Sole Monday...except it's Tuesday

Pardon my tardiness. I got caught up in the excitement of my foreigners only Cath Kidston giveaway yesterday and forgot to take pictures of my shoes.

Like last week's, these little pretties are by the same clever, clever Brazilian (I think...I may have made that up. South American for sure) lady. You can see more of her pretties here. I really want the lace up spats.

In some sad news, I have been told that my recently scabby face (I didn't share it with you, it was too awful) is caused by a real life proper full on allergy to dairy. Sigh. I have been intolerant to lactose for a while, but mainly ignored it and coped (dairy goodness being to strong a lure) but my face has looked like a cross between Chaucer's Summoner (isn't it funny how some things stick in your mind forever and ever? I only read Chaucer's General Prologue once, in school 16 or so years ago and I will never forget it) and Freddie Kruger for a couple of weeks. I initially put it down to the bleach (yes, I am now blonde...go search for a pic in flickr, but don't tell me I look like Annie Lennox like my mum did) but the nice doctor man (after ruling out acne, I know my youthful good looks are misleading, kind Sir, but surely I am too old) told me I was allergic to dairy for sure, not pretend allergic, definite allergic. Poo. I am (so far) coping with black tea (prefer it that way anyway) and soy milk lattes, but the cake. Oh woe is me. Does anyone have any cake recipes that taste like cake, not like cardboard, but don't use milk? Gluten, egg, other stuff - all fine, it's just the milk and the butter. Or tasty biscuits. Can I make flap jacks with margarine, for example?
Please help, oh wise ones of blog-land. No cake makes Katy a very sad girl (but with much better skin, so that's a bonus).

For you foreign types, the giveaway is still on until Monday the 6th october. If you fancy a Cath Kidston bag plus some other surprise English lovelies go here and leave a comment.
And no, Monda, you cannot move abroad in order to qualify, neither is Legoland a foreign country (which I am sure you will try and tell me it is soon after you've trekked around Yummy Mummy central trying to find a stray bag (those pesky Yummy Mummies, they'll have been camping out for weeks round your way). Fortunately for me, round our way, the locals are more like '£3.50 for a fookin bag? I'd sooner use them free ones'.

doing my bit for foreign relations

Do you live in the UK? Yes? Oh, sorry, this part of the post isn't for you, scroll down to see less exciting things.

You don't live in the UK? Ok....marvellous. Read on.

I have heard many a Foreigner (that's you) lament at the lack of Cath Kidston in their part of the world. Now, whilst I am unable to pull strings and open shops near you all I can make a couple of you feel a little brighter. Whilst waiting for my favourite Indian restaurant to open last week (I thought opening time was 5pm, it was actually 5.30pm, I stood outside pacing for a bit, but the hungry children began drooling at the smells going on inside) we ended up popping to Tesco's (big supermarket) for a bit of time killing milk, baked bean and bread shopping (the essentials). Imagine my joy and delight (as well as total shock and surprise - I never normally venture into Tescos at all, our local one isn't very nice, really it should be knocked down and rebuilt, or just knocked down full stop) when I happened upon these little beauties at the checkout. So I bought some (4 to be precise, 1 for me, 1 for my friend and the spare ones - for YOU!). I had also bought some new cleaning cloths on my little shopping trip (my favourite ones, they are pretty, it almost makes me want to use them), so I am throwing those into the deal as well.

Leave me a comment on this post some time this week (I'll leave it open until next monday) and I'll draw 2 names out of the hat/random number picker/Ginger's pointy fingers. I'll also pop some other good old English treats in too (surprise ones). Tell your friends, or not, if you want to increase your chances of winning (well, that's what I'd do. It's a dog eat dog world after all).

The only rule I have is you have to live out of the UK, coz if you do live here you can pop down to Tescos yourself and snap one up (for £3.50, the profits are going to Marie Curie cancer care, and they are made from recycled plastic bottles. Clever that, innit?)



Onto other stuff...

I tidied her room, so you can now see Miss Gs quilt in situ... (crappy pic, but the sun was too shiny, so I closed the curtains, and now it looks a bit, well, washed out, but you get the idea...). That's the only bit of her room I tidied, so you can't see the rest...



I had a Big (28" square) Pirate Cushion practise run (so I could decide which blocks I liked best). Ginger is getting this one for his birthday. My kids always end up with the practise runs. The poor boy, he's still waiting on that hexagon quilt...hopefully it'll be done by Christmas. Hand quilting is HARD work when you have weak wrists and very little patience...
(2 more Pirate cushions to make for Chrimbo prezzies, I decided I liked the log cabin and the pocket best, so 2 each of those on each cushion)...



