making Light of things

We took Miss Teen to a local Lights in the Park event.  We wanted to go, and thought she'd probably like it.  

It's very booked up,  so we were happy to go on a weeknight, and early. 

It was quite a long walk, over 7000 steps, and well arranged.  There were several food opportunities,  We had Crepes about three quarters of the way round.  

scantastic

The scanner is back upstairs. It worked really well!

I have scanned a whole load of pattern pieces.  Each piece has been checked (by projecting it and comparing it to the original).    I've even done  the numerous  pieces from my Jacket workshop,  which on their own took a few hours.   I've been using z mega sized carrier thing to out them through tvd scanner, which means they go through smoothly and evenly.  Its an unwieldy thing, and takes a while to load and unload. 

  I've still got loads to do,  but I've had enough for now.  I also want to try working with the scanned pieces,  in case I uncover a flaw.

I've already realised that some of the scans don't show the seam allowance very well,  and I've actually put  warning in the filename of every piece scanned. There were a lot of them. 

I'm so happy that it's worked,  and I **will** bring it back downstairs to do another batch or two.  But not yet.   I'm running on empty, and I'd like to try and get something sewn next.

I'm counting this as a creative thing. Just 1,  so its not cheating.

Total crafty things this year:60

Sewing based makes: 

123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer
35) Condolence cards
36) Halftime Hoodie with thumbhile cuffs
37) Jolly Roger hoodie with raglan sleeves,  crossover cown hood, thumbhole cuffs
38) Half Tme hoodie,  larger size,  with kangaroo pocket
39) Horsey Dressing Gown for MIss Teen
40) Camo dressing gown for DH

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off: 11) full on scanning and testing  of Jacket Retreat pieces,  and many SFD drafted knit fabric pattern pieces. 

 

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired
E) Medium jug

Blinding

A crash in the living room,  a blind extended, and two jumpy cats. Shelby had finally done it.

She has been pinging the cord with her paw  for months, and I've occasionally caught her gnawing at it.

And it finally snapped.

We are hoping it can be re-corded.  A quick inspection of the other 3 blinds revealed a second one partially chewed.

Pesky cat .

Scan

Ten days ago,  I managed to do a sterling job of clwaring the kitchen worktops and cleaning. We also did a mini declutter of part of the loft,  and I was able to give away most of the stuff. The rest went to the tip.   We now have enough space to put the beer and wine stuff back up there.

I even managed to identify quite a lot of fabric for destashing, but I haven't managed to sell it yet.  It's been moved into the box room, so that I can continue the Tetris involved in moving fabric about.  

I had my booster a few days ago and I've had a bit of a reaction to it, which is a nuisance.  

I had decided to make myself some long sleeved tee shirts, as it's a bit chilly now.  I couldn't find the sleeve pieces for any of my self drafted patterns.    So, I had to go through them more carefully, and I decided that I would get on and do the scanning.

The carrier sheet I bought is too big.  I debated for a day or two whether to cut it, or to buy one the right size.  They are horrendously expensove, nearly £100,  so I decided I'd cut it.   I#m going ot do that today.

I did some test scans in the meantime, and they are looking accurate enough.

I hope this works.

The idea is that I will scan in all my "self drafted" pattern pieces.       It  originally meant that it didn't matter if I lost pieces, I could reprint them.  It also meant that when I want to make alterations, I can print a copy of the original, rather than having to trace a copy.

Now that I have a projector, it also means that I don't need to print them, I can just project them!

Tools like Inkscape should help as well.

 I so hope this works.

 

Dressings Down

It's been an up and down couple of weeks healthwise, and I've been finding it difficult to get motivated to be creative.

I had ordered some fleece for Miss Teen, to make her a dressing gown, and I also saw some fleece which I htought would give DH a brief chuckle.  I bought that too, and hid it.

I made Miss Teen's dressing gown using an adult pattern.  I think it's going to be too big, but I didn't want to fork out for a kids pattern.  I'm trying not to buy any more sewning patterns unless they definitely have something that I don't already have AND I'm definitely going to sew it up in the "near future".

