curious me

so far...

2012-01-18T10:31:00.004Z

Well, I haven't done too badly.

a. I have an etsy shop and a folksy shop, both of which are empty at the moment!
b. I have set up my hypnobirthing website so now need to get on and advertise it.
c. I have sent off my second OU assignment and am working on number three.

I feel like I've at least got something done at last!

And I have another blog...yes I know, I'm rubbish at posting on this one!...but I'm aiming to do better, honest! It's a blog that will link to my shops...I wasn't sure that I wanted this blog to be my shop blog so.... we shall see.

Meanwhile...I want one of these!!!!!It's from a fabulous blog.

last day of the year...

2011-12-31T20:33:00.001Z

I have been rather bad...rubbish in fact....on this blog over the last few months.I'm annoyed with my self really...so I guess I should resolve to do better.But I know how awful I am at New Year's Resolutions.I start with the best of intentions....but go down hill fast.

So instead I'll tell you what I am definitely going to do in 2012:

Not waste money or time.

Get my online shops off the ground.

Get my hypnobirthing website up and running.....advertise.

Finish my Hypnotherapy diploma.

Find new and enjoyable ways to use ALL my skills to make some money....relying on bank work at my local hospital is too insecure.

And that's it!I'm determined to really do all of this...after all, I have a whole year!

2011-08-06T22:18:00.001+01:00

Sunshine

2011-07-27T19:44:00.001+01:00

Ah the joy that is the summer holidays.
Who needs a swimming pool when you have a £1.50 paddling pool from good old Asda.

starting over...

2011-07-25T14:16:00.003+01:00

Hmmm...whilst trying to yet again revamp my blog, I seem to have managed to delete quite a lot of it.

So it's sort of a new start.
Again.

Maybe it reflects life in general...always trying some new improvement that doesn't quite do what you want.

Moral of the story?

Make the most of what you've got.

- until next time...

self portrait friday......

2010-03-20T10:08:00.003Z

Yes, I know.

Saturday....oops!

You can see Nina's here

I'm not long out of bed (slob!) and am having a much needed cup of tea....maybe need another in a minute.

My oldest daughter is making pancakes for the younger one.

I have a list of things to do:

Tidy up.

Sort out washing.

Organise craft stuff.

Make something.

The weather is rubbish.......not sure what's happened to all the sun we had last week!

inspirations....

2010-03-17T08:24:00.003Z

Some days are spent moving from blog to blog, link to link, in a frenzy of inspiration gathering.

I really am able to spend/waste/enjoy hours of just looking around, filling my already packed head with yet more ideas.

And what do I do with these ideas?

Very little really.

I wander around local shops, looking at the work of other creative souls and I moan.

I envy them.

I say (in a voice of disdain), 'God, I could make that! Look at the price!!'

I can be quite nasty.

Really, it's jealousy.

Envy that these people have the courage to take their stuff and try.

And me?

Cowardly.

Too ....nervous, worried, full of negativity, stuck.

I should be ashamed....and I am.

I'm angry at myself, at my sad lack of courage, at my lack of belief in myself.

So I thought I'd show you all the Bird Lady I made for an art exchange.....carved driftwood, paint and wool.

I loved making her and think I could sell such things....I'd certainly buy them.

As for gathering inspiration.....I'll keep doing it....it's fun and amazing to see the massive amount of creativity in the world.

Here are two I've spent three cups of tea on this morning:

here and here

So...the first item on my 2010 'TO DO' list is;

1. Be brave.

self portrait friday

2010-03-12T18:18:00.006Z

Oh what fun!

This is me...and Bhindi....my muse maybe.

I love her lots.

I've decided to join in with Nina's self portrait friday stuff....look at hers here.

Otherwise .....well, today I've been a slob.

Youngest daughter is off to the school disco tonight.

Oldest daughter would rather have her arms pulled off by wild animals.

I will be the chauffeur.........

Must go and remove the ultra flattering towel from my head and let my hair dry!

Oh how freaky! My last post about Bhindi was on EXACTLY the same date last year.....how amazing is that!!!???

ch...ch...ch...changes

2010-03-07T21:17:00.003Z

Yup, David Bowie would be turning in his grave.

If he was (were?) dead.

Which he isn't.......

I've been absent for much longer than I intended.....weird how time does that sometimes.

You may guess (from the big grinny picture) that I saw the new 'Alice in Wonderland' today (with my daughters).

We liked it.

I thought we'd absolutely LOVE it....but although it was good and Johnny Deppe was his usual lovely self, it wasn't as great as I expected.

Maybe it's just been built up so much that it couldn't live up to the hype?

The whole 3D stuff really freaked me out....to my shame it's the first 3D film I've seen on the big screen....it was weird and gave me a tiny bit of a headache.

But....oh my....it's terribly clever!

Gorgeous colours, great voices, loads of mushrooms and a rather fabulous Cheshire Cat....always my favourite character...well and the Mad Hatter.

And now?

Slobbing in pyjamas and admiring my newly decorated blog....thought it needed a tweak.

What do you think???

shocking!

2010-02-21T14:39:00.003Z

What is so shocking?

Well...to my shame, NO posts since my birthday....maybe hitting 47 was all too much after all.

And my addiction to making bread.....not sure how it started or why, but we are lovin' the whole fresh bread thing.

And it really is rather satisfying to make....a strange French way of making it, but one that seems to work well and provides us with yummy bread!

The book (above, I hope!) is fabulous and comes with a short dvd.

Even better, it's of the lovely French baker making his bread....sigh.....great accent, floury hands.........

Bread porn really.

As for crafty stuff.....well there's some on the way, but only in my head.

When it becomes a bit more real, I'll take some photos and show you!

birthday breakfast

2010-02-08T09:37:00.002Z

birthday breakfast
Originally uploaded by nellyme

47.
Wow.......

Here is my rather gorgeous breakfast made by one of my daughters.

In my favourite bowl on a lovely glass plate.....rather posh I think!

It was utterly delicious.....and if you're feeling just a tiny bit jealous....here's the recipe.

From: ' Rachel's Favourite Food' by Rachel Allen (page 187).

Spiced Nectarines (serves 4)

100g/3 1/2oz caster sugar
100ml/3 1/2 fl oz water
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
20 green cardomom pods..slightly bashed, but seeds not taken
out
6 cm/2 in cinnamon stick. slightly bashed
4 nectarines.

Put the sugar, water, vinegar, cardomom pods and cinnamon into
a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Take out the spoon and boil for 2 minutes while you prepare the
nectarines.
Cut them in half, remove the stone and place in the saucepan of
syrup.
Cook on the hob with the lid on for 15 minutes or until the
nectarines are nice and soft.

Serve warm or cold. These keep very well for 4 or 5 days in the
fridge.

Well, we didn't have any cinnamon sticks (only Christmas decoration ones which my daughter refused to use!) so added a bit of ginger instead....we also forgot the wine vinegar.

Even with our accidental tweaking of the recipe, it's yummy.

I'm off to get ready for:

coffee with a friend.
lunch with a friend.
tea with a friend.
presents with the girls after school.......

Hmmm....birthdays are great aren't they??

decisions and new horizons......

2010-02-04T14:17:00.003Z

I didn't intend to take so long before I got around to post 101!

It's definitely a sign of impending old age...time is flying by and I hit 47 in just a few days time.......eeeek!

Life has been busy-ish.

Work as a midwife (with a pre work night out thrown in), lots of thinking (= brain ache) and some impending changes too.

At the moment I work mainly as a youth worker with a bit of midwifery when I can.

The youth work has changed....lots and lots more admin in my job, less actual contact with young people.

Loads of putting data onto a spreadsheet (arrrrrgh), very little youth work.

Hmmmmmm......not good.

So, a new possibility has fallen into my lap.

Instead of driving into work (22 miles each way) and not getting any mileage paid because it counts as my work base........

a local job, in my town, that I could walk to and if I have to do any driving out of town I get 40p a mile.

Instead of admin-world, with a bit of data collection/reports thrown in and the lovely addition of policing my colleagues........

real, live, face to face work with young people EVERY DAY.

Instead of occasionally having to catch up with a colleague in a club session in the evening, therefore having to organise someone to keep and eye on my two girls.......

work in the day time.

Instead of begging, pleading, blackmailing managers to allow (let alone pay!!) for some extra training..........

training galore, on a plate, encouraged and paid for.

So.....

yup, I've applied.

Sent the application off yesterday.

Am trying to be calm....not excited, not smiling and jumping up and down - in case I jinx the whole thing.

And the bad points.....well there has to be something doesn't there?

I will be a little worse off each month at first.

