Well, we are well and truly into the new year now and even though I have said to myself everyday 'today I will write my blog' I haven't! So I lost January somewhere and then this morning I realised I was about to misplace February as well. I have been determinedly unwell over Christmas and the weeks following. On Friday morning I was having a shower, tipped back my head to wash of the conditioner and went over backwards. My head hit the tiles with a crack and my bum slammed into the taps on it's way to the bottom of the bath. Not elegant in the least, but that's Menieres for you! I felt off it for the rest of the day and then had a really big Menieres attack in the early hours of Saturday morning and I'm still wobbly.
Jessie acquired a new puppy last week, a six week old Lhasa Apso-Shih Tzu cross boy. She's calling him Sir Didymus, as Labyrinth is one of her favourite films, Rugby (who is still going) at thirteen has taken to him really well. I had them out this morning letting them play together, when I moved my head too quick and ended up with vertigo, cue two very puzzled dogs. But they have taken to each other well, the pup keeps chewing Rugby's paws and Rugby barks every time Mussy (for short) is put in his box because he wants to play.
So the family has been added to and I've started an online mixed media class called Lifebook. It's brilliant value for money and you get new videos and projects to do every week. You can find the details on willowing.ning.com. I was going to start some new sewing projects this week, I think it's the 'spring rising in my bones' feeling that's reinvigorated my desire to sew. Unfortunately I'll have to wait for the dizziness to pass before I start cutting out, can you imagine the state of the lines if I did it now. But each day I get a little better, so I'll just have to be patient. I couldn't even read yesterday because the words were moving about so much and today I can type. Although you have no idea of how many corrections I will have to make when I've finished. I get the letters in the wrong order or put down a different word to the one I actually meant. The other day I tried asking my husband Paul how he was feeling from the antibiotics he is on and instead asked him how his teabags were! At least my illness provides entertainment.
So this is just a catch up to let you now I still intend to keep blogging. Carolyn has so much stock in her shop now she's running out of space again. She keeps telling me 'oh I've just got loads of lovely lace in' or 'you should see this new fabric' I swear she's just doing it to torture her poor sister. So I have to get better so I can visit her at Make Me Fabrics on South Elmsall Market.
I have a whole book full of ideas for things I want to make, I just need to stop procrastinating and do it. How many things do we put of for a 'better day' or we'll do it when we have lost weight, look better or feel better. So today I have stopped putting things off, I've written this blog, sorted out the insurance for a damaged mobile( been doing that for a while as well) and contacted Laura Ashley over a shabby chic globe I bought for Jessie that apparently has woodworm. Of course I now have the rest of the week to fill with things from my to do list. Like the tulips I never got around to planting, that are now in a bag in the coal house and starting to sprout. I think bulbs are the gardeners equivalent of salad bags or the fruit in the bottom drawer of the fridge. You buy them with good intentions but they usually get left till it's too late.
Well I'm off to take my good intentions and find something else to do that I have been putting off (diet not included) while I have the energy to do it. I'll be back soon,
Love Louise xx
Monday, 24 February 2014
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Life and other inconveniences!
I have sat down and started to write this blog a couple of times already in the last week, but stuff just gets in the way. Isn't it a fact of life that our plans never run smoothly and our lives take unexpected turns when we least expect it. Even though I have rough days myself, my world at the minute revolves around my daughter, Jessica. She isn't getting any better and rarely leaves the house at all at the moment. We have had trips to the Doctors and to Hospital, the few occasions on which she leaves home and we have had to cancel some of those as at the last minute as she couldn't manage it. We have spent the last three years being sent from one person to another and all the time she is just getting worse. We have now been sent back to our GP for referral to a different specialist as the one she was seeing decided the treatment he could provide was the wrong one for her. And so the merry-go-round starts again!
The creative textiles course we started in September looks as though it's not going to be something we can finish this year as she has only attended three classes in all. I don't like to leave her on her own as she is so depressed and upset with herself for not being able to leave the house, so I probably won't finish it this year either. But family comes first. The GP has also decided now to send her to see someone about Autism, it's only taken them 19 years! So we'll see if that actually happens.
