Packing My Bags!!!

Today I am putting all thoughts of boilers and plumbers out of my head and packing my bags ready for a night out tonight.
I am off to The Doodle House for a sleepover with Ruby and Marlowe while Mummy and Daddy go out to a party and a sleepover in a hotel for the night.
They will be back at lunchtime tomorrow so lots of fun hours with my gorgeous girls.
I've told Ruby that I expect a themed night with lots of sweets and new pyjamas...lol.
I'll be gone before DD gets home so she and Andy will have to fend for themselves....no cooking for me today...yay....so I am off up to have a bath, wash my hair and pack a few things.

Have a lovely weekend.
Sheila-x-

Getting Ridiculous!!!

Plumber number three.....and another no show.
Can you believe it? It's just getting bloody ridiculous now.
I think I have given the local independent tradesmen a fair crack so now it's time to bring in the big boys and find one of those countrywide services. I know the plumbers are still local but at least they have to answer to somebody.

After all the hassle this week I am just spending a quiet day sewing until I have to serve tea up. There is some of the Fajita chicken left from yesterday which we are going to have with some salad. DD took a chicken salad for her lunch but we are both of the same opinion that you can never have enough chicken or salad...lol.

Hope you are all having a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Will This Be Third Time Lucky?!!!

Well the git of a boiler engineer didn't turn up at all and has not replied to the message I left on his phone last night.
I am so fed up that I am considering leaving negative feedback on his Yell listing.
Anyway engineer number three has been booked this morning and he says he will be here tomorrow at 11am. I am not holding my breath at this stage.

Thank goodness for me Ruby who will be here within the hour to cheer me up. She will be excited to know that the tickets for the coach York have arrived and that Aunty DD will be booking a time slot at Jorvik tomorrow when she gets paid.
I love it when plans come together.

Chicken Fajitas for tea with guacamole and salsa as per Ruby's request and then we'll see what she wants to do in the time she has left before we take her home.

It's been a lot cooler today for which I am very thankful.

Have a great afternoon and evening.
Sheila-x-

Getting Annoyed Now!!!

The boiler man didn't turn up last night to show us how to turn off the boiler so I figured it out for myself.......... eventually.....and he has not turned up yet to service the damn thing either.
What is wrong with these bloody people?
I am normally a pretty laid back person but he is going to be getting the rough side of my tongue in a phone call later if he hasn't turned up by 5pm.

Too mad to even think of anything else to write so I shall be back tomorrow....hopefully in a better mood.

Hope you're not all too frazzled by this heat.
Sheila-x-

Planning!!!

Oh my goodness...it is hot, hot, hot this morning.
All I want to do is lie in front of the fan with a cold drink but as always there are things to do.
One of the jobs I am doing this morning is making plans for activities for when Ruby comes to stay in the Summer holidays. She'll be coming the third week in August. 
There will be a trip to the seaside and hopefully a trip to Warwick Castle in her first week with other time spent at the park or crafting depending on her mood and the weather. She will go home for the night on the Friday to see Mummy before she flies off for a weekend hen do and then come back to us on Saturday for the Bank Holiday weekend and for the Monday I have just booked a coach trip to York and now need to book a time slot for Jorvik Viking Centre.
The last time I went to Jorvik my daughter was the same age Ruby is now so that will be thirty years ago then.....good grief!!!

I have just cooked lunch for Andy and decided that the kitchen is closed for the rest of the day...or at least as far as cooking is concerned. We will have some stone baked baguette with reduced fat pate and some fruit.

Tomorrow we have a man coming to service the boiler. The service is a little overdue as the man who fitted it has let us down consistently over coming to do it so we had to find someone else. He'll be coming tonight to show us how to turn the boiler off so that it has cooled down for when he arrives tomorrow. I have no idea what they do or how long it takes but I guess I will by this time tomorrow.

Rightio....laundry to see to and tidying to do so I'll get off and get that done.

Hope you are all enjoying some sunshine....but if you have rain then please feel free to send it my way.
Sheila-x-

Busy Days!!!

I thought this weekend was going to be a bit quieter but I'd forgotten that it was DS's birthday yesterday and we needed to pay him a visit. So off to The Doodle House we went and spent a lovely hour with them before he went out to his birthday treat to be pampered at a proper barbers.
After that DD and I popped and had a coffee and a bit of lunch before coming home to do some jobs around the house.
Before I could blink it was bed time and another Saturday over and done with.

