January 2011

We're already 1 month into 2011.... how did that happen?

But that means spring is waiting around the corner.... hooray!!

January is always a tough month as it tends to be a bit miserable which isn't helped by the media telling us nearly every day this is the worse day of the year...etc...etc!

Here's a look back over my January....

We've had a few sunny days which Nanny has enjoyed.... see bottom left!

A sneak preview of the blanket I made for Kelly's baby...... she should have it now so I can share :) The flower pattern is from Rose.

I'm not working today which is great because the sun is shining! 

I have lots of jobs, one being to empty the Make, Do and Mend bags from Tuesday night....wow it was a busy one & when I got home at 10pm I didn't have the energy to put everything away. I'll also be sorting out all the admin, I hate that job as it's so time consuming but hey it's only once a month.

I did see The Kings Speech..... I loved it! My sort of film, great story, great acting & no stupid special effects! Did anyone else well up at the end??? I really want to see it again which is very unlike me..... looking forward to the DVD coming out. Fingers crossed for Colin Firth on Oscar night.

Hope you're all having a great week ...... back soon as I'm on holiday next week.....yippee!!

Wreck This Journal part 2

OK I'm not even going to say how fast January is going!

I've enjoyed being normal this week with having the weekend off :) but the time has slipped by & I haven't done everything I wanted to do however I did spend some time with OH. Sometimes I forget to do that what with work, craft fairs, Folksy, Make, Do and Mend...... it was nice to relax & do very little.

Only 1 more week at work then I have a week off....yippee!!! Really need it before I end up on Mary Portas for bad customer service...... you can only bite your lip for so long. I then have my normal 2 weeks off in March to look forward to....... I just hope the things on my list can wait that long!

On Monday I headed to the post office with this....

It arrived back to me on Wednesday but just look what happened....

After a slight panic attack I remembered what this book was about but it's still troubling me!! OH joked that I may even have to buy another one.

I plan to take it in the shower next & get that over with.

I managed to finish Kelly's blanket this week with the help of Rose & her lovely new flower crochet pattern. I won't share photo's just yet in case Kelly has time to take a peep.

I've also been finishing some knitted bears for my Folksy shop.

Bit of an odd question but does anyone do Burlesque? 

I need to know how to attach Pasties..... I won't use the N word as god knows what kind of people will start following me! 

My friend has been asking me for a year to make her some, I'm also doing a fair in April & I think they could sell. Please let me know your thoughts.

I may go to see The Kings Speech today....... I'm so looking forward to seeing it :)

Have a good week....over & out!

Wreck This Journal.....

Thanks for all your comments on my last post..... it seems you're keen to give it ago. Please let me know how you get on & spread the word yourself.

So back to the point....

I saw this book on a blog months ago & added it to my Amazon wish list in the hope someone would give it to me for Christmas..... nope!

A couple of weeks ago my online buddie Lorna did a post about hers...here

She was also kind enough to give me a shout when it was back in stock @ amazon.

So it arrived on Tuesday & has been sat on the sofa ever since..... I did have a look & I must say I'm feeling nervous about it! 

The reason being I'm a Virgo! I've never wrecked a book in my life..... never broken a spine on a book..... never fold down the corners of the pages..... never written in a book. I have to use the same pen in my diary & if it runs out half way through I get most upset! 

How will I cope???? 

I thought this would do me good....... I drive everyone mad, including myself!

I'm going to let myself go.... go crazy...... rip the pages out..... draw all over it....

but take it in the shower???? ooohhh I'm not sure!!

The first thing I'm going to do is post it to myself........ just in case it gets lost!

So it's back on the sofa tapped up with reindeer tape waiting for it's trip to the post office tomorrow.

That's the easy one done...... I'll keep you update!

Have a good week

We Are What We Do.....

Ever since I started blogging I've planned to post about this but I've never got around to it!

So as I haven't done/made much of late I thought this would be the perfect time.

I'm sure you've all heard about this fantastic group..... no??? Then read on!

