tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18472249472389337922024-03-05T13:29:16.559+00:00Bright White LightsSantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-76449209271515740152012-04-08T09:36:00.000+01:002012-04-08T09:36:23.083+01:007 Things I Love About Spring<em style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">'Spring is sprung</span></strong></em><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">Der grass is riz</span></strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">I wonder where dem boydies iz?'</span></strong></em></div>
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I'm not sure where my mom got this, but she's been reciting it every spring for as long as I can remember. And I'm just as subconsciously hooked as she is! So, reasons to love spring?<br />
<br />
<div>
<i>{ooooh! turns out this is quite the interesting little poem, indeed. Apparently it's the Brooklyn National Anthem and may or may not have been written by Spike Milligan?! More <a href="http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/brooklyn_national_anthem_spring_is_sprung/" target="_blank">here</a>.}</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Daylight</span></b><br />
Or, specifically: daylight saving time! Hailing from more southerly climes, this concept was lost on me until my first summer in the UK. Nowadays I look forward to it for most of Jan/Feb/March! <br />
<br />
Best thing about the clocks going forward? It forced me to make the blind for my sewing room that's been on my Sewing Flagellation List for, like, ever. Y'see, in a fit of makers' anguish, I finally removed the nasty curtain pole & too-short curtains that had been temporarily hung nearly a year ago ... But now the blazing morning sun is beating down on my beloved sewing library and UV protection is needed! More on that soon!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzZtHjcU_eI0J0HJt5PLKvZ5-MDzvfsF-3sC2Uwlj7s7xlEqk4imoWfnyRfQP0jHgZyIp_MY6Q5kqV-8gFPRkXIzDWiVYgqM1PogfMvyEzV_VGwJMb5TqzVVXXJysXCMrHj8qC6h_dbNa/s1600/Photo+08-04-2012+09+09+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzZtHjcU_eI0J0HJt5PLKvZ5-MDzvfsF-3sC2Uwlj7s7xlEqk4imoWfnyRfQP0jHgZyIp_MY6Q5kqV-8gFPRkXIzDWiVYgqM1PogfMvyEzV_VGwJMb5TqzVVXXJysXCMrHj8qC6h_dbNa/s400/Photo+08-04-2012+09+09+34.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the DLR on the way home after a day in Clogland.<br />
It's still light!!! And so purdy. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Flowers</b></span><br />
Ahhhhh. Spring flowers. Nothing beats 'em. Daffodils (1st offenders?), tulips, crocuses, TULIPS, hyacinth, tulips, other bulbs. Magnolias!! Cherry blossoms! ALLLLLLL blossoms!<br />
<br />
<i>Ahem</i>. Excuse me.<br />
<br />
I have a rampant urge to snap meeellions of blossom pics every spring but never get around to doing anything with them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMgCOO_CHk9pjAi_GyxYsKOtpdhQNEumqX5BY9BP2VybBaWLT0KazgXXzI88SJlkPq45rtfPY90jtBDSwMTtSxYr2Azf0rIPALZ5JGOhafOPpBYZhDhqYgKNmSLfr_DeM1TzI3mgLs6pk/s640/blogger-image--216374855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMgCOO_CHk9pjAi_GyxYsKOtpdhQNEumqX5BY9BP2VybBaWLT0KazgXXzI88SJlkPq45rtfPY90jtBDSwMTtSxYr2Azf0rIPALZ5JGOhafOPpBYZhDhqYgKNmSLfr_DeM1TzI3mgLs6pk/s400/blogger-image--216374855.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no IDEA when or where I took this. <br />
But it's so PURDY!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZaUwTSJ22xqVm879EikdSMWVf8b8wvUh4otPw2ulwaXf1CMEE9cDRyEp54u6avr9QIvoyTbjqYpAww24H7Jt4CV6lMR47ymwNG6f1RFarOVwfwT1YrSq8lVK4vGlu8TCO6QMsSjvabk3/s640/blogger-image--414740975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZaUwTSJ22xqVm879EikdSMWVf8b8wvUh4otPw2ulwaXf1CMEE9cDRyEp54u6avr9QIvoyTbjqYpAww24H7Jt4CV6lMR47ymwNG6f1RFarOVwfwT1YrSq8lVK4vGlu8TCO6QMsSjvabk3/s400/blogger-image--414740975.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocuses outside the Brighton Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLfsJwzp3mOUgLUZr-XNl01OiZJjBNjuDiqlGGK4XCLpk1JhGlxFRLT_9B4AJ30N-Z5cC5K52pP4t8ssD5uNCBD8KNpbfRuzv7P5PGKCxFlFNcCXvi2eSPbM81CWQAWxlbrour1cvgdL7/s640/blogger-image--1526820067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLfsJwzp3mOUgLUZr-XNl01OiZJjBNjuDiqlGGK4XCLpk1JhGlxFRLT_9B4AJ30N-Z5cC5K52pP4t8ssD5uNCBD8KNpbfRuzv7P5PGKCxFlFNcCXvi2eSPbM81CWQAWxlbrour1cvgdL7/s400/blogger-image--1526820067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daffodils springing up out of the rubble outside a neighbour's house. <br />
Determined little buggers, aren't they? ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9lxsIRLaNlpiTOs4JrRXPNfMhPPszyTsQVQDekfM9mCEZHxAdLIJWenHXq3AYEB2BtOSgZY82xV70DAassvSdFS0o8Dn9yl1mAJIkjkNcA1wVjL3w-uPy4803ugxUZbvM2N97iHg6_sy/s640/blogger-image--692726360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9lxsIRLaNlpiTOs4JrRXPNfMhPPszyTsQVQDekfM9mCEZHxAdLIJWenHXq3AYEB2BtOSgZY82xV70DAassvSdFS0o8Dn9yl1mAJIkjkNcA1wVjL3w-uPy4803ugxUZbvM2N97iHg6_sy/s400/blogger-image--692726360.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulips from a neighbour's garden. <br />
- Mine aren't blooming!!!! :(</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Green</span></b><br />
There's nothing like seeing some leafy growth to cast off that wintry haze. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKaxNWoqa3zL6Iev2lxa3NoazF0gDxIZlCwvV-O-dHCnA72jQ7sL-d5jnKyzKr06aRblimS46xp3MhQq8ma2ikNDjVVsIzK0OxAwwtGcMwR3SRsTiuzhfsEU_n4ibA4GJW1Z8N-l9kaQ0/s640/blogger-image--1808491951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKaxNWoqa3zL6Iev2lxa3NoazF0gDxIZlCwvV-O-dHCnA72jQ7sL-d5jnKyzKr06aRblimS46xp3MhQq8ma2ikNDjVVsIzK0OxAwwtGcMwR3SRsTiuzhfsEU_n4ibA4GJW1Z8N-l9kaQ0/s400/blogger-image--1808491951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sprawling, rampant rose bush by our front gate.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Warm!!</b></span><br />
Ah, to wear short sleeves & flip flops. It's a joy entirely unto its own. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuei61GfQ2jA_vsARMrjzuD-5EnAziDSz_vDmC83wWBWI0bdMm7dBWF1g-gQglCnhRfU7IEJoy7iizdgYUlVSnEQ3v6daFkD6L-1P78UcRbtChyphenhyphenYX1-au8Wt8PsGHSh89JDkL7GuxeJP-/s1600/Photo+08-04-2012+09+03+43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuei61GfQ2jA_vsARMrjzuD-5EnAziDSz_vDmC83wWBWI0bdMm7dBWF1g-gQglCnhRfU7IEJoy7iizdgYUlVSnEQ3v6daFkD6L-1P78UcRbtChyphenhyphenYX1-au8Wt8PsGHSh89JDkL7GuxeJP-/s400/Photo+08-04-2012+09+03+43.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Gardening</span></b><br />
See above re: daylight, flowers, green & warm. Add your own homegrown tomatoes (so tasty!) and tadaaaaaa! Joy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lu95fbFmSnV_MxOUdjW64gYAbdoP3yDemu6euCAqgf2PodCRAGhDD69NV4uwNQwAPVYE-0vnv4pCKvoZoJxu0bwLhfRPU1N-JfOaJcZELI6gWOHjcHjtn9501OvSvAw-38oN5vxHChA9/s1600/Photo+08-04-2012+09+02+37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lu95fbFmSnV_MxOUdjW64gYAbdoP3yDemu6euCAqgf2PodCRAGhDD69NV4uwNQwAPVYE-0vnv4pCKvoZoJxu0bwLhfRPU1N-JfOaJcZELI6gWOHjcHjtn9501OvSvAw-38oN5vxHChA9/s400/Photo+08-04-2012+09+02+37.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My yield from a few years ago</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Birdies</span></b><br />
We're incredibly fortunate to have the most awesome garden, and to live very close to 2 parks. Birds are in abundance and give us plenty of chirping. They also provide hours of fascination for the fluffs ... As long as they don't catch any birdies, that's fine by me. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/114349278008875429/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://media-cache2.pinterest.com/upload/114349278008875429_FcOg7eOg_c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because none of the birdies want to sit still long enough for me to take a pic-a-roo :(</td></tr>
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Source: <a href="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/28429041367857187_MWqXc4hf_f.jpg" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">media-cache0.pinterest.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/tindlezlavalent/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">valentina</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">And just for good measure, here's some more poetry:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">Der spring is sprung</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">Der grass is riz</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">I wonder where dem boidies is?</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">Der little boids is on der wing. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">Ain't dat absoid?</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">Der little wings is on der boid!</span></i></span><br />
<br /></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-79270448365318021492012-03-19T18:04:00.001+00:002012-03-19T18:04:18.421+00:00Welcome HomeLondon loves ya, baby. Even the DLR<br />
loves ya. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaG5X0tN6t2flvjhxhG8lJ-MT8ZagjGNZZNzPhvFTfhR4lEnj74AGGiQkvdxcrBuA1osvuxqDcsKZlEIaZca_HbsoWX1ID-KEDtR2ymMujYAtC3RRPEqDMSfQ0rjUWXV_HeycXqSJS65aF/s640/blogger-image-1501749570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaG5X0tN6t2flvjhxhG8lJ-MT8ZagjGNZZNzPhvFTfhR4lEnj74AGGiQkvdxcrBuA1osvuxqDcsKZlEIaZca_HbsoWX1ID-KEDtR2ymMujYAtC3RRPEqDMSfQ0rjUWXV_HeycXqSJS65aF/s640/blogger-image-1501749570.jpg" /></a></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-82816859486201141192012-03-15T13:53:00.003+00:002012-03-15T13:53:31.736+00:00Baking Queen<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">You are the Baking Queen, young & sweet, only hhmmhmhmhmmmm ...</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YpPVC-X_pZ-Ta3SdblbN-s0fhY97cqsWY8QswE21A7eBLj809-6JxVcfeBRM-rADW-OBMHgP9Rg_UvrnKjBwiyVsJuFGKwqwuHoVO-4VCEioGLaIoLT_lmRRfXWSYXtt42yTKX9X20-O/s1600/JackFluff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YpPVC-X_pZ-Ta3SdblbN-s0fhY97cqsWY8QswE21A7eBLj809-6JxVcfeBRM-rADW-OBMHgP9Rg_UvrnKjBwiyVsJuFGKwqwuHoVO-4VCEioGLaIoLT_lmRRfXWSYXtt42yTKX9X20-O/s320/JackFluff.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do you mean this 'isn't for kitties to lie on'?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrQyIzHEFamlX8RBhils5etjXYIIJDCfP_VC9QfAVUyxdE7lGJkn78nr2TZbQpTpa02ZtyPJ4SehY0Q0KbSKYgaYgv9Y5DQ4FOzOMY6-Ht3sfSKkI4od-xUiszbuG6i6MQoAHkFITTywF/s1600/pile.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Baking Queen, feel the beat of the egg-beat-thing</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSpWQ1ixTdicBHXaf-Lbu1Qpp_BE-UypIdbaeGFLXPplaNz-bp8Eb_N6BCa3Ay1anGRHNVwS6wKct0WMdEh76YzAHeaLC2jPrZUeXpVekfhFJgZm7bnFTLcSP-Hct6MabsqI0t89peAKQ/s1600/Just+Beat+It.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSpWQ1ixTdicBHXaf-Lbu1Qpp_BE-UypIdbaeGFLXPplaNz-bp8Eb_N6BCa3Ay1anGRHNVwS6wKct0WMdEh76YzAHeaLC2jPrZUeXpVekfhFJgZm7bnFTLcSP-Hct6MabsqI0t89peAKQ/s320/Just+Beat+It.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not say anything about the lousy stitching. Do not. </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">You can shake, you can bake, having the time of your life</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNurcEz9vMlyx2wDCI2ZS9swE4hYwbG6BU_OsVW6AH4-LoSDG4aBsVI3ajbpTCUoQudpCVjfeXzqh-gAB3D_QsKDD4XfHd-HLJEfPvY8c_obNuf6aHjn0sBfazcV7YqO-8wseubUYmMCnq/s320/biskwits.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take one little bit of leftover fabric ... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKdtwGL74MUWSC8G7Fk04X3E7NOs4JqrDm-s3A9tS6OjaDXLmdvQ3Pn2kFJk86132HraVaKXVQCAOYIrSX4nhfJk_ewbvO_Z1ER_g0jDDDOtkHaOc696hL9Y7R30iFjI6qT8FYpADPoa8/s1600/sewsewsew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKdtwGL74MUWSC8G7Fk04X3E7NOs4JqrDm-s3A9tS6OjaDXLmdvQ3Pn2kFJk86132HraVaKXVQCAOYIrSX4nhfJk_ewbvO_Z1ER_g0jDDDOtkHaOc696hL9Y7R30iFjI6qT8FYpADPoa8/s320/sewsewsew.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add a sprinkle of embroidery, a pinch of frenzied sewing and delicately fold onto some gingham ... </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrQyIzHEFamlX8RBhils5etjXYIIJDCfP_VC9QfAVUyxdE7lGJkn78nr2TZbQpTpa02ZtyPJ4SehY0Q0KbSKYgaYgv9Y5DQ4FOzOMY6-Ht3sfSKkI4od-xUiszbuG6i6MQoAHkFITTywF/s320/pile.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... et voila!! Embroidered teatowels shall be yours!</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Baking Queen!</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6AH2-UrHT-6-m2BokFKrWKPyUyb6FpW5aDizUj7WRrtVmxO7_gi5V74SV9M9oE5gYc1W68vb6a5pyg1Mi5GMSsiDq2x_AAgyrjN1m6GhHYMxZl2OMQbmOkacYM2SqUThfUVT3sdzaZBj/s1600/Baking+Queen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6AH2-UrHT-6-m2BokFKrWKPyUyb6FpW5aDizUj7WRrtVmxO7_gi5V74SV9M9oE5gYc1W68vb6a5pyg1Mi5GMSsiDq2x_AAgyrjN1m6GhHYMxZl2OMQbmOkacYM2SqUThfUVT3sdzaZBj/s320/Baking+Queen.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Ren proudly showcasing her Red Velvet cupcakes ... <br />
