Ernest update...

You will be pleased to hear my little visitor is settling in well. He met a big hairy beast last night who, he was pleased to see, was of a friendly variety. Skye likes to sniff out any new visitor but has promised not to bite him unless he steps out of line.






He also met little robin and muttered something about pulling a bird but changed his mind when I told him he could come with me to a hen party on Saturday night....I'm not quite sure he understood but he certainly seemed pretty excited at the thought.







As it was his first night here we offered him a tea of his choosing. He said when he arrived at the post office yesterday he could smell fish and chips but when we got there he seemed a little concerned at the crispy jacket one of the chicken breasts was wearing and made a hasty retreat.






Thankfully I quickly followed him out because he was showing a little too much interest in the sign on the roadworks at our new bridge. I know teenagers like to live life dangerously but I refused to let him play on the bridge.





Breaking news.....he's in love!!!

Julia the Queen of WOYWW has blogged today about a gorgeous gift Anne has sent her and I'm afraid Ernest is totally smitten.

I've got a visitor.....

I have a little visitor here who arrived this morning. His name is Ernest and he normally lives at The Hen House. He is on his gap year and is travelling around Blogland and is staying me for a week. I will then be looking for another kind blogger who will take on this challenging youth. I have been warned to keep the drinks cupboard locked at all times and I already know why :-) I have told him he is welcome but of course he does have to earn his keep here because as you know I lead a busy life.

Here he is on arrival. He said he had had a good journey but he appeared to be glad to stretch his wings.

He seemed to rather like my hanging rails and thought it would be a good place to do his daily pull ups.


He inspected my pictures closely and thought it was a good place to sit to keep an eye on all that was going on.










This was one of his favourite places especially when I was sewing but I have told him health and safety just wouldn't allow it.


He was really glad of a cuppa but said he was more of tea man than coffee.



He said my chicken food was really scrummy.








I insisted he also remembered to eat his greens to stay healthy but being a typical teenager he didn't seem too concerned about healthy living.


In fact when my back was turned getting lunch he found a miniature bottle of Whiskey and helped himself to a quick swig!


He has certainly made himself at home and plans to be here to watch the footy matches.











After lunch it was down to work so he said he would help with a bit of ironing.

He also seemed very keen to learn a few tailoring skills while he was here.










Please call back from time to time if you'd like to see what Ernest gets up to while he is staying with me and if you feel able to offer him lodging for a week please email me at wipso@toucansurf.com but be warned he is quite a handful :-)

WOYWW.....

It's been another really busy week for me. My eye is now fully recovered although I am still using my gel tears all day every day and my ointment every night. I really need to be sure my eye will heal properly so I'm taking no chances. I have had a steady flow of customers all week with many more challenging jobs and my customer numbers have now reached 978 and still rising. Boy will there be celebrations when I reach the 1000.

Fun Day Monday was spent designing a fancy dress outfit for me for this Saturday. It's a Abba/60s party but I though the skin tight cat suit wasn't quite me so I've gone more for a hippie outfit. I just might brave it and put you a photo on here when I'm wearing it all....or I might not :-) Twiglet has said that if I don't then she would! Watch this space :-)

This morning I have a pair of curtains to shorten and another pair to reduce considerably in size so not the best of starts for me but then I have a really lovely challenge of a job. I have been commissioned to make a special character doll for a blogging friend.


I shall be working from photos of the character and have already found some really fab materials that I'm sure will be perfect. I have made many dolls over the years, each one adapted from a favourite basic pattern and this one will be no exception. Watch this space as they say. :-)







I thought I would also add a picture to show you the first blanket I've finished. I love all the bright colours and have edged it with a random yarn to pick out some of these colours. It's just to be used as a lap blanket for one of my little Granddaughters whilst in their car seat or push chair so I've not made it too big.


I hope you will now pop over to Julia's blog and join in the Wednesday fun. I'm sure all that joined in last week for the celebrations will have enjoyed it as much as me.

Indigo Moon visit....

