taking (a bit of) stock

Making: elephant cushions that, hopefully, will be given the thumb’s up by the Kalk Bay shop:

Gearing up for: sorting out and packing all my crafty things. Since the Big Tidy in January, which was sufficient to get the house looking decent enough to put on show, my natural love of chaos has taken over again.

Enjoying: compliments from customers – this from Enid, who stopped and bought a kitty cushion on Sunday while her family was on its way to breakfast at Woolies. She’s put the cushion on top of the throw I made for her last month.

Not enjoying: planning my finances for the next couple of months. Moving house is bloody expensive…legal fees, transfer duty, movers, aarrgghhh

Getting very cross with: Edward. His youthful naughtiness is rubbing off on my two old girls and they have started up with new bad habits, like sleeping where they shouldn’t and knocking phones and glasses off bedside tables. Here is helpful Edward:

Choco’s thoughts are clear: If he can do it, why can’t I? Now leave me alone while I’m trying to nap.

Looking forward to: having a girls’ night at my house tomorrow – Gwen, Kim, Michelle, wine, pizza, ice-cream. All the good stuff.

Grateful for: meeting lovely people through blogging. On Friday at Made in the Cape, I was visited by Lynn, who introduced herself as someone who reads my blog. I thought you’d be older, she said, at which point I knew she would be my friend for life. I haven’t had time to arrange a follow-up, but we had a long chat about all kinds of things from crochet to self-confidence, and I feel like I’ve known her for years. Lynn, if you’re reading this, please give me til next week to sort myself out, I’m a bit behind with work stuff right now :)

Sad about: my wonderful Doreen, who had a stroke last month and is recovering at Booth Memorial in Gardens. She has made a very good physical recovery but isn’t quite ready to go home just yet. She has a loving and attentive family but, with the exception of her grandson, they all live overseas. She is so frustrated that her hands aren’t up to crocheting, I can share her impatience! Last night I took her biscuits and flowers, kindly donated by Karen, and with 15 minutes to go before the end of visiting time, her daughter Linda arrived straight from the airport from the US via London. Hugs and tears.

I have so much love and admiration for this incredibly generous and hard-working and positive woman. xxx Doreen.

Advertisement

working space

Despite what I said yesterday about upheaval, there are some benefits to being in the new house. One is that there is a separate “flatlet”, comprising of two rooms and a bathroom, which I have annexed for my work space. Still disorganised but if I show you some pics it might help me to get a bloody move on….

Room #1 above: desk, printing table and ironing board. Also other stuff…

Room #2: sewing machines, fabric storage, very useful built-in cupboards.

Bathroom. There’s a narrow path to the loo, but otherwise it’s filling up fast…

A few inspirations hanging on existing fixture: Market Rabbit, African birds, and a very beautiful felted bag sent to me by Kathryn in Colorado.

Jessie and Choco have been sulking since the move. Their refuge is a cardboard box with a flannel sheet in my sewing room, and I’ve kept the doors closed while they acclimatise. Since we now share the house with a dog, however, this may take years. They will certainly never forgive me.

And here is an entirely gratuitous photo of me with my daughter on her graduation day at the University of Cape Town last week. Very proud of my girl. It was bitterly cold but at least the rain held off!

Monday resolutions

Those selfish animals of mine forced me to get out of bed just before 5h00 this morning.   Jessie  starts a sort of wild ride on one of my hips, which is a bit odd but not terrible, but Choco has started reaching up next to my bed and swatting my face.  It’s not nice to be woken up that way, especially when it’s dark and cold.

Anyway, as I trudged down the passage to feed the vermin and get my coffee going, it struck me that I could turn this into a positive thing: since I was up, I may as well use the time to get going with my day and tackle the Big Item on my list – tidying the lounge.  I have a friend coming for tea tomorrow and there is no way I can let her into the flat the way it is now.  Literally or figuratively.

In order to reach the Tidy Lounge state, I need to finish a mosaic mirror frame that a friend has commissioned.  It is round, nearly one metre in diameter, so I am working on the lounge floor to give myself enough space with it.  Happy to say I have now completed the first stage of grouting, and tonight it will get the second. (I know not all mosaicers do it that way but I prefer it, I think it gives a smoother and better finish.)

I chose iridescent glass in shades of mother-of-pearl through to a soft peachy shade. It picks up the light in different ways, and looks amazing.

Right, enough of that, I’m off to continue with my resolution.

To be continued…