News Update...

I've kicked the advertisements into touch.

Sofas, wide feet, sore knees...

it all got too close to home if you ask me.

I feel free...

Yipee...

What's this photograph got to do with the price of cheese in Woolworths...

absolutely blooming NOWT.

I just thought I'd show you my latest economy - I don't buy flowers, I just gather catkins and twigs from the countryside.  Impressed or Wot?

I haven't got time to sit around chatting to you...

I'm off to flop on the sofa, rub horse liniment into me knees and see if I can squeeze my feets into my latest red bottomed shoes, don't know how to spell - Mani Bloko...

You know who I mean any road.


P.S. Just googled it ...
I got it wrong - sorry - it's..
Christine Lobotomy.

The Moving Finger writes;

and having writ,

Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,

Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

SAVE OUR FORESTS...

From my eyrie I can see Bedgebury forest, it is there - between the trees. 
Not only for that reason; but because I care passionately about our green and pleasant land.
Hence me writing this...

'When is the selling off of our beautiful country going to end?

Don't let others get us by the nuts, and I don't mean cobnuts.

England is too precious not to be owned by the ENGLISH.'

 My post on

www.theforester.co.uk/saveourforest.cfm 

If you feel the same about the systematic flogging off of the UK's 'family silver' please do what I did and google as many on-line petitions and put YOUR NAME down.


'Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing
because he could only do a little'

There!  I did tell you last night I'm revolting;  

always have been and always will be.

Is it me I wonder...

or have I always been a stroppy moo?

Controversial - Yes. I've never acted my age- Yes.  I've always ploughed my own furrow -Yes.  It's got me into trouble - Yessss! (not in the breaking the law sort, more the breaking the mould sort)

Tonight eating my lone supper (Hubs is out on the razz) I got to thinking...

Why Oh Why at 'new mums' coffee mornings all those years ago, I just couldn't bring myself to talk about little Willy's potty training.  I'd lob in the odd hand grenade...

"What do you think about the current political climate?"

Their vacant stares at my question, really said it all...

'Is there anything more important than babies sleeping through the night or the tottering first steps?'

The next question is...

'Would I have wanted to toe the line?'

NO!

The thing is, in my opinion,  having babies is natural, treating them like mini Gods is not. Don't get me wrong I love my son, but I love being me.  And for his health as well as mine I'm a woman with needs and wants, hopes and dreams and I'm ME, as well as MUM!

Update of the goings-on of a crafty administrator...

Well you wouldn't believe it...

not only have I been sensible today, I've been doing lots of step exercises.  Now I ought to explain that it has taken me 'til now 2pm-ish to realise that I could unplug my laptop and bring it down to the Kitsch and Stitch nerve centre on the ground floor.  I have all morning, after walking the dog, been trolling upstairs to collate application info on my computer.  Then back to the drawing-board (yes really - a separate table) with all our contributors carefully charted.  The response has been so good I'm worried I miss someone we really, really want.  Call me slow I don't mind, the penny does eventually drop.  And looking on the bright side I have been having a work-out.  I haven't sat on the sofa once today, the cushions are still plumped up to prove it.  I don't like to blow my own trumpet but I've even been standing at the table. 

Fresh back from my Apple lesson yesterday; I feel like I'm slowly getting to grips with the finer points of computing. James my lovely teacher in Stormfront in Maidstone runs and hides when he sees my name spring up on the lessons calender.  Can't think why?

Oh and other thing...

these blooming advertisements...

When I thought they might add a little spark to my blog, I had visions of colourful pictures peddling exciting wares.  NOT ad's for sofas, raised beds, seeds, wide feet and just this afternoon - SORE KNEES.  How could they tell I've got wide feet and sore blooming knees...

a) from trogging up the stairs  and

b) from carrying too much weight!

Next I'll be advertising hip replacements, cheek fillers and diets of all kinds (well kinds isn't the right word - cruels would be better.

What have you done today to make you feel proud...

Watch this space...

when I've done it, I'll fill you in.

