June 30th, 2012

So we've just watched The Woman In Black....ohhhhh my god!!

Well if the intention was to scare the life out of me it succeeded 100%, I watched half of it through my fingers and the other half from inside my top!  In fairness, I don't know anyone that scares as easily as me, the slightest thing and I'm jumping out of my skin, but this one really had some moments in it!  It's not particularly graphic or anything though, it's definitely all psychological.

Oddly though, that's my favourite kind of film - as me to choose my favourite films from our DVD collection now and I'd be choosing films like The Sixth Sense, The Number 23, Room 1408, Red Dragon...I love them, anything that's clever rather than gory I'd choose any day, and once it's over I'll rant about how brilliant it was, but during I'm an absolute wreck!

Very interesting to see Daniel Radcliffe in something other than Harry Potter, though at times a good petronus charm would have done him the world of good!  Must say though, we felt he was mis-cast in that role.  Don't get me wrong, he did an amazing job of the role he was given, but for me he was just way too young to pull it off.  For those who haven't seen it, his character is a lawyer who is a widower and has a 4 year old son, and he just doesn't look old enough for it to be believeable, he looks more like the little boy's older brother.

The other "problem" with Daniel Radcliffe playing the role is that, from what we've heard, the film was a lot more frightening to begin with but they edited it to within an inch of it's life so that the Harry Potter audience ( who are still fairly young ) were old enough to go and see it.  I can't comment really as I've not read the book, but I can see how they'd end up doing that - not that I'm complaining, I couldn't have coped if it was any worse!!!

Now I have to try and sleep, in this dark house...!

June 29th, 2012

3 monthsn to go until our wedding!  Three months!!  Not entirely sure where the time's gone, it's flying by, really doesn't seem like two minutes since we got engaged!

So spent today getting some wedding bits done.  Andy had his second fitting for his suit and it is looking fabulous, really really stunning.  I really hope the photographs do justice to how beautiful a suit this actually is!  Then we went to get shoes to wear with said suit...that was fun!  That's the problem with having such a fancy suit, the shoes have to match up!!  But we got there eventually, and while we were there we registered for our gift list, so that'll be the next thing, running around the store beeping things I like - looking forward to that one!!

June 28th, 2012

I've just realised why the June 26th post didn't work...I was in the middle of a spider attack when I was doing it!

I say spider attack - there was a spider, which to me, is an attack.  A complete violation to me and my home!  Made worse by the fact that Andy was working away so I had to "deal with it" alone!  Deal with it is probably an exaggeration of what I did actually, it ran underrneath a cushion I threw so I beat hell out of the cushion and ran away!

Went to bed scared to death, got up the next morning and after spending a good half hour plucking up the courage, I moved the cushion...and it wasn't there! Back to square one!!!  So as far as I'm concerned it's loose, wild.  Everyone else says it's "gone back to wherever it came from" but I can't help but feel I'm being watched - this could go on forever!!!!!

June 26th, 2012

I've just seen that yesterday's post didn't publish!  I did it on my phone so must have done it wrong somewhere...but no way am I admitting defeat on this blog-a-day thing!!

So I promise I did write it lol

June 27th, 2012

Ohh dear, I fear I may have "done a Lucy"..!

Was at the post office today and a guy came in to put a couple of ads in our window, one for a dresser and one for a wooden table.  It's the most fabulous wooden table you can imagine, proper farmhouse-style, chunky thing and I loved it straight away.  Turns out the guy just wants rid of it before his new table arrives and pretty much wants peanuts for the thing, so after much deliberation I called him after work and commited to buying his table, and sorted out a guy with a transit  van to get it to my house.

Did I measure my doorways?  Did I hell!  No idea how we're going to get it in the house, it's certainly not coming in the front, so the only option is down the side and through the back, which isn't easy at all as it'll involve turning my almost-2-metre-long table through almost 180 degrees...this may be a complete disaster!!!!!

June 25th, 2012

Epic day today - finished 9 bags!

I tend to work in production lines, so when my new fabrics arrive I'll draw all the patterns, then do all the cutting, all the pinning etc rather than doing one entire bag at a time.  The cutting day is always a long but productive one, then I have a massive lull in the middle of the process when I'm doing lots of machine stitching and everything's half done.  Today's my favourite day though, a whole day of hand-stitching and finishing, so it feels like I've done much more than I have!

