U-handblog

Last weekend I was loving...

Had to stay in this weekend (except for a trip to John Lewis for fabric, see below)  I had loads of work to do and Al was a bit paddied after his first 2 weeks in hospital. So this weekend was all about enjoying the small stuff like:

1. Seeing Bean's ears bouncing up and down whilst trotting by my side on the way to the park. So cute.
2. Using a new cleaver (a gift from my folks) for the first time.  I have a thing about sharp knives in the kitchen.
3. Seeing Al working in the garden with his top off.
4. The scent of washing drying on the line.
5. A vintage episode of an Audience with Dame Edna on the telly.
6. Finally mastering a new (to me) bag zip technique (Hoo haaa! this one had me tied up in knots and now it's ass is mine!)
7. Al making his first Spaghetti Vongole - yum!  See below.
8. Going to my local John Lewis (a dept. store) to find that they had not only increased the size of the habby dept; they had moved it from a forgotten corner in the upper level AND they had placed it in premier space on the ground floor.  Yeah, this makes me very happy!  Shop space in such a store is a precious commodity so nothing is left to chance.  Some brain-box would have worked out the profit potential of each square foot of the store and they have obviously come to the conclusion that SEWING IS SEXY!!!!   But we knew that long ago didn't we :)

Al's first Spaghetti Vongole, very easy, very tasty.  Sorry Beanie, you can look as cute as you want...

My fabric purchase from John Lewis.  The next time anyone sees these fabrics they will be in my book...

I hope you all had a fab weekend too :)

It's official; I'm a Doctor's Wife (to be)

Al's just had his final exam results today and Hoooraay!  He's now like a real doctor and stuff!!  So now he's finished his studies we can have a bit more time together...er yeah, perhaps not  :)  

Congratulations Love, I know you are going to be a brilliant and caring doctor.  So proud of you.  You really earned it.  XX

Mr Fuzzy meets Mr Fuzz-less.  Taken summer 09 in a Mae Sot clininc Thai/Burma border.

Al was very moved by these tiny triplets.  Taken summer 09 in a Mae Sot clininc Thai/Burma border.

Sewing stash thru the letterbox

Had to stop myself giving my postman a big kiss this morning (especially as I hadn't yet brushed my teeth).

I've get my mitts on the 1st copy of Sew - a new UK sewing mag.  The magazine is fresh and breezy; it definitely makes you itch to get sewing - so mission accomplished I think.  This makes me so happy because I adore sewing (and I know loads of you do too), but I think in the UK we still have a little way to go in spreading the good sewing news around.  It is happening though.  More and more sewists are joining the fold and a new sewing mag in the shops definitely helps.

Front cover, with full-sized patterns for 3 pretty garments.  Very nice and high quality pattern for a magazine supplement.

The anatomy of a sewing machine...

Instructions for this purse frame purse with frilly frou frou-ness.

Inside are instructions for this sweet retro style apron.

Look who it is!  It's none other than Flossieteacakes.

The postie also delivered the new Amy Butler Patterns - yay!

Field Bag and Tote.  Fab shape which includes instructions for a really natty zip closure (which I can't wait to investigate because I'm such a nerd).

Mini dress, tunic and tops.  These garments look like a great way to showcase your fave fabric and they look easy to whip up as well.

Unfortunately the postie wasn't able to deliver me some time to play with my new sewing goodies - phooey!

...and it is a happy birthday too

It's my 30 something birthday today. It's been such an amazing past year for me and I'm grateful to be in a such a positive place - what with book writing, marriage proposal, flying past the 10,000th customer mark and more.  I hope not to offend anyone by saying I think life is wonderful and there's so much to be happy for.  I hope you agree :)

But now I think I'll start being elusive about my age.  I'm fortunate to have inherited good genes from my folks.  Both my Mum and Dad look (and are) sprightly 50 somethings so I have a good few years left of folks telling me that I look...um...fresh for my age.   So I'm gonna milk it for as long as I can (as is every woman's' right, of course).  Especially as Oriental women have a tendency to look young for their years for the longest time.  Then they wake up one morning and suddenly overnight they have become cute grannies complete with bent over posture, old fashioned jackets, and kung fu slippers?!

Thanks darling, I love sunflowers XO!   He's says my birthday pressie involves upside down airplanes...?  I'll keep you posted.

From my clever sister the cutest French sewing box treat by Sajou (DO NOT bring your credit card to the computer!)

