Winter Tree

Book Reviews - David and Charles

2010-08-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

I recently got the opportunity to review four e-books from David and Charles...titles as follows :
How to Sew - Basics
How to Sew - Machine Sewing
How to Sew - Applique
How to Sew - Patchwork

I was quite excited about these because I love sewing and love reading about it, and I really wanted to love these ebooks. Unfortunately, I was not as impressed as I wanted to be !
Let me just state here that I am coming at this as a sewer who has been sewing for about 18 months, so while I am fairly confident with basics, I still have plenty to learn.

Lets start with the 'Basics' book. This really should have been combined with the 'Machine Sewing' book and made into one larger more comprehensive book. However, I digress, lets get back to 'Basic'

My first issue is that it doesn't show how to thread a sewing machine or wind a bobbin - which is as basic as it comes. Neither does it deal with selecting tension, stitch type, stitch length although it does deal with machine needles! (Now you might say...'oh but the Machine Sewing book will cover those'....nope!)

My next issue was that the section on fabric did not deal with the whole 'grain' issue - later in the book, cutting a pattern is advised with the grain, however I think the book could have benefited from an explanation of the grain, the warp, the weft, the bias etc. Bias binding does gets a chapter but I think an earlier short description of all of this would have been great.

Also, the zip section is not great - it's a little unclear in the section about inserting a visible zip - I know techniques differ but the one used would not be so easy for a beginner. Also, there were not enough photos or illustrations of the zip insertion.

I think this book is trying to do too much, it would have been really helpful to include more info on the zips, info on threading a machine, winding a bobbin, selecting tension and stitch length, edge stitching, seams, seam allowances, seam finishing, and it could have omitted the patchwork and quilting and the bias binding. Neither is the info on gluing fabric particularly relevant at this stage. Beginners need to know the mechanics of what they are doing (i.e. simply joining two pieces of fabric) the things needed to be considered for that (e.g. fabric, grain, bias) and the mechanism for doing it (seams, seam allowances, stitch length, tension). So I'm sorry to report, I am disappointed with this book.

Now I put aside my niggling disappointment and assumed that the 'Machine Sewing' book would deal with some of the omissions from 'Basic'...however it didn't. The info on the sewing machine covered types of presser foot (but didn't mention a button-hole foot) but did not deal with threading, bobbins, tension - the most basic of machine sewing considerations. It did deal with stitch types and seams, but not in as much detail as I would have liked. There were projects in this book - bag, cushion, window blind...nothing inspiring. I would have much preferred less space given to projects and more to how to actually operate the machine.

The next two books dealt with Applique and Patchwork, neither of which I have done yet....but have been meaning to get to both. To be honest, these did not inspire me to have a go. The techniques looked fine, but the projects were a bit uninspiring again - e.g. the patchwork quilt given as a project was a bit tacky - big shiny squares, a brocade backing with no quilt binding which looked mass produced - miles away from the fabulous handmade folksy creations that are adorning the blogsphere and sites like etsy and folksy. These last two books provided templates which was a plus though.

So, I'm really sorry David and Charles, I was a D&C virgin until now but had heard of your reputation for producing great craft books....boy was I disappointed in these ebooks. There was some useful information in them, but on the whole I found the glaring omissions and uninspiring projects just too distracting so any useful information was lost for me. Maybe some will say ' you can't include everything' and I agree but anything titled 'How to ...' is surely be aimed at beginners and should be pitched accordingly.

And don't get me started on the typos....!

beads

2010-04-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

I love sewing, jewellery making and card making, I really do, but for some reason of all the crafty things I love, jewellery making is what I am mad for at the moment. I got as far as getting my kit out and having a look at my beads, so I am getting there. I bought some lovely stuff from amazing beads recently, and Sue kindly enclosed a silver heart pendant as an extra gift with my order, and I am dying to do something with it, as well as with the turquoise and gold beads I bought from her.....at least I think I got them from her, I can usually recall where I got all my supplies but baby brain is playing havoc these days.........

I also got some long ear wires from her which have been very hard to find, so can't wait to make some more earrings. Have a few birthdays coming up so might try and make some gifts.

Anyway, the bottle-making calls so over and out for now.

time flies........

2010-04-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

OMG - the fun I could have with this blog if I had more time, just discovered this site which is rather cool! Lots of fun to be had changing layouts and adding buttons.
Still no crafting done - just no time after babs is fed, washing is done, bottles made, hoover dragged around, email checked, babs is fed, more washing is done...and so on. But I am SO not complaining ! How could I when I get to look at this every day.

I keep reading all these other blogs and seeing other creations, and I am getting very jealous of their organisation skills. Still, once babs is a bit older and needs less intense attention, I will have time to do a bit more. Of course, I could just let the washing slide............ :)

What I have learned in the past three weeks...

2010-02-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

...it doesn't matter how sore it is as long as the important people are ok

it doesn't matter how much dust there is in the sitting room, as long as the important people are ok

it doesn't matter if the garden is a mess, or the bed needs changing, or the washing needs doing,

All that matters is that the important people are ok.

An eventful few weeks....

2010-02-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

..which is why I am only logging in today and seeing that Millie nominated me ( me...me ?????) for a Kreative Blogger award - I mean really...how lovely...and I feel so undeserving because I have been awol such a lot...but with good reason over the last couple of weeks. Darn it, how do I publish the button for this too? HELP ............
Crikey, also, seven other blogs which I find creative and seven things you don't know about me....mmm..first things first - seven blogs that inspire me :
City of Blackbirds
Tree Fall
Twelve 22
Pink Penguin
Hazelnuts
Flossie Teacakes
onegirl

Seven things you might not know about me...
1 - I cannot figure out how to link back to the Kreative Blogger button (please tell me how.....)
2 - I am suffering badly from baby brain and cannot remember anything !
3 - I love banana and marmite sandwiches
4 - I LOVE fabric.....mmmm.....and sewing, but actually moreso fabric
5 - I dream of working part time as a crafter and writer
6 - I am a qualified trainer but hate public speaking - I can do it, but I hate it!
7 - Our beautiful baby boy Luke was born (3+ weeks early) 2 weeks ago so I am now head over heels in love with him and so have been again neglecting my blog despite my resolution to get back to regular blogging. Due to a dose of pre-eclampsia (mine!) he made his early appearance totally by surprise, one minute I'm at the Ob for a routine check, the next I'm being driven at high speed to the hospital by the midwife, chart in hand, being told that I need to be observed, and then a short time later, that I will be having this baby today by section!!! I think I'm still in shock....but he's perfect, and I'm recovering and all is well with the world.
blast... my laptop won't let me upload any pics for some reason, it didn't, then it worked, now it's gone crazy again - arrgghhhhh
item 8 - I am hopeless at technical matters

sunflowers and wasabi peas

2010-01-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Moan....whinge.....groan.....
I am so tired and my back is soooooo sore. And I love this baby so much and am so grateful he is on the way and only 5 weeks away from being cooked, but man I cannot wait until he is out safe and sound and I can have my midsection back - and my poor back can go back to not hurting any more!!
Am having a hankering to do some jewellery making and some sewing but the thought of trying to reach over the table to cut fabric or string beads is making me soooo tired!!

Today is freezing again and foggy too, although the light has started to look a tad more spring-like. I had to look through my sunflower photos in an effort to see some bright colours....and this one about to open is my favourite - taken at the end of the summer I think. Reminds me of our bubs, almost ready but not quite there yet!!

The evening is looking up - Beloved has just emptied dishwasher, put dinner on, handed me a glass of non-alco rose fizz and a dish of wasabi peas - yummm....and he is so good that I really should stop moaning !!! Life actually is very very good.

busy busy bee....

2010-01-18T05:42:00.000-08:00

I have only just come to terms with the fact that it's January.....and then I realise it's the 18th...and that means it's not that far away from February - crikey! Let's hope Feb is a little less icy than a lot of January was !

I have been busy actually, finished my training course, got my good marks (yippee!!), sewed lots of bags for Xmas presents, looked out at the snow and ice while afraid to leave the house in case of falls, and finally started to tidy and declutter so that bubs will have a room, and some space for his things. We're off to Ikea this weekend for a bookcase and a kitchen unit, so it's all go on project nesting.

I have also got lots of things to do - I've yet to make a tote bag for my beloved auntie who lives in Lewisham, which I have been meaning to do for her for months. She very kindly sent me some info and templates on Japanese patchwork, and I wanted to make her a small thank you bag, so must really get to that soon. Also packing the hospital bag at the moment, as well as trying to remember to do tax claims and all those boring jobs - and as for the cleaning of the house.......shudder.....it's a nightmare. So much so that when the decluttering is over, some of my Xmas money is being spent on getting in Ange (my domestic angel from when I had a job!!) to do a top to bottom clean - now that is my ideal present - a spotless house! Another present which I am getting tomorrow is a day at Seafield - yippeee - use of thermal suite, lunch, massage, facial, manicure and pedicure - BLISS.....and I cannot wait! Any longer and I won't be able to fit behind the steering wheel, so gotta go and be pampered soon, might be last one for a while. Can't wait - lucky, lucky me...

oooops.....

