I have a very dear friend...........

whom I love very much. He is a wonderful man, who I have know for over 20 years and who is really the best friend any woman could want.

We have shared the best of times and the very worst of times in those twenty years. I can talk to him about nearly everything, he is a wonderful cook, we love to talk about hopes and dreams for our families, we share problems, he is the life and soul of every party (which I am definitely not) and his version of 'Amore', is a must at any event.

He is the snappiest dresser ever( its the Italian in him) and I can't imagine not having him in my life. On top of all that I am very close friends with his wife, godparent to one of his children and we share all occasions. We even went to Italy together several years ago, with the blessing of our spouses and had a wonderful time eating our way through Tuscany.

Today my friend is 50 and we are off tonight to celebrate with him and the family. They have had a very tough decade and my wish is that the next 10 years will be kinder in every way.

Well, what do you buy this man as a present.......these which I know he will adore, he's a sucker for a label. Happy birthday dearest friend.

o

Thank you.....

for all the kind thoughts and words. Of course she got back safe and sound, floating through the door at 1 am declaring it the best night of her life! One of the band had held her hand , gazed into her eyes and sang just to her! Ah.......should I spoil the moment, telling her how worried I had been all night, rant and rave about how stupid she had been to get in the car with an inexperienced driver in those conditions.............No of course I didn't, after listening to all and I mean all the details, I casually mentioned that maybe it hadn't been the best of ideas, she paused, 'that's why I didn't tell you she said'.....before floating up the stairs, leaving me to wait for the effects of the strong coffee to wear off and calm down..........who'd be a parent.................we would!!!!

am hopping mad..........

and more than a little bit scared. Arrived home late after visiting an old friend after work, the motorway was treacherous with driving rain , the usual maniacs that drive lorries and the 4 x 4's that don't have their beam on but might just as well have as they are blinding you being that much higher up(I have a small car!) ....only to find that youngest has gone to her JLS concert in London, which I knew about, not in the friends car, that I thought ( she been driving for 18 months-which is worrying enough).....oh no, they have gone down the motorway in these filthy weather conditions, with a friend who passed her test 3 weeks ago and has never driven on a motorway in the day never mind tonight...........I am trying to be calm, but just want her to walk through the door! am sat here pulling at my hair as it turns white.

disappointment.......

Thanks for all good wishes friends but she didn't get in. That's two interviews and two rejections. So we are all really disappointed for youngest and a bit worried. As we've started talking to friends who are going through the same process this year, it seems the economic downturn is having a big effect on university places and that will only get worse next year with the proposed cuts to funding. Last year eldest had no interviews, she just had to get the grades. This year most of youngest's friends are having interviews for all different subjects, and not many offers, one maybe two. Even the really academic straight A kids.

Youngest did set her sights high, so we will see how the next two go, then maybe scout around for any one year foundation art places that are left.

Its hard to see your child so disappointed!

On the crafting front I was really chuffed this week to sell two things I've made. This (obviously when finished)and this. My friend asked me to make them so she could give them as gifts, but she did pay me. The embroidery I already had so I just framed it,(forgot to take a snap) and the scarf took me about 2 hours and looks really good in the grey.

The blanket continues to grow. Apologies to those who tried the link for the pattern. The site seems to be down. If anyone wants a copy let me know, I will try and get you a copy.( I only have a paper version)






Yesterday I went to a book sale and bought all these lovely books for £4.50. I love old books like this one given as a prize 50 years ago, beautiful pictures of France and this slim cookery on french recipes. The penguin box set of cookery books was a steal £2.00, I love the writing of Elizabeth David and Jane Grigson, and of course Nigel can always be relied on.

the craft books are excellent. Don't you just love these 1970s pictures of crochet loveliness.

Snowy Saturday.........

My intention today was to change the header picture above to reflect my more positive approach to the year now that January is almost behind us, some emerging bulbs, cavorting lambs, sunshine....but what did I find......snow. A whole white world, yet again. Enough is enough I say.


