Sprucing...

I have been sort-of decorating... not the full-on wallpapering and painting the walls sort of decorating, but more of a 'shjuzzing up' sort of thing. Sprucing up my home. Eight years I've been in my little home... and it's finally beginning to feel like it's all mine :)

I found a temporary frame for the little embroidery that my Nan had done...

Ideally, I'd like one a bit thinner and longer... but this was a little charity shop find that will do very nicely for now. In the same charity shop I found a perfect little cushion and cover in a gorgeous deep red - brand new for just £2.50... bargain!

I found something I always wanted for my home too... words. I wanted to paint words on the wall, going around an inner corner of the front room... but never found anywhere that would lend me an overhead-projector to get the writing perfect... then I came across some word stickers that were almost exactly what I wanted!

Of course, when I had the original idea, we had a moderately sized television that sat nicely in a wooden cupboard... now I have a monster on the wall... but then, I suppose that Hubby has to have some things his own way in his home :)

I've done loads more... just little things to make this house feel like it's my 'forever home'. I loved my old house - though I only lived in it for about ten years, and didn't think I'd ever really love the home I have now. But things change... and though my house is a concrete little end-of terrace box on a council street, I feel like I am home.

Some Ideas, Please...?

I have been a busy bunny lately. I decided that the under-stair cupboard (read: dumping ground) needed a clear-out, and so I set myself the task of sorting and binning, sweeping and cleaning the whole space. Three times I banged my head backing out of the doorway of the space - concrete lintels hurt! Anyway, I managed to sort through the bags of bags (seriously!), old video recorders and Sky boxes, smelly wellies and muddy boots and have made a useable space for ironing board, vaccuum cleaner and bags-for-life. The only problem was that I knew the sideboard in the dining room needed sorting out too - it had loads of 'stuff' inside that could be stored in the newly-spacious under-stair cupboard... so I did that. I won't be making any Christmas cards this year - I found EIGHT packs shoved in the back of a drawer or two, as well as a big box of loose cards. I have the sneaking suspicion that I may be a bit of a hoarder :) So... everything tidy (-ish) and with a pile of stuff to get rid of on Ebay, I find a little rag at the back of one of the side-cupboards in the sideboard. I was so tired of tidying, that I almost just threw it in the bin, before my mind jolted and I remembered what it was... A small piece of practice embroidery my nan had done.

I want to hang it in my dining room - the colours would be perfect. The actual needlework picture is about 9"x5.25", with plenty of space around it as you can see. The background colour is more of a sort of oatmeal colour than it shows here... but that's besides the point.

So... I was wondering about the best way to hang this.

A photo frame? But then, do I stretch the picture over some sort of stiff backing - because I really don't want to cut it to size...? Or should I stretch it over a canvas frame and staple it in place? Would I need to glue the whole thing down - though I'm loathe to do that too, as I don't want to harm or damage the piece of work.

I did think of sewing a rod into a channel at the top and bottom of the piece, and hanging it that way.... but not too sure, as I want it to look more like art than just a wall hanging. Maybe a shadow box... but how would that work, I'm wondering?

So, any ideas... anyone?
Any photographs you have of similar projects you could point me to would be fantastic!

Oh, Christmas Tree...

Not the best photo... but it'll do for a quick snap.

 The pressies are all bought and wrapped, and the meat is all in the freezer. This year I shall be serving up venison, beef, chicken and pheasant (as well as a ton of veggies!) to a household of smiling people - I hope :)

I added to my decorations this year with a bear from Avon that recites the poem "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" (Twas The Night Before Christmas). It's adorable... though Lily tries desperately to ignore it *lol*

Miss Violet

A quick introduction to Miss Violet ("Baby"), who is just over 4 months old now, and we've had her since she was about ten weeks old. She's a long-haired terror who is utterly adorable, and thoroughly spoilt! This was taken during the first week we adopted her...

She thinks the dining room table is her bed during the day.

She also takes over my daughters bed...

Places herself in awkward positions in my craft room...

and occasionally seems to get "cat" muddled up with "meerkat"...

...which is funny because when we first went to see her, the sellers said she had facial markings that made her look like she had a moustache like the "Go Compare" tenor singer.

So, there's the little kitty who's helping to heal my broken heart.

When...if... Bella returns, they will get along famously! Of course, they'll wreck my home... but it'll be worth it :)

Seven Months!!!

SEVEN months?!?!?

Yes, that's how long it's been since I blogged here - disgraceful!