I guess the benefit of making her one in a ladies size is it will last her longer.  It's only for here, so it's not exactly going to get worn out with use.  

I finished it last night.  Overall I'm pleased with it, I did a hood in this version, and I'm happy with my coverstitching. 

She wants an Oodie, or similar, for home.  I've promised to buy her a Comfy when they have them in stock in Costco (due in  end November),  as this is cheaper than buying the fabric (or throws) to make her one.   I suspect she'd prefer an Oodie for here too... ut I'm hoping the horsey fabric will win the day.  She's coming over after school

I made one for DH as a surprise.   It's a ladies pattern (Love Notions Robe pattern), but a few people seem to have made them for their male partners without issues.    I found it hard to guess what size to make,  I looked at the "finished size"  list,  and I compared it to male orientated garmenbts from the same pattern company.  I also compared it to my dressing gown (which was pointless) and to some other articles of clothing.

I cut the backs first and sewed them together.  And I had to redo it.    DH has been wathing Sewing Bee with me, and he will be appalled at the lack of pattern matching.    I wasn't sure I was going to have enough fabric to cut out another pair of backs, but I managed it all in the end. 

I also managed to overlock a sleeve on the wrong way, so I had to cut it off and then cut a new sleeve.   That wil teach me not to check before I sew.

It's all done now, and It looks OK.    I'm not sure it's going to be the right size,   but he'll smile when he sees the fabric.  At least, I hope he will.  It's too late now.

Total crafty things this year:59

Sewing based makes: 

123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer
35) Condolence cards
36) Halftime Hoodie with thumbhile cuffs
37) Jolly Roger hoodie with raglan sleeves,  crossover cown hood, thumbhole cuffs
38) Half Tme hoodie,  larger size,  with kangaroo pocket
39) Horsey Dressing Gown for MIss Teen
40) Camo dressing gown for DH

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

 

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired
E) Medium jug
F) Tall, "split personality" jug
G) Macrame angel
H) Felted a christmas bauble
I) Made a fused glass teaight

Sugar headache

I made Christma Puddings yesterday.  We don't know whether there will be a "lockdown" over Christmas, so I've made an assortment of sizes. I also made a pudding for my bff Y.

I also reheated a leftover pudding from last year, ready to make truffles today.

Today, I made Nigella's Puddini.  Truffles made with christmas pudding, golden syrup, plain chocolate, and Pedro Ximenez sherry.    The PX is so  sweet,  it's sweeter than golden syrup.  Ask me how I know.

I melted some white chocolate to cover them with,  and I ate what was left in the melter.

And, I made peanut brittle.   I don't think I cooked the caramel long enough as it isn't setting.  I made the mistake of testing it while it was trying to set,  and this was the final straw.  I now have a full blown sugar headache,  I have no sympathy for myself.

I'm not sure about the puddini.  They taste like... cold christmas pudding and chocolate.    DH ate one and quite liked it, which was a surprise.    

I've put four in a tub to take to Y,  along with her pudding, but I need to try and shake the headache first.

Disheartening. Reheartening

Yet another china mug bit the dust last week.    This was caused by a badly placed tea caddy falling off the shelf,  while DH was getting the correct caddy down, and crashing into the mugs that were waiting to be filled with tea.

It was one of our Juliet mugs.   I bought some when they were new, and I bought them when they came up on Ebay.  At one point, I had so many that I had "spares" hidden in a second cupboard.  When I went to the spares cupboard,  there were none.    They don't come up very often now - not in the shape I want, anyway. 

They make me smile because DH and I both, independently, started a habit when the first Romeo and Juliet mugs joined our collection.   Whoever made the tea gives themselves one of the other china mugs (I also have lots of cat designs and hen designs,  but I find Dunoon make lots that I really don't like) but we always use a mug with a heart on for our other half.   It took a while before we realised that we both did the same thing. 

It's an unspoken "I love you", every single time.

We've been doing it for so many years,  and I'm struggling to work out when it started.   I think we bought the first ones from the Dunoon factory shop in Stone, when we stopped there on the canal.   That means it was after 1992, as we weren't on a hire boat.