and a vegan CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE. OMFG.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<strong>Project details: </strong><br />
I hated Abba until Lauren & I saw the Mamma Mia movie. Meryl Streep is the Queen of Everything (except baking, duh!!!). That title is reserved for Her Highness, Most Awesome Rennie of Cooperland. <br />
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(Oh wait. Shit. <em>What about 'Julie & Julia???'</em>)<br />
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<strong>Precursor posts:</strong> <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2012/02/xmas-in-february-not-lou-reed-kind.html" target="_blank">Xmas in February (not the Lou Reed kind)</a>, <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/12/so-what-are-we-making-today.html" target="_blank">So, what are we making today?</a><br />
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<strong>The apron </strong>was made using <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/269923/chefs-apron" target="_blank">this Martha Stewart Pattern</a>, embroidered with the AWESOME <a href="http://www.urbanthreads.com/product_details?product_id=7427" target="_blank">Beat It by Urban Threads</a> design. I spent several weeks of the December Xmaspresentmakingfrenzy humming 'Beat It' to myself. I'm sure I'm not the only Urban Threads customer to have experienced this particular problem. <br />
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<strong>The tea towels</strong> were entirely self-drafted by me. I know. Marvel at my awesomeness as I cut a rectangle. Then laugh at my stupidity as I render myself incapable of using a hemming foot (or whatever it's called) and end up doing it the ole-fashioned way, a la pressing & stitching. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmIiylvLdLc" target="_blank">Lather, rinse, repeat</a>. The embroidery<strong>: </strong>again, marvel at my awesomeness as I embroider sans pattern. Actually, embroidering lettering is pretty damn awful without some sort of grid-based size guide ... but hey.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bYrSRU6jEE4?fs=1" width="459"></iframe></div>
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrQyIzHEFamlX8RBhils5etjXYIIJDCfP_VC9QfAVUyxdE7lGJkn78nr2TZbQpTpa02ZtyPJ4SehY0Q0KbSKYgaYgv9Y5DQ4FOzOMY6-Ht3sfSKkI4od-xUiszbuG6i6MQoAHkFITTywF/s320/pile.png" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 100px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 529px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-65583378846785043792012-02-28T08:41:00.002+00:002012-02-28T08:41:17.054+00:00The "Merry Wedding-Mas" Beanbag<div style="text-align: justify;">
Be warned, al ye who enter here. The tale of woe ye are about to reade is longe and fraughte. </div>
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<em>(or something else olde english-ey & forboding-ey)</em></div>
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My lovely friend, <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/08/finished-a-hunting-we-will-go-waistcoat.html" target="_blank">Shelley</a>, got all married up in October 2009. Some months before that, she asked whether I'd make her & lovely hubby-to-be a beanbag for their living room as a gift. The story went thus: they had already purchased the fabric & knew exactly what they wanted, but Shelley's lovely mum wasn't able to make said beanbag and the gorgeous fabric was sitting around unloved, waiting for someone to whip it into shape. <strong><span style="color: red;">Cue heroic fanfare</span></strong>, and enter Santie, wearing cape and tights. <em>(and other suitable garments. come on, this is a family show.) </em></div>
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In an almost identical fashion to the 'A-hunting We Will Go' waistcoat, we fast forward to November 2011. Aforementioned gorgeous fabric had been sitting in my sewing room among all my own fabric for such a long time that I had to review my Sewing Flagellation List* to remember it was still there and that I <em>still</em> hadn't even given the lovebirds a freaking wedding present.</div>
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<em>*You know what I mean. The long list of lovely projects you dream up and that end up just making you feel guilty for not having completed them. I'm going to publish my SFL soon in an effort not to have one at all. It's a scary list at the moment - and I'm not the only one. Judging by how popular </em><a href="http://sewaholic.net/does-your-sewing-project-list-spiral-out-of-control/" target="_blank"><em>Tasia's recent post on her sewing stash</em></a><em>, it seems many sewists are echoing the sentiment, 'It’s no fun if it feels like homework!'</em></div>
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The turning point came with the previously blogged <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2012/02/xmas-in-february-not-lou-reed-kind.html" target="_blank">frantic nature of preparations for Christmas</a> last year. I couldn't possibly spend time on making them a different present when they had been waiting so long for one of their own conception ... so I got stuck in. </div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61WK089D33L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 167px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 139px;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61WK089D33L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a>I used a pattern from the Singer Reference Library: Quick & Easy Decorating Projects book, which I found <a href="http://www.budget101.com/crafts/fcp2.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. These are such amazing books and I am hunting them down one by one. They will be mine! Oh yes, they will be mine!!! <strong><em>Mwahahahaaaaaaa....</em></strong></div>
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Ahem. The printer I've had for 8 years only works as a scanner these days - something to do with clogged feed heads or spurty things or little nasty green pixies cackling maniacally at my fruitless efforts to get it working again <em>as a printer</em> - so I just drew the pattern pieces onto newsprint free-hand with a few measurements in mind to keep the proportions right. </div>
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As Shelley & Marty are also the proud parents of 2 lovely kittehs, I was conscious that they would probably need to wash the beanbag to de-fur it once in a while, so I decided to make an inner & outer for the beanbag. I cut 8 of the main body pieces, and 1 large circle and 1 small circle from both the lining fabric and the main fabric. The lining was the leftovers of the costumes I made for <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/11/catching-up-part-1-halloween.html" target="_blank">Hallowe'en</a>, so both Ghostbuster & Bin Laden will live on elsewhere ;) </div>
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The rest was simple. Insert 'normal' zip into bigger circle (cut in half to accommodate the zip), sew up the 8 panels, attach the small circle to the top of the 8 panels & then attach the bigger circle (with the zip closed) to the bottom of the 8 panels. Open up the zip, turn the bag right way around and ta-da! Wash, rinse & repeat for outer. Ta-da. Like I said. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhencZn6R9raVjzfU1MNeVaM-zUWMs082agCP9F5OCYPd7u2df5LsuG3yQKwLndCBP8IX8t3DLfljbj4sWj3gtLgoIMwHludCoN6-nfwT5urc6EdjAoooONsDvdsYysfbDyX-gwMiaprVuJ/s1600/Beanbag+Bottom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhencZn6R9raVjzfU1MNeVaM-zUWMs082agCP9F5OCYPd7u2df5LsuG3yQKwLndCBP8IX8t3DLfljbj4sWj3gtLgoIMwHludCoN6-nfwT5urc6EdjAoooONsDvdsYysfbDyX-gwMiaprVuJ/s320/Beanbag+Bottom.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beanbag inner bottom with zip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jnEUFli94E8DIcpO7yfZ1RjeciLE84jXunvvd1TdjtfbwI32dgoNeS5luONyNKDjhouwo6An08XviVae3DBwl4nIwuSv6n7x39L-Yi6Y8k8W7I4c3HLljDYGCwZlc_7U7W2gXo6OHolH/s1600/Beanbag+Sides.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jnEUFli94E8DIcpO7yfZ1RjeciLE84jXunvvd1TdjtfbwI32dgoNeS5luONyNKDjhouwo6An08XviVae3DBwl4nIwuSv6n7x39L-Yi6Y8k8W7I4c3HLljDYGCwZlc_7U7W2gXo6OHolH/s320/Beanbag+Sides.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beanbag inner panels </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZVBJXHYQaEO00TgMDB1tjAKL2AQAV3JB5APADI3Ro7diSOJr_hPV2j8rO9NqqTDtmF_LrmxaLmXeocXmJd24CPpr1r_SGzSYRiE3ES-CX4saaN-Vfvqs6dxM_LCUevqsIXI_IVP5ib-8/s1600/Beanbag+Top.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZVBJXHYQaEO00TgMDB1tjAKL2AQAV3JB5APADI3Ro7diSOJr_hPV2j8rO9NqqTDtmF_LrmxaLmXeocXmJd24CPpr1r_SGzSYRiE3ES-CX4saaN-Vfvqs6dxM_LCUevqsIXI_IVP5ib-8/s320/Beanbag+Top.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beanbag inner top panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The only complicated bit was that I had decided some time ago to embellish the beanbag with some embroidery. <em>C'mon. Ya knowz me like-a to 'broider.</em> I asked Shelley if there were any preferences, and she provided the CUTEST designs in confirmation of their nicknames for each other, the Monkey & the Cat. I've looked around to see who the designer of these prints are (Shelley had them as cards) but no luck - so please let me know if you know. You know. </div>
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<tr><td> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkow3WFrghHdxGSAjBEiCsMdDSxmUQrxNehyphenhyphena0Cwqr1n1hB6I3xV_Sun_3NS240Ek2EzOjX5zUeFSFFw5_a7Na5uP0s88gOX3WJ9y2ucELAgA08_eN1NmLy08abdcl0hRi_e1OfU0WnTg/s1600/Cheeky+Monkey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkow3WFrghHdxGSAjBEiCsMdDSxmUQrxNehyphenhyphena0Cwqr1n1hB6I3xV_Sun_3NS240Ek2EzOjX5zUeFSFFw5_a7Na5uP0s88gOX3WJ9y2ucELAgA08_eN1NmLy08abdcl0hRi_e1OfU0WnTg/s320/Cheeky+Monkey.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerKuiiFnzduQqnbtmeHmRKDEjtLAuCh-yYRtrDy0ecIN7MiLzbBkr1xI6mls4VeKWwR1yGK5uwLscvlvHztZbGjIszaIhzzBfT8WK4CcnDLZM9Go47aPMH89WXzCRzMH030UJCoWs7bG5/s1600/You+Rock+my+World.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerKuiiFnzduQqnbtmeHmRKDEjtLAuCh-yYRtrDy0ecIN7MiLzbBkr1xI6mls4VeKWwR1yGK5uwLscvlvHztZbGjIszaIhzzBfT8WK4CcnDLZM9Go47aPMH89WXzCRzMH030UJCoWs7bG5/s320/You+Rock+my+World.png" width="319" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So, here's the finished version, all 'broidered up. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1zt1SP9-TpBKqSDAmxCcqZXOhn63DH6LqwwXRv3Wewpm6sj5OJjBYXM1M-irdBWktdNL9KcI7qLBjq-aDcl6Qre7pYcrw0GupvUmIEJs5mM_NWKaAVwP227xH605TgawudN4wjmszcZC/s1600/Patches.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1zt1SP9-TpBKqSDAmxCcqZXOhn63DH6LqwwXRv3Wewpm6sj5OJjBYXM1M-irdBWktdNL9KcI7qLBjq-aDcl6Qre7pYcrw0GupvUmIEJs5mM_NWKaAVwP227xH605TgawudN4wjmszcZC/s400/Patches.png" width="300" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah. I couldn't use the 'You Rock my World' image for embroidering. Boo. </td></tr>