2009-11-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

oh dear.....it's been waaaaay too long since I've been on here. The summer just disappeared out from under me in a haze of exhaustion and nausea, and since I've been feeling better I've been distracted by a million things and haven't been taking pics or sewing etc. However, things are looking up, I've just recently gotten my sewing area upstairs all sorted out and have made a couple of bags over the last few weeks. Also even took a few pics and, more importantly got them uploaded from the camera onto here, so that is major progress. The course that I have been doing for the past 8 weeks is almost over - 2 weeks to go, and once it's over and the final assignments/project are completed, I will be home free to spend some 'me' time making and doing again - at least until late feb/early march when bubs will (please God!!) make an appearance and will stall all that, possibly for several years !!!!! Might as well try and get in as much 'me' time as possible then !

Sewed a nice bag for Bev - got the fabric in a tiny fabric shop in Dublin in June and it's VERY orla kiely so really love it. Have a little bit left but can't decide what to make as it's so lovely - just my cup of tea:)

Also sewed a nice bag for Keeva which I haven't sent her yet, eventhough her birthday was last week - bad sister in law I am. Must also snap it before I send it to her - love the fabric on that too, a blue patterned home dec one I got in New Ross months ago.

I think I may have a fabric addiction......is there such an organisation as fabricholics anonymous, coz I really need to join. Have a little shipment on way from USA at the mo....and I cannot WAIT !!!

OK, best finish now and try and get back into blogging gradually. Heading off tomorrow for my course - would much rather spend the day tinkering with the sewing machine but can't be helped!!

collar shmollar

2009-06-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

arrrrrggggggghhhhhh - collars and sleeves - head wrecking! We were all very subdued at sewing class last night due to trickiness of collars !! However will finish sleeves in next couple of days and then take some pics and give a proper update of our weekend and my continued adventures in creativity :) Must also try to regain positivity around my shirt and try and rise above collar induced gloom! Also, blinking Butterick pattern is hard to follow! Cannot wait until my Weekend Sewing order comes into my local bookshop so that I can spend my birthday book token on patterns that I can follow!!!!

news round up !

2009-06-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Haven't been on here in ages - having trouble accessing my email on the laptop, so have been using the home PC but I like to upload my pics onto my laptop rather than home PC so don't tend to blog from the home PC - no fun blogging without pics!

Have had a busy week. Wednesday (last week) was final apron sewing session - so it got all finished and looks good, but I didn't really enjoy it as much as other projects - probably coz it was fussy ! Still, pleats and ruffles and stitch in the ditch mastered all the same so worth it. That day also, the local paper printed the pic of us getting our certs for Level 1 sewing, and they wrote a little article so that was....ok I guess, but I wish I had known they were coming to take a pic, I would've made an effort :)

Last Saturday I had a fab birthday. Beloved got me a FAB Orla Kiely bag - love it, love it, love it, have never loved any bag as much....EVER ! Had the best bday - got to open all my lovely goodies from him and the family that morning, then got taken for morning tea - shame about the rain though, it was bouncing off the tables outside the cafe.

We went to Green Acres and had a lovely scone - my very fave ! Lunch was in the new Opera House Cafe with two good friends, who came with another pile of goodies, including a fab Cath Kidston bag, book vouchers AND fabric ! Bliss! We had a gorgeous lunch and a good natter - so nice. Below is a pic of me and my new bags - and yes, I do look that drained - not sure why - too much good living!

Then off to my sister for tea and her pressies and of course lovely home made cards from the kiddies. Then home for a quick spell and off out to dinner at La Dolce Vita - yum.... best Italian in the country they reckon - I agree! Such a prefect day, I felt so spoiled - it was the best ! At home, I got to have my fab carrot cake which was home baked by my Beloved - what a man - it was top notch !!

Sewing this wednesday just gone was more exciting - we started to use our very first proper pattern. The previous week we did the body measurements - that was harrowing because a size 12 in rtw equates apparently to a size 16-18 in pattern speak ....... we were all pretty horrified - it's just a number I know I know, but us ladies are very vain about those numbers ! Anyway, we had to cut out the correct size pattern at home (good tip from Ann, out tutor, iron it before cutting - such a good idea!) . In class we just learned a bit about markings and then cut out our fabric, fused a few bits and started shoulder and side seams, to be finished at home. I am using a fab deep blue - kind of petrol blue maybe, but the photo came out really badly so will have to try again once the shirt is made. I'm going to use bright bright pink buttons and topstitching - I like it to have some contrasting detail, so can't wait to get it done !

Otherwise this week, I did a couple of other creative bits, did some funky wrapping on some gifts, and made a necklace for my niece's teacher, made my sister a ring and myself a bracelet - both for our brother-in-law's 50th bash tomorrow night. I bought some gorgeous wooden purple and cerise beads which I had planned to use with a turquoise centre peice for the teacher's necklace, but it wasn't working so went with a more conservative design for her, and got to keep the wooden ones for myself - yippee! So I have a lovely chunky purple and pink braclet to go with my purple maxi dress - should look good. Beloved and I are going to stay out an additional night too - a late birthday treat, so that will be nice - a lovely night with all the family and a nice peaceful night to ourselves to recover!

Had my nephew's graduation today....he's 4 !!! They have a ceremony when they finish Montessori and seeing as my brother in law was stuck at work, I went to keep my sis company ...and because he's my godson and I love him to bits - such cuteness !
Oh, one more thing..my friend had a baby on Tuesday - great excitement - he is a sweeeeetie !!! She is a trooper, went three weeks early, a day into her maternity leave, was out gossiping with us at the weekend, into hosp tuesday morning at about 10am - 40 mins of hard pushing and baby pops out, no pain relief, whew - some people are so efficient !!!! Went to see them today - what a dotie !

PS - It appears that my fave word of the moment is FAB !!!! Everything was just FAB !

sunny monday

2009-06-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Monday already - love love love these long weekends. Had intended to be in bed ages ago but finally managed to get into flickr so had major uploading to do, so now my head is wrecked. On the plus side, caught up with some lovely family snaps from NZ so all good!

Had a lovely weekend here, dinner out on Friday night was good - but a bit sad because it was for a couple who are relocating to South Africa (which she calls home!). We have a lot in common with them, seeing as they also have an international thing going on, so it's a pity they won't be around any more. Plus, they are really nice, and she's really funny too - and poor Beloved will now be snowed under at work seeing as she is leaving (she's his boss!). Anyway, we had a nice dinner out and several drinkies, below is a pic of Nadine and I after the first cocktail but before the wine, while I still had my earrings in - always have to take the long ones out after a few drinks, no idea why :) Anyway, I digress.

Saturday's christening was lovely - weather was FAB so we sat out after the ceremony and the food and had a good chat with the Kiwis. Baby's daddy is from Taupo, and NZ Grandma and step-Grandad were over for it (altho' step-Grandad is actually Irish to add to the international flavour!!). Yesterday and today were pearlers, we went shopping for leaving presents for the South Africans and it was stinking hot, might have been just as well to be in the mall. Today we took it easy and went to Waterford for a drive - another stinker - but I am sooooooo not complaining! Also made use of the BBQ this weekend so that was good. Also managed to get time to sew a bag for Nadine to take back to SA, the before and after are below. Love that pattern, it's the Amy Butler one from Saints and Pinners and well worth buying as it's really easy and looks really good when done. The fabric I used for Nadine's bag is a Cath Kidston which I loved. Also loving the willow pattern type fabric I got which I have made a zipped pouch from so far - just for practice with setting the zip between outer and lining - turned out ok, needs more practice though!

Otherwise, no news to report, did my fancy shmancy apron bits and pieces for class, was pleased with my stitching in the ditch between the placket and the pleats (invisible...go on, bet u can't spot it...but that's because I took the photo so it would be hidden in the shadow - but seriously, it is not too bad!) . My edge stitching has come along too - much straighter nowadays ...well, most of the time :)
We finish it this week in class, and then we are taking our measurements and making a 'blouse' - now I tend to be a 'shirt' and not a 'blouse' person, so not sure how this will all pan out, but looking forward to getting the hang of buttonholes and collars etc, so it will be useful to have a go anyway! I have been eating solidly for the past 6 months though, so not sure how I will cope when faced with my measurements. Hence went for a mad walk this morning - methinks it may be too late to undo the damage in time for wednesday's class though!