I have had her making Christmas decorations over the last couple of days, a bit of messy art can cheer you up no end. The 12 Artsy ornaments of Christmas course only lasted a week but it packed a lot in, so we both have lots of ideas to work on. You will be glad to know no toilet roll tubes were involved! It's a lot more arty and grown up than when my two were let loose with some glue, glitter and a collection of egg boxes etc. (Although the state of the dining room table looks very similar) The results are collecting on one side as our tree won't go up until the weekend before, although smaller bits are starting to creep in.
The advent calendars are the first thing that goes up, they both still have one. Last year I bought them a Lego Star Wars one each and that's what they have again this year. I bought Jessie's first as she said she still wanted one, but Michael (at nearly 21) ummed and arrhed and said he wasn't bothered this year. Then when his sister's arrived he changed his mind and asked if could have one too. I guess they are both still kids at heart, I don't know what Paul's excuse is as he usually has one as well, but his is definitely chocolate!
I am working on a crewel work piece at the moment, it's not something I have done before. I find it easier than normal embroidery as the wool and linen are easier to work with. I've started small with a picture of a bird and it's nearly finished. It's something I can do when Michael is on nights as the sewing machine and dog that insists on barking at it can be a bit noisy. However, Jessie's blanket still hasn't been touched, it's not far from being finished, but has turned into one of those projects I have come to regret starting. The way it's going it'll not be this Christmas but her birthday before it's finished. Just not the birthday it was started for.
Carolyn seems to be nice and busy in her shop as Christmas gets closer. She keeps putting pictures of new stock on her Facebook page, Make Me Fabrics. She has some new ribbons in that are really lovely and some fabric that would make nice table runners. I suppose we all have more ideas than time at this time of year. At least I don't have the mad rush to get this years must have toy or game anymore, no selection boxes or those really cheap bits you buy to fill stockings or because they are in a big box (always important to small kids) it's just a few good presents each and a few homemade bits.
I have to order the turkey from the local butcher yet, I have never been this late getting things done for Christmas. I usually have my delivery time booked with my online supermarket and a collection of dry goods collecting in a cardboard box in the bedroom. Presents are bought and the house is tidied ready for decorations going up, but not this year. I'm working on the ' it's only two days' principle this year, no buying luxury food that just ends up in the bin, no party food (no parties) and no spare presents 'just in case'.
I suppose it's a combination of circumstances, grown up kids, economic pressures and a general feeling of not being bothered as much this year. The thing that truly matters will still be there, my family. We will still watch our ritual run of Christmas films, always ending with White Christmas on Christmas Eve. That's all that really matters in the end isn't it, whether you celebrate Christmas or not. At the darkest time of year we gather together as family, friends and community to celebrate the light. We eat and drink together and remember those who are no longer with us and rejoice with those whose first Christmas it is. The presents and trimmings don't really matter so much as long as we have our loved ones with us and for those who cannot be with their families for whatever reason this year, a time to reflect and hope for a swift reunion.
I am now off to try and return the dining room table to some semblance of sanity, You know for a fact glitter will be turning up for days, but at least we can sit at it and eat. Then it's the boring stuff like cleaning the bathroom and doing the washing. Who says my life isn't fun anymore!
Hope you aren't stressing out too much over the impending holidays and I'll see you all soon,
Love
Louise xx
The creative textiles course we started in September looks as though it's not going to be something we can finish this year as she has only attended three classes in all. I don't like to leave her on her own as she is so depressed and upset with herself for not being able to leave the house, so I probably won't finish it this year either. But family comes first. The GP has also decided now to send her to see someone about Autism, it's only taken them 19 years! So we'll see if that actually happens.
I have had her making Christmas decorations over the last couple of days, a bit of messy art can cheer you up no end. The 12 Artsy ornaments of Christmas course only lasted a week but it packed a lot in, so we both have lots of ideas to work on. You will be glad to know no toilet roll tubes were involved! It's a lot more arty and grown up than when my two were let loose with some glue, glitter and a collection of egg boxes etc. (Although the state of the dining room table looks very similar) The results are collecting on one side as our tree won't go up until the weekend before, although smaller bits are starting to creep in.