Otherwise I sit blogging and the day just disappears!

http://kitschandstitchfair.blogspot.com

Prayer Flags are Us...

P.p.p. Pick up a Penguin...

if you've still got any Christmas money or book tokens 

(just thought of Luncheon Vouchers, do they still do them I wonder?) 

{LL don't go off at a tangent}

 treat yourself to...

Drum roll.....

'No Way Down"

Life and Death on K2

by Graham Bowley.

The sofa has me in its grasp again.  I'm transported to high altitude.  

I'm enthralled by the mystery as to why they do it.

The other night reading in bed with just my nose poking out of the down-filled duvet, it felt soo cold.  Later I dreamt I was on K2; I woke the following morning fully expecting to have frost bite on me sniffer.

Enough blogging I've got some serious crampon crunching to carry out.


Oh, and a view of the sofa before the sofa suckers (they're like sink plungers only bigger) have me in their grasp.


These are the cushions I've been making at Deb's class, the middle one is the one I made today.  I'm seriously worried that I'm raiding my fabric stash and I don't really like it.
And even though I say it myself - in class today - I have been GOOD!

Carol Klein I ain't...

however I feel horticulturely holier-than-thou today.
Why? Because I've just spent a couple of hours in the garden.
This sort of weather cold and dreich; where do I want to be on a Sunday afternoon?  The sofa that's where.  Only natural innit!

This is the state of the garden -

The wild strawberries are set to take over the world

My battle with the brassica lace-making bugs has been hard won.

On Christmas morning there's nothing I like better than harvesting my sprouts, sometimes I'm even picking frozen Brussells.

Raised beds cleared ready for take-off.

This year I am determined that I will show some restraint and not let the thugging flowers rule the roost.  I'm in charge: from today it's a veg pot, not a poncey potager.  That's where I went wrong in the past - it got ideas above its station.

This is what happens when you take your eye off the ball.

Very colourful I grant you, not very productive.

After my morning's work I'm back on the Sunday sofa, limbering up ready to do battle with K2.

Toodle-oo!

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes...

 Settled on the Saturday sofa, I got to thinking...
could I be in danger of becoming a couch potato?
No LL you've been out walking the dog, made a little light luncheon, been in the death zone of K2 (alright, alright - only in my latest Amazon buy - 'No Way Down').
Yes I'm an armchair mountaineer, probably living on the top of a hill gives me these strange tendencies.  It all started years ago in the Lake District when I bought myself "Touching the Void" by Joe Simpson. 
I'm a 'spreading bottom' book person.  Penguin books are my preferred choice, they are in my opinion the thinking womans' Mills and Boon.  Fiction or non, you are always assured of a good read.  I just need now the definitive version of how to exercise while in the embrace of the sofa, book in one hand and glass in t'other.

Happy Days!

Her feet beneath her petticoat...

Like little mice, stole in and out,

As if they feared the light.

Aren't they just adorable slipper dippers?

With wings on their heels they arrived this afternoon.

We have the most wonderful shop in Tunbridge Wells called Shoon.

It sells shoes.

To call it a shoe shop sort of misses the point, although in fairness it does mainly sell footwear.

My feet aren't my best feature, well to be honest I'm beggered if I know what is?

Anyhow last year from this wonderful emporium I bought some Wolky sandals and everywhere I went people would stop me on the street. Sitting outside pavement cafes from Camden to Cleethorpes folk would walk on by, only to retrace their steps to feast their eyes on my tootsies.

"Excuse me!"  I knew what was coming next.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but where did you get those shoes?"

Like the Pied blooming Piper I trolled along with folk falling at my feet (slight exaggeration!)

Who was I to grumble, I ask you?

Yesterday I thought I'd better bob in to Shoon and see what new seasons excitements await my public this summer.

In the sale, these adorable slippers were awaiting my pleasure. Trouble was, the only pair in the shop was a size 3. After drying my eyes, the very kind lady said that she would phone to see if their other shop in the Royal spa town of Leamington Spa had a pair in my size.