Not loads.....and I won't be paying out for petrol etc.......and the possibilities for my 'career' (ha! didn't know I had one!!!) are rather exciting.

So keep your fingers crossed for me!

As for everything else.

well, here is my list.....no links as my fingers are too cold to type much longer and I need a cup of tea....

1. I will make stuff and sell it. I did well at the Christmas Stall.....maybe an Etsy shop.

2. I will join Fleamarket Floosies (on Flickr I think) and will post pictures of amazing finds and drool over other people's.

3. I will eat healthily and be more adventurous as a cook. I have become lazy.

4. If I don't get this written just for me job, I will look around to find something that inspires and interests me....the one I'm doing doesn't.

That'll do for now....maybe number five should be a giveaway?....I will give it more thought whilst the kettle boils and I put some gloves on.......

100

2010-01-15T08:20:00.002Z

stripes
Originally uploaded by nellyme

To my astonishment, this is my 100th post!

I'm a bit stunned.....

I know that for many bloggers, getting to 100 is nothing....they've got 1000s of posts in their archives....but I'm quietly pleased.

I didn't know if I'd keep it up...it's been a busy year with a few changes....but I have.

I'm not sure that I have the most exciting blog in the world.

It's not full of amazing images....sometimes they are truly terrible.

I'm not a brilliant writer.

It's not full of meaningful...anything really!!

But, do you know what?

I like it.

I enjoy the feeling of being part of the blogging community.

I like doing my little bit of writing, choosing my (crap) photos.

Everyone seems to do a fabulous giveaway when they get to the 100th post.
I'm not prepared....it sort of crept up on me!

So today I will give it some thought and will get back to you....soon!

Have a lovely day.....I'm doing a bit of tidying today.
And later (or soonish), I need to tidy my blog up a bit too........

Oh...and the photo?

That's me wearing the cowl and armwarmers I made from a childrens long-sleeved tshirt I got from a local charity (thrift) shop for a pound!

a simpler life

2010-01-11T16:16:00.004Z

It's a thoughtful time of year isn't it?

The whole resolutions thing, new starts, a new decade.

Over the past few months I've tried to make some important changes in my life.
Maybe it's an age thing.
Perhaps I'm finally emerging as a grown up.

I've taken steps to sort out my crappy ways with money....quite scary steps actually, involving dumping my considerable debts onto a debt management company who have spoken nicely to all the people I owe money to and sorted out tiny repayments over rather a long time.

I don't like it much, but it does mean I now pay back 165 pounds each month for everything instead of 700.

Yup, that makes a huge difference.....I have no overdraft, which is challenging.....but do (just about) earn enough to pay everything now.

So I'm working on becoming a bit more responsible....it'll be slow!
I am getting better at budgeting though which I'm secretly (or not so secretly now!) rather proud of.

I seem to be sort of taking part in Tif's challenge without really meaning to.

I have become Charity Shop Queen.
I've bought very few new things and I like it.

It's fun to search out the bargains, it's saving me a fortune and it's creative too.

What's not to like?

I'm also clearing out lots of unwanted rubbish at home.
Clearing cupboards, re-homing stuff, thinking about creative storage.....more fun and a tidier house too.

Alisa talks about a quieter, simpler creative life in her blog and it really struck a chord when I read this post.

Sometimes we all need a bit of stillness.

So I think my goal for 2010 is to have a simpler life.

Full of creativity.

Noisy and quiet.

Less quantity.

More quality.

Wish me luck!

2010.....

2010-01-01T11:13:00.005Z

I woke up to blue sky and frost.
Sunshine streaming into my conservatory bedroom....

Rather a lovely start to 2010 I think.

And I choose to see it as an omen (sounds scary!!), a sign
that this year will be a rather lovely one.

Of course, I needed my tea....in a lovely new cup (like I need anymore) from Habitat.

Surrounded by mess.....bits and pieces of crafty stuff, buttons

from Colette, jars and piles and......yup, mess.

Like lots of other people, half of me hates the whole New Year's resolution thing.

It's like setting myself up to fail, to be disappointed in myself,

to wish I could be 'better' in some way.

I looked at some old photos the other day....photos of me when I was about 20.

I remember never being happy with myself, always wanting to be thinner, taller, smaller, prettier, funnier, sexier, cleverer, longer hair, shorter hair, less culy, more curly, different curly........the list is endless.

In the photos I look lovely.

Slim, clear skinned, great hair.

What is it that makes us want more, when what we already have is wonderful?

So, I feel a bit unsure about making resolutions.

But...there are a few things I want to do for me.

That will make me feel a little happier and healthier too.

I need to lose weight and do a bit of exercise.

So I will.

Small steps I think.

Helped by this.

So Fridays will be interesting!

And I want to be creative again for me.

It was good to do the craft stall, but now I want a bit of selfish creativity......some journalling, a bit more sewing.

Some experimentation without going out and buying loads of things.....I have plenty to play with.

Play, I suppose is the important bit.....some creative play in 2010.

Long post...sorry!

I'll post again when I've worked out the rest of my plan for 2010...yes, there is one....bubbling around in my brain!

still Christmas.....

2009-12-28T15:34:00.003Z

Yup, this is my Christmas smile!!

In our house, it's Christmas Eve.......

The girls were with their Dad over Christmas and came back yesterday.

So, we'll have our Christmas day tomorrow!

Fun really.....it makes the whole thing last a bit longer....they love having two Christmasses.

So tonight we'll put out our stockings and go to sleep knowing that well wake up to presents......fab!

And I have done myself a stocking which I'm finding terribly exciting!

Pictures of our (late) festivities tomorrow....hope you all had wonderful Christmasses.

Christmas....

2009-12-23T21:10:00.002Z

The tree in Bucky Doo
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Just a quick post to wish you all a very, very Happy Christmas!

My girls are with their Dad and I'm off to London to work......weather permitting.

So, keep warm and have a fabulous time.
I'll post again when I get back!

Late night shopping, trees and bruised knees......

2009-12-17T18:45:00.007Z

Last Wednesday I had a stall at the Electric Palace Late Night

Shopping evening.

It was fun.

Very

Christmassy.

I made some money....in fact sold most of my (extremely reasonably priced) stuff.

Lots of people sold little if anything.

I don't think I was successful because my stall was totally amazing, but because I thought very carefully about why people go to this kind of event.

I didn't think anyone would want to buy big, expensive things, but would be looking for bargains, value for money, something different that might work as a small present or stocking filler.

So lovely to make a little bit extra just before Christmas!

Bucky Doo is a kind of town square here in Bridport.

Strangely named, but a fun place to be....especially now, with lots of lights and people whizzing around doing their last minute jobs.

I made these tea cup earrings for my stall.

I made five pairs and got a call on my mobile from a friend whilst I was on my way to the Electric Palace.

She said the place had opened early (!!!) and there were two women at my stall wanting to buy things......

How exciting!

But I was on my way, with my prices in my pocket, so did my selling over the phone with my friend as my middle man (or rather, woman).

She worked in sales in London and just can't resist!!

These are my knees.

Battered.

Bruised.

Shamefully I tripped up the kerb and fell flat on my face....

well, knees first actually.

I feel terribly sorry for myself......I whacked my arm against a metal lamp post and landed with my head about a centimetre from a brick wall.

It was pretty horrible, but could've been SO much worse.

I blame my crocs......

beautiful rain

2009-12-08T08:42:00.003Z

weymouth
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Yup, I know what you're thinking and frankly I'm bored with it too!

But, yesterday I had to go to Weymoluth for a hospital appointment.
It was to get the results of the MRI scan I had a few weeks ago to see what was happening with my wrist.

Your wrist??!! you cry....well, have a look at this post if you want to know the story......

The appointment was rubbish....yet another different doctor who hadn't read my notes.

As someone who works in the world of hospitals (I'm a midwife and a youth worker too) I find all this incredibly offensive and become very formal and efficient.....I get my 'work hat' on.

So, after I summarised my notes for him (well, someone had to.....) he said......'Ok, we'll see you in four months'.

After I took a handful of sedatives and blood pressure tablets (not really) I suggested that this just may be a waste of all our time......

Basically, I did fracture my wrist (the radial styloid) and also ruptured a ligament.
And it seems that my wrist will never be quite the same again and they can do no more.

That's what I wanted to know really.....I wasn't hoping for freaky, amazing surgical intervention, just to confirm what I already knew.

But anyway....I've waffled and gone off course a bit.....sorry!

Weymouth was wet and windy and a bit cold.
The wind kept slapping rain into my face (so annoying at the best of times, but wearing glasses....arrgh!!)
It was grey.
I didn't like anyone I saw (sorry Weymouth!)

I walked along the seafront....the esplanade......and just looked.