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Here's my one annoyance with this project. Those leftovers, and the two zips from my stash, make the total cost of the beanbag about £1. EXCEPT for the <em>bastard</em> beanbag filling. People, take my word for it: this stuff is pricey. I'm not talking millions of squidoos, but £15 for a 2.5cu ft bag at Argos is taking the piss -- and didn't even fill this bag halfway. I know Hobbycraft do the same size for about half the price BUT, dah-lings, don't waste your time. eBay is your friend. <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330576654127?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649" target="_blank">eBay is always your friend</a>. I got a 4cu ft bag for £10.95 with free P&P and it arrived the next day. <strong>Ta-freaking-DA!</strong><br />
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Filling it was fun. Rose & I have developed a foolproof system, having developed a cat-food-bag-funnel prototype last year for a different beanbag ... luckily our prototype was not required this time around, hence the relatively unharried expressions. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWnrFu4QsQZyS04RgHjBkt4qgBabRqD06Ey4oestnmoVxItEdfhF0fJgl7_wkj6X74HsDm0aae2YwPDB9lc6R3lussnRWByLo8vqTExN7vbuevna8MKijl05SzY9ZMZ2R0UEXFnuHmJW7/s1600/Filling.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWnrFu4QsQZyS04RgHjBkt4qgBabRqD06Ey4oestnmoVxItEdfhF0fJgl7_wkj6X74HsDm0aae2YwPDB9lc6R3lussnRWByLo8vqTExN7vbuevna8MKijl05SzY9ZMZ2R0UEXFnuHmJW7/s320/Filling.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tip:</strong> it's much easier to fill the bag if your zip <br />
opening is big enough to hold the the bag of filling!</td></tr>
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And finally, some shots of the final (albeit half-filled) bag in use. Did I say this was a gift for Shelley & Marty? I'm sorry, my bad: this was evidently meant for Sophie & Oscar all along. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWako8xgfu1ZxmA5b-tH_WG30dodmviZbHKPy1JH0KRDUW6DNtJ45zy3pxsMOvKdK6DB1tEW-5W7b07C8hp6WCSOe9R4AP7zxBWiUDJFEzXdeYrMESzRziQ9_sPFAWFfkKer1HAyLDm51/s1600/Its+Mine+Sophie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWako8xgfu1ZxmA5b-tH_WG30dodmviZbHKPy1JH0KRDUW6DNtJ45zy3pxsMOvKdK6DB1tEW-5W7b07C8hp6WCSOe9R4AP7zxBWiUDJFEzXdeYrMESzRziQ9_sPFAWFfkKer1HAyLDm51/s320/Its+Mine+Sophie.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nj0efJ13hHWRo6qHoVLy4-c56NkC2vAMI7GaHe0nVfKj1oghLsP-BV3li7eOgnmQvYCmgiPWZ8OFwrj2PPyF_lT_2Trn3ylUXNGJCWjhnHqIPBeXa5mxBn8aAMXJdTKiabfSbFbp-5sj/s1600/Oscar+It%2527s+MINE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nj0efJ13hHWRo6qHoVLy4-c56NkC2vAMI7GaHe0nVfKj1oghLsP-BV3li7eOgnmQvYCmgiPWZ8OFwrj2PPyF_lT_2Trn3ylUXNGJCWjhnHqIPBeXa5mxBn8aAMXJdTKiabfSbFbp-5sj/s320/Oscar+It%2527s+MINE.png" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-77328196435446285832012-02-21T18:04:00.000+00:002012-02-21T18:04:52.942+00:00Follow the light ...... and be joyous, for it shall relieve your blog reading from crappy templates and remove mediocrity from the titles in your blogroll.<br />
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I've been unhappy with the title, layout, design and overall look 'n' feel of my blog for a while. As a results of <a href="http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/onelittleword.php" target="_blank">Ali Edwards' One Little Word class</a> I'm following at Big Picture Classes, I got thinking about what I really want to say & do with this blog. 'How To Use Your Time' came out of the overwhelming boredom I was feeling one summer between jobs and a lot has changed since.<br />
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Suffice it to say: How To Use Your Time was shit. Bright White Lights is going to be awesome.<br />
<br />
See you all soon for more updates on the <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2012/02/xmas-in-february-not-lou-reed-kind.html" target="_blank">great Christmas list</a>!Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-44427441361630289242012-02-15T21:55:00.000+00:002012-02-21T18:06:55.303+00:00Xmas in February (not the Lou Reed kind)<br />
Darlings. I am most unavoidably aware that I have been whatever-the-opposite-of-prolific-is for some time now. See, I have been refusing to post anything until I explained about Christmas, and the onslaught of craziness that preceded & ensued from this one little day. Which was a big day. But just one day in the scheme of things ... ohhhhh, the confusion!!!<br />
<br />
Let me explain. <br />
<br />
I had decided that, as my dear Dad was coming to visit from SA for the first time ever, I would put heart & soul into Christmas. It would be the Christmas that all other Christmases knelt before and wept at; the Christmas that lauded proudly over all the other little Christmases, patting them patronisingly on the head; the Christmas that would justify humanity's cruel replacement of all other yuletide festivals over the centuries with this one, single shindig. <br />
<br />
In short: this Christmas was to <strong>kick ass</strong>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://lolmart.com/files/2010/11/MensCOLOR-copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">{<a href="http://lolmart.com/product/christmas-ninja/" target="_blank">image source</a>}</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There would be handmade cards, tree decorations and <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-christmas-christmas_2210.html" target="_blank">advent calendars</a>. Rob's family would come to our house for the day, and the whole feast would be made from scratch. Wine would flow, bellies would be full, the house would be aglow with the lights of a thousand fairies (or should I say the fairy lights would be aglow with the wattage of a thousand power plants? global warming be damned, it's my CHRISTMAS!! (see above, re: cruelty)). Most importantly, it would be a DIY event. Everyone would get a handmade present. Preferably only handmade presents.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqRyCSL7xyIpmFUiv3gphq0kct5q9NVBnRDlU6hQsakEI4Kflh7mwSL_VtQo4K1W_VMUGF64g3Q84ZUJnHTCMc1jQ3w53nHAZUdrbLjDWPOLehJJ6WqilDzON26KlpuIxzXKeDqY_w5Te/s1600/MiniStocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqRyCSL7xyIpmFUiv3gphq0kct5q9NVBnRDlU6hQsakEI4Kflh7mwSL_VtQo4K1W_VMUGF64g3Q84ZUJnHTCMc1jQ3w53nHAZUdrbLjDWPOLehJJ6WqilDzON26KlpuIxzXKeDqY_w5Te/s400/MiniStocking.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Christmas decorations during conference calls ... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To this end, I compiled this list (I'm editing out those not yet finished so that the giftees - who read this blog - aren't completely robbed of the element of surprise):<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Mum-in-Law: framed family pics; monogrammed pyjamas; <i>>incomplete<</i>; novelty Xmas earrings</li>
<li>Dad-in-Law: framed family pics; DVD boxset*; gardening book*</li>
<li>Gramps-in-Law: brushed cotton shirts; monogrammed slippers; framed family pics</li>
<li>Sister-in-Law: framed family pics; clutch bag; Vogue 1170 dress; CD*</li>
<li>Nephew (4yo): Gruber monster from Mollie Makes; interactive world map*; atlas</li>
<li>My dad: monogrammed slippers; scanned family pics on USB stick; Dietz lantern; trip to Edinburgh; trip to west end; winter coat*; long johns* (tee hee); miscellaneous warm things for Northern Hemisphere winter</li>
<li>Lauren: <i>>incomplete<</i>; infinity scarf; slippers with stuffed bunnies; mezzaluna & chopping board*; infused olive oil</li>
<li>Rose: <i>>incomplete<</i>; dip-dyed t-shirt</li>
<li>Shelley & Marty: Beanbag; <i>>incomplete<</i>; infinity scarf</li>
<li>Willow (Lauren's ickle niece): dress</li>
<li>Matthew (Lauren's ickle nephew): coat</li>
<li>Andrew (Lauren's sister): <i>>incomplete<</i>, dip-dyed t-shirt</li>
</ol>
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"> *non-handmade presents, duh. As many of these would be thrifted/vintage as possible, with some exceptions. Like long johns. That would just be weird, a la: 'Hi Dad, thanks for coming thousands of miles to visit us -- here is someone else's used underwear. Merry Christmas'</span></em><br />
<br />
WOW. Even typing up that list took ages. <br />
<br />
How did I do, do you ask? Well. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwtria35EL9lLplvgb7z3AAA_dtk6kua1M9By2XLOyGGYZ0ZqSFemnZr1xwU4nzuR1trNxIosFOr2CNKWMNZChtnc4x79KNg42OZY58HopKu3nHpfTGwhIobDV1bNCVoCRcToAqV6a7xr/s1600/Cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwtria35EL9lLplvgb7z3AAA_dtk6kua1M9By2XLOyGGYZ0ZqSFemnZr1xwU4nzuR1trNxIosFOr2CNKWMNZChtnc4x79KNg42OZY58HopKu3nHpfTGwhIobDV1bNCVoCRcToAqV6a7xr/s400/Cards.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the cards. I miscounted and made nearly 40 instead of only 30. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It took nearly 3 weeks to just make the Xmas cards and <em>some of </em>the ornaments I had in mind. The advent calendar nearly missed the 1st of December, and we only managed to get the last of decorations <em>in place</em> about 10 minutes before the family were due to arrive on Xmas morning ... so it did not go according to plan.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNjqdMri9lnT6IN6pbgMcC2rxS8X21TgKWeI6ZLkrKVdiiMYvd7BkLjU4uCFzYED1OW2-2QKOaQZGBWp7GshaCMzWa5bAUswrSw0xVr74qXK_FJX_kRaQ3RvIsEHftuhDB2HptPjM5R3m/s1600/ShoppingMania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNjqdMri9lnT6IN6pbgMcC2rxS8X21TgKWeI6ZLkrKVdiiMYvd7BkLjU4uCFzYED1OW2-2QKOaQZGBWp7GshaCMzWa5bAUswrSw0xVr74qXK_FJX_kRaQ3RvIsEHftuhDB2HptPjM5R3m/s400/ShoppingMania.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The result of the 1st day of car boot fair shopping for materials for this insane endeavour!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As Rob was entirely un-reluctant to point out, this is because 'the plan' was freaking mental and totally over the top. He, however, has become accustomed to the totally over-ambitious nature of my plans and remains calm and helpful and reassuring and (oddly) optimistic for 99% right up until the moment where I lose my shit. Then he points out that he did suggest we took things a little less seriously, brings me a cup of coffee, and gets stuck in. Wonders occur. Things work out pretty much OK, and the world keeps spinning.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfupJ-aWPzsMZvxSrRPoU_bRFCbNwr-toOTrcWJniKfNjUrzQYwKejnNY9YpHw58WkYo9GzbEnFJAJErmGPorHxKunS1Bu8AjDsQOn5-4ibs_L8WgFVWsGtbqhch90ThkhQM4h5bVb8Gr/s1600/Bored+Now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfupJ-aWPzsMZvxSrRPoU_bRFCbNwr-toOTrcWJniKfNjUrzQYwKejnNY9YpHw58WkYo9GzbEnFJAJErmGPorHxKunS1Bu8AjDsQOn5-4ibs_L8WgFVWsGtbqhch90ThkhQM4h5bVb8Gr/s320/Bored+Now.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop making me pose for pictures!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi7O9YuA501IRudnPyzrG9zgtZ0nrEtSCE17mDMp9Kdedn_SmeGLgr3Zot0AI-_PXBOmioDwkbLR5MUOT57LoCgKl1jj3wbcvogt_vHvrCJTd6p_St2fy8o0bZY8lX48mvosJ5IoAB0c9/s1600/JackFrost2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi7O9YuA501IRudnPyzrG9zgtZ0nrEtSCE17mDMp9Kdedn_SmeGLgr3Zot0AI-_PXBOmioDwkbLR5MUOT57LoCgKl1jj3wbcvogt_vHvrCJTd6p_St2fy8o0bZY8lX48mvosJ5IoAB0c9/s320/JackFrost2.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, I'll be cute for one more ... </td></tr>
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In this particular context, the world kept spinning through the following workarounds:<br />
<ul>
<li>I realised 3 days before my dad's arrival that the presents would never be finished in time. Several were (and still are ... *blush*) near completion, but there just wasn't enough time to finish them all, or even some of them, properly. So we bought some presents were there was a shortfall. There was no angry mob accusing me of being a horrible consumer-driven spendthrift. I guess they must have been attacking someone else that day. </li>
