Today's mission -to turn this:

into anything other! Nasty thing, very very old (cobwebs in one drawer, household slut that I am) ...but now look at it, I love it! I spotted the beautiful papers a while ago & couldn't resist, even though I very rarely do any paper crafts now. But how perfect are they together! The deepest pink also shimmers, not a naff glitter but a subtle shimmer - I like, a lot.

So thats today's mission.

Am in oodles of pain, spent yesterday in bed, damned endometriosis, bit better today (as in I am upright), but will be very glad when its eased off.

Also have the crafty fidgets, too many projects started - time to get some of them finished off.

I need to make a couple more of these little meeeeeces

for my etsy shop - which I want to get opened this weekend... then again I have been saying that since Christmas....

Loads more bits to get finished, & a skirt to make for a mouse. Not everyday you get to say that.

the heaven that is half term

Something very special about a Sunday afternoon when your mind IS NOT on work the next day! I still got up at the same time this morning, but it's great not to have to head down to the bus stop in the fog...

The weekend was pretty productive - I stripped, sanded & repainted an old oak dresser that I bought from ebay last summer, it was in a pretty grim state & the natural wood was too dark for my tiny living room.

New ceramic handles courtesy of Monsoon's 70% off sale last year! Am really pleased with it, still needs a bit of work, but it's a million times better than it was. Before (waves at random spot on screen, because the photo insert thingy on here plonks pics in odd places)

and after:

Meeting demon daughter later for toasted tea cakes in Marks cafe (oh healthy eating, go away), then home to get cracking on 2 swaps for Crafster that I am waaaay behind with - have not been late sending anything out so far, fingers crossed I will catch up today!

Then at some point (ha! when?) I plan to make myself something along the lines of this: which I love - full skirt, not slim, so I can breathe out! And cooking, must do some cooking.... and a day with my mum, & a day at Scarborough...I need a longer holiday!

I guess it's just one of those days...

... not that anything has gone terribly wrong you understand, it's just one of those down in the dumps days, not helped by my energy having buggered off without so much as a see you later.

Last night I couldn't settle because I couldn't think of anything to knit - how silly is that? I struggle to relax - I always feel I have to have something to show for weekends / evenings, which is ridiculous when work can be (and usually is) so stressful.

Then today I end up with silly amounts of things I want to do: this will take me out of my comfort zone knitting-wise, much more complex than anything I have tried so far (points up to the left hoping thats where the pics going to appear), in black with Rowan Tapestry in dark greys for the bands, with black ribbons laced through.

I have a Crafster swap finished (ok, almost - i have the fasteners to put on the bag) - it was a skull theme - felt keyring, knitted jumper keyring, a little purse (not shown because its tooooo simple for words), a felted wristband - I like how they turned out, a fair bit of time spent hand sewing everything eased my stressed mind!

Time to go and do something constructive...

oh monday, i dont love you very much

Hard day at work, the kids were very difficult & most of the day seemed to be spent, yet again, outside Time Out. Then the bus didn't come. So by the time I got home I was very cold, very tired & aching - my heart tablets are making my legs hurt - yes yes yes, I am indeed feeling sorry for myself!

It's a night of knitting ahead, am more than half way through this, in black of course (from Fitted Knits) - currently using up some ridiculously cheap wool with silvery specks in, & it looks surprisingly good! It's the first time I have stuck with a top-down raglan stylie, & so far so good (if I never ever mention it again, it means it went terribly wrong).

Sewing, must do some sewing - my head is full of ideas, it's just finding the energy to set them free! My sleep's been dreadful lately, maybe a good night's kip tonight will give me enough nergy to get some more etsy bits finished tomorrow....watch this space

The next mission is knitting this....

I just won this on ebay (eyes left) - Debbie Bliss cotton /angora - & when it arrives I am planning to start knitting this (eyes right) : Bella Paquita (Sexy Knitting Clkub knitalong)

A bit ambitious - ok, a lot ambitious - for me, but the wool looks lovely, I might just wear rich purple (I usually wear black, with black), & my knitting is improving all the time.

Very very windy here still, the washing line fell down earlier complete with white bedding, bringing down the hanging baskets & a large amount of compost - lovely mix. Compared with many this weekend I suspect I have got off lightly. Grammatically incorrect. Bovvered?

Work tomorrow, oh joy of joys. I love it, really I do, but it is soooo exhausting - either it is work or I am just getting old! Swimming cossie will be in bag just in case theres no staff meeting & I can squeeze in a quick swim, am aiming at 50+ lengths a week, seriously need to shift some lard.

craftylady, its all your fault!

After a certain someone told me ' It's a good job you dont have your own blog where we can add replies' - I remembered that I DO have said blog - and that it was time I actually started to use it.
So from now on (a sort of late New Year's Revolution) I am going to try to add something to it it, at least once a week. Not that i think that anyone will read it, but to let some of the sludge & insanity from the day ooze its way out of my poor little head.

So without more ado - I am now going to go into town ;-)

(it's payday, the sales are drawing to an end & I need food)
(ok, ok, so strictly speaking I got paid yesterday & already attacked the sales, 3 Laura Ashley black tops, shoes from Clarks, a book stash from Borders & a load of makeup from Dior, but a girl has to do...)

note to self...

It helps to remember your password when you try to log in & write more on here.

Sheeesh.

About sums things up at the moment really - after a fairly manic week at work, I got on the bus to go home on Friday.Sadly it wasn't actually MY bus - & almost 2 hours (yes, 2 HOURS) later, I ended up back in the centre of Leeds again, back where I started. Was a bit of an adventure, especially when the (very empty) bus pulled in, the driver turned to me, pointed out that this was where it terminated - & that we were now in Bradford. Hmmmmm.....

Crafty arty wise, have started a rather nice looking cabled cardi with pinted edges (will try to find a pic), much chunkier wool than I usually use, but it's going together ok so far....have had abit of a knitting pattern / magazine / wool buying spree lately, so am spoilt for choice.
Lots of chrimbo / birthday pressies to get finished too.

Am pondering whether or not I can manage to do justice to painting a large portrait of my much missed nan & grandad, to give to my mum for Christmas, will have a try at sketching it out & see how rubbish I am!

And sewing wise, am going to cut out & start a black velvet pirate coat tomorrow, to be lined in purple shimmery 'stuff' (recognised technical term) which is my mission to get finished by this time next week, ready for Literacy Focus Week at work - PIRATES! (the joy of being Head of English!).

wish me luck....