I was so pleased to hear so many of you have had trouble with felting too. It makes me realise I might not be a complete idiot after all. I haven't done my homework for the class on Wednesday. I really can't be bothered. But I will stick it out, for this term at least. I can't bear the thought of a whole year though. To tell you truth, I just didn't enjoy it at all (kept looking at the clock, wishing the time would fly past). I do have another quilting workshop on Saturday, and can't wait. This time it's foundation piecing, which I have never tried (too afraid), I have a load of Liberty prints and I know we're making a cushion cover with a big star on the front. After reading about the Liberty Jack quilt on Sarah's blog and then seeing a very tiny and not very good picture of it in this month's popular patchwork magazine I have become obsessed with trying something in the Liberty print tana lawns I keep squirreling away for 'special' things. If I keep them much longer they'll disintegrate, time to make some snips, methinks.

Felting? Hmmm....

I started an 'adult education' course on Wednesday. Two hours a week, for what seems like the next lifetime, I shall be making felt. After spotting amazing felty goodness on blogs and flickr I thought (foolishly) 'I bet I could do that if I gave it a go'.

HA! Those horrendous examples above beg to differ. Miss G was highly amused. The husband less so. He looked in horror at them as if to say 'what the hell do you think you're going to do with those?'. Luckily for him they have to go in my portfolio (do I sound like a proper student?) so I can get marked at the end of the course and get a certificate, or a lollipop or something. Written work I can do, maybe I can boost my mark with elaborate essays on the history of wet felting?
And it's bloody hard work - all that rubbing and rolling. My arms are killing me. I suppose I shall have to just accept it. Unless I practise like a mad woman, (possibly for 24 hours a day), or pay someone with talent to stand in for me, I am not going to get an A....I might get an E for Effort.


So (very fortunately considering my failure as a felter and subsequent foul mood) a rather lovely looking parcel arrived. Unfortunately not for me (but I do teach the children to share, and that includes this quilt - thanks, G)
Beth had made Miss G an amazing birthday present. It's now in full glory on her bed (you can't see it, because her room is too messy, and I refuse to tidy it)




I have cut out strips for Piratey floor cushions (for crossing off the Christmas list)...




And mailed (today...when I got to the post office) a parcel full of fabric for Leah to make me a lap quilt from the 'Bend The Rules Sewing' book as part of a swap (I am making her one in her fabric, she makes me one in my fabric)...




And now it's the weekend - hoorah!!! Enjoy it!

Sole Monday Returns!

Yes, I have been slack for the past week or so with blogging in general (our 10th wedding anniversary, and a family wedding - they don't half get in the way of my cyber life), and even more so for the past few weeks with Sole Monday. I am actually running low on fancy shoes. We may have to move on to fancy boots soon.

But, I did go shopping (just for you) and bought some new shoes...



If I could do smellovision I would, because these little beauties smell like scented rubbers (the eraser kind, smutty folk) and are like jelly shoes. Yep, they're plastic (the mother in me says - they'll make your feet sweat, never buy man-made materials) but I remember jelly shoes and jelly bags from being small. I bought mine from Primark (see how ahead of the times I was?! - we had a Primark in Ipswich a gazillion years ago, it was just cheap, not cool) so when I heard about these in a magazine I was off. (unfortunately not to Primark this time though)

Whilst I was away in Wales at the family wedding I got a rather fab parcel from Sarah for winning her giveaway. I love that housewife fabric so much, I think I'll use a bit of it in a log cabin cushion for G's room, maybe it will encourage her to be a little tidier (fat chance).



There was another postal treat for me this week. Claire sent me this fantastic Australian craft magazine, because of the Russian Doll pattern. It was a complete surprise - thank you so much Claire. There are so many gorgeous projects in here, I really want to get cracking. How come English craft magazines aren't as good? It makes me very jealous, more than a little grumpy and just generally fed up. It's a good thing the World is so small thanks to the internet.




I had a really lovely day Saturday. It was the first of my quilting workshops. I have booked a monthly workshop for the next 5 or 6 months, each one is a day long and we make something, learning new skills along the way. I was the youngest of the 5 of us. Every one else had kids my age, but it was a lot of fun. Rosemary, the lady holding the class was brilliant, she managed to teach without telling. Do you know what I mean? Without lecturing on what to do and just by floating about and helping out every now and again she taught us how to make a quilted shopping bag (it looks smaller on the photo - it's about 20 x 14 inches). I used some of my stash for it, after all, I do need to get at least one drawer empty before I can do any serious buying again. So my bag was made with Mary Engelbreit and Erin McMorris. I love it. It's so bright and cheery, and the lining (which you can't see, but is on flickr) is yellow and probably my favourite fabric of the lot. My only criticism would be the handles, I think they are far too skinny, but I didn't think I should pipe up with that on my first day. I may re-do them, and I am toying with the idea of putting a little flap over the bag with a popper to secure it, so it's not always completely open. Either way, it's now in the Christmas present pile and I already have a new owner in mind. Perfect for sleepovers, I think (especially when I whip up a matching wash bag).