No roast lunch today. Instead I am marinating some chicken to have with salad and garlic and parmesan potatoes. Once that is done with I will be retiring to the sewing room for a bit of a tidy up and a fiddle about making some doll boots.

DD is out in the garden having a tidy up. Andy has gone to fetch the papers and all is quiet and peaceful on our little estate.

I hope you are all having a lovely day too.
Sheila-x-

A Welcome Wind!!!

It seems strange to say....with the sun blazing and a bright blue sky....but I am absolutely freezing this morning.
There is a strongish breeze blowing which is keeping the temperature down and I am not complaining one little bit....it's lovely 😃

Most jobs are done for the day except for the hoovering as Andy is in bed. Normally that drives me mad but it wasn't done until later on yesterday and it's not too bad. I am just turning a blind eye to the carrot crumbs...lol.
Tea will be easy again...salad and something. There are bits to use up in the fridge so it could be quite interesting.

Ruby's dress has been soaked in spray starch to stiffen the fabric up a bit before I start mending. Just waiting for it to dry before I iron it and get started.....and until then....I am cutting out shoe bases.

Hope you all have a smashing day.
Sheila-x-

Happy Feet!!!

Well for saying I didn't feel on top form yesterday I managed to get quite a bit done and also snuck in some shoemaking time.
The dolls now have happy feet..........

Hairbands, ribbon and funky foam and they are quite quick to make when I am organised enough to have the bases cut out ready.
Ruby will be here shortly so we'll see what she thinks of them. I know I definitely want a pair of the red ones....lol.

I've been quite mad and had the oven on baking quiches...one for our tea and one for The Doodle House. I reckon I could have baked them in the heat outside today....it has been very hot and I feel slightly melted around the edges.

Tomorrow I have to get the sewing machine out as Ruby's black dress I made for her needs mending. She caught it on something and one of the seams has come adrift. I would much rather make than mend but it's for my little angel so I don't mind.

Hope you are all having a fabulous day.
Sheila-x-

The Loooong Weekend!!!

Happy giggly time spent with my two girls and emotional time spent with BIL. It has been a long weekend and I am looking forward to a more normal one this weekend.....apart from the fact that Andy has to work on Saturday.
Yesterday I just took a day off....no laundry no cleaning and just a simple Ploughman's Lunch for tea.....so today I have to catch up with everything that hasn't been done and make some time to do some sewing or shoemaking as I haven't touched anything in my sewing room for several days.
The trouble is that I don't seem to have an ounce of energy this morning. Isn't that always the way? Still I'll just crack on and see how much I manage to get done.

Hope you all have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Getting Ready For The Weekend!!!

As I am going to be busy this weekend I have started my clean up jobs a day early. Furniture is being shifted and wiped over, the hoover is on turbo and my cobweb ridding arm is in overdrive.....then I looked at the curtains, whipped them down and they are currently being washed and dried before being ironed and rehung. I would love to have hung them out on the line with this lovely wind we have to day but they need to be done quickly as I am out shopping tonight so the tumble dryer it is today.
Woe betide anyone who makes a mess of any kind before 11am on Saturday when BIL arrives.
I do have to have a sit down in between jobs as my back plays up when I am shifting stuff and stretching so while I am resting it I am cutting out doll shoes ready to assemble when I have time to make them.

Something quick for tea tonight before we go out but I haven't made my mind up what yet. I may just see what DD fancies when she comes in and I'll just go with the flow.

After a cloudy start we now have a bit of sun so I hope you are enjoying some too.
Sheila-x-

Planning At The Pub!!!

Poor old Andy.....he came in from work last night to find his wife had gone off to the pub....lol.
I very rarely go out at night unless it's to do shopping or go to the cinema so it was really nice to be whisked off to the pub for our planning meeting.
DDIL, her Mum and me....party planned....or at least the food is and the world put to rights between us. It was lovely.

Today Andy has requested Toad in the Hole for his lunch so I will make that and then I am taking the rest of the day off and doing some sewing....just for a change...lol......until DD comes in and wants feeding.

What are you up to today?
Sheila-x-

Cool!!!

Oh thank goodness for that. We have a nice cool start to the day today which is very welcome as I am going to be chucking myself about doing some heavier jobs today.
Everywhere needs a thorough tidy and a good hoover as DDIL is coming round tonight for planning meeting for her 40th birthday party in October and we will be talking food.

It's going to be a busy old week this week...or at least the weekend will be as I have Ruby on Friday for tea, Saturday I will be taking care of her and Marlowe while Mummy works at home then I have to rush back as BIL is coming over, Sunday I will be taking care of the girls again and then coming home to cook a Sunday lunch which DD would have done for me but she is at work.
I seem to go for weeks with nothing much to do and then everything comes all at once.

