The Wendy House

That dress and other items

Well I did get that dress finished on time, we were going out at 6.45 and I remembered I still had a hook and eye to sew on at 6.35!!!! (as you do). I had bought the fabric weeks ago, making sure I had plenty of time to make it in advance. Life obviously had a few other ideas lined up for any spare time that was heading my way, you all know what that is like. So when I found I had nearly a whole day with nothing in it I decided to set to and get sewing, all went really well until the first point of the try on with zip in situ. When I bought the fabric the only zip which matched perfectly in colour was about 1" too short but as the dress was strappy I felt that would not be an issue. So I squiggled my way into it avoiding serious eye injuries from the pins, checked in the mirror then asked for a second opinion from Tim and decided I could carry on and finish it. That was until I couldn't get out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By this point the dress which is full length is up over my head and I am running round the house trying to find Tim to help, I was getting hotter and hotter, and more sweaty,thinking that any minute I would need a paper bag to avoid a panic attack. If you think I am making a fuss try it, requirements are: arms fully extended above head, pulling dress up and over as you go then bend forwards restricting full inflation of your lungs.

Anyway I was safely removed from the offending article. I lowered the zip and decided to put on a hook and eye, as I mentioned earlier I forgot about that until the last minute.

The big night arrived, I had managed to get shoes to match at a bargain price and a bag which had also been reduced. Do I sound tight or what ?????????

The day had been very overcast but the afternoon brightened up beautifully and we sat in the garden for a cup of tea before we got ready to go out, then the heavens opened as they are very good at doing this year, which meant for me to get to the car and the out at the other end and through a field to the event, I needed to wear other more appropriate foot attire. Does that make me vain or practical? Although my shoes hadn't cost that much I still didn't want them to look like this...

A few of you said they wanted to see the dress, so hear it is including alternative footwear, standing in water. These came in very useful for the trip from the car and for those essential trips that ladies need to make during an evening out.

Whilst I was standing in the queue for the small pink porta loo a few other women said they wished they had done the same but weren't allowed. Tim fortunately wasn't too proud to take "wellie woman" out for the night.

Also at the last minute I have managed to complete my letters for the inchie A-Z swap, I really enjoy making these little things. I nearly had to go in the envelope with them as this time I used super glue to make sure nothing fell off in the post. Unlike PVA which just peels off when it's dry, super glue peels off taking a layer of your skin with it, UGH!!!!

Multi-functional

Have you even taken a few minutes to look at your home and think about the many daily activities that go on. This only struck me yesterday as I was cutting out a dress on our bedroom floor. Most of the time that room is a bedroom but last weekend it also doubled as a spare room when this little bundle shared the space with us when he stayed overnight.

 

He doesn't stay that often so I didn't want him to wake up on his own in a room he didn't know.

Yesterday most of the floor was filled with fabric and sewing implements, once again I have left it until the last minute to start a project.

 

The ironing also gets done in here, so I think it needs to be called the busy room instead.

Going back to my last post I have eventually got around to putting you all in a large glass vase, it had just been washed so it was very clean and you all seemed quite happy in there. Sarah was the one who leaped out when I put my hand in, so if you can send me your address I will get the mystery package in the post to you.

I am off now to try and finish that dress because I need to wear it next Saturday and I am working all week, also today we have some reasonable weather so we need to make the most of it whilst it's dry.

Isn't life spooky

Just when I have been seriously considering giving up this little blog things like this drop through my letter box.

Tiny little inchies from the swap I took part in.

and this print from one of Julies fantastic original paintings, I was lucky enough to receive as a birthday gift. Go and look at her etsy shop she is so talented.

Don't get me wrong it is not because I receive lovely gifts that I have decided to continue it is because they make me realise what lovely people I have met since I started this blog. People that I wouldn't recognise in the street but people that make me laugh and inspire me which gives me energy. People that have given me support and encouragement from many miles away. How can I give that up? The other spooky thing is when I signed in to write this, I notice that I have reached my 100th post so why not celebrate. I will be doing a prize draw, of what exactly I do not know because as I said I was about to give up. I will scrabble around in my work room and put together a prize which has the possibility of being awful, but if you feel like taking a gamble then by all means leave your name:o)

Moving on to other spooky things, I said I would tell you about my new job. I had got to an uncomfortable part of my life where I needed to be working but had no idea what I was going to do. I knew that I didn't want to go back into nursing. I had been doing quite a lot of decorating and gardening for people but the work was sporadic. I came home one evening after redecorating a house so it was ready to go onto the market, then rushed out to do a house viewing with some friends who wanted my opinion before they bought it. When I eventually got back Tim said "you have been offered a job" my exhausted reply was " ugh! who wants some painting doing now?" The answer to this was that I had been offered the opportunity to work in an art gallery, but could I let the owners know by 9pm, which left me exactly 45mins to decide if I was interested. Whilst we ate our meal Tim, Lucy and I did a quick list of fors and againsts taking this job if I got it.

Anyway the long and the short of it is, I got the job and I have been working there one month now. I don't really know what I am doing but I wear a big smile which seems to cover my ignorance, and I absolutely LOVE it. I can also wear high heels if I want, which is such a novelty as one requirement of a nurses uniform was very flat and very sensible shoes.The people I work for and with are so nice and uncomplicated, I don't think I have experienced such a pleasant working environment in all my working life. So I feel extremely privileged that this opportunity came my way and will give me the chance to learn about things I would never have even thought about.