Back in 2007 I discovered 'We Are What We Do'....... it's all about making the world a better place.....  

Be the change you wish to see in the world ~ Mahatma Gandhi

So I bought the book....

And started completing all the actions..... some easy some not so easy! It was £5 but you can still buy it on Amazon for a bargain price of £2.73!!! Maybe people don't want to change the world.

I enjoyed the challenge so brought the next one.....

This is all about the work place & my colleagues were keen to join in.

Within a few months they hit the headlines with the launch of this bag...

Ring any bells????

Yes this bag was sold in Sainsbury's however it was reported some staff were buying them all & selling on Ebay..... on the day the went on sale you could buy this for over £100! 

My dad collected my at 6am that day & drove me to every Sainsbury's in the area to get one but we no luck..... you were given a raffle ticket, 1st come 1st serve & then at 8am you could buy.... even at that time in the morning we couldn't get one!

They're limited addition & being a women because I couldn't get one I wanted it even more!!! I was lucky that I was on the forums & in contact with 'we are what we do' & managed to get one of the 2nd batch!!!! Yippee!!!! 

I often wonder how many are now laying unloved in cupboards..... mine is hung in the porch for all to see but I must start using it again.

I've tried so hard to complete all the actions...... I even started to give blood but had to stop because there's not many places to give in my area :( 

I keep feeding this back to them as they often email & text asking why I haven't been for so long..... I would love to start again.

At the moment I'm tracking 117 actions & have completed them nearly 2000 times - must update that!

Would you like to take the challenge??? Are you already sign up???

You don't need to buy the books now as the web site is very good & you can track your actions online...... 

sign up here

.......and start the New Year off on a good note :)

Hope you enjoy it!!

New year plans.....

Yikes another week has gone by & I haven't managed to make anything or blog :( 

I'm still fighting with the gift I'm making for someone special!

This year seems to be speeding by already..... or is it just me wishing January away so I can have my week off!

Thanks for all your comments on my last post, it's interesting to hear you thoughts on craft parties. I have approach Exeter Phoenix & we hope to have our first booking very soon.... yippee!!!! The down side is they must produce ALL of the refreshments from the cafe bar as this is how they make their money. This is a bit of a blow as I was hoping to keep the cost down making it affordable for everyone.... meeting next week to discuss the finer details but I'm told they get asked for this sort of thing all the time so fingers crossed it'll be a success :) 

So what have I been up to this week...... well not very much!!

I was off Thursday & Friday as I had to work all weekend but by the time the housework was done & I recovered from my night out on Wednesday (whoops!) it was time to go back :(

I've been spending a lot of time of Facebook as this year see our first school reunion....gulp!.... I wasn't planning on going but on Monday I was speaking to my best friend & he told me he will be going! It's been fun this week seeing all the photo's & hearing what people have been up to in the couple (!) of years since we left.

Our final school photo taken in..... 1987 :(

It's only half but it's the most important half 'cos I'm in it!!! Cor blimey I was a mardy cow..... I think it was because all my friends were in the other half. I was 15 in this picture..... can you spot me????? A clue??? I'm missing what I'm told is one of my best features.....hair!!!

Hope you've all had a good week...... back soon.... I hope!!!

1st week gone......

Another week has flown by...... did you do anything nice???

 

I was off on Monday so enjoyed a day at home....doing the housework!!

 

Tuesday was Make, Do and Mend day....

We planned to make granny squares but the Phoenix were having loads of work done & forgot we were coming so we could only stay for 2 hours..... but we made a start

Teaching was harder then I thought!!!!

There was lots of other things being made

I was planning on taking some photo's today as it was a lovely bright sunny day.... however I messed about on FB & Twitter..... chatting to people about our school reunion...*gulp* ....& before I knew it the sun had gone!!!

I think I've missed the boat for showing my Christmas gifts but here's just one...

My friend Claire brought me this..... he's now been packed away for next year :)

Now I have a few questions for you......

 

How do you feel about craft parties???

I know if you're lucky enough to live in London you have a wide choice but mainly hen parties....... have you every been to one????