Properly.

The sea was amazing.
Grey, white, palest blue and silver.

The sky was striped with blue, grey and white....clouds flying.
The view out to sea was rather gorgeous....colours all washed out and the light was odd.

And there along the esplanade was the view in this photo.
A long line of bed and breakfasts.....blue and white, colour co-ordinated with the weather.

Suddenly I had new eyes.

Shame about the wrist though......................

Unveiled

2009-12-02T08:39:00.002Z

Four brooches
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Here are four of the brooches I've been making.

I must admit, I'm rather happy with them.....I'd wear one anyway!

Brooches seem to be something you love or hate, like Marmite or The X factor(don't get me started about that!)

Personally I LOVE wearing a brooch......on my hat, on a bag, of course on the lapel of a jacket or to brighten up a boring cardigan.....

I can't work out how to put all the html stuff into my blog so that I have a Flickr thing in my sidebar.....it's driving me absolutely mental......I've tried three times now and just cannot do it.
Any advice would be very welcome!

I'm now off to get a coffee, tidy up.......all that sort of daily stuff that has to be done.

Then I won't feel guilty when I lounge around making things later!

the brooches

2009-11-23T08:44:00.002Z

the brooches
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Just a quick post....I've given myself until 9.15 then have to get on and do stuff (like get dressed!)

These strange shapes will be turned into brooches....the colours are much better in real life......some needle felting and bead embellishments.
They remind me of the artist Hundertwasswer (well, not him, his work) who I love......he inspires me with his use of colour and his amazing imagination....all environmentally aware too!

Thanks for the comments about my selfish weekend (previous post!).....glad to know that you all approve! Gwen looks like she's been pretty busy herself and Kirsten wanted to see the brooches......

And I have a babysitter who lives just around the corner and wants craft stuff as payment!! Colette, that sounds like a great idea (and maybe it'll mean I have less stuff to tidy!?)

Hoorah....off to have my third cup of tea, then I will put my work hat on.

selfish weekend

2009-11-22T20:11:00.002Z

felt
Originally uploaded by nellyme

This weekend was a selfish one.

Both of my girls were off with their Dad and I decided I wouldn't work.
Nope.
No midwifery AT ALL.

In fact, a weekend all about me, me, me.

So that's what I did and it was rather nice, but not how I'd envisaged it at all.

Plans to go out, properly out, failed.

The weather was awful, so no garden tidying.

But......

I did a few tiny bits of Christmas shopping.
I lounged.
I soaked in a big fat bubbly bath whilst reading an exciting new book.

And I made stuff.

Not loads, but a few bits.

Six brooches finished.
Four more to be finished off tomorrow.
Two bits of felt which will be tweaked and embellished before magically turning into journal covers.

Fun indeed.

It's been a while since I did this.....I've been concentrating on trying to earn money.....so when my ex husband has the girls ( a paltry once a month.......) I go up to London to work.
So I haven't had a selfish weekend for a while.

I think I need to work out how I can do this more often....and I also need a nice cheap, reliable babysitter so I can have the occasional evening out too.

Hmm....

the wisdom of owls

2009-11-20T08:54:00.002Z

owlgroup1
Originally uploaded by ElisabethD

How gorgeous are these?Obviously wise (yet fun too!)

You can find them on good ol' Flickr in ElisabethD's photostream.

I've been whiling away HOURS on Flickr and in blogland.......I'm trying to decide if I should clear my reader and start a whole new, fine-tuned list.....just a few treasured blogs, rather than the ZILLIONS I seem to look at!

But then think of what I'd miss.....I'd hate to miss that vital bit of writing that makes me think (or sometimes rethink), that family photo that makes me smile, the crafty object that makes me throb with jealousy and wonder if I could do that too.......

I'm sure many people wouldn't understand the lure of this world....the skipping about from blog to blog, link to link...glimpses of other lives, other countries that have become quite precious to me.

And many, MANY people would be horrified by the hours I 'waste' looking around these treasure chests of loveliness.

But actually, for me it's not a waste.....maybe not for anyone of us.

The more blogs I read, the more tales I hear of inspiration, friendships made, links that these strangers have forged because of a common love of something....be it crochet, food, caravans, vintage....whatever.

I think it's pretty amazing really.

But I am going to have a rethink of my style.....I don't think it's quite settled yet, it doesn't always quite say what I want, how I want it said.

Hmmmmm....like a blog springclean in Winter.

missing........

2009-11-07T19:59:00.002Z

surf beach3
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Ha!

So you thought I'd be loving life back in England by now??

Sadly, not really.....which is why there's another Tenerfie picture on my blog today!

This is the beach.....5 minutes or so from where we stayed.....quiet (except for the surfers at the far end), hot, breezy....sparkling sand, warm sea........bliss really.

This was the first day....we arrived at lunchtime, dumped our stuff and ran down to the beach.
We walked from our end to the surfers end and back......icecreams on the way, talking madly about where we wanted to visit first.

Sadly, I was looking forward to shopping at Hyperdino....yup, a supermarket.

But....a foreign supermarket.
It has some recognisable stuff (like cheerios for my daughter who is addicted to them) and loads of exciting holiday foods.
Strange cakes and biscuits, pipas (sunflower seeds in their shells that you crunch to open and spit out the shell!)...lots of weird sweets and fab toiletries.....saddo!

I'm sure I'll be back to normal soon....it was just that this year it was such an absolutely perfect week that everything else pales in comparison.

I'm even looking at Tenerife blogs.......

return of the native

2009-11-06T08:13:00.002Z

zigzag girl
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Hola!

Well, I'm back from Tenerife......a bit of a shock coming from sunshine and temperatures of 25 to 28 to one of 9 (yes, 9!!).

And rain.
And dark by 4.30.

No handsome Spanish men plying me with tapas, cold beer, strong coffee......

Arrrrgh.

Isn't it odd to return from a holiday and feel like you haven't been away?

We've been to the same place in Tenerife four times now.
On my first visit, I had suddenly developed the worst cold EVER just before we left and then we had an 8 hour delay at the airport.

We eventually arrived, but to my dismay the landscape was barren, rocky, ugly and full of skeletons of buildings covered in huge, flapping sheets of polythene.

I sat in the car, dripping with snot, trying not to cry and saying 'oh my god, it's Basra' every few seconds.
I was horrified.

It is a dry, rocky, volcanic landscape (in the South) and there are a fair few buildings still with polythene overcoats, but it's rather beautiful.

It's unpretentious....at least where we stay.
We don't stay in the big places where all the bars are 'british pubs' and serve roasts every day.

We stay in a quietish, surfy place where Spanish is the language you hear most.

We love it.

As for the picture....isn't it great?!

A mannequin outside a shop in Los Christianos.......we visit for the big sweetshop where I stock up on enough coffee caramel sweets to last until our visit next year.......

Deliciousness

2009-10-22T14:55:00.008+01:00

Life continues chez moi.

We have a new guinea pig called Rosti.

Yup.

Like potato rosti........

don't ask me....ask my younger daughter who is in lurve with the little creature.

He is about 11 weeks old, kind of teddy bear furry and is grey and white (with a tiny bit of caramel).

He is rather lovely.

Rojo (the black beast of Dorset) likes him too and it's rather amusing to watch him torn between being very grown up and big brotherly or popcorning around the garden like a grasshopper on crack.

They follow each other around, eat side by side and sleep in a squished up pile of piggy love.

I like to see it....life is simple if you're a guinea pig methinks.

The picture is of one of my obsessions.

I flat out ADORE this magazine....it is like creative porn to me.
It makes me salivate...creative juices gone wild.

It's American and perhaps a little expensive.

Sometimes I treat myself to a copy when I go to London and spend hours browsing big bookshops.
Then I sit somewhere with a big fat caramel latte and slowly turn the pages, smiling and sighing and admiring all the loveliness within.

I think I might treat myself to a subscription this year.....how exciting.
Perhaps it can be my christmas present to myself.

I'm doing lots of tidying...off to Tenerife next Wednesday.....a week in the sun, gorgeous warm sea, yummy tapas, handsome surfer men to admire from afar.

Lovely!

I'm tidying because my mum is coming to stay so that she can enjoy a week in Dorset and can babysit the guinea pigs............she thinks I'm disgustingly untidy and will probably check the skirting boards for dust as soon as she arrives.

Ha.
Well, she'll find plenty.

I am so NOT getting into that much tidying!

RIP

2009-10-13T08:34:00.003+01:00

Casper
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Sadly, Casper the guinea pig died yesterday.

He's been around for four years and originally came with a little brother called Podge.
I got the guinea pigs for my two girls as my marriage was breaking up, just as my ex-husband left.
I like to think their presence helped a bit.