The tea ones are very faded now through daily dishwashering.

Yesterday, I made the tea.... and there was no suitable mug in the cupboard;  the (few) we have left were all in the dishwasher, and were mid cycle.  

We do have the design in coffee cups (espresso, double espresso, and cappuccino),  and in the end I improvised by using one of the enormous breakfast (cappuccino) cups for DH's tea.    He commented on the enormous cup, and chuckled when I explained why.

Dunoon does still do something very recognisably R&J on their smaller mugs.  But the smaller mugs are too small for tea, or we don't find them particularly comfortable to hold.   After doing lots of careful comparisons, eventutally   I chose  something that is a variation on R&J, in a reasonably sized mug. 

We'll see how they go.  I can always put them at the back of the cupboard, for emergency use, until we get used to the idea.

 

Forwards and Backwards

We made a big step forward in getting things sorted in the living room. 

The  lovely and comfortable leather sofa has gone to a new home.    The two new (to us) chairs arrived, and everything was cleared to facilitate getting them in and sorted.  The room looks airier now, apart from the mahoosive ottoman now stored under the window.    I've put loads of the floating carp in it though (like Miss T's blankets,  the Revitive,  my various body stretching bits) so that's overall better.

I've got a pile of "project bags" which need to be relocated. 

I'm trying to find a replacement coffee table to go between two chairs (instead of the functional but big nest of tables.

This morning, a few things went backwards, so I'm feeling a little flat.  I'll bounce back.

5 out of 4 Halftime Hoodie with Kangaroo pockets

Miss Teen came for a n overnighter, and so she was able to try on the hoody.  Ths was made a size larger than her measurements suggested,  but this was partially necessary because the faric stretch was low.

Fused Glass

I finally collected my fused glass tealight holder

Going Pop

I made popcorn in my Evo this evening. It was soooo easy, I wish I'd tried it years ago when I got my fitst Instant Pot!

I ate it all, which was probably not the best idea I've had.  I used different seasonings with each small bowl,  all of them savoury.    

I bought some seasonings from a company called Condimaniacs recently, recommended by a member of the Kitchen Gadgetry facebook group  and they were perfect.

I'm hopinh Miss Teen likes popcorn, as I'd love to show her how quick and easy it is.

Start IP on saute high,  add oil (I used coconut oil), when its hot add corn, stir to coat in oil,  and put the glass lid on.  When it's finished popping, season it.  (I took out a bowlful at a time and seasoned it in the bowl as I wanted to try sa range of flavours.

Definitely a winner.

Clearing the Air

A lovely couple (they keep hens too,  and they keep quail!) came to collect my cabinet dehydrator today. 

It's been on my cutting table  the kitchen table since the other buyer said she wanted it, and I can't believe the difference it makes, not having it there.

It's like I can breathe again. All the fresh air and light from the kitchen window gets to the table now.

It's made a much bigger difference than I expected.  I mean, it only took up 1/8th of the table (it's a big table), but it not being there has made me want to get some fabric out and make something!  

I haven't felt that sort of urge for a while.

I cannot do that though, as I'm busy doing chores.

I've been thinking about trying to sort out the cats breakfast that is our living room.    I'd had a minor urge to do something a few months ago, but couldn't work out the whole picture and parked my plans.

 I'd been to my best friend's house recently, and her house is always so clean and tidy, and it made me more determined to try and get my own carp under control. 

Last night, something suddenly crystallised and, before I knew it,  I had the whole plan mapped out. 

The key piece, I won't do anything until the supplier has a sale.  I'm hoping that might be Black Friday.   In the meantime, I started looking for two easy chairs. I had an idea of what I wanted, and my search sharened things up quite quickly.  I kneow what I didn't want,  and I set up an Ebay search and a Gumtree search.

I found a pair that were interesting perfect, but were too much money. And a weird colour, which actually grew on me, the more I looked at neutral colours.   I kept coming back to them, and dimissing them because they were more than I wanted to pay,on a punt.  It didn't matter, I wasn't in a hurry,

And then, I saw the same set again on a different selling platform for a lot less money. 