The advent calendars are the first thing that goes up, they both still have one. Last year I bought them a Lego Star Wars one each and that's what they have again this year. I bought Jessie's first as she said she still wanted one, but Michael (at nearly 21) ummed and arrhed and said he wasn't bothered this year. Then when his sister's arrived he changed his mind and asked if could have one too. I guess they are both still kids at heart, I don't know what Paul's excuse is as he usually has one as well, but his is definitely chocolate!
I am working on a crewel work piece at the moment, it's not something I have done before. I find it easier than normal embroidery as the wool and linen are easier to work with. I've started small with a picture of a bird and it's nearly finished. It's something I can do when Michael is on nights as the sewing machine and dog that insists on barking at it can be a bit noisy. However, Jessie's blanket still hasn't been touched, it's not far from being finished, but has turned into one of those projects I have come to regret starting. The way it's going it'll not be this Christmas but her birthday before it's finished. Just not the birthday it was started for.
Carolyn seems to be nice and busy in her shop as Christmas gets closer. She keeps putting pictures of new stock on her Facebook page, Make Me Fabrics. She has some new ribbons in that are really lovely and some fabric that would make nice table runners. I suppose we all have more ideas than time at this time of year. At least I don't have the mad rush to get this years must have toy or game anymore, no selection boxes or those really cheap bits you buy to fill stockings or because they are in a big box (always important to small kids) it's just a few good presents each and a few homemade bits.
I have to order the turkey from the local butcher yet, I have never been this late getting things done for Christmas. I usually have my delivery time booked with my online supermarket and a collection of dry goods collecting in a cardboard box in the bedroom. Presents are bought and the house is tidied ready for decorations going up, but not this year. I'm working on the ' it's only two days' principle this year, no buying luxury food that just ends up in the bin, no party food (no parties) and no spare presents 'just in case'.
I suppose it's a combination of circumstances, grown up kids, economic pressures and a general feeling of not being bothered as much this year. The thing that truly matters will still be there, my family. We will still watch our ritual run of Christmas films, always ending with White Christmas on Christmas Eve. That's all that really matters in the end isn't it, whether you celebrate Christmas or not. At the darkest time of year we gather together as family, friends and community to celebrate the light. We eat and drink together and remember those who are no longer with us and rejoice with those whose first Christmas it is. The presents and trimmings don't really matter so much as long as we have our loved ones with us and for those who cannot be with their families for whatever reason this year, a time to reflect and hope for a swift reunion.
I am now off to try and return the dining room table to some semblance of sanity, You know for a fact glitter will be turning up for days, but at least we can sit at it and eat. Then it's the boring stuff like cleaning the bathroom and doing the washing. Who says my life isn't fun anymore!
Hope you aren't stressing out too much over the impending holidays and I'll see you all soon,
Love
Louise xx
Monday, 25 November 2013
It's hard to love a Monday morning
Yes it's Monday, yes it's cold and damp and the kids have to be dragged out of bed. It's not quite Christmas, but winter is starting to kick in although Autumn seems to be hanging on. All in all it's probably the most depressing time of year. It's time to crank up the heating, light those fires and turn to stodgy food. You can understand how our ancestors needed a winter festival to bring on the new year, a turn in the darkness. You don't mind winter on those bright crisp days, when the sun shines and the frost is crunchy underfoot, it might be cold but the sun is out and it makes you smile. Of course it's easier now we have warm, insulated homes to go to and layers of thermal clothing fit for arctic conditions to keep us warm.
As we hurtle towards Christmas I keep trying to get myself motivated and start shopping for presents. It must be something to do with the kids having grown up (although they both still want an advent calendar). The urgency seems to have gone, there is less to buy and less to do, the magic disappears the older they get. We are having dinner on Christmas Eve as neither of them are likely to be up before 1 pm on Christmas Day itself. So a lazy, laid back Christmas beckons, which is nice in it's own way.
Getting the house ready for Christmas is another thing, some people decorate and buy new carpets and curtains. I am having problems with where to fit a Christmas tree this year! As I mentioned before my son moved back home after living with his friends for a few months and brought more back with him than he left with. Mine and Jessie's hobbies have filled the conservatory at the back, so no room there this year. Michael has taken over the other conservatory on the side of the house (aren't we greedy, two conservatories), but I think that is where we'll have to shoe horn one of the big Christmas trees. I think we might get a real one for the front room, just a small one in a pot.