<li>The 17,000 unmade ornaments & decorations (which I had made in my mind and my Xmas Planning File) were not missed by anyone. </li>
<li>There was still wayyyy too much food, even though some of it was cold (stupid vegetables) and some of it was nearly inedible (stupid homemade bread). </li>
<li>There was enough chocolate to last until after my dad went back home in mid-Jan. Chocolate makes everyone much more malleable. </li>
<li>I apologised profusely to those whose presents did not materialise and promised to deliver on completion. </li>
</ul>
This last bullet point is my explanation for the posts to follow over the next few weeks. I have decided not to post <em>anything, </em>or start any new projects, until I've completed this Christmas list. Some headway has been made and I can now start posting ... so bear with me! :) :)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9mB9ypke507sv8zXbSi4Uqr9-X9ixC6h-ctxwfyoVEcMKQjSV6zU4zw3b3XcJCxocNDyNV7lR9vqz1dr-nbn2YzQTA_Z9omKvoxtZxh-kssIzNYo8jihfMO3dZRJH4UdaRBTkwBsHRHA/s1600/IMG_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9mB9ypke507sv8zXbSi4Uqr9-X9ixC6h-ctxwfyoVEcMKQjSV6zU4zw3b3XcJCxocNDyNV7lR9vqz1dr-nbn2YzQTA_Z9omKvoxtZxh-kssIzNYo8jihfMO3dZRJH4UdaRBTkwBsHRHA/s400/IMG_1274.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing Sharpie art of laineylamonto <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laineylamonto/6267626308/in/photostream/" target="_blank">{imagesource}</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-71533008556323569602012-01-02T22:27:00.001+00:002012-01-03T00:00:38.284+00:00Merry New Year!Hey everyone,<br />
<br />
Just a quick note to wish you all a big ole happy new year. We've been muchos busy round these parts as my dad is visiting from SA & we've been hauling him all over this little island. When it's not been a frenzy of sightseeing, there've been a LOT of board games and card games and yakking ... Awesomeness. <br />
<br />
I have SO much to show you in belated Xmas craftiness - and then belated handmade gifts (belated in the sense that I only finished one of the 15 or so I started!!!) which will be featuring throughout January. <br />
<br />
In the meantime, here's my favourite non-parental visit pic of the last few days: Miss Meg wanting to participate in a New Year's Eve game of canasta. Yes, we rocked it hard, baby. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLGcUBBOCCYWSexycnVtSbg_P1xCc1Wv4xQP7FKkk52XMo1ZTjo4Vpf4-h1DlnWzBDNYa-9s8HD2Q_xB0bcA11LrPws7w_6NOTvhM65_UIfgLfr_LHlr1dwNBI722dvEz9yHlUbBzUzOy/s640/blogger-image-501592129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLGcUBBOCCYWSexycnVtSbg_P1xCc1Wv4xQP7FKkk52XMo1ZTjo4Vpf4-h1DlnWzBDNYa-9s8HD2Q_xB0bcA11LrPws7w_6NOTvhM65_UIfgLfr_LHlr1dwNBI722dvEz9yHlUbBzUzOy/s640/blogger-image-501592129.jpg" /></a></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-14293045669431085422011-12-11T11:38:00.001+00:002012-01-27T13:34:04.687+00:00so, what are we making today?<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777269"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777269_blog" /></a></div><br/>Jack is joining in in the frantic Christmas present making ... let it not be said that kitties do not get in on the festivities. <p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-73779833275449986512011-12-01T07:37:00.001+00:002012-01-27T13:34:57.207+00:00Christmas Christmas Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
Happy 1st of December, everyone!<br />
<br />
My, it's been busy round these<br />
parts lately. The pictures (to be randomly positioned by my ShoZu 'portable blogger' App, fingers crossed they don't make it look like I wrote this after drinking too many glasses of mulled wine!) were taken yesterday. <br />
<br />
from left to right (or top to bottom, who knows?):<br />
<br />
- 1st card for 2011, winging its way out the door!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8wmkqWxeAH_wZNrl-3reoUrMkRvxbhofVZzvDus6ciBBix9UtAlbywxgfBx6wNR6P7XlOjRPp5MZbrx5gsleK_vBMb8uK5d2_fL8fW_Jw9TcXQsvRW9NG1YZxbN2fUBjOYUoX-VaOUw_/s1600/IMG_1137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8wmkqWxeAH_wZNrl-3reoUrMkRvxbhofVZzvDus6ciBBix9UtAlbywxgfBx6wNR6P7XlOjRPp5MZbrx5gsleK_vBMb8uK5d2_fL8fW_Jw9TcXQsvRW9NG1YZxbN2fUBjOYUoX-VaOUw_/s400/IMG_1137.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
- wide shot of the advent calendar<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoi6R6xsLe7DyW80SpjA0ZyaTpjvtGIjGAJNQeeD0dFmUBRhoiGPlJ_lEzcxVxZ0OCeygaBYGG2HUs5tzEBfqoIBhDSmozoOqtEPAQ1fut3_nvkGOqp3nYPL8UD5ismkEH2GNkRD0vY5bj/s1600/IMG_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoi6R6xsLe7DyW80SpjA0ZyaTpjvtGIjGAJNQeeD0dFmUBRhoiGPlJ_lEzcxVxZ0OCeygaBYGG2HUs5tzEBfqoIBhDSmozoOqtEPAQ1fut3_nvkGOqp3nYPL8UD5ismkEH2GNkRD0vY5bj/s400/IMG_1138.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grainy ... but I'm SO proud!</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
- close-up of one of the advent envelopes <br />
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<br />
I'm knackered. 34 DIY cards & 24 little envelopes later & I am DONE with paper crafting for a while. The idea was to use mostly recycled materials - so old Xmas gift tags, old wrapping paper, pizza menus, etc. I guess, in the end, it was 50/50 as I had to buy card blanks & pretty paper so the whole lot didn't look too much like a toddler's First Art Project. <br />
<br />
Friends & family will be receiving their cards after they're posted this weekend (there's a lot of actual card-writing yet to be done, urg). <br />
<br />
Happy 1st of December!!<br />
<div align="right">
<a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank"><img alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" /></a></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-89139536887275636932011-12-01T07:22:00.001+00:002012-01-27T13:34:04.704+00:00today is a good day<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777261"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777261_blog" /></a></div><br/>Colette Patterns Sewing Handbook, coffee, tasty snacks & lots of making stuff ...<br /><br /><p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-74422715077244239542011-11-16T08:35:00.001+00:002012-01-27T13:34:04.698+00:00Catching Up: Part 2 - Wedding BluesJust before our <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/11/catching-up-part-1-halloween.html" target="_blank">Hallowe'en party</a>, my lovely friend Liz sent a desperate plea for help in the Wedding Guest Dress department.<br />
<br />
We've all been there ... what the FREAKING HELL do you wear to somebody's wedding in unfamiliar territory -- especially when that wedding is miles away? <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(btw, in Liz's case, it was my hometown of Cape Town *sob*)</span></i> She had raided every shop she could think of to no avail, a universally bad sign as, trust me, this girl has shopping mojo. And a 20% M&S discount, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
So. Of COURSE I agreed to help her! Yay!!!!!! :)<br />
<br />
(disregard the fact that this was my 2nd gig sewing for someone else, and therefore the only the 2nd time I would actually be <i>expected</i> to both finish the garment and not finish it poorly).<br />
<br />
We went through my Burda & Knipmode collection & settled on <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/35855" target="_blank">Burda 10/2009-115</a>, which was <i>meant</i> to be made up in heavy winter fabric, with a lining. The clever girl had narrowed our choice of styles by helpfully bringing a reference garment with her; also v useful for for comparative fit ... thank god. See below.<br />
<br />
Seeing as the reference garment was a lovely floral summer dress and she was going to Cape Town for the wedding (!) we collectively pooh-poohed the heavy winter fabrics and Liz went off to buy a cotton/elastane blend, an invisible zip & thread. Like I said, the girl got skillz: two shops & one slightly frazzled phone call ('what kind of zip was it?') later, she had herself the ingredients to a dress.<br />
<br />
Short version? I waited 'til the Monday after the party to start cutting, but all-in-all the dress took 3 nights: one night of construction, one night of fitting and one night of alterations ... plus one VERY frantic morning to finish off. The pattern is, honestly, not the easiest to interpret - Burda's instructions were sparse (as always) and by omitting the lining I created loads of problems for myself. HOWEVER. All of those problems were solved by liberal application of lovely lace trim. Huzzah!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjao6wpTm8aR_xM-72o6R27Sq6U-ffOUbKtJwwtxWBsDy0j8HACtoqCf-kbeXR56IgnEdurJSKEFmZZo_5X_ZdMZUzw2UZqiTGtFAEUIytduMNARJ4WG0hyphenhyphenk42b_dhmXj2LaKjZ3FeAWwVc/s1600/Oh+dear%252C+it%2527s+WAY+too+big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjao6wpTm8aR_xM-72o6R27Sq6U-ffOUbKtJwwtxWBsDy0j8HACtoqCf-kbeXR56IgnEdurJSKEFmZZo_5X_ZdMZUzw2UZqiTGtFAEUIytduMNARJ4WG0hyphenhyphenk42b_dhmXj2LaKjZ3FeAWwVc/s640/Oh+dear%252C+it%2527s+WAY+too+big.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is <i>with</i> Burda patterns? <br />
I hacked off nearly half a foot on the side seams during the fitting.</td></tr>
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Ohohoh. And. Please, let's not forget one CRITICAL resource: <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=colette%20invisible%20zipper&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CEAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coletterie.com%2Ftutorials-tips-tricks%2Ftutorial-installing-an-invisible-zipper&ei=Rs7ETpmIE8ij8gPngdHoCg&usg=AFQjCNEtXdUNcsrKstaPZ7oEzLBf1ReSzQ&sig2=qx6f3BBGU04PW7PNEGJD1w" target="_blank">Colette Patterns' invisible zipper insertion tutorial</a>. I would have totally died without that info.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Note to the lady with the big opinions about ironing the zipper teeth in the comments section of that tute: ironing them works. Not ironing them doesn't. Nuff said. :P)</span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDOmKOXhmIJIeQSjcItcS_nkQxJfrSL5HVEUbkWEwt0bCFqbsjEjolaaFYTt1jfg4osl77uugN498VmPZtYJ6kM4xnftwiT3IKW0lzMrSg6jvK_L842SDY9q1MDZVcWLF8GEpWI3iduwR/s1600/Pretty+seams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDOmKOXhmIJIeQSjcItcS_nkQxJfrSL5HVEUbkWEwt0bCFqbsjEjolaaFYTt1jfg4osl77uugN498VmPZtYJ6kM4xnftwiT3IKW0lzMrSg6jvK_L842SDY9q1MDZVcWLF8GEpWI3iduwR/s640/Pretty+seams.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberal application of lace. </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Liz wore the dress a few days ago, and I'm most relieved that she looked very happy in it. Idiot that I am, I was so swept up in applying lace trim that I completely forgot to make the accompanying self-fabric belt ... it's on my list of things to do this weekend, I swear!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Looking at the pictures now, I can see the mistakes that another fitting session and a few more days' sewing would have fixed, BUT I'm really chuffed with the results. Considering this is only garment number 9. <i>Shh, don't tell Liz. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrHgmxEXFRlqe_5tcvZCgIADJ_PtuBthfkr9fOxpijWdszBb8xawlt1bVPZeTOdY4Nud80BLHxBe7vywRE3ybtLD3UuehnilU6wyROCLDY8bb6rlKrvBdgiLf-gjfHpcNlDd3Q18WZDkf/s1600/Liz+%2526+Stephen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrHgmxEXFRlqe_5tcvZCgIADJ_PtuBthfkr9fOxpijWdszBb8xawlt1bVPZeTOdY4Nud80BLHxBe7vywRE3ybtLD3UuehnilU6wyROCLDY8bb6rlKrvBdgiLf-gjfHpcNlDd3Q18WZDkf/s640/Liz+%2526+Stephen1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the happy smiles and ignore the mistakes. IGNORE THEM. </td></tr>
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And why is this post called 'Wedding Blues'? Well, apart from lovely Liz being in my lovely hometown while I had to be in stinky work doing stinky routine things, I mistakenly convinced myself that Liz had chosen <i>not</i> to wear the dress after all ... this is what comes from looking at people's Facebook pictures while in a bad mood. Dumbass that I am, I didn't remember that the wedding hadn't even taken place yet and that the pictures I was looking at were of a completely <i>different</i> wedding.<br />
