I'm on my way ...

We will take this gently, one step at a time, but I think, maybe, just maybe I might be on my way back to blogland.
In the past 6 months of silence I have achieved a lot of things, and learnt a lot of things.  However, when I finally decided to try and type a short post to get me back in the habit, I couldn't for the life of me remember a) my password, b) how to create a new post.
So thats it, I'm energy zapped at my small post of a few lines, but I promise not to leave it so long and I will be back again shortly.

WOYWW - Whoops!

It is now Thursday at 2.05.  I didn't intend to join Whats on Your workbench Wednesday this week as I am so busy.
I didn't manage to make my ATC in time, so thought I would give it away at a later date.
But when I came to start blog hopping, I have accidentally clicked the link button rather than the comment button and now an asterick version of my name appears on Julia's stamping ground blog. And of course Julia is away so can't take my name off the list.

So sorry if you called around to see a photo and I will finish / start my ATC this weekend.

WOYWW - Sterling Stuff

Pliers, wires, and automobiles (well almost)

' morning WOYWW-ers.  I don't know about you, but someone is definitely taking hours out of the day.  I've been on holiday, come back, been to my mums come back and I am still struggling to find time to fit Wednesdays in.

Today I am working on the dining table (because the workbench is covered in 'stuff').  I have had a number of enquiries about my wirework jewellery requesting sterling silver.  I have resisted so far, simply because of the value of stock I would need to hold.  However I have decided the time has come....

So this week I have been making my designs in sterling silver, and costing them up.

snapshot

Here is a snapshot of a few things I have converted so far: the necklace is a variation of a Linda Jones design, the treble clef and locket are my own design pendants that go onto chains.

And somehow before next week I have an ATC to make - an ATC that woke me up on holiday with its design!

(This is a post for Whats on your workbench Wednesday, an opportunity to show just how messy a situation you can work in)

Handmade Monday - camper van

Sorry, a quick snap on the phone.

This is a very very quick post, with minutes to spare for Handmade Monday now hosted over at Handmade habour.

A friend from OH's work, has resigned and is off travelling, so I couldn't resist making a special card just for her.

It would need some refining if it were to go into production, but it reminded me of you Wendy, (sorry I've not been around much lately, I do pop by and read yours and many other HM blogs, I just don't seem to find time to contribute or comment).

Did you miss me?

Here is the cathedral

Did you miss me? I've been away, a whole week, abroad and with sunshine - I am hoping that such happy memories will see me across our dreary summer.

So where have I been? Can you guess?

Here is the South side of the cathedral - little shops with rooms above.

You may have the country by now, but what about the city?

steps inside the municipal square - see all the bikes?

i

Its called the city of bicycles!

Totally off the beaten track, a real gem of a find by OH, a city in Italy, given over to bicycles. A city called Ferrara.  Full of beautiful architecture (but we forgot the camera - this is my mobile phone).

And the children loved it!

Back to normal for on Wednesday - see you soon.

WOYWW - Fabric, Phoenix and Friendship

It runs like a dream!

Well, look what's on my workbench today (well dining table actually).  Yes, Whats on your workbench Wednesday has come rushing round, just when I borrowed an overlocker.

I'll try and keep this brief:
Remember I burnt out baby blues foot pedal?
Well, when my heart beat had slowed (about 2 days later), I took the pedal to pieces and realised that although it was very simple inside I would never trust it again.  I couldn't decide what to do, so visited Helen Sutcliffe of Eleanor's Attic for advice.  (Just over 12 months ago, Helen was a one man band making bags for 6 shops, now she supplies around 100 shops and owns one herself!).

introducing ...Boring Brown.

I knew Helen had a replacement motor (and pedal) so borrowed it to see if it fitted, but I also borrowed a broken (but similar) Singer machine to cannibalise.

Well the motor didn't fit, but the Singer used the same motor.  I decided to cannibalise baby blue instead (shame, but much simplier process).
So out of the flames a new boring brown machine has risen.

Anyway, back to the overlocker. I decided I needed an overlocker and I have been trawling ebay for weeks now.  But I couldn't settle on my budget because, well, actually I have never used one before.

Eventually, yesterday morning I phoned Helen and asked if she had one I could borrow.  And so here it is.  But not only did she say I could borrow it (and no rush to return it), but she also told me of one for sale (from another friend).  So I now have a local overlocker waiting for me to go and try out.

oh and for the papercrafters: this is what an overlocker does.

WOYWW - distracted

Hello folks, there is far too much going on in my life at the moment, I really should have more sense than to join in with WOYWW (whats on your workbench Wednesday), this week, but I can't help myself. (Rhinoceros news is available to those that need it, here).

On my desk in the jiffy bag is the part for my vacuum cleaner - so maybe, just maybe I might have a working vacuum cleaner tonight (4 months of borrowing MIL is beginning to get annoying for both parties).

On the left is the pile of things, still waiting to be fixed.

The bowl of lost things is still there, it did have the ipod cable at the bottom, and I removed a few more things from it, but other things climbed in to fill it straight back up again.

On the right is a pile of coins, OH, empties his pockets onto the table each night, which irritates me, but at least he hasn't taken to piling his clothes there too. (It is part of the reason there must never be an empty space).

The book propped open is my notes on how to make the following, yes, despite the fact that I really shouldn't have spent the time on it, I just had to make up this purse that was rattling around in my head.
It was inspired by the quilting stall I found at Machynlleth market last week.
The bag needs a shorter handle on one side and a longer tag on the other, and goodness knows what was up with my top stitching today, but I think there is some mileage in the design.  I hope to add the daffodil, chicken and sailing boat instead of the coloured panel, so to add it to the Polly Polkadot range.