I have been doing an online course, well not doing at the moment just watching! It's called 2013 Arsty Ornaments of Christmas, it's a lovely course with some wonderful ideas. It has inspired Jessie and I to decorate the front room tree with just homemade ornaments this year. Most of us have a few homemade or childmade ornaments anyway, things from primary school or sessions around the kitchen table. Usually involving egg boxes, loo rolls and lots and lots of glitter. These still get put on every year, even though the glitter has slowly shed over the years and they are probably a fire hazard! But our kids made them and so they stay.
Today is going to be a tidying day, a getting sorted and ready day. I am going to try and organise our craft stash so that when we decide to make something it doesn't take 2 hrs to find the stuff to make it with. Usually by the time you find something ( you saw it last week while searching for something else) you have lost the motivation to make it. I have thought about buying Jessie a labeling gun for Christmas, it would gladden her heart as she loves things like that. For someone with OCD her bedroom looks like absolute chaos, but heavens forbid you move something! We just need to win the lottery really and buy a bigger house, then we can have a massive craft room with proper fitted cabinets. Unfortunately that's unlikely to happen, so plastic boxes and piles of paper it is.
Well Carolyn has her new stall up and running and it looks lovely, she has started getting her Christmas stuff in, as well as some things made by fellow crafters. There are some gorgeous handmade stockings and lovely wreaths, as well as the bunting she makes herself. There is probably still time to place orders if you pop in and see her, she is opposite the cafe as you go into the market from the car park. She has some photos on her Facebook page, Make Me Fabrics, that show some of the goods for sale.
I suppose I better stop writing and start tidying, I have been waiting for the temperature to rise in the conservatory a bit, I don't do cold! I probably need a second cup of coffee first though and then let battle commence. I really do need to finish off some projects first before I start anymore (Jessie's blanket is still sat in a corner making me fell guilty). So I'm off to put he kettle on and psyche myself up to start tackling the mountain that is my work table. I might even be able to do some work by the end of the day!
So I hope your projects are more organised than mine and may your Christmas projects run smoothly. This is one chaotic crafter saying goodbye for now.
All my love,
Louise xx
As we hurtle towards Christmas I keep trying to get myself motivated and start shopping for presents. It must be something to do with the kids having grown up (although they both still want an advent calendar). The urgency seems to have gone, there is less to buy and less to do, the magic disappears the older they get. We are having dinner on Christmas Eve as neither of them are likely to be up before 1 pm on Christmas Day itself. So a lazy, laid back Christmas beckons, which is nice in it's own way.
Getting the house ready for Christmas is another thing, some people decorate and buy new carpets and curtains. I am having problems with where to fit a Christmas tree this year! As I mentioned before my son moved back home after living with his friends for a few months and brought more back with him than he left with. Mine and Jessie's hobbies have filled the conservatory at the back, so no room there this year. Michael has taken over the other conservatory on the side of the house (aren't we greedy, two conservatories), but I think that is where we'll have to shoe horn one of the big Christmas trees. I think we might get a real one for the front room, just a small one in a pot.
I have been doing an online course, well not doing at the moment just watching! It's called 2013 Arsty Ornaments of Christmas, it's a lovely course with some wonderful ideas. It has inspired Jessie and I to decorate the front room tree with just homemade ornaments this year. Most of us have a few homemade or childmade ornaments anyway, things from primary school or sessions around the kitchen table. Usually involving egg boxes, loo rolls and lots and lots of glitter. These still get put on every year, even though the glitter has slowly shed over the years and they are probably a fire hazard! But our kids made them and so they stay.
Today is going to be a tidying day, a getting sorted and ready day. I am going to try and organise our craft stash so that when we decide to make something it doesn't take 2 hrs to find the stuff to make it with. Usually by the time you find something ( you saw it last week while searching for something else) you have lost the motivation to make it. I have thought about buying Jessie a labeling gun for Christmas, it would gladden her heart as she loves things like that. For someone with OCD her bedroom looks like absolute chaos, but heavens forbid you move something! We just need to win the lottery really and buy a bigger house, then we can have a massive craft room with proper fitted cabinets. Unfortunately that's unlikely to happen, so plastic boxes and piles of paper it is.