A lovely gift from Kyoko to prepare my mind for bag book writing sessions.  Smells yummy yummy yummy!

Our Frenchy Cheese Fest

Bonjour Mes chers amis!  I think I said that right...

Just got back from a few days in a very delightful medieval town called St Cyprien in the French Dordogne.  One of our friends has a big barn that sits atop a hill over looking a lush and wild valley.  We went as a large group and we all has such a good time that it was suggested that we do it every year (yay!)

We stuffed ourselves to the gills with beautiful French foodie delights such as gooey, hummdinger, whiffy cheese, hams, cakes, amazing fruit and veg, and they drank fine wine that costs a fraction of the price of what you'd pay in the UK.  Entertainment was a battered guitar, lots of sweet caterwauling singing, walks in the beautiful countryside with no TV or internet connection in sight.  Bonne qualite de vie! 

Here are few pics from the Sunday market and before my camera died :(

I LOVE markets and supermarkets on holiday and I always have to check them out (as if I needed reminding that in comparison a lot of the food shops in the UK just aint that great...sigh!)

This little fabric shop was sooo cute, it looked good enough to eat!

Ohhh will you get a load of that yummy embroidered linen?  WANT!!

Yep, just feed me Frenchy cheese, ham, good coffee and cakes.  Keep it coming and you can get whatever you like in the market darling...  So I did, heh!

No more pics because my camera died :(

Stop Thief!!

Thank you everyone for congratulating Al (and me) on finishing his med degree. You folks are very kind.  OX!

But for all of the great news that we've had lately I'm a tad p*%$ed off this morning because last night my purse was pinched from out of my handbag (right from under my flipping nose. Literally!)  Seems like it was a professional thief because only my purse was taken, they left my phone and iPod.  

So I was thinking a good way of deterring future bag thieves would be to attach a portable alarm system to your handbag.  This Handbag Alarm System would utilize the most sensitive and advanced technology available to woman...

Introducing The U-Handbag Bag Belle Alarmette™  "She sings, she rings; she'll keep an eye on your things".  Do you think it will catch on?

I love a quick fix

Hello everyone!   I hope you had a restful weekend/bank hol (in the UK). 

It's hilarious.  What with book writing and the rest, I'm just about to enter one of the busiest periods of my life (for umm...5 years) and I find I have the strongest urge to bake and sew clothing?!!  It's true that when crafting is your day job (which as you know I wouldn't swap for most anything) it becomes harder and harder to craft for fun.  It's just as well that I get a lot of enjoyment from crafting for work.  But it can't all be work - otherwise it would show in my work.  A girl's gotta satisfy her recreational urges too (that sounded naughty) So I've been hunting around for quick fix sewing patterns and kitchen quick fixes that I can fit in between the workload.

I'm seriously considering clicking 'checkout' on these sewing patterns (I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried these patterns):

Pattern no. V8278. Love the simple dress shape with the sash thing going on (great for if I've eaten 3 1 too many Kripsy Kremes).

  Pattern V8571. Love the lines of this dress too. Decisions decisions.

I'd love to make my own petite version of a wrap-over dress (where the boobage and waistline is not half-way down my knees).  Jo is a big fan of Hot Patterns and she's had great success with them too.

and here's our weekend kitchen quick fix...

Before...  Banoffee pie recipe is here.

During...      Look at the joy on this boy's face :)

After... Gooey, nom nom!

Getting the goods in the through the door.

Thank you so much to everyone one who has purchased my Expandable Tote Pattern.  Blimey! Wowsers! and other happy exclamation words.  It sure is a compliment; I know you have plenty of patterns to choose from so I'm very grateful you have picked one of mine :)

I had a smashing weekend.  Did a spot of gardening (well it's not gardening - it's more hacking our jungle back).  Also, Florence, Helen, Jo and myself prised ourselves from behind our respective computer screens and we all popped out together for the usual gossip, stash shopping, and 2/3 hour coffee and cake session.  Great fun!  Call it collective weakness (or strength), but we all ended up buying a fair amount of fabric (which was a steal!) and shoes (which were less of a steal, but happiness making nonetheless).  It all amounted to a fair few bags of stuff.

Found this in the undergrowth on Sunday.  Amazing how this Peony (with green beetle visitor) is happy to show her gorgeous self in our garden despite severe lack of TLC from us...

