Sooo frustrated!!!!!

I had to go to Basildon Court to swear an affidavit for the on-going saga of my small claims case. It is 18 months since I started dealings with the very dodgy dealer (wish I had known at the time that he was!) Anyway, it appears the bailiff was unable to serve him the Court Order, and by mistake the letter telling me this was sent to him in October. Three quarters of an hour later, I left the Court Office, no further forward but now I have an appointment with a solicitor in January to see if he can help sort out the mess.

Tomorrow night, I have another Christmas get-together and I said I will take a sweet, so I might try the recipe on Gina's blog for her frangipane mince pies if I have all the ingredients in the cupboard.

This was on my desk yesterday when I got to work- a thank you from a member of staff for giving up my afternoon of frees to look after her class when she was ill last week. My collection of orchids is growing, the flowers last such a long time. that I don't seem to be without a bloom on one of them throughout the year. While Kezzy was having her art class I popped into Craft Arena and picked up a copy of the latest Quilting Arts. I also got some texture magic to experiment with, as I love texture in my work. I knuckled down and finished some U.F.O's this evening- the first being my vessel,

I then embellished these letters, I just never got around to it at the weekend!

Finally I corrected the mistake I had made on this bracelet.

I now need to go and tidy my play room before I can do anything else!

UFO's

The quiz night on Saturday raised over £1,000, which is a large amount for a small village function. My team was in the lead until the last round when we were pipped at the post by one point!
I have started my Christmas shopping having spent all of Saturday in Basildon and then Sunday at Freeport, still more presents to find though.
I have now completed my rust vessel, having undone the picot edging as it would not sit on the edge with out a wobble. I have done a beaded buttonhole instead. Just got to stitch in some ends and then I will post a picture. I have also made another bracelet,( this is to be a Christmas present) but as I went to take a picture I noticed I had made a small mistake, so I need to re-do asap. I have sooooo many projects unfinished, that I will spend tomorrow night trying to complete a few of them.

Reports finished-Christmas preperations can start now!

My reports are written and been proof read, so hopefully they should be printed Monday-thank goodness!My only play this week has been making a Christmas present for my brothers girlfriend. She has just moved into a new flat in Twickenham, I just need to finish embellishing it. the wooden letters are 1" thick, painted several times and then covered with papers. I hope to put the finishing touches to it tomorrow before I go Christmas shopping.
Tomorrow night I am going to a quiz night in support of the local children's hospice-Little Haven. I have managed to get a collection tin for this charity, and on Monday it will be going in the staff room. Instead of swapping Christmas cards we are putting a donation in the tin.

Lucky escape!

When we went out in our car on Thursday, it was running well. Yesterday when Alan went out in it he noticed a slight knocking, didn't think much of it and set off for Birmingham early this morning. The noise got worse the further he drove, anyway to cut a long story short, a driver overtook him and indicated to his front wheel. He pulled over couldn't see anything wrong, so his friend got him to drive slowly along the hard shoulder. The noise was his front wheel about to fall off! Sometime Thursday or Friday night his car had been tampered with, because two bolts were missing, two bolts had been sheared off and the remaining two were only on by four thread turns. Anyway, they have both arrived back in wet and windy Essex having had a good day at the NEC.
Meanwhile I was busy at my Grandsons second birthday. All the children were very good, doing lots of sticking, painting and playing.
Also in between the party and cooking prawn pooris I have been working on a mixed media experiment , not sure if my idea is going to work, but, if it doesn't end up in the rubbish bin, I'll let you know.

Kantha workshop

Libby, a member of East, was our tutor today, and soon had us stitching Kantha patterns. The hall was so quiet you could here a pin drop- I have never been in a room with fifteen ladies this quiet before!

Libby was very generous in letting us take photos of her work, and came round constantly to keep us on track, when we had problems with lik stitch.Libby (those of you who went to K& S will have seen her wonderful little books on the East stand) also demonstrated how to attach a shisha mirror.

Below are a few samples of her work

I love this little sewing caddy.

When I got home, I had a few bits to organise ready for Zac's birthday party tomorrow. Sam came round with the cake she had made for him as she need some black food colouring for George's eyes.

I have now applied Treasure gold ( stopped off on the way home from work yesterday and got some from Craft Arena) to my textured totem. I used pewter.

I heard last night that the screen printing course I was hoping to do in January, wont be running as there are not enough people booked on the course to make it viable.:0(
A busy weekend ahead of me, cantha workshop tomorrow, then on Sunday, Christmas shopping and youngest GS's birthday party and then cooking a meal for one of Alan's friends. They are off to the NEC for a model railway exhibition.