THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Just returned from a super, but chilly trip to Bath but before I share with you a little of our journey, which I have decided to put in a separate post, I have one or two thank yous to give out.

First, thank you and hello to all my new followers.  I am so pleased to meet you and quite taken aback that you want to listen to my ramblings, but very pleased as well. I do check out all your blogs if there is a link to do so.

Secondly a very special thank you to Muddy Puddle Crafts for your kind words on your blog and for linking to me. Go have a look at her blog and the lovely things she makes. Her hand painted signs are great.

Finally and by no means least, I was lucky enough to win Vintage Vicki's giveaway, my first, and to say I was amazed when I opened her parcel today is an understatement.  I was just expecting my new dolly friend Amy but I also got a whole host of other goodies!

Super cup cake moulds, which I don't have, a Yankee candle, a cupcake coaster, pretty spotty buttons (can't wait to use these), a notebook, some decorative stickers, fabulous postcards ( I must find some frames to do them justice) and a super little floral dish.  So many lovely things. thank you Vicki so much.

I am in awe of all the lovely parcels that I have seen and received since I started this blog and so have decided that as soon as I reach 100 followers I will have my own giveaway.  I do hope that isn't too long away, but have started to gather and make my little presents anyway.  I am thinking of a fairy and toadstool theme. I have already needle felted a tiny toadstool pin cushion and started on a needle case, and I will be scouring my CBs and CS for interesting, hopefully vintage bits and bobs to go with them.  I also hand make fairies for the top of the Christmas tree, complete with embroidered wings, floral garlands in their hair and ballet shoes on their feet. I will make one of these and the winner can choose a colour scheme! Pictures of this at a later date.

Not a good photo of the work in progress but it is a bit late.

Anyway hope this stirs some interest and I'll be back to tell you all about Bath very soon

Night all

Jenny x

I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY

Hi there

I was just thinking about a conversation I had with my DD a few weeks ago before I started this blog. I was a bit apprehensive as I didn't feel that I would have much to say, ( I know, I know I haven't stopped talking since!!) but anyway she suggested I should just tell some of the stupid things that I have done and experienced as they always make my offspring curl up laughing ( whatever happened to respecting your parents) and this story was the first one which sprung to mind.

It goes like this..

Full time working mother, 2 teenage children , 1 grown up child ( husband). Usual lunchtime trying to do everything for everyone and make sure I'm not late back to work. List as long as my arm, most of it not for me.

So there I was busy rushing around Woolworths, yes the place I really miss for all those odd things you can't get anywhere else, basket in hand. Ten minutes later I am in Boots the Chemist,.... face filler, toothpaste, cotton buds, think thats everything.  Off to the checkout to pay.
The checkout operator looks, smiles, looks again and leans forward whispering. "I'm sorry madam but these aren't our products!"
O b****r! nestling at the bottom of the basket, WOOLIES basket are woolworths paper plates, pens etc.
I have wandered all round Woolworths gaily walked out of the shop, down the High Street and into Boots to continue shopping!!!

Talk about be still my beating heart, I think it skipped at least half a dozen beats. I don't think my employer HM government would have been too impressed if I had been had up for shoplifting!

I paid for my Boots purchases and then very quickly, trying not to draw attention to myself...

dashed back to Woolies and sauntered into the shop.

After checking that no 'secret shopper' was about to pounce on me I sidled up to the counter and handed over the remaining items in the basket.  The assistant smiled sweetly and said " Is that all madam", to which I replied " If only you knew".

Needless to say I avoided the high street for a day or two and am almost sure that I have not repeated the incident since!! ...but I have got my bus pass now and so who knows!!!

Have a lovely evening and do remember when they say please take a basket they don't mean to the next shop!!

Jenny x

I'M A WINNER !!

Just a very quick second post to say how delighted I am to hear that I have won Vintage Vicki's giveaway and Amy will be joining our mad clan shortly. Thank you Vicki for organising it.

Jenny x

WELL THATS OVER THEN!!

Evening all
Hope you have all had a good break whether its been busy or relaxed. It soon seems to go though no matter what you are doing.
We had a lovely Easter egg hunt on Sunday with our grandson, the first for many years as our offspring are so old! now.
 Mummy and daddy made him a sign...

