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.

 

Taking my own advice

I've always been sceptical about feng shui etc,  although when a room is packed with stuff, I do feel a bit "blocked" myself.  

When we had visitors a whle back, I'd had to empty the sewing room  guest bedroom, and everything got piled up in the box room.    The pile took over the worktable, which meant I couldn't do any laminating, or binding, or stuff.  I couldn't get to the organ.   

Some of the stuff was/is huge.  I had a cheap king sized duvet, which I'd cut bit from to make et bidding.  It was in a vacuum bag, but hte vacuum was rubbish.  There were/are also a couple of huge cushion inners, brand new and unused, bought because I didn't know what size I needed.

I've tried, several times,  to clear it... but there are a lot of storage things with items dumped in because I don't know what to do with them.

Today I decided tot ake my own advice, and try doind just a small thing.  One box. Or twenty minutes Or something. 

It wasn't going particularly well.   There wasn't room to move stuff around.     I too everything off the desk and stacked it up, boxing myself in to the room.  The postman rang the doorbell, and in my rush to get out there was a bit of an avalanche.

It made me more determined to try and get rid of some  of the clutter at least.

I've managed to:

• throw away one swing bin liner full of stuff
• clear out a box so I can use it to store stuff destined for the charity shop,  and filled it with items for the charity shop
  
• put a load of sewing related items in their correct places, in the sewing room
• moved some drawers around so I can get to stuff more easily
• recycled some boxes that I'd been saving to post things in.  I won't need them.  There will be others coming in anyway. Won' there?!
  
• found a space in a cupboard for some larger posting boxes.
• cleared the desktop and put the office gadgets in their rightful places
• put some stuff in the loft,  and taken some stuff from the loft to put in the charity box or to throw away
  

The duvet and the cushions are on the landing, while I decide what to do.   The cushions still have their tags on, so they can go to the charity shop.   Or the loft. The duvet has been hacked around, so I think that will have to go to  textile recycling.  Or the loft.  Except I don't need more stuff up there.

I'm just having a break, then I'll go back and look at it with fresh eyes, and hopefully get to a point where it feels like the room can breathe again.

And then I'll feel a little less blocked too.

Condolences

My best friend's lovely Mother in Law died.  She was a kind, warm, friendly woman,   and I can't quite believe I won't ever be hearing her rich gravelly voice again.

I wanted to make condolence cards for my friend and her hubby, and for my friend's father in law. 

I haven't used my embroidery machine for a long time.   It is a lovely machine, but when I have to rethred it, it's annoying.   I had been looking at bigger multi needles (as I wouldn't need to rethread so often), but I wanted to be able to see the prospective ones im the flesh.  Covid made that impossible.  And one of the ones I'm considering is in the US, and I can't find a UK distributor.

What I did consider,  was putting tubes on the machine. It wouldn't solve the thread problem, but it would reduce it.    I asked DH's opinion on what diameter tubing to get, and he got some for me and cut it into lengths.   I left them by the machine to put on next time I needed to rethread.

That was months and months ago.   These condolences cards are "next time".

I replaced two of the threads, and used the tubing.  I even went to the trouble of getting and using the steps to be able to reach the threads stand from above, to minimise the chance of me accidentally touching the adjacent threads.   I'm not very well at the moment,  and it was hard work.

The process is a darned nuisance and, partly because I wasn't well, the frustration of the stupidity of the process really annoyed me.  I was annoyed that the bloody  manufacturers have so little competition that they don't bother to improve something like this, it's so unnecessarily irritating.

When I'd fitted the two tubes, partially unthreading the adjacent threads by accident becase the stupid way they are designed it so - well -  stupid,  I got the machine to stitch out. The effing machine would not play ball, it was so frustrating.    I was effing and blinding a lot,  a way of trying to releve my frustration and pain. 

 I didn't know whether it was the tubing that was causing the issue.   Luckily, my brother and my cousin popped round for a cup of tea, so   I walked away from the machine and left it,  as trying to trouble shoot when I was not in a good frame of mind is not a good idea.

I asked on a forum specifically for my  machine whether anyone had tried fitting tubes, and had they had any success.   I had a dozen replies telling me that they didn't have a problem with threads tangling with each other (no other suggestions, just telling me that they didn't have a problem.  How is that a helpful reply?!),   several people telling me  that  I didn't need to do it,  at least one that said that it must be crap thread, and others that or I needed a humidifier, or a dehumidifier, or I was doing something wrong if I  needed it, yada yada yada.  It reminded me of the joke post about how many facebook users does it take to change a lightbulb...

