Friday 14 September 2007

At long last ...


Well the house is much tidier and calmer this week and we're slowly getting back into the old school routine (unfortunately!). Fortunately the children aren't disappearing under a mountain of homework just yet but I'm in danger of disappearing under a pile of papers brought home from school daily requiring a signature, requests for particular things to be brought in on various days, new club permission slips, noting on the calendar or, invariably, money.

I'm slowly getting through the "things I need to get done" list, and will, hopefully, although this rarely happens, move on to the " "the things I would really like to make but never have any time to " list. There are so many things I've been wanting to make recently and have been dreaming about over the summer, we'll see... I have found time to sort through my fabrics and bits and bobs and get things ready for some more ragging.


I finished a tea cosy for an order for somebody this week. As you can see I've put out an extra cup and saucer for you to join me. Friday afternoon tea with friends and a blog or two to read...
The things that's got me so excited this week is that, finally, after squirreling away some of my Etsy earnings I've bought myself a new sewing machine! I've never had a new sewing machine, my friend has lent me hers but it's not working and for years I've been hand sewing everything! So this morning I went and bought my new toy. I can't tell you how happy I am. It's nothing fancy but it's good for someone like me, who's Domestic Science teacher called "very slow indeed!" ( I don't know how she never noticed that I was off school for two months with bronchitis and whilst the other girls were showing off their sewing skills on their skirts and pyjama cases I was still trying to understand just how to sew in a straight line without asking for help!).

I'm considering, and perhaps justifying, the sewing machine as a birthday present to me - yes, it's my birthday tomorrow! Now you see how nice it would be if you could pop over for a cup of tea this afternoon! I'm not sure what we're up to tomorrow although the girls want to go boating again as a special treat for me(!!!!). We're all going out for dinner in the evening too.


Another job I ticked off my list this week was the cutting back of all the lavender in the front garden - there was masses of it - this photo shows about a third of it. There were so many bundles that I fell over them on the way back into the house, landing on the front door step buried under a heap of lavender, waiting for M to come and help me up again, not a very fragrant sight.
The lavender is now drying in various baskets and hampers around the house and it all smells delicious. But there is a limit to just how many lavender sachets a girl can make, even a girl with a brand new sewing machine...


... and, as a birthday present from me to you I'm going to offer you crafty ladies some lavender. If anyone would like some please leave a comment etc and we'll pick some names next week.


Hope you all have a good weekend. Janome and I will be having lots of fun!

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oooh, yes please count me in for the draw. I love reading your blog, and those tea cosies of yours are just divine - the colours are so sweetly pretty, like old fashioned sweeties. Hope you have a lovely birthday and that you and your new Janome have a long and fruitful relationship.

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Happy Birthday for tomorrow!! You definitely deserved to treat yourself to the sewing machine-can't wait to see what you create with it!
P.S if only your old teacher could see you now!!xx

Mary said...

What a beautiful tea cosy! I'm so jealous of the lavender -- it never seems to do well here in my hard clay soil.

Please count me in for the drawing, and have a wonderful birthday!
Mary

Racheal Miles said...

Good for you on saving your etsy earnings, I hope to be doing the samething one day.
Wouldn't it be lovely if your old sewing teacher read your blog and saw how well you're doing with your sewing now.
Happy birthday for tomorrow.
And thanks for sharing your news with us.
Racheal x

Racheal Miles said...

oh forgot to say, I just love the tea cosy.
Racheal x

Anonymous said...

Yes please I would love some lavender! I keep thinking about a new sewing machine. There are so many to choose from, how do you begin?

Anonymous said...

mmm...I can almost smell the lavender! I'm not too late for tea am I? ;o) This post was such a treat...Love your new tea cozy, it's beautiful. Congrats on your new sewing machine! Have fun playing with you new friend. Such lovely things you're got there for making up projects. Have a wonderful birthday, my friend! Such fun reading all your news...Oh, and do count me in on that drawing! Happy weekend to you all ((HUGS))

Andylynne said...

Oh you lucky girl, you have a new machine. I have sewn by hand but bought a Neki sp?? at a garage sale. I can imagine the smell of the lavender. I'll be by for tea a little later.
Have a wonderful birthday!

Country Cottage Chic said...

I love lavender - I'm working on some lavender scented pillows at the moment!