It was difficult to get a good picture as the light was very bright

He carried his bucket down the garden and very seriously set about finding his eggs.

Some of the eggs were hidden a bit high, that Easter bunny certainly can jump! So he needed some adult assistance

Only to collect mind, not to eat!!

After a very filling Sunday lunch we all just chilled together watching some films, but later of course being a little peckish

We had to eat some of these..

And force ourselves to have some of these..

Followed , because of course eating hocolate is a thirsty business..

By copious amounts of this!!

Felt very sleepy later can't imagine why

Bye for now

Jenny x

PHEW...DONE AT LAST

Don't you just hate it when your 'customer service' is tested to the limit.  As I have said many times among other things I make personalised slippers and because I draw the designs myself, digitize them into machine embroidery and then make the slippers and a bag to send them in I advise my customers that I need 28 days to guarantee dispatch.  OK when I'm not busy It may only take a few days, but there's always something happens when you least expect it and so I cover myself.
Over 6 weeks ago  information about my slippers was delivered by hand to someone wanting to order some. My full details, Email, Phone number etc.were on the details.
So on Tuesday 30th march I received a phone call requesting a pair for Easter!!
I had one free evening this week and all my days were occupied so no sewing time.  I should have said no...but what do you do?
Anyway the point of this post is to say with much relief, they are done and ready to be picked up tomorrow...Good job they didn't need posting eh!!!

Slippers done (name blotted out)

Bag all ready

Ready to go...hooray!

Now my Easter begins

Hope yours is full of sunshine no matter what the weather.

TTFN

Jenny xx

SWAPS....THEY ARE THE BEST

Hello again
I didn't think I would have time to do another post before the weekend as I have slippers to finish for Easter, but I could not let my fab parcel which I received today from Vintage Girl as part of the Tilda swap organised by Faerie nuff go unrecognised.

I do hope she gets mine before Easter. It was posted earlier in the week.
Well yet again I am amazed at the wonderful generosity of you lovely bloggers.  Not only the actual contents of the parcels I have received but the time and patience making and putting them together.

The box arrives..and tucked inside beautifully wrapped is this cute bunny

I am sorry that I haven't caught her fab bonnet very well, but it is lovely

Then..

A bag of buttons, and Lisa has replicated the embroidery so well!

A trio of scented strawberries

A lovely patchwork heart again beautifully hand embroidered

A very pretty mug

The cutest candle in a cup, plus the saucer...

How pretty is that!

And inside was a lovely note from Lisa saying she had wanted to make more, but time and looking after a toddler defeated her.  Well I would have been mortified if she had as I think I am so lucky already.

Everything is beautiful Lisa and must have taken quite some time. I can't wait now to get my sewing room finished as I intend to have a dresser or display cupboard to show off all these wonderful things.  I daren't display too many of them about the house generally as I have a feeling some may go missing.  My daughter is so jealous .

Well I'd better get some shut eye so I can finish my order for tomorrow, luckily only finishing off to do.

Happy Easter everyone

Back soon

Jenny x

INCREDIBLE TALENT

Hi blogger friends

I said I would let you see the pictures of the amazing needlework on display at the NEC in Birmingham once I had extracted them from my friend's camera, so here goes..
First of all these are some snaps of the winner of a competition whose theme was 'the swinging sixties'...Aah does that bring back memories! The whole thing was in 3D and utterly amazing.

How incredible is the detailing on this. It must have taken hours of work.

The runner up....

There were several other exibitions and here are a few photos of work I found rather special.

And then there was this childs chair, unbelievable. Every stitch done by hand.  I'm sorry about the photo but it was very difficult to get near enough to take a good one.

                                    

Well after all that inspiration what is a girl to do but arm herself with stuff to create her own masterpieces!  so of course I had to have some of this..

And a few of these

and some of these to fasten tiny slippers

And what about these little appliques. Thought they would make great brooches or embellishments for cute beach bags!

                                   

And what do I need to go with the beach bag..the perfect summer dress..1950s styling perhaps with a cute little cardi...well I can dream. At least I have the fabric..

Now all I need is the time!

Think I'd better turn in now or I won't beat the dawn chorus

Back soon

Jenny x