The next day, Saturday,  I decided that I'd unscrew the thread plate and clean it out (yes, it needed it), and test all the needles individually.   I also found a thread on a generalist embroidery group where I'd had a discussion with another embroiderer some months ago, which led me to getting the tubing.  I asked her to post a pic of her setup.   

 While I waited for her to respond, I carried on.  I started with number 1 needle, which didn't have tubing, and that worked OK.   So, I unthreaded it, installed tubing, rethreaded, and tried again.   It worked.

I was pleased about it, because that showed me that the tubing was going to work, and it wasn't automatically to blame for the failure on needles 3 and 6.

Number 2 needle didn't have tubing, and that didn't work.    I rethreaded from scratch,  and it worked.  I unthreaded it, installed the tubing, tested it, and it was OK.   Number 3 already had tubing from yesterday.  I unthreaded, took the tubing off, rethreaded, tested.  It worked.  I unthreaded,  put the tubing on, rethreaded, it didn't work.  I checked the thread path, I made some adjustments, it worked.  

I was tempted to just put the tubing on 4 and 5,  they were already partially unthreaded because that's what happens.   But I followed my diagnostic path.  I rethreaded them and tested untubed, then tubed and rethreaded and tested again.  They werenow  working.

Number 6 was a problem with or without tubing.   Eventually, I got it to work, and then it still worked when I put the tubing on. 

I'd now spent a long time getting this far.   By this time, the lady had very kindly posted a pic of her setup, but I'd already done my own.   I think she used smaller diameter tubing,  but I was happy with what I'd done.

 

I stitched out the design for the first card.  Two variations of silver, on black felt.

I stitched out a variation of that design for the second card. One silver and one red, on black felt.   I decided that I didn't like them being so similar, so I created a simpler design for the FiL.  

I stitched out simple design, silver heart with the MiL name in rainbow thread, on black felt.   It was pretty, but it looked ike a gay pride thing.     I did it again in red.  It looked like a valentine.   I did it again in silver.  It looked right.

I can't believe it took me so long.  I am so out of practice.

I was pleased with them, and I was glad I'd done it.   I didn't think to take a picture.

I've left the machine threaded and tubed, and ready to go.   Hopefully it will work first time, next time. 

It occurred to me that I should do some Christmas cards or something, while I've got the machine going.  But I really  can't face it at the moment.

Total crafty things this year:51

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

Beet it

I bought cooked beets in Costco tbe other day.

I've bought them before, twice,  and hated them, twice.  I thought I'd try again.

The bag contained 3 x 500g packs.    I opened one, and cut one if the beegs into chunks.   I tried it, and it was as horrible as I remembered.

I then put some in two bowls, and I used Sarsons 15 minute pickling vinegars on them  [two flavours, one on each bowl]  and used the marinade function on tbd vacuum sealer.

They were both very acceptable,  enough fir me to be happy to make them again.

Next, I made beetroot bread,  which used half a pack.   I didn't put spring onions in, because (a) that would be  step too far for DH  and (b) I didnt have any.   I did put some onion powder in (dried onions which I had ground to powder).

It was lovely.

Really lovely.

I'm sure I've seen recipes fir beetroot in cake, so j might try that. 

I might also try roasting with some herbs. 

Anything but eating it plain.

deCIDER

DH decided to make cider again this year, using the apples from the middle tree.  

These are "dual purpose" apples, a variety called "Golden Noble".

Miss Teen had been caredully collecting and composting the windfalls for us, most of which had either been nibbled by birds or were scummy.

We are early in the season, so there are lots of apples. DH picked yesterday and today, about 35kg in total

 DH excavated the proper apple mill and the hydropress from the loft a couple of days ago, cleaned and sterilised them,  I He did most of the stuff himself, although I helped by cutting the apples for the final bucket.

The mill and the press worked really well, and the juice yield was quite high. 

We;ve now got a massive thing (fermenter?) sitting on the breakfast bar.  The house will stink for a while,  it's only just stopped stinking from the 2 fermenters of  pear wine he's got on the go.  

It was a good year for pears, too!

One of the apple trees, a cooker named "Crawley Beauty",  had only a couple of apples this year, and a lot of it is dead wood now. .    We'll have to take it out this winter, I think - or pollard it.   Next door has some trees growing, and they are huge, so taking this tree out might let in a bit more light. 

 I'll be sorry to see it go.

