afraid that I have probably ruined my beautiful quilt. My machine is supposed to be able to do free motion embroidery, but it's having none of it! Anyway, I thought that this weekend we might nip to a lovely sewing machine shop that I know of in Woodseats to buy a real feed plate cover and darning foot to make the job easier.

We went Saturday morning and as we arrived I pressed my nose against the window as it was lined with amazing super-fandango machines! Inside was like an Aladdin's' cave of all things sewing machiney. I tried to ignore the shiny machines and asked for a feed plate cover and a darning foot. The owner sucked air through his teeth and declared that they were very hard to get hold of because my machine had a slant needle shank unlike all other machines. Trust me to buy a Singer experiment in slanty technology! He said he could probably get hold of what I wanted and it wouldn't cost more than a few pounds anyway.

That out of the way I started to ooh and aah over the shiny machines. Of course I was drawn to biggest and most impressive looking. He said I didn't need that for what I was doing and anyway it was £5,000! He told me to come and look a machine that would be perfect for my needs. Well....it has to be the coolest thing EVER! It has 294 decorative stitches, a computer screen, a needle threader (SCREEAAMMM) and a little button that cuts the thread! Best of all, I did free-motion embroidery on it and it zoomed like a dream. I sewed through four layers of denim straight onto slippery satin without any adjustments! I then programmed it to stitch my name. This would be excellent for the girls school gear. But alas, it was £500. :0( I asked Gary jokingly if I could have it and he just smiled a sad smile. Sigh.

That aside I still haven't found my sketch book! I have had the place upside down. I was looking again on the bookshelf when I came across Granddad's life story that he wrote in 1985. I picked the book up and amazingly it fell open at this point:

We got up early on Saturday, had breakfast and cleared away. Lollipops (Grandad's pet name for Gran) asked me if I was still going to Gravesend. 'Of course, I have to get you your present' I replied and told her to get ready. We caught a train and were soon there. We made our way to Singers and I walked in. Nan (Gran's name) was looking in the window. I called her in and told her of my surprise. She almost cried with joy. I asked the assistant to show us the latest model. It was lovely. I asked if it was complicated to use, and they said no, but that in any case, they would call at the house and give Nan a couple of lessons. I asked Nan if she liked it. She said of course she did, but it would be too expensive. I told her to let me worry about that, and told the assistant that I would buy it if they could deliver it that same day. She went to see the manager, who came out and said that he would do his best. I explained that it was Lollie's birthday, and he said in that case he would deliver it himself on his way home at 5.30 that evening. I thanked him, took out my cheque-book and made a cheque out for £100. I signed papers for the other £110. I asked him to make out a bankers order then I would not forget the payments. We stayed a while and they showed Nan the machine. It all folded away into a nice smart cabinet.

They then continued their shopping and had coffee and cakes before catching the train home....

When we got home, Lollipops couldn't wait to tell the girls. She said it was the best present she had ever had in her life. I told her she had never had someone who loved her so much before. She laughed at this, and gave me a big kiss of thanks. I told her we would have fresh bread and cheese for lunch and fish and chips tonight, and they all agreed about this. When lunch was over, Nan started to make room in the sitting-room for her sewing machine. She cleared the bay window stating that's where it would go. At five o'clock sharp the machine arrived. The manager brought it in, along with a girl to show Nan again how to use it. I took the plug off the Hoover for the time being, and fixed it on the lead of the machine. (Do you remember the days when you didn't get a plug with an electrical purchase?) They started Nan off and after a short while she was managing well. They gave her a book that showed all the different stitches. The machine could sew buttons on and do embroidery.

Nan and Sandie spent most of the evening sewing little bits of rags together. Lollipops told me that she would go to the market on Thursday to get some cheap material for new bedroom curtains.