The garden is looking good - the rhodos are blooming, and the blackcurrants are also looking good - still green - but they won't stay like that ! Wonder if I'll have enough for a pot of jam - now that is a taste of my childhood - my mum always made blackcurrant jam and many summer evenings were spent picking them, or else running my finger through saucers of jam to check for setting -yum yum yum. Nice to have the deck this summer to enjoy the garden a bit more and to have space for eating outside and bbq-ing.

Oooh - I won a little item in the SMS giveaway, on ningiu - delighted as I never win anything!!! Had a great time reading all the blogs that were involved - so many stitchers and knitters and crafters out there. Today I met a lady in Tk Maxx who is into scrapbooking, we were bemoaning the fact that craft supplies are hard to come by in our area. I did manage to buy a Fiskars applique kit in Tk Maxx though - for only €12 which for Fiskars is pretty good - it had cutters, templates, spare blades, fusing and a mat - so not bad.

No Artists Way at all this week - Keeva will kill me! I did morning pages a few days and did some sewing, but no proper Artists Date - however will have one this week as I'm going to Dublin to meet a friend so I'll go early and cruise some fabric and craft shops - just to look, but that counts !
OMG - it's nearly midnight and I have to get up early and do heaps tomorrow. Over and Out !

warp speed

2009-05-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

OK, this is not even funny.....HOW is it Saturday again ? It's been a week since I last posted here because the days have gone by at warp speed...yikes. Off to a Christening shortly, was out last night for a farewell dinner for an ex colleague, have a bag to finish for said 'ex colleague' so it's all go, however will honestly upload some pics and post later on. Oh, another reason why I was busy this week ..... Sew Mama Sew hosted a big giveaway (well, 3 giveaways if you break it down by category!) so I discovered a million (ok, maybe not quite a full million) cool and creative blogs, all of which required reading back through, and all of which were offering goodies, so I had to enter some of those - fingers crossed. I didn't even think of giving anything away as I didn't think I was an experienced enough crafter, but I came across some small scale blogs who like me craft and blog for the fun of it, and they took part, so I think I will do likewise next time - nothing like a little bit of pressure to get you making :). Ok, gotta take a couple of paracetamol (that new Pear cider is very tasty...) and iron my linen trousers, wrap a Christening gift, write a card, shower, do hair......arrrrrggggghhhhh...I'm late.........

fabric, friday , and faffing !!

2009-05-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it is Friday again - and it's been almost a week since I posted here, the days just seem to whizz by if I turn my back. I have been making a consistent effort to spend less time faffing around on the web, and a lot more time DOING stuff, so I have almost been too successful in that I haven't posted anything all week! Sewing class on Wednesday was good, we have started our fancy apron (!!) and this week's homework was to do the tedious seam finishing which is fine. I think my zig zag stitching is a bit far in though, but the seam allowances are generous so it shouldn't make too much of a difference!

Had a nice couple of days, met a friend for lunch yesterday and had two friends over for morning tea this morning, one of whom is just finished radiation treatment and chemo after having breast cancer. She has been in great form, but told us today that there is another tumour, this time near her ovary so she is looking at starting all over again - can't believe that life is so random and so bloody unfair at times. When you look at all the bad things people do and seem to get away with, and then you see good people being given what sometimes becomes a death sentence and you really have to wonder what it's all about. I'm gutted for her. She did give me a good tip about a nearby fabric shop that I didn't know, so I went there after she'd left and got two nice fabrics at a good price - for bags I think. One is like a willow pattern plate type thing that is so twee that it's funky, and the other one is just blue check but a really nice mix of large blocks, so I think they will each look good contrasted with some other fabrics that I have in mind.....tick tick tick. So I will make my friend something nice and send it to her as proofI take her good shopping advice! I have been finding that I am really frustrated re the lack of nice fabric to buy locally, and am not enjoying making my apron as much because I don't like the fabric - it's grand, but a bit blah - however I am enthused again after today's buys, so that is all good.

Busy week ahead, going to see my parents at the weekend as I have an Aunt from London over for a couple of weeks, so will go and catch up with her. Also meeting up with some friends tomorrow who are moving abroad, and then going to a Christening next weekend - it's all go. I have done some more work this week on organising my crafty bits and pieces and my craft space so now I am much tidier. Also have been trying to get back to the Artists Way as I went off the rails for a couple of weeks and didn't get in my Artists Dates etc. Today I fininshed off one exercise for the AW which was really fun - it was to create a collage of things that you like/have liked/want to do in future/things that represent you - it was a lot of fun and involved tearing magazines and glue - hee hee - back to childhood! I also bought some paints this week for future AW fun stuff - good old Lidl had an arty specials week - love that place !

Rightio, I HAVE to log onto flickr now and upload some family pics that I have been meaning to do for ages - that is the problem with this new resolution of mine re reduction of internet faffing time - when I do get down to it, I have a big list of things to do and end up with sore eyes and RSI from frantic clicking - maybe I should go back to more regular net-faffing......

FORE.........

2009-05-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

It's a nice may saturday evening, birds chirping etc, but as I look out at our mediterranean blue wall and lovely green fruit trees, the wind is HAMMERING all the plants and .. oh, I have just seen a few hailstones, and I think that is rain about to start...this is soooooo depressing! After a lovely start to the week, so nice I wore a dress on Monday, it took a turn for the worst on Wednesday and has been crappy since. Sewing class on Wednesday was good - we did pleats - who knew there were so many types, ..knife, box, inverted and two directional, I'm sure there are a few more too that the ladies weren't brave enough to show us ! We also did French seams so all of that was pretty good. We got presented with the certs of achievement from our last course and a photographer from the local paper called in to take a pic, so we might make it in this week - fame at last !! Next project is an apron - but a one with fancy trim and pleated pockets - hmmm... to be honest I am a bit skeptical about it, but I shall reserve judgement and enjoy making it and see how it turns out - I am of the simple apron school of thought ! I got some nice green fabric for it - a remnant from the local home furninshings shop, and it was fairly reasonably priced. I went to my usual shop and the only suitable fabric was a migraine inducing gingham that was hideous. I am not anti-gingham but this one was dreadful - and they were charging €15.95 pm for it - I actually felt my jaw drop when I heard the price of it - think I may have offended the sales lady but what the hell. I might use some of my leftover cushioncover fabric for the pocket just to make it more interesting. I am finding it soooooo hard to get funky fabric that I like - it's either ebay, or shops like S&P which are really great, but I would just prefer to be able to touch it before buying :( It's at times like this I wished I lived in somewhere like London or NY for the super fabric buying it would allow. Ah well, never mind, I will keep internet shopping I guess, at least I will spend less that way!

Yesterday Beloved and I went north of Dublin to the Irish Open Golf, held in Baltray which is a lovely little place near Drogheda. The weather was drizzly and cool but it was ok, I had a nice day in fact. We got kinda lucky actually - the car parks ended up being flooded so they were sending us off to some retail park to be shuttled by bus to the course, but then we met a nice Garda who advised us to park in a mall and get a taxi to the golf which she reckoned would be much faster. So we took her advice and were just leaving the car park and heading for a nearby hotel for a taxi when we came into the line of sight of the hotel shuttle bus driver who told us to hop in - turns out he was taking some of the PLAYERS and other important looking people to the course!! So we did, and I got to sit next to Colin Montgomery !!!! Now, I am not a huge golf fan, but having lived with my Beloved for almost 10 years, I have gotten to know a lot about golf. (And rugby!!) And golfers. So I was very impressed. I didn't ask him for an autograpgh - hate that kind of thing, but we exchanged pleasantries and he seemed like a really nice chap! AND, our shuttle had a pass to get through the security barriers so we were delivered right at the course. Cool ! We had a really nice day, saw all the big guns, got some sunshine and had a nice walk, and then were delivered back to our car by the returning hotel shuttle. The drivers were so nice - I think they realised we weren't hotel guests but they probably didn't mind two extra when they weren't full anyway. We got back to our car around 6pm, changed out of the muddy trousers (well prepared for once!) and hit the road home full of the chats about the golf!! We even stopped for a frappucino on the way home too - my favourite treat - all in all a pretty good day !

Rightio, best go and eat, and then head off for a bath. Superdrug were selling my fave Original Source bath stuff today for €1.25 per bottle - so cheap they must have made a mistake - so I stocked up big style ! Memo to self : have more baths - much more relaxing than showers !

I'm loving this.......

2009-05-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

all the things you can find in blogland....
Milk Weed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

and it's only tuesday..

