How crap is that? Four days into Blogtoberfest and already I missed a post but there is a really good reason, honest.





You see yesterday Maria and I took a little jaunt up to Bath for a bloggy meet-up. Bless her, Maria did all the driving again while I plugged away at the 'Plane Socks' because as we know Christmas is getting ever closer. Having met-up in the driving rain we were prepared to swim our way around Milsom Street but the weather cleared as we approached Bath. (Which was a relief to both of us as heading up Brassknocker Hill in the rain was not something to look forward to.) We were meeting up with Joy and her lovely travelling companions, Daryl and Jess. After rescuing them from the depths of the Marks & Spencer's luggage department with a restorative cup of tea we went off to explore.


I automatically slipped into tour guide mode and dragged them from one end of town to the other heading up toward The Circus and then back down Saracen street to the Cath Kidston shop with a detour via Queen Square. I hope it was a good blend of 'historical and sociolgical tourism' or as it is properly known 'looking and shopping'.

Joy was in such a blissed out state Maria had to collect the shopping for her! Darryl was outside eyeing up The Saracen's Head over the road. He should have gone in, we were at Cath Kidston long enough that he could have downed several pints!



As always at a blog meet up there was much laughing, chatting and a 'knowing' of each other even though you are just meeting for the first time.

Thanks to Joy, Daryl and Jess for sharing a little slice of your holiday with us :-)

Blatant and unashamed vote canvassing

Young Ms. CurlyPops rose to the Loz and Dinny tassel challenge with grace and style one would expect of a crafting superhero. This in turn gave rise to a challenge of her own, a call to the crafty inhabitants of blogland to create a SuperPops character from any media they favour.

destructoBoy took up this challenge and with a flick of his wrist here and a smattering of coloured pencil there he created his very own SuperCurly Pops a la 1970s rollerderby film (and no, I haven't been letting my eight y.o. watch crubbish late night telly).

The voting is on, the race is hot. While he actually has no chance of winning it woud be lovely for the results to show that someone other than his mother voted for him ;-) So click here to boost his ratings. It seems there has been a time extension so you have until 3pm 4/11 AUSTRALIAN time (about 4am 4/11 GMT or god alone knows what in the US) so GO! Hurry quickly and cast your vote for my small boy. It will bring a smile to you face - honest!

Blogtoberfest Day 22 Perhaps it hasn't gone after all.....

the very lovely Wonderwoman(not!) braved the heavy rain and came for a visit this morning. Both destructoBoy and I were pleased to see her as it brought a welcome break from the intense competition of the Inaugural Ironing Board Table Tennis World Championships that was taking place in the living room.

With d/Boy off sick for the day he lurked while Maria and I chatted. As you do. One of the things we spoke of was our swap commitments and I confessed my worries that any contributions may be Scarey Mary-ish, not least my first attempt at hand-knitted and then felted fabric.

She was kind enough to not only calm my nerves but give me a few tips for successfully turning this into a bag for Pr. C-W to take to a dinner party (!!!) this weekend.

Feeling a bit cheerier I coyly brought out a few other WIPS for her keen assessment. These are jammie shorts for d/Boy and his mate, Dervish to wear for the Halloween sleepover. Obviously they have a pair each because, quite frankly, sharing a bed with Dervish would be like trying to hold a cyclone in a glass let alone a pair of pyjamas.

I am quite chuffed as I constructed the template from a pair of in-house pj pants. Didn't actually cut around actual jammies as I love them too much and was scared they may end up in pieces.

The two girls aren't getting pjs as I am unsure what size Dynamo wears, just that she is waaaaay taller than Pr.C-W. So I made an accidental trip in the hammering rain to the lovely fabric warehouse down the road and 'found' some lovely Halloween fabrics.

Again suggestions were made. So tomorrow (after doing the bag for Dynamo's birthday present bag) I shall be adding some applique to the Irish linen background (less than £5pm!! Yay for old-fashioned haberdashers) and then quilting in the ditch before backing it with the spooky spider and witchy-poo quilting fabrics to make cushions.

Picture is a bit blurred but this is 2/3 of a teddy bear destined for the school hand-made Christmas.

Finally is this year's Christmas piece for painting. Unfortunately I wasn't there the night we began so Miss painted my background.

No. It wouldn't have been my choice either which is a real shame as I am LOVING the pattern and it is soooooo quick to paint up. I just feel a little sad when I look at everyone else painting this on to a plain cream surface.

All this is in the last two weeks so perhaps my crafting mojo wasn't gone but just sleeping.

Day 21 Blogtoberfest

Like oil on water, feeling a little disturbed and uneven (not necessarily globular).

Tried and true methods of destressing have been less than successful.

Wishing my crafting mojo would return.