One Excited - But Nervous - Son

My eldest son, Dene, has gone off to do a CBT course so that he can ride his brand new motorbike on the roads. They start off in a school yard, learning the basics and then I expect they go on the road to see how competent they are. If he passes this then he's on the road - drivers beware!!! He's gone wearing his new motorbike gear and carrying his helmet. Thankfully Mollie didn't see him or she would have been going mad as she doesn't like the helmet. If I remember later, and assuming he comes home on it, I'll take a photo of him with bike and gear.

Kate is home this weekend - shock horror - as Matty is working. It'll be strange having her here. Wonder if she's going to tidy her bedroom up cos at the minute it looks like a bomb site. Ian will be back next Friday for about three weeks, then him and his Dad, Mick, are off to erm...Corfu I think, or it could be Crete. It's definitely a Greek island! Once they get back from there, Ian will be looking for a job in the catering industry.

I'm not feeling too good today. I don't know if it's something I ate (I had a mystery shopper assignment at KFC last night) or the affect of the tablets I've started retaking for my diabetes. Needless to say I'm not wandering too far from the bathroom. I'm supposed to be going to Sheila's tomorrow to work on a new calico garden but I don't think I'm going to make it. I feel like crap.

Success!

Craig and I had the overlocker out this morning, and after having to rethread it properly, reading the destructions and watching the DVD that came with it, I have it sussed. At least for doing the edges of fabrics anyway. I haven't tried anything fancier yet. I have now overlocked all my Polstitches fabric and all the other bits that needed it, and I can safely say it was a doddle. It doesn't half create a lot of mess and lint mind you, but I have a handy little cleaner brush to fix that when I'm finished. SORTED!

Hectic Day

Phew what a day! Was up at the crack of dawn cos I couldn't sleep. Sat around stitching for a few hours then got showered and dressed before going into Blyth to change a top that I got yesterday as it was the wrong size. Ended up with three new tops and a new bra. LOL. After that I tootled up to Jayne's to pick up my new L*K flipit bits. I wasn't planning on staying long as I needed to go over to Newcastle and take some cream for my youngest son's tattoo. However, I passed my ex hubby on my way down to his house (Ian lives with him during term time) and we ended up in the pub all afternoon. I was on soft drinks as I was driving, and he was buying. I came home stone cold sober and he went home sozzled. He has to go to work tonight. But we had a good chat and he got a lot of things off his chest than weren't said when we split up in 2000. It cleared the air, although we have always been friends. Not like me and ex #1! Boo Hiss!

Anyway, I'm home again now, debating whether to have a play with my overlocker as I still haven't had a go yet.

• Karen - those little bags are for ragged threads. It's a little board with a weighted bag on the top for your needles and pins to stick into, and the little bag hanging off is to put your cut off threads in, so that they don't end up all over the floor/table/armchair/any of the above. They go on your table top or the arm of your chair and are really quite handy. Hope that helps.

Other Good Stuff

I received some other good things today as well as the tattoo. First off was the Whitman's tins that I bought off Nicole in the US. They were a real bargain and if I can get some more pennies in my PayPal account in the next couple of weeks I'm going to get some more off her. Mind you, I have no idea what I'm going to do with them but I've seen lots of other people who have decorated tins and I'm going to use them for inspiration and ideas.

Secondly, when I got back from the tattooist, this was waiting for me next door. An overlocker. I've wanted one of these for absolutely ages but have no idea how to work one, so that could be interesting. It's got as far as being taken out of the box and that's it. Need to find an empty socket to plug it into.

Been and gone and done it!

I've been ruminating for a while about having another tattoo done. I already have a unicorn's head on one shoulder and Pegasus on the other shoulder, but I couldn't think of what else I wanted. Then I had a brainwave. Now I don't have these very often so I had to act on it straightaway before I forgot. I am now the owner of a tattoo of a cross with RIP across it, and the words REST IN PIECES around it, just above where my right boob would be if it hadn't been chopped off. The tattooist got my tongue in cheek joke straightaway and said it was right up there on his list of unusual designs. LOL.