So, I proceeded to stomp around for several hours while poor Rob tried to placate me. When Liz sent a message several days later saying that she was wearing the dress, well ... I felt like a total twonk.<br />
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Lessons learned: BurdaStyle patterns come out BIG, Facebook-stalking never leads to anything good, and invisible zippers should be ironed prior to insertion. :)<br />
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</div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-81717133387468580242011-11-16T08:07:00.001+00:002012-01-27T13:34:57.212+00:00Catching up Part 1 - Hallowe'en!Hello lovelies,<br />
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This post might sound like the crazed ramblings of a madwoman, and um ... that's probably completely accurate because right now I'm feeling so COMPLETELY inspired & motivated and and and ... WOW.<br />
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Had to take my friend Rose to the airport this morning at the crack of sparrow's fart (intentionally mixed metaphor: crack of dawn & sparrow's fart, but ruder! hee hee) so got hom by 7:30 & decided to catch up on bloggy blogs. I have a self-imposed rule that I only read <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=the%20sew%20weekly&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sewweekly.com%2F&ei=UHTDTtTNA8aE8gO18PmMCw&usg=AFQjCNEbiBZWu3Sgd3v2GViXtJanbfdoqQ&sig2=ynmrvEnKz2p-ayMCKd3m7Q" target="_blank">The Sew Weekly</a> on a desktop computer, otherwise I miss out on so many of the lovely images via my RSS Reader. ANYWAY.<br />
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<a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=oona%20balloona&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Foonaballoona.blogspot.com%2F&ei=M3TDTuKNB5CZhQedlPDwDQ&usg=AFQjCNENkkp6eAFhKgSc6agHBRSmmTmFJg&sig2=HtJgU0_TwM2wD42U6yalwA">Oona</a> took on my innocent challenge to produce <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=oona%20does%20it%20professional&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sewweekly.com%2F2011%2F11%2Foona-does-it-all-work-and-no-play-1.html&ei=DHTDTsTdLcSX8gPM6tipCw&usg=AFQjCNHTJDz3A7llfbGrvIR36QtVijo6fA&sig2=lHwXSVwwPVadWqlBM1kAyA">Oona-fied work wear</a> suitable to my OH SO boring work environment. Oona! Dudes. The number of girl crushes I have on sewing bloggers is phenomenal, but Oona is high up on the list :)<br />
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SO! Also inspired by a lovely comment from <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=so%20zo&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com%2F&ei=Z3TDTpqeKcrIhAetlrj4DQ&usg=AFQjCNEAjfjMDoEt1mUAh2xD0406Yy_Niw&sig2=S6fSsdw0Bec8htkzrKnXEA" target="_blank">Zoe</a> a few weeks back, here are some images of several projects I've been working on since my last installment...<br />
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The main focus of October was Hallowe'en. We LOVE Hallowe'en, and fancy dress is a big feature in our world for pretty much any occasion - so, let's face it, Hallowe'en is going to be a pretty big occasion. Because Rob has a beard now (and it looks so good on him :)), he tries to come up with costumes which enable le beard - hence <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/07/dead-famous-part-1-rob-bin-laden.html" target="_blank">Osama Bin Laden</a> for his birthday in July.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjfnL-0PaCk2B7cRbFhQNEa7r7aBEWQxBI2smqpMiUQn96iFwMf-GAaytpxHxh80UJxydK8IBv-_33rmR2skc33e2BIFxvILmYYDk-6urXgluX1GyrhZtpoMkOq8aiIAZPW3VYp0f08iB/s1600/Zombie+Jesus+Blessed+Are+the+Meek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjfnL-0PaCk2B7cRbFhQNEa7r7aBEWQxBI2smqpMiUQn96iFwMf-GAaytpxHxh80UJxydK8IBv-_33rmR2skc33e2BIFxvILmYYDk-6urXgluX1GyrhZtpoMkOq8aiIAZPW3VYp0f08iB/s640/Zombie+Jesus+Blessed+Are+the+Meek.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blessed are the meek. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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This time, he went for something a little more controversial: Zombie Jesus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1ie6N0So4lodPhyphenhyphenNPFoaGfg28jDBz-SnBZttjbD_nWgKIR5RdgB9n8svmTdRZeR_d_urT_bCrsgA0y9Eju5PDDZ60LXcCgfN1jB_gMHq0GDukqLEHSA-ZkgDberADLomwhfWRX3KGb-U/s1600/Up+Close+%2526+Zombified.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1ie6N0So4lodPhyphenhyphenNPFoaGfg28jDBz-SnBZttjbD_nWgKIR5RdgB9n8svmTdRZeR_d_urT_bCrsgA0y9Eju5PDDZ60LXcCgfN1jB_gMHq0GDukqLEHSA-ZkgDberADLomwhfWRX3KGb-U/s640/Up+Close+%2526+Zombified.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very picture of zombified grace.</td></tr>
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After my initial 'eek' moment, I though, 'Eh, well' and went ahead with modifying my self-drafted Osama tunic & troos-pattern into a Jesus-robe-thing pattern. The robe was then made from two Ikea curtain offcuts from the charity shop, the toga-wrap-thing from a Primark sheet (it was <i>impossible</i> to find enough red fabric that wasn't new. Grrrr) and the trim was from a VERY lucky c/shop find - a bag full of upholstery trim for £1. Hello dumb-ass, wanna sell me some really expensive stuff for nothing? GREAT!!!<br />
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My favourite part was embroidering the sacred heart: I've always loved these images and this was so fun to do. Took AGES, but it killed lots of time commuting to/from Europe for work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavnyHLwjmGS5CXc1FjilBMj0NZgvTD0YBkJFS_by5Sr3xhbdQhWi-yB23OSKIFOMz9RW_56odbhBmvE0dLBDtrd9ReJG6W2R4J7ANoz9cpJiTAhOgr_sKlPQOZFpSEE0UUC6PNZw_heQc/s1600/Travel+Embroidery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavnyHLwjmGS5CXc1FjilBMj0NZgvTD0YBkJFS_by5Sr3xhbdQhWi-yB23OSKIFOMz9RW_56odbhBmvE0dLBDtrd9ReJG6W2R4J7ANoz9cpJiTAhOgr_sKlPQOZFpSEE0UUC6PNZw_heQc/s640/Travel+Embroidery.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">when the sun was still out at 6pm. *sniff sniff*</td></tr>
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I'd decided to go with a Ghostbuster costume on the premise that it would be quick & easy: pair of cheap overalls & a vaccum cleaner strapped to my back, TA-DAAAA!<br />
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Yeah, right. When did 'quick & easy' EVER work in our house? So, instead it became this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWkPaXHLwx5omHKAerwrBJmFgWrihldCPBoElQS81oNPEJ_X31IeYiX8OzZmj7NOXctqJtyKczS_QQW1nyVZDQfy_LlkrQSjBlVPqvGNKSJvOvgfDxQYTWq3I1dZ4N2CxOBi2L3tFByCQ/s1600/GhostyBadge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWkPaXHLwx5omHKAerwrBJmFgWrihldCPBoElQS81oNPEJ_X31IeYiX8OzZmj7NOXctqJtyKczS_QQW1nyVZDQfy_LlkrQSjBlVPqvGNKSJvOvgfDxQYTWq3I1dZ4N2CxOBi2L3tFByCQ/s640/GhostyBadge.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embroidered Ghostbuster Badge for Pocket</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXO0Vo50YiAfuWxQRTZLo93PTJ8-IoyiVSM5-nfCGfzTw-zcmukZaeJwCL8QXR9dKJwRYE37nAca9hfjEu5NtFnSr3cKOC_mB8iggX2wySRoGFj-FGFhc3hwIA7bO4f924hp3xfmE0-Agm/s1600/Simplicity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXO0Vo50YiAfuWxQRTZLo93PTJ8-IoyiVSM5-nfCGfzTw-zcmukZaeJwCL8QXR9dKJwRYE37nAca9hfjEu5NtFnSr3cKOC_mB8iggX2wySRoGFj-FGFhc3hwIA7bO4f924hp3xfmE0-Agm/s640/Simplicity.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tracing Simplicity 5151 ... on pegboard????</td></tr>
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I bought Simplicity 5151 on eBay while looking for a jumpsuit/overall pattern, which was scarce as hen's teeth then and as is to be found in abundance at ANY other time ... what's with that??? I was so excited when the pattern arrived that I didn't notice until the photo above was taken that the instructions in the envelope were for another pattern altogether. So, I winged it.<div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">FYI: excluding the 3 garments I made in primary school needlework classes, this garment would represent my 8th (complete) garment. Eight. As in onetwothreefourfivesixsevenEIGHT. And no freaking instructions??? </span></div>
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Thank god I read blogs. Honestly, this pattern was the bomb and gave me no grief whatsoever, it really was very straightforward. In the end, I only omitted the button placket because there wasn't time to sew it on over the centre front zip and make the pretty button holes. More on that in a sec. </div>
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I finished the dress at approx 11:00 on the morning of the party, due to start at dusk. My dramatically-minded husband put that vague description on the invitation, so we really had no <i>idea</i> what time people would start turning up, and the house still needed to be decorated, AND I still had no proton pack. </div>
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Enter chaos.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR47liJdSAC4XY4z-PiuU7wfJs4i26unE5LxVtxfPKgCaAi7MACKZUo-VGgr81eirHHrB66mQE0JOQsDYemT431soF6Mc0I545pDlcmwnBhlAM08dEeSt5RbimuiZ37P6rkym_gREOfNG/s1600/Proton+Pack+In+Progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR47liJdSAC4XY4z-PiuU7wfJs4i26unE5LxVtxfPKgCaAi7MACKZUo-VGgr81eirHHrB66mQE0JOQsDYemT431soF6Mc0I545pDlcmwnBhlAM08dEeSt5RbimuiZ37P6rkym_gREOfNG/s640/Proton+Pack+In+Progress.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proton Pack in Progress ... recognise any sewing items, folks?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV44125kwbB-Hw2p70MUbUecPZHKTp2318ve07gIYMvl96PEVWvtVmAyVMUuLwkaUy_Y1nZDYCo3rmOBb8pYAZ-ApxwfPVVxLiEkJOQU858siYXG56JCExXFqqbvrhqJDLz8RF4jAbhyphenhyphenV/s1600/What+it+takes+to+be+a+Ghostbuster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV44125kwbB-Hw2p70MUbUecPZHKTp2318ve07gIYMvl96PEVWvtVmAyVMUuLwkaUy_Y1nZDYCo3rmOBb8pYAZ-ApxwfPVVxLiEkJOQU858siYXG56JCExXFqqbvrhqJDLz8RF4jAbhyphenhyphenV/s640/What+it+takes+to+be+a+Ghostbuster.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MANY glue sticks later, the pack is ready to be sprayed black. </td></tr>
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<br />We took this sucker outside and sprayed the heck out of it with - wait for it - Poundland-variety black matt car spray paint (seriously, £1! kicks ass). Rob sacrificed an old backpack so that their straps could be glued onto the front of this tea tray-rubbish-glue gun confection, and that was it. The most fun EVER. </div>
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Fast forward several bored guests (who arrived early, looking amazing only to find their hosts running around like lunatics trying to get Zombie Jesus' contact lenses stop moving around) to later in the evening and here are the proud results of the whole shebang: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yTGs1OYdbud8F1-AlnYFeUgxutAA-5gIdKBHlLw3eVElw_Mn9tRIc1PDFrOm-5CFXb1mUiW3-eclOeNanCQBfuAJe_MYv764IBgQV4I51913CnizGxc_LDojAD3S3pGnuKX3Q3nbh_v6/s1600/Proton+Pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yTGs1OYdbud8F1-AlnYFeUgxutAA-5gIdKBHlLw3eVElw_Mn9tRIc1PDFrOm-5CFXb1mUiW3-eclOeNanCQBfuAJe_MYv764IBgQV4I51913CnizGxc_LDojAD3S3pGnuKX3Q3nbh_v6/s640/Proton+Pack.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With 50p LED light and everything!!! </td></tr>