Casper has lasted through three other guinea pigs....Podge, Foggy and now Rojo.
His nickname became Uncle Casper because he was endlessly patient - allowing these young pigs to jump on him, sleep along his back as if he was some kind of bed and steal the best morsels of food.

He was Mr Tolerance...always with a guniea pig smile.

My youngest daughter sobbed yesterday....it's so hard losing someone you love....even a guinea pig.
And yes, I cried too....partly for her, partly because he's been through the last four post-divorce years with me too.

Sentimental?
Maybe.

But he'll be missed by all of us.

Well....

2009-09-24T07:54:00.002+01:00

russiandollme
Originally uploaded by nellyme

I suddenly realised I hadn't blogged for a bit...where does the time go?

Well....in my case it goes like this:

Get up. switch on beloved classic mac.

Watch with mouth open as picture rolls and twitches like a poorly adjusted television.

Smile as it settles.....then listen in horror as it makes a noise like a quiet alarm clock mixed with an evil fizzing noise.....goes pop!

Then....nothing.

I cried.

Then, drive off to Dorchester for a fracture clinic appointment as my wrist is still wrong.

It's market day.
Everyone in the whole of Dorset has brought their friends and they're all trying to park.

Drive into the easy carpark....drive straight out as it's full.

Drive in to the County Hall car park....see loads of spaces....see a pay and display.
Park....with panache.
Walk to pay and display and realise that you have to have a permit to use this bloody car park.

I haven't got one, even though I work for the County Council.
Evil parking attendant is walking around looking important....so I leave.

Eventually park about a mile away and walk.

Hospital appointment??

Well, quite quick.
Lovely doctor....charming and handsome too.

He thinks I've ruptured a ligament so now need an MRI (it's a scan where you lie in a big metal tunnel and listen to constant banging whilst some kind of freaky magnetic field takes pictures......yes I'm medical, but that's my best shot at explaining!)

So now I have to wait for that appointment.............

My house is a pig sty.
My hair looks bad.
I am fatter than I was at the end of both pregnancies.

Ah well.....

The computer is working again, but still does the crazy screen dancing when it feels like it.

Maybe it's rolling it's eyes at my hair?

goodbye old friend.....

2009-09-04T17:23:00.005+01:00

This vision of silver loveliness is my old car.

He was called Beef.

He has gone to the big scrap-yard in the sky......

I'm a bit stunned by how much I miss my old car....he was my first car.
He's too old to keep....but I want to.

I feel like I've said goodbye to an old friend...er...well, I have.

This.....monstrosity.....is my new car.

We are NOT friends yet.

She (yup, female, definitely) is called Carmen.

Why?

The redness.
The raciness (this car SO wants to go fast).
The fact that this is A BOY'S CAR.

(ie. a car that men would drive).

She is a Mexican slut.....I'm not sure why.

I have tried to bond.

I've filled up all the necessary things.

I've cleaned and polished her a bit more.

I've put my dangly skeleton on the mirror inside.

But she still feels wrong.

She starts with NO NOISE (I had to check lots...I thought she hadn't started at all).
She makes NO NOISE when she whizzes along....foaming at the mouth and swearing in Spanish (Mexican??) when I go too slowly.

She is electrified.....windows....mirrors.....bloody hell, even the aerial.....and an immobiliser.

What??

I find this new car rather scary.
It (she) is nearly a foot longer than that silvery vision of battered beauty......
Carmen feels HUGE.

Polished, shiny, no bumps or scratches.
Untouched by life.

Maybe I'm jealous?

But she feels like a big responsibility....a bit of a handful maybe.

we shall see............

How great is this?

2009-09-02T19:10:00.004+01:00

Yup.
I love it.

You can make a font from your own writing and download it onto your computer!

Look here

And in the real world (rather than Nicki's Amazing Fantasy Land):

my car is almost dead.

Well, ill enough that the cost of the repairs (head gasket, water pump, cam belt...the list goes on) are the same as a new (ie. less old, new to me) car.

Just as I thought...'Gosh Nicki, you're turning into a money managing genius and therefore may have money for your holiday'.....ha ha ha ha. Not.

note to self: at least I have some money for a car.......

My new (old really) job is taking ages to sort.
My hair is greyer.
I have got fatter (now there's a surprise) due to the stress of everything happening TOO BLOODY SLOWLY.

My daughter's knee is still a crappish knee.
I have to go to Dorchester (in new car or bloody BUS) to borrow crutches from the Red Cross so that she can go to school on Monday.

BUT, she will need a lift there and back.

I DO NOT HAVE A WORKING CAR.

I need biscuits.
actually, that's a lie.

I have biscuits.

What I need is alcohol.
Lots and lots.

Beads

2009-08-27T19:46:00.002+01:00

Why is it that sometimes I'm just not in the mood to make stuff?

But I did make these....wire wrapped silk fibre (and a bit of wool roving) beads.

I like them.

The colours are rather gorgeous...pinks, reds, acid yellows and shades of blue to green.

They're big, but light and I now am too nervous....if that's the right description....to start anything with them.......weird.

I've been at home with big and small daughters.....the big one is nursing a knee injury from her first visit to a local athletics club on Tuesday night.
This was followed by her first visit to A&E........

She's been hobbling around or laying on the sofa with her knee packed in ice.......peas...well, petit pois.... in a bag actually!!
Aren't we posh!

Today she'd had enough and I was sent to the local secondhand emporium to buy a walking stick.

Which I did.

She has, of course, decorated it.
She said it looked like an old lady's stick.

She also wanted to cover up the writing which said it came from the very same A&E we visited after the knee twisted at the last hurdle.......but it's ok.

We didn't steal it.....

all taped up....

2009-08-23T20:41:00.003+01:00

Most of the people who know me well would say I can be obsessive.

I can obsess about almost anything........
and at the moment my mind is busy thinking of ways to display the things I make.

I'm really fussy about how my stuff looks, how it's packaged, how it's laid out.

So.....

today I made this.

Just google 'duct tape mannequin' and you can make one too.

I have to thank my daughter who stood very still and kept her sense of humour whilst I covered her in tape......and didn't flinch when I wielded the scissors to cut her out!

My plan is to use this to give my stall a bit of height and to pin brooches to it, maybe hang necklaces on it too.

I'm quite pleased...it was fun....
it stands up ok.....
I think it looks rather good.

Now I'm trying to decide if I should cover it...fabric strips or paper collage????

Vivid

2009-08-18T13:09:00.002+01:00

Ok, so I've tweaked the contrast and saturation a bit............
but this is my garden.

Well, part of it anyway.

It's really green.
Bright.

In fact, rather vivid (in a random kind of way).

My tomatoes have grown.

And now they're rotting before they ripen.

I think it must be because of all that rain.

Bummer.

Celebrate with an Owl

2009-08-07T15:13:00.016+01:00

You may be wondering why.

Why celebrate?

Why with an owl??

I'm afraid I can't answer the second question.......

But the first?

Well.

It's because....I got my results today........and.............

I have a degree!

ME!

How funny.

I am now a qualified Youth Worker...........
How cool is that??

Celebration time I think.

(for some FREAKY reason Blogger refuses to let me post the rather gorgeous OWL picture I found.
What's that all about?)

Aha.....sorted (but I want to do that fun crossing out now......damn!)

Waiting...

2009-07-26T08:11:00.002+01:00

Once again I've been in London doing two nightshifts.

And now, weary-limbed and gritty-eyed, I'm waiting for a bus that will take me to the station.

Then...a caramel latte before the long journey home.

I can't wait to fall into bed for a couple of hours...

I made this!

2009-07-24T13:17:00.002+01:00

Finding it hard to spot what I made?

I'm talking about the mess I made.

A creative mess.....obviously.....but a bit of a muddle really!

Lots of plans though......

Have a look here
and you'll see more links (I hope!!)

And you can look at lots of lovely stuff.

And, yes, of course I want to win the book..............

Pleased

2009-07-22T14:12:00.002+01:00

I finished this last night and I'm pretty pleased.

I've made a couple of mistakes, but I don't mind....just makes it completely personalised!

It means I can now do puff stitch and front post treble crochet (to make the crochet cable effect).

I feel like a proper crocheter now.

I got the pattern from Kalurah....look at her site and it links to her shop on etsy.....loveliness in crochet form!!

Fun

2009-07-16T19:35:00.002+01:00

This is another place I can while away huge chunks of time........
have a little look....it's fun!

Am I a chauffeur????

2009-07-16T13:10:00.004+01:00

Well, that has to be the quickest visit to a Fracture Clinic EVER!

I have a fracture of my left radial styloid.........

