I did it!
Guess who got a job, go on, guess….
ME!
I am now officially Project coordinator for the Rural Vale for Age Concern. It is my project to set up and do with as I wish, so long as I work with local community groups, businesses and individuals to help combat isolationism in older people! I am so excited, it has my name ALL over it! I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I can’t wait to do it!!!
Big appologies for aall the excalimation marks, I found out on Thursday and I’m still not sleeping due to excitment. I had convinced myself I’d messed the interviews up and had spent the previous 2 days crying.
Did I say I HAVE A JOB!!!!!
Scotland part 2
Life does have a habit of not going to plan doesn’t it. Rich’s first week away and the first a&e trip of the month.
That had been my only worry really, with him not being around. I pride myself on being good in a crisis, I’m not a fusser, quite calm – until it comes to anything requiring a sense of direction. Not only do I not possess one, I don’t think I even have the parts required in my brain to get one. I can’t picture how one road actually connects to another, how on earth you get from A to B. Give me a motorway and I’m happy, there are big signs everywhere and if you take a wrong turning you just get off at the next junction, and I can map read well too. But roads – no chance. Rich, after 18 years together still gets frustrated at my complete inability to find anywhere (when I first took him home to meet my family we went to town shopping. On the way there I directed him to drive the way I knew, the way the the bus went. On the way back he found a much quicker way, he couldn’t believe I had lived there all my life and went one of the longest ways!) He says things like, ‘well, the river is on that side and that makes that direction north and we want to be going east so it must be this way…’, I mean, what is he on about???
So on Sunday after at 7.15 am start the boys were in a nippers competition at Porthcawl, about 40 mins away. Tom was jumping off the dunes after his races and cut his foot on a rock, well, took a chunk out. The life guards cleaned him up and bandaged him but I had to take him home, I left Ad with some of the other parents. But when I looked at it when we got home it was still quite sandy – and green. So I phoned the after hours surgery, it turns out our local hospital doesn’t have the facilities to clean a wound (!!!!!!) so I had to take him to the Heath in Cardiff. I know its only half an hour away and I’ve been there plenty of times with Rich and in an ambulance, but I’d never driven there, or Cardiff, if I want to go shopping I get the train as its quicker and cheaper. So the panic sets in then. I’m trying to organise childcare for Ad when he gets dropped back, I’m aa routing the route, I’m trying to call Rich to let him know and the nippers parents to let them know where to drop Ad back too and I’VE GOT TO DRIVE TO CARDIFF AND FIND THE HEATH!
I got lost – but we found it. They sorted Tom out, cleaned him up and bandaged it, he was so, so brave – and we got really, really lost leaving.
But at least I know my way to the heath now.
Pretty pictures now: (Tom did make me take one of his foot but its really rank, I won’t show you that one!)
Castle Strachur, a turbulent past and gorgeously ruined ( ooh, that would make a good epitaph)
always times to scim a stone…
Walking in the Trossacks, gorgeous and the perfect place to learn about Rob Roy and the Campbells, a fabulous part of our history
Totally stunning, mountains, lochs, waterfalls and weird moss covered trees – what more could you ask for
One more post to go including the tallest tree in Great Britain and a bit of Island hopping x
A break for us all…
So you may have noticed I have been remise, at best with my blogging. Things in our household have been a bit topsy turvy for the last couple of months, suffice to say Rich lost his job. He has found another one, tempory we hope as he has to move away.
A week ago, Friday was his last day, we had just told the boys and we were all feeling a bit low. He had planned it so he had a week at home with us and to get things in order and we might take them out of school on Thursday for a long weekend camping.
But no. I rebelled and put my foot down. The boys are really going to miss him, as he is us, sod it I thought and started googling at 6pm on Friday night.
By 8pm I’d booked us a tiny fishermans cottage in Argyl and Bute on the shore of Loch Fyne, going on Sunday for the week. I reasoned that family is more important and I would make it semi educational to ease my guilt!
So after a manic Saturday of washing, shopping, cooking and packing … then 8 1/2 hours of driving … this was the view from our new door
Absolute bliss! The cottage was perfect and the view, well, what can I say? It was literally on our doorstep!
So now I warn you, there are going to be lots of photos, so I will spread them over a couple of posts and tell you about Castle Lachlan, the tallest tree in Great Britain, the Trossacks and the wonderful Isles of Seil and Easdale and several stunning views. For now, some gorgeous views from our cottage:
From our door
Okay, the last one isn’t of Loch Fyne, but I was sat on its edges while the boys fished! More tomorrow!
I’ve been featured!
Just a quicky today, a little brag and a nice piccie!
I’ve been featured over on Popular Crafts website, Its a great site, full of tips and tutorials covering almost all aspects of craft. They’ve choosen one of my necklaces for their ’Popular Crafts - buys vintage style’. Its among some gorgeous items so I’m really chuffed to be included!
My Christmas cactus has decided to flower, not over Christmas but nevermind, the Spring seems to have given it a wakeup call! But it was worth the wait, isn’t it gorgeous?