 

 

Juggling 2

The second jug was the tall jug,  our "split personality" one.  I painted one half, DH painted the other. 

It made me smile as soon as I opened the box with it in.  I love the colours, and I love the contrast.

I've no idea what we'll use it for.  A vase, maybe?

 

 

Total crafty things this year:50

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

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

 

 

Juggling 1

Our final two jugs were ready for collection today, so we went and got them.

The first is a mid sized jug, a pint or so, and I did this one while Miss Teen was doing her butter dish.

It's come out really well!  The orange is just fabulous, and matches the cooker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are  before pics:

 

Daughterly Date

My lovely SD messaged me to see if we fancied meeting up on Saturday.  She was goig to be travelling from the Peak district home, and wondereed about meeting somewhere.

She suggested Dunstable Downs, and it was lovely.

When I saw her, I just hugged and hugged her, and I didn't want to let go.

The Downs was  busy, but not overwhelming.  There were loads of people flying kites, some were really interesting.  The weather was good, not too hot, not too cold. 

The kids played with a bat, ball and frisbee ring, and we chatted.     We did a shortish circular walk to see the Cathedral of Trees.

We had a late lunch at the Hunters Lodge, which was a pretty pub, with surprisingly good food.  The waitresses were lovely.  I'd definitely go back there if we were in the area.

It was unexpected, and good to see them all

Especially good to see her though.  She means the world to me.

 

 

Cover Up

We have an electric desk, with a bamboo worktop on, as out kitchen table.  

Since I started using a projector to project patterns,  the table has been solely used as my cutting table  (and a dumping ground).     If we moved it, or adjusted it, or moved the projector,  I'd have to recalibrate everything,  and it's easier to just move it.

Underneath the table is a unit upon which sits my A0 printer.    I bought this when I was printing A0 versions of patterns (before my projector)',  when it seemed less hassle than getting them printed and delivered, 

DH uses the A0 printer sometimes,  so we don't want to get rid of it.   We've talked about putting it in the loft, bur there isn't a lot of space for it,  and I'm concerned that the ink would dry up superfast up there as it's very very hot. 

So, the A0 printer has continued to live under the table.   It's a bit of a dust trap,  and I don't think that's dong it any good.  Some time ago, I realised I could just "whip up" a cover for it.   Every time I dust it (which isn't that often, truth be told), I think the same thing,

Today was oe of those days when I cleaned it carefuly and thought again that I really should  make it a cover.   And then I decided to just do it.

Instead of measuring, I decided to do it on the fly.  I'm not sure which part of me thought that this would end well.  

The fabric wasn't quite wide enough, so I had to sew some together.  I had a brainwave of any idea which was to add some to each end, and use those added bits to box the corners.

It went quite well.  The cutting and attaching was fine.   The two front box corners were better than I expected.    It all went quite quickly.    I had to leave to run an errand, so when I came back I had to do the two back box corners, and then tidy the hen all the way round. 

I thought about using the coverstitch to do the hemming, but decided that I'd put elastic round the sides and back, to help it fit snugly.   I also decided that thes was the ideal time to break out that elastic foot I bought for the overlocker.

I realise that using clear elastic, designed for stabilising seams, was probably not the best choice. However, it wasn't a disaster (it wasn't really an improvement to the item though). 

It isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a disaster.      Adding knicker elastic to the back, using my never-before-tried elastic foot on my overlocker, was a bit ambitious, and possibly wasn't the best idea. I've had, but it's OK.

The corners won't win any awards, but they really aren't bad (as in "really aren't bad consiudering that I did this on the spur of the moment, made it up as I wet along, and was in a hurry")..  They do the job:  the cover sits on the printer, it's held in place at the corners, the front is straight and neat.

And it will keep the dust off.

Total crafty things this year: 48

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

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

Uplifting continues

And then there was some pottery stuff.

 I collected my Hen Heart Plate (and Miss Teen's pressie for her Mum, but I can't post that). 

It came out really well, better than I'd hoped.   

I drew round the plate, cut out the heart, marked the centre, and the top and the bottom of the heart, and scanned it. Then I resized the scan to 90%, saved it, printed it, cut it out.   Resized the original to 80%, saved it, prnted it, cut it out;  Resized the original to 70%, saved it, printed it, etc etc. 

I pierced the centres, so I could align them and then drew round each one, in pencil, giving me lines to use to write on.

I hadn't set out to do background colours, it was originally going to be just a white background.   I made a cockup right at the start, and I had to paint over it,  so I ended up painting in each band before doing the writing.