In a previous paragrah Grandad talks of the house next-door-but-one coming on the market. He says the asking price was £2,000. Mum and Dad bought that house. It was about 1964. By my reckoning, if the house was £2,000 and the machine was £210, then if a house today is about £200,000 then a sewing machine now should be about £20,000! How does that work then? Did Grandad really spend that sort of money or am I getting confused by inflation and the out of control house prices? Anyway, I digress....

So I was totally amazed that the book fell open at that point. Then this evening as Gary was dictating this so that I could type I reached for a bookmark to hold the page and absent mindedly grabbed a business card. The card was for the Woodseats Sewing Centre! I keep telling Gary that Gran really wants me to have this machine! She's practically shouting at him to buy it for me. :0D

Lookie lookie: http://www.brother.co.uk/display.cfm/id/101416

So, is it a coincidence or is Gran showing her approval?

SheWee

2007-08-24T04:23:00.001-07:00

I forgot to say that when I was on my mountain climbing/bog hopping walk I did three stand up wees, man stylee! I used my cardboard willies: http://www.pmate.co.uk/ Although they are absolutely fabulous, I didn't like the idea of throwing them away on a mountain side in the beautiful countryside. I know they are made of cardboard, therefore bio-degradable, but they are bright green and really conspicuous.

So I bought a SheWee instead: http://www.shewee.com/ which is made of plastic and re-usable. It's so cool and so easy to use. I shall never worry about being caught out again. It can also be used for nasty public toilets, collecting urine samples and peeing out of the window on trains!

I would recommend the cardboard P-Mate if you'd like to keep one in your handbag or glove box for emergencies as they fold flat. The plastic SheWee is best if you're going to use it a lot. It's very small and discreet and fits into a plastic bag in your pocket.

Now we can all wee up against a wall on the way home from the pub!!!

The Quilt Takes Shape at last!

2007-08-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

I have achieved quite a bit today on the old quilt front. I am quite proud of myself actually! Below you can see the initial stages. I cut the different fabrics into strips of varying width and sewed then together (badly). I believe the wonky lines give it a certain je ne sais quoi though. I used my super duper new spangly grid ruler thingy to square it up ready for cutting into tiles.

Here are the tiles ready for sewing together.

And here it is all sewn up with a pretty border added.

I then cut out the paper pattern for the applique portrait of Livvie. Each piece is to be from a different fabric.

Here's the finished basic quilt ready for embellishment. I shall have fun tomorrow with that!

And a close-up detail.

Tomorrow I shall do some free-motion machine embroidery. I actually need a feed plate cover for my machine which is a little plastic cover that goes over the serrated feet things that push the fabric backwards. Have I explained myself well? Some machines are able to drop the feed dogs, but not mine. The idea is that you grip the fabric in an embroidery hoop, take the foot off the machine and then you can freely embroider backwards and forward at will without the feed dogs pushing the fabric in the wrong direction. Anyway, without a cover I was going to be stumped. I have been trying for a week to purchase one, but can't find one anywhere. So Gary came up with the idea of sellotaping a credit card over the feed dogs. He made a hole in it for the needle to pass through and it works very well. So tomorrow I shall do smashing things. :0)

Has the Sock Monster Stolen my Sketch Book?

2007-08-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

Where is my sketch book? How am I supposed to shine artistically when I can't use it for reference? I have looked in every conceivable place and now I am stumped. Without it I shall be very cross and stamp my feet a lot. I suppose I do have photos that I can use for reference, but it's just not the same. I was going to fill that sketchbook with gorgeous artistic renderings and when it was full I was going to sell it on eBay for £50,000. Now I shall have to start again. :0(

Holiday in Northumberland

2007-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

We're back from our weeks holiday and I have finally found the time to blog about it. I had seven loads of washing to do when I got back as well as unpacking, cleaning out the camper van and getting the shopping in. Then I had a heart scan yesterday which was ok and then I did a tour of the charity shops on Ecclesall Rd to find Gary some work shirts. I came up trumps there and found him four lovely shirts. 2 x Marks & Spencers and 2 x Next, all with the double cuffs he asked for as he likes to wear cufflinks. All were beautiful quality and three seem brand new. One needs the cuffs turning, but I'm more than capable of doing that.

