Cornwall Flooding

My day started really early when I was woken up by loud helicopter noise which was very low. I had no idea at 5am why there was so much noise but once the radio came on at 6.30am it soon became clear. The amount of rain last night was hard, loud and for much of the night. The wind also woke me up but I am not sure what the time was.

Radio 2 news at 7am came on and I was surprised to hear my village/area mentioned plus other nearby areas in Cornwall as being flooded and that the helicopters were helping those who were stranded in their homes. I live near an ideal landing and take off area which is why they seemed so loud.

We put Breakfast TV on and heard of more areas affected but at this time no picutres so I could not gauge how bad it was.

I was not really sure what to do so I go in the car to drive to school.

I soon got caught up in a traffic jam and after waiting a bit I decided to turn back and go another way as I was concerned that I was going to be very late.

I turned down a lane that I have used many times before....big mistake.

Got half way along and found a very very big "puddle". There was another car coming the other way and he started to drive through the deep water. By now two other cars were behind me and none of us could turn around due to the lane not being wide enough. I watched carefully and I thought that he took it a bit quick and the water came right up over his bonnet, but he made it.

I thought that if I got as close to the hedge as possible it may not be as deep, put it in first gear and took it slowly. I could not see any water over the bonnet. If the car had stalled, I doubt that I could have gotten the door open it was that deep.

Luckily I got to the other side and realised that I was holding my breath.

Other cars were starting to turn into the road and I wound down my window and shook my head. Someone else might have gotten stuck even if us three cars did not.

I turned out on to the main road and the traffic soon stopped again. This time I leapt out and got my bag out of the boot in case I needed to ring school to say I would be late.

As I got to the front of the queue I could see that a small leat (small waterway, ditch like) had over flowed and was gushing across the road like a river. Each direction of traffic was taking it in turns to let people go around this and avoid going through the deepest section. I was surprised at the amount of debris lying around too.

Today I saw lots of people being very helpful and considerate where I was.

I drove through that and took the back route to school, stopping for a few mins to call hubby to warn him of what I had seen. He told me later that the way he took (my ususal route) was just the same as the one I took so no regrets for my choice of route afterall).

It was not until I got home and saw the News at 6 and the local programme Spotlight that I found out how bad it all is.

A lot of upset for many people whose homes have been damaged. I hope that the process of insurance etc is not dragged out too long and that repairs can be sorted out quickly. For this to happen so close to Christmas seems to compound the situation, as many may not be back in their homes by the 25th as houses will need to dry out and be cleaned at the very least.

There was a spot on the TV where neighbours were helping to save some fish from what looked like very muddy water (and other things in it) and helping those that needed it.

We were lucky, the flood water stopped just down from us as we live on higher ground but brought home the strength that the natural elements have. However, we do appreciate the phone calls that we had during the day from friends and family asking if we were alright.

As for tonight, more rain has been forecast and there is high tide at 3am!

We shall see what happens, no rain at the moment and it is 11.30pm so lets hope the weather people have got it wrong and it will be a dry night.

Take care

xx

Love your veg...........

We found this in our bag of potatoes at the weekend! Sophie thought it was great and has bagged it for her tea one night this week.

Well..... you have to love your veg and it love you, haven't you?

Anyone else had odd looking veg like this?

xx

Sophie's 8th Birthday

Goodness me!

8 years old, my where has the time gone. When you become a Mum everyone says that children grow up and to be honest when you are wadding through piles of washing, changing nappies, dealing with the night feeds and feeling like an alien due to lack of sleep (or none at all sometimes) you can be forgiven for thinking "ya right" pass me that burp cloth please.

Well, they were right. To see Sophie put on her party outfit today, grey leggings with a black and sparkly Hello Kitty top, just how much she has grown up and that time is moving on and the most must be made of each day.

Her birthday was on Tuesday and I made cupcakes with pink and white spotty cases which are a thicker paper than normal and they worked well. I treated myself to some decent piping nozzles.

They worked like a dream. I first learnt how to use a piping bag and nozzles at school when there was a Christmas cake competition and I came second! I have always enjoyed the challenge of creating eye catching cakes and buns. May have missed a calling there, never mind. Grandma and Grandad came round for dinner and then we finished off with low noise, low level fireworks in the garden. Sophie likes fireworks but not the noise that goes with them.

Then on Friday evening the baking waggon rolled again as Sophie and I made more cupcakes for her party today.

Sophie and I had a great time making and decorating them. The look on her face of sheer delight in making them knowing that her friends would be eating them. She said that it was so much fun. I really hope these little fun times last for as long as possible. Sophie loves cooking and making things and I have a feeling that this will make up a part of her life.

