Sprinting

Those that know me or have read any of my blog will know that motorbikes play a huge part in our lives. We enjoy riding them and watching them race. We have a Ducati 996 which I adore. Ducati's have been my dream bike for many years and I finally got my wish when we bought one.
Had to wait a bit til the marque we wanted was cheap enough for us to afford. Was a bit peeved when hubby highsided it earlier this year but it's all mended now. Missed some riding time but never mind.
But that is not the only bike we own.We also have a 60's Triton racer. A beautiful machine well developed and appointed. Hubby did some parading on it a few years back but what with moving house and then Mum being ill and passing away it went on the back burner. Although we have a load of work to do on the house and garden before Peter's wedding next year it is time to pay the old girl some attention and hubby is going to rebuild her and make her all beautiful again.
He may race her but is more interested in trying out Sprinting and in particular Twisty Sprints.
In the interest of research we went along to a VMCC sprint nr Aldershot. It was a much smaller event than I had anticpated and I was very glad that I packed a picnic.



One of hubby's favourite bikes was there. This bike is a thing of beauty,
Also this great car turned up.I think they were racing them nearby as we could hear the noise.

On the creative front nothing much happening. No great ideas and actually that's not bothering me at the moment. I am having one of my paranoid spells where I don't feel that I fit in anywhere,am being left behind and excluded by everyone. But as I said that's just my paranoia. I am still planning on moving my sewing room into what was my son's bedroom which will give me much more space.Well surface area anyway. Maybe this will spark something off.
I am going to man a stall at a Handmade fair in Leigh on Sea on 21st November and will be promoting handmade and etsy and hopefully selling some of my own and other peoples wares.
Tomorrow I am going to the knitting and stitching show at Ally Pally so a bit of retail therapy there.
Next weekend we are hoping to have a day in Brighton with our son and his fiancee. Always good fun and she is great to shop with.

ACEO swap etsy boomers group

I have recently joined the etsy group for baby boomers ie over 45's. It is a popular group so I had to wait a little while to get membership. They are a very friendly, supportive group , in the most part American but with a healthy sprinkling of UK'ers. A condition of membership is to post on their chat thread. Well no problem for me that one. Also to take part in monthly activities. I find that I work better to a deadline so again no problem.
The first monthly activity that I am joining in with is an ACEO swap. Theme Spring. I have never made an ACEO before and had lots of ideas as usual the problem was deciding which idea to go with.I tried out a few but eventually decided on the one above. I may list the others I have made in my etsy shop.
This ACEO is made by layering various hand dyed fabrics on to a background using the embellisher.Some commercial yarn was then added. I hand embroidered using both commercial and hand dyed yarn and then added the leaf beads.
I feel that spring means growth, green and fresh starts.

Thursday 8th January

Things I love and can't live without
Trivial I know but I love my coffee machine.Well both of them really.This is my filter coffee maker.Yes I am addicted to coffee, sad but true.This is my self portrait for Self Portrait Thursday which is a group on flickr.I don't do one every week as I don't like the way I look at the moment and I am not very good at photography or photoshopping although I did make my nasty mole disappear on this photo.
Picked up tiles for the utility room today.Hubby is threatening to do tiling at the weekend. I did spend some time in my sewing room today and started planning a piece for the UK etsy monthly challenge topic Japan.Just waiting for hubby to get home after work.

New Things

Been fiddling around trying a few new little things that will probably end up in my etsy or folksy shops .Really like this little blue bird.I have done a sort of robin version as well.May list later

Etsy Retreat

Can't believe it's been a week and a half since I set of to York and the Uk etsy retreat. Overcoming my fear/dislike of travelling was the first hurdle so I was much relieved to find my way to Kings X and met up with reform aka Tricia, charlottenarunsky aka Charlotte and Dichotomy aka Bronwyn . Collected Gillian on the way somehow. Collected at York station by the wonderful Debbie
who was responsible for us all being there.There ensued a wonderful weekend of crafting ,chat,laughing etc. The facilities at the school were superb.Lucky girls that go there! I really hope it happens next year as now I know what is there I have ideas of what I would like to do. Tried a few new things although my screen printing on Sunday morning was hampered by me feeing decidedly unwell.