2009-05-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is freaky - it's almost the middle of May - what the? Time is marching on rapidly, I may even have to start looking for a job soon....ah, might as wait until after the summer at this stage! Had a lovely weekend away in Galway for my niece Kate's Confirmation - the ceremony was quick (always important in church matters!) and really relaxed with lots of chatter - times have certainly changed. We had a nice family meal courtesy of the talented masterchef that is my brother in law - yummmm...and a lovely dessert from my Beloved - fruit, nut and chocolate cake - OMG, it is so fab that once I know it's in the house, I can't stop thinking about it .... must post the recipe some day in fact !

This week has been busy so far, all two days of it, what with laundry, cleaning, painting the drawer unit that came with my new desk, discovering a leak in the shower (don't ask) , minding nephews and niece, running errands and general household stuff. Tomorrow being Wednesday will be a nice day as it ends with sewing class, followed by The Apprentice on BBC1 followed by........drum roll......the new series of flight of the conchords which is probably miles behind NZ but we are excited nonetheless!!

No sewing done this week so far, and no Artists Way work, no Artists Date...etc etc....honestly, I don't have a minute..anyone would think I had a job !!

Took some nice pics at my mam and dad's place on friday evening just after a rain shower...me and rain again - love it in photos, but luckily we haven't seen any since friday - yippeeee ! Love the colours in the pics below - am in a real purple phase right now, can't get enough of it.

isn't it so good to know..

2009-05-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

....that good customer service is alive and well! This week I got lots of goodies in the post - jewellery from NZ (thank you Gill!) , my rotary cutter from the US which I bought through ebay only last week, and a beautifully wrapped parcel from Saints & Pinners, complete with a nice handwritten note from Fran telling me to enjoy making my pattern and let her know if I needed any help! Now really, you just don't get that sort of service any more - well not from the shops around here! And when I did shoot her a quick mail to query something, she was straight back too ! Not only that, but she also made up the bag in the same fabric (an Amy Butler one) that I chose and it looked so good on the website that I had to make mine up immediately! I originally bought the fabric with something else in mind but went for the bag in the end. I had planned to use another Amy Butler one as the reversible lining but then when I was cutting it out, my sister popped over and once she heard the bag was for her she picked a totally different one which I would never have paired with the first one. But the customer is always right so I went ahead and I really like the finished article because the fabrics are so different - I think it just works, it's really bright and fun. The straps are supposed to be pleated and show the opposite fabric by the way :) It was really easy to make although I did have a tension issue with my lining fabric which is very fine so I had to re-do the lining, however I read somewhere that the secret of sewing is to befriend your seam-ripper, so with gritted teeth I did just that ... ripped it apart and started again. Second time was a breeze with the correct tension! I also discovered a nice technique for a practically invisible hand-stitch which I used for the opening and to reinforce the corners a bit - and that was really helpful. Apparently it's used for embroidery and is called a ladder stitch - never heard of it, I now call it the 'castle wall' stitch after a good analogy that was used by the person who wrote the tutorial on it! I took some pics of my newly made bag, including my ladder stitched bit, but the light is not great - not having any luck with my photos this week, they have all come out very average - might need to get my camera manual out.

I also had my sewing class assessment this week and did really well, we didn't get a percentage grade but we got a breakdown of how we did in all parts of the assessment from knowing all the equipment to our actual basic skills which we had to demo through making the famous cushion cover, which in the end was a breeze for me so I think I'm getting the hang of it all ok. Next week we are moving on to more advanced things now that the basic course is over - like tucks and pleats - oooh - the excitement :)

Just looking out into the back garden and the sun is blazing and it looks fab - little would anyone think that 15 mins ago there was a thunder shower complete with torrential hail that was so scary I turned off the computer in case the lightening caused a power cut - although I don't think that happens any more - when I was young I always recall the power going when there was lightening!
Anyway, I digress, I am off to pack for my weekend now...pray that the white linen trousers will still close.....

out of synch ..monday or tuesday ?

2009-05-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

It's tuesday but it's monday in my world so I'm all disorientated!! Yesterday was a bank holiday so I'll be out of synch all week. Had a nice day today though, despite having to fit in an appointment with the cleaning products ... housework - hate it. First of all my shoes are famous !!! Then I got a nice parcel in the post today from gwen who sells on ebay. I got some nice Amy Butler fabric, a Kokka one and two others that caught my eye on ebay. I think my fave is the Kokka one which reminds me a lot of Orla Kiely's patterns. It needs an iron though :)

Yesterday I sewed a pencil pouch which I used a button to fasten rather than a zip, just cause I was feeling a bit lazy and did it all in a hurry - hence my lining isn't perfectly fitting but it will do as a prototype. The outer fabric and the loop are Amy Butler, the inner fabric is one I got from a lovely quilting shop called The Crafty Pear in Pahiatua, N.Z. when we were over at Xmas. Reminds me, I must have a scout around some NZ crafty blogs and check those out (mental note to self).

Today also I worked on my 'space' on the landing so freshly painted desk is in situ - still have to move a few more bits around but it's coming together. I don't want to call it an office because that would make it too serious, so not sure what to call it yet! I have a folding chair for now but will need to get a better one I think, however this one should do for now.

Last official sewing class tomorrow night, I shall have to do some revision for my 'exam' tomorrow (let's hope I remember how to do the zip and don't end up having to unpick a million stitches) - but the good news is that another class is starting next week, so effectively class is continuing for another 8 weeks, the ladies who run it had hoped to do so if enough were interested, so they have the numbers so my wednesday night 'me-time' is good for another while yet - yippee! Apparently we will focus on pattern reading for a week or two, and then can go ahead with our own projects after that which would be great.

STILL did not get an Artist's Date done all weekend, and probably won't this week either - very bad, will have to get my A into G and decide what to do and do it asap, won't make the most out of the programme if I don't do all the bits and pieces. I will see my arty sister in law at the weekend though, she might give me a kick up the rear and inspire me to get on with it and put in more effort. We are going to Galway for my niece's Confirmation on Friday so that should be a nice get together and family meal. I am her godmother so I have to do something at the ceremony ...she doesn't know what exactly yet, methinks she is more interested in the party, the presents and the craic rather than the ceremony - phew..that makes two of us then :)

Right, I am off to have a cuppa and hit the leaba early...might see if I will have another of my Beloved's yummy Afghans with my cuppa - best biscuits ever...but what are they called Afghans? I get Anzac biscuits, but Afghans ?

Oh, one thing that is definitely coming from the Artist's Way, I have definitely found my own style re clothes etc - always struggled a bit recently to figure out what exactly was 'me' but I think I know now - wore my new new shoes (as in the newest of my 2 pairs of new shoes) today - soooooooooo comfy (Crocs!), pumps, purple and .... SO ME !!

fan-daby-dosey friday

2009-05-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I summoned the energy today to upload some pics including the 'before' and 'after' of my sewing class bag! My mother would be so proud, I managed to perfectly match the stripes - even now I cannot buy a garment unless the pattern matches perfectly at the seams - I know, I know.... no wonder I have prefectionist tendencies !!

Happy with my two bags that I've made so far, the second one is a really simple tote but I like to use contrasting fabric for either side so it works well to use a different FQ for each side. A total contrast to the matching pattern matter!!

The bag pattern is just the right size for one side and a handle per FQ. You can't really see from the pics, but it's one bag with two totally different sides!

I didn't get to my next sewing project today as planned but I did get my new desk painted with it's first coat so that was something. Have had a lingering stuffed nose for a couple of days and it was accompanied today with a sinus headache so looks like another bout of sinusitis is on the way ! However, took a berocca and hoped for the best - I am far too busy to be sick!!

I found a gorgeous on-line fabric shop recently, through a slightly circuitous route (love that word, had to spell-check it though !) : Long story so stay with me - I once discovered a blog called Twelve22 when I was googling something or other. Lovely blog - great photos. Via that, I discovered Tree Fall written by a lady called Manda who used to edit a magazine I once read. Another lovely blog, very inspiring. On that blog, I discovered another blog by a lady called Karen who runs Blueberry Park, a fab on-line shop carrying lots of goodies. Karen posted about this on-line store called Saints & Pinners run by a lady and her mother-in-law : I mean really, could they have come up with a better name for a fabric shop?!! So, lured by Karen's nice post, I clicked into S&P and it is looooovely ! The postal rates are reasonable to Ireland which makes a change, and they have a nice selection of groovy fabrics. I saw a nice Amy Butler pattern for a bag and emailed the shop to ask what level it would be for - so they told me they would have a look and come back to me - yeah right, I thought, heard that before. Lo and behold a couple of days later an email came winging back to me to say it looked fine for beginners. To be honest, I reckoned it would be but didn't want to find it was awfully convoluted once it arrived. So following such good service, I hot-footed back and bought the pattern and some fabric, so really looking forward to getting all that! Also bought some groovy fabric on ebay and a new rotary cutter from another ebay store, so lots of goodies en route to me. Also due some jewellery components from NZ, busy time for my postie coming up !

