Cushion Crazy

Quite some time ago I helped myself to many sofa fabric swatches from Marks and Spencer. When I liberated them from the shop I wasn't exactly sure what was going to what I was going to do with them, eventually I decided I would use them to make a patchwork cushion. I started making it about a year ago but it ended up in my 'to be continued' box but i finally finished it today! I made an envelope back made light browny grey (I'm thinking mouse fur) coloured cord, I'm really pleased with it although I don't think my sewing machine would agree, the fabric was probably a little too thick for it, so I don't think i'll be making any more!!

Woe is me.

It seems all that stress and worry about my job has taken it's toll and has made me ill (my immune system seems to be getting more rubbish every year)!! I've got a really bad cold and this is my third day off work feeling like c*@p.  First of all it was a bout of the sneezes then a sore throat and after that... you really don't want to know!!!! All I want to do is sleep but when I lie down I can't breathe as my chest feels like someone is standing on it!!! So here I sit in self exiled quarantine (I don't want to give this to my housemate) propped up on many cushions wishing I could just sleep it off  but instead I'm browsing Etsy, being tempted to spend money I don't have and generally feeling sorry for myself! 

Lovely New Fabric!!!

I bought some lovely blue spotty fabric today to go with my red stripey and black skully fabrics. Now have everything I need to attempt some pirate bunting!! Arrr!! I'm hopeful the colours and patterns will look great together.

While I was queuing up to buy my spotty fabric I couldn't help but notice this lovely cherry fabric. I only bought a metres worth as I have no idea what I'm going to do with it but I couldn't resist.

Trying New Photos.

Bit of a bad day.

Today I found out that I'm rubbish at my day job! Last week we had interviews at work to find out who would be made redundant, who would lose some hours and who got to keep their job as is. Even though I didn't get made redundant (which I guess I should be grateful for) I lost 5.5 hrs a week because I sucked in my interview which seems a little unfair to judge me solely on that after 5 years service! So if my experience counts for nothing then the only conclusion I can come to is that I must be rubbish! You could look on the bright side, like I originally did and say 'Hey that's not so bad, at least I can spend more time crafting!' But this loss of hours means not just less money but no more weekends off! I will have to work every single weekend and I usually do my best crafting on a Saturday afternoon, so this really sucks!!! My main point is that I need to really get working on my shops as I'm really going to need to supplement my income now as I can barely manage as it is. Overall I think I'd rather have made redundant!!

Anyway on the bright side my flatmate and I had some friends over on Saturday to watch Eurovision and I managed to sell two brooches!! Before you think it, I don't try to flog my stuff to every friend and visitor who comes round to the flat!! It was just that I had a lot of my brooches on display ready for photos and everyone commented on how nice they were and asked how much. It was hard, I really had to restrain myself from giving them away but in the end I sold a Skully and a Leafy Ladybird brooch. Result!

HULK SMASHED....

I made little fella for a friend's 30th birthday. I named him Hulkenstein as he was meant to be The Hulk but ended up looking more like Frankenstein (or Frankenstein's monster if you want to be a little pedantic!) He found he was very popular at the pub and was looking rather worse for wear when the evening was over as was the person who's birthday it was!!

Holiday. Celebrate.

Well I've closed my Etsy and Folksy shops and tidied away all my crafty things so I think I'm just about ready for my holiday to Egypt. I leave tomorrow and it will be my first trip out of the UK in four and a half years and I'm starting to get a bit excited (it's about time!). I'm sure I'll have a great time, though I can't help feeling a little nervous as it's the most money I've spent on anything, so I have this weird vision of it all going horribly wrong - like some Watchdog holiday from hell!!! I know I shouldn't be so negative but I really want it to be great so it will live up to my mum's expectations (as she is very excited). With all the running around, sorting out money, buying suitable clothes etc I can't help the slight feeling of dread especially when people keep saying things like it'll the 'holiday of a lifetime'. Too Much Pressure!!! I think my main problem is that I find going on holiday abroad extremely stressful! For a start I think my expectations are usually too high so the place can never quite live up to what I've imagined! (this is my biggest worry about Egypt as I've wanted to go there since I was a little kid!) The other problem is I always want to do to much, fitting in as much I can (with the thought going round and round my head that I have to see everything because I may never get to come back again!) so I'm not really enjoying the holiday experience. I'm pretty sure this time it will be very different and I can relax! As it's a proper package holiday with all the food and excursions included, it means that all the organising is someone else's problem and all I have to do is just follow along (which will be really, really nice!). I think what I need to keep telling myself that this is my mum's holiday as long as she enjoys herself then it has been a great holiday!  Well I'd better be going as I still having packing to do.