HD for DH

A couple of years ago I had someone design me something special for friends of ours in Birmingham, Bob and Frances. Their nicknames are Capri and Froggie - he loves Capri cars and she collects frogs and has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was going to have this done as a RR but everyone dropped out so Craig volunteered to stitch it for me. He put the final stitch in it tonight and above is the result. It's not often he has a finish - he's doesn't get much of a chance to sit down and sew - but he's done a really great job of this. I just hope that Bob and Frances like it.

Rebuilding Sale Site

You may have noticed a couple of the links have changed. This is because I have changed the sale site, from being on my blog to being a proper website. Please feel free to have a browse.

To answer a few questions, well Julie's mainly, no the Calico Garden wasn't hard to do at all. It's just learning a few new stitches and techniques. Irene Coulthard herself was VERY helpful, and she has a book too (not on general sale) which explains everything simply and clearly.

This Is Finished Too

I have just put the final stitches into Calico Garden. The top photo is the finished thing and the ones under it are close ups of various parts. I'm sending this to Kathy as she has admired it from the start, though I have no idea how she's going to finish it off. The designer finished some of hers by framing them with padded calico frames but I'm not clever enough to do that...yet. I'm sure she'll think of something - won't you Kathy? I'm now planning my next garden. I bought some more calico yesterday and some other odds and ends. A few of us are going over to Sheila's house next Sunday to do some more work on them so I'll take all my bits with me and start the new one then. In the meantime I have some WIPs to be getting on with, and as Miss Mary Mack is at the top of the box I guess she's it.

WOOHOO! It's finished!

I have finished another model. Unfortunately I can't show you a picture as yet, because the chart isn't published. As soon as I get the go-ahead from the designer, and possibly get a better photo from her, I will let you see what I've been up to.

I can now get on and do some of my own work. But what shall I get on with? Do I finish the Calico Garden, or make some more needlecases as two have sold from my sale blog, or one of my current WIPs? Decisions, decisions. Will decide tomorrow I think.

Day 2 of Workshop

After another brilliant day at the workshop I have something that looks more like a garden. Thank you for all the lovely comments after day 1. Obviously it's still not finished - the wall at the back needs defining and I have more stuff to do in the foreground, but you can get a better idea now of what it'll look like when it's finished. I learnt LOTS more new stitches, and Irene's book is going to come in really handy, as will the dish cloth and elasticated bandage.

Irene Coulthard Workshop

Today at Jayne's Attic I attended a workshop, with Irene Coulthard as the designer. She does hand embroidered Calico Gardens, and the samples she had with her were astounding. Here's what I did there today.

I've done a bit more since this was taken. It's supposed to be a rockery with leaves, french knots, lazy daisy stitches and rocks. We're back again tomorrow to do some more to it and I'll post another photo then. I had a really great day, learning lots of new techniques, and I bought Irene's book so I can practice some more and come up with something better.

Over the last few days I've been making some more fobs - suitable for scissors - and some thread collector sacks. Click on the link to Smokin' 2 to see.

New Stuff For Sale

There are some new things for sale on Smokin' 2 if anyone is interested.

Off out tonight

It was my youngest son's 18th birthday on Wednesday so we're taking him out tonight for a meal with the rest of the family (apart from Kate who has buggered off to Hull to stay at her Dad's for the weekend - sore subject). I think this is the first year Ian and his Gran haven't seen each other on their birthday - Mam's birthday is 6th June too (Mam was born at 6am on 6th June, 666! We keep looking for the little mark but she must have it well hidden. LOL), as Ian was at college, so we didn't see him either. He went out with his Dad for his first official drink on Wednesday night and after the meal tonight we'll all come back here for birthday cake and more drinks.

We're going to a pub called the Ridge Farm in Bedlington, somewhere Craig and I have been before, and really liked. They do a carvery, but they also have a quite substantial menu to go with it. To save anyone having to drive my brother has arranged a taxi with one of his work colleagues to take us there and back, so we can all drink. That'll make a nice change, though I don't mind not drinking if we go somewhere like that.