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<br />The goggles only last an hour or so as they were way too flimsy ... but still cool :)<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPMh-mWo2J9NWg9DkBCOLnIpbvyq7in8ZDSwEkhfENWt6IrgobtH36Cn5pAFIR_ON2fLICD9EcYY0pzrjv3DhxUGBK7ZS7Zq0yfCBzyGIoA8hQfVY8TDt7dWiP8JA6_OnV9zwI34rk1n1/s1600/Ghostbuster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPMh-mWo2J9NWg9DkBCOLnIpbvyq7in8ZDSwEkhfENWt6IrgobtH36Cn5pAFIR_ON2fLICD9EcYY0pzrjv3DhxUGBK7ZS7Zq0yfCBzyGIoA8hQfVY8TDt7dWiP8JA6_OnV9zwI34rk1n1/s640/Ghostbuster1.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who you gonna call? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Last point to mention: we ran out of time to make an appropriate gun-handheld-thing to be attached to the proton pack ... so I got an old vacuum hose from some junk in the garage and wielded it at people incessantly for the rest of the evening. They weren't annoyed at all.<br /><div>
<br />
<br /></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-24819333960676720472011-10-18T07:39:00.001+01:002012-01-27T13:34:04.689+00:00hello, are you really sewing?<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777259"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777259_blog" /></a></div><br/>Even Miss Meg can believe her little kitty eyes ... 'is this a reel of thread? You've GOTTA be kidding me!'<br /><br />No-no-no, it's true. I sew, I sew. Hallowe'en is coming & I have finished Rob's costume (bar trimmings and toga-esque wrap thingy), while mine is still in the 'all the little things are finished phase'. <br /><br />this is especially important as I discovered on Sunday that my lovely 70s pattern included the wrong instructions - ah, eBay. How I love thee blahblahblah. Anyhoo. <br /><br />more soon! with real pictures! YAY!<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-32770860707106835542011-08-16T20:45:00.000+01:002012-01-27T13:34:04.695+00:00Finished! The "A-Hunting We Will Go" Waistcoat<div class="mobile-photo">In <strong>November 2009</strong>, my lovely friend, Shelley, asked me to make a winter waistcoat for her. I very enthusiastically agreed and used the request as a great opportunity to head to Walthamstow High Street for the first time ever. (Of course, I hefted back armloads of fabric and notions, but '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Neverending_Story">that's another story...</a>')</div>Anyhoo: fabric, check. Lining, check Buttons, check. Thread, check. <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">('Passport, check! Camera, check! Traveller’s cheques, check!')</span></em><br />
<br />
Fast forward to <strong>March 2010</strong> when Shelley & I go to the V & A Museum for some birthday oogling and I spot the perfect pattern in <a href="http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/42010-vest">BurdaStyle 4/2010 (#135)</a>. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="April_135_tech_drawing_large" src="http://assets.burdastyle.com/patterns/technical_drawings/000/000/549/April_135_tech_drawing_large.jpg?1277401842" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BurdaStyle 4/2010 #135</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Fast forward to ... ummmmm ... <strong>September 2010</strong> when Shelley organised a pamper day at another friend's house and I actually get around to tracing the aforementioned pattern on the kitchen floor. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_jYna5vYgaLIGHdkwHUNncywrfgePjLvbot2Hdib3XPg83b5q_W7dFugukvjy8gfdA33rcuuJ5B-AR_PHqQuyAlJZ3NOJ8bjqfpBrQPe9Eum3nsO0YUO_ktrkEeCcQxpXF40xdvxfYXb/s1600/tracing+burda+4%253A2010+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_jYna5vYgaLIGHdkwHUNncywrfgePjLvbot2Hdib3XPg83b5q_W7dFugukvjy8gfdA33rcuuJ5B-AR_PHqQuyAlJZ3NOJ8bjqfpBrQPe9Eum3nsO0YUO_ktrkEeCcQxpXF40xdvxfYXb/s400/tracing+burda+4%253A2010+135.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tracing & looking like an egit <br />
<i>(Shelley actually took this pic!)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Due to the intense guilt of the 10-month long delay, I got my shizz together and sewed. Like, a lot. I lined, I interfaced, I made welt pockets (and then covered the shoddily-made welt pockets with lovely chocolate brown velvet ribbon). Aaaaaaaaaaand then I got stuck, pending a fitting. <br />
<br />
Fast forward to <strong>July 2011</strong>, the morning after <a href="http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=1847224947238933792">Rob's birthday party</a>, when I grabbed the semi-waistcoat and manhandled poor Shelley into the various layers. Minor adjustments aside, we were onto a winner!!<br />
<br />
Final fast forward: to <b>Sunday</b>. After unpicking side seams & shoulder seams & side seams again (in an attempt to figure out how THE HELL you're supposed to freaking freaking freeeeeaaaaaking well turn the bastard thing right sides out), it was finally finished. And it actually looked pretty decent. I wasn't sure what to expect after all this time, so it was such a relief so see Shells happy with the end result!! <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYKXX8KqNCuoQvZ-foBqxouqFvKSQNs2JJLHVkPhXcUpaOcMmBb8eEl9RoiQguwZUvWzJdGKunq6HUQMdDOgRDoaffwAD38sq4caMjmLxBNmQgsnRXcdR2nJpI1BIfB7wmWKi00JTdMfw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYKXX8KqNCuoQvZ-foBqxouqFvKSQNs2JJLHVkPhXcUpaOcMmBb8eEl9RoiQguwZUvWzJdGKunq6HUQMdDOgRDoaffwAD38sq4caMjmLxBNmQgsnRXcdR2nJpI1BIfB7wmWKi00JTdMfw/s640/photo+4.JPG" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Happy Shelley!!</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0v_D4U0JoQYFamXZd0QQMFJrDYh4kfAVHa0dF9J0LMnhti6oQwJwNn5u4ByJpIsFRE4HtegvHT4zcVslqUINrn7uD22EfA8VcyNAFkwJbAgiPsI573f40Su7Ib9qYB15GAaIo3taDClG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0v_D4U0JoQYFamXZd0QQMFJrDYh4kfAVHa0dF9J0LMnhti6oQwJwNn5u4ByJpIsFRE4HtegvHT4zcVslqUINrn7uD22EfA8VcyNAFkwJbAgiPsI573f40Su7Ib9qYB15GAaIo3taDClG/s640/photo+3.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A-Hunting We Shall Go ... <br />
so named as our friend Jason reckoned she looked like a "real English lady".<br />
(This said to the vegetarian, wearing a waistcoat made by a vegan - LOL!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqmbERTDMZF-_4o2q0ji3G8zC_m6jkdJ2x6daOlal-B7baimpf125zOEEUVtVYTuv7PDWzy5jdxgICpI8FzBpMgEU7SrN_ST4vbfMZMU3iBQFPSYlqcR3iTk8EA0xftyAazIVmwJ8gsfM/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqmbERTDMZF-_4o2q0ji3G8zC_m6jkdJ2x6daOlal-B7baimpf125zOEEUVtVYTuv7PDWzy5jdxgICpI8FzBpMgEU7SrN_ST4vbfMZMU3iBQFPSYlqcR3iTk8EA0xftyAazIVmwJ8gsfM/s640/photo+2.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out that lining ... and that facing!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd85dhkVH566zEaoiDW-Zpius-9RMtYquDXhkbs_dTELO-3TxS75BPZ8aruRDGXEwCYSrXv3j8I-pcZkWGf7q_NYFSagQbddhd8ShiYD939rhjlbrBPOAMbnO1E6cc4CA2KsxlaK8mqfb/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd85dhkVH566zEaoiDW-Zpius-9RMtYquDXhkbs_dTELO-3TxS75BPZ8aruRDGXEwCYSrXv3j8I-pcZkWGf7q_NYFSagQbddhd8ShiYD939rhjlbrBPOAMbnO1E6cc4CA2KsxlaK8mqfb/s640/photo+1.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Velvety chocolate pockets and lovely wooden-y buttons</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Holy cow. I just noticed that I actually lined up the pattern, too! How the HELL did I do that??? Bahahahahahaa .... Yay!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">kthxbye</span></b><br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">PS. Oh, one more thing. Back in <strong>May/June 2009</strong>, Shells & I spotted some felt brooches in Brick Lane Market that I reckoned I could 'make that for a fraction of the price'. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I, ahem, also didn't manage to deliver this item until Sunday. The fact that I made it from scraps (bottle green gabardine, waistcoat lining, waistcoat fabric & green felt PLUS a button I inherited from an amazing seamstress in Antwerp) in under an hour makes this all the more embarrassing.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSToOmFA5yprYrv1JwWI1OrG3SQ8vt6Qjim6hz79S8wGCnrEdguLd2XXi7aPnSmO-GLuPScIhbcJz1fUEj2gHmJ_9A3AzjoH9CCLvB2KYm8tjBx6FIETH1utB_ufXAWq_JqWsvbdpKsuFs/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSToOmFA5yprYrv1JwWI1OrG3SQ8vt6Qjim6hz79S8wGCnrEdguLd2XXi7aPnSmO-GLuPScIhbcJz1fUEj2gHmJ_9A3AzjoH9CCLvB2KYm8tjBx6FIETH1utB_ufXAWq_JqWsvbdpKsuFs/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icky picture, pretty flower brooch thingy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-67052155690228594922011-08-16T12:26:00.003+01:002011-08-16T12:26:35.058+01:00so many lovely blogs, so little time<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777244"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777244_blog" /></a></div><br/>could you all please stop being so inspiring ... and prolific?? ;)<br /><br />I mainly read your lovely blogs during above ground commutes or in the bath. we don't have a shower in the new house yet, so it's a good use of soaking time. but seriously. this weekend I had no blogreading time (yes, I did bath!!) and this morning I had to read according to a process I hate, which is basically saving favourites for last! <br /><br />but I luff you all ... goddammit!! <br /><br />(image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Betliar_inside4.jpg)<br /><br />(originally published 08/08/2011)<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-3310184989560990642011-08-16T12:26:00.001+01:002011-08-16T12:26:02.884+01:00grimacing compliments<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777242"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777242_blog" /></a></div><br/>when I went through the security gates at Gatwick this morning on my way to Amsterdam, the guard on duty gave me a wry smile & said, 'you can always tell a frequent flyer'. <br /><br />ugh. <br /><br />while, at first, I was chuffed that I'd not invoked the wrath of the summertime airport guard, I'm left with this overwhelming sense of ickiness. To me, being a frequent flyer means:<br />- getting up at 4am to fly to historic cities that I don't see in order to attend unnecessary meetings;<br />- hedging my bets by unpacking most of my bag & disrobing of all accessories (shoes, belts, hairclips, glasses, jewellery);<br />- getting 2 stamps on my Caffe Nero card because the barista recognises me from a few days before. <br /><br />most importantly, it means being away from home and missing out on normal life (like dinner with friends or just sitting in the garden on a summer evening).<br /><br />that's not worth anything. to anyone. <br /><br />(originally published 02/08/2011)<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-28754768717256098242011-08-16T12:25:00.001+01:002011-08-16T12:25:32.487+01:00comfy pyjamas<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777240"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777240_blog" /></a></div><br/>While frantically getting dressed for work this morning (having overslept for the 2nd time this week), it struck me as strange that my go-to work outfit on a rushed morning is a suit. <br /><br />Once out the door I realised that I was very comfy - a bit like wearing a favourite pair of PJs. WTF? Business PJs? <br /><br />So the image above is not one which suggests workplace armour or gender equality or even (gasp!) quality tailoring ... but comfort, ease of wear & simplicity. All I have to do is find a suitable top, some matching jewellery (which I forgot today) & a pair of shoes and PHWOOM! I'm out the door looking good to go. <br /><br />And yet, herds of women stalk through business districts wearing the same basic get-up & emanating 'grrr' vibes. Granted, I didn't straighten my hair this morning, nor am I wearing make-up (ugh) and I still bite my nails - so I'm sure I don't fall into the 'she'll eat her young' scary-lady.<br /><br />So what is it that gives a suit power? Or is everyone just wearing jammies?<br /><br />(pub 27/7)<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-47650245940009198302011-08-16T12:22:00.001+01:002012-01-27T13:34:57.202+00:00eeeee!!!! Mollie Makes!<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777238"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777238_blog" /></a></div><br/>Found - would you believe it?? - in Morissons. <br /><br />48 Ways to style my home with Thrifty Finds? YES PLEASE. (case in point: green broth cup thing, 20p from a boot fair)<br /><br />Thank you, Tilly, Karen & Dibs for the heads up ... more printed word love in the house. *beams happily*<br /><br />(originally posted 12/07/2011)<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-53075780247497247482011-08-06T12:22:00.001+01:002012-01-27T13:36:28.781+00:00... Shop Yourself Holy, 2nd July 2011Woohoo!! Another catch-up post! It's so liberating (hee hee ... I typed 'liverating' --- WTF??) to post stuff that's been sitting, unedited & unloved, in my bloggy outbox :)<br />
