joining in, and brief love affair

The group of girls who are working away at constructing journals in the workshop, are such a great bunch of girls. They are all so enthusiastic and motivated, I can't wait to see their finished journals!

I decided I would join them and make another one too (like I need another one!!)
They really got into the spirit of the class and partied as they worked - it seems to have been one long slumber party!!

Who wouldn't want to join in?

Here's a glimpse of my finished journal.

Meet Lilly.
She belongs to my daughter.
She recently moved flats and can't take beautiful Lilly with her.
Lilly is staying with us for the time being, but we need to find her a new home, she's terrified of dogs.

The longer she stays, the more my heart grows attached.
She has such a lovely personality, and she must go to a very caring home...with no dogs.

Like my daughter, I'm going to miss her terribly.
What an emotional rollercoaster!


Carole :)

Looking for a smile?

I can't believe just how fast time flies when you're having fun!

I mean, how am I going to find time to search for a real 9 to 5 job?
And when will the housework get done?
Who will see if I never brush my hair?

And the biggest question of all is - just what is important to me today?

...Mr Madness and Mess is
...and my kids are
...my Mum and Dad are


...and you, my friends are


And when I think of any of the important people in my life
it makes me smile :))

I can't give too much away, but here's a sneek peek...

of my next online class!

The class is called....


'I'll make you a smile'



All the details coming soon!


:)) Carole

a short but sweet blog post

Exam results are up,

I passed everything and so you know what that means, right?

I nOw HAve My dEgREe!!!

and I'm JUmpInG FOr jOY!!

It's all a bit overwhelming really...

Remember the box I received in the post a couple of days ago?
Well this is what was packed into it!
I was totally thrown, when I discovered some very nice Irish breakfast tea, and decaf too! Salted peanuts, caramel bars and chocolate pretzels!

And a gorgeous selection of arty bits for me to play with :))
Of course everyone knows just how much I treasure vintage lace!
Just the smallest piece sends me soaring lol

And then I spotted this gorgeous arch,

with the loveliest words on the back.

I think I'm the luckiest tutor, I have simply the nicest students in my class!

I think this student deserves a wee surprise in return, don't you?

Carole :)

July is off to an exciting start!

This morning I was beside myself with excitiment...
A package arrived with a US postal stamp!

And it contained the art work of the very talented Rhonda from A little bit french, I was a very lucky girl to win this in her weekly give-away!
It was the perfect prize, thank you very much Rhonda!

And just when I thought getting one package in the mail with a US postal stamp on it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, another arrived!!

This one was a largish box with this written on the inside lid

And this lovely note addressed to me on the top

I don't think I've ever received a box quite like this ever before!

Thank you my dear friend for sending me these gifts, for starting my day with excitment and for giving me endless fun and ideas!

And I'm very sorry to say that there aren't any more photos at the moment
because I was just too darn excited to take any more!!

Would you like to know what I found in the box?

Carole :)

a delightful gift

My friend and her hubby arrived to have dinner with us last night.

She gave me the most amazing bunch of beautiful flowers!

This morning my kitchen is filled with colour, and I love the way the
sun filters through the flowers to fall on the petals of the gerberas.

They are lovely and certainly cheer up a dreary old Winter's day :))

Carole :)

Would you like to know a secret?

But, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone!

I have found a very lovely lady, who happens to live in France...

Who has just started an on-line shop selling seriously gorgeous vintage french textiles.
including vintage laces, vintage linens and vintage documents...

She can be found here...and her name is Annette.
Pop in and browse, tell her Carole said to say hello!

You just never know what you might find!

Carole :)

my sister's quilt gets finished

It's a blast of colour!
My sister bought the batik fish panel many years ago while she and her boyfriend were travelling through Indonesia. She thought she might make something with it, but after many years she gave it to me one day, thinking that I might like to have it instead.
I did! I got together all my batiks and ruled, sliced and sewed and made a quilt for her and her husband (who was her boyfriend on that trip) to use as a throw on their sofa.
It arrived safely and they all loved it!
She said that seeing her batik fish in the quilt bought back loads of lovely memories!

I'm pleased she liked it :)
Carole

weekend pleasures

Just when I thought that having a lovely pile of
freshly laundered new "old" linen and
some home made rhubarb and strawberry jam was the highlight
of the weekend,
that it couldn't get any better.....

a student doing my on-line class emailed me to say..

"I am so very much enjoying your class. I just want you to know you are doing such a good job.
But I'm not surprised...I have admired your work!
Thanks for just being YOU!"


I got a wee bit emotional.

Thankyou, it means a lot.

Carole

multi tasking...

I've been busy trying to do 3,419 things at once!

Or it feels like it!


I am just adding a few more bits to my round robin stitchery for our QB5 group.

I probably just need to leave it be and send it on its way,
but I couldn't help myself.

I felt I needed to add a little book of some sort...

...and tie it up with vintage American and French lace...

... with a wee thank you in it for my friends who will add to it and take good care of it while it's travelling round the world.

I am surprised at how treasured this sampler has become.

I can't begin to imagine how treasured it will be once my friends have contributed to it
and it returns home.

I tried to make my note look aged to match the rest of my sampler.

I hope they will be able to read it!

Have a lovely week,
Carole :)

busy busy busy...

mmmm, making journals all day is fun!
wonder if I should cook a proper meal tonight?

there's still room in the class if you'd like to join....
....the girls are having a great time!

Carole :)

Preparing for my online class tomorrow

I happened to, quite by chance, find some lovely pages of French writing.
I thought of the girls doing my class,they may like a copy of some of this lovely
handwriting to add to their handmade journals. I wonder who held the pen way back in 1891 and wrote this?

Thank you to those of you who left comments and wished me well in my exams.
They are now all finished, and I can begin my quest for a new job,
and finish some exciting sewing projects that have been on hold.

Now I must go check that everything is ready for the girls tomorrow.
Don't worry if you'd like to join in, and can't start tomorrow, we have a couple of girls who will join in in a few days time when they get back from their summer holiday. The class blog will be available complete with all it's content for 3 whole months! During this time you will have the opportunity to make more than one journal if you choose.

Email me if you would like to know more.
Carole :)

forgot to tell you...

Yes, I know, I shouldn't be on here! LOL
But I forgot to share with you my exciting news, I had a collectable post card published in the latest issue of Sew Somerset!
Exciting stuff!

ok, back to the books now...
Carole :)

a reminder while I'm away...

My journal workshop will be starting soon!

'Open Your Door'
$45.00

Click HERE for registration details

One week to go. I've been making more journals, this one will go in
my Etsy store at the end of the week.

You will learn to do all this and more in the workshop

Make a completely unique and contemporary, yet very functional journal

If you'd like to join in, click the Buy Now button at the top right on this blog. Or you can click HERE to read about registration details.

Hope you can make it to class!
Carole :)

I'm going to be absent for a few days, but before I go...

3 special things happened this weekend.

I drove to New Plymouth and spent the weekend with my daughter and her partner,
-there were roses in my room.

We went to a French cafe for lunch, the wait staff all spoke French,
and bought very nice things to our table!

Hope you had something special happen this weekend!



As I have 2 exams at the end of this week, I will be a little quiet over the next few days. I need to spend NO time on this computer and study all day every day for the next week. My exams are next Friday and Saturday.
Until then, wish me luck!

Carole :)

my stitching progresses...

Not quite finished yet,

but you can see where I'm going, right?

Carole :)