Radial styloid fracture

A Hutchinson fracture, an isolated fracture of the radial styloid, is typically caused by a direct blow to the radial aspect of the wrist. It may also be referred to as "chauffeur's fracture" or "backfire fracture," as it initially was described in individuals struck by the hand crank on early automobiles when the engine suddenly backfired during starting.

So.....

* rest
* wear the support (but not at night.....yippee!!!!!)
* try driving after 5 - 7 days, but DO NOT drive if painful/feels unsafe........
* take drugs.....Ibuprofen!
* physio......oh joy.

Back for another appointment in 6 weeks....if all seems cured, I can cancel it.

I celebrated by buying a book.

Phew....if it had been a fractured scaphoid, he said he would've put me in plaster.
A lucky escape.............

And today....

2009-07-16T08:07:00.004+01:00

I must do these things (although I'm unlikely to do much tidying!!)

I LOVE these library cards....you can make your own here.

I'll tell you how the fracture clinic appointment goes a bit later.............

Posing...

2009-07-15T21:12:00.003+01:00

This is our part-time dog, Tommy.
He seems to like wearing this rose.

I've been altering and embellishing a t-shirt and this was left over.

I think he thinks he looks rather gorgeous.

DANGER!

2009-07-10T15:57:00.003+01:00

Let this be a warning to all of you.

Do not go on the bean bag train.

Ever.

But what is that I hear you cry.

It's making a row of bean bags down your stairs.
Then sitting on the one at the top and gently pushing off so that you glide down the stairs.
My girls did it and thought I might enjoy it too.

Sadly I weigh as much as a baby elephant at present so gravity had LOTs more to work with.

I've never moved so fast in my life - I shot down those stairs like...well...like a plump woman on a bean bag.

Not pretty.

The result?

See photo!

Fractured scaphoid - a tiny bone in the wrist at the bottom of the thumb.
Now have this attractive semi rigid splint and am waiting for a fracture clinic appointment...

Amusingly, the nurse who saw me is my daughter's football coach.
He laughed.

Crochet is going to be a bit of a challenge!

Journals

2009-07-06T20:29:00.003+01:00

journals
Originally uploaded by nellyme

Looking through my Flickr photos.....finally deciding to 'do' Flickr
properly!!....and found this.

Silk/wool paper-covered journals with a bit of applique and machine
embroidery too.

Yup....definitely time for some more I think.

(And what fun to be posting from my Flickr account!)

Forgotten

2009-07-05T20:22:00.002+01:00

I'd forgotten how much I like making silk paper...

Colette came round for a quick 'tutorial' so I made some too.

Hmmm.

Might make some more later.

New

2009-07-04T10:22:00.002+01:00

We've done it.

Yesterday was spent moving my stuff into my new bedroom (aka the conservatory).

Then all my youngest daughter's stuff into my old room.

Both girls are very pleased.
They have their own space and more of it.
It'll be easier for friends to stay.
P's keyboard is in her room.
E has space for writing paraphenalia.

Me?

It's rather lovely.

I feel like I'm on holiday!

Changes...

2009-07-02T14:16:00.002+01:00

At the moment I live with my two daughters (nearly 12 and nearly 14) in a two bedroom house.

It's modern....and not my ideal.....but we've been here nearly nine years and like it a lot.

We like the fact that it's tucked away, yet really close to town.
We like it's enclosed (and so guinea pig safe) garden.
We like it's two parking spaces.
We like the fact that both girls can walk to school easily.
We like our neighbours and have friends close by.

It's great.

But.

It's time we had a third bedroom.
Teenage hormones sometimes make sharing a room quite a spiky experience.
My younger daughter often compromises to keep the peace......when she's not winding her sister up.

Rental prices in this area mean that we can't afford to move to a three bedroom house, plus I've just heard that my secondment (to a well paid job!!) definitely finishes in a few weeks.
That's not fun......I will lose about £700 per month...................

So.....

Lateral thinking was called for...........

I will be moving into..............

the conservatory.

Gulp.

This will give the girls a bedroom each.

It will force me (us???!!!!....ha, ha ha........) to throw away loads of junk.

I'm unsure.
But will move.
It will be hot in the Summer.

I will freeze to death or die of damp in the Winter...........

Oh joy.

So.....I've filled two sacks with 'rubbish' today.
Two yesterday.
Two more for the charity shop.

Six sacks!!!
Amazing.

The photo is my soon to be bedroom......covered in piles of sorting!

Back I go........

Done

2009-06-28T15:08:00.001+01:00

Today I did the Race for Life in Sherbourne with my oldest daughter.
She's scarily fit and loped around the 5k course in 20 minutes.
She didn't go as fast as she could because 'it's not a competition, is it mum?'
Her overweight and unfit mum - that'd be me then - did a random mix of power walking, limping, trotting and sweating which took 53 minutes...

Actually I'm quite pleased with my time...and rather stunned by my greyhound-like daughter.

It was great.
Pretty amazing atmosphere.
All ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels.

We're already planning to do it next year - we want to beat our times!

Phew.
I'm off for a cup of tea!

Tagged!

2009-06-26T07:52:00.005+01:00

Hello!

Well....it looks like all the Open University problems are over.
They've sorted out our continuous assessment scores so now it's just waiting until August for our end of course marks.

And then I'll have a degree......it makes me laugh a little....I don't feel academic enough (which is why it's not a particularly academic degree!).

I feel a bit posh now....

A little while ago I won something!

A bird.....take a look here

It arrived safely.

It is quite amazing.
I can't believe how much work has been put into this lovely creature..........tiny beads, sequins, little stitches.....it's beautiful.

It's very rainy here today, so I'm waiting for some more sun so that I can take a picture and show you the bird in her (yes, it's female!) home.

And look!
AGES ago I said I'd blog about this!
I should be ashamed of myself.

This lovely award was from Izabela .

Go and look at her blog.
Go on!
Quickly!!

She is my crochet crush.

Her stuff is utterly beautiful and I'm in awe of her crochet skills.
On top of that, she's lovely.

And if you're in Winchester on July 5th, go to the Guildhall and see Handm@de Winchester.

Izabela will be there, selling beautiful things and so will lots of others!

I'm already working out if I can go....it's an easy train journey from here.....will have to ask my friend Liz where the Guildhall is.....

And.....

Pepper has tagged me, as a Creative Blogger (thanks!!) to share 8 things about me that you might find interesting, hopefully I will cover 8 interesting things in the questions below!

What is your current obsession?

This morning it's tidying my house as I rent and we have the joy of a house inspection....every 3 months.
we've been here for 9 years so you'd think they'd realise we're a trustworthy lot by now.......

Otherwise, I'm obsessed with....
crochet
reading
wondering what else to make!

Coffee or tea?

Hmmm....well that's changed in the last few months.
I used to have STRONG black coffee when I woke up, then tea all day.
After a horrible flu-like thing over New Year (lucky,lucky me!) I now have tea with a tiny bit of sugar when I get up, then more tea. And tea.
Coffee now is really when I go out for coffee.

Weird.

What’s for dinner?

BBQ! We're off to my daughter's football presentation.
It's raining.
Oh joy............

What's your favourite icecream flavour?

Any!! Loads!! Pralines and cream, Cookie Dough, Pistachio, Maple Nut Crunch.......

What was the last thing you bought?

Cravats.
Yup, I know that's weird.
I looked and thought...ooooh, I could do something with those......

I'll let you know.

What are you listening to right now?

My heavy breathing as I rush around doing some last minute tidying.

Birds in the garden too.

What is your favorite colour?

Green!

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

Green stripey cardi....lovely.

What is your dream job?

Having my own shop.
Cafe/gallery type thing......art/craft workshops in the back room, gorgeous second hand books, odds and ends, vintage stuff. A bit of an Aladdin's cave with coffee and cake!
(Or stationary!!)

How many times do you press the snooze button before you get up?

On weekdays my alarm goes off at 7.15.
I hit snooze.
Then it goes off again after 6 minutes.....I hit snooze again.
I do that 2 more times....but usually manage to drag myself out of bed before it goes off again after that last snooze!

Luck

2009-06-18T21:18:00.003+01:00

Just made this.
Crocheted cuff with a four-leaf clover.
And a vintage button.

I'm wearing it.

Books

2009-06-18T20:21:00.002+01:00

Three times each week I run a library session for young people.

Three different towns.

Three very different groups.

It's great....funny, interesting, enthusiastic, noisy, mad stuff.

The girl in the photo is my youngest daughter.....waiting for the library to open, engrossed in her book.
She wants to be an author when she grows up and writes constantly......when she's not reading.