Last night we had a free evening out with Gary's firm. First we had a meal at Nandos and then we all went bowling. I was spectacularly rubbish of course, but I always enjoy it. It wasn't until we were nearly finished that I thought I probably shouldn't be lifting 12lb bowling balls and hurling them about! I am supposed to be taking it easy after my lady-op. Oh well, as Gary pointed out my guts didn't fall out!

Then today Chris dragged me, Sarah and dad out on a four hour hike. The good news is my hip held up fine and I'm not in pain. The bad news is that I am obviously too fat and unfit as I ache all over and I won't be able to walk tomorrow! I shall post some photos just as soon as Chris emails them to me.

So now all that's done I am able to bring you a few photos of our hols. :0)

Gary and me at Anwick Castle. Harry Potter was filmed here but I was SO disappointed that there wasn't one mention of it anywhere. What a wasted opportunity for the owners! Maybe it's to do with licencing? It was a lovely castle though.

Livvie and Gary had a go at archery.

Does anyone recognise this from the films? I didn't recognise anything at all. Maybe it was all computer jiggeried?

This is our campsite in Haltwhistle. It is actually the very dead centre of Britain. It was all extremely pretty. Very much like where we live in Sheffield, but with some raging rivers thrown in. On the other side of the river bank were cows, sheep and bunny rabbits hopping around all day. Livvie even crossed the path of two deer in the woods. Talking of Livvie, she was dead chuffed to get kissed twice! Two boys actually had a fight over her and had to be separated by a mother!!!
This is Dawn and Glen at High Force water falls. This is how the weather was most of the week. Still, we didn't let it dampen our spirits.

All in all we had a fab week and really enjoyed ourselves. We even slipped over the border to Scotland to do a spot of shopping at Gretna.

************************************************************************************

Yesterday I finally started the quilt. Here are my fabric choices for the turquoise background. I printed out the sketch of Livvie in the size I needed and cut it out ready to make a pattern from it.

This is the first, un-ironed stage of the quilt. It doesn't look very impressive now but believe me, it will be stupendous when it's finished! Assuming that I am able to move tomorrow, I shall do some more. :0)

Creative packing & T-shirts

2007-08-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

I've done my best, I really have! It's so difficult packing a teeny motorhome when there are going to be four adults and one child living in it for a week. I have decided the best thing to do is pack large plastic boxes and crates with the clothes and keep them in the awning. It's going to be very difficult to keep everything tidy and not like a jumble sale, especially with Livvie and Gary around!

I bought some new holiday T-shirts last week from M&S, only £3.50 each, what a bargain! The trouble is, as usual, the necklines were far too low and showed off my chicken fillets when I leaned forward. So I have sewed in neck inserts from an old white vest top and now they're perfick. :0) I dug out last years 3/4 length trousers that I thought would be way too small, but they still fit nicely so I am ready for a heat wave now.

How to Dye Silk Ribbons.

2007-08-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

This tutorial will be of little interest to some of you, but my crafty matey Bry will be interested and hopefully a few more passing through will find it helpful. I couldn't find a tutorial when I was searching the other day so I had to make it up as I went along!

I used these Syn Tint dyes from http://www.bearycheap.com/ as they were the only dyes I have left. They were developed to dye synthetics but I thought I'd give them a try on silk. They did the job beautifully!

I wound the ribbon into big loops and then I wet the ribbon thoroughly with a water spray. In a dinner plate I mixed the dye powder with a little water. I used several different colours at once. I then laid the ribbon into the dye making sure that it was thoroughly saturated. As each colour bleeds into the wet silk it blends to create yet more colours.