And I can't wait to show you all what I've been doing!  It's all a bit of a secret just now but as soon as everything's finished and photographed you'll see what I've been up to...and it's my favourite project yet!

June 24th, 2012

Does anyone else hate football or is it just me?

I can't stand it!  Grown men who earn more money than I could even imaging who roll around on grass faking injuries for 90 minutes...I just don't get it!  And I have to say, all this rolling and diving trying to gain a penalty or free kick, it seems they don't even hide that they're faking it any more!  We watched the England match tonight and I was stunning to see guys tripping, falling over then desperately clutching their heads or faces which didn't even touch the ground!

And what really gets me (I'm off on one now huh?!!) is the money...I just cannot understand how the money those men are on can possibly be justified?  Not when there's soldiers fighting for their country every day, it's just hideous.

Rant over.

June 23rd, 2012

So last night we saw the amazing Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band...but what a nightmare getting there!  Hope you’ve got a cuppa for this one!!

The Springsteen fans run a queue system – because the concerts are general admission where you queue to get in there’s a system whereby when you turn up, you’re given a number that’s put on the list and then you attend roll calls every few hours, which means that they fans that queue for several days (and they do!) can leave the queue to shower, eat, sleep etc and only have to check back in occasionally rather than staying.  Then when the times comes to open the doors then first 1000 people that have numbers are let in in order.  It happens at every venue and it’s a system that Springsteen’s security are involved with – fans do the queue then hand over to them to sort out the wristbands and putting people in order, and the venue security do as they’re told from Springsteen’s lot.

We went to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night just to see if anything was going on and bumped into another couple that had had the same idea, so the four of us decided we may as well stay and be numbers 1-4, and that meant we were running the queue.  So we camped at the venue for two nights!  Didn’t sleep Thursday because all the fans that were at the Sunderland show shot straight down to get their queue number so we were up all night doing that then organising roll calls – by 1pm on Friday we had well over 1000 people to deal with!!!!   The rain never stopped for about 36 hours, we were so busy that we just couldn’t stay dry – I had two pairs of socks in Ugg-type boots, four layers of tops, a waterproof jacket and plastic poncho  and was soaked to the skin by 10am yesterday morning, so was soaked through for a good 14 hours.

Despite the rain and volume of people it was all going well, everyone was supportive and understanding that our lack of information was because no-one was telling us anything.  The venue security told us where to queue, set up barriers etc and worked with us doing the numbers for two days so they knew what was doing on.  Then (presumably) because of the rain the soundcheck and safety checks inside the venue took longer and Springsteen’s security guy  didn’t make it out to us.  The venue security then decided just to let us in and refused to work with any kind of system other than theirs, which was to open the doors all at the same time (not letting the numbered people in first as promised) and getting 55,000 people into the venue as quick as possible, so 48 hours of work was completely wasted.  Then when they let us in (bearing in mind that everything is soaking wet) they opened all the gates and let people squeeze through a door and burst into the the top back left of the stadium, so nearly 3000 fans, who were already really angry about the queue thing, had to run down a steep set of stairs and across a plastic-covered pitch to the golden circle area, and security did nothing – it is down to nothing but luck that people a) weren't crushed on the stairs, and b) no-one slipped and broke legs on the wet plastic flooring.

All turned out ok – we were front row (though our spot should have been better for the numbers we had) and Bruce did a good 3 and a half hours.  The show was epic, it was just a shame that everyone was in a crap mood because of the venue staff.  

Clarence was truly missed but his nephew Jake on stage playing those parts was really something, very emotional night!

And that was that!  We've spent most of today sleeping and re-hydrating!  Better get some training in before the next Bruce show!

June 22nd, 2012

Right now there are no words to describe what Andy and I have just put ourselves through for the Bruce Springsteen show we've just seen but boy was it worth it!

More tomorrow, right now jumping in the shower to try abduction regain some feeling in my limbs!

June 21st,2012

It's pouring with rain, everything and every one is soaked through, the wind is howling...yep, we've ended up running the Springsteen queue!

June 20th, 2012

Today's blog will be a short one because, I kid you not, tonight's bed is a tent outside the Man City ground in the queue for the Bruce Springsteen show!

