HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's been some time since I have been on my Blog and a lot has happened.  My husband had a massive heart attack in October and it's been discovered that he has three blocked arteries in his heart!  The Consultant is keen to do a bypass operation but we are looking into natural methods of unblocking arteries. We have found one natural therapy which others may find of interest:

1 cup Lemon Juice
1 cup Ginger Juice
1 cup Garlic Juice
1 cup Apple Vinegar

Mix all ingredients together and boil on a low heat for approximately half an hour.  When it reduces to 3 cups take off the cooker and let it cool.

After cooling mix 3 cups of natural honey and keep it in a bottle.

Take one tablespoon regularly, every morning before breakfast .  The result should be that blocked veins will open!   No need for any invasive medical procedures including Angioplasty!  This was tried and tested by a leading Sri Lankan doctor.

The only snag is I don't know where to get either ginger or garlic juice!!!!

Christmas in our house this year was very quiet but our elder daughter came over and cheered her Father up no end.  We didn't even have a real tree this year!!

Instead of having a whole turkey - which always lasts until you are thoroughly sick of it - we had a stuffed crown, which still lasted for ages, but was very tasty and more importantly - no bones!

Our two cats really enjoyed playing with the decorations on the tree!

Here's Ange pretending to be soooooo good!
Butter wouldn't melt ...

              
                This is Jesse she is the cheeky one
                would you believe they are sisters!!







It was back to College today, my Event Planning Course is slowly rolling to an end - just 5 more weeks to go.  I have a lovely group of students who make teaching them such a pleasure:

              This was a photo taken on 17th December (last day of term, before Christmas)
                                              when we had our own Christmas Party

Let's hope this year I do a lot more sewing and crafting than I managed last year.  I went through a whole year and did not pick up a needle once - disgusting! I have yet to hear if my Jewellery Making and Craft Courses are happening at the end of January, but I have a horrible feeling they will be cut as one of the colleges in the Bexley group has closed down and all their courses have transferred to the college I teach at - which is bad news for us.  I have already been told that my Event Planning Course in March has been cut due to no Government funding of certain courses, so I am considering teaching this privately if I can get the backing of the NCFE who are the awarding Body that issue the Diplomas.

Well let's hope I manage to post more blogs this year than I managed last year.

That's all for now.

Pauline

WHERE DOES TIME GO?

Well, as the saying goes, another day another dollar!  It's amazing how I tell myself I will definitely write on my blog more often but, when it comes down to it, there are always other things to be done first, then I never get back to it.  How do some Bloggers manage, (some with young children which I don't have), to write on their blogs so often - sometimes every day.  Firstly I wouldn't have that much to say and secondly I have so much I need to do!  In fact I'm just taking a break from marking my students homework!

Today I thought I would include some photos of some button & bead jewellery I made recently.  I posted it to Facebook yesterday and received some really lovely comments from my friends:

I found some beautiful shell buttons in these amazing colours and just had to get them, then browsing around my local hobby shop, as you do, I came across some beautiful glass beads and a pendant.  It all screamed at me "Buy me, buy me" and how could I resist?  This is the result of that little shopping spree!

This is a charm bracelet I made a little while back.  I had some odd beads and charms hanging around, left over from other things I had made, and as the colours went together so nicely, I started playing and after making the brown bracelet I then began wiring the remaining beads and charms on, and by adding the rose quartz it even pleases my spiritual side! Hola! One lovely charm bracelet which I love to wear.  

My students in my Mixed Crafts class wanted to learn how to make Penny Slider cards so I practiced first with a few different ideas and came up with the plane looping the loop in the sky (the sky background and the plane decoupage were courtesy of: www.card-making-downloads.com one of my favourite sites for unusual and really cute card ideas) the idea of having the plane loop the loop was thanks to another site which used the idea of the shape for a totally different idea - two sources and one terrific idea came to mind!

The heart sliding down the wave shape was another combination of two different ideas and made a terrific Valentine card.

The final card was from a previous lesson when the girls wanted to learn how to make shaker cards and I didn't get around to writing about it here.  Well, better late than never so they say!

This is the box I made for my younger daughter, finally added to my blog two months later!! 

These are two waterfall cards - once again examples made for my mixed crafts class. They really enjoyed making these and thankfully all of them worked properly. Can't wait for two weeks time when we are doing glass painting - I can't paint for toffee so that should be a laugh a minute!!  Mind you I don't have to be able to do it - just show them how to do it!  It will be interesting to see how that works out!!

Here's another of the box and bag together - that darn sheep just insisted on joining in - she was so happy that just as I took the photo she kicked her legs in the air!