Each "set" of hens was done in one colour, and  the colour changed for the next "set".     It starts with "Delilah", in the centre.    I wanted to do a heart shaped spiral, and the crossovers can be seen where "Not Norman" follows "Siouxsie",   where "Batty" follows "Nora", and where "Pong" follows "Ping" (I've marked them on the closeup)

 I fluffed up near the end, I accidentally leant on "Blondie" while I was putting the dots round the edge.

I'd had to get my spreadsheet out to get the hens in the right sequence.  I know the sequence of the garden girls, and I know the sequence of he Allotmenteers,  but I've rarely ever thought of them all together and I didn't want to miss anyone.

Janet at Hands on Art recommended a particular type of plate hanger, so it's going on a wall soon! 

I forgot to collect my medium sized jug, which I'd taken in to be fired a couple of weeks ago.  I'm going to collect it when I collect the tall jug (DH finally painted his side of the tall jug, and we took it in to be fired when we collected this plate), and I'll post about them then.

Total crafty things this year: 47

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)

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

Uplifting

Despite the disheartening stuff, there have been some 'achievements'.  Firstly, some sewing.

I wanted to make a lighter dressing gown, same style as the one I made before but using brushed cotton.  I bought 4m of fabric (cue eye rolls from DH when it arrived) from Ebay.  This fabric has been on my watch list for months, specifically with a dressing gown in mind.

I used the projector to project the pattern,  which was a bit of a challenge because some of the pieces were cut "on the fold" which corrupted the projected cutting lines a bit. Fortunately there is plenty of ease in the pattern.

I moved the belt loops up a bit on this one.  I'm short-waisted and the standard placing, which I used in my original pink fluffy version, was a bit too low.   Ironically, the standard placing wouldn't have been too bad in this version.

I did the whole thing in one go, and I am happy with the result.  I need to add a kam snap, and I'll do that one morning when I'm wearing the dressing gwn (and feeling better).

Excuse the crappy picture. 

It's soft, light, and comfortable, and I'd definitely make it again.  It was the Compose Robe from Love Notions.

Total crafty things this year: 46

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)

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.

Disheartening

Its been one of those fortnights.  I'm not sure what to say, what not to say, where to start even.

I had a phonecall from the hospital very late one afternoon saying that I was on the list for a 7-day Holter monitor. They'd had a cancellation, so would I like to come now.     I would. I did. It was all fitted and I was back out before the car park charge kicked in.

It's actually not going to be quite 7 days,  more like 6 and a bit, as I have to get the monitor back to them by 10am on the end date. 

It's been very up and down while I've been wearing the monitor.  The daytimes have been much queiter than in previous weeks; the first couple of nights were fairly quiet, and then I had one of the worst nights I've had.  I've just worked it out, it was the 3rd worst night I've had.  I hope the monitor captured it.   

 Last night was another "one of the worst" nights (3rd or 4th, I'm undecided), and even getting up and walking around to let my back and shoulders drain only gave temporary relief.    It was so bad that I did a Troponin test, just in case.  (Which was negative of course, I wouldn't be writing like this otherwise).    I'm shattered, and I'm still suffering the after effects now (headache and shoulder pain)

I hope these things show up.   I've tried to make notes to accompany my button presses,I've been using an app on my phone, and trying to keep the phone within reach.  It's not always easy to do.

I hope they don't take too long to analyse them.

A few days ago I had my Echo, and nothing requiring urgent attention was revealed.  I couldn't see the images, as I was facing the wall.   The operator wouldn't let me lie down "properly", from her point of view she didn't need to see the palpitations.  I'll get the results in due course.

In other news, Miss Teen's dad went into hospital to have a tube inserted in his stomach, ready for him to start Chemo and Radiotherapies on Wednesday.  It was done under local anaesthetic, and it went wrong.      The chemo and radio therapies have had to be delayed, and he had to have an op (under general anaesthetic) yesterday to try and repair the damage, clean him out, and put a new tube in.         He sounds more like himself today, and he's hoping to be discharged soon.  It's not my story, so I won't say  more about it.

 

 

 

Bed-azzled

A few weeks ago I had been excavating the guest bedroom/sewing room so that my amazing exDiL could stay.  

I accidentally found a "Mrs Tweedy's Chicken Pies"  pillwcase,  from a single Chicken Run duvet cover set that I'd bought back when I was making bunting for DH's 60th birthday.   I had the brilliant idea of turning it into a kingsize duvet for the guest bedroom.  I even thought I might be able to "whip it up" before exDiL arrived.