 

Would you like to go to one????

I think there's somewhere in Bath that also run day parties but I find it hard to give up a whole day...... do you? Would you prefer evenings.....maybe just 3 hours??? or is that not long enough??? What would you like to learn?

How much would you expect to pay??? Some charge up to £80 per person.... wow!!! I only charge £3 a month for Make, Do and Mend!!!

  Would you expect alcohol or just tea????

I don't know about you but I find it hard to craft while drinking..... I like to keep those two separate!

I would really appreciate your feedback with this :)

Have a good week

2010

Well another year is over & we're all a little wiser (?!) 

 

I feel 2010 went very quick..... didn't you?

So today is Show & Tell 

I thought it would be a good idea to re cap 2010 & list my hopes/dreams for 2011

January 2010

It was a snowy start to the year & Make, Do and Mend was born!

February 2010

Our first Make, Do and Mend meeting!

March 2010

April 2010

Starting to feel like spring :)

May 2010

Vintage fair followed by my own Handmade Home Fair - a crafty month!!

June 2010

The worse month of the year... heart broken after Zoe passed away :(

July 2010

My first 1940's event & the birth of Frazer (the only new addition this year)

2nd 1940's event

September 2010

My 2nd anniversary & 200th post.

Innocent Big Knit & Make, Do and Mend takes off!!!!!

October 2010

Starting to get ready for Christmas on Folksy. Meeting Cath Kidston & generally being unwell for the whole month :(

November 2010

My first sale on Folksy & Etsy :) Things start to get busy

December 2010

Ended as it started....snowy!!!

Phew so another year over & thanks to blogging I can see it wasn't wasted!

2010 has been an odd year, in one way I feel I've started to get my life on track......I've been trying to set up a craft group & fair for so long but work always gets in the way....... this year I did it! The group has been very successful which makes me very happy :)

The fair is another story but hey you live & learn..... I'm not sure I'm ready for those sort of people, it's a bit cut throat for me so I'll step back thank you very much!!!

But on a sad note it's the year I lost Zoe...... now I know some people will think it's only a cat but this was the first Christmas in 20 years with out her :( On the day it felt odd as me & OH have only spend 2 Christmases without her. We remembered how she climbed the tree when she was a kitten & was very naughty but she always got away with it because she was my baby :)

So moving on what will 2011 bring......

• I turn 40 :( How did that happen???? I'm still 16 aren't I??? I would like to do something special but not sure what......I was thinking of a lovely holiday but I'm a rubbish traveller....hot air balloon??? Zoo keeper for the day???? Maybe a weekend in Edinburgh???? Only 8 months to sort it out!!!

• I must finish my list that I started in 2008!!!! or at least finish my blanket that I started nearly 2 years ago!

• Re decorate the house..... things have been up in the air as we weren't sure if we were moving but I think we're starting put so I want to sort out all those jobs that need doing & paint the living room to make it more homely.

• Continue with Make, Do and Mend..... I'm hoping to set up a children's class in the summer holidays but first I need to get everything in order. Now it's getting very popular I need to get the admin side of things in place

• Attend more craft fairs

• Continue to sell on Folksy/Etsy

• Complete my CV...... I'm hoping for changes this year!

• Sort my back out..... I'd like a full MOT as I've been ill for months now, if it's not my back it's my stomach (pain killers are playing havoc with my tummy) or a cold. I'm going to go to the doctors in the new year & demand more tests

• To make it through the year with all my love ones..... my dad is going to be 70 in April & I'm starting to panic at the idea my parents will leave me at some point :(

•  Be a better blogger.... the last few months have been so busy I haven't had time to leave comments or post as much as I would like

• Visit my friend in Lincoln....... I've been wanting to do this for years!

You see I'm not asking for much as I know the year will go so fast, if I can achieve this I'll be happy!

What do you wish for?????

Hope you're 2011 is one to remember :)

PS I know I haven't shared my Christmas gifts with you...... last week was so busy, damn work!! I will take photo's asap as I got a lovely new record player :)