I actually had a bit of a gentle kick from Di (Hiya Di!! Will reply soon - promise!) who wrote me a lovely e-mail and asked how the heck I was.

Di writes beautifully - and anyone who needs to see something beautiful should check out her blog too :)

Anyways...

What's been happening in the world of Patchwork Apples? Not a lot. Jewellery making took over my life for a few weeks, and then something awful happened in August this year. My beautiful Bella went missing... and I haven't seen her since. The times I've spent trawling around the area, putting up posters and just asking people if they'd seen her mounted up to so many hours - but nothing has been seen or heard from my beautiful little kitty. Callie (her fur-mummy) became stressed and lost a lot of weight and fur because Bella wasn't around for her to hiss at and be bossy to, and so we had to take her to the vets. Then the dog started suffering from some sort of Bella-missing-induced depression... and I just wallowed in self-pity over the loss of my beautiful Bella. Breaking into wastelands nearby and calling out "Bella Winky... little bit stinky!" made me a bit of a character in the local area - I am now the strange cat lady - which is kind of funny seeing as my friend up the street has 24 cats - and I'M the strange cat lady??

I digress...

I did the only thing any insane strange cat lady would do under the same circumstances. I bought another cat. Miss Violet (usually called "Baby") is NOT a replacement for Bella... just another addition to our furry-family. Callie is happier - she now has another bundle of fur to hiss at. Lily (our dog) is over her depression and now just has to understand that she is actually a dog and not another cat - poor little thing has serious issues and I can't afford doggy therapy.

Next, Hubby paid out huge amounts to get both the cats microchipped - though we're not getting Baby spayed yet because Hubby thinks it's best if she has kittens.

So... there we go. My sad few months... made a little easier by the arrival of our little baby kitty.

I absolutely promise to post a photo of our Christmas Tree very soon... of course I decorated the house on November 1st again...

Thank you MUCHNESS to Di for the lovely e-mail :)

Bella. 21st July 2012.

WOYWW 151

I've been so uber-busy that I've had no time for WOYWW the last couple of weeks... shame, shame on me!!! Naughty!

Anyways...  here the workdesk...

Now, usually I have a furry little helper... but rarely a doggy! This is my Lily and she's jumping onto the chair because she's recently had a bath and a haircut, so she doesn't smell and is allowed on the furniture again. Until she goes outside and rolls in mud and muck again *lol*

So... onto the actual desk. It's covered in a new venture (yes, yet another one!) that involves me having no feeling in my forefinger tip any more. Seriously *lol* I've been making shamballa-style bracelets for a business that is being set up. Of course, I had to show off a bit and do chokers, necklaces, rings, and even hairslides too :) The loss of feeling in my fingertip is due to me having to burn and seal the ends of the nylon cord I use... and I've had so many blisters and burns that my fingertip is now calloused, rough... and ready for any flame *lol*

Hopefully my consignment of pave beads will be here soon... and I'll be blinging it up shamballa stylie :)

I am still scrapbooking, and also making miniatures... but not so much in the last two weeks. I spent two days just tidying up my craft room, and half a day making display boards (12"x12") for the jewellery company.

So what's your work-space looking like on this lovely Wednesday? Be brave and share a piccie with us all and Mr Linky with Julia at the Stamping Ground :)

Have a wonderful and busy Wednesday everyone!

WOYWW 147

Did you hear it???

It must have been loud...

the bomb, that is...

The bomb that obviously went off on my desk this morning!

It is such a mess!

I was running late yesterday evening for the craft night at Pickwell's... I had deliveries all day (not that I'm complaining - I love to get things in the post!), trying to get at least ten different things done at the same time (and achieving the completion of NONE)... and basically running around like a headless chicken getting nowhere fast :)

So... how's your desk for WOYWW this week? Bet it a LOT tidier than mine!

I can't close my drawer, I haven't unpacked my bag (with my amazing, gorgeous and simply wonderful WOYWW badge on it )

 I have no idea why the Autumn Swirls mini album and stand is back on the desk... because I have finished it - finally! As for the packet of choccie buttons... I swear they were unopened when this photograph was taken. They are now, however, all eaten with the wrapper hidden in the bin. If you hide all evidence of eating chocolate, the calories don't count, right?

 My laptop is sat on top of magazines instead of my lap, I have clay bits and paintbrushes everywhere...

And I still haven't gotten around to starting that darn crochet yet either!

Well, have a wonderful WOYWW to all!

Pop on over to Julia's and join in... if you dare :)