The idea was simple.  Cut the seam off each of the two long sides,  and attach pieces of a sheet which would widen it to the new size.  

How difficult could that be? 

Well, let's just say that I didn't get it finished in time.   It should have been simple.  If I had had more faith in myself,  then it would have been finished in time. 

I did manage to finish it the day she left, but it needed washing so I wasn't able to put it on the bed.  Then  a  couple of weeks later Miss Teen came to stay, and she has her own duvet cover at our house, so it still didn't get used.  

I had been waiting for it to be on the bed to take a pic,  but Miss Teen's duvet cover is still on there as she's likely to stay again soon.

So why am I writing about this now?

Yesterday, I was determmined to finish the job by making pillow cases.   I had one case which came with the duvet cover,  and I needed 4.  So, I attempted to make 2 plain blue cases,  and then I cut the printed one in two two pieces, and gave each piece a bit of backing.

The first, plain, pillowcase was whipped up in record time.  I'd even included a little envelopey bit to keep the edge of the pillow enclosed.    

The second, plain, pillowcase was OK (but not great). Too cocky.

For the two patterned ones, I didn't have enough blue sheeting in single pieces tp make a back (the pillowcase is remarkably wide), so I had to sew some together to make a big enough piece .     That part worked OK.

And then I had to put them together.  The first one was OK,  the envelopey bit was on the printed fabric.  The second one...  I spent ages farting about to get theenvelopey bit perfect.  I used an existing hem on the fabric to make sure it looked beautiful, and I spent ages making sure I had it the right way so that the hem on the inside would also be correct.

Eventually I had it all square and clipped together on my ironing board, and I sewed it.  Beautiful straight edges, lovely job!.    

And I realised, too late, that I had put printed bit the wrong way round so that the printed bit is on the inside.  Or, if the printed bit is on the outside,  then the underside has an overlocked seam across it!  {RollsEyes}

To compound my error further,  I didn't check the direction of my cross seam when I sewed the sides up,  and the dratted exposed overlocker seam is attached in a different direction at each side. This wouldn't have been so noticeable, if I had bothered to change the cream top thread, but I didn't. So the mistake is GLARING because the thread is differnet on each side, so its obvious there is an issue.

I might try and iron it to flatten it, and handstitch one side to hold it down. 

I could try and cover the whole length with ribbon or something, using my coverstitch (did I get that tape foot?  Hope so, as that will come in handy).  

In the meantime I stuck them in the wash, and  now they are hanging on the airer.  I may or may not get round to trying to hide my mistake, but I suspect it will be another last minute fix.

I'm not sure what has happened to me,  there was a time when nothing less than perfection would do.

I'm going to count the "cover" and the "4 pillowcases" as two separate makes. (but not as 5 makes).

Total crafty things this year: 45

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

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.

Tears for my friend

Last Sunday, when Miss Teen was here, we popped to our local farm shop to get some sliced meat for an improptu "roast dinner".

We got back in the car, masks off, and I pulled out of my space. As I drove forward, m best friend, who I haven't seen in person in a year because of Covid, walked across in front of my car! She waved. I waved and  I stopped the car (apologies to the poor woman in the car behind me), leapt out and ran to see her.  We hugged and said we'd meet up in the week for a catch up.

I got back in the car and, to the consternation of Miss Teen,  I burst into tears.

I tried to explain to MissT that I wasn't upset, I was just suffering from an overflow of emotion.  She wanted to understand more, so I said I'd try and explain when we got home (because trying to work out how to explain it was just resulting in more overflows).

We got home, and I did my best to explain.  I can't explain it all here in this blog post, because this led to  quite an involved discussion about the nature of different types of friendships, but I will share one the crucial bits:

 My best friend lives 'just around the corner' from me.   I haven't needed to see her in person during the last year because I know she's just around the corner.  Knowing that she is there, that we could see each other if we needed to,  has been  enough.   I've known that when I do see her, we'll pick up as if there had been no year's gap.  

If I had lived further away, it would have been much harder.

However, seeing her so unexpectedly, and then actually seeing her close enough to hug her and talk to her, made the long year of not seeing her seem endless, and I missed her so much, and I wanted to see her properly and talk and laugh and do all the normal things that you can't do by messenger. I had so much that I wanted to share with her, that it hadn't been possible to share by Instant Message,  and she had a lot that she had wanted to share with me.