So I asked for some more information.  And I asked a local chao how much he'd charge for collecting them...  and then I talked to DH about the whole project, and showed him the chairs.   He didn't wince at the colour, and he liked the idea of what I wanted to do.      

 And now I've bought them, and I advertsided my sofa, free to a good home,  and someone is coming tomorrow. (Although I'vde sometimes found with free stuff that people change their minds).

 Anyway, I've been dusting and vaccuuming the sofa (cat hair gets everywhere)  DH tipped it up so I could attempt to get the worst of the hair off the pads we'd put on the bottom.    It needs another go over.... and I've also I've also got to clean the exit routes.  You know what it's like,  you move something and find a mahoosive tumbleweed......

I'm looking forward to the changeover.

And I found myself thinking "hmm, quail.   We deferred them to the 'nect year' list about 10 years ago"

 

Hoodying

We've been seeing a bit of Miss Teen recently.  

She came to stay for a week while her Dad was having his final chemo session,  and she's been here after school occasionally to do her homework. I pick her up after school she comes here, does her homework,  we play a game, have dinner, watch tv, and then her Mum collects her (or we take her home).

She asked me to make her a hoody.      I was happy to have a go,  I've been trying to make myself do something cresative, even though I haven't felt so well. 

She picked some fabrics, and I started with 5 out of 4 Half time Hoodie for her.   The liging of the hood was handled brilliantly.  The lining was cut out the same size as the outer, but sewn with a bugger seam allowance.  This made the lining slightly smaller than the outer.   Then, the outide edge of the lining was turned in,   which made a really lovely finish. 

 I also made thumbhole cuffs, which were a bit of a pain. They were easier when I found someone else's tutorial for them

I also made a Jolly Roger Raglan  hoodie, from Paterns for Pirates,  with a crossover cowl hood.    This wasn't so great, it was a bit small (I think I probably picked fabric with too little stretch) .    Her thumbhole cuff tutorial was excellent.  Her hoopd lining was not as professional as the 5 out of 4 one.

Miss Teen preferred the Half Time Hoodie. I T was a little sad, as the raglan gives so much opportunity for uniqueness.  I decided it was a bit of a tight fr for her anyway, so I gave it to my brither to try on his grandaughter.

Annoyingly, I don't have pictures of either hoody!

I've made another Half Time hoodie now, a size larger, to give her more ease.    I attempted a kangaroo pocket on this one,  and no thumbhole cuffs.   The fabric was her choice, and this time I lined the hood with the same fabric as the outside. 

I'm waiting impatiently to see her again so I can give it to her.

 

 

 

 

Total crafty things this year:57

Sewing based makes: 

123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)

24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)

25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer
35) Condolence cards

36) Halftime Hoodie with thumbhile cuffs
37) Jolly Roger hoodie with raglan sleeves,  crossover cown hood, thumbhole cuffs
37) Half Tme hoodie,  larger size,  with kangaroo pocket

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired
E) Medium jug
F) Tall, "split personality" jug
G) Macrame angel
H) Felted a christmas bauble
I) Made a fused glass teaight

Ghosting

I had a household appliance up for sale, and was contacted by someone who lives about 40 mins away with an offer. 

I accepted the offer, and we discussed collection.  She was coming this way on -day or -day, and would be in touch at the weekend to let me know which day.

I marked the item as "sold subject to collection", and sorted out some bonus books for her.    She didn't get in touch.   I messaged her to ask how things were going.  2 days later, I messaged and asked  if all was OK. 

A couple of days after that, a craft Item I'd made at a workshop was ready for collection,  and the collection place was about  15 miinute  detour from the village/town  where this lady said she lived. So,  I messaged her  to say that I was going to be driving in her general direction to  collect something, and I could deliver the appliance to her if that was easier

Nothing.

I'm not cross,  I'm just a bit..exasperated.    I imagine she changed her mind,  but I do wish she'd just said.    

Instead, I've wasted two weeks waiting for her and trying to contact her,  and now I have to re-post the item.    And, I've had to mess arund the person i'm due to collect from.   