Indeed I intended to rant about the roads in this country after a journey to Norwich that should have taken 1 1/2 hours took 4 and the trip to Lancaster and back was 10 hours instead of 8. Both delays due to lorries.....but I'm not going to.......its a beautiful day despite the snow and we have good friends coming over today so I'm happy. Risotto will be made, wine will be drunk and smelly cheese eaten. Bliss


Lancaster was a long day. Youngest had her interview while we did another tour of the art department, accommodation etc. She loves it there and we think it would suit her very well but.......we found out they have reduced the number of place this year, 27 out of more than 150 applicants and half of those will go to students who have done a foundation year so effectively she is trying for one of 14 places! My heart is heavy on this one friends.

Progress on the snowflake blanket is good and for those that asked this is the link for the pattern /www.artoftangle.com/snowflake.htm.

My main creative thoughts are in the direction of the Bargello needlepoint ( I do tend to flit all over the creative spectrum, as you may have noticed)......I love this type of needlework and have just rekindled my interest and started a new group on flickr. So if you give it a go..............it is incredibly quick and easy to do, please let me know and share. have a great weekend one and all.

He's back...........

Mad men...the best thing that's been on TV in years(no no youngest cries 'desperate housewives').....anyhow if you haven't seen it give it a go. Its set in the 50's/60's in a New York ad agency and the attention to detail is amazing. Best of all it stars Jon Hamm who is gorgeous as Don Draper. No going out for me on Thursdays for some time.

We're back on the road this week as youngest has two interviews at Norwich and Lancaster to try and get on the fine art degree course. Being on consecutive days means a whole heap of driving to do. We ummed and ahhed whether to stay at Lancaster cos its an 8 hour round trip........but we have decided to come home. We all love our own beds and damn it this whole process is costing a fortune. Dont tell youngest I brought that up! Anyway at least no snow to contend with..(she said banging wood as hard as possible)

I have finished the bargello which I am really pleased with......I even had the nerve to start my own flickr bargello group, so if anyone has any squirreled away please add it. This is not a very popular type of embroidery but I think its rather beautiful and very quick to do. the colours are actually more vibrant, I just have a rubbish camera.

Yesterday in Cambridge I bought some gorgeous wool in John Lewis with christmas money I still had(where else can you buy wool these day).....its Rowan aran and I want it to make this. I thought if I start now and have it on the go, I can bring it out next winter when it will be well appreciated for snuggling on the sofa.

This lovely fabric arrived from America for the quilt I intend to make at some point from that delightful book I showed you last time..........this is so unlike anything we have in our house.....which has a lot of white with the odd strong colour splash...thats maybe why I love it so. Anyhow have a lovely weekend whatever you're up to x

Crafty and sad.......

......No this is not hopefully what my friends think of me.......its kind of how things are, here in the small town at the moment. I took all your advice, most gratefully received and eldest child got the train back to York last week. We dropped her at the station where it was a direct run , about an hour away and that journey was bad enough so we were wise not to do the whole trip.

Even so, seeing her bundling herself to get on, so wrapped up in her new scarf she could hardly be seen, struggling on the busy train with all her bags, dropping things left right and centre....until she collapsed into her seat aided by two nice young chaps.....oh to be young eh ladies. No one rushes to my aid if I drop something nowadays, I'm sure I'm becoming every so slightly invisible.....anyway I digress. It was sad.

Herb could see I was about to shed a tear so whipped me away so I wasn't making an idiot of myself on an empty platform.

There were moments when she was back that were infuriating,wet towels dropped everywhere, makeup in the bathroom sink.....more plates, cups and glasses upstairs than down....but oh I do miss her now.

Meanwhile youngest has interviews at uni's for her fine art course in a couple of weeks so we will be on the road again......I so hope she is successful.

So thats my sad bit, the crafty bit is that I've been busy. I'm contemplating a try at patchwork. I got this gorgeous book for my birthday and am really inspired to give it a go. So have picked one out and have bought some kaffe fassett fabric on eBay which I will share when it arrives. I am nothing if not ambitious!


I also bought this canvas on etsy....it came from USA and was beautifully wrapped with a lovely little badge and lace....

The reason being I saw this on another blog and loved it so am inspired to give it a go...love them or hate them I think...I have a draw full of completed tapestries so will put them to good use.....haven't told Herb yet cos I think he reeaaally wont like it, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. It will be long term project.

Another couple of bargello needlepoints on the go, love doing these because they are so quick. One is a copy again and the ribbons one is a pattern from an old book. I must think of something to do with them when there're done....any ideas?

There is just not enough hours in the day for all the things I want to have a go at.......maybe I could give up the job ha ha