My darling hubby and I enjoyed the sunshine in our garden this morning but just before lunch the sky went over really black and we had to hurry to fetch garden chairs etc in before the skies opened. We had a real cloud burst with thunder and lightening so we decided to call it a day [the rain could do more good in the garden than we could!]. We washed and changed and took a ride out into Wales. We called in for a Sunday Lunch in a garden centre in Welshpool and then drove on through to Montgomery to find where one of our new blogging friends had set up her shop. Twiglet had called in last week but I was unable to join her. We headed to the town centre and were thrilled to find Tina's shop door was open. We pulled up right outside the door and popped inside to be greeted with a really warm welcome....even if Tina did greet me with...."I guess you are Jo's sister?" [We don't really look alike so I was amazed she knew it was me :-) ]

What a lovely shop Tina and Gavin have set up. If you fancy a sneaky peep in you can see some more photos here on Tina's blog but I would say if you are in the area it's well worth paying them a visit. I really do wish them the very best of luck with their new venture.

WOYWW . Happy Anniversary everyone.

Wahoo I'm pleased to report I am back. My eye now feels much better [apart from the need for ointment still] and I am able to see sufficiently to do all the things I love doing.

Twiglet and I had a fun day Tuesday yesterday because of it being bank holiday Monday but no one had told my customers...I think they had missed me! I had 11 phone calls and as many customers in between them. Needless to say my rail is now full and it may take me a little time to get round all my fellow bloggers but I will call in on you all at some point...I promise.




Because it's such a special week I'm keeping this blog short but thought you all might like to see my latest pic now it's finished. Sorry the pic is a little blurred.







This is week WOYWW week 52 and Julia has challenged us to make a celebration piece to adorn our craft space with the acronym WOYWW somewhere on it. Rainbows are very special to me and I certainly consider the WOYWW group is like a pot of gold to both Twiglet and I so this is where I got my inspiration from and here it is.....



....Hope you like it.

Now please pop over to Julia's and join in the fun by calling in on the other bloggers to see what wonderful creations they have all made for the celebration.

Blog award from Paula.....

I have received this blog award from my blogging friend Paula. We met via WOYWW so it's very much thanks to the wonderful Julia for starting up the now worldwide group of crafters who link up every Wednesday to show and tell what they are up to each week. So many friendships have started because of her and I know Twiglet and I owe her a lot.
Thanks Paula for thinking that I'm going places....not sure where yet but I promise I will let you know when I find out :-)

What I have to do is say where I will be in 10 years....If I think back to what I was doing 10 years ago it makes me realise I have absolutely no idea what I will doing in 10 years time :-) I guess just to be still alive, happy and still crafting would be quite an achievement :-)

I am now supposed to pass this on to 10 more folk but as most of the bloggers I know have already got it this will be very difficult. Saying that I do know one I would like to pass it on to...

I would like to pass is on to Suz for passing the crocheting bug on to me. It has given me something to do while my eye has been healing. She is a very clever designer with her crochet and is defiantly going places.

Slow but sure....

The swelling is now settling down on my eye and I could actually see through it first thing this morning....it's not so good now cos it has ointment in it :-( The soreness has nearly all gone now thankfully so I guess the antibiotics are doing their job. Doubt I could still see well enough to do my sewing but it's not stopped me crocheting :-) I normally say to Twiglet...."I can shorten trousers with my eyes closed"....well, I actually nearly can :-) :-) The bit I struggled with is the unpicking first so that's why I've needed Twiglet [We make a brilliant team]. Crocheting and Knitting is what I normally do while watching telly so I don't need both eyes for that normally. :-)

Thanks again to all you caring bloggers. I'm certain all your positive vibes has helped the healing process.


I have just found the most gorgeous little bear give away and thought I would share it with you. You will find Sammy at http://www.binglebears.com/2010/05/my-anniversary-giveaway.html

So far so good.....

I'm being a really good girl and am putting my ointment in 4 times a day even though it stings and blurs my vision for about an hour after. I've had my wonderful assistant here this morning helping me to clear the urgent work and now have no plans to sew until after the weekend so that my eye gets a proper rest. 4 days off wahooooooooooo :-)

I would just like to say a really special thank you to my wonderful sister and to all of you thoughtful, caring bloggers for all your kind thoughts and prayers for my speedy recovery.....I'm not sure it's wishful thinking on my behalf but it actually does feel a little less sore this afternoon so your magic is working. Thank you to you all. Big hugs from me.