I then covered with cling film and popped in the microwave for 40 seconds. When it came out I gave it a quick rinse in cold water and dabbed most of the moisture out with a towel. It's as simple as that! I had such fun experimenting. If you sprinkle the dye powder on the wet ribbon it gives a spotty star burst effect or if you dip the wet ribbon into one colour only and then rinse half of it before microwaving, it gives varying shades of the same colour.

If you look closely you can see the subtle colour variations within each ribbon length.

And after ironing and winding onto bobbins, here is the finished result. Of course these night time photos don't do the subtle colours justice, but you'll just have to trust me on that!

So there you are. You'll have to wait a while before you learn what I am going to do with them as I am going on holiday Sunday and it will have to wait til I come back. :0)

I'm a Terrible Liar!

2007-08-09T12:40:00.001-07:00

Actually, now I have pulled all the plasters off I count seven holes. I wouldn't like to exaggerate. I must say I am a tad disappointed though. Although seven is most impressive (and beats my previous record of six) it still isn't as good a nine! It still hurted though and I still need chocolate. ;0)

Check back in a few hours and I shall tell-all re: silk ribbons. X X X X

Dartboard

2007-08-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

Just got back from hospital, they have brutalised me! They made nine attempts to get the cannula in today. I have circled where they darted me. It was very ouchy and I hope that I bruise severely so that I get some sympathy and chocolate. :0)

I am feeling rather sick now (is that surprising?) so I shan't blog about my ribbons until later.

This is Lorna who finally poked me where it counts!

Hairspray Link

2007-08-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the movie trailer and tell me you don't want to tap your feet! I actually think I may go and see it again it was so good. Look carefully and you'll see John Travolta as 'Mom'. There are loads of photos in the gallery so you'll be able to see it's him clearly there.

http://www.hairspraymovie.com/

Hairspray & silk ribbon

2007-08-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

Me and the girls just got back from seeing the new Hairspray film at the cinema. It was FABULOUS! Livvie says it's best film she has ever seen. There are not many films that made me feel so happy, it was so totally feel-good. I remember feeling the same way when I saw Grease in 1978. :0)

I spent many happy hours today hand dying about 100m of silk ribbon. I say hand dying as I literally applied the dye by hand rather than block dying it in a big vat. It was great fun experimenting. The dye I used was actually a dye for synthetics from www.bearycheap.com but I was assured that it would also dye silk. I won't post about it now as I have to get up early tomorrow for treatment, but when I get home I shall put photos and a tutorial on. The results were so pretty!

I shall snuggle down now with my fat-boy Arthur under my arm. I can have him in bed now as he had his summer flea treatment today. :0)

Fountains Abbey in Ripon

2007-08-07T05:44:00.001-07:00

Livvie and daddy enjoying the sunshine.

Look at that sun beaming through the window! It was SO hot.

Our beloved Chunky Bus. :0)

We had the most gorgeous weekend away in Ripon which is near York. The sun shone and although the air smelled of cow poo we had a great time! I have come back totally energised and am looking forward to our weeks holiday with Dawn and Glen next week in Northumberland. The slide show is of Fountains Abbey. It was spectacularly beautiful but unfortunately it was so hot that we couldn't walk it all. In fact it was my fault. With the addition of surgical stockings, over which I was wearing jeans and hiking socks and a pair of silicon boobs tucked into a double skinned bra I was near melting point and couldn't manage the distance. I did stop at one point and dip my feet in the cool lake but that didn't help for long! We are definitely going back when the air is crisp in Autumn and then we shall walk it all. :0)

Stockings...and not the good kind!

2007-08-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

I need to make people aware that I am still wearing horrendous surgical, hold-up, white, anti-embolism stockings after my operation. I have been wearing them for four weeks now and have another two weeks to go. They are absolutely hellish and hot and they ruck up behind my knees in the night and cause welts. Surely the are supposed to stop blood clots, not cause them?