It's exasperating.

 

 

 

Gr-appleing

DH has been picking apples again.  Yet more from our amazing dual purpose tree,  and now loads from our russet.   The russets are only just getting ripe,  but they are starting to fall.  Our council#s green waste now bans fruit from their service,  so we are trying to use more.

There were so many this time,  something like 6 crates of them.     I helped by washing and cutting them all,  making sure there weren't any wormies or other invaders in the fruit that was passed for scratting.

The mill (scratter) and the press have certainly earned their keep this year.  It was so much easier using them than trying to do it on a smaller scale. 

We have a humungous fermenter sitting on the worktop,  full of juice and bubbling away.   It makes the house smell a bit,  so we try and have the outside doors open as much as possible.

This batch will be some form of cider. 

I'm going to try and put (some of ) the windfalls in the food waste.

 

CT

I'm always running to catch up at the moment.  Well, not running,  more like ambling a bit faster in the general direction of forwards, with the occasional loop de loop.

I had a CT scan yesterday.   There was, as usual, a problem locating my vein.   I watched my heart rate on the monitor,  the ectopic beat causing it to escalate every few beats before dropping back to something more sensible. 

Because my heart needed to be relaxed for the scan, the lovely radiologist got a senior colleague to have a look at my arms before making any attempt to stab me.  He looked carefully, and then concurred with her recommendation that they got a doctor with an ultrasound machine to put the canula in.  So it was all quick and relatively painless in the end.   I was tempted to ask him to pass his ultrasound over my diaphragm and gall bladder while he was there,  just in case we could see anything helpful, but I restrained myself.

They injected me with whatever it is (x-ray dye?),  said my heart rate was calm enough for me to not need beta blockers, and then I was motored into the tube.   As I slid in, I told myself there was no need to be claustrophobic,and no need to panic.   Then I found myself picturing myself panicking,  and then I realised I was starting to panic about panicking. 

 I managed to get a grip. and tried to concentrate on seeing what was actually happening.    I realised I was looking at the lasery bit when I read the words "do not look directly into the laser" printed on it. I averted my eyes.

The first couple of passes were easy. 

The final pass was a bit more dramatic.  The lights from the machine started going round and round, until it seemed like the tube was spinning. I felt like I was in some sort of time machine, or in a film where this represented a time machine.  

As the spinning slowed, I felt a very warm sensation around my back end and I thought I'd pooed myself.   I  remembered reading something about the process might generate a lot of heat, so I hoped that was the case.      

It was.

As I'd not had any beta blockers, I was able to change and go straightaway.

Just got to wait for the results now.

Christmas Craft Workshop

Full of cold, and wearing a facemask to protect others,  I went to the Bergin and Bath workshop with my brother.  I've found being in the car for long periods very uncomfortable,  but this was only 45 mins so it was OK.

The workshop was in Potten End at a gorgeous nursery.    We were making 3 things, and having lunch,  in the 5 hour window.

First up was a bit of Macrame.  We made a macrame angel, and she is lovel y. I anm going to put her on my tree this year.  

I liked making her, and I might have a look at doing some other macrame stuff.  DH and I chuckled at the thought of having endless pot hangers round the house.

Next, we felted a christmas bauble.  I iked making the bauble,  I was rubbish at the decorating.   I'd try this again, maybe even with baubles.

Finally, after lunch,  we had a triangular piece of clear glass to decorate with other bits of coloured glass.  I wanted to make mine into a chicken (rather tha a christmas tree),  but I had been slow getting up to get some glass,  I couldn't really see anything that I wanted,   my back had started to ache,  I was feeling bunged up and a bit crabby,  so I just put some shades of green on.   

It'll be fired in a week, and we'll go back and collect it.

The three ladies who ran the workshop were lovely (especially the macrame lady), and it was wel worth the money and the trip out.

I'm pleased that I've been able to add something to my creative makes list,  as I've not been very creative for a while.

Total crafty things this year:54

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer
35) Condolence cards

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired
E) Medium jug
F) Tall, "split personality" jug
G) Macrame angel
H) Felted a christmas bauble
I) Made a fused glass teaight

Stuff continues

Where to start?