Getting Ready

On Friday I am off to the etsy retreat in York. Really excited about this but don't really know what I am going to do. I am not in the slightest worried about being with so many strangers for the weekend because they are not , strangers that is. I have met a few of them, the rest I feel I already know and I am certain that we will all get on fine. I haven't done much to prepare for this trip but I have bought my first 2 bars of Green and Black's chocolate which I understand is an essential ingredient for this weekend.
I have also signed up for flickr's 888 event so I will have to take my picture and post it before I leave for the train on Friday morning.

Friday 13th June

Passport Cover

Hairbands soon to be listed

Uneasy day on UK etsy thread.I'll say no more.
Had a brief run out on the bike to get petrol. ( while we still could)As hubby works in a power station he should always be OK to get it but you never know.Last time there was a strike/blockade he had a letter to present at petrol stations saying he was an essential worker or something.
Have just got round to taking some photos of things I have had made for a while and just haven't got round to listing on etsy
My resolution for next week is to start applying for jobs.I have had a nice break and its been great but really must get back into the swing.
Confidence not at it's highest though especially since trawling through loads of jobs on the web and honestly not seeing one that I thought I could apply for.My qualifications ,such as they are,probably need updating and I am up for that. I do pick things up pretty quickly but feel that my age is now against me.

Been Nagged Again

Grungie Granny

Space The Final Frontier

Nagged again that I have not posted on my blog recently.Yes you know who you are!
So what have I been up to.
Went to the dentist with toothache.Said it was my gums not my teeth.
Written my CV which means I am slowly getting round to looking for a new job.
Managed an entry to the etsy uk challenge for May which was space.(finished third)
Pieced a small scrap quilt (Will I ever finish it?)
Attended a super workshop and made a grungie granny.

Rainy Bank Holiday

Yes true to form the British weather has delivered us a horrid ,wet and windy Bank Holiday.Not too bothered myself as I had not got anything planned.Keep getting told off because I don't blog often enough but I do lead a boring life so what's to write about.
What have I been doing lately.

Trying to look after hubby while he tackles tiling the utility room.Copious cups of tea required there.
Looking after my boy after minor op.
Missing my cat much more than I thought I would.
Making some hairbands.
Trying to get to grips with zipped pouches.Still can't get the zip right.

Decided that I could blog about an etsy shop that I have recently discovered.
margrietje.etsy.com
A true treasure trove of little charmers.Definitely on my wish list and in my favourites.This little bird in particular
So adorable.And her shop is full of these.As soon as paypal manages to credit my account with the money it is hanging on to this is going straight in my shopping cart.It makes me so wish that I had some artistic ability.

Thursday 3rd April

Just about recovered from my tooth extraction and enjoying the holiday and the lovely weather.
When I have done this I am going to go and pot up some plants to make the front of the house look a bit more attractive.Have completed a few more brooches for my etsy shop.Just have to list them.Also trying to write up instructions for making some brooches that I am hoping to teach.

Doesn't feel much like I am unemployed at the moment as the schools are on holiday anyway.

Holidays End

Well last day of half term today so back to work tomorrow.I have made the decision that I am leaving at Easter.Not sure what will come next .Bit scared,bit excited.

Listed a few more bits in etsy shop









Have been a bit out of things for a couple of days with nasty sinus headaches which have been making me feel most unwell.Hoping to feel OK tonight as it is Embroiderers Guild meeting.

Saturday 25th August 2007

Most remiss haven't blogged for ages.Last weekend went to Festival of quilts at NEC my friend Nickie won a 2nd place in use of embroidery for her quilt so much excitement there. No more sales yet on etsy but ever hopeful Have listed a couple more things in my shop debsmuddle.etsy.com

Thursday 26th July

Finally ,and after much nagging, I have listed some items on debsmuddle.etsy.com.Much to my amazement I sold one immediately to the lovely eskimimi.etsy.com. Got a bit excited and flustered so I hope I did everything I needed to. Will list a few more later tonight hoping to catch the US. My fellow UK etsyians have been so supportive and helpful.( I needed the nagging)