I made some more fobs yesterday and they're on my other blog page, if anyone is interested in having a look. I can also make them to order if you can't see one you like. I got some larger lobster clasps this morning so I can now make them to fit scissors. I'm waiting for some more charms to be delivered, and also some more small poly bags, tissue paper and mailing sacks to pack my orders in. I do like to be organised.

I suppose I should go and clear all the rubbish off my chair ready for later. Otherwise we could be short of seats. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

More Fobs For Sale

I was busy making more fobs over the weekend and I have posted them over on Smokin' 2. Here's a preview of what's on offer.

Oooooo....looky what I can do! It's clever this Picasa. LOL.

I just downloaded Picasa and am trying it out. It's a funny little program isn't it? It decided to investigate my entire laptop for picture files and found all my charts that I have on the external hard drive...over 5000 of them. LOL. I was here quite a while waiting for it to do that. But never mind, it's done now. I decided to see how it puts photos straight into blogger and this is what I came up with. I quite like this little buttercup design, might actually get round to doing it one of these days.

MATERIAL ALL SOLD

Sorry folks, but all the fabric listed below has now been sold.

Link to Other Blogs

I think I have it sorted. I've removed the huge gap under the fabrics below. And there are two links on the side bar, just under my profile, that will lead you to Stuff For Sale and My Wish List. Please note that I haven't actually done the wish list yet, but keep checking back.

Stuff for Sale

Yeah yeah, it's been just over a week since my last post, but had nowt to say! LOL. Kathy and the boys left on Thursday morning after a great couple of days visiting with us. I went to Jayne's Attic when Kathy was here and we ended up helping Jayne to pack orders. I was there again on Saturday to collect my Mistletoe picture that was at the framers, but he hadn't brought it back yet, although it WAS finished. He told Jayne when she rang him that it would be after 4.30pm by the time he brought it over, so I'll just have to get it one day through the week. I might go over tomorrow afternoon and see if it's there.

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Craig finally got his 'new' car on Friday. He was hoping to get it a couple of weeks ago but it didn't pass its MOT. The work it needed doing was eventually done and it passed on Friday. Then he had to get it taxed etc, and it's now on the road and going ok. Saves him using my car for taking the kids to work.

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My youngest son Ian was home for the half term holidays. It's lovely having him home cos he's nice and quiet, he cooks and he doesn't roll his eyes and tut when I ask him to do something. LOL. On Friday I took him over to Helen's house in Killingworth so he could meet up with his old best friend Ben. The last time they saw each other was about 9 years ago and they've both changed a hell of a lot - they're both taller and beefier for a start.

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OK, now for the title of this post. Thought I would keep you in suspense for a while. I have some pieces of material for sale if anyone is interested, and once I've sorted them out, I will also have some charts. I have another couple of blogs on blogger that I never use and eventually there'll be a link from this one to one of those, which is where I'll be putting sale stuff. But for now, they're here. I'll take payment by Paypal from anywhere in the world, and in the UK I'll also take payment by cheque/PO. All prices include postage to the UK. For anyone wanting postage further than that I will check the weight and let you know. Please email me - link at the bottom of the sidebar - if you are interested in anything.

Sugar Maple Fabric
9 x 12 inches
Colour - Breeze
28 count Lugana
Price: £3.50 (inc P+P to UK)







Sugar Maple Fabric
13 x 18 inches
Colour - French Lavender
28 count Cashel
Price: £6.00 (inc P+P to UK)


Sugar Maple Fabrics
13 x 18 inches
Colour - Mountain Lake
28 count Jubilee
Price: £6.00 (inc P+P to UK)






Generic Fabric
25 count Lugano
70 x 33 cms
Beige
Price: £5.00 (inc P+P to UK)












Sugar Maple Fabrics
13 x 18 inches
Colour - Breeze
28 count Lugana
Price: £6.00 (inc P+P to UK)

Sugar Maple Fabrics

13 x 18 inches
Colour - Winter Meadow
32 count Lugana
Price: £6.00 (inc P+P to UK)