let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.......

see tha light in the top right hand window? that's the workroom.


the blogs are full of snowy pictures and I just couldn't resist. well my last post complained about going back to work, well that didn't happen!!!!! Monday and Tuesday we where snowed in, the lane around here was bad, and the rest of the journey would have been impossible.
On Saturday last we had gone into Bournemouth for a touch of 'end of January shopping', spending of Lush vouchers, and visits to Borders bookshop for lovely American magazines.
Anyway we went for a coffee and over-heard a conversation between 2 couples, one obviously visiting from further up north.
1st Couple:" ooohh there is a snow and severe weather warning for Monday , so we best leave on Sunday"
2nd couple:" ooo don't worry we never get weather that bad down here, haven't had bad snow for a good 10years" HAHAHAHAHA, eat your words mister!!!!!


And again on Friday , no work. I listened to the local radio to hear of people being stuck on the A35 Dorchester to Bere Regis road for 3 HOURS!!!! this road is our nearest main road, and takes about 20mins to go along normally. What to do with all this unexpected free time well ,I got loads of sewing done .

Remember the 12 panel grey pinstripe skirt? well ,I cut out a waistcoat to go with it, lovely spotty lining!!!:







Do excuse Dolly the model, she had a bit of a scrap with the floor and is a bit wonky, the boob stuffing is all over the place!!! she's such a drunken lush!!!!

is it Friday already?

So I've been on holiday this week, to decorate, do some sewing and generally hide from January.Why does the holiday week go twice as fast as an 'office' week? no fair!
so I've been in the work room accompanied by these lovelies, so looking forward to the start of series 2 tonight.'Pushing daisies'. I love her frocks. I'm so dissappointed that they aren't doing a series 3.






and doing some cutting out, drafted a very simple pattern for a 12 panel skirt. I think it should look good in this grey pin stripe, I'll post a picture of the finished item

sooo excited to see this..........Coraline

ooohhhh!!!!!!! can't wait!!

blk and white and a hint....

more inspiration from attic24

a bit late but...............

for christmas I decided to make some presents and I'm rather pleased with the results.

a hat and long skinny scarf for my brothers girlfriend , she is very blond and looked fab in the beenie hat, and I was extra chuffed as I made up the pattern as I went along, one of the wonderful benefits of crochet as I'm discovering.



and a cosy blankie for my mom, for those all important afternoon naps.lucky girl




and a great bag, also for mother, inspired by attic24,
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/





( oops sorry the links don't appear to be working)

lady Ottoline Morrell

Lady Ottoline Morrell was a member of the Bloomsbury Group, who "......sometimes wore Extravagant Turkish Robes and Dyed Her Hair a soft purple."
She caught the eye of Quentin Bell the son of Clive and Vanessa Bell who described her as " That Fantastic baroque Flamingo........." what a wonderful desription, I think i will aspire to be a flamingo too!!!






so here is me being a flamingo, with my new wonderful lime green scarf, a bargin at £1.95

the kitchen......

this is 'japur spice' a friend said it reminded her of the ice cream you get in Indian restaurants, that's a result I'd say





and of course , one should always match ones hair to ones kitchen!!!

the after......

the bedroom, some indoor sunshine to wake up with



the workroom
it's hard to get a true colour photo, but it's a deep raspberry, I like it

strange times..............

It's all been a bit strange since my dad's diagnosis, but as happens, life continues, and you find a way through, he's feeling good, and amazingly looks very healthy!!!!
they are now getting a team together to carry out some surgery in the next couple of weeks. he's has a rare from of a rare cancer, but there is always hope.

it also shows, when these things happen peoples true colours!! you really do find out what people are made off, and not always good. but that's there problem not mine!!! anyway, it's gloomy January, so what better way to cheer up than a spot of decorating so here are the 'before':

the workroom


the bedroom


the kitchen

sophie solomon

sister rosetta

an oldie, but a wonderful one

this is one of my all time favourite videos/ songs. what a fabulous black hat, my dear!!!this is where I'll be , if anyone wants me..............

renminders of the sunshine

lovely bursts of sunshine from the summer



gor blimey!!! , it all looks a bit dull now



oh well, I've got my gardeners sanctuary, to hide in and plot for next year, 'in the greenhouse'

well it is christmas

this is St. Stephen's church in Bournemouth, now I'm not a religious person, but I do like my churches, the more Gothic the better, and this beauty is tucked away just a couple of steps from Borders book shop, in the centre of Bournemouth , just through the park.
it's based on a french design apparently and is just stunning, it smell of incense and the coat I was wearing still smells of it.
I was very lucky to be shown the vestments( embroidered clothes worn by the priest). including the one above, from the time of Marie-antoinette.I was told that there is a matching coat at Christchurch abbey, but it's not on display. amazing embroidery. and a truly inspiring place.and wonderful people.

love this song..........neopolitan dreams by Lisa Mitchell

http://www.myspace.com/lisalisamitchell
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid4270403001/bctid4919011001and of course this is where I first heard it, OOOH I SO WANT TO BE IN THIS BED!!!

POOP!!!

This has been a very hard year, but I had hoped that the worse was over. how wrong can you be.

my blogging is always a bit erratic, and will now be even more so . my beloved dad has been diagnosed with cancer, and my heart is breaking. I have to find a way of dealing with this and be strong for him and my family.
All I want for Christmas is some sleep and peace.

I'M IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!

these are the work of Jeanne Bayol,
http://www.jeanne-bayol.com/accueil_an.htmshe does fabulous caravans and all singing all dancing, wonderfully colourful design work.
I'm trying to get hold of her books, especially 'Les Sacs du Jeanne' but can't seem to find a way of getting them in the UK. buggar!!!!anyone in France want to help? I'll pay !!!! just wonderful.

AND THANK YOU TO HIDDEN IN FRANCE http://hiddeninfrance.typepad.com/hidden_in_france/
for pointing me in the righht direction

my own produce.....

we've had quite a few tomatoes this year, and a couple of weeks ago, I decided to use up the remaining crop, I cooked them in the oven then skinned them then reduced them and used as a thick sauce.
aren't they just full of the sunshine , wonderful colours