Sunday 8 February 2009

This week I have been mostly......

Our eldest, Lucy, lives in London. About two and half hours away from home. She recently moved out of one flat and moved to another. We left visiting her until she had sorted herself out, i.e.what was to come home and what was to be purchased from Ikea by her Dad, and taken to her by us and put together, by Dad!
Yesterday we got to see our girl and arrived at her flat around lunch time. After an hour or so of her Dad doing the DIY, we nipped over the road to the thecrown which is a gorgeous Victorian (I think) Pub and Hotel for a bite to eat.

Lucy ordering drinks!

Coffee....Mmmmm.

Back to the DIY and then after another hour or two reluctantly, left her behind in her new nest and headed back home (breaks my heart everytime, I miss her so much). And just as an extra special treat, a lovely gentleman in a green uniform left us a little note under the windscreen wiper, asking us to cough up £50 or £100 if left for over 2 weeks to Brent County Council! A little bit of a misunderstanding, shall we say, when reading the parking meter, gggrrrrrrrr!


Bye Luce!
Anyway, this was the scene from the M6, as we whizzed home. A gorgeous setting sun over the snow covered countryside.


~0~
Moving swiftly on..... All things considered this week, I've managed to make three items.
First of which, a coin purse. I do enjoy making these. As I have mentioned before, when I have persuaded the collaged fabric into the purse frame and it becomes a purse, it's a great sense of achievement. sold



I've used little pieces of hand knitted lace and some really beautiful buttons. I'm being very strong and letting go of my button stash! I may need therapy though!



Next creation .... a textile brooch. A nice little mix of muslin, white silk and a piece of very beautiful lace, all stitched together and then hand embroidered. The boot buttons dangling from the bottom are exquisite. So finely made. sold



Third item...... collaged letter. A wonderfully typed letter from 1963 granting permission for a Flower Show to be held at Prestick Town Hall. I did enjoy making this. I've added a fishing fly to this one to finish the piece off. sold



Then onto 'Find of the Week'. A book entitled ~ The Miracle of the Human Body. The human body may be a miracle but boy is this book gruesome. There are only a few pics I can show you, ugh!



Below is from the Contents Page.......snigger!



This is one of the least stomach churning images (when I bought it, I had only flicked through, perhaps I should take a longer look at prospective purchases in the future)!


I know I should'nt but this really made be titter. A visual showing the external ears of human and animals to catch sound vibrations. The human character is also a visual for a cauliflower ear. The publishers were obviously running low on funding for a decent illustrator! Snigger again.


Last but not least, just look what Helen of cocoaandblankets sent me. What a wonderful surprise and incredibly generous and kind. Fabrics, lace trims, buttons, ephemera all manner of lovely things. Thank you Helen, my life has been so enriched since meeting so many wonderfully kind and generously spirited friends.

Well that's my week in a nutshell. I hope all is well with you dear reader and thank you very much for stopping by.x


25 comments:

Shabby Chick said...

What a beautiful gift from Helen, I love her little note too :)

I can't imagine having children who have left home (at the moment it sounds like a wonderful idea, lol) but it must be so hard leaving Lucy behind. That pub definitely looks like a proper Victorian one, the patterns in the glass are glorious.

Your makes are so lovely. I showed my husband some of your work on the etsy (or folksy? Sorry can't remember!) the other day as a gentle hint ;)

Mel xxx

A time to dance said...

Good afternoon my friend...I cant think of how I will feel when Polly leaves home...I love all the things you have made...I would love to know how you put the pictures /letters etc on the fabric...its amazing...once agian..I am delighted that you liked the bits and pieces I just hpe that they will be of some use...have a good week...H

Anonymous said...

How sensible to keep busy making such lovely things when you miss your daughter so much. I could go on for hours, having aid goodbye to three children over the years. Instead I will wallow in your oh so beautiful work. Thankyou for showing it.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Hi Viv,
I have been in London this weekend staying with my sis not very far from your daughter.
Just got back to thick snow!
Beautiful work.x

Sal said...

I love your coin purse.
I miss my daughter terribly, so I know how you feel. ;-)

Gina said...

That sounds like quite a busy week Viv! More lovely things made too!

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

Lovely new work.
The windows of that pub! That coffee! Wow.

I've heard several people here in Sweden who didn't have to pay the parking tickets when they helped someone move. Perhaps you can complain and explain the situation. If you've parked in the wrong place just a short period of time and you had to... let's say you had to carry stuff inside a house because you helped your daughter move. Worth a try. Worked for my mum...

Jackie said...

Oh goodness your new template is heavenly Viv.
You must realise that sad as it is for you to leave Lucy she's probably really happy.
x

carole brungar said...

I miss my daughter too who is flatting in Wellington, 2 hours drive from here! I hate it when I have to leave or she has to leave.... Isn't it neat that the relationship between mother and daughter is more than just that?
Anyway, to do love your brooch! It is lovely! I would wear it with pride!!
;) Carole

Margaret said...

I so enjoy to read your posts Viv, I hope Lucy settles into her new pad ok and you manage to keep yourself distracted. Your work is beautiful everytime, you have such a good feel for combining so many elements.

Fleur de Boheme said...

I HATE parking tickets, too - it´s such a waste!!

Really like your purse ;-)

'fancypicnic' said...

Ooh, Viv - delicious new makes...and all sold!! xx

I'm not looking forward to my little girls growing up, leaving ...

What a lovely package to receive!

mimilove forever said...

mmm...pub...

...anyway I'm thinking you should incorporate the parkng ticket into an embroidery missis! x;)

eeewwww...Internal Secretions...I look forward to future works inspired by the book...i think!
x;0)
xx

Charis Sharpe said...

The pieces youve made are beautiful, but I particularly loved the purse, absolutely gorgeous x

RosesRadishesandRubbish said...

Dear Viv, been "under the weather and quiet here in blogland!:) I so enjoyed your post as usual and am hoping to be completly better soon. hugs, Amy

Anonymous said...

Hello Viv how are you - nice weekend - beautiful drive
Cathy

Lori said...

your creations are amazing!!! i love how you do your stitch work and embellishing with the pretty bits and bobs...*sigh*...all is lovely...

Phyllis said...

Hi,

I love your little brooch and coin purse. They are gorgeous!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful blog you have, so many lovely creations to browse through.

Miss Robyn said...

I love the gorgeous little purse. Your work is exquisite.

Kitty said...

Hello there Mrs Hen - thank you for dropping by my blog and taking the time to leave a nice friendly comment. I have had a lovely time looking at your own bloggy bits, you have and 'do' some lovely 'stuff' here.

I too am like Arnie, and I'll be back :-D

Take care :-)

Sue said...

Hello Viv, thanks so much for your kind comments on my blog! I find it encouraging to read of your girl moving on as both of mine are still very much in place here, making a mess, playing horrid music, using all the cups and plates... I love them but look forward to their independence!

Lovely things as usual - I often pop in to see but don't always comment - will make a point of saying hello more often in future :-)

silverpebble said...

Hello, I've just been enjoying your lovely blog again. That book is a real hoot - the illustrations (and the index snippet) made me giggle. Cauliflower ear? He!

Lovely lovely work too - both the purse and the brooch are gorgeous.

Emma x

Bridget Farmer said...

hello there, you left a message on my blog so i came accross to see yours, it's lovely, i think i'll add you to my blog list too!
bridget

Unknown said...

I really cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like to have to leave your daughter alone in the big ol world to carry on by herself! Actually, I can, as my mom reminds me from time to time how very difficult it was for her...but now, gosh, i think i may just have to go off to school with Kennedy! I mean, I cried when her first tooth got loose for goodness sake!