And because I was feeling that way, and crying, all the other things from the last 18 months all came rushing up as well, and it created a tidal wave of emotion that I just couldn't control... and it came out as tears.

My best friend and I (and our husbands) did meet up a few evenings ago, and it was lovely. Normal.  Both pairs had had a lot of stuff going on, and it was cathartic to be able to share and to have it shared.

They really do have a plateful at the moment, and I'm hoping we'll be able to arrange another catchup soon.

 

Small Jug

Our local pottery painting workshop had been doing these great "Paint at Home" options.   We had done one lot of things, and I had bought a few items back in January to do during lockdown.

I started one, which DH needs to complete, some time ago.  I'll post more about that another day.

I also did a small jug.    I had got some bottles of  paint, one orange, one black,  with "nibs" in, which made writing easier.  I decided to write the names of the many Hens we've known over the years.  

I grouped the names, by swapping colours, so that all the "got at the same time" hens were together.  Where we had different types of hens at the same time,  I used a bit of coloured paint in the letters to group the hens that were the same breed.

It was much easier writing with this than trying to use a brush.  It wasn't superneat, but it was OK.

I took it back to be fired, and collected it about a week ago. 

 It's very simple, but I like it!

I'd like to try and do then hen names again, but a bit more carefully.  I bought  a plate to go on the wall,  and Janet (the owner) very kindly lent me some more nibbed bottles, with more colours, for this project. 

I've got a medium sized jug being fired at the moment, and that'll be ready for collection  in a couple of weeks.  Because of the loan of the nibbed bottles, I've promised to get my plate and the loan items back to Janet when I collect the medium jug.

I'll get started on that in a few days.

Total crafty things this year: 43

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

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.

Miss Teen

After 17 months, Miss Teen was finally able to come and stay for a couple of nights.  

We were so happy to see her!

She arrived in time for dinner (fish fingers, at her request) on Friday, and left after dinner on Sunday. 

We made cocktails (Seedlip, using the Laverstoke recipe);  she painted a pottery item for her Mum's birthday (more on that in a couple of weeks) while I painted a jug for me; she made a birthday card for her Mum;  we watched some films (Dark Shadow and Nuns on The Run (which wasn't as funny as I remembered),  she made Passata with DH and pressure canned it, having some to take home; we played Ingenious;  we made pizza on Saturday;   we chatted and caught up.

I can't remember what else.  

It all passed very quickly.     

It was so lovely to see her.   I'm hoping it won't be too long before she comes again.                

Cat sick

Both kittens have been unwell,  Shelby was hospitalised and put on a drip. She;s home now.

The cats ate at 9pm on Monday.  On Tuesday, neither was interested in food, and Shelby was sick.  We thought it might be the weather, or hairballs.  Both cats are long haired, so they do have hairball issues.  I have Shelby some hairball paste.  We locked the catflap and ept them in so we cold see what was going on.

Shelby was sick again in the evnening  and was sick in the night. We woke up, DH cleared it up.  When I got downstairs, she'd been sick twice more that we hadn't heard.   She was sick again.    We took her to the Vet immediately.

Bloods were taken, an anti sickness injection given, something else.  We took her home, with instructions to return if she didn't improve.

We set up a camera at the water bowl so we could see if she was drinking (she wasn't). We put another one by the litter tray  to see if she was weeing or pooing (she wasn't)

She continued to be sick. We took her back the next day, and we were fortunate to see our regular very this time.   By now, we were concerned that she might be dehyrating.     Her stomach was a bit gassy, there was no sign of constipation. Another injection.  Phone this evening, and bring her back and we'll put her on a drip if it doesn't improve.

It didn't improve, so we took her back that evening.   She went on a drip, they did more tests, nothing. She refused to eat. 

We took Lewis in on Friday, as he was also not eating and wasn't right.    He hadn't been sick, but he must be suffering from the same thing.    He had an an appetite stimulant, and came home with us. 

We were able to see Shelby and say hello, which was lovely, and the two kittens were happy to see each other.  

Shelby had bad diarrhoea on Friday and Saturday, and we were hoping that whatever it was she had eaten was finally out.   On Sunday, she  ate a small amount, the diarrhoea had cleared up, and she was allowed home.

Lewis drank a tiny amount. We weren't so worried about him, because he wasn't vomiting.   He eventually ate a little on Saturday,  and a bit more on Sunday.  He was back to normal food wise by Monday,  and he was fully back to normal this morning. 

Shelby is eating small amounts, and is still a little quiet.   

We're keeping an eye on her.