Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Doing the shopping then quietly away in the shed on my rods. Must get a new battery in my watch, I shall need it at Keele and Sod's Law says the battery will give up the ghost just when I need it. Normally I never wear it.....

[Stanley]

I got the battery change right, my watch man told me it was almost at the end of its life. I am safe now with a new battery fitted!
I shall be quietly pursuing my eccentric rods this morning after a bit of shopping and a call to the local Royal Mail sorting office to see if they have my missing flash card posted on the 15th of June....
My crap detector started to whine this morning when I was thinking about the rods. I think I may have slipped up and not allowed enough meat in the clevis end for the offset! I can work round it but I am not pleased.....

[Stanley]

In the shed retrieving my mistake!

[Julie in Norfolk]

Doing daughter's garden and mother's curtains. Thinking about getting someone in to do my stuff. Actually, I'm thinking about getting someone to stand in for me full stop. (Except for dog walking which is the only sensible use of time).

[Stanley]

I feel the same about the shed and reading Julie.....

[plaques]

Actually, I'm thinking about getting someone to stand in for me full stop.

Could you explain yourself in a bit more detail then we don't get the wrong impression!

[Stanley]

P. Don't embarrass the poor lass! I know exactly how she feels and now realise that old age and retirement is the key. Someone younger stands in for you and leaves you free to get on with the important things!

[Christian]

I gave my notice at work on Monday..

I have absolutely 0 things to do and I'm now sat twiddling my fingers, ah well, paid for a month to do nothing.

Time to brush up on my knowledge for the new gig. I didn't end up taking the job in Bradford,instead I found something much closer to home in Skipton for around the same brass. Thats £100 in diesel saved!

[Stanley]

Nice one Christian. So good to hear from someone in the world of work who is succeeding and seems to be on track.
I never forget that it's you who is paying my pension..... I use the money wisely and do useful work....

[Sue]

Back from a very wet week in Kendal where I was participating on a week long art course. I have designed and printed some fabric for a simple summer top, home now and very tired

[Stanley]

I am at the point with the engines now where I will have to have a good long think. They are virtually finished.....

[Marilyn]

Sometimes I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits...
I do my best thinking in the bath every morning, but then I sits and thinks and washes...

Was it silk painting, Sue? (I have watched others doing it but never tried it)

[Sue]

No it was stencil printing. First I sketched a design then drew it on cartridge paper. Then I traced each component and cut out the stencils from the tracings. I practised on scrap material then printed on to the pattern pieces I had already checked for size and cut out. The dyes I used have to be made up and diluted before applying to the fabric. They are heat fixed and that makes them stable for washing. I tried doing that with the sample and it was OK

I have done silk painting but I am not very good at outlining the designs with gutta. My friend is a brilliant free hand silk painter and she too was busy this week painting on the fabric that will form the fronts of a silk kimono. She is no sewer though and as I have never sewn silk she is going to have the garment made by someone else, possibly by my sewing teacher.

[Marilyn]

Sounds like great fun. I love soaking up info "hands on".

Whenever I stitch silk I use tissue paper, cut into narrow strips, and I sew the seam through it and then tear it off. I think that it came from days when machine feet were narrower and had less grip but as one of my sewing machines almost qualifies as an antique ( and is now motorised), it works for me! ( the feet are scarily narrow on that one )

[PanBiker]

Sally has gone off to Harrogate with a couple of friends for an overnight stay, it's one of her friends birthday. House is sorted, kitchen clean, washing up done, my tea planned, vacuumed round in the house. Bit of dinner shortly and then boots on and a yomp round Weets beckons I think.

[Sue]

[Wendyf]

Brilliant Sue!

[Stanley]

Awestruck Sue.... Maz, that tissue paper trick is used by the people using computerised embroidery techniques on Tee shits. The tissue dissolves at the first wash.
I shall be making small pipe fittings.....

[Marilyn]

Your top looks lovely, Sue. Just the thing for Summer.

We have been in our current home for two years today. That has prompted some cupboard cleaning and sorting. Not everyone's favourite task, but I love a good sort out. Two large bags for the charity shop thus far ( sneaked a few things in when Febby's back was turned). If we haven't needed an object/item in the last two years, it's time it went. It will save the kids a big job one day...( and very much in with my philosophy of owning precious little when I die).
Kitchen and Dining Rooms done. I am off to my Tardis of a Linen Cupboard...

[Julie in Norfolk]

Taking Mum for the results of what we hope is not a significant scan. Then transferring dad's slides (some of) into digital images.

[LizG]

The top looks brilliant Sue. There's no end to your talents.

I think you can buy machine needles with a ball point for sewing delicate fabrics like silk. They don't grab the fabric and tear or pull the threads.

I always use paper when I machine appliqué. It stops the thread bunching the fabric, makes sure it lays flat for quilting.

[Sue]

I have ball point needles and tissue paper, I also gave differ types of support backing used in embroidery as my machine is also an embroidery machine. However the big problem with silk is the stretching and movement whilst you are cutting it out and indeed sewing. You can't/ shouldn't cut out double but each piece separately. It does make pattern match easier though.

[LizG]

I wouldn't want to practice on someone else's hand painted silk that's for sure.

[Marilyn]

Hope your Mum is ok, Julie.

I am thinking of having a little dabble with my watercolour pencils today. Last time I tried them I ran out of patience, but I've since seen some lovely efforts by others and fancy trying again.

[Stanley]

The number of times I've told myself to have a go at drawing but never got on with it......