Well Carolyn has her new stall up and running and it looks lovely, she has started getting her Christmas stuff in, as well as some things made by fellow crafters. There are some gorgeous handmade stockings and lovely wreaths, as well as the bunting she makes herself. There is probably still time to place orders if you pop in and see her, she is opposite the cafe as you go into the market from the car park. She has some photos on her Facebook page, Make Me Fabrics, that show some of the goods for sale.
I suppose I better stop writing and start tidying, I have been waiting for the temperature to rise in the conservatory a bit, I don't do cold! I probably need a second cup of coffee first though and then let battle commence. I really do need to finish off some projects first before I start anymore (Jessie's blanket is still sat in a corner making me fell guilty). So I'm off to put he kettle on and psyche myself up to start tackling the mountain that is my work table. I might even be able to do some work by the end of the day!
So I hope your projects are more organised than mine and may your Christmas projects run smoothly. This is one chaotic crafter saying goodbye for now.
All my love,
Louise xx
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Monday, 18 November 2013
It's been a while!
It's been quite a while since I updated my blog as I just sort of lost my creative mojo! We have all been there, you know you should pick up those half finished projects or start making your Christmas cards (it's going to end up being last minute again), but life gets in the way.
My daughter Jessie has had a bad few weeks and been up most nights and when she sleeps the dog doesn't! He was 13 a couple of weeks ago and is wanting to go in and out all night, he has already had two tumours removed and has several more that the vet says should just be left at his age. So it's medicate the dog, make sure Jessie has hers and then take mine on an evening, we all rattle! So the crafting bits just got left as I am absolutely KNACKERED....
I have managed to do some bits for our adult education class, although we haven't been for a couple of weeks as Jessie hasn't wanted to leave the house. I managed to get her to join slimming last week, but her dad had to sit in the car while we went in. I told him we would be ages, but he said he would wait in case she panicked. An hour and a half later we came out! This week he's dropping us off and coming back to pick us up, I did warn him. Makes up for forgetting to pick me up from the train station the other week, isn't Karma great.
Yesterday Carolyn was moving stock from her old shop on South Elmsall Market into her new one. It's much bigger, although she still has more stuff than space. I don't know how she fit it all in the little one she had before. It looks lovely and is in a great spot, across from the cafe just as you come on to the market from the car park. Call in and say hello this Tuesday, Friday or Saturday.
Another reason I haven't written much lately is because I started this blog because Carolyn asked me to do one for her shop, Make Me Fabrics. I thought she would do some sewing pieces to contribute to it, but she doesn't like writing and I cannot persuade her otherwise. So I didn't know what to put on if I hadn't made anything. But I decided to just keep writing as I have been and put things on for her when there is something (I hope she reads this). So I'm afraid it'll be more of me just waffling on and little craft projects in between.
This week for our class piece we had to use Bondaweb and make a sandwich with it. You do this by painting the Bondaweb on the glue side and then cutting and attaching it to a fabric back. You can stitch into this or add embellishments. Then remove the paper backing from the Bondaweb and laying a piece of voile or organza over the top, something transparent. Then you iron this and stitch into it some more, you can then use a soldering iron to cut into the top layer. This is a technique I have fallen in love with and I will when I get a chance make some more pieces. I have put some photos at the bottom of the page of the piece so far.
Well off to see to my kids, dog and husband, as apparently nobody can make a decision over tea. Carvery sounds good, no cooking or washing up!
Hopefully we talk a bit more regularly from now on,
See you soon,
Love Louise xx
My daughter Jessie has had a bad few weeks and been up most nights and when she sleeps the dog doesn't! He was 13 a couple of weeks ago and is wanting to go in and out all night, he has already had two tumours removed and has several more that the vet says should just be left at his age. So it's medicate the dog, make sure Jessie has hers and then take mine on an evening, we all rattle! So the crafting bits just got left as I am absolutely KNACKERED....
I have managed to do some bits for our adult education class, although we haven't been for a couple of weeks as Jessie hasn't wanted to leave the house. I managed to get her to join slimming last week, but her dad had to sit in the car while we went in. I told him we would be ages, but he said he would wait in case she panicked. An hour and a half later we came out! This week he's dropping us off and coming back to pick us up, I did warn him. Makes up for forgetting to pick me up from the train station the other week, isn't Karma great.