Hope you have a super birthday tomorrow & I'll have a cup of tea with you anytime!

Betty said...

Happy Birthday, Kim! I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Rachel said...

Happy Birthday for Tomorrow- it sounds like you have a nice family day planned - don't forget your cake!

Your photographs are beautiful - and all your bits and bobs are just lovely. I have my own lavender drying off at the moment am hoping to grow some more bushes for my allotment - so even more over the next few years :-)
Rachel

Ali said...

Happy birthday for tomorrow! I had to get rid of my sad tired old lavender bushes last year, so there's none for me (unless I get lucky and win some of yours of course!).

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you!

Please add my name to those who would LOVE some homegrown lavender...but I live in the States...is that too far for you to send it???

Holly
hmv212@aol.com

Samantha said...

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Kim!

Glad to see you got a Janome sewing machine. I am so pleased with mine.

Please count me in for the lavender draw!
x

AC said...

I hope that you have a very happy birthday tomorrow Kim:-)
I have still got to wait a bit longer for my sewing machine. What type did you get? I need one that is simple to use but does some embroidery.
Enjoy playing with your machine . Put my name in the hat for some lavender...I'm getting through tons with my mum's charity craft fair coming up!
Take care,
Alison x

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Happy Birthday, sweet Kim! And how exciting to have a new sewing machine! I don't own one either - I am using hubby's grandmother's very old 1952 Singer! lol Your house must smell wonderful with all that lavender! =)

andsewtosleep said...

Hi Kim
I love the colours in that tea cosy. Good luck with your sewing machine - I'm on my third (my first was bought for me by my parents when I was 13!)I hope you have many happy sewing days and a very happy birthday for tomorrow.
Mary

ginny said...

Hi Kim,
Happy Birthday for tomorrrow, here's to a lovely day!
Know what you mean about all the forms from school. (2 different schools for us). Find it hard to keep up.
I would have loved to pop and join you for tea. Friday's is my day for catching up with friends. Today i shared a cuppa with a friend before school pick up. Being the last to leave her house, and without thinking, i shut the front door. Can you believe it.. i had locked her out. I felt awful. After the initial shock, and picking up the kids, she worked out how to get in again and all was ok... Maybe i'm not a good friend to have for tea after all.
Enjoy you new Janome.
ginny
x

Nonnie said...

Happy Birthday for tomorrow! I hope you have a really lovely day. Definitely very deserving of a new sewing machine. I'd love to go in the draw for some of the lavender.Would love to pop over for tea too!

saraeden said...

I hope you have a very Happy Birthday
tomorrow !!
Im sure you and your new machine will have great fun together :0)

Sara x

Anonymous said...

Have a really lovely birthday, feeling a bit guilty about our lavender though it never occured to me to dry it when I pruned a couple of weeks ago. Though we did have the sweetest smelling "green" bin for miles. Enjoy your special day.

Mary said...

Hi
Hope you have a great birthday. We have lavender everywhere too. I think it must have loved all the rain this year!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim

Happy birthday for tomorrow. What a pretty tea cosy. Your lack of sewing skills at school certainly didn't hold you back in later life. Congratulations on your new sewing machine. May you enjoy many happy hours together.

Thanks for your kind comment on my blog.

Marie x

Janice said...

From one Virgo to another (mine was on the 11th!) happy birthday for tomorrow. You are so lucky to have lavendar in abundance.

Anonymous said...

First of all Happy Birthday! I am new to blogging and found you through a link on someone else's blog... The lavender is heavenly.. I tried to grow some this year but all I have is the stalk ..it didn't bloom..but even the stalks have a love smell..however if you would lik'e to pick me well then so be it...I won't complain.. you have a great day!

JO

Heidijayhawk said...

happy birthday my dear!!! hope you have a fabuous day!! and i think a new machine would be the most fabulous gift ever!

Thimbleanna said...

Boy, what a loaded post!
--First of all, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
--Love the pinks.
--Congratulations on the new machine. Lots more lovely projects to share with us in your future!
--What on earth was your teacher thinking???
--The new tea cosy is beautiful.
--And so is the lavendar. Please include me in your drawing! ;-)

meggie said...

Happy Birthday To Kim!!!
and I guarantee, you will love your Janmome. I have one, & I love it.
Your blog is always so pretty & , well,,, tasteful!