On a final note THANK YOU to those who have followed me to my 100th post and for all the enjoyment you have given me. I will raise my glass of wine to you all tonight.

"CHEERS MY LOVELIES"

Another Year and a few more wrinkles

A new tea pot, a book with the same title as my blog and luxury hand cream.

10 minutes spent grubbing around in the soil for these....

My favourite garden is having it's once a year opening today. After that I will be together with all my family for delights such as CHOCOLATE cake, trifle,and party food. What more can a girl ask for :o)

I think this is very self indulgent posting today but at 44 I have decided I can do that if I want to. I have been unable to post or catch up on blogs just lately, due to starting a new job that came at me completely out of the blue, more about that later.

Little things please little minds.

I am typing this with glue all over my finger ends, obviously it has already dried or I would be stuck to the key board. I signed up for a swap being organised by Becky and Linda. The main reason I joined in was because I loved the name of the things I would be making. They were something new to me but I'm sure many of you will know of them already. It is an "inchie" swap, what a cheerful little word. It's is one of those words that I would like to drop into conversation here and there because it sounds so friendly.

For those of you that don't know them they are a sort of mini version of an ATC (correct me if I am wrong Linda & Becky). If you haven't guessed it already they measure an inch square, quite tiny really. Becky assured me that once I got started I would rattle them off in their multiples. It did take some time to have an idea but once I did get started I did rattle them off, because they are small they are fiddly, hence the fingers covered in glue, but enjoyable.

 

I received a wonderful parcel last week, packed full of buttons and other goodies from Gill, I was drawn out of the hat as one of her winners which was very exciting. Thank you very much.

 

Gill had included buttons of all shapes and sizes and even some which would be of no use on my clothing at all, in fact evidence of them on my clothing could be detrimental.The only person that could wear them would be a gingerbread man, and very handsome he would look too.

 

Nobody else knows they are in the house so I might just hide in a corner and eat them, or is that mean? :o) 

Recycling lovely memories

For a while now I have been wondering what to do with this......

 

I have yards and yards of it. When we got married I needed something inexpensive to brighten up the party tent, so I bought a metre of both of these fabrics to make into bunting, not a new idea I know. This bunting holds many memories of the day before our wedding and all the chaos that was going on at home getting ready for it. We have fantastic neighbours here and two in particular gave up their Sunday afternoon to help out with the preparations. Rachel said she would do anything, in response to that I asked if she could use a sewing machine, with a look of horror she replied "NO! but I can use scissors". Enough said, poor girl then spent the next hour cutting out the triangles whilst I attached the ribbon, as each length was finished it was passed out into the garden to be hung up.

Since that day, it has been loaned out for a friends lunch party, then used at two coffee mornings and lastly at a birthday party. Good value for money I say. In between it's outings it is stuffed into carrier bags and shoved on a shelf looking sad and crumpled. So I decided to do something about it. Slowly I am ironing each piece, unpicking it from the ribbon ( that has a story of it's own) then re cutting it and using as patchwork pieces. So far I have made this...

 

I am going to keep at it until it is all used up then decide what to make it into, I think it will probably be something like a picnic blanket. I have to say it is very enjoyable work so far.

I got it wrong again!!!!

One of my many faults is that I never read the instructions properly. If I had I would have posted these bookmarks yesterday, but as you can see I posted one early and now these are late, so apologies have already been sent to the lovely Angel Jem who organised this swap. First is her bookmark which must have taken ages to make. She also included a book which I shall look forward to reading.

Next one was from Alison who also must have spent a great deal of time on the lovely cross stitch card that came with the book mark.

Last but by no means least was a really pretty book mark from Gill accompanied by a glossy magazine which I will enjoy with a cuppa.

Thanks girls for all your precious time spent on making these, it is very much appreciated.

Hope you're not disappointed

At last I can tell you what it was that I was making. I can almost hear you all go uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh :o( is that all it was. I couldn't reveal it before because these were in the post and had not yet been received.

 

I took part in a bookmark swap which Angel Jem kindly took the time to organise. I haven't taken part in a swap for ages. It was entirely up to each individual how many bookmarks you sent out. I got carried away with my stitching and decided to send out more than just the one required.

I have received a beautiful one from Susan who creates lovely textile work which is very inspiring. Go and peep at her blog. Thank you very much for this and the decorated envelope in which it arrived, I couldn't thank you before as I can't find an email address for you.

It's all there in black and white

Isn't it satisfying when things turn out OK. Sometimes the cogs start turning in your head, then they start turning on the machine and something turns out that pleases you even though you didn't really know what you were creating. I will post what this turned into later.

 

Red Friday

I have really enjoyed this this colour week, setting up each day has made me giggle, and I absolutely LOVE Red.

I am not a big fan of cuddly toys but this one of Lucy's has won my heart. If you squeeze him he giggles and vibrates. His little voice when he laughs sounds very wheezy, I feel the need to rush off and get him an inhaler.

Couldn't miss this off could I

Once again these are my feet but some more of Lucy's shoes. I did have to lay on my back on the patio with my feet against the wall to take this photo. The things you do to get a blog worthy photo. Thanks for organising this week Julie. Does it mean we have a black & white weekend now.