Yesterday Carolyn was moving stock from her old shop on South Elmsall Market into her new one. It's much bigger, although she still has more stuff than space. I don't know how she fit it all in the little one she had before. It looks lovely and is in a great spot, across from the cafe just as you come on to the market from the car park. Call in and say hello this Tuesday, Friday or Saturday.
Another reason I haven't written much lately is because I started this blog because Carolyn asked me to do one for her shop, Make Me Fabrics. I thought she would do some sewing pieces to contribute to it, but she doesn't like writing and I cannot persuade her otherwise. So I didn't know what to put on if I hadn't made anything. But I decided to just keep writing as I have been and put things on for her when there is something (I hope she reads this). So I'm afraid it'll be more of me just waffling on and little craft projects in between.
This week for our class piece we had to use Bondaweb and make a sandwich with it. You do this by painting the Bondaweb on the glue side and then cutting and attaching it to a fabric back. You can stitch into this or add embellishments. Then remove the paper backing from the Bondaweb and laying a piece of voile or organza over the top, something transparent. Then you iron this and stitch into it some more, you can then use a soldering iron to cut into the top layer. This is a technique I have fallen in love with and I will when I get a chance make some more pieces. I have put some photos at the bottom of the page of the piece so far.
Well off to see to my kids, dog and husband, as apparently nobody can make a decision over tea. Carvery sounds good, no cooking or washing up!
Hopefully we talk a bit more regularly from now on,
See you soon,
Love Louise xx
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| This is a template I created for a water colour technique |
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| A black and white doodle we had to create for a stitched piece. |
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| This is the first piece we did, it is based on the doodle we had to create in black and white. It had to contain non traditional materials and the was hand dyed. |
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| This is a piece based on a image of excitement, it's made with transfer paints and non traditional materials again. |
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| An alternate colour wheel. It comprise applique, reverse applique, hand dyed fabrics and free stitch embroidery. As well as non traditional items again, screws, coloured with alcohol ink. |
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| This is the Bondaweb piece, although without it's top layer yet. The Bondaweb still has it's paper attached at the moment. The fabric is hand painted again and also has acrylic ink, glitter paint and india ink over the top . The stitching is free machine embroidery with colours layered on top of each other. |
Monday, 28 October 2013
Once Upon a Time...
Once upon a time there was a woman who loved fabric and making things. She collected so much fabric and knew how hard it was to find just the right one, she thought she should help other people find their special fabric and make lovely things. So she opened a magical little shop called Make Me Fabrics and filled it with lovely things.
One day the fabric lady's sister paid her a visit in her special little shop, although there wasn't much room to sit because it was so full of magic. The sisters talked about lots of things, of their children and their husbands, of sealing wax and string and of cabbages and kings. They also listened to the stories of the people who came into the magic little shop and they wrote some of them down in a book. As the pages began to fill, the book began to glow because of the magic of the stories that were filling it. The stories of love, giving and creation were magical themselves.
Into the shop came a young gentleman named Luke, he was learning how to make patterns and had already made lots of beautiful things. He had come into the shop to find some special fabric for a special lady, his Grandmother. He picked some matching fabrics to make a wonderful present, he gave the sisters his story and went on his way.
Then a lady the sisters had known for a long time came into the special little shop, she had been a teacher at their primary school a long, long time ago. The lady must have had some magic herself because she looked exactly the same as when the sisters were little girls. She had been in the little shop before and had come to buy fabric for a friend. She picked some fat quarter bundles for her friend in lovely flowery colours. She also told the sisters about a meeting of crafty ladies on a Friday morning at the local library and told them to visit her and her friends. So she gave the sisters her story and went on her way.
Next a woman came into to shop looking for pretty fabrics to make Halloween wreaths out of. She picked some dress net in orange, black and purple and some scary Halloween fabric. She was making a wreath for herself, her mum and a friend and so she was passing on her magic, which is what happens when you make things with love and give them away. So she paid for her things, gave the sisters her story and went on her way.
Other people came and went, looking for little things, elastic, bobbins and hemming bond. They shared their stories and opened little windows into their lives, they paid for their things and went on their way. One lady was mending a hat she loved, someone was turning up trousers and someone was making a headband, but they all had a little bit of magic about them that comes with doing.