This weekend is a bank holiday here, so really looking forward to a lazy one - hope to finish my desk and get my sewing machine and 'stuff' up there and out of my Beloved's way - we really need a bigger house - damn property market crash ! Also I need to get in a proper Artist's Date, today I took my sketch book out but didn't do much aside from doodle bags (obsessed!) so not really an AD. Can't think what I want to do for one, that seems to be the problem. Hoping for inspiration over the weekend.

Beloved is baking a cake as I type - lemon drizzle - yummmm. I have to go to my niece's confirmation next week and if I keep eating I won't be able to get into my outfit - argh !!!

anyway, cake ahoy and now it's time to watch 'Brothers & Sisters' on Sky+ : my abso fave programme !!!

sew tired

2009-04-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

I think I have a disease - what do you call an obsession with sewing ?!!! Finished my bag at class on wednesday, made another one today using Amy Butler and Heather Bailey fabrics, but too tired to even upload pics - will do a proper post tomorrow ! Can't stop my brain from working out patterns, fabrics to put together etc etc ...is this normal ?!!!!! I couldn't get to sleep for hours last night, my head was so full of crafty bits.
Have been very good recording my AW notes too, so the week is shaping up well despite a late start. more tomorrow !

feels like monday, but it's tuesday - yipee!

2009-04-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Such a lovely long weekend! On Saturday, my friend and I took another friend out for afternoon tea to celebrate her 40th birthday. We went to a swanky local 'destination spa' (I mean really... far from "destination spas" we were reared as they'd say !) It was soooooo relaxing, we arrived at 3pm, and had tea in the 'drawing room' - 'tea' consisted of a platter each of varying delicious sandwiches, and another tiered platter each of little scones and cakes. Added to that was a huge silver pot each of our choice of tea from their long list, and cue three and a half hours of chats, giggling at people in bathrobes, and sixteen trips to the loo after all the tea !! It was so lovely, we often connect up for lunch during the week, but the demands of getting back to work are always pressing (for the girls, not me!) so we never get to just sit and talk without clockwatching. I think the lady at the next table was itching to join in at one stage as we were discussing the merits of Grey's Anatomy Vs Brothers & Sisters - I don't think her hubby was a fan of either!

Sunday, Beloved and I headed off again for a night away in another swanky place, which we visited a few weeks ago - we loved it so much we had to go back. We spent half of Sunday and Monday morning in the outdoor pool which was heated like a really warm bath - bliss. We were both poached after it all. There are aspects of this recession that I am enjoying - all of the swanky places are now charging realistic prices for their services - about blinking time!

So I didn't do much sewing or creating over the weekend, but I did bring my camera and took some snaps of the rain - don't know why, but I love snapping the rain, and I also took a couple of pics today around the house and garden, so still carrying the camera everywhere, which has it's drawbacks when it means I have to wrestle it from the mitts of my little nephew who loves anthing with lights and buttons ....

The Artists Way Week 6 is a challenge this week - JC instructs that one should in the morning pages, describe the God you believe in, as well as the one you would like to believe it ......crikey ! a bit on the deep side, especially for those of us (i.e. ME!!) that don't quite know what I believe in - a challenge methinks. Also, this week deals with attitude to money and so for the week asks you to write down how you spend it, no judgement, just as an exercise in information - hmmmm - should be fun ! No AD planned yet, thinking of a few things so will see how it all pans out.

photos for Bev...

2009-04-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

my m/i/l was asking for some pics of our tulips...so several are attached, as well as muesli and patchwork !!

sleepy

2009-04-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Such a disorganised day. Woke up still wrecked at almost 10am - that's TEN am - that is a record for me unless I'm sick with flu ! The rain had started in and it was grey and misty so I'm blaming the lack of sunshine for my late wake up! Was in such shock that I totally forgot to do my morning pages - completely, totally and fully forgot them. Argh. However I did do a little patchwork experimenting, did the laundry, met my sister for lunch, cooked dinner, took some pics during brief interlude from rain AND organised my 'area' as I keep calling it to Beloved's sniggers - so it was not an unproductive day. Delighted with my 'area' - purposely trying to avoid calling it a office, because although it has a desk and bookshelves, it also has an armchair and will soon have my 'make and do' bits as a friend refers to them as - so it's a space to create and not an office! I will have to find a new name though....'area' sounds like it's anatomical !!! My 'space' maybe - or is that too touchy-feely?!
It's funny how much you can fit into a small space, it's just an alcove on the landing but our landing is quite big so it really makes the most of all the wasted space, and somehow I have managed to fit a desk and drawer unit into a space that already held an armchair and bookshelves (and still does!) yet there doesn't seem to be any more room taken up - I will assume that I am just making better use of space - clever me! And, I will still be able to cozy up on the armchair to read up there, for a while I was afraid I would have to choose between an armchair and desk chair - but no, I have both - yippee!
Am too lazy to even take out my laptop to upload pics, so will do that over weekend - the rainsoaked tulips will have to wait for their internet debut.

Spring!

2009-04-23T12:30:00.001-07:00

I LOVE sewing. I don't even know why I love it, because I am not a whizz at it, and I always end up having to unpick something along the way..but I love it. I love looking at and touching hand made fabric goodies, love thinking about and sketching what I would like to make, love looking at sewing books and funky creative people's blogs. Love it all. Last night was great to get back to class, we cut out the bag pattern, fused it, sewed on the ribbon which will make it gather and tie, and cut and sewed the lining. All good so far. The fabric is a nice blue striped summery one, and I managed to stitch it exactly with the stripes lined up so am rather happy about that - now I am looking forward to getting it all finished next week. Not sure re the ties, if it was up to me, I probably wouldn't have those, but we'll see how it looks when it's done. I think I also prefer more plain fabric with the detail and colour added afterwards, but it's good to try something different from your usual preferences at times. Also ordered a couple of sewing books on-line, they should arrive next week - it's all go! My new desk has also been put together so once it's painted, I will be able to get all my make and do bits in one place and retreat when the notion takes me. Yip yip yipeee.

Today was a gloomy rainy day, however, despite the rain and in the midst of the gloom, there was an unmistakable spring-ness in the air, AND the birds were twittering all day long. (They're the only ones twittering round here, haven't got to grips with that yet !) So at least, rain and all, we are heading in the right direction.

a sew sew day...

2009-04-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Sewing class resumes tonight - so excited !! I have had a 2 week break over Easter, and only realised today how much I have missed it. It's so nice to switch off for a couple of hours and have total 'me' time. I'm lucky in that I get plenty of time to myself these days due to not working at the moment, but there is always an errand to run or a chore to do, so all that time 'off' doesn't really translate into much 'me' time despite what people would assume. My Artist's Dates and my sewing class are about it. This week I might make tonight's class into my AD, kill two birds with one stone so to speak. I am continuing to keep the abundance thing in mind and look for the opportunity that arises, today I got a letter from the local arts centre advertising their upcoming events, it was funny because it had been in my mind for a while to call in and see if they were still looking for volunteers, might be a good way to keep myself in the local arty loop. I have also bought some new supplies from NZ, for jewellery making, so looking forward to when those arrive. That was another case of taking up what came my way - my sister in law told me about some cool necklaces she had seen that were a new (ish) arrival, so I decided to have a go myself - can't see them over here yet so might be a good chance to sell some.

Weather not so great today. Yesterday I went to the beach after lunch and it was FAB - but today the sun is refusing to come out and play. There is a greyish tint to the day - very...blah! Ah well, best go and wind my bobbin - bag making tonight.....

monday miscellany

2009-04-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Another Monday, another week closer to summer! Today was fab - actually hot. After a busy morning of cleaning, hoovering, grocery shopping, book shelf buying and tomato roasting (for dinner!) I spent a couple of happy hours on the deck sunning myself and letter writing. Also managed to finally wrap up week 4 of the Artist's Way, so am finally onto week 5 in which Julia C suggests opening up to abundance and the opportunity that presents itself. The way she tells it, it makes sense, and is basically the Law of Attraction in another guise. I am not sure if I believe that you can manifest anything, but I certainly believe that you can have an impact on what happens through a positive attitude, and through working towards what you want. As JC would say - pray to catch the bus, but run like hell - you gotta put in as much as you expect to get !

Feel much more energetic over last couple of days - full of ideas for artist's dates and for projects - also finding that I have a compulsion to sketch all my ideas for jewellery or other things. STILL not paying enough attention to the writing though - but not sure if that is avoidance/procrastination or whether it's just that other things are coming to the fore.