<div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo">So, here goes. The Saturday in question was one of shopping yumminess. Rob had ventured out for a Saturday night of Foo Fighters, supported by Biffy Clyro, supported by Death Cab for Cutie, supported by (um) someone else. I wasn't jealous at all. Never mind that the tickets had been bought & paid for by his BFF in 2010 .... I wasn't jealous. not even 98% happy, 2 % jealous. Not. Jealous. At. All.</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo">In an effort, therefore, to assuage my not-at-all-jealousness, I went shopping in South West London (Morden, Mitcham & Tooting, specifically) ... and found:</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPmw7aANqpzzT4TFOLcz2DYiKmjG7k9kq1GvJhUrjKw1u3IadZrM6ZF8cEAQfK45XiNBy09pDs6v3jQ2Kio5cFfoRwoNvC-o7tY4amzdcoYTgGYE8KbStugm8_23p0vdrc83QFPJdrlBA/s1600/photo+1-782344.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633717974076842146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPmw7aANqpzzT4TFOLcz2DYiKmjG7k9kq1GvJhUrjKw1u3IadZrM6ZF8cEAQfK45XiNBy09pDs6v3jQ2Kio5cFfoRwoNvC-o7tY4amzdcoYTgGYE8KbStugm8_23p0vdrc83QFPJdrlBA/s320/photo+1-782344.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This 80s-tastic Dressmaking encyclopaedia, £2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvKWiHSxyQHG6c-gG074-zRZCRZIt_FTf9E8uhFajQodjWmlCG3JlZwRoQk6z2PBtHH2GyIoGfIb-6HV3nnUstklJCE3gQseV-rSiYkbdiFDSGYi_sjmzHxth0iuweIXdP5sTUxqW4VYl/s1600/Lidl+BitsnBobs+020711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvKWiHSxyQHG6c-gG074-zRZCRZIt_FTf9E8uhFajQodjWmlCG3JlZwRoQk6z2PBtHH2GyIoGfIb-6HV3nnUstklJCE3gQseV-rSiYkbdiFDSGYi_sjmzHxth0iuweIXdP5sTUxqW4VYl/s1600/Lidl+BitsnBobs+020711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvKWiHSxyQHG6c-gG074-zRZCRZIt_FTf9E8uhFajQodjWmlCG3JlZwRoQk6z2PBtHH2GyIoGfIb-6HV3nnUstklJCE3gQseV-rSiYkbdiFDSGYi_sjmzHxth0iuweIXdP5sTUxqW4VYl/s1600/Lidl+BitsnBobs+020711.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="mobile-photo"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt8cTAKHPlTupwKqkUICZx9wjjtkzLXw0WfPstVluP26IjVxkGnWcg0-RPKZQzQckQQIzTByBmyHHWoF2UJI6lyjVHINb4NmWh9Llc9kYdfeVpO1UiaKm_HVtJD_qgt3zu3HY2y2z08dT/s1600/photo+4-786890.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633717997735775282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt8cTAKHPlTupwKqkUICZx9wjjtkzLXw0WfPstVluP26IjVxkGnWcg0-RPKZQzQckQQIzTByBmyHHWoF2UJI6lyjVHINb4NmWh9Llc9kYdfeVpO1UiaKm_HVtJD_qgt3zu3HY2y2z08dT/s320/photo+4-786890.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big black sari scarf/wrap and a gorgeous sarong/tablecloth/whoknowswhat, £6</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtdsxy_dVtKFltVybBq7gZQEHtjvKpkecasQldJKrYXNGoghNw624proZL39nuKS60jZXzn5qNDWScgT6iY1QtyCaw432cbLVV60qtdyUYlmrhVQTDZKpv9onLde3w0Am6uIOMvtxQ9EE/s1600/photo+5-788184.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633718001035739874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtdsxy_dVtKFltVybBq7gZQEHtjvKpkecasQldJKrYXNGoghNw624proZL39nuKS60jZXzn5qNDWScgT6iY1QtyCaw432cbLVV60qtdyUYlmrhVQTDZKpv9onLde3w0Am6uIOMvtxQ9EE/s320/photo+5-788184.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miscellaneous buttons (some still on their cards, SWOON) <br />
and some supercool organisers, + some books £4</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWB4Ge6M7PYAOO2AvR8-isNDa3rsT7JJA0nhonqGtmK1EGSv4wJtFZZ-hcsQt_vE9n8acASBWVX041LeyEVIWkeBhnxBxL89dV80gNr2hke0FFAggKhrW6BnFad7HvBGzH-uoVm6JwgZB/s1600/image-789458.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633718009159923330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWB4Ge6M7PYAOO2AvR8-isNDa3rsT7JJA0nhonqGtmK1EGSv4wJtFZZ-hcsQt_vE9n8acASBWVX041LeyEVIWkeBhnxBxL89dV80gNr2hke0FFAggKhrW6BnFad7HvBGzH-uoVm6JwgZB/s320/image-789458.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning print, revolting 80s dress - REFASHION!<br />
... and some seam binding, £4.20</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2aJmimGwfj5opRcMNz28PrT8aqPZQMTFaRmFRg76Q1jRYbqMI14VDBTxdyM9jE82SkiRYlgPE1GODHuf9w-hJkE0iSRiFj10UQg17FFnYJcNG_d208iOhZlpE_nWGR39qZZEt2CB1BRT/s1600/image-790634.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633718012504738210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2aJmimGwfj5opRcMNz28PrT8aqPZQMTFaRmFRg76Q1jRYbqMI14VDBTxdyM9jE82SkiRYlgPE1GODHuf9w-hJkE0iSRiFj10UQg17FFnYJcNG_d208iOhZlpE_nWGR39qZZEt2CB1BRT/s320/image-790634.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, how I LOVE these containers ... <br />
my local pound shop stopped stocking them :( <br />
£1.25 each in Tooting, baby!<br />
(PS LOOKKIT Jack in the background :D)<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvKWiHSxyQHG6c-gG074-zRZCRZIt_FTf9E8uhFajQodjWmlCG3JlZwRoQk6z2PBtHH2GyIoGfIb-6HV3nnUstklJCE3gQseV-rSiYkbdiFDSGYi_sjmzHxth0iuweIXdP5sTUxqW4VYl/s1600/Lidl+BitsnBobs+020711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvKWiHSxyQHG6c-gG074-zRZCRZIt_FTf9E8uhFajQodjWmlCG3JlZwRoQk6z2PBtHH2GyIoGfIb-6HV3nnUstklJCE3gQseV-rSiYkbdiFDSGYi_sjmzHxth0iuweIXdP5sTUxqW4VYl/s1600/Lidl+BitsnBobs+020711.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Lidl. <br />
If I'm going to buy (new) mass-produced stuff, <br />
at least I'm skewing their sales stats by buying sewing gear :)<br />
Elastic + Thread + Bobbins + Needles, £6</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRrXSqheInrmicBBLHcEArIE4HOQ3RyA3jS-S_uIgDk_DeSU4VHdnLwXeR4NHMOkXdlotCbQs9d9BZ6tkQ0C1CUGRy_dig66bI9RNEsGjcUNlct6C7HPIl0Wjw3P7A11VtdKGOcA_Hulr/s1600/StripeyStretchyTooting020711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRrXSqheInrmicBBLHcEArIE4HOQ3RyA3jS-S_uIgDk_DeSU4VHdnLwXeR4NHMOkXdlotCbQs9d9BZ6tkQ0C1CUGRy_dig66bI9RNEsGjcUNlct6C7HPIl0Wjw3P7A11VtdKGOcA_Hulr/s1600/StripeyStretchyTooting020711.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some lovely stretchystripeystuff from one of the <br />
many stalls in the two markets in Tooting (<a href="http://www.tootingmarket.com/">Tooting Market</a>), 2m @ £4/m</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In conclusion, y'honour, I'd like to say that South London rocks and it might be time to organise a group shop to the somewhat sticky streets of Tooting. Bookended by the two Wimbledon Sewing Machine shops (<a href="http://www.wimsewretail.co.uk/">South Wimbledon</a> & <a href="http://www.craftysewer.com/cgi-bin/mf000001.pl?ACTION=SHOWFORM">Balham</a>), whose oddly interchangeable names have always struck me as mighty odd. </div><div><br />
</div><div>OOOHOOOHOOOOH! And and and and the place in Mitcham that I bought the buttons & organisers from has the most STUNNING shop counter table thing ... um ... they're called .... um, a Haberdashery Shop Counter? Anyway. They have one, and the lady serving me mentioned that they were going to be replacing it soon as the drawers tended to fall onto the feet of the little old ladies serving customers (not nice, owowow!). Rob might leave me for this, but I gave her my number and practically begged ('practically'??? nonono ... 'SERIOUSLY') her to call me when they were ready so that I could buy the old one off them. HELLOOOOOO gorgeous!</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" src="http://www.drewpritchard.co.uk/database_images/antiques/3151.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the same one. But you get the picture.<br />
<a href="http://www.drewpritchard.co.uk/Main.htm">(source)</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-22490360325364294222011-07-28T17:30:00.000+01:002012-01-27T13:36:28.778+00:00Shop Yourself Holy: eBay & etsy Catchup<div class="mobile-photo">Hello lovely ones!</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo">I'm currently on a train heading back to London from a day working in Liverpool and I've been catching up on some of my favourite blogs during my train time. For reference, I was up at the crack of sparrow's fart* and promised myself that if I started work at 7am, I could have a lovely cooked veggie breakfast and read blogs until that time. YAY! Cleared yesterday's new posts and managed to add 3 new lovely peeps to my RSS feed for more iPhone <strike>bathtime</strike> lunchtime reading. </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">*an intentionally mixed metaphor from high school days :)</span></em></div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo">Anyhoo, reading so many lovely things written by all you lovely people - and seeing all the gorgeousness that you've made or transformed or just plain ol' laid-out-cash-for - made me want to upload some of the posts that have been lurking, unpublished, on Blogger. They taunt me, and I blow raspberries at them before hiding under the duvet. Honest. </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo">So, anyway. Here's some stuff I bought on eBay & etsy, way back in the spring (sniff, sniff ...). </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2-LZtXn0lb6L_fGS-8L0IKnw8Ajv6wGwIFXF5q8eqZXXN-zEfbnwbyynZBZsdpNukKaokmaF1739kEKdh7PzlzyxKi9dwuBHiz0s07ffswvTJtCyrmgKsSoj745y065TgUOasHVW_CWl/s1600/photo+1-736775.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="298" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633717783117087810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2-LZtXn0lb6L_fGS-8L0IKnw8Ajv6wGwIFXF5q8eqZXXN-zEfbnwbyynZBZsdpNukKaokmaF1739kEKdh7PzlzyxKi9dwuBHiz0s07ffswvTJtCyrmgKsSoj745y065TgUOasHVW_CWl/s400/photo+1-736775.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haberdashery Loveliness: £5.90</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhds70IlHBH22JaZfkGhLOLreU87VNhURYspGyU-DohS2eaYHHh7XSoYB3xcnTp35M2FoILFeLEdHoxE92LSLoysR4Ga9517DQyR757xu3bO2q0UR6WLHj5APYayxwVvc01hKoQXBqmuiSV/s1600/photo+2-737851.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="298" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633717788251773138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhds70IlHBH22JaZfkGhLOLreU87VNhURYspGyU-DohS2eaYHHh7XSoYB3xcnTp35M2FoILFeLEdHoxE92LSLoysR4Ga9517DQyR757xu3bO2q0UR6WLHj5APYayxwVvc01hKoQXBqmuiSV/s400/photo+2-737851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swoon. I swoon at the lacey loveliness: £3<br />
Swoony swoonswoonswoon.<br />
Swooooooon!!!<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Swoon)</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gf5BKpzmucC2opAmTDxDZQQd_WjxKyKec8Q5GP1JhRygXHt2cQj3QKsMN_qocGghMAU_SXedfNLL3rOPq4JzzzSMSJ-uX1BTGRj8BBV5HcAkghZTpsYMllHZFXQgNRTiX1l1eX7qrja5/s1600/Coconut+Buttons+280711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gf5BKpzmucC2opAmTDxDZQQd_WjxKyKec8Q5GP1JhRygXHt2cQj3QKsMN_qocGghMAU_SXedfNLL3rOPq4JzzzSMSJ-uX1BTGRj8BBV5HcAkghZTpsYMllHZFXQgNRTiX1l1eX7qrja5/s400/Coconut+Buttons+280711.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could not resist this set - natural buttons, and vegan-friendly!!<br />
Buttons & buckle approx £5 on etsy</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="mobile-photo">More loveliness to come soon ... and maybe even some sewing? Who knows. </div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-29619579941103172352011-07-27T22:35:00.000+01:002012-01-27T13:34:04.692+00:00Dead Famous - Part 1 (Rob bin Laden)As posted about <a href="http://santiedotea.blogspot.com/2011/07/catching-up.html">here</a>, we had a 'Dead Famous' birthday party for Rob on Saturday.<br />
<br />
