At it again...........

I think I've got a new obsession....(where's the eye rolling emoticon when you need it?!).

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for something in the dreaded "cupboard under the stairs" when I came across a box of blank greetings cards. I used to make quite a lot of cross stitch cards using the cards with a cut out aperture (I'm sure you guys know what I mean) As with most things the novelty wore off and they were all put in a box in the cupboard. Some of them even had bits of cross stitch with them, where they hadn't been finished. Anyway, I thought I would finish off those and see if I could sell them and I've managed to put a few up in an Etsy shop.

While this was going on, I happened across one those shopping channels on Freeview which was having a Craft weekend, and I was sucked into the cardmaking.....I didn't buy anything though (aren't you proud of my self control?) but I was fascinated by the selection of different papers and the demos of how easy it is to make the cards, and the fact that you can get CDs and print the papers yourself. At around the same time my friend and I went out for the afternoon to a Craft Village near Billericay in Essex and I was open mouthed at some of the papercraft stuff available....luckily no one caught me drooling! I still didn't buy anything (still proud of me?.....you won't be!) but with all these thoughts of hand made cards rushing around in my head......I just had to go and buy a load of bits and pieces (hanging my head in shame......Sorry!!)

So I still haven't made any inroads into my UFOs (there's a pattern here isn't there?) and I now have loads more stuff in my stash......There no hope for me......

Still nothing to do with my UFOs.....

but I wanted to mention the fact that I just love the window displays in Harvey Nicholls in Knightsbridge....I go past on the bus every morning on my way to work. Their displays are always different....in all the years I've been going past I don't think I've ever seen anything repeated....I have the utmost admiration for whoever it is that comes up with the ideas!

The designs are very often a bit off the wall to say the least. The latest one unveiled this week, and they've just got two displays that cover all the windows on each side of the main entrance. Now I don't get much of a look some mornings so it takes a while to take it all in, but one of the displays looks to be a full sized (or almost) replica of a skeleton of a Brontosaurus (I think the design team must have had a field trip to the Natural History Museum up the road)....and here's the good bit it seems to be entirely made out of coat hangers!! If you happen to be in the area, I would say it's worth a look.

I have to say they defeat their object sometimes, because I could never tell you what clothes are on display, as I'm too busy looking at the props!! Still it brightens my journey a little bit!

Oh dear......

I still haven't got around to doing anything more about my UFOs......I've been really busy at work, and soooooo tired in the evenings it's all I can do to rustle up something quick and easy to eat in front of the tv and flop into bed! The weekends get away from me, they just wizz by and before I know where I am it's Monday again and off to work......the words "vicious" and "circle" spring to mind!

Still, cooking's a craft isn't it? And I do like to cook when I have the inclination. As I've got older I tend to go for recipes that are quick and simple, although I will pull the stops out for an occasional feast! BTW if you have a look at my little list of blogs that I visit, (incomplete list I hasten to add in case any of my cheffie friends aren't on there yet! :o) ) you will see where my priorities are!! Feel free to visit their world, they are all lovely ladies that I have met through Recipezaar which is a great place to find new recipes as well as friends.

I made some lovely pasta last night, with a sauce that was simply some cherry tomatoes (from my one plant in the garden!) cut in half and cooked with a finely chopped garlic clove in a little olive oil. Heat the oil first and then stir in the tomatoes and garlic. Give it a good stir, cover and cook gently for about 10 minutes, then mash lightly with the back of a spoon. Stir it into freshly cooked pasta, with a handful of torn basil leaves (I'm loving my fresh basil in the garden too!) and sprinkle with parmesan......yummy!!!

I can see this is going to be a very occasional blog......doesn't time fly?

Anyway, this is what I'm working on at the moment....I haven't had a chance to take a photo of my actual work so this is just a pic from the Mirabilia website.......

Recently dragged out of hibernation, as I haven't touched it for about two years!! (Shame on me). I'm about three quarters of the way through it now, but it's slow going and I really am having trouble finding the time to spend on it amongst all the other stuff that goes on in life!

One of my intentions is to sort out all my UFOs and see exactly what there is, but it's a scary prospect!

Be Gentle With Me.....

I'm a virgin blogger......


I've no idea whether anyone will read this, or if you will all think it's just the ravings of middle aged grumpy old woman.....but here goes.

For those of you crafters out there who empathise with the header on here, I will be trying to work my way through a growing pile of UFOs that threaten to engulf my house. Over the years I've probably tried almost everything, and I know you will all recognise the obsessive compulsiveness of starting a new hobby and having to have all the equipment that you need and more materials than you can shake a stick at...or even hope to use if you live to be 120! Then you move on and are left with a box of stuff and various unfinished projects. Is it all sounding familiar? I hope so because I'd hate to think that I'm alone in this!

Back later to show you what I'm working on at the moment....