Tickets, money, passport

I don't know about you, but every time I go on holiday I'm always convinced I've forgotten something important. I've found having everything in one place always helps a lot - I've been using a travel wallet I got free with one of the glossy magazines for the last year or so, but it is looking a bit tired and was never really that stylish in the first place so I've decided now that I'm sewing I should make one myself. Quite pleased with how it's turning out so far, luckily the little one had quite a long nap today so I managed to get most of it done. Just need to do the side pieces tomorrow and it will be finished. Once I see how I get on with the prototype, I'm planning to do a load more in different fabrics for my Etsy shop.

Clutter, clutter, clutter

Our house is heaving with clutter, in particular my various crafting items. I'm afraid I'm not very good at letting go of anything that I think I might have a use for (but never get round to using). I had a wardrobe clear out recently which left me with enough space (after some rearranging) to leave the bottom drawer of my chest of drawers empty only to be filled up with all my fabric stash. Some of the items wound there way back into the bottom draw (honest I will use the fabric really), but most have been bagged up for the charity shop (just need to get round to actually taking it there - ahem).

Finishing off

Turquoise velvet flower cuff
Originally uploaded by Cloth cat

Finally got round to finishing off my flower bracelets and uploading to Etsy - only took me about two weeks, ahem. Definately need to get myself a bit more organised about making stuff.

Most annoying

Finally got round to a bit more blogging last night and did it direct from flickr so save time uploading the photos. Now it seems to have dissapeared. Grrrrrrrr.

Spring sorting

Buttons
Originally uploaded by Cloth cat

I became overcome by the urge to sort through all my buttons last weekend. So much so that I moved all my beads out of this box and into one with smaller compartments so that I can fit all my beads in here. Not sure quite what drove me to it other than generally being a bit sick of hunting round the bottom of my sewing box.

Home Farm & Paddock

IMGP2772
Originally uploaded by Cloth cat

The farm house and paddock opposite. Unfortunately the horses had gone out on the last morning so we didn't get to say goodbye.

Murder Mystery

Knowlton 053
Originally uploaded by lizmuz

Me at the autioneer in the murder mystery. To my left my mum as inspector Clue d'eau.

Dower House

Dower House
Originally uploaded by Cloth cat

Ok, so I'm not keeping up with the blog entries very well. I'll try and catch up a couple in one go.

Weekend before last was my Auntie Sal's 50th birthday. She organised a big party weekend down in Kent. She rented the Dower House (see picture) and Home Farm on the grounds of Knowlton Court for everyone to stay in and we had a murder mystery party in the Dower House on the Saturday (real Agatha Christie type setting - an absoloute scream). Given that it was the beginning of February we had the most amazing weather with beautiful blue skies. I stayed in Home Farm with my family - just opposite the front door was a paddock with stables and 3 horses - my little boy was absoloutely mad about them wanting to go out and look at them every 5 minutes. I'd reccomend it to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in the Canterbury neck of the woods.

I've won, I've won, I've won!

Mouse with ear on back
Originally uploaded by Cloth cat

Found out this afternoon that my entry for the January UK Challenge has won wooohooo! The challenge for this month was Weird Science and my entry was a needle felted mouse with an ear on it's back. This is the first time I've managed to get round to entering the competition, so I'm well chuffed to have won it. The theme this month particularly appealed to me coming from a science background. I hummed and hawed a bit about what to do then just had one of those light bulb moments. Once I'd thought of the Vacanti mouse, I was desperate to get it finished and posted as soons as possible as I was sure someone else would have the same idea as it's such a well known photo. As it turned out, there were only two other entries this month so I needn't have worried.

Februarys theme is sweets from my childhood, so I'm going to have to get my thinking cap on for that one. Think January is going to be a hard one to follow up though!

Going down town

I'm off into London today for the first time in ages (first time since the London Etsy meet up I think) to meet my friend Jeanette who is over from Norway for the weekend. Really looking forwards to it as I haven't seen her in ages. Not one to miss up an opportuntity for a bit of habadashery shopping though I shall be calling in at VV Rouleaux http://www.vvrouleaux.com/ to augment my ribbon stash. Hopefully I'll manage to get out without spending too much money.