Miss Teen came to stay for a week. She was meant to be coming anyway, but she had to come early because she was full of cold and had to have a day off school.

She wanted to go back to school, which was a pleasant surprise.  She could have done with a nother day off really,  but I'd asked her what she wanted to do, and she was keen to go in.     It's not right to  give a teen a choice, and then overrule them, so we took her to school

The daily school run was a bit of a shock to the system,  it's been a while since we've had to get up that early.   The afternoon pick up was always amazingly early, a different time ech day,  and it meant that it was difficult to start an activity.

She had an INSET day on Friday, and we insisted that she spenr part of it doing her homework.  In fact, most of the last week has been spent trying to get homeork done, arguing about getting homework done,   explaining that the time we'd spent arguing about it was longer than the actual homework takes,  and actually doing homework. And then checking and rechecking what homework was due when, and whrther it had been done.

The homework is actually very quick and hardly taxing,  I don't understand how they can have such relatively short school days and so little homework. 

WHat is definitely worse for them (versus our schooldays)  is that they have no desk at school, so everything has to be lugged around, all day.

I made her a hoody, at her request, which took all of Saturday and part of Sunday.   We also played soe board gaes (Ingenious, Catopoly, ad Scrabble),  and we watched all 3 series of Ghosts.

There wasn't uch opportuity to go out.  I'd arranged for us to do a Christmas Craft workshop, about 30 miles away, on the SUnday;  unfortunately, her Mum organised a riding activity as well,  so she didn't come to the workshop.

My brother stepped in and came with me so the booking wasn't wasted.  I'll write a bit more about it in a separate post.

I've had Miss Teen's stinking cold for several days now., and it's just turned into a cough.  I've done COvid tests so Iknow it's not a Covid cough,

DH started snuffling this morning, which isn't surprising.

The other health stuff continues.  Another GP phone appointment, and another circle in the eddy.... nothing can be done until I've finished the cardio appointments.    At least this time I was not feeling at my worst, so I was able to have a conversation about it and I didn't feel like a small child.

  

 

Ups and Downs

It's been a very up and down week.

I'd been prescribed some tablets to try an alternative way of resolving an onging issue.  The tablets made a small positive difference,  but made me feel queasy most of the time.  I persevered for just over a week, then tried 2 days without, and this morning I took one.    I feel nauseaous.     I'll take tonights tablet as well,   and see what the overnight is like.   

I've been unable to get through to the appropriate hospital team to chase up my results.  I'll try again tomorrow,  I'd like some particular information before I make another GP telephone appointment.

.......

On the plus side, I managed to dry a dehydrator full of tomatoes, ready to make tomato powder. 

Washing the plastic trays by hand was tedious,  tomatoes do stain.    I looked to see if I could buy steel shelves for my model, and found I could.  The price on the US website was eyewatering,  and that was without delivery and VAT.    No one in this country supplies them,  and I got nowhere with the European distributor.

On impulse, I looked to see if I could find anything secondhand,  maybe someone would be selling a "parts only" version.    I did manage to find a slightly differnet dehydrator by the same manufacturer, with metal trays.   It was about the same price as importing a complete set of metal trays,  but I thought I'd just sell my beloved dehydrator and that would offset the cost.  

The new one is a bit smaller, so that's a bonus.

I also bit the bullet and replaced my 8 year old laptop.   We've repaired it a couple of times, but its now become impossible to get the necessary parts, so I decided it was time.     

Part of the process was much easier than last time.    But moving some of the software has been painful.  Firstly,  the software to support some of my peripheral devices is no longer available.    That's frustrating.  It's not as if I'm changing operating systems!     

Secondly, I've got a few old programs, and the suppliers will not supply the source. Oh, they'e very kindly offered my a reduction on an upgrade,  but I don't see why I should pay any more than I already have.     It's OK when its just £30 for one thing,  but I have several, and it mounts up.

Luckily, there are only a few - but these few have taken more time than the other 80% took to install and move data.

