U-handblog

A quick dose of the funnies

Al said he thinks yesterday's exam went pretty well (finger crossed).  Thanks for your good luck wishes everyone. X

I know I would said that this post would be about the overlocker, but I haven't quite finished what I'm making with it yet.  It should be ready tomorrow, hopefully.

I just wanted to show you a few funny things which distracted me from my sewing (which is partly why I didn't finish the overlocked WIP).

Here is the most entertaining online shop front I have ever seen (thanks for the link Alicia). Give it a moment to get going, it's worth it HEMA online.

More diversions:

• Top 10 First Date Conversations (from a man's point of view).  It's nice that a bloke has gone to the trouble of advising other blokes how to not bore/offend/creep-ify the ladies on a first date.
• 5 phone rules in dating everyone ought to know - oh, so that's where I was going wrong...
• Last chance saloon for entries to the U-Handbag £50 ($100) giveaway.  End date = this Friday 27th June.
• Win a fully functioning custom designed craft website store (worth over £300 ($600).  End date = next weds 2nd July.

The caption reads: "I get lots of phone calls, but I still get blue.  The reason is simple, I'm waiting for you".  Bleuuurghh!!

Craft Fair, Cakes, and Covent Garden.

Before I make a start on this post I just wanted to say that I am soooo in love with my first overlocker/serger.  More about that in my next post.

Last Sunday was a lovely sunny day and Kyoko and her partner, and I went to Covent Garden to the We Make London Craft fair.  We got a bit lost getting there, but I took some nice pics during the diversion:

One of the main hall in the Covent Garden Market. I love the turquoise and red colours together.

Funny looking waiters.

Girly Gladiator. 

This little girl was so fascinated by this street actor, she stood there trying to figure it out for ages; so cute.

 
At the Make London Craft Fair.

Hiya Helen!  Mother (and pretty daughter) at their first craft fair and having a great time. I bought myself 2 of her super cute zipper pouches. Helen shared her table with Lindsay of Clothcat.




I also bought a pretty ring from Little Miss Crafty, but I have mislaid it somewhere, waaahhh!

Time for a break.  Mmmmmm cake at Patiserrie Valerie.  A fruity berry mousse cake for me and...

...a yummy tarte aux fruits for Al who had to stay at home and study all day for his medic exams (which are today - ooerr)  Good luck Lovey!

Curvy Purse Frame Purse

Saw the new Indy Jones movie on Thursday.  I thought it wasn't the best of the 4 (for me it's the Last Crusade), but it was still enjoyable daft fun. 

We're having a quiet weekend in: spag bol for supper, sewing for me, studying for him, and nice dog naps for Beans the woofer.


Yawwwn! "Yep you haven't seen me in while on this here blog. I'm still here either dozing or constantly on the look out for something, (anything, anything at all - I'm not fussy) to eat".


At the moment I'm on a sewing roll and I'm forcing myself to attend to my overflowing WIP box.  Here's the first piece to enjoy 'completed' status:


I made this purse so folks could see what this Silver Modern Curved Purse Frame and this Silver Hand Chain looks like in action.



Side view.



Inside view with matching lining.  Perfect size for a day out with room for wallet, lip balm, sunnies, and mobile phone.


I'm looking into getting my mitts on my first over locker/serger machine and I have my eye on this one:


It's a Janome 6234XL.  I like the look of it because I like Janome machines and it looks like something I can grow with. 


I'm interested in getting an overlocker because I really want to get back into clothes making again.  There's a whole world of lounge pants, skirts, and jersey cloth out there to discover and seeming as I'm a short arse making more clothes for myself makes a lot of sense. 

This thing is I have never ever used an overlocker before.   What sort of issues are there involved with using these kinds machines, what sort of features should I be on the lookout for?  What do you like or don't like about these machines?  If any of you good folks out there could give me some advice I'd be sooo grateful :)

Have yourself a lovely weekend everyone!

What's up with some people?

I hope you all had a lovely weekend everyone.  It was really sunny for us in London and I planned to spend most of the weekend with the widows wide open doing some sewing, but unfortunately Al had other ideas and he insisted I help him in the garden doing some much needed (and boring) maintenance.  Ah well, it's good that it's been done, the garden was getting kinda hairy.

We also went to our local Chinese supermarket too.  As I went to enter the shop I saw 2 people standing outside collecting charity funds for the recent earthquake in China.  I gave some money and walked into the store, and blow me down if I didn't hear a woman entering the store behind me say rather loudly 'Move away! I don't give to no charity. It's your problem; it's not for me!" (she wasn't of Chinese origin - and her English wasn't too hot either).  That's what she said, word for word!  I was so absolutely flabbergasted that my mouth flopped open, as she barged past, she saw me looking liked a shocked fish and gave me a not very nice look. I did retort, but I won't write down what was said...