Both girls are prolific readers....like me, they love curling up with a book, getting lost in another world, trying someone else's life for size....just to see what it might be like.

I can see her as a writer.....she already has wonderful, quirky ideas that beg to be turned into stories........her teacher has been reading one of her stories to her class......I think it's the longest story in the world!

I don't think she's got the hang of finishing them yet....but hey.....she's only 11 so she's more interested in the journey....how you get somewhere, what happens on the way.

She's not bothered by worries about how it turns out.

Very wise.

Lovely surprise

2009-06-15T08:28:00.003+01:00

I know.
I've been a terrible blogger.

I do have reasons......

But before I get into that, let me tell you about the surprise I woke up to this morning.
Well, once I turned on the computer.

I've won a gorgeous bird from Dot!!!
Look here

How cool is that???!!

Dot's blog is one of my favourites....I love her stuff, the detail, the colours, the posts about her daily life and what she gets up to.

It's funny how some blogs just click and you're an addict.

So, back to my bad blogging.

It's mainly because I've been doing my final....yes, final!!....Open University assignment.
It's done and sent.

Sadly, the OU have had lots of trouble with this final course (which is still going on).
Some of our work has been mislaid, they can't contact our tutor...it is odd and has been very stressful........but it's done and supposedly we'll get our results during the second week of August.
Phew.

I have loads more to blog about.....have to go out to meet a friend for coffee now!

I'll write some more later.......

No more sinister cod.

2009-05-30T08:07:00.001+01:00

8 am.
Bus shelter in South London.
Waiting for a bus to take me to my bed.

I find myself wondering.
Cod?
Sinister?
In what way can fish be sinister?
To be honest I don't want to think about it much more or I'll have nightmares.
Well...daymares really.
This is wrong on so many levels. I need a pain au chocolat and sleep.

These poor feet...

2009-05-29T15:53:00.001+01:00

are on their way to work.
Three twelve hour night shifts.
So I'm on the train,drinking tea and doing some work for my Open University degree. The End of Course Assessment.
It's due in on June 12th.
And then I'm finished.
THANK GOD.

Then I'll get back to proper blogging.
I need to catch up!
But just give me a few more days.....

My own coral reef

2009-05-18T19:20:00.003+01:00

Well, it's a start.....

Hyperbolic crochet.......crochet with maths........who would've thought
this would interest me?

Maths is SO not my thing..but this...wow!

It's such fun.

Loads on Flickr.

But look here
and be amazed by the pictures of a crocheted Great Barrier Reef in progress.....beautiful.

So this is my latest obsession....I wore one of the little frilly bits as a brooch today, just because I love it so much.

I don't know if we have coral here on the Jurassic Coast.....but don't worry.......
I'm working on it!

Remember

2009-05-15T21:16:00.006+01:00

This week's word for Pip's 'Words and Pictures' is remember.

It's strange (I think) the things we do remember.....fractured images, out of focus, smells, sounds.
All these can transport us to another time and place so easily.

For me it's certain smells....sometimes I get a whiff of a certain citrussy smell and I'm transported back to a French hypermarket, spraying myself with an exciting French (and so terribly chic!!) citrus cologne...

And some vanilla perfumes remind me of a crappy time in my life, when I felt ill and smelt a vanilla candle and was sick!

I'm trying to remember that this year is supposed to be a year of change for me, of growth I suppose.

Maybe even of growing up.

But not too much!

More words and pictures here .

And have a look here to see loads of lovely digital scrapbooking stuff....I used some to make the image for my post.

Seaweed

2009-05-10T20:47:00.002+01:00

Today was spent on the beach at West Bay.

I lounged around thinking about just how lucky I am to live here.....
somewhere that I can be dipping my toes into the sea when the fancy takes me.

But I can be exploring a shady wood just as easily.

Sometimes I could explode with....well........ glee.

This part of Dorset is truly beautiful.......I love my trips back up to London and there is plenty about London that I miss, but this is home.
When I drive back from Dorchester South station, that first glimpse of gently rolling hills and then the sea always makes me smile.

I took this seaweed photo because I love it's shape....the frilly edge......it reminds me of something that I've seen on someone's blog.
Maybe a scarf or a wristlet or necklace-y thing.....

And I've plowed through blog-photos galore trying to find it.

But I can't.

And it's a bit annoying because I wanted to link to it.
Arrrrrrgh.

So...if it's on your blog please, please leave me a comment to tell me where!

And I'm going to use the seaweed as a starting point for something too.....later.

At last!

2009-05-07T15:45:00.004+01:00

I haven't done very well with Pip's 'Words and Pictures' lately.

Too busy making a mess at home then pretending I can't see it.
Too busy picking up my penultimate Open University assignment, then putting it back down and ignoring it......

But now it is finished.
And sent.
Yippee.

So I can get back to blog world (yeah, I know....what about the untidy house?)

Fragrant is this week's word.

Apt for me.
Not because I'm particularly fragrant (although I usually smell nice and if I'm lucky I have a little whiff of 'Wrappings' by Clinique).

Nope.

It's because my nose has been blocked.
I have had (still have) a cold.
Not swine flu (although my house is a pig sty and I do keep hoovering up my children's leftovers..........)

I usually have an excellent sense of smell.
At times, in the medical side of my work, it's not good.......some bodily fluids are best unsmelt.
At other times, it's medically useful......you can smell when someone's waters have broken...honest!

So I haven't enjoyed a couple of smell-free days

But today.....
suddenly it's started working again.
Not at it's best....but getting better.

So I bought these....beef and lemongrass gyoza.
Gentle Thai spices, lemongrassy goodness...........yum.

Welcome back, normal nose.

Read more fragrant words here.

Wips...and chains!

2009-04-30T20:23:00.002+01:00

Ha!
Work In Progress!
And chain stitch.

Obviously.

Scattered around my house are various crocheted....things.
Odd little bags.....tiny ones, made up patterns, a bit wonky in places.
Flowers......various sizes, colours, types.
Experimental shapes....seaweedy, coral-like pieces.

And this bag.
It's like a hat.
But different.
As always, I like it.

I might make a hat next....................

And I've been given an award!
Yay!!
But I've got a headache and an amazingly untidy house......
(could the two be linked??)
so I'm off for an early night.

I will blog properly tomorrow and tell you more....sleep well! x

Upcycled?

2009-04-24T14:48:00.004+01:00

Today I found some lovely things.......

The earrings again....better photo this time.

Something else I made for the 'handmade jewellery' swap.
As Bridport has a history of rope and net making (and has places that still make nets)
this is to echo it's past and present....a net and a fish.

I like it....the crochet was a bit fiddly and made me feel like I have sausage fingers.....
but I think it works.
And the fish is from an old necklace that broke.

The bag with big flouncy flowers was bought for £1 because I want the handles for a crochet bag....but I quite like it, so may just admire it for a while before pulling it apart!
The blanket underneath.....ah, well.

I think someone made it and washed it on a temperature that was too high....so it's sort of felted....rather lovely I think and just the colours I love.
On it is a beautiful jar with an aluminium screw top and a faded label.
I bought four....two big, two small.

A good day I think.......

Ears

2009-04-22T15:36:00.002+01:00

Gosh.
This has an almost painterly quality that I rather like.

However, I know that Colette will once again tell me off for having such crap (ie. with mobile phone) pictures on my blog.....so I will try to do better.

The problem is...my camera (a samsung) loses it's charge in about 2 minutes.....and sometimes refuses to charge at all.
It has a mind of it's own....but does take lovely photos.

I plug it in to do it's charging......I go back, hours later.....
and it is still flat.

Unusable.

Dead.

So, it's plugged in again, with the replacement charger.......trying it's best.

If (and it's a biggish if) it behaves, I'll photograph these earrings again.
I like them.
They're for a swap.
I made them from copper wire and bulbs from old christmas tree lights.....fun!

Really I shouldn't be having any fun activities at all.

I have an assignment to finish...so I should start it really shouldn't I??

Finished!

2009-04-20T20:26:00.002+01:00

And here is the bag with handles.

And a crochet flower......paper beads......a love voodoo doll.

I'm so lovin' this bag!!

Bobble

2009-04-20T14:44:00.004+01:00

LOOK!!

I am so proud!
(oh, I think this is all coming out in a big font....)
or maybe not.

This is my lovely crocheted bag....I actually followed a pattern!
Yay!!

And now I must put it's handles on.
But I'm feeling too lazy.

Why?..... you may ask.

I'm recovering from a 'fun' weekend at a holiday place in Weymouth.
....I can hear you all shouting....hey Nicki, you live in Bridport...why go to Weymouth?

Well.
I can't answer your question as I don't really know how it happened.