Bone Scan

2007-08-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

Well, not a lot to tell really. My oncologist says there is an area of concern in my spine between my shoulder blades. He said it could be something or it could be nothing. I don't have any symptoms at all from that area so his opinion is that I leave it well alone and do nothing. He doesn't want to do further investigation as he sees no point because I am well at the moment. He'd rather leave it and if I get symptoms later on, then we'll deal with it then. The report mentioned nothing about the spots on my kidneys, so that must mean it is normal.

So there you are, panic over for now! :0)

On Collecting Things.

2007-08-01T01:08:00.000-07:00

Today's post was prompted by Babs' comment on yesterday's blog.

Now I have noticed, as have others, that I have a tendency to collect things. Mum takes the mickey, but I can see traces of it all through the generations on both sides of the family. Let's start at my Grandparents. Grandad Tom on dad's side was a collector of things. If you needed a plastic carrier bag, he would take you to his special cupboard and peel you off a perfectly folded carrier bag that came from a stack of ten. Each stack of ten was held together with a green elastic band. These carrier bag stacks were kept at the back of the cupboard. Also in the cupboard was the elastic band collection, carefully colour sorted into different bags. He used to follow the Postman round every morning picking up the discarded bands. This collection was of course huge. More than one person could use in a lifetime. But the thing about collecting is that it feels so good to share your stuff. He was always so proud when you used to ask him for a bag or an elastic band. Even if you didn't actually have a need for them you used to ask anyway just to please him. :0)

Then there was Gran on mum's side and her strange fascination for collecting sugar cubes. Granny was always one to stop off for a cream cake and cup of tea when she went shopping in Dartford. It was absolutely impossible for her to come away without having first emptied all the free sugar cubes into her handbag! But, and here's the really good bit, she felt so superior when there was a sugar shortage in about 1974. Greedy Fidel Castro had over harvested the sugar crops in order to make muchos $ but the result was that he ripped up all the new growth too so the next three crops failed. (obviously I researched that bit as I was only about four at the time. But I did remember the sugar shortage) A sugar shortage was not something Gran was happy about, so she was delighted at the height of the sugar drought to be able to offer people a sugar cube in their tea! I can clearly remember, even though I was so young, going into Gran's next door for delicious cup of sugary tea.

Mum and Leeta have odd organising and collecting habits that have rubbed off on me too. Now, actually saying this out loud might be a bit controversial, but I'm sure it's already more obvious than we'd like to think. We like to get a new hobby, buy/collect all the stuff that goes with it. Organise, categorise, arrange and then stand back and view said stuff. It's a terrible affliction and one that I feel mum might be getting over in recent years.

However, Leeta and I are still fighting this affliction daily! Of course my latest obsession is with beads and boxes.

This is one of a pair donated by Auntie Leeta.

This was my birthday present. It's very cool don't you think? It has all these little drawers inside for my jewellery. It is fact an old Engineers Box.

Boxes have actually been a life-long problem for me. Boxes are used every single day of your life for everything. I need boxes to put my stuff in.

The box above with the brass plaque was left in the cellar of our first little house by the previous old boy that owned the house and subsequently croaked. It was in a terrible state and I loved it back to life.

I have coloured plastic boxes, new wooden boxes, antique wooden boxes, boxes with drawers, boxes with lids and now a box with boxes inside boxes! How cool is that?

These boxes are very dangerous in that they are very cheap, readily available and available in all manner of sizes and colours!

Auntie Leeta and Auntie Babs and dad for that matter egg me on all the time. Dad is always wanting to buy me cool boxes but mum stops him. Leeta bought me the most gorgeous set of smooth nesting wooden boxes for my birthday that are still in their packaging because they only deserve the very best of contents. I believe my new beads are worthy enough now.

Look at the silky sanded wooden gorgeousness of these nesting boxes! Mmmmmmm.

And then Babs gave me two little blue plastic boxes with beads in them! What's a girl to do?

Ikea boxes with smashing number handles that is supposed to help me remember what's inside! Also two little chic leather clad boxes beside it.