They did; and can you believe that less than 24 hours later my feet are shod in velvet, purple at that!

Spring - has it arrived already?

A good day at school today, only a tiny strop!

My husband has on occasion been known to say on peering over my shoulder as I blog

"Not sure folk are going to know where you're coming from?"

Hand on heart neither do I.

I've just put on the sidebar (if that's what you call it) a funny picture of my lovely mum who died in 1971, just two months after my son Aaron was born. It broke my heart, I really did feel I'd paid for one with the other, if you understand what I mean?

I am blessed with having a glass half full sort of a mentality (preferably bubbles!) And even on my flattest of days I truly feel happy to be alive.

Having lovely day...

sorting out treasures for my kitsch pitch at our fair.

kitschandstitch

I have the most wonderful utility room which boasts a log-burning stove; cupboards and shelves galore; which over the eight years I've been here, I've stuffed full of treasures.

Being a Violet Elizabeth sort of a lass, I don't do sharing. How oh how, am I going to part with my stash? I'm exactly the same with my material cupboard in the studio. I sniff, I stroke, I open up and admire, then oh so carefully fold and replace.

I've ordered ink cartridges, I've written a press release, answered emails, taken the dog for a walk in the rain. Spoken to many and various folk on the phone. Found time to comment on a blog or two. I'm doing this post. In fact I'm seriously worried I am in grave danger of becoming dynamical.

Just the thought has made the sofa and my current book beckon...........

Home thoughts from a broad...

sat on the Saturday sofa..

Alright, alright I should be galvanising Debs into action with reference to our forthcoming...

wait for it...

kitsch and stitch fair

(never one to pass up on a chance for promotion me!)

I know, I know if you want something done ask a busy person. Trouble is, I'm an ideas wallah and laying horizontal on the sofa is a vital part of the thoughts process.

Trouble is the thinking part of my brain got to thunking about...

rice pudding and dried peas - like you do!

(Must try to remember not to pepper my prose with exclamation marks. Apart from everything else it's common. I am fully aware that I write EXACTLY as I talk - cliched twaddle).

At my favouritish supermarket - Waitrose I bought some pudding rice with a view to making a rice pudding.

Hold tight, we'll get there in a minute.

This is a picture of my lovely Grandad Smith taken in North Africa, my father taking the picture thought to get an atmospheric photo of the locals selling their wares. And in fairness he did, apart from Herbert the visiting Yorkshireman in his flat cap. Would have used a ! but I'm trying not to.

What's this got to do with rice pudding and dried peas I hear you groan?

Well...

Grandad Smith who lived with us (those were the days when they did) everyday insisted my mum, his daughter, make him a rice pudding. Yes, you did hear right every BLOOMING day.

And bless her, she did.

Dried peas... in his cardigan pockets he always had dried peas, don't ask me why, they were the snack of choice for him. Weird or wot?

In an earlier blog I've told you about my other eccentric grandfather (the wood-carving bank manager). Both of them I loved to bits.

Grandad Smith made me promise as a little girl never to smoke.

"But why Grandad, you smoke?"

"That doesn't matter, just promise me!"

I did..

and I don't...

and I never have.

I think I'm in love....

with my personal trainer.

Now I know it's not the sort of thing you share with the world, especially as I'm a happily married woman, however I just can't keep our weekly assignations to myself. In the snapshot of yours truly you will see I'm positively glowing. That's because I've just got down and dirty with Henry on the carpet.

Yes you've guessed it, he's my vacuum cleaner.

Being a slothful sort of a lass, usually on Fridays I wave my feather duster in the air like a fairy sprinkling fairy-dust. With a puff of polish in the atmosphere - the job's done.

This Friday something stirred; Henry was got out of his hiding place, given a tummy tuck and off we went. Now if you've read an earlier post of mine you will know that this little cottage is all stairs. Crampons on, Henry and I clawed our way past the tumbleweed and dross gathered on the steps. Abseiling down we puffed and panted, sucked and blew leaving no stone unturned.

Am I in danger of becoming houseproud?