Seven of us stayed in a caravan.
Two adults.
Five children,aged 4,11,11,11 and 13.

Fun. Loud. Cold. Hot. Silly. Windy. Swimmy. Walky. Surreal.

As is perfectly normal for me, I had a holiday crush (oh yes, two days is more than enough time).

He was called Billy.

Red hair..........what is it with me and red hair?

Lovely, smiley, lifeguardy/sportiness......and a mere baby of about 25.
Sigh...........

My two girls (11 and 13) found it terribly funny.
They had no pity.

The two boys (11 and 11) were torn between not understanding at all and wondering why I didn't just ask him out.................(doesn't bear thinking about does it?!)

The smallest (4, female and a redhead herself) just thinks I'm insane anyway so took no notice.

And the friend I was with?

Female, 51, mother of a redhead with two red haired grandchildren, was her usual understanding self........she didn't mind always walking past the pool so I could drool (poetry...see??!!)

I'd just love to know how she fixed it so that Billy was the last person I saw as we drove out of the gates to come home...........

Today

2009-04-16T20:32:00.005+01:00

This is where we've been today.

My oldest daughter had an audition for Raven
so off we went to BBC Bristol.

We were all rather excited and were hoping to see LOADS of celebs....but no.
None at all.....

And whilst she was solving puzzles and pretending to be a demon (weird I know!)
the rest of us went here

Lovely!

I love living in Dorset, but I do miss the joy of a museum or gallery......
I used to almost live at the V&A......so this was fab.

Just didn't really have enough time to do it justice.

And as for Raven....well, they'll let us know by the end of this month........
if she gets through it means a second audition (in Scotland this time!!!)....
and if she gets through that one............
she'll be filming for between two and five weeks over the Summer!

Wow.

2009-04-16T20:31:00.001+01:00

2009-04-16T20:30:00.001+01:00

2009-04-16T20:29:00.001+01:00

Waving

2009-04-14T09:24:00.002+01:00

It always amazes me that this lovely river is behind my local Co-op.
How great is that?

On a sunny day, it's like another world.......greens and golds glittering.......the sound of birds.....
it's rather beautiful.

This is my shadow....waving......
just before my foot nudged my bag into the river.

and off sailed my purse, the dog lead, the car keys........

Luckily the chocolate covered daughter was already paddling and saved the day!

So we sat on the grass, drying off in the sun......soggy, but smiling.
Phew!

2009-04-14T09:22:00.001+01:00

2009-04-14T09:21:00.001+01:00

Easter Decadence.

2009-04-12T10:08:00.002+01:00

My youngest daughter would happily live on chocolate
(with a bit of pizza every now and then for variety).

So for her Easter breakfast -
a toasted chocolate button sandwich with a sprinkling of icing sugar.

On one of my favourite little plates.

And I'm in the garden listening to some noisy birds, drinking my second cup of tea...

Happy Easter!

The Café

2009-04-11T16:39:00.002+01:00

When the weather gets warmer,
my two girls turn the garden shed into our very own café.

I get to sit in the garden and place my order....usually involving a cup of tea!
It's such bliss to be waited on just a little bit....even though it's all part of a game.

We can sit at an inside table (conservatory) or an outside table.
We can order anything (as long as it's available in the kitchen somewhere).

Sometimes there's a special.....today it was choc-a-bloc.......a choc ice, chopped in half with sweets sandwiched between the two halves, extra sweets and spare bits of chocolate on the side.
A wiggly straw...just for decoration!

I had a big mug of tea and some pineapple rings.......

And so we sat and admired the garden, which is a little bit tidier now.
I admired the big branch that we've just carried back from the Millenium Hill so that I can use it as a prop for the clothes line.

Isn't it amazing how such silly things bring such pleasure?

2009-04-11T16:32:00.001+01:00

Storage

2009-04-08T20:06:00.002+01:00

Oh!
For someone who can't really knit and has only recently learnt how to crochet properly,
I've got quite a lot of wool.

I can't get my head round calling it yarn....it makes me feel like I'm being someone I'm not.....so I'll stick with calling it wool....even when it's acrylic, recycled sari stuff....whatever!

I've just brought this lovely chest back from the Youth Club where I work......it's been in my office, not really used and I thought I would bring it home and put it on the landing.

Wow!....I forgot how heavy it is.....dragged it out of the car, up the stairs.........huffing and panting and sweating and swearing.......

Oooops.
Too big.

So, into my bedroom....a quick move of a pile of homeless stuff.......it fits!
And look how nice my WOOL looks!

Can you just see that crocheted thing on the left?
It's blue with big fat bobbles on it......oh yes, after much hair pulling and more swearing.....I can do the 'make bobble' thing!!
I am pleased and proud and am making a bag.

To make a space for the lovely chest I had to move a mirror which was just leaning up against the wall.
Now it's on top of the chest.........
and you know what that means don't you?

Yup.
Oh yes indeed........
a full length mirror.

To be perfectly honest (and if you actually know me, you'll know I am far too honest!) I steer clear of such travesties.
Full length?
Why?

I look far better in little glimpses.....like a sort of Nicki mosaic......I can fit the bits together in my head and am often pleased.

Ha!
No more.
I need help.
Trinny and Suzanna would rub their hands together with glee, grab my boobs and weep in horror.

so....
I need to find my style.
Sort hair.
No bag lady clothes.
Don't frown.
Stand up straight.
Suck in stomach.

Or move the mirror.............

Cold feet!

2009-04-07T11:02:00.003+01:00

In the sun.

Quite warm really...

Thanks again to Pip for the fun....have a look at other 'cold feet' thoughts, words and pictures here.

Me and my two girls....plus, of course, our 'borrowed' dog, Tommy.
A spot of foot warming on the hill behind our house.

Ahhhhh....Easter Holidays!!

Bird

2009-04-04T19:39:00.002+01:00

Recognise this?

It started off like this.

I didn't quite know how it was going to turn out....but I think I like it.
More importantly.....I think my friend will....she will finally get it for her birthday tomorrow.

I'll let you know what she thinks!

2009-04-04T19:38:00.003+01:00

......and this is just a bit more of the doily love that's going on!
A painted pebble.

Doily daze

2009-04-03T08:14:00.002+01:00

Look what I found!

Aren't they lovely?

I was doing my usual browse in a local secondhand shop......called Pam's.......which sells EVERYTHING.
I spied an interesting pile....it was a huge pile of crocheted/tatted doilies.
Yay!

My plan is to dye them and use them to embellish clothes, bags.....anything that takes my fancy.

And the strange place mats, which look a bit like flowers, just appealed to me....and they echo the shape of the doilies which I rather like.
I think we had something like these at home when I was a child....I came over all nostalgic when I saw them!

So this weekend will be a creative one.
My favourite type.

WoW!! Lemonade award!!

2009-04-01T08:02:00.004+01:00

Oh how exciting!!
Izabela has given me this award....it's my first and I am SO proud!
Thank you so much.

Go and look at her blog....it's full of lovely crochet.....her work inspires me and I love my glimpses into her life.

A Lemonade Award is given to bloggers that you feel show a positive attitude and/or gratitude. Here's how it works:

1.Put the logo on your blog or post
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude.
3.Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.
5.Nominate your favorites and link to your post.

So....here they are....all blogs that I love exploring and I can rely on for being positive and uplifting when I need it most!
Thanks everyone. x

Kirsten at Fleur de Boheme

Helda at Heldasland

Pepper at Pepperstitches

Sally Jean at Sallyjean.typepad.com

Megan at The Byron Life

Big Blue Bed at Big Blue Bed

Cloud at Cloud Hopping Designs

Bairbre Aine at Don't interrupt me when I'm talking to myself...

Steph at Hook and Scumble

Colette at Poppy Cottage

And now I'm exhausted.....that's taken two cups of tea in my favourite owl mug!

It's like this one....

Tea and toast

2009-03-28T14:45:00.003Z

I drink a lot of tea.
I like toast too - especially if it's really buttery.
So this combination of tea in one of my favourite mugs, generously buttered toast and a sunny conservatory was rather lovely this morning...

Sadly, I'm writing this from the train as I'm off to work.

Two 12 hour nightshifts.

So it'll be work, sleep and not much sun for my weekend!

What about your weekend?

Preparation...

2009-03-27T18:54:00.006Z

I love getting ready to go out.
Nowhere special....just down the road, a couple of pubs.
My friend Colette
and me....out on the town!

So...I'm about to jump into the bath....lots ofbubbles.......then into my bedroom to choose the appropriate outfit for a laid back evening with friends.
Not too much to drink this time (remember this post Nicki..........)

So.....
I've eaten.
I'm not going to drink loads
or mix drinks.