Made great progress over weekend with sanding the press doors in the kitchen, on the way towards painting them and getting them back up. Also sanded my desk - well, the pieces of it, and hopefully it might get put together this week, and I can then paint it etc. Afraid to paint first in case I end up getting paint in some groove or other that causes hassle - think it will be easier to paint it once it's together - can't wait !

Took a few pics today - more garden ones and a couple of my new and funky dusters!

where is my artist gone ?

2009-04-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it's another Friday ! These weeks are flying by, April is already on it's last legs and May is beckoning - last time I looked, it was February! Today was such a lovely day - met a friend for a lovely lazy Italian lunch, where we put the world to rights over pasta and tiramisu - yum. I was more in an Artist's Way frame of mind today, although I still didn't turn up at the page. I did however procrastinate productively in that I took out a couple of creative books from the local bibliotheque AND bought a lovely new toolbox for my jewellery making supplies - so I had a happy hour sorting my supplies and rediscovering what I have. Also I bought a new tote bag for my card making stash - at the moment bag and stash are elegantly reposing in front of me by the coffee table awaiting their turn at the sorting office. So, no Artists Date this week either, so I am still on Week 4 - but I re-read that chapter last night, and apparently being 'stuck' at this stage is normal, so I will accept my procrastination as part of the process and go from there. I did manage to take some pics in our garden over the last couple of days though, and uploaded them this evening, and I'm happy with a couple of them, so at least that is something creative. One in particular I really like, it's of the apple blossoms on our very precious apple tree. I am also finding my mind is overflowing with ideas for Artist's Dates and fun projects for my inner artist's play dates - so next week is looking like fun already. Plus sewing class resumes next week, and I am really looking forward to that.

Just had an awfult thought - what if my inner artist just isn't in there ???? What if I am WRONG in thinking I am creative and that I can develop that into something ?? What then ? Where do I go then - back to the drawing board ? Over the nearest bridge ? ARGHHHHHH.....

The WonderWeb

2009-04-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am always learning in this life. Every day I end up finding out something new about something because I am by nature a 'curious George'. However, I have only recently learned about aggregators! I know, very remiss of me but in my defence, unless you blog and/or follow blogs, you just don't need to know about them. I enjoy blogs because I see them as a slice of life, and because basically they are just on-line magazines. So I have been following a few crafty blogs for a while, stumbling upon them while googling various topics relating to crafting, and one of the ones I like is by Heather Bailey .... and it was she that opened my eyes to aggregators.
I didn't know (stupid of me perchance?) that a tool existed that could allow me to save a list all of my favourite blogs and be notified of new posts. Heather Bailey talked about Bloglines which I flirted with, but seeing as I had already set up my own blog with Blogger, Google Reader works better for me because along with Blogger, it's part of the global domination that is Google. (Yes, I too object in principal to Google and tried for years to use alternative engines but dammit Google is just better and always finds what I'm looking for faster - so I gave in.)
Reader is so handy - allows you to save a list, choose how you see updates, upload the list to your own blog for others to see, flag and/or share items of interest - it is bloody marvellous ! I'm sure other aggregators are as fab/more fab, but Reader is as fancy as I need, and in fact I'm sure I'm not making the most of it at all.

I wonder if you can tell much about people from the blogs they follow? I am a people watcher of the highest order so when I find a blog I love seeing who that blogger is following or who is following them - the whole Internet community is amazing. I live in a medium sized town, which is well equipped with arty crafty places and arty crafty reading material, but there is no way I would have come across some of those amazing creative people without the Internet - so as a result I am following a whole pile of blogs written by people whose creativity inspires me for various reasons - mostly women too funnily enough, just twigged that now. If I compare my blog subscriptions and the list of books on my bookshelf, would there be much crossover?

Some - but funnily enough, the two are quite different - you can't beat books for so many reasons, but the Internet as a reading medium works better for some subjects - I think anyway !

P.S. AW not going very well this week again - what is that all about ?!!

Nothing to do, all day to do it.

2009-04-13T09:30:00.001-07:00

I LOVE Easter! The fact of having four lovely days off is almost too good to be true, and it's not cold and dark like Christmas or frantic with foreign airports like a summer holiday - it's just a lovely bonus smack-bang in the middle of spring. We spent the last three days with family so today is our day totally - nothing to do, all day to do it, and the fact that it's a miserable rainy day is actually a bonus because you can't feel bad about being lazy when it's pouring down! Bad thing about the rain and wind though is that it is battering all our lovely spring flowers.

The Artist's Way got a little neglected this past week as I didn't do an Artist's Date, or any exercises from the book - oops. Also, I TOTALLY cheated on the reading deprivation and read all around me from Friday onwards. So, this week, I am going to repeat week 4 and try again. And if necessary I'll keep repeating it until I do it ! On the plus though, I took photos each day and I made jewellery for my niece, although it was a bit bling for my liking - still she loved it and the client is always right! I caught up with my arty sister in law this weekend as well and always feel inspired after seeing her, she has a lovely energy and every space that she lives in always has a lovely feel to it. She had been in her new house for four days but already had beautiful handcrafted goodies on the walls and has created a really homely feel - some people just have the touch I guess. I have to take a leaf out of her book and get on with changing our kitchen and doing up my little 'office' - wish the rain would stop so I can get the sander out and sand all the press doors and new desk.

The AW this week (week 4) asks you to write an Artists Prayer which got me thinking about God. The AW is quite tuned into the divinity of creativity and mentions God a lot. I definitely think there is a God, but I am not sure about putting too much in God's hands - to me, I have to take responsibility for my actions and my goals. I definitely think that things happen for a reason at times, and maybe that is God pulling strings, but my God helps those who help themselves - if you want something, you have to surely invest some effort and action in it, rather than just sit back and expect God to send it along - I think Julia Cameron would agree with me on that. Anyway, enough theology, I'm starving and off for an easy tea of eggs and toast - yummm....

Rain !

2009-04-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

A quiet day today on the creativity front. We're staying with my sister and her family tonight in Galway, so it's been great to catch up with the kids and hear all the news. I took a couple of pics en route, but that was as much as I did !
It has been raining on and off all day - got the attached snap in Limerick - gloomy eh ? I like the gloomy shots though for some reason - not that I am a gloomy person or anything - honest !

A good day ...

2009-04-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

Life is good for us - it really is. Today is another wet, windy gloomy day in Wexford. The country is in the grips of an economic meltdown, the weather is miserable beyond belief...however, it is a Thursday, the eve of the longest weekend of the year and four long glorious free days stretch ahead of us. Beloved and I are warm and toasty in front of the fire, we've had a yummy comfort food dinner (lets just say it included mashed potatoes !) and we're parked in front of the golf with a bottle of red wine. So what if golf is the most boring sport man invented, so what if I can barely see the blinkin' ball flying around the screen - we're together and we're well, happy, and full! So many people are whinging about this recession and the fact that they can't buy a new car or sell their house for four times it's value - have these people really lost the run of themselves so much that they just don't know what matters anymore ? Today in Donegal there is a book of condolence being signed for a 29 year old garda who was pinned to a wall by a stolen car two weeks ago, and who died yesterday. In Italy there are people who have lost children, parents, siblings, lovers, friends, houses, villages and everything they own in an earthquake - do you think they would care about not being able to buy a new car ? Any day that we can sit down with those we love, and have a full stomach and not cry for our losses is a bloody good day.

Onto lighter things - I cheated dreadfully today and bought a paper, AND read it, and then read a load of stuff on line as well - reading deprivation is not going well!!!! However, I also did some jewellery making and bought some new colouring pencils for sketching so there was some AW stuff in the day. However, I totally forgot to have an Artist's Date today - can you believe it ! I won't get a chance to have one over weekend as we're away so might have to have two next week or else a very long one - sounds like a plan.

Tired !

2009-04-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

Did some more jewellery making last night, just strung some charms that I made on a chain. The charms were easy - just swarovski crystals and pearls on silver headpins and I twisted the wires to keep them looking rustic and casual. They looked good on the necklace in natural light and I was happy with the effect. It's such an easy idea, might refine it further and make a few more complex bits using same principle....see how it goes.

Went home to see Mum and Dad today with T and kiddies, so that was nice. We just hung out, drank tea and had a chat, lovely. Took a few pics of various things, garden, kiddies, pencils :) I'm making a point of taking camera around with me and snapping what I see, so all good. Cheated though - read the paper and a heap of blogs - my version of magazines. But they are creative type blogs, so that can't be too bad - eh ?!! Tired tonight, although not much creating done today - tomorrow another day - and a lovely long Easter weekend ahead - yay !

Creativity calling...