Of course she could have been in the middle of having a crappy day, but I think it would be fair to say not as crappy as most any individual who needs the support and goodwill of any bona-fide charity. 

I dunno, what's up with some people? 

Super Sewing Sunday

Don't you just love it when you've somehow managed to beg, borrow, or steal a few hours to yourself?  For a few hours the kids are busy, or your parents aren't popping around for a visit, or you don't have to go out and buy groceries etc etc etc...bliss!  This means you can grab yourself luxurious crafternoon. This is just what Jo and I (along with Beanie who loves to poke his nose/join in) had together last Sunday.

So what do you get when you mix two enthusiastic Crafterettes, some red check fabric, some outrageously tasty choccy - thanks Jo!, and other sewing bits and bobs?  Check out Jo's blog to find out :)

Ahhhh! Sweet home!

Hello Everyone, it's great to be home again!  I hope you are all well and happy. Thanks to everyone who popped in for a read of my blogs or ordered from the shop when we were away.

Al and I had an absolutely fabulous 1 week break in South Africa for my friend's wedding.  I have loads of nice pics (the bride and the groom looked incredible - the stuff of OK magazine I'm telling you!),  I'll pick some of the nicest ones to share v soon.  But first things first; a nice cuppa, water the plants, wash the holiday clothes, fetch Beanie from my sister's, a nice long soak in the tub, and pack a mountain of orders...

A cup of tea is just AMAZING when you get home from your hols isn't it?  Even after feeling claggy from a long haul flight the first thing you have to do when you get in the front door (and kick the post out of the way) is to put the kettle on :)

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A spot of window shopping (in London)

I had a lovely Easter.  I had one wild night out, and the rest of the time was spent in long telephone conversations with the family,  giving my house plants some tlc, and a bit of sewing.  I stayed away from the office the whole time and didn't a jot of work.  The result is today I feel really refreshed, it was flipping busy in the shop, and my inbox has grown fangs (not that your emails are scary, I really love receiving them, there's just quite a few to reply to).  I just wanted to pop my head into blog land to say "Hi" and hope that you had a really nice Easter break too.  Whilst I'm at it I wanted to show you a few pretty shop windows that I snapped over the weekend...

This is the shop window of Penhaligon's; a luxury traditional fragrance and potion shop (the Royal family shop here dont'cha know?)  I love the way this display is alive and growing.

I love ladybirds, unfortunately these lovely confections are not available in my size...(really like the one on the left).

This is my glamorous dressing table the window of So Shei.  Cute and cheeky!

Now that's what I call groovy chicks (heh!). The window of Jigsaw.  The clothes here are yummy (but not for petites).

Butler &Wilson; I love looking in this costume jewelry store, it's a cross between candy glamour and drag queen chic (a fine balance I know!).

Back to my emails....

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Time wasters welcome - much cuteness for your computer

Just checking in because I seem to be on a blogging roll at the moment so I'm making the most of it.

About yesterdays post on coffee, Ties sent me link to a site which talks about Starbucks bowing down to consumer pressure and making moves to do the right thing, which is encouraging.
 

Yay!  I've made start on the oilcoth tute, very excited about it.   It's the first in a short run (unless I get bored of working with it) of oilcloth tutes  that I will be doing. I have pattern on paper so the hardest part is over (she says...) - I'm thinking you'll dig this one... 

I have been nominated for two awards today (thank you so much girls!).  I'll put some thought into who I can pass them on to.

Whilst I do some behind the scenes stuff here are two cuteness links you might like sent to me by lovely Chrissy.  Here is a link to a very individual and fun hand made craft shop.  I love the mood of it and her products are so inspiring.  And here is link to a wonderful site with LOADS of fabulous (and free) desktop wall papers and icon sets for both Macs & Pcs.  Here is my current desktop:
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This wall paper is called 'Waiting room', it appeals to my love of all things daft.

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And here is a groovy pic Chrissy sent in with her email - must be something to do with my drummer pic...

Sooo cute; it really brings a smile to my face.  Pass it around if you like.

Jump up & down song

OK so that's twice in one week with the You Tube; I promise to try my best not to make a habit of it, but doesn't this song just want make you jump around?  Have fun listening and I'll make a start on the Oilcloth Tutorial - if you wanna it's not too late to vote on the tute you'd like  :)

Later I'll be road testing a sewing machine for newbies as well - I do love a busy crafty weekend.  I hope you have a lovely weekend too. X

Fun Run

I'm just recovering from (brain-fry) flu.  Very odd flu it was, no dribbly nose, but aches and pains, and I also grew football sized tonsils.  Ah well it made me slow down and I've had a chance to read and have a think about creative things - the body is very clever in the way it sometimes disregards how busy you are.  I'm more or less okey dokey now.  What is cool is that by default I've lost a few pounds.  I've decided I'm going to go the the gym to capitalize on this effortless weight loss. Wouldn't it great if exercising was this fun?