I will have fun without regrets.

Sounds like a plan........

Jumping up and down...

2009-03-24T19:54:00.002Z

with glee because I've just made this utterly gorgeous owlet!

I'm so pleased...I'm not good at following patterns and am fairly new to crochet....but LOOK!!

It's not perfect.....a couple of bits look a tiny bit odd (I prefer quirky).....and it's all thanks to this
wonderful blog.

Go and look....it has lots of free patterns.

And if I can do it......!

off now to bond with the baby owl over a cup of tea.............

Little things

2009-03-23T20:34:00.006Z

What a difference a week makes.
Again, I'm taking part in the 'words and pictures' here.

Little things...
that please me:

magnetic poetry....what does 'start baby jump it up
pumpkin joy bug' actually mean??

I don't know....and do you know what?
I don't care, I love it.
I see it everyday and it always makes me smile.
Always.

little boxes....see that one in this photo? (bad photo, sorry!)
It's from a local charity shop.
I sanded off some stuff that was on the doors, meaning to put something of mine on it.
But I haven't.
It's unfinished.....I like it like it is......something else, a little thing, that brings a smile to my face.

buttons.....ahhhhhhhh, lovely, lovely buttons!
A new fetish (does that sound wrong???!)
I love, love, LOVE them.....lots and lots of little things, but with so much potential.
There's a little four leaf clover button just by the little box.

I often think of big, important stuff.
Life changing, good, bad....mixed.
I forget all the little things...seemingly unimportant things that make such an enormous difference to the way I see my surroundings.

Little things that please me.

Where would we be without the little things?

Bird

2009-03-22T20:58:00.002Z

This little wire and paperclay bird will be a birthday present for a friend........
if it turns out alright!

I've seen so many birds, on so many blogs.....I'm inspired.

So I thought I'd give it a go.......and of course I had a bag of paper clay tucked away ready for my experiment. Amongst all the other arty crafty bits and pieces that I have stashed in every possible place in my stuffed full house!

I'm leaving it to dry overnight.....will that be long enough?.....and will sand it a little and then work out how I'll decorate it.
Hmmmmmmmm.

Contemplation

2009-03-21T10:55:00.002Z

After a day or two of deep thinking...

I'm just enjoying the sun.

Life is good.....we all make mistakes sometimes and as I'm someone who prides herself on her honesty I should be fine with some frank discussion.
This friendship will remain, my feelings may or may not change....life goes on and I'll always be there in whatever way, shape of form I can.

As for the 'fat' problem.
Ahem....well, I do need to lose some weight so will stop moaning and get on with it!
Always easier with a bit of sunshine though.........

I may not have such cool sunglasses, but I'll do some relaxing in the sun...just like Tommy the dog.

2009-03-21T10:53:00.001Z

Cozy

2009-03-18T09:17:00.002Z

Cozy is how I don't feel today.

Instead I feel kind of lost and confused.
A bit irritable, unsettled and twitchy.
It's uncomfortable.
A little bit sad.

Why?
Lots of little reasons I think....lots of small worries......nothing big.
I feel fat.
And suddenly aware of my age...46!....when did that happen?
But I'm not 'grown up'.......
I'm a bit lonely sometimes (and how I hate admitting that).

I'm thinking too much about a frank (drunken) conversation I had a few days ago....in which I said lots of heartfelt things that so didn't need to actually be spoken out loud.
I think it will change a relationship that is precious to me, but can never be anything more then friendship.....however much I'd like it to be something more.

Foolish me.

So when I saw this idea of lots of bloggers writing about certain words here
I decided to take part.
I thought I'd like to see other ideas about the cozy-factor in our lives.

Sorry though, if my 'cozy' post is unexpected.
My picture is of some of my stuff....things I like, that make me smile.
Maybe they'll help me get my cozy-factor back?

Tomorrow...

2009-03-17T14:49:00.002Z

is my friend's birthday!

I've spent a bit of time over the last couple of days making this for her and I'm quite pleased with it (I think).
It's paper collage on wood.....shredded book pages, some torn postage stamps, acrylic inks, lace.....a bit of a mish-mash!

But fun to make.....I'll let you know what she thinks.

Handsome!

2009-03-16T15:39:00.002Z

My friend Paula has these ambling around in her garden.
They arrived as fluffy chicks, hatched from eggs at her son's school......supposedly two lady chickens...........

As you can see, one is most definitely male and has just learnt to crow.
He starts at 5am, then the one next door joins in, followed by the one just up the road.
It's some kind of crowing round robin.

But isn't he handsome?.......lovely colour......very flirty too!
The perfect red-head!

Beach fun

2009-03-15T15:46:00.002Z

Aaaah, the joys of living by the sea...
walking along the path as far as we can.....then all the way back along the beach until we get to the cafe and relax in the sun with tea and scones.
Bliss.

Bhindi...

2009-03-12T21:09:00.005Z

I bought this rather beautiful papier mache head (and shoulders!) about 4 or 5 years ago from a tiny, but fabulous shop in Glastonbury.
It was love at first sight.
There was a male version too (I always think of it as her husband)....but there was something about him I didn't like.

So I bought her (for a bargain £20) and carefully transported her back to my house.
I christened her Bhindi Bhaji Bighead and I love her.
She sits by the computer and wears that mysterious half smile....she understands me.....she makes me smile too.
Some people just don't get her at all...

Next to her is a blackboard.....you probably can't quite read what it says......I'll tell you.

! MAKE!
necklaces
earrings
bracelets&cuffs?
BROOCHES

So....that's what I'll do then.
Thanks Bhindi.

Collage

2009-03-11T08:50:00.003Z

Last night was a work night for me....but a fun one! One of the three weekly library groups I run for young people.
We usually have a programme...often vague....and last night we were 'doing' architecture.

So we made little collaged houses.
As well as looking at lots of architectural books, we looked at artists' images of buildings.
We spent quite a bit of time looking at my all time favourite artist, Hundertwasser

I am addicted to his paintings....the colours (what he describes as 'dark brights') are so beautiful and his buildings in Vienna are gorgeous...I need to live in a Hundertwasser house!

I am working on some jewellery inspired by this amazing man.....so come back and I'll show you!

Sunshine

2009-03-08T14:40:00.002Z

An afternoon on the hill behind my house...lovely in the sun.

More...

2009-03-06T22:59:00.002Z

Just had to try one more.....

Happy

2009-03-06T20:12:00.002Z

I am so pleased with this.
Crochet cord that I felted earlier, felted crochet flowers and two fabulous vintage buttons that I got from a recent button swap on Swap-bot.............bliss.

Felting..........

2009-03-06T19:43:00.002Z

Tonight I experimented with a bit of crochet and then some felting.......
ended up as a lovely bit of felted cord.
yum.

2009-03-06T19:40:00.006Z

lots of rinsing......obviously best done in pyjamas at the kitchen sink!

2009-03-06T19:40:00.005Z

and rinsing................

Loveliness.

2009-03-06T08:21:00.003Z

Whilst my friend Colette was at a local machine knitting group last night, I was finishing off my Open University assignment. I've nearly finished a Foundation Degree in working with young people and I now have just two more assignments to do....and it's finished!! It's been tough at times....mainly because I do so love to put all that stuff off until the last minute!

As I was trying to be firm with myself, I haven't really done anything creative over the last few days......that's been horrible. I forget how many different ways my creativity filters into 'normal' life.

I brought the lace in the (terrible) photo from a local charity shop, brought it home.......
and put it out of sight.
This morning, smiling at the thought of no assignment to finish, I got it out for a good look.
Hmmm....lovely braid, pretty nylon lace that I might try and dye....and some gorgeous cotton lace that looks lovely and vintage-y.
I'm so pleased.

Lace and button cuff

2009-02-26T15:03:00.003Z

That's used about one percent of the button stash then.

Musings....

2009-02-26T08:42:00.006Z

I am procrastinating. In my dressing gown, with my second cup of tea.

These are the things I should be doing:

Shower, clean teeth.
Dress (appropriate, soft, luxurious, not bag lady style).
Eat healthy, organic, non-aging breakfast.
Clean stinky guinea pig hutch.
Finish (start!) OU assignment.
Tidy up..........

None of that appeals...instead I am sharing a couple of photos with you.
This is me as a Russian Doll.
I love them, their colours, the clever way they fit together.
They are fab.
So why shouldn't I be one too?

And this lovely thing is the cupboard.

Without this, my home would be even untidier than it already is.
It is full of stuff and only I know where anything is (and sometimes I don't!)
The top two shelves are more or less sorted....the bottom two are not.

Aha! maybe that's what I'll do.....

More tea first though I think.