Leeta is a total labelling, categorising, sub-categorising and organising freak. I believe I get it from her. ;0)

Then onto the youngest generation, Livvie. Sigh, where do I start? A few years ago when she must have been about five, I decided to clean out the considerable mess under her cabin bed. In total I removed....wait for it...SIX bin liners FULL of rubbish! Here is a list of the things that I particularly remember:

Half a carrier bag of broken necks to glass bottles, all roughly uniform in size and colour.

Half a carrier bag of beer bottle caps.

A full bag of wooden lolly sticks.

A full bag of sticks, roughly 6" in length.

Several carrier bags rammed full of Co-op till receipts.

Half a tree...I kid you not! It was about 5" diameter and about 5' 6" in length.

5 footballs.

12 small bouncy balls.

Several golf balls.

Half a carrier bag of rotting conkers.

5 x bolts. Now you might think that there is nothing too unusual about five little bolts. Until I explain that each one weighed 5lbs and was about 10" long! I remember we found them in a valley near a dam. Livvie so desperately wanted to take them home and I said I wouldn't carry them. So she put them in her little pink backpack and walked about a mile up hill with them. She kept falling over backwards they were so heavy. I honestly don't know how she managed it as she was only little!

And now for my absolute favourite of Livvie's collection. Under her bed I found a small see-through plastic box. It was lined with cotton wool and nestled in this comfy cocoon was a Y collection. This consisted of perhaps hundreds of little pieces of paper, no more than 1/2" square and on each of these was written in black pen the capital letter Y. I had to ask her about it and she simply said 'It's my Y collection, do you want to see my favourite Y?' Of course I was fascinated to see which her favourite was. She spent ages rummaging through her collection and then eventually pulled out a Y that looked to my eyes to be identical to the rest! She said I could throw the rest out but that she would keep this one as it was very special. She quietly slipped it into her pocket and sadly walked from the room. If I showed this to a child psychologist I'm sure he'd diagnose her with something!

So there are my thoughts on collecting and why I believe I am the way I am. It is not my fault, but an inherited gene. I never really had a chance did I?

2007-07-31T12:40:00.001-07:00

Evening all!

I got back late Sunday evening from a lovely weekend in Wales visiting my brother Chris, his wife Sarah and their two sons Jo and Aaron. We had a fantastic walk on the cliff tops by the sea and I had some long awaited fresh air in my lungs. The weather was fantastic. I couldn't believe that the sun came out just when we needed it! It was so lovely to visit them for a change as none of us have been since I first became ill 2 1/2 years ago. The five hour each way journey was a bit hard for me though. I had to be unfolded when we finally reached home. I'm still stiff now and it's Tuesday evening! :0)

Sindie with nephews little Jo and Aaron.

The best photo I have ever seen of my mum. It's so lovely to see her totally at ease and having fun! :0) I loves my mummy I do. X X X

And here's my daddy. Damned handsome (his words, not mine!)

Mummy being totally brave on top of a very high cliff, not an easy thing for her to do.

The glorious coastline.

Chris, Sarah, Aaron and Jo. There's an ickle baby in Sarah's tummy. :0)

Chris and Azza.

So.....that's it I think. I still haven't heard from my oncologist about my scan. Er, what else? Oh yes, my bead box arrived today at last!

It is full of little individual boxes that you can take out. It holds absolutely gazillions of beads! I am afraid to say that this box isn't nearly big enough though. I hadn't realised just how many beads I had amassed in such a short time! These are the beads I have left over:

My matey Dawn has now bought me another box as she couldn't stand my whining anymore. And besides she owes me for all these years of borrowing my children when I go out. :0)

This is an extremely cool grid rule thing that I couldn't live without.

It has all these markings and numbers and I don't know what they mean! I shall have to read up on them as I'm sure they'll be extremely helpful.