<div></div>He'd come up with the idea while we were visiting my family in South Africa over Xmas, and had <strike>obsessively</strike> diligently been working on the playlist ever since. His playlists are amazing. Anyway, we sent out the FB invites to the usual suspects about 6 weeks before the day and then the mayhem started. <br />
<br />
<div></div>Rob, of course, had to dress as someone controversial. There are no 'normal' fancy dress costumes in my husband's repertoire (in fact, I think I'll do a post about that soon, as most if not all our fancy dress gigs have been thrifted/vintagey/handmade). So, his choice was either Jesus or Osama Bin Laden --- mostly because they both involved having a beard - which he had (until Monday - but that's another story) - and a simple costume. <br />
<br />
<div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs4GBDijhjyc0YguiK5QBGCVwaJrTrSeKRiXVMlk1uCB0KI9GIhdykkH9BJNVTTx_C3aodD9m14iBS7Xbjy8p0ET-oaBChZ0iL2VhlCGVccCoxnDaaVwXfm6jQvYMsRUEM4bSBtc1YUhy/s1600/Le+Jacket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs4GBDijhjyc0YguiK5QBGCVwaJrTrSeKRiXVMlk1uCB0KI9GIhdykkH9BJNVTTx_C3aodD9m14iBS7Xbjy8p0ET-oaBChZ0iL2VhlCGVccCoxnDaaVwXfm6jQvYMsRUEM4bSBtc1YUhy/s200/Le+Jacket.JPG" t$="true" width="150" /></a>LONG story short, he picked Osama. We decided to make the costume as simple as possible, so we found a white king-sized sheet in the local charity shop and he bought a US army jacket on eBay. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a glitch with my self-drafted tunic pattern ... well, not that pattern so much as the idiot who thought she'd found a piece of fabric big enough for the front collar facing without realising said piece of fabric was actually the tunic back. D'OH!!!! Several minutes of frenetic piecing & decorative top-stitching later, we ended up with quite a pretty (if basic) result. Huzzah!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RYxA2s5e0eorMAo97p6Zz6omU_iEp-Zn5R28vgF2dL2muCy6ReB0W2aCt7xEny9YYeQ6ENMcGNABqD-MZK7JIFzaDs_i61gSnS7I_D8GfVcrp8Q4-nT1TFGf5AHZfDcKH0rolPcZq1L0/s1600/Front+Facing+Whoops.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RYxA2s5e0eorMAo97p6Zz6omU_iEp-Zn5R28vgF2dL2muCy6ReB0W2aCt7xEny9YYeQ6ENMcGNABqD-MZK7JIFzaDs_i61gSnS7I_D8GfVcrp8Q4-nT1TFGf5AHZfDcKH0rolPcZq1L0/s640/Front+Facing+Whoops.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great big chunk of tunic back missing :(</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvpUYSnVOIP2HBqBbbP0vzXjpc6iaKtuqJOxgLKG_Po7T4i9FgfiT_XkaVFL8KcZGwhJ3nDlCeKhJ_WIGYRZg4yVfsd_SgsgBhBjPQyKLwCxn_gwyxIPJ6LJx74YJ9k6Dvb9qNYInyTZg/s1600/Tunic+Back+Saved.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvpUYSnVOIP2HBqBbbP0vzXjpc6iaKtuqJOxgLKG_Po7T4i9FgfiT_XkaVFL8KcZGwhJ3nDlCeKhJ_WIGYRZg4yVfsd_SgsgBhBjPQyKLwCxn_gwyxIPJ6LJx74YJ9k6Dvb9qNYInyTZg/s640/Tunic+Back+Saved.JPG" t$="true" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunic kinda pieced back together <br />
(I'll show you the close-up in Part 2!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div></div>Just in case you were worried it didn't work out, here's a teaser ...<br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB14V3dDELqvsUxFdjJLBXAPIh7PTkzM7u_OA-CocN4gCuMNL0p2X2_viJhcXSBB2M_IGBdwQhoWsNP_gqdN1cTHUWzXdk7LFwxE81tjKL4ABMaIatwIhCm9Y3lqN3XU-QYQTCJayA7Ns_/s1600/Osama+Grr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB14V3dDELqvsUxFdjJLBXAPIh7PTkzM7u_OA-CocN4gCuMNL0p2X2_viJhcXSBB2M_IGBdwQhoWsNP_gqdN1cTHUWzXdk7LFwxE81tjKL4ABMaIatwIhCm9Y3lqN3XU-QYQTCJayA7Ns_/s640/Osama+Grr.jpeg" t$="true" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Just in case you were worried it didn't work out, here's a teaser ...)<br />
GRRRR. I'm well hard, me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div>Yes, that was a liquid latex bullet hole. It kept moving around his forehead all night, a bit like Prince John's mole in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107977/">Robin Hood: Men in Tights</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-62497536512512527942011-07-20T13:17:00.000+01:002011-07-20T13:17:27.209+01:00'An Education' Loveliness ft. Rosamund Pike<div class="mobile-photo">Have you guys seen '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Education">An Education</a>'? Oh, be still my heart with all the loveliness. The music. The clothes. Even the unexpected gorgeousness of Emma Thompson's matronly schoolmistress. </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo">I took some screenshots while watching the movie on my iPhone on the way home from Belgium one night some months back, so apologies if they're a little blurry. Anyway ...</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxY_JXqMo-UqhcpY6zGqstXR7Ov-qFyCVzPguR_JV1QwuvQYy1viPzu1KfZzn82eX5MXakGsBv4rJfDTpd0RzeaH7OC-a3K72uL7qVlqogHhZRbFejJ_2Xdb7xhYSwf6QvScB7nJnK0Bx/s1600/photo+1-728864.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630357793465189346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxY_JXqMo-UqhcpY6zGqstXR7Ov-qFyCVzPguR_JV1QwuvQYy1viPzu1KfZzn82eX5MXakGsBv4rJfDTpd0RzeaH7OC-a3K72uL7qVlqogHhZRbFejJ_2Xdb7xhYSwf6QvScB7nJnK0Bx/s320/photo+1-728864.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo">Look, I know Rosamund Pike is just stunning anyway - but come on! Ivory cost & elbow length gloves? </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqA0LGXT0YBujXT6vBV1BL9xhqBxmDELmWQOeEkY45O34HVgFwng09HPv8R6axVIZ_FffuI1XCkR6WpqteBDaH6riG0rIUcPcaRe_H1VusG2W4jpGjva6t4vY8pjSMRsuXtcdici5xsa1/s1600/photo+2-729713.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630357794449683634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqA0LGXT0YBujXT6vBV1BL9xhqBxmDELmWQOeEkY45O34HVgFwng09HPv8R6axVIZ_FffuI1XCkR6WpqteBDaH6riG0rIUcPcaRe_H1VusG2W4jpGjva6t4vY8pjSMRsuXtcdici5xsa1/s320/photo+2-729713.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo">With this hot little number beneath? I wonder whether Tasia's recent post about fabric-scrimping for the Lonsdale might result in straps looking a little like this ... definitely worth a try! :)</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U2Ea-NOYoCHZwdHPbk4CU7gC4OnpDwQb98zzvxPGai1FHQd350flsjkWmRuqyFbq5FH-c9znZ5DvxIOCFePIvF_hefN9m_4OVJAjxQCrnQC27iQ9fhSMlg7ZGzoTxXkt_QKlrkRCk3B8/s1600/photo+3-730822.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630357797828470930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U2Ea-NOYoCHZwdHPbk4CU7gC4OnpDwQb98zzvxPGai1FHQd350flsjkWmRuqyFbq5FH-c9znZ5DvxIOCFePIvF_hefN9m_4OVJAjxQCrnQC27iQ9fhSMlg7ZGzoTxXkt_QKlrkRCk3B8/s320/photo+3-730822.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo">And then the lovely Jackie O homage. </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwczGO-nrcj4gblUfKDCMFe8upr_KXsICyLJSRFROd2zzdW8SGAiFyIz5OBMXBj1TCtp4HIGZkmFnw6wX8WEVtBer-Na572axmYh5BevwFFXLp1JWoVXRVADZf0nLnLcT4AjsbxY7RE9c/s1600/photo+4-731432.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630357803158029874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwczGO-nrcj4gblUfKDCMFe8upr_KXsICyLJSRFROd2zzdW8SGAiFyIz5OBMXBj1TCtp4HIGZkmFnw6wX8WEVtBer-Na572axmYh5BevwFFXLp1JWoVXRVADZf0nLnLcT4AjsbxY7RE9c/s320/photo+4-731432.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo">Same outfit, sans sunglasses. Lacks a bit of punch, no?</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxKSc8cS3bjRuink7SHX7HKfYLABu9PB5n0s3iZk6yjVrv0xx5Y-gjSbHi5ezedtdAg4BaGWa2SoZpgpJ3QIOfcoRwXq4KkmehkzcCrqpDeXVpsXZqe-PSQP0FRm8S8JyR0ILu3TBokMl/s1600/photo+5-732433.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630357808454111970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxKSc8cS3bjRuink7SHX7HKfYLABu9PB5n0s3iZk6yjVrv0xx5Y-gjSbHi5ezedtdAg4BaGWa2SoZpgpJ3QIOfcoRwXq4KkmehkzcCrqpDeXVpsXZqe-PSQP0FRm8S8JyR0ILu3TBokMl/s320/photo+5-732433.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo">And look ... she shared her outfit fabulousness with her young protege. 'I'll wear the gorgeous coat ... you can wear the goofy looking hat, darling'. </div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-21929741552784897712011-07-12T14:52:00.000+01:002011-07-12T14:52:11.624+01:00Catching Up<div class="mobile-photo" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been trying to work out the best ways of getting my posts written while using my iPhone - whether by using ShoZu, a different app, using blogger in my dinky browser window (blehhh) or some other as yet unheard of method. So, today I'm trying the email option; I'm typing as I commute in on the Northern Line ...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">So, stuff to tell you? Lots!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVvD1y89RaHfIdl8fR6ASo65OwTOvYoo9fAYev9e5tWfryrr5AlQjrEXqbBQjA-JUnC5fjm4F2YoMJYPx49FjsqRfZyuUI_FKt9p-UnEwbnJ4dIz8D3I9wgrf1x69PbjRmHN9koxGJMvC/s1600/image-742491.jpeg" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628460763642473538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVvD1y89RaHfIdl8fR6ASo65OwTOvYoo9fAYev9e5tWfryrr5AlQjrEXqbBQjA-JUnC5fjm4F2YoMJYPx49FjsqRfZyuUI_FKt9p-UnEwbnJ4dIz8D3I9wgrf1x69PbjRmHN9koxGJMvC/s320/image-742491.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every post needs a picture. <br />
Miss Meg attacking her tail. <br />
Pesky thing keeps getting in the way!! <br />
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</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">I've been shopping up a storm recently, and have loads of thrifty finds for you. Also been sewing up Rob's costume for our Dead Famous party coming up on Saturday, and recovering from the gut-wrenching failure of the Skulls 'n' Roses bodice muslin (more later).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Mostly, I've been thinking about stylising this blog to be a little bit more appealing - to you as readers, and to me as a blogger. I'm pretty much addicted to most of the blogs i follow and I notice points of appeal like clever tags, good layout, interesting fonts, etc. So ... I need some creative input. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First things first - what to call my <strong>'thrifty finds'</strong> posts? So many of us love secondhand shopping that many good descriptions already exist ... and never one to pass up a challenge to be different, this one is really bugging me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So ... thoughts, suggestions, ideas? On a postcard, please!</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-23803704069832228572011-07-06T21:09:00.004+01:002012-01-27T13:40:12.955+00:00Burda Style 7/2011 - O. M. G.<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777228"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777228_blog" /></a></div><br />
Just bought my copy of the July 201¹Burda in Schiphol Airport and ... I might be in trouble. <br />
<br />
I'm only on Page 1¹and already want to sew everything. Ev. Ery. Thing. <br />
<br />
As Himself will be attending a huge gig in Milton Keynes tomorrow, which involves an overnight stay, I'll have heaps of time to sew.<br />
<br />
PS: Stupid ShoZu wouldn't post this for days after I wrote it last Friday. Himself went to sew Death Cab, Biffy Clyro and the Foos on Saturday and I didn't get as much done as I wanted. Oh well. <br />
<br />
<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847224947238933792.post-40101112720997832012011-07-06T21:09:00.003+01:002012-01-27T13:40:12.956+00:00joy in the sewing room!<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777230"><img src="http://media.shozu.com/cache/portal/media/b2beeb8/16777230_blog" /></a></div><br/>finally. finally finally finally. <br /><br /><br />Darlings, I sewed bust darts. I pressed those darts. I basted interfacing and I cut button panels. <br /><br />Now I know this doesn't sound like much, but I am thoroughly chuffed. Personal victory over procrastination, check!<p align="right" ><a href="http://www.shozu.com/portal/?utm_source=upload&utm_medium=graphic&utm_campaign=upload_graphic/" target="_blank" ><img src="http://www.shozu.com/resources/messages/logo_blog.gif" alt="Posted by ShoZu" border="0" /></a></p>Santshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00096830725854082434noreply@blogger.com0