They were arranged on my cupcake stand and some candles added. A number 8 was put on the top and as it stands with all of the candles that we have now I am ready for the 12th - 18th birthdays.

They had a great day at Dairyland near Newquay in the bull Pen which has plastic balls, massive slides etc. Sophie and 8 friends were running around so much they all had bright pink faces!!

Fun was had by all and Sophie said that she had had a brilliant day!

She is now all tucked up in bed looking forward to tomorrow when she can start to use her new pens and pencils which she was given today.

Sweet dreams

x

Remembering...............

Remembrance Day.

Sewing Machine History

I found this picture on Craftzine and again on google images.

The time in collecting and the sewing history here is amazing.

I would really love to have an hour or so looking at these in person. Unlikely to happen but I did have the next best thing today!

One of my Year 7 students brought in an old hand operated Royal sewing machine for the rest of the class to look at as their previous homework had been to research into different kinds of sewing machines. it belongs to his Gran and his Mum dropped him off at school in the car today.

One of the reason for his interest is that during his research he found a line of sewing machines which bears his family name, which is unusual, and his family are now trying to trace this and see if there is a genuine family link. I have really started something here, this is why I teach, opening minds. Did I have a camera NO! (wails of dispair!!)

The group loved looking at something "really old" and were surprised at how it was made and heavy it was.

I wander what tomorrow will bring.

xx

Pieced STAR Quilt Block

This is my latest block for the Christmas Bee. Most of the fabric used was supplied by the owner of the quilt and I added the white so as not to make it too dark. I really enjoyed putting this one together. I did have a senior moment or two and kept swapping seams round between table and sewing machine (do not know why onor am I that old, but anyway) but I was pleased with the end result and I shall make some more of these for my own use. Very easy to cut up, I might do a tutorial for this one and pop in in the side bar.

Another busy week ahead but I have managed to sqeeze in some knitting, poor light means no picutres but I shall take some tomorrow hopefully.

Quite into the old knitting at the moment.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

xx

Etsy Treasury - Purple Rain

I was delighted to see that I have been included in my first treasury called Purple Rain!!

I have really tried to put a picture of the treasury here on this post, as I have seen it on other blogs, but for some reason I can not. Any suggestions?

Edited:

Many thanks to sarah at Paper and String for helping me with the importing of the Etsy Treasury. Due to having a note book I can only print screen half of it at a time which is why there is a split in the screen. This is what Sarah suggested:

Open up Picassa, paint

click on F11 to remove the headers and footers

click print screen and it is imported to Picassa so that it can be cropped etc.

It worked first time, so many thanks.

Bloggers are really helpful like this which is why I do this.

Do pop over and take a look as there are many other Etsy sellers featured. I am going to do some Etsy Christmas shopping this year to help support handmade.

I have also stated on my items that many are P&P free, especially in the UK.

It has been such a busy week this week that I have not posted since Monday, but I have managed to finish another Christmas block which I shall post this weekend. It has been so dark in the evenings to take photographs.

Off to Plymouth today to do some Christmas shopping while hubby does a boat survey. I have been asked by my Mum to make some cushion covers for her so I need to add to some fabric that I have and start them asap.

I would also like to say a BIG HELLO to my new followers in the side bar. I have been visiting and even managed to leave some comments which has not be possible recently, blogger has its off days sometimes.

Back later.

xx

Corsage Galore

Just before half term my new year 10 group had fun making some corsages using recycled fabric. I tried this project last year and it went down well.

One or two were not sure to start with, but once they got going discussion of what they could do with the flowers and how they could be taken further soon started!

When I grouped all of their work on the front of a spare cushion pad to give another idea of how they could be used, the screeches of excitment was so great I thought that I was going to have to get the first aider in! To round it all off, several blog site addresses to look at and further excited discussion as to what they might make over half term. This is why I do this job!!! Roll on Friday, we are making Monster softies, can't wait!!!!!

xx

Happy Halloween!!

Sophie had a great time with her friend,all dressed up as Witches. Above is our carved pumpkin and I also found the little Munchkin Pumpkins, which I had never seen before. They were rock solid to try and cut. Eventually I managed to cut a little dip and use it as a candle holder.

Sophie's bag was well used and I am glad that I double layered the handles. When we got home there was a knock at the door and Sop0hie said that if they were trick or treating they could have some of hers as she would not eat it all. Ahhh! I think that maybe I am dragging her up right after all.

