Busy, busy, busy.

Tonight it was out Embroiderers' Guild committee meeting, and we sped through it so I have manged to type up and email out the minutes this side of midnight for once!
I have a busy week ahead of me- blood donors tomorrow, speech night for work on Friday, National Portrait Gallery on Saturday with Di ( Beatles to Bowie exhibition) off to visit some of Alan's relies on Sunday. School reports are looming on the horizon as well, they are being printed this week:0(
Kezzy had her appointment at the hospital today, it is the start of a long job to get her teeth sorted. Three teeth need to come out after Christmas under a general. When I got home from work I had a letter from her school telling me I had an appointment to discuss her I.E.P on Friday, no other time or date available, also a letter to book an appointment at the hospital to see someone about her knees. This will not go down well at work!
As I was up at 5.30 this morning to take Rhodri to the station,( I had to scrape ice off my car!) I was able to have a little dabble with my workshop lesson. I hope to have something to show soon- life permitting!

I just blinked my eyes...........

And Sunday is nearly over, or so it seems.
The Church Parade was in a very old church in Hutton, down a little country lane, which is single file in places. Wonderful stained glass windows and tiles. I started to take photo's of the tiles and then my batteries died. I couldn't find my spare ones which are normally in my camera case, so I will have to go to the next church parade with fully charged batteries!

As my daughter is in Germany for the weekend. son in law bought the two boys round for the afternoon. A quick inspection by them all of my new toy, before going to check out the rabbit and the koi.

I've cooked a roast dinner, made a stew ready for Tuesday as I have blood donors and I will be in later than usual from work, sorted out my paperwork for EG committee meeting tomorrow night and had a wee bit of time to play. I am working out my workshop for Textiles in Focus. it is not until February, but I want to have it planned sooner rather than later.

Hurdle number 2

Well I did it! I got two sewing machines in my car, Nickie, bags of fabric and party food for our day at Cottenham. We had to have our Christmas party today as it is the last meeting this side of Christmas- a frightening thought. We played our usual silly party game and I won some threads, a note book and some mice flakes- (I have never used mica flakes before).
When I got home I had a HUGE pile of ironing to do, it has mounted up a bit and I couldn't put it off any longer. Rhodri is away early on Monday (I have to take him to the station for 5.50am) for the week, somewhere near Blackpool for work. So I had to iron his shirts. We have a deal, I iron his shirts, he keeps my computer working and keeps an eye on what Kezzy is up to on Facebook.
Tomorrow another fairly early start as I am taking Kezzy to Church parade in Hutton. The Air Cadets are having their Remembrance Day service. Alan normally does all the running around for Air Cadets, but this weekend he is repairing my Smart car from when someone hit it in Asda. My brother would like to collect it before he goes to South Africa in a couple of weeks- no pressure!
Time now to stitch a few beads on my vessel before bed.

Over the first hurdle.

Today, I was able to get off work a bit earlier so that I could pop into Craft Arena to get CPS for Carolyn, (her stitched stuffie is in this issue and she hasn't got a copy) also got some white calico that has just arrived. I can now carry on with my lino printing again. Talking to the textile teacher at work today she has told me about a screen printing course that is going to take place locally after Christmas, so I need to see if I can find out more details, I have been wanting to do this for some time.
I managed to get a weeks food shopping in my car, which was a bit of a surprise, so it has passed the first hurdle. Tomorrow Nickie and I are off to Cottenham, will it pass hurdle number two? I'll let you know.

Lightening strike.

Two days of trying to think what workshop I can do for Pauline at Textiles in Focus and a creative thought struck me just as I was going to sleep last night. I was too tired to get out of bed and jot it down. A moment of panic this morning when I couldn't remember what that 'thought' was. Luckily it came back to me! Time to go and experiment to see if:-
a) is my idea any good?
b) can it be done in 2 hours?
Watch this space.
My rust coloured vessel that I am making at the moment, has got a new home (when I have finished beading the top edge). One of my colleagues at work wants it for her home.
Nickie and I are off to Cottenham on Saturday, and as it is the last meeting this side of Christmas we are having a Christmas lunch.

Thanks Mum

Late home from work tonight as it was parents evening. Mum sent me home on Sunday with, a steak and kidney pie, carrot cake and raspberry charlotte ( all home made). Alan had the potatoes peeled and chopped and a cup of tea waiting for me when I eventually got home. So luckily, not much cooking involved. Too tired to do very much and too late to start experimenting. I think I will just unwind with a cup of hot chocolate and stitch a few beads on my vessel. Hopefully my batteries will be fully charged tomorrow night!

Sorted.

I searched my usual on line bead shops last night for the right beads, and just couldn't see what I needed. So, after some more thoughts, I am now using the original rust beads but sitting them on a slate blue/grey bead base row. I will post pics when I have something worth showing.

Not done any stitching tonight. Nickie and I have been asked to teach again at Textiles in Focus, at Cottenham, in February. I have been trying to think about what I can teach in a two hour workshop that does not involve a sewing machine, or too much paint. Off to do more cogitating .

I finished stitching my vessel last night, and then spent quite some time trying to find the right beads for the picot edging I want to put on this one. The beads that I bought at Ally Pally last month don't sit properly, and others in my collection are not the right colour, copper or brown rather than rust. So I need to do some on-line shopping tonight.

Oh lucky me!

Had a lovely time in Buckingham at my Mothers. Lots of eating and talking. I also attacked one of the many, of her outside walls with Snowcem paint yesterday afternoon.
Also I have:-

hand stitched a few more samples for my next vessel.

Almost constructed vessel three

Made a button bracelet to match one of my shrugs.
Read my CPS and saw Carolyn's beautiful Stitched Stuffie, lovely stitched acanthus seed heads embroidered on it.
Over the last couple of weeks I have been talking to my brother about cars. He bought himself a jeep early in September. Now wanting a smaller car for running about London, he offered me his Mazda MX5, a little red thing, in exchange for some cash and my Smart car.( I had bought the Smart car off him a few years ago) I had no because I didn't want to take out a loan, the insurance and car tax is higher. BUT, when I took it for a little drive on Friday, all sensible thoughts went out of the window and I said YES!!!!! I have driven it back to Essex and it drove like a dream. My only problem now, is how do I get 2 sewing machines in the boot when Nickie and I go on our textile courses?
When I checked my blog tonight, it was to find out that I had won a prize on Carolyn's blog giveaway. The first blog giveaway that I have ever won. What a lovely day!:-)
Back to school tomorrow:-( I have made the play dough and packed my bags ready for the off!