So, that really is it for tonight. I think tomorrow I have to help Emily with her Marilyn Monroe painting. Obvioulsy I shall report on that if it happens. :0)

Bone scan

2007-07-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 25th July 2007

Today I went for a bone scan at the hospital. My Oncologist ordered it because I have been having hip pains again and he thought we’d better just check. My hip was fine and my old tumour site looked way better. However, there were some worrying hot spots on my chest and mid spine. The technician lady said the spots on my chest might be explained as urine in my kidneys perhaps, but the spot on my spine was somewhat worrying. Someone else suggested it might be the edge of my sternum, but then that didn’t show up in previous scans. My Oncologist won’t get to see the scan for about a week as it goes through the system so I have rather a long wait for the verdict. :0(

The route to the hospital is still being diverted through the lanes because of the floods. As we drove through Lower Bradfield a herd of cows were blocking the road. They were just coming back from milking. It’s fab living in the country and we certainly don’t mind hold ups like this!

When I first got to the hospital I was given a radioactive injection and sent away for a few hours for it to take effect. No contact with pregnant ladies or children and no sitting next to anyone for prolonged periods of time. We used this time to go into Sheffield and look at the new building on The Peace Garden. It’s looking great now, quite cosmopolitan. The Peace Gardens had a face lift a few years ago, probably in 2000. There are streams and fountains and waterfalls where the children play in the summer.

Oh my goodness, I look like a beach ball! When did I ever get SO fat? It's comfort eating, that's what it is.

This photo is a little better cos my bottom half is hidden!Behind this is The Winter Garden which holds galleries, shops and cafes. They have loads of these huge stainless ball water features. If you look carefully you can see me and Gary reflected in the ball! :0)

Normally we’d take a stroll round The Graves Gallery while we’re there, but we didn’t get the time.

When I got back to the hospital at 1pm I was put through a big machine.

A big box thing comes down so close to your face that you think it’s going to squash your head like a watermelon! That’s all there is to it really. Afterwards I talked the technicians into showing me the scan picture and comparing the old scan to the new scan. They’re very sweet to me whenever I have a scan and always greet me like old friends. They even had my baby needle laid out ready today!

After the scan we had to go and tell mum and dad the news which of course is never a pleasant job. They didn’t even know I was going for a scan so it was a bit of a shock. I never tell anyone anything until there’s something to worry about. If I’d have told mum three weeks ago that I was waiting for a scan she would have spent those three weeks in a right state about it!

So there you are, I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from my Oncologist. He’ll probably order X-rays and an MRI.

Phase Seventy Six.

2007-07-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 24 July 2007

More antibiotics, lack of oomph and fluffy pom-poms.

Just go back from the doctors again. I am getting so bored with doctors and hospitals now. :0( Last week I tried to pull my stitches out as they were making me so sore. When I failed i went back to the hospital and they too failed. The result of all that pulling and tugging is yet another infection. I was supposed to go back to the hospital to see the surgeon, but I don't want to go again so I went to see my GP instead. This time, two more lots of stronger antibiotics and thrush treatment for after I finish my course. I am so fed up with feeling poorly and under the weather.

I have a total lack of oomph and spend my time reclining on the bed and surfing the web for fabulous ideas. Even though I lack the enthusiasm to actually make anything, at least I have had time to do loads of research! Crikey, my little art quilt had better be good or everyone will give me such a hard time!!!

I was trying to think of something to do with Livvie this morning so I showed her how to make a pom-pom for a cat's toy. Do you remember making those as a child with two disks of card and a ball of old wool?

Livvie never knew that you could make them yourself and was delighted with the result!

It's difficult to know what to do with Livvie to entertain her during the Summer Holidays. Most things involve cooking, wool, beads and sewing. Oh, and painting always goes down well with her too. She particularly enjoyed an outdoor sketch session I did with her last Summer. She was surprised to find how much she enjoyed picking a section of a dry stone wall and discussing it's texture and how the light hit it etc. Then we both sketched what we saw. Birch trees are also good for this type of exercise I find.