I got some excellent pictures of her all dressed up which I shall send to Grandparents. Once she settled down at home all of the excitement turned into a massive headache and she went off to bed a little quiet but looking forward to seeing here friends at school tomorrow.

Honestly, I wish I was seven again................

xx

Sewing Heaven.................

OOOh I wonder what this could be?

Harry Potter's new abode? A kitchen cupboard leftover?

No, it is my new toy, my early birthday present to myself (yes, the age goes up a notch again at Christmas, oh goody!)

My new sewing table.

The small door on the left opens up to show a storage area and a drawer. The door itself supports a flip over counter which can be seen better further down this post.

The right hand side also opens up to show further storage areas and this door again supports another flip over counter space. You can see my machine which sits on a weight controlled counter lever platform so that it can be stored away when not being used.

Underneath the machine in the picture above is the area where it is stored when not in use. There is also a space to keep a plastic insert which drops into the table top to fill in the gap left behind when the machine in stored away.On the other side of the sewing cupboard there is a flap which extends the surface area even further!!! Ideal for making quilts.

It is supported by a section which flips out at the back of the sewing cupboard.

We have set it up in the attic and it can be put away if any one comes to stay.

Needless to say that the above picture is not what the table looks like at the moment. Just imagine a tornado has been locked in the attic for a weekend!

More on that another time. You can imagine, I am sure, just how thrilled I am with this. I actually have somewhere to work that is not the kitchen table and I can leave it out over night if I need to. I have a craft Fair next month and I am busy making up some new items to take.

I first saw these tables years ago and thought lovely! Ideal, but I have had to save up to be ale to buy one without feeling guilty. Well...ok....maybe just a little guilty. It will last me for years and Sophie thinks it is great. The first project to be made on this lovely table?? Sophie's Halloween bag and PDF. Sophie had her own work area and she thought it was the Bee's Knee's!!

Have fun to night and be safe too.

xx

Featured here...............

I was approached a few weeks ago and asked if some of my tutorials could be used on a blog that features free tutorials. Now after the Turkish experience I was not sure to start with, but what made this different was the fact that I was asked. So I said yes. The first to be featured is the button bracelet shown above and it can be found here or on the banner st the top of this post.. The rest will be featured over the coming days.

There are loads and loads of ideas and tutorials on this blog site and I have become a follower as a result of looking for myself.

I may well post again later today as my sewing table post is taking longer than I thought. The old picture loading problems again.

See you later.

xx

Halloween Bag PDF

The PDF for the above Halloween items are now in my Etsy shop.

Plenty of time to still make them up.

xx

Happy Halloween Bag

Sophie came home just before the holidays to say that she has been invited to her friend's house to go Trick or treating. Mummy alarm went off but then I was told that hubby and I are also invited and we go with them at a safe distance.

Guess what was next! That's right......"Mummy can we make a bag for me to take?"

So last Friday night the above bag was created, we had loads of fun making it and I promise that I will show you my new table tomorrow, it is just that this has sort of taken over.

The tinsel came from ASDA believe it or not and I dare say other places will sell something similar.

Then we had another idea...............

Ghostly Egg Cosies, we like novelty Egg cosies in our house! Sophie made the grey one all by herself. Hilarious, aren't they?

I have decided to add another section to my Etsy shop (as a bit of an experiment) a pattern and PDF section "Pattern Palace" Here you will find the pattern and fully illustrated instructions for this bag which I can email as a PDF. So still plenty of time to make one. I have other ideas that will need to be tired out first, but hopefully one idea every month or so will hopefully be added.

Then I will try and stock the felt to go with my patterns too, but I need to look into that more.

Well hubby and Sophie have gone swimming and I am shortly due to go to my sewing group.

So back tomorrow.

xx

Latest Christmas Block

This is the latest block for the Around the World Christmas Quilting Bee. I sent it off ages ago as I have been trying to collect a series of pictures together, otherwise I end up with so many picture files.

It is a poinsettia which I found at free quilting patterns dot com. There is a printable pattern to be found there.

This particular block is sewn on using applique. It went quite well for the first attempt and the colours went well with the original block.

There has been a massive gap of time since then, with no sign of another quilt coming through. seeing as it is half-term this week I really hoped that something would arrive.

I saw the other day that it is about 60 days until Christmas, I can not see this challenge finishing in time, but you never know.

Take care

xx

Halloween Holidays..............

I found this picture on Craftzine and thought it was great!