Yes, we must be mad, but I promise you it's worth it!

June 19th, 2012

What a long night...apparently there's some football thing on?!  I cannot stand football, I'll not get on a rant about it but I just hate it!  So I wasn't overly enthused when Andy wanted to put the England match on tonight, but I did get a lot of research done of potential outlets for my new products, so that's something!

I'll tell what I found tonight, just how many people there are out there designing and making amazing products!  And that made me wonder why on earth Handmade isn't more mainstream?!  I looked at tons of sites and each site had its own set of makers, not the same bunch of people cropping up everywhere, and all of a brilliant standard.  So if so many of us are doing it, why don't more people know about it?  And if they do, why aren't they supporting it to a greater extent?

All of these "handmade sites" only seem to be popular in "handmade world", where makers are selling to other makers rather than the general public.  Don't get me wrong, a sale is a sale, but it would be nice if handmade was more recognised outside of the industry wouldn't it?

Ohhh welll, I can dream!

June 18th, 2012

A productive morning has been quickly cancelled out by my IBS kicking off and therefore an evening spent doing nothing :-(

It's so frustrating, apart from the obvious pain and discomfort, my whole body just shuts down and aches...there's not a single bone or muscle not hurting right now!  But of course my brain is still completely switched on and ready to work!  So I've laid, in pain, feeling so sick I could hardly move, with my mind shouting at me to get up because I've lots to do - it's exhausting!

Oh well, just have to be twice as productive tomorow!

June 17th, 2012

Ohhh dear...I've been window shopping for things for my sewing room!!

It's a funny thing, if I see something I like I can always find a way to justify the cost, even if I shouldn't!  I don't tend to do it with things for myself like clothes or shoes, but anything for my work room or the house and I'm terrible.  Today I found a load of fabulous bits, some vintage Singer sewing posters and stunning wooden spools and even more buttons...I could go on forever!

You see my excuse is - and I do believe that this is true! - the nicer the room is, the nicer the work you produce!  So to design and make products in a room full of beautiful things that you find inspirational can surely only be a good thing, right?!

Well that's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it!

June 16th, 2012

A lovely day spent with family!

Woke up at Mum's to lots of wedding talk, primarily who will be walking me down the aisle, a topic which I'm happy to avoid like the plague! Then off to Grandma's for tea and cake and the trooping of the colour (my Grandma is just like the Queen!)

And then we were Harrogate bound for more wedding talk, Father's Day presents, and best of all I got to hold the ceremonial sword we'll be cutting the cake with! Definitely nut a toy!

Lovely, lovely day!

June 15th, 2012

Just been for a fabulous meal at our wedding venue which acted as a menu tasting for the big day!

Lots of great food and even more great wine, and now laid here feeling so full I won't need to eat for a week!

June 14th, 2012

I was right - today was productive!

I need to stock up for an event I'm doing next month and it's entirely new stock that I'm taking, so today I started the big make-a-thon!  There's nothing I like more than to have a pile of brand new fabrics and felts that all need cutting and stitching and turning into products.

The other thing I love about needing to stock up rather than making one thing is that I can production line everything, which is my favourite way to work.  It means the OCD in me can finally be useful and I work very efficiently!

So after a day of measuring, drawing outlines and cutting I now have 34 pieces ready to be stitched, all with interfacing and linings...that's 204 individual pieces I've cut today, no wonder my hand hurts!!

June 13th, 2012

Not entirely sure where today has gone, or what I have to shoe for it! I'm quite sure I only just got up!

Big pile of sewing waiting for me in the morning so I should definitely have something to show for tomorrow, and if not something's gone badly wrong!

June 12th, 2012

Rather excitingly, Andy and his either Paul have been filling me in on the ceremonial sword that we'll be cutting our wedding cake with!  Apparently it's not a toy..!

June 11th, 2012

I think I have a post London Jubilee celebrations injury :(

We covered some serious miles, did over 20 in two days, and my toes were really hurting, right in the joint.  Well now it's a week later and whilst the pain has stopped, my toe feels like the circulation has been cut off, like there's a tight band around it.