Well that's all for now.  Wonder what the next posting will bring!! Probably something patchwork again, as I have just placed a massive order for some fantastic materials, very French Provincial in style,  which should get the creative juices flowing..... ummmm now let me see, where did I put my pattern books???

Lots of love and happy crafting

Pauline

IT DOESN'T RAIN BUT IT POURS!!

First chance I've had this year to write on my blog - I really should have a set day for doing this!


Well, Christmas was quiet to say the least, and if possible New Year's Eve was even quieter!  This was the first year we had only one of our two daughter's with us for Christmas, as the younger one was stuck in Dubai and couldn't get home, but surprise - surprise -  on 11th January she came over to the UK as a birthday treat for me and she stayed for 11 days.  It did give me an opportunity to finish her Christmas presents.  Which I didn't hurry to finish before Christmas as I didn't think I'd be seeing her till the Spring!

Yes, it's another frame and bag!  Plus I also made her a padded box in two of the materials used in the bag, but I don't have a photo at the moment. So both my girls had presents made by me at Christmas!  


I can't believe this is my third post today - if you can count the Slane's Slide Show and the Guest Book - plus I was working at the college this morning/afternoon!  Where did this sudden spurt of energy come from??


I'm busy at the college as I have three courses running at present.  The Event Planning course is midway through and the students are doing very well with their portfolios, which will be marked for them to pass to get their Level 2 Certificates in Event Planning, and I'm really pleased with their efforts so far as they are really trying hard.


My new Mixed Crafts class started Thursday afternoon and I have 8 of my previous students sign up again as they enjoyed their classes so much - which means I must be doing something right!!


Also a new course - Bead & Wire Jewellery Making - started Thursday evening and I have a lovely group of students who are all new to the craft so I'm starting them off with the basics and we will build up to great things .... they were thrilled to take home a pair of handmade earrings as they didn't think they would make anything their first lesson!!  Well done Pauline... you're a star!  (Well if I don't say so who will??)


Love the new T Mobile ad - Return of The Mac - that song is terrific!  Think I'll try to get it as the ringtone for my iphone!!


That's all for now, will be back soon with photos of my current sewing work-in-progress, plus some of my students work.


Bye for now


Pauline

The Slane's Slide Show

My Guest Book...

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL

As I was so busy making Christmas presents for my friends and family on the run up to the holiday I didn't get a chance to write on my blog - more's the pity.  However I do have photos to show what I was up to!!

I made these for my older daughter - she loves animal print, 

hence the cushion!!

I made these for my younger daughter but didn't have time to 

make everything I wanted and, as she is in Dubai and couldn't

come home this Christmas, I have more time to finish the other

presents, which I will post as soon as I've finished them!!

Well, it's going to be the New Year in a couple of days with lots of new projects in the pipeline for me to complete.  I'm hoping that my new course "Bead and Wire Jewellery" proposed for January at the adult education college, will have enough students to run, as I am planning a great selection of projects for them to do.  

Nearly all my students from my Mixed Crafts course have signed up for the follow up course in January so I need to think of some fun projects for them to do.  I'll be going to my favourite craft site, www.favecrafts.com for inspiration!

I am so proud of my patchwork student who made some lovely items on the run up to Christmas which she gave as presents to some of her family and friends.

Very good combination of materials which depict

the sun, sea and sand!  

Again a great colour combination & pattern.

Anja actually made a third cushion which I loved 

but I don't have a picture of that

I think the combination of the red and tartan 

make a stunning bag which Anja couldn't 

bring herself to give away and she is using it!

Each new year I try to find a new craft to master but haven't decided as yet what it will be!  Actually there's not a lot left that I actually want to do!  Maybe I'll have thought of something before I write my next blog. 

Surfing the web earlier this week I came across www.paulinespatchwork.co.uk - no nothing to do with me - they have just moved to Dorchester and sell a wonderful selection of patchwork and quilting supplies and materials and they also run workshops!  Ummmm, most interesting!  I must check them out further. Luckily I bookmarked them so I'll be able to go back to have a more in depth browse when I've got more spare time.

Well, that's it for now, back to housework or crafting??  Crafting won...... !!

Happy New Year to everyone

All best wishes

Pauline

Bah, Humbug!!

It's been snowing for four days!! College is closed until further notice - the schools are also closed too.  My car is covered in snow and cannot go anywhere as the roads are impassable. Being a side road ours isn't cleared or gritted.   I'm fast running out of bread and such!  The delivery lorries can't get through to the supermarkets, and in the smaller towns and villages they are actually rationing bread, eggs, milk etc!!