One lady bought some beautiful broderie anglais cotton fabric to make a pram blanket for her daughters friend, so she shared her story with the sisters. But her daughter had shared her magic with someone else as well, the things we make to pass on always have a little magic in them.
Soon it was time for the sisters to part, they put away the book filled with stories for another time. They said goodbye and the older sister went on her way, the younger stayed in her shop to pass on her magic and listen to the stories of the people that came into that special place. The magic in the stories grew as they were passed on, as it always does. The people had touched the lives of the sisters in little ways and they in turn had taken part in the stories of the people who had visited the shop.
Stories are as old as time and have no end, the magic in them grows with the telling and the passing on. We brush through others lives and take part in their stories for the briefest time before moving on. The magic little shop is still there and open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday every week on South Elmsall Market. If you visit the shop pass on your story and leave a little magic behind yourself as you take away your things to make and do, things for yourself and things to give away.
And so this story ends, far now.......
One day the fabric lady's sister paid her a visit in her special little shop, although there wasn't much room to sit because it was so full of magic. The sisters talked about lots of things, of their children and their husbands, of sealing wax and string and of cabbages and kings. They also listened to the stories of the people who came into the magic little shop and they wrote some of them down in a book. As the pages began to fill, the book began to glow because of the magic of the stories that were filling it. The stories of love, giving and creation were magical themselves.
Into the shop came a young gentleman named Luke, he was learning how to make patterns and had already made lots of beautiful things. He had come into the shop to find some special fabric for a special lady, his Grandmother. He picked some matching fabrics to make a wonderful present, he gave the sisters his story and went on his way.
Then a lady the sisters had known for a long time came into the special little shop, she had been a teacher at their primary school a long, long time ago. The lady must have had some magic herself because she looked exactly the same as when the sisters were little girls. She had been in the little shop before and had come to buy fabric for a friend. She picked some fat quarter bundles for her friend in lovely flowery colours. She also told the sisters about a meeting of crafty ladies on a Friday morning at the local library and told them to visit her and her friends. So she gave the sisters her story and went on her way.
Next a woman came into to shop looking for pretty fabrics to make Halloween wreaths out of. She picked some dress net in orange, black and purple and some scary Halloween fabric. She was making a wreath for herself, her mum and a friend and so she was passing on her magic, which is what happens when you make things with love and give them away. So she paid for her things, gave the sisters her story and went on her way.
Other people came and went, looking for little things, elastic, bobbins and hemming bond. They shared their stories and opened little windows into their lives, they paid for their things and went on their way. One lady was mending a hat she loved, someone was turning up trousers and someone was making a headband, but they all had a little bit of magic about them that comes with doing.
One lady bought some beautiful broderie anglais cotton fabric to make a pram blanket for her daughters friend, so she shared her story with the sisters. But her daughter had shared her magic with someone else as well, the things we make to pass on always have a little magic in them.
Soon it was time for the sisters to part, they put away the book filled with stories for another time. They said goodbye and the older sister went on her way, the younger stayed in her shop to pass on her magic and listen to the stories of the people that came into that special place. The magic in the stories grew as they were passed on, as it always does. The people had touched the lives of the sisters in little ways and they in turn had taken part in the stories of the people who had visited the shop.
Stories are as old as time and have no end, the magic in them grows with the telling and the passing on. We brush through others lives and take part in their stories for the briefest time before moving on. The magic little shop is still there and open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday every week on South Elmsall Market. If you visit the shop pass on your story and leave a little magic behind yourself as you take away your things to make and do, things for yourself and things to give away.
And so this story ends, far now.......
Monday, 21 October 2013
On Love and Loss
Last week one of my daughters pets died, he was just a small creature. A Degu, a member of the guinea pig family, he was 7 yrs old and just died in her hands. Lots of crying ensued and the following day a burial took place along side two previous small pets. My kids over the years have had a lot of pets, guinea pigs, hamsters and a budgie, so we have had a fair few deaths, but it doesn't get any easier. I suppose that encountering loss at an early age prepares them for the concept of death, that no-one and nothing lives forever. We have also lost family members over the years and that in its way is the same, you never become accustomed to loss. Each death strikes you anew and though over time it becomes easier to think of our loved ones with a smile instead of a tear, the loss never leaves you.