A Pitch at Kitsch and Stitch... Book NOW...

*

This is going to be a Craft Fair we can all be proud of.

Please contact Debs pretty goods or me, and be part of a successful day.

More info and booking forms on kitsch and stitch blog.

If you could eat books...

this is the one I would 'plump' for every cotton-picking day...

a veritable feast for the eyes, the senses, the brain, the bod.

The lovely Wend from ticking stripes recommended it; the nano-second I read her blog my hot-line to the mighty AMAZON roared through cyber space, an order was placed and although I had to wait until yesterday to get my mitts on it - Wow! Was it worth the wait or wot?

The down-side to the mighty tome is how awfully naff I feel my home is!

But wait...

my giant hogweed thingy bobby might, just might be given house room in the home of Sibella Court.

This is the tipple of choice...

although I do try to show some restraint. Not easy for a girl of my rubenesque proportions.

I've had a lovely day today, first day back at school. I've amazed myself at how without really trying (well, very trying if you ask Debs) I have made a superb cushion with piping.

Now I'd be the first to admit that when teacher suggested I do it properly I could feel the bubble of (no, not hunger pains) a strop stirring in me vitals. As I'm aiming for perfection this year I quickly tapped it down and meekly DID AS I WAS TOLD! Now I wouldn't tell anyone this but as nobody stumbles upon my blog I can rest easy sharing this with YOU.

Clutching the finished article to my chest I proudly took it home to show Hubs. The temptation to celebrate was great. However, even I was pretty hard pushed to find the excuse of a newly made cushion to crack open a bottle.

Do you want to showcase your crafts here?

Our very first kitsch and stitch fair is booked for Saturday 7th May 2011

here in the beautiful Grade 2 Listed Vestry Hall, smack bang in the centre of the pretty Kentish town of Cranbrook.

Today Debs and I have been to see the facilities on offer and we were bowled over by what a

gem we have found.

We are looking for the creme de la creme of crafts people and collectors of kitsch.

Let us see what you do...

Please get in touch with either me here or Debs at pretty goods

Look what the postman brought today...

This wonderful brooch in its beautiful handmade box was bought by me from my

long lost pal Ben from

the aviary

who we will be hopefully seeing at our Kitsch and Stitch Fair together with his beautiful girlfriend Vicky and a bunch of talented guys with an 'odd' assortment of treasures.

Just take a look at their blog to discover what wonderful things await...

Kitsch and Stitch Fair...

Debs and I are going tomorrow to finalise the details...

Pictures of our venue in the lovely town of Cranbrook and the surrounding area are to be found on...

kitschandstitch blog.

We are very keen for our first fair to be of the very highest standard. There are so many of you that we would love to have as exhibitors, do please get in touch.

With bare feet...

I tread the treads of the steep, steep stairs of my 300 year old cottage

and sit at some ungodly hour blogging!

It's funny how tossing and turning in my down filled duvet the words for my blog flowed Alan Bennett-like through my brain. Now in the cold dark morning at my desk the fluidity of thoughts has evaporated.

'No real surprise there LL that's exactly what happens with all your grand schemes!'

*

My funny little cottage is all rooms on top of each other and to arrive here I have scuttled down one flight of stairs.

*

Through here our little cosy sitting room grandly called the winter room...

due to the fact we have an open fire! This is the old front door with a key the size of a safe- cracking crowbar.

The next set of steps is into the kitchen and my pension-busting extension!

*

I love my home.

I love my life.

It has been action-packed, good and bad and all the exciting bits in between.

I always say if I died tomorrow I wouldn't have any regrets. A good place to be...

and in the meantime the next flight awaits... in the kitchen the kettle calls.

Watch this space...

Not to be missed...

*

Get your new diaries out girls and make this the first entry.

All enquiries to either Debs of pretty goods or me.

There are so many of you that we would love to meet and obviously have your skills exhibited at our first ever Kitsch and Stitch Fair.

Keep your eyes peeled for more details.

Can two people be...

a) that talented

b) that avant garde

I'll leave you to decide which is which!