As for the transport system - the trains are not running, planes are grounded, buses are cancelled and where do I live?  Outer Mongolia - no - the U.K.  -  and as usual everyone has been expecting the snow for a couple of weeks - if not more - and still the country is caught with it's pants down!!

this shows how thick the snow is...

bamboo bowed right down under the weight of the snow and paw-prints are from a lone fox....

the conifer tree outside our lounge a few days ago...

I'm busily making one of my daughter's Christmas presents and when I can get out to the shops I'll be able to finish it.  I think a handmade present is worth much more than a shop bought item.  Each stitch is sewn with love!  When it's finished I'll post it along with a few other things I'm in the middle of making.

Well, this is just a short entry as I wanted to rant about the snow.... and I'm feeling very Scrooge like at present! 

Pauline 

December Already!!

The last two weeks have gone past in a flash - I can't believe it's the 1st December already!! Last week was really sad for me because it was my Aunt's funeral, she had been ill for a very long time, and went into hospital for a straightforward procedure, but ended up having a major heart attack, which unfortunately she didn't recover from.  She was the last link I had to my Mum.  As a floristry tutor (among my many other attributes!) I was able to make a very pretty open wreath and spray of anthirriums:

It started snowing during the night and then all day yesterday and no matter how high I turned the heating up, I was, and still am, so cold!! My poor bamboo growing in the garden was almost beaten to the ground by the snow as you can see from the photo below.  

I've had to spend the day at home because the roads are so treacherous and driving is a nightmare! I just moved the car yesterday morning from the bottom of our road to nearer our house, which is nearer the top of the road, and managed to get the car stuck, but luckily I had the help of two strong neighbours' who gave me a push as I was slipping on the ice.  


Hopefully my craft class will run on Thursday, and the college won't be closed, and I'll have some more photos to post here.  My students will be making pretty indoor Christmas wreaths from small boxes,  and Kusudama paper folded Balls - watch this space. 


Well that's all for now and I'll write again soon.


Pauline

The decorated frame in my previous post inspired me to make one of my own and, as I am totally addicted to patchwork and sewing I thought I would theme the decorations around that hobby.  Here is my decorated frame - let me know what you think:

 

I found scissors, sewing machines, thimbles and cotton reel buttons in the scrap-booking section of our local craft supermarket and the other buttons were found in a tub of buttons.    All in all a good buy! 


Oh and the photo was taken by my daughter when I went to visit her in Dubai earlier this year.  It was so hot on the sand I was hopping around on the beach trying not to get burnt!!


I must say, I have a great group of students for my Thursday craft classes.  They are willing to try almost everything I suggest to them, so to pay them tribute I am including their photo with the cards they made the previous week  - shame my photography wasn't better:

From left to right: Gaynor, Christine, Sheron, Irene, Jagdip, Sara, Louise and Pam

Their frames were amazing but not quite dry so a few of the buttons started to slip as I photographed them:

The black frame was decorated with coloured gems, while the frame next to it was decorated with rolls of coloured paper.  All in all a very good effort.

It's amazing how, when given a project and told the materials needed, how they all turn out so differently.  The second from from the right had textured wool tied in knots to add a rustic feel, while the pink button frame was totally feminine and ideal for a little girls room!


Another of my pet loves is altered books and I've got my favourite which I take every where with me when I need to take notes.  It started life as a boring notebook with a black cover!!
Just look at it now....:

Well let's see how my students get on with their decoupage boxes this week.


That's all for now.


Pauline

My Patchwork Bag is now Finished!

It took me a week and a half -  on and off - stitching, but I've now finished my bag and am feeling very pleased with myself. I haven't attempted a bag before and had doubts about putting the lining in, but after a few tries, and undoing it several times, I finally got the hang of it.  I now can't wait to start on my next one which will be embroidered and beaded.  I wonder how long that will take me?? Christmas is fast approaching and I want to  make a few as presents.  I wonder if anyone else has the same problem following a pattern?  They just don't seem to be written in a way that makes it easy to understand.

My Event Planning course started last Saturday and all 15 students turned up!  The room was full to capacity ....

I have a great mix of ages and abilities and the next 15 weeks look as though they will be extremely interesting for everyone ..... watch this space for future reports.

Thursday will see my craft class attempting to decorate a plain wooden picture frame with loads of assorted buttons or failing buttons, rolls of patterned paper.  I love the button frame so much I've added a picture below.  I found it on www.favecrafts.com which is one of my favourite craft sites.

They have everything on there from sewing, knitting, crochet and loads of other hand crafts.  Check it out, I think you'll agree it's a great site.  I'll take photos of what the girls do and we can compare notes!! I'll also be taking pictures of their cards from the previous week and I'll add those too....

That's all for now

Pauline