This week I have to get the Camper Van swap finished up and mailed out, the sewing items tote swap underway (I think I know what to make for my partner but I need to get the extra bits too). Then there's the cupcake swap, and the one good book swap too. Phew. I am a busy bee. Maybe I should take a step back from swaps after this? Especially as round 5 of Doll Quilt Swap will be starting soon. And there's Christmas to think about. I need a cup of tea and a lie down just thinking about it.

The Ginger One is Grumpy....

And refusing to play pointy finger at the computer screen to pick a winner (it's not a fun game when you're grumpy). So the random number robot has come to the rescue.

Can you see the number? (I know, a screen shot would be a clever way to do this, but that involves me thinking and thinking is difficult when you have a grumpy ginger child)



It says 63.

Which (by my reckoning on counting backwards up the numbers) is AnnieB

So, Ms Milkwood - congrats! You have won a selection of tat made by me and sent to your house to rid my house of it (actually, that's a lie...I haven't made it yet, but it will be coming your way soon. Well, soonish. Maybe. Once I have stalked you for a little while and figured out what to come up with)

Thank you so much for all your comments. None of you made me cry by telling me to bugger off out of blogland, so (for that) I am very grateful, and I love you all. MWAH. Here's to another year (chink glasses now please)


Blogland is fab. Without it I wouldn't have got this little parcel of fabulousness at the weekend.....



From Sarah. Pretty darn fine robot Swap goodness, I say. The bag is extra long, so french sticks (that's bread, not branches from french trees) don't get snapped. Is that a genius idea? It is. I know. She's bloody clever. Thank you Sarah, I LOVE my roboty goodies, the bag has been used already (and was superb at the task of shopping in the supermarket). Miss G has her beady eye on the notebook. She can bugger off. Tis mine. And, besides, Sarah made her and the Ginger one a little robot badge too. Totally brill!

So I made the following for Sarah...but to be honest I think I got the better end of the deal here. Her notebook rocked the socks off mine. The robot pencil sharpener I sent her was always going to be a hit...you wind it up (with a pencil) and it walks along your desk. You can't fail to be impressed by that (well, not if you're me).




I have also signed up for a few more swaps - two of which are still taking swapees, so get over and get yourself signed up.
First up is Margy's cupcake swap. I have been spotting a few of these cupcake swaps about and always manage to just miss out, so this time I am in, and raring to go!!! And second up is Jill's one good book swap, a swap for kids. I am a sucker for books, especially with pictures in, I use the excuse they are for Ginge when really they are for my enjoyment. A house can never have too many books, so get signed up for that one too. Actually, a house can never have too many cupcakes either, can it?

go go go!!!!

QUILT PROGRESS NEWS - Ginger's quilt is now basted. I am starting the quilting tonight (tying/quilting...we'll see what wins later on). But, so far, I am LOVING wool wadding - it's like fluffy clouds, and, well, sheep-like (strangely...hmmm...)

psst, wanna know a secret?

There's a lady, in Japan, she likes shopping, she goes shopping for fabric, she sells the fabric, she's REALLY nice, she will even go shopping for you if you have seen something you like and it's way too expensive in one of those 'other' Japanese fabric places that you may drool over...she's my new dealer. I have a problem, I know I have a problem, the fabric ban didn't last for a week, not since Shannon went shopping and showed me her special wares.

If you have a Japanese itch, scratch it, go see Shannon, she'll sort you out and I can bet you money she'll be cheaper than anywhere else you may go (and so darn lovely you will wish you could hang out with her).

She's here. Tell her the ginger monkey sent you.




In other news...the giveaway is still going...leave a message on the previous post before Wednesday tea time for a chance to win something (still undecided, I think I'll wait til I pick a winner then stalk you and find out what you may like. OK?)

Oops...

I missed my blogiversary! It was one year ago yesterday that I first said hello. Blimey, a year already? Didn't that go quick?

Soooooooooo....

Should we have a giveaway?


Oh, go on then.

I have no idea what yet...I shall have to have a think... I'll pick someone using the magical Ginger child and his pointy finger method on Wednesday. In the meantime I'll get my thinking cap on (from the bee costume, it helps no end with clever thoughts, you know) and if you fancy a little parcel in the post, say hello.

Thank You Gina x

'nuff said ;)

a lovely weekend

I don't know about the weather everywhere else, but this weekend down in Ipswich (where my mum and dad live) was GLORIOUS. I had it all planned to go to beWILDerwood near Norwich, but the old folks had other ideas. It was a bit far, apparently, and the kids would get tired (that's the idea). So we ended up going to the park instead, and out for some lunch. Not quite beWILDerwood, but it was a lot of fun.






What on earth is the colouring they put in blue lollies? It is not natural, that's for sure. Usually poor Ginge isn't allowed such things, but it was almost a holiday, Is it just me or do they look suspiciously like those blue toilet cleaner tablets?