Andy's had a similar "injury" before and his was nerve damage, so really hoping that's not what I've done!  Honestly though, even if that is what it is it was worth it!  Such an epic trip, can't believe it was only a week ago!  Is it time to go back yet?!

June 10th, 2012

Another lovely day spent with Helen and her little one, always such a pain to have to take them back to the airport, missing them already!

Lots of good productive wedding talk though, it's all getting a bit real!

June 9th, 2012

Such a lovely day today, picked up my best friend Helen and her wonderful little girl and off we went to Oulton Park for a day of gossip, wedding talk and catching up with old friends...what more could a girl ask for of a Saturday?!

June 8th, 2012

Such a good day today, the fabric for my new project starting arriving this morning so, of course, everything went on hold while I started my new project!!  Three products done and I'm so pleased to say I'm over the moon with all of them!  No sneak-peaks of this one though, you'll have to wait until it's all finished!

Right, off to bed, got my gorgeous Maid of Honour arriving tomorrow for two days gossiping and wedding talk!

June 7th, 2012

First day of my new project today!  Costings done, materials bought and I cannot wait to get started!!

I love this part of a new project, the bit where it's all planned out but you don't tell anyone what it is just in case it doesn't work or you have to take it in a slightly different direction than planned.

What I will say is that I'm very excited about this one!  Some products are the same, some brand new and verye different, but what's exciting about this one is the fabrics and the intended outlets...it's a very niche market but an appreciative one and it promises to be a lot more fun than some of my other bags!!

Materials should start arriving tomorrow so hopefully it won't be too long until I'm posting pics!!

June 6th, 2012

There's nothing worse than the first day back at work after time off is there?!  Actually I shouldn't complain, only had to do one day and I'm done until next week, so it could be worse!

We've just watched Rolf Paints The Diamond Jubilee, ohh it was fab!  For anyone who didn't see it, Rolf Harris got a group of artists together in the Old Vic Tunnels and got them to paint images to represent the Queen and the Jubilee across the 6 decades.  It was so inspiring...I find now that I create to earn, I make bags and purses all with the intention of selling them for profit, and it makes me sad that I don't seem to paint or draw just out of the love of it any more, everything I do is done with a product in mind.

So, I'm going back to creating for fun, I shall have a hobby!  Even making things just to frame and enjoy them, I've got to get out of this "business" head and find the passion and love for art that got me started in the first place, starting tomorrow!

June 5th, 2012

Ohhh I miss London :(

There's not a great deal I can say about our London trip as there aren't really any words good enough!  I love London anyway, it's got such a buzz and I always come away so inspired by the history, but this weekend was something like I've never experienced.

We spent two days there and the atmosphere was wonderful, everyone was genuinely in such high spirits and happy just to be there, never been so proud to be British!!  The best way to tell you about our weekend is with the pics, I've included a few here but do head over to my Facebook to see the rest of Andy's fantastic pics!

June 4th, 2012

Got back from London much later than expected so will do a proper post tomorrow with pics, but what a wonderful trip, I will missing London before we'd even left and am certainly counting down the minutes until we're back.

Will post more tomorrow but I have to say we've been truly proud to be British this weekend!

June 3rd, 2012

Our feet are throbbing beyond belief, clothes are wet through and I've spent £27 on tea and sandwiches...yep, jubilee weekend in London!

Unbelievable crowds today for the boats but having a great time, pics tomorrow!

June 2nd, 2012

Urrrghhh, just watched 127 hours!  Actually not as graphic as I was prepared for but still, wouldn't fancy having to do that to myself!

Started the samples of my new project today, not something I've ever done before but I think it's turned out OK...pics to follow!

Right, I'm going to go and pack, because we will be celebrating the Jubilee in London Baby!!

June 1st, 2012

Today we bought our wedding rings!  So excited, it's all starting to get very real now!

Was lovely to go to the jewellers and do it, obviously I had no involvement in buying the engagement ring so it was great to do this together and try them all on!  Gone for something very traditional and plain on the basis that it can be "jazzed  up" if I ever get an eternity ring, I did pick one that was really detailed but I knew I'd look at it one day and think it was over the top!

Very pleased to say that Andy has his too and is looking forward to wearing it!

In other news, the sewing machine is fixed due to the wonderful engineer at Janome over in Bredbury, he was a star, and my new project can get back on track!