New ATC
I know I’m my worst enemy, but there are so many things I want to do. Usually I’m fairly restrained, but I think it was the excitment of selling a few things over the last couple of weeks that has allowed me to spend some money, thanks to the craft neutral 2010 challange and I’m starting to get that panicy feeling in my tummy that I’m not going to achieve much in the next few weeks. Or if I’m honest, the last couple!
I’d like to say this is me at Barry Island, however, I can have the top for the summer, a free pattern from lionbrand, well, I like to have something simple on the go for the boys swimming lessons, trips to the park!
I’ve bought a skirt pattern, which is a little scary but it does say VERY EASY and I’m feeling confident! The main reason is because I was reading Gone to Earths blog the other day, then spent way too long drooling over all the lush fabrics in her shop. I only need a metre so I’m thinking of the Amy Butler Daisy Chain Mosaic in green, with some red bias binding on the bottom edge of the skirt – I’ll keep you posted!
I’ve started 5 more clutch bags which I’m loving making, I really do like combining different techniques and being true to the craft neutral challange I’m also using up lots of my fabric bits as well as buttons and crochet cottons! Pictures soon.
I have actually finished something though and can post a picture as lesley received it today and loves it luckily! The theme this month was songs and as I’m loving Corinne Bailey Rae’s new album it had to be my inspiration!
I used golden silks and velvets as that’s what her voice demands, but with gentle curves like waves, but not smooth clear edges, they had to be burn’t to get that sadness. But images of peacocks always float in my mind with the music too, hense that wire crocheted beaded shape in the centre and that strong curve on the edge. Thats what I get anyway and I’m pleased with it so if you get different animals and colours I’m sorry but its my ATC!
Finally, a little teaser – can you tell what it is yet?!
Speak soon
Jane x
Egg Hunting!
Not much crafting going on this past week as the monsters cherubs have been off for Easter but we finally had a bit of sun today (and snow!) so all trundled down to an egg hunt at Cwmcarn, a favourite for exploring.
The boys loved it (as did we!) and hunted down the various signs and animals
though the youngest was certain he’d seen an ant eater when it was a badger – to many ‘wild’ wildlife progammes and not enough British ones I think!
Cwmcarn really is a fantastic place, mountainous but with several carparks dotted about so you can go hiking with the kids and not have to carry them home…
Gorgeous lines
and beautifully muted colours
And space, lots of lovely space!
Have a chocolatastic Easter xx
Irish Crochet
My next post on sharing some of my inspiration and I’m talking about the proper stuff, not some poor substitute that I’ve knocked up. I love Irish crochet, not only for the absolute skill required but the fact that the most stunning examples were produced not by leisured Victorian ladies, but poverty stricken women who farmed, cleaned, raised children, so they could supplement their income with a few extra pennies. I love the fact they created their own motifs from their surroundings, that you don’t have to follow a set pattern and that its not flat, it can be any shape; its not restrictive. Just look at this:
If only I had the skill!
I love the website for the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles in California (not Ireland!) I can spend ages just flicking through the past exhibitions, I strongly advise you to make a cup of tea, get comfy and let the beautiful images inspire, you’ll be there a while!
A Light Box!
Look what my wonderful dad made me, after my incessant complaining about taking photographs in a dark Victorian house
Isn’t it magnificent! But this isn’t any light box, oh no, its a cardboard box with a large window cut out of the top and sides with white tissue paper stuck on and a sheet of white card proped up in the back! Fantastic and best of all, it does make a difference AND it only cost me 2 bars of chocolate, love you dad!
And if that wasn’t enough to make me into the next David Bailey, this brilliant tutorial was linked to the ukhandmade blog. It is so useful, simply written with great tips and there is a competition for the best photo which I may well enter now – so what do you think of the results of yesterdays photography session:
You may recognise the last one, It wasn’t quite right before, but I think its better now. So this is what I’ve been working on for the last few days. I’m really enjoying combining several techniques and working with patterns and bright colours. As always this has led to more ideas – I’m thinking sort of sculptural.
That requires more thought though, and I need to post these on my Folksy shop and get on with my Art Trading Card’s, more about that later!
Presents!
Not for me mind!
Do you know, I love being a mum, It really is the best feeling in the world – to say it is all encompassing doesn’t seem to be enough. Nothing at all can beat the feelings of pride, joy and love, nothing. But with every ying there has to be a yang, and boy, has this been a week of yangs!
However, I’ve deleted this post several times now and will not inflict on you my rantings, musings and then platitudes that we all fall back on, what I will do is show you a picture of a few little pressies I’ve made the lovely women folk in my life. Its a rubbish photo, I’m showing it more as a reminder for me, but Aunty Irene, Aunty Marg, Nan and Mum – love you lots!
Look what I won!
There is a brilliant blog I read that is loaded with advice for craft folk trying to get into business called artists in business. Jo Whitehead, who writes the posts is an absolute mine of information and so helpful AND makes the most wonderful glass, she has a gorgeous shop on folksy called Glassprimitif. As if that isn’t enough there is also a monthly giveaway to subscribers so if your not already WHY, and REGISTER NOW!
look what I got last month
Isn’t it beautiful!
