A very long day.

Yesterday it was off to Cottenham for our F.E.T. meeting. Nickie and I had to take all our work along that we would like to be considered for the AVG exhibition in March.  It took some very careful packing to get it all in my little car.  All work selected  yesterday, has to go back again in January for the final selection.  I was given the go ahead to get on with my flower panel, a lot of work to do before January to get it finished on time.
When I got home from Cottenham, it was off to the Range and Ikea at lakeside with Hubby, looking for additional items for our kitchen.  Ended up with just a few beads and some buttons from the Range.  We took the very 'scenic' route home, over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and then straight back through the tunnel, as Alan had taken the wrong road out of Lakeside.

.

We didn't get home until 10p.m so it was a very quick evening meal and off to pick Kezzy up from her boyfriends.  When I got there it was to find that he was not well, (he had been suffering since Thursday with stomach pains and seen a paramedic Friday night.  He was told to go to hospital if it was worse on Saturday)  Anyway, to cut a long story short, I ended up taking him to A&E.  We arrived at Midnight and got home this morning at 5.30!!!    Luckily it was not his  appendix, but 'mystry-something-itus' or that is what it sounded like when the doctor told us.  So I am feeling just a bit jet-lagged today, hopefully a few cups of coffee will soon put me back in the right time zone!

Onto the next one.

I have managed to find a little time for stitching tonight, so I have started to embellish another vessel ready for next Saturday's demo.
Tomorrow, Nickie and I are off to Cottenham for our F.E.T meeting. Hopefully I will get the go ahead to carry on working on my flowers.

And still it goes on.

The kitchen is making very slow progress.  Hubby has sanded the walls and I have got dust everywhere. Half of the kitchen has been painted and the remaining half will be done this weekend.  I am not very good at living in a mess, I am not house proud, just like order.
Nothing to show creative wise as tonight it was EG committee meeting and I have just finished typing up the minutes.  Hope to do something creative tomorrow.

Finished.

Finished stitching the last two sides on my pro to-type.

 I have used the piece of Carn pottery I bought in August from St.Ives for my inspiration.  I love the way that it has a rectangle base,

but a diamond top.  I wont be embellishing the edge of this vessel as I would normally do, as it only a sample.  Now to start on the real thing.
I had an appointment for my flu jab today, but they wouldn't let me have it as I am still coughing and wheezing, got to go back in two weeks time.

Spider repellent.

One of Kezzy's friends who came round yesterday, was admiring the  bowl of Indian Horse Chestnuts.  He told me that 'Conkers' in the room keep,spiders away.  Diane might not get all of those nuts, as I have a phantom spider who keeps spinning tiny little webs on my light. 

                                       

In between being go-for and and assistant to Hubby's DIY yesterday, I managed to do a bit more to my sample vessel.  Two more seams left to sew, all being well, I can then make the 'real' one.

Two down, two to go.

We had a good morning at Writtle, we have managed  to get a lot sorted out.  It was lovely to see the blue sky after the grey skies yesterday, couldn't resist a picture of the sky through this tree.  I thought it was a walnut tree, but on looking up the name when I got home, found out it is called Indian Horse Chestnut.

 I collected some of the nuts for Diane  to draw or paint for her project.

I have manged to stitch two sides to my sample vessel, not sure when I will get the other two on.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 Here is the vessel with a second coat of paint, as you can see the colour is building up.

When that coat was dry, a third colour was worked into the surface.   As I was babysitting last night, that is as far as I got, apart from colouring some Evalon and Lutrador for the linings of the two vessel's.  Zach is frightened by fireworks, and he woke up at ten by an exceedingly loud explosion.  It meant that I got a lot of cuddles:0)

Today I am off with Nickie to Writtle College to have another viewing of the facilities to help us with planning Regional Day in July.   I have also got to go out with Hubby to choose new lights for the kitchen:0(

Tomorrow sees the start of decorating the kitchen as the new cooker should be coming next week.  I don't think I am going to be getting much sewing done this weekend.

Just got time to put the final layer of paint on my vessel before Nickie picks me up.

Grey day!

What better way to cheer up a grey wet Friday, than to join in Silverpebbles 'Splash of Colour'.  I have

 All these photos were taken when I went to Barleylands this afternoon. 
This an Iris or Lilly seed pod that has recently burst open.

 Beautiful red Autumn leaves.

As well as being wet, it was also windy, the leaves on the Rheus   tree looked like colourful ribbons blowing in the wind.

Last of all, the Cottoniaster berries.

Today.

As Kezzy was well enough to go back to school today, I decided that I would go to the new Hobbycraft that has opened in Chelmsford.  It is bigger than the Basildon Branch, so I was able to find some lovely embellishments to stash away for a rainy day.   

I have continued working on my vessels.  Here the pieces have all been painted with emulsion to seal the vilene.

The small vessel pieces were then painted in turquoise.

 When that coat was dry, I then applied a coat of silver paint.

This vessel has had Goldens Nickel Azo Gold painted on it.

I bought some glass slides several years ago and only recently found the frames to mount them in.  While waiting for the paint to dry, I had a play.  The butterfly embellishment is from a pair of earrings I bought from Primark- not to wear but to re-purpose. (coloured with alcohol ink)  They cost £2 and had 18 butterflies on them, so plenty more for other projects!