Finally  the new laptop has a high resolution, and some of the programs don't display well.  Even Windows can't cope.  It's "Extra Large Icons" option is just rubbish,  they are no bigger than the "Large Icons".       I've decided that now is the time to give up my Office 2007, and move to the online version.  I have to do it at some point, so it might as well be now.       It's mildly irritating that layout isn't customisable enough: the proportion of screen that is taken up with icons is ridiculous.   

I'll get used to it, I know.  I know there's always a  bit of adjustment when switching,  and I don't mind that.  I do get frustrated with poor design, though. 

Our final expenditure was a new sheepskin rug.   A loooong time ago I had a quad sheepskin rug in purple from Celtic Woollens.    We had to replace it when out previous ancient cat, Maddie,  had an accident on it.    It's impossible to wash cat pee out of a sheepskin rug, so we binned it and I bought a replacement triple sheepskin rug in dark brown.

That rug has become very matted over the years, and each year I think "I'll buy a new one in the Spring".      I ordered one a couple of weeks ago, same place (now renamed), and it arrived very quickly.   

It's rubbish.

Well, it's not rubbish,  it's just a pale imitation of the previous rug.   It's still a triple,  but its smaller,  thinner and more cheaply made.     The unmatted wool fibre is lovely,  but it's just so.....thin.   I haven't had the energy to write to the supplier to ask why the change, I know its going to be cost driven.

 When I looked at alternative supplier, they were all the same sort of thing.   I couldn't find anyone selling the sort of rug that I wanted.

The old, matted, one is now on the cats' sofa, and the cats seem to love it there.

.........

DH did a lot of clearing up in the garden,  removed a lot of various bits of netting and stuff.  It looks lovely out there.  He did loads of srimming and mowing.  Unfortunately,  a stone got flicked up by  the strimmer and smashed one of the huge panes of glass in the greenhouse.

He's also been busy turning apples into cider,  and putting the "pear wine" into wine boxes.   He used two different recipes for the pear wine, and one involved the pears soaking for some time.  This pic shows a bit of wine from each of the 2 recipes,  the colour difference is amazing!

.......

We managed to do a couple of reasonably long walks last week, but no Pilates.  We had intended to try and walk every day, but it's not been practical.   I'll try harder next week.

We also managed to go out somewhere for the evening.  We went to see Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the theatre.  Of course I saw the film as a child;   I couldn't remember much about the story,  the only thing I could picture was Angela Lansbury and David Thomlinson and the children on the bed as it flew somewhere (and I could remember "Bobbing Along" after my SIL mentioned it on the way there).

The show was amazing!      The effects were so well done,  and it made me  want to watch the film again.   I didn't recognise any of the songs, apart from "Portobello Road", which I know well but had not realised it was from this show.   It was a lovely evening, and  I wish we'd taken Miss Teen.

.......

We watched Thor: Ragnarok on DVD.  I wanted to watch the end of 84 Charing Cross Road. I had recorded it when it was broadcast a while ago,  but it was one of those broadcasts which is split in the middle,  and the stupid automatic recorder didn't record the second part.   I didn't realise until it finished abruptly when I was watching it.

It searched but it wasn't being broadcast again.   I could do an online rental for an extortionate £3.49,   and iit was cheaper to buy a used DVD.   It was even cheaper (relatively speaking) if I bought 5 DVDs for £8,  so I bought Thor Ragnarok as one of the other 4 films.

I have to say that Ragnarok is now my favourite film in the Avengers canon.  We haven't watched them all,  and we've definitely missed at least one film in the timeline before this.  Ragnarok had me chuckling like a drain.   Matt Damon and Sam Neill's uncredited appearances;   the witty - funny - dialogue (like when Thor says he knows Hulk "from work);  so many things.    It's still making me chuckle this morning. 

 ........

 I've been trying to summon the energy to do something creative.    Failed.

 ........

 Right, that's enough self indulgence.  I'm going to summon the little energy I have and do some domestics.   The kitchen table is groaning under stuff,    once one thing is dumped there it seems to attract other things, unti its just heaped with stuff.

 I need it cleared so that I can cut some fabric when the mood strikes.