It is half-term and until I start to feel more human some key words to sum up things at the moment:

* Shattered

*Brain Dead

*Gardening

*Birthday Cake Trial Run

*My new sewing table (more on that later)

*Searching Ebay for vintage Polly Pocket Compact toys(I buy one for Sophie's birthday each year)

Halloween Bag making

*Switched off ALARM!!

Back tomorrow with some pictures and crafting news.

Take care

xx

Tuesday Treasures

Do you know what the above is?
This is called a Jiko and it is used my families to cook on in Kenya. I was lucky enough to go to Kenya to teach and my friend and I decided to bring one of these back each. This was in 2006, before all of the restrictions on luggage etc. We wrapped our clothes around them and they went in the hold of the plane. We crossed our fingers that they would not get damaged. They are made of a soft metal, so not too heavy. There is lining of terracotta and this is heated my putting charcoal in a little door in the base. Then there is a grate above whereby you put your pan or frying pan.

They give off very little smoke, if any, so are often used in the house but often outside.

This is how food lessons are taught. One reason why we should be very grateful for the ovens etc that we enjoy in this country.

Now I have used this several times since bringing it back and Sophie loves it. Above you can see onions being cooked on one of the nice days that we had this summer, and it uses the same charcoal as BBQ's.

I can also cook Mandazi using this which is a traditional food which is a bit like a doughnut taste, and they are gorgeous. I just wish that I could find my recipe but I have found one on the internet.

Mandazi Recipe here:

Take a look as you can have a go at these if you have a small deep fat fryer or a deep saucepan to put a good depth of oil in. Do not have the heat too high as it can be dangerous, keep a close eye on it and kids well away. Sophie can only watch at a very good distance and I only make these in the summer so that I can cook outside. They are lovely with icecream or chocolate sauce.

Take care all

xx

Lets go Fly a Kite...........

A couple of weeks ago we invited Year 6 in to school and this year I decided to make paper kites. We only had 45 minutes and three groups to see.

There are many tutorials on the Internet to make these little paper kites but I made this years ago as a little introduction project to get to know my new tutor group. I can not remember where I got the idea in the first place but it went down really well.

They were put on display for parents to see in the evening and then collected to go home.

Those not collected were packaged up and taken to the schools by the Liaison teacher.

Hope to see them all again next September!

xx

I wish I could do that..................

I found this handmade and iced cake on the Martha Stewart website. I can not believe that this has been handmade it is just fantastic!!

I reminds me of a Victorian Ball dress that I saw in the V&A some years ago, and may well still be on display. The care, attention and detail to create this is well, mind boggling really.

I also found a related article on craftzine too and I tried to find it again but it must be archived somewhere. i shall add it once I have tracked it down. I am prone to finding things then forgetting to post about it and then losing track of the links of where I found them! Must start to write them down I think.

Do you want to see another?

This is so lovely that I would not be able to bring myself to cut into it. It is soooo clever.

So I shall come back down to earth now and start to think about Sophie's birthday cake as next week plans will need to start for her 8th birthday party. Eight years old for goodness sake, where has the time gone.

As I am sitting here typing this she is practicing her guitar, it was not that long ago that she was sitting in the same place on the sofa having her bedtime warm milk!

One last look at some cake gorgeousness.....

Well..... I can dream of being this good, but for now I think I shall have to stick to cupcakes. Now there is another story to tell but at another time.

Take care xx

Tuesday Treasures

Tuesday's have a habit of sneaking up on me and so here I am again and it is 11.30pm and only just posting it. Sorry, but the old day job does get in the way so much. Anyway on to more interesting things other than my forgetfulness.

Above is my first big attempt at hand needle felting! I sat down on a Friday evening with a book and a few tools and kept going until my eyes nearly gave out. It was one of the best evenings that I have spent. Hubby was out and Sophie was in bed so what else could I do but discover a new addiction!

In fact I like this so much it features in my side bar. Since then I have explored this idea further by making miniature pictures and I am now developing some card embellishment ideas too.

Recently at school I purchased a Janome Embellisher and during half term I intend to play and learn about all it will do. Then the GCSE exam groups can have a go and see how that can use it in their work.

Quite a recent and inexpensive treasure, but a treasure because it was a "First" for me.

Have a good week.

Christmas Craft Sparkle

I have increased the stock for the above in my Etsy shop. I do have higher quantities than shown as you do get charged for the number of lengths that you list.

Oh..... and whilst having fun making my collage in Picasa I forgot to include the silver.

Oops!

I am busy making things for the Christmas Craft Fair since I have found a bit of motivation. I have not really felt like making much lately for some reason.

However, what a lovely day that we have had in Cornwall today. Do you reckon that it will last until half term?

xx