Clare and Mike said...

Hi KIm,

A very Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a brilliant day (great weather) whatever you do!

Hope you enjoy your new sewing machine - I for one can't wait to see what you make with it as your colourful creations are wonderful!

Clare x

GigerVamp said...

I remember I was off school for 6 weeks with glandular fever, and when I came back, my needlework teacher asked why she hadn't had any homework from me for weeks. She was a bit embarrassed when I told her that I hadn't been there all that time. I guess because I was the quiet girl, she'd just assumed I was there!

Anyway, I hope you have a lovely birthday.

Amanda and Tim said...

First of all - HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Secondly I am so excited for you that you have a new sweing machine! I have longed for one for years, myself a hand-sewer hehe and I can well imagine your excitement at finally buying yourself your very own! And last but certainly not least - I love lavender so put me in for the draw :o)

OhSoVintage said...

A very happy birthday to you, hope you have had a lovely day. I love the tea cosy as I do all your fantastic creations.

Anonymous said...

*happy birthday to you*

I have the same cups and saucers as you, the ones like petals, we must both have fabulous taste!! :)

Hope you enjoy your new sewing machine, Ive yet to try mine out yet, hoping to have ago tommorrow!

Oh, I love lavender too!!

Jennifer x

mollycupcakes said...

Hi Kim Happy birthday for today, I hope you've had a lovely day. You have the birthday as my Ben, so happy birthday from him too.

I hope you get on with your new sewing machine, look forward to seeing all the new items you make with it.
OOww love the lavender, my little lavender plant is just a baby size and has no flowers on it now :( poor thing. We have so many slugs and they just eat everything argh!

Happy birthday honey x
Catherine x

Pam said...

Happy birthday from me too - there are still 35 minutes of it left!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Mmm I love lavender, you must have a very relaxed house if the smell is everywhere!

Anonymous said...

Hope you had a lovely Birthday! Did someone bake you a cake?
I've never had a new machine, I use my Mum's which was old when she got it, but it nust be exciting learning all the new features and stitches - what are you going to make first?

Jodie said...

I hope you had the happiest of birthdays and had a lovelt time with your new machine!

Anonymous said...

Dear Kim, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!! And congratulations on your new toy. :) I'm not usually a fan of bright colours but I LOVE the combination of pink and green in your photos. And yes, I can always use more lavender. :) ~ hugs, Lynda ♥

Victoria May Plum said...

I love the tea cosy! (as always x)

My home economics teacher threw me out of her class for doing my geography homework - I never went back after that, and she never looked for me (I got an A in Geography though!).

Your home must smell beautiful now, with all of that gorgeous lavender, how lovely.

Am I too late to wish you a very happy birthday xx

Victoria x

The Honourable Billy Blunt said...

Hope your birthday is wonderful,your house must smell gorgeous and so relaxing.
I love those pink buttons what a scrummy colour and your tea cosy is just perfect.
Best Wishes to you Kat xx

Curlew Country said...

Many happy (belated) returns for Saturday. Hope you had a smashing day. Well done you for getting so much done. I spent all of Sunday down the cellar sorting things out in anticipation of our move. Wow I know how to have a good time!
Enjoy your sweing machine too.
Stephx

Heidi said...

A very happy (belated) birthday to you Kim! I am never able to read blogs over the weekend so I saw this after the big day. I hope you had a great one. I say you deserve that new sewing machine. Enjoy it! I loved your tray of ragging items. Now that is a picture that makes a person smile with all those cheerful colors.

Leanne said...

oh, another virgo!!(my birthday this week too!) sorry this is late, hope you had a lovely birthday|!

Leanne x

Lallee said...

I would love to be included if USA is OK. I love lavender! You'll get lots of wonderful use out of your new machine so enjoy.

Gill said...

A belated Happy Birthday Kim, I haven't visited for a while and missed your special day. Libra, a fine sign...well balanced people, librans. You've done some lovely posts, I always enjoy reading about your days out, we don't do it very often so I'll have to make do with hearing about yours!
Thanks for visiting
Gill x

Gill said...

Oops no you're not a Libra...well I'm sure you know that! Ignore my comment, put it down to the glass or two of red wine I've just enjoyed...