2009-04-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

This reading deprivation is hard - although last night, instead of reading in bed which I usually do, I wrote instead and managed to sort something out in the process so perhaps it is not all in vain! I am defo in the mood for more creative stuff because I seem to have more time - funnily enough. I did cheat though and read Sky News on-line !
Today I did some jewellery making instead of reading the paper or my book, and made some really simple earrings and a bracelet. The earrings are not 100% to my liking as I didn't have wires to match the headpins so I'm hoping that I might get away with oxidised looking headpins and normal silver earwires.....not sure though :( The blue beads are lovely though, really bright and smile inducing.

Bracelet was more successful, just made some pearl and seed bead charms and attached them onto a bracelet I put together from a length of chain and a fob clasp. Pretty easy but looks kind of cute I think.

Busy cooking also today - my Beloved loves meatloaf which I never grew up with, however my NZ food mag contained a healthy recipe for it, so I have made it twice now - counting today -and it's pretty yummy even though I am not really a meatloaf person ! We're just having it with my famous mustard mashed potatoes, just the type of comfort food for another wet and gloomy spring evening. Still, gloom aside, it's been a good day, this reading deprivation certainly is having results ! But can I survive until Sunday ?.....

Progress

2009-04-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

It's raining today - horrible wintry lashing rainy rain ! Although it has an advantage, because on rotten wet days, I don't mind staying home and getting to know the duster and the polish again so at least the house is clean.
The weekend was lovely - no major events, just easy and lovely. Saturday afternoon always consists at some point, of a spell with a trashy paper and a cuppa. Attached photo is the epitome of my favourite part of Saturday - pot of tea, slice of something small and yummy (in this case tiffin), trashy paper and my sunny flowers that brighten it all up - delicious.
This week on the Artist's Way will prove a challenge to paper loving old me - it's reading deprivation week ! Julia Cameron's logic is that creative people are addicted to reading (true) because they use other's words to avoid creating their own art, in whatever form it takes. Interesting point, so she recommends just trying a week of no reading (of any sort) to see what emerges. So in my case, no paper, no internet browsing, no books, no mags, no blog reading (which are just on-line mags anyway) - yikes, how will I cope? I am allowing myself to update my own blog on the grounds that it's writing so should be allowed, and so I had a sneaky eye over the blogs I enjoy through google reader, but that was cheating really. Oh, and I got my food mag in the mail from NZ and I had a very quick look because that is related to what I will cook this week, so that was essential.....ok so, I got it after I had the groceries done and it could have waited as I'm not cooking from it this week, but it was so lovely and bright and shiny and I couldn't NOT look ! Other than that, I can do it. mmmm - we'll see. I can see already that I will have a lot of extra time.....to do what ? Write perchance ?
I am also currently revamping what I call my 'office' which really is a small area on our landing that always used to be dead space but lately has been home to my book shelves and a comfy chair for reading (sob..) so soon it will be re-jigged and will have a small desk up there to house my stuff - sewing machine, crafty bits and bobs etc. Really looking forward to having some space of my own. We are lucky in that we have an office downstairs which is full of books and has a nice big desk, but it's got all the filing drawers and serious stuff in there, whereas my 'office' will be more for creative stuff and be just mine. Yippee - now if the weather clears up, I can sand my desk outside before it gets put together and painted for it's position upstairs. The desk has at least progressed from being in it's box to having been out of it briefly and measured for size etc, so it is a sort of progress.....kind of. Over and out for an afternoon of ....not reading ..... groan.....

Yellow

2009-04-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

The rain is back! That summer-like heat that paid us a fleeting visit yesterday has packed it's bags and left town as quickly as it arrived - boo hoo! However every cloud has a silver lining because my Beloved washed my car recently, and used some fancy window cleaner on my windscreen, so now when it rains, instead of rain just rolling down onto the bonnet, it all 'beads' on the windscreen and forms beautiful little spheres, - just like beads in fact!! It was much more dramatic just after he washed it, now the effect is not quite as spectacular, but worth a snap all the same. Some days, all I want to do is gaze at all the water beads glinting in the sun during a sun shower, however it is not the best or safest idea to be driving around town with a beaded-over windscreen gazing up and smiling - I don't recommend it !

Also today, when the rain was on it's way, I paid a visit to my local Aldi supermarket where they always have a gorgeous range of cheap but lovely flowers. I got some lovely yellow chrysanths (sp?) for the sum of 3 euros - really, could you leave them behind for that money ? I don't think so. So now, they are reposing on our kitchen table spreading little bursts of sunshine on a fairly gloomy spring evening. Gloomy or not though - it's Friday ! Yipee. And, I went and bought some sunny yellow fabric today as well, as I spotted it yesterday while shopping for class supplies and thought I'd better go back and grab it before someone else did. All in all, a sunny yellow Friday, despite the rain !

The Artist's Day!

2009-04-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

Today was, again, a good day. The sun has shined in Wexford all day long and there is in fact, heat in that sun - what a lovely feeling, to have some warmth in our bones at last! Sewing class last night, the famous skirt is a fait accompli and we now have two weeks off over Easter. It's not a perfect piece, but it's a start, and displays a vast improvement on my sewing skills!

However we were dispatched last night with a list of supplies to get for our next projects - a tote bag and a cushion cover, the latter forming our end of course assessment ! As Thursday has become my usual day for Artist's Way work and Artist's Date, I worked in a trip to a fabric shop in my travels. There is a great gift shop in town which I discovered today also do curtain making, and as a result, they sell off-cuts of amazing fabrics pretty cheaply. Not only that, they have LOADS of sewing equipment and crafty bits and bobs so I now have an alternative to the funny little shop that may or may not be open on a given day ! The good part about my new discovery is that they allow you to walk around the shop, in fact they actively encourage it, and you do not need to clamber over boxes and bales in order to do so - excellent ! So I am now the proud possessor of lovely blue stripey fabric for my tote bag which will be a beachy style I think, and some nice green fabric for my cushion cover, which will go nicely with my cream armchair where I park myself for reading. Also managed to get some red tailors chalk, no more headaches trying to see yellow chalk on pale fabrics - yipee!
After that sojourn, I bought myself a nice hard-back sketch pad and went to the library and took out four crafty books, such was my embracing of the whole Artist's Date experience today.

I had some fun with the sketch pad when I got home and covered it with a collage of magazine bits and pieces, an activity which I think definitely fills the AD brief of 'fun' - it was 'fun' - it felt like I was back in school again and playing - how lovely ! AND, to further cap my Artist's Day, my beads arrived today, so more jewellery to make !

A good day..

2009-04-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day. Yesterday, for some reason was not a good day - don't know why, but I was totally and absolutely drained !! The fog that lingered for most of the day did nothing to cheer me up, so perhaps adding that to my delayed tiredness after a couple of late nights meant that I was extra grouchy - ah well, a little grouchy never killed anyone.

Sewing class tonight, and I have only done my homework today - tut tut, so am now in possession of an almost finished skirt, all sewn by moi on my trusty machine, and seeing as I have never owned a sewing machine until recently, I am quite proud of my work. Never mind that it is made for a ten year old, and in white cotton fabric, never mind that it is for practice only - it. is. a. skirt. And I made it. All. by. myself - yipee! Not sure what we are doing tonight, finishing the skirt and then doing pleats I think - argh - not sure I like the sound of that. I have found an amazing pattern for a fabulous doll's house made of fabric and batting on the internet (http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/) so I am thinking of tackling that when I have finished my course - I'll see how brave I am feeling....but isn't that lady so talented to come up with that - I am so impressed !!

The Artist's Way is progressing nicely, need to get my act together a bit more though and continue with my writing - I've got a nice plot, but am stubbornly (for some crazy reason) refusing to 'turn up at the page and do the work' - what's that all about ?? Tomorrow I will do this week's exercises and my Artist's Date, so perhaps I might also be able to give myself a metaphorical kick in the rear, and start turning up at the page.

So much to do...

2009-03-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

We had such a lovely mini-break and as a result we are now totally drained from all that good living and relaxation !! It was so nice to just stop, and to hang out together and do nothing much really except frolic in the pool, read and chat - it's so easy in the everyday routine to forget about hanging out with your beloved - and we always have such a good laugh when we're away (and all the time in fact) - funny man, my beloved! The poem that I posted today in my 'Poems I love' blog is kind of about that - hanging out and yawning/sleeping in someone's company! Although I think the poet was going for something more like disappointment and betrayal - I am seeing the reminder in there of the people you are so comfortable with, that you can do anything wtih them.

I was very good and took my Artists Way with me on our trip, as Sunday is my check-in day : onto Week 3 now, and have been ok and doing Morning Pages each day so far. I also took some pics today so making a point of getting out with the camera and trying to be creative.