The dog has been ill for a while as well, he's 13 next month and has already had two cancerous lumps removed. I am dreading his death, not only for my own sake, he is my constant companion, but with my kids being 19 and 20 he has been a constant in their lives for a long time. They take him for granted, are always going to take him a walk tomorrow and treat him like a kid. Losing a pet, even one you have had for a long time can never be equated with the loss of a person, especially a child. But to most of us it is still a devastating loss and the grief can be overwhelming. I have lost parents and a sibling, but I cannot ever imagine losing a child, it must be the most terrible loss of all, something you struggle to come back from.
You try to prepare your children for the things that happen in life, but actual death can only be experienced for itself. But so can childbirth and falling in love for the first time, so along with feeling great sorrows in life we can also feel great joys. In this digital age we all have phones with cameras on, but how many of us actually print off our photos. Digital images do not have an indefinite life span, we lose phones, images corrupt and eventually degrade over time. I'm as guilty as this of anyone, so I'm going to start and print some of our photos off. Rummaging through a box of old photos is a great pleasure and can be an adventure for a child, discovering relatives and friends long since gone. Also discovering the stories that go with the images, passing on an oral history can be just as important. The story of Harry that I put on here not long ago was one my dad was always telling me about my Grandad. I never met him as he died before I was born, but he lived in my minds eye through my dad's stories, as did my Great Grandad through stories about him. Now I tell those stories to my children, as well as ones about my own parents and I hope they continue to travel through the ages from mouth to ear, from parent to child.
And so we learn to deal with love and loss. As well as the physical things we make to become heirlooms for future generations, pass on your stories as well.
Philosophical discussion over, I'm just in a mellow and reflective mood. A combination of the time of year and atmospheric weather perhaps. After all Halloween is originally a feast for remembering the dead not just an American holiday for children to stuff themselves stupid with sweets. So remember loved ones as you put on your costumes, but enjoy making new memories and stories to pass on, and don't forget those photos. After all I'm sure your Great Grandchildren will want to know who the mad people dressed as witches and vampires in the photos are!
All my Love
Louise xx
The dog has been ill for a while as well, he's 13 next month and has already had two cancerous lumps removed. I am dreading his death, not only for my own sake, he is my constant companion, but with my kids being 19 and 20 he has been a constant in their lives for a long time. They take him for granted, are always going to take him a walk tomorrow and treat him like a kid. Losing a pet, even one you have had for a long time can never be equated with the loss of a person, especially a child. But to most of us it is still a devastating loss and the grief can be overwhelming. I have lost parents and a sibling, but I cannot ever imagine losing a child, it must be the most terrible loss of all, something you struggle to come back from.
You try to prepare your children for the things that happen in life, but actual death can only be experienced for itself. But so can childbirth and falling in love for the first time, so along with feeling great sorrows in life we can also feel great joys. In this digital age we all have phones with cameras on, but how many of us actually print off our photos. Digital images do not have an indefinite life span, we lose phones, images corrupt and eventually degrade over time. I'm as guilty as this of anyone, so I'm going to start and print some of our photos off. Rummaging through a box of old photos is a great pleasure and can be an adventure for a child, discovering relatives and friends long since gone. Also discovering the stories that go with the images, passing on an oral history can be just as important. The story of Harry that I put on here not long ago was one my dad was always telling me about my Grandad. I never met him as he died before I was born, but he lived in my minds eye through my dad's stories, as did my Great Grandad through stories about him. Now I tell those stories to my children, as well as ones about my own parents and I hope they continue to travel through the ages from mouth to ear, from parent to child.
And so we learn to deal with love and loss. As well as the physical things we make to become heirlooms for future generations, pass on your stories as well.
Philosophical discussion over, I'm just in a mellow and reflective mood. A combination of the time of year and atmospheric weather perhaps. After all Halloween is originally a feast for remembering the dead not just an American holiday for children to stuff themselves stupid with sweets. So remember loved ones as you put on your costumes, but enjoy making new memories and stories to pass on, and don't forget those photos. After all I'm sure your Great Grandchildren will want to know who the mad people dressed as witches and vampires in the photos are!
All my Love
Louise xx
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