All of these...erm new acquisitions got me to wondering how do you folks get your stash into your homes.  Do you stride proudly in the door with your cleverly thrifted/shiny new: crafting gear/shoes/clothes/pet toys etc. or do you creep gingerly to your shed/wardrobe/laundry basket/ work room to deposit the goodies to later admire your ill gotten gains in private? 

As for me? On the rare occasion I shop for stuff (because non-stash shopping hurts my brain).  It depends, if it's sewing stash I can call it 'supplies for work' (heh!) if it's other stuff...uh it varies, it sometimes gets secreted to the ironing pile (and then I''ll say I've had the clothing item for ages) or staight to wardrobe only to wear some weeks later (and then I'll say I've had the clothing item for ages).  I hope this is one of the posts that Al doesn't get to read - opps!   :)

Expandable 'Reading Under a Tree in the Park' Bag

Had a simple easy going weekend.  Other than getting a few groceries and walking the hound in the woods we have stayed in the whole time.  He's studying like the clappers for his finals (which are exams on everything he has learned over that last 5 years ERK!!!)  and I have been pootling around the garden and sewing a new bag.  I dreamt up the design during a picnic we had in our overgrown garden. I wanted to make a nice beach/holiday/reading under a tree in the park kind of bag that can carry loads (if you need to) or it can be adjusted to be a neater niftier size for nipping around town.

Zippered front pocket for your sunnies and camera.  The bag handles are piped with Flexi-tube which make the handles a bit posh and much easier to grab then floppy fabric handles.

You can cinch in the sides with the ties which not only looks pretty; the ties make the bag adjustable in size. The ties have eyelet openings (even though you can't see them in the pic). 

Softly rounded and gathered bottom.  Yep girls, we're all headed that way; I know my bottom is :)

Inside is another pocket for the wallet, phone and keys.  Fastening is a mag snap.

This bag can grow on you - ties are undone to show expanded side.  You can chuck in loads of beach gear, food, books and/or craft gear for a nice day out in the sun.  Or take it shopping instead.

It's those scruffy jeans again!  Just so you know, they have been laundered since I photographed myself in them last time.  One day I will wear clothes as (reasonably) smart as the bags I sew...

Sadly I can't keep this bag (or give it to you) because it is a birthday present for a lovely friend.  Hey, I said no peeking!

What do you think folks?  Would you like to see this design is as a (paid for) PDF download?  I wouldn't charge much - I never will for my own pattern designs - I don't think it's very nice (or very helpful to charge loads).  So yeah, I'd love to know what you think :)

An open letter to Uncle Ben

Hello Uncle Ben,

After viewing your latest (UK) TV commercial for your Sweet & Sour Sauce product I felt it necessary to open up a dialogue with you regarding a number points in the advert that don't quite hit the mark for me and (I hazard a guess) thousands of other persons of Chinese origin, and not to mention Indian,  and Mexican persons who have been parodied featured in your advertising campaigns. 

You see (perhaps I am putting my humble neck on the line by nominating my good self as spokesperson (at least for those of Chinese origin), I feel you need to know that:

1. We don't all do Kung Fu.
2. We don't all ride bicycles everywhere
3. The girls don't really wear those long cheong sam any more (and we don't all have long plaits either).
4. The boys don't really wear those pyjama style clothes any more.
5. We don't all mix up our "R" and "L" letters.  In your latest ad the Chinese pyjama style clothing clad (see point 4) high kicking Kung Fu men (see point 1) are clearly heard to exclaim "Rondon!" instead of "London".  I might be showing off my own personal grasp of the English language by saying out loud  "Linda Lovelace Loves her Luscious, Lollopy, Long Legs", but I just wanted to show you (as a Chinese female myself) just what is possible!  Amazing innit!
6. Oh, and I myself wouldn't eat your poo poo Sweet & Sour sauce let alone serve it to anyone I love (Chinese or otherwise) for fear of being laughed out of my kitchen.   Perhaps your other sauces might be quite palatable, but I won't be sampling them as the taste of your Sweet & Sour sauce and your accompanying tv ad have combined to leave a (dare I say) sour taste in my mouth - sorry ha ha!  I couldn't resist :)

Yes I know Uncle Ben, you are not the only organisation to revert to lazy lame-ass stereotypes, but Uncle  Ben, this time I choose to vent my 5 foot temper on you because each time I hear that Chinese Kung Fu bloke say "Rondon" (see point 5) it's like a cheese grater running across my nips, Hiiiigh-Yaaaaooouch!  Anyone for Pizza tonight?