I think I shall do a small sewing project with her next. Although she loves making things she has little patience with hand sewing and her stitches are usually bigger than the item she's sewing! I need to try and teach her a little patience. Anyone that knows Livvie will know this will be a hard task!

I acquired some more beads yesterday. Auntie Babs gave some 'squisite beads to play with and Mummy bought me three strings of beads from the charity shop. Some of them were very pretty rose printed porcelain.

After all my tidying and cleaning, my desk is now in organised chaos. As soon as my new bead box arrives I can 'file' as many small beads as possible and then decide how I'm going to organise the rest. The bigger beads will be OK in the component boxes (pictured front). I can't keep the tiny beads in these boxes as they get mixed too easily. With my new bead box, each section has a lid of it's own.

Sunday, 22 July 2007

I have done loads today. I think I am more or less finished in my little work room. I had the very sad task of sorting out all my gorgeous mohair today, ready for selling. :0( It is the most beautiful, luxurious and expensive mohair pile which I love, but I really must admit that I'll never make bears again. I have bagged it up and it must now go into the loft until we next visit Lyme Regis. My friend owns Alice's Bear Shop there and has agreed to sell my bear making supplies for me.

I have finally finished winding all my threads, fibres and ribbons onto bobbins. I have also sorted all my fabric scraps and placed them neatly in a box. It's all sorted now and I am just awaiting the delivery of my new bead organising box. I have gazillions of beads all bagged up on my desk ready for their new home.

I was sorting through an old needlework box this afternoon and I found some very precious beads that I had forgotten about. They are all the left over beads from when I beaded my wedding dress 17 years ago. They're not precious because I have romantic memories of that wedding (divorced him!) but because it was my very first foray into needlework and beading. :0) And besides, they're really pretty beads.

Gary finally managed to mow the lawns today after about a month of non-stop rain. The rain has moved South now to give us a break. The news is saying that it's very bad in the South today and now they have flooding. I've never known a summer like this!

No pretty photos today I'm afraid, maybe tomorrow. :0)

Flippin' 'eck!

2007-07-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 21 July 2007

I had a marvelous time rummaging round bead shops and charity shops today. First we found a bead shop by Brammal Lane and the prices of their beads are astronomical. They have 3g of seed beads for £2.25. Have you any idea how much 3g is? I am looking at 3g now and I estimate that they would very neatly fit into a thimble. In fact I shall go and try it right now, wait a minute....Gosh I am extremely clever, they fit exactly into a thimble with not a bead to spare! Most shops sell them in 3-5g quantities.We then went to Ecclesall Road in Sheffield to another shop only to find that they were mostly charging PER BEAD! Of course I wasn't able to spend that sort of money so we looked in the charity shops. I found loads of cool things:

Photo: Sindie Smith

From the top:

Green Chinese fabric top with bead fringing.
Blue and white beaded belt
Ceramic multi-stringed necklace
Green multi-stringed necklace
Dark red beaded necklace
Peacock multi-stringed necklace

The green top, the beaded belt and the bright ceramic necklace are second-hand, but the other items are new Fair Trade. Remember I had just seen the cost of beads in the other shops so I was very excited with these finds!

When I got home I cut all the strings, took apart the belt and took the beaded trim off the green top. I will keep the green fabric for my stash of course. I then weighed and bagged all the beads in order to prove a point. I then looked up all the prices of the beads in the two bead shops I had visited and did some quick calculations. The grand total for all those beads, had I bought them new from the shops would be....wait for it.....£141.75!!! Can you believe that people that sort of money for beads? That bright ceramic necklace had £26.31 worth of beads and the green and peacock necklaces would have cost £82.49!!! My flabber has been gasted.

Oh, and Gary found three books so he's happy enough. (it also took his mind off the money I was spending!!)

By the way, the auction for the box (see yesterday's post) went as high as the Buy It Now anyway.