Also ordered some beads on Saturday so will do some more jewellery when those arrive. Also took some pics of some earrings and necklaces that I've made - going to try and make a point of documenting them from now on so I have a record of my work - should have been doing that all along of course !

Another week, another Artists Date - maybe might do some scrapping this week as bought a starter album and bits and pieces - not sure yet, see how I feel a bit later in week. Also need to hem my skirt for sewing class - STILL haven't done that - tut tut !!! Busy week ahead in the world of those trying to be creative !

Fabulous Friday !

2009-03-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

Another week over! Even though I am not working (for someone else anyway!) it still feels the same on a Friday evening, with two lovely days off to relax. I am still institutionalised to think that work starts on Monday morning and ends on Friday evening, so I do all my household jobs and errands all week, and then do very little over Saturday and Sunday. This weekend is an extra long one, my beloved is taking Monday off and we are spending Sunday night at a lovely hotel and spa, it looks FAB and we're booked in for massages in the spa on Sunday afternoon - bliss! Best of all, we got a really good deal - recession r&r dahh-ling !!
It's a belated anniversary celebration - hard to believe that five years can go by so quickly and yet in some ways it feels like we've been married for ever - in a good way !

Hoping to get some reading done on our mini break (oooh - mini-break : how very Bridget Jones!!) - reading a few books at the moment - bad habit, The 19th Wife is proving very addictive, makes me want to go off and research polygamy - maybe not a good idea for a wedding anniversary weekend !! Poemcrazy is a good one too, only a couple of chapters in but already itching to get back to writing - a good sign I think!

Speaking of poems, I have also started a separate blog for some of my favourite poems (by other people!) , I have heaps of them locked up in notebooks etc, so the idea is that if I have to think each day of one to post, then it gets me concentrating more on something that I love and thinking about why I love a particular one or another. We'll see how it goes!
Over and out on another fabulous Friday!

Such a Perfect Day

2009-03-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Sewing class last night, week 4, so we did most of the skirt that we have been making - sewed back and side seams, set the zip, and pinned the hem for sewing at home - homework !! I read a book once called The Power of Now, which was all about the importance of staying in the present, that every moment is perfect in it's own way and that worrying about the last moment or the next one is futile. I since discovered that the best possible way to stay firmly in the NOW is to do something with your hands, to create something, however simple or small. My most 'in the Now' times have been making jewellery or sewing or doing one of those cool Jennifer Pudney tapestries, total absorption in what is in your hands - no time for thinking about this or that, him or her, who thinks what about me, what I think about them.....all the rubbish and babble gets stilled and you just are, and you just do - bliss.
I had to get some fusing for my class so found myself in a funny little shop, run by a very knowledgeable elderly man, which stocks every sewing and needlework item you could think of. It opens sporadically, and I just got in because I knocked and begged to be admitted for my fusing. You can't really wander around as there is stuff in every nook and cranny - he meets you at the door, asks you what you want and then climbs over boxes and fabric bales to get it for you ! Even his receipt is like something from a bygone era, but it's THE place for anything you could ever need for a sewing class !

Apparently we will have an assessment for our last class, argh - something simple like a cushioncover was mentioned so not too scary I hope, but I need some nice and funky fabric for that. I recently bought some nice FQs on ebay from the Heather Bailey and Amy Butlers ranges so might go back and get a larger piece of something like those....

Today I had a perfect day ! I had the whole day at my disposal, so I did some Artist's Way work, just thinking about some plots and characters for a piece of writing I am planning, so I took myself off to a quiet country cafe, and did that in a comfy leather armchair with the spring sun streaming in the window - bliss! A real slice of local life it is too with lots of lunching ladies ! A visit to the washroom (as you do after a pint of Rooibos tea!!) provided a pleasant reunion with two of my favourite pieces of writing...The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and what I encountered with a title of Comes The Dawn by either Veronica Shoffstall or Judith Evans, depending on what internet traffic you believe. Either way, it's lovely, and a little sad, but mostly lovely:

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning, and company doesn't mean security, and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on today, because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure...that you really are strong and you really do have worth, and you learn and learn...With every good bye you learn.

The Four Agreements is a book title, but the book can be condensed down to a creed for life :

Be Impeccable with your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.
Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
Never Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

So, a mundane trip to the washroom brought me back to those two pieces of lovely writing that I had forgotten lately - another reason to make it feel like a perfect day !!

There is Only One Sun and That Is Me...

2009-03-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to watch a Charlie & Lola dvd on a continuous cycle for a couple of days - my poor nephew (the Four Year Old) was in hospital for a few days and the one distraction that really worked was C&L ! Charlie & Lola is a rather clever cartoon about a little girl called Lola (who loves the word 'actually' and uses 6 words where 2 would suffice!) and her big brother Charlie. It seems to appeals to all ages, some adults included ! One episode that the FYO and I watched was called 'There is only one sun and that is me' which centres around Lola wanting to play the sun in the school concert, but getting cast as an autumn leaf ! The moral of the story is that the autumn leaf turns green and lovely and it all ends happily, but for some reason, I really liked the fact that Lola wanted to be the sun! So convinced was she that she would be the sun, she refused to even listen to anyone suggest she might not get the part! Once she got cast as a leaf, we see her dragging herself home from school in despair (she's quite the dramatic heroine!) to tell Charlie that someone else was cast as the sun. I was really hoping that the total and unwavering self belief in her sun-ness would reap rewards, but no - she got the leaf part and then of course ended up realising how lovely the leaf was etc etc. I know it's a good moral tale about not always getting what you want and about beauty not always being obvious, but really ....would it have been so bad for her to remain convinced and sure of her sun-ness and to see her self belief bear fruit and make her in fact be the one and lovely sun ? Perhaps the makers of C&L wouldn't like to take on such an un PC idea as that : being so 100% sure of yourself that you refuse to accept anything less .... the world seems so concerned with making kids see that not achieving or not winning is ok, that we go too far in the other direction and don't show them that total and utter self belief can sometimes pay off. That episode of C&L often pops into my head while I am doing my Artist's Way - and I reckon that it's ok to think that you are the sun, and to know that there is only one sun and it is you ! So what if plenty of other people think the same, all of the suns will shine because there are in fact several solar systems and thus several suns. And so I am not a brown leaf, even though those brown leafs will turn gloriously green - let them - I will not settle for a leaf of any sort. There is only one sun and that is me !!! A lesson for life.
Watch Charlie & Lola - it's actually in fact quite very funny .......

The Artist's Way

2009-03-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

I'm in Week 2 of The Artist's Way, a book that sets a 12 week programme for people looking to unblock their creativity. Julia Cameron wrote it, and once you hear about it once, it seems to keep cropping up everywhere! The two main things it asks of you is Morning Pages (three pages of writing at the start of each day, on whatever you wish, no rules) and the Artist's Date - a block of time to yourself each week to do something fun for your inner artist (as in creative person, not necessarily 'art'ist). Last week's date took me to the beach with my camera, this weeks I haven't decided on yet but I'm already looking forward to it ! The Morning Pages can be a struggle at times - I am so not a morning person but am lucky enough now to have some time off so I don't need to set the clock early to get these done. I'm really enjoying the whole thing ! This week JC talks about synchronicity, and that things and people can fall into place once you open yourself to it...you know, I think she might be right ! A few things have happened of late that seem very coincidental - but I'm choosing to think of them as sent along for whatever reason ! Now, next issue, what to do for my date this week .....was thinking of horseriding, or maybe just heading to a quiet cafe with my book plot and my characters to draw them out a bit further...or maybe a spin to a crafty shop to buy some creative playtime goodies ..... it's such a good idea, shouldn't everyone have a block of time all to themselves without TV or interruption, to just be and to just do - bliss!

Finally!

2009-03-24T02:11:00.002-07:00

Today I learned how to set up a blog - EXCITEMENT !! I've made a couple of attempts but always got bored mid process, but now, we're up and running. Now that I have some time off work, I may even have time to post on a regular basis - hurrah !! I have really come on lately - totally left my Luddite tendencies behind, first a DS, then Facebook, then a digital camera, now a blog - crikey, whatever next ! Soon I will be catching up with my beloved who is much more tech savvy than me ! And to prove further that I can get the hang of this blog thingy, I am posting a photo as well - it has abso no relevance to the blog, it's a Copenhagen Cow from an exhibition that we saw (in Copenhagen, funnily enough) but I can post it, so I will - who cares if there is not even a tenuous link ! And, even further progress and again further unrelated to anything, to fully demonstrate that I can leave my perfectionist tendencies aside every once in a while, I have started not only one, but two sentences here with 'And' - wow, what progress !!! Over and out for now.