No salad left until I go shopping again so DD and I have decided on tomato soup with a cheese sandwich for our tea seeing as how it's just us to please tonight. I will have to cook for Andy before he goes to work though.

No more sewing today as I need to tidy my mess away but tomorrow is another day and I can start again in the morning and make another mess.....lol.

Hope you all have a smashing day.
Sheila-x-

Problems And A Fashion Shoot!!!

I am so sorry for not blogging for a few days but we have some family problems at the moment and we are spending quite a bit of time supporting my Brother in Law who is devastated by what has arisen. There is nothing we can do to help in a practical way but we can be there for him to talk things through and so that is what we are doing.

Meanwhile....in between that and jobs I am still finding a little time to sew and am still on the doll's clothes and here is what I have done so far.......

Both tops here have been adapted from patterns. the trousers and skirt I made from scratch. The circle skirt needs a net petticoat which I shall make if I have enough net in my stash.

The dress was made from a pattern and it actually fit so no adapting and the wrap over skirt was made from scratch.

The green skirt was designed by me using inspiration from my favourite skirt and the circle skirt was again made from scratch....really easy to do.

I need to get cracking on more tops as we now have lots of skirts and trousers.

It looks like the sun of this morning is giving way to dark clouds and rain. Hopefully it will cool things down a bit as the heat here the past couple of days has been horrible.
Even if it does cool down though we will still be having salad for tea. We have hardly eaten anything else for a few weeks....and we even had it for Sunday lunch 😃

Thank you all so much for comments on the last post.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

A Sneaky Peek!!!

This is the little outfit I finished yesterday........

The jersey leggings are made from some pyjamas that no longer fit Ruby and the top is made from fabric I used to make her a top last year. She was thrilled to bits.
I used a commercial pattern for the leggings and made my own pattern for the top.
Today I am taking the top pattern and using it as the base of a new pattern to make a drop sided top to use up the rest of the floral jersey.

Just a few jobs to do before I can get to the machine and then later today I need to go out and do some shopping and call in at the voting station to make my mark.

Spent a mad half an hour at The Doodles last night when we dropped Ruby off. Marlowe has developed the most ear shattering scream when she is excited.It is extremely painful to listen to. I ended up calming her down with a snuggle on my knee and some picture books. Her excitement last night was seeing Ruby. She really loves her big sister.

Laundry to fold and a quick kitchen tidy and that will be house jobs done until tea time.

Hope you are having a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

I Won!!!

I'm very late blogging today as all day I have been fighting a battle. Nothing huge....just tackling sewing with jersey at last.
Battle 1....how to stop it curling....spray starch the hell out of it. It also makes it so much easier to cut.
Battle 2....remember to change to a ball point needle. I didn't and the result was a bit of a hot mess to start with.
Battle 3....the bottom hem on a pair of dolls leggings is teeny tiny. I switched my regular foot to the smallest foot I could find in my collection.....I think it was a cording foot but it did the trick. Next time I'll sew the hems before I sew the leg seams.
Result....one pair of perfectly acceptable leggings....but the next pair will be better.
Tomorrow I will remember lessons learned today and have a go at a t shirt.
I'll be able to start taking photos soon as I am just about to order some proper stands for the dolls. Ruby will love being able to have them standing up.

Over the last couple of days or so the garden has exploded in a riot of colour. The roses and the peony have so many flowers on them. I'd love to cut some for the house but there seem to be rather a lot of ants around the peony and I am not letting those little blighters into the house.

We seem to be eating salad like it's going out of fashion at the minute so I am thinking I might get DD to sew me some cut and come again lettuce in a container on the yard.
Tomatoes don't do well for us so we are not even going to try this year....although once we get a greenhouse we might try again.

Time now to go and settle down for a while to watch Vikings which DD and I are on our third watching of now that we have finished The Sopranos.

Hope you have all had a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

I Want Me Winter Back!!!

I am so over this hot weather now.
Most of my weekend has been spent nursing headaches and horrible itchy rashes which just about drove me insane.
This morning started off lovely and cool but as the day has gone on the thermometer has crept up and up.....although not quite as high as it's highest yesterday which was 28C in the sewing room.

Andy is off today and won't go back to work until tomorrow at 9pm so we have done a few jobs which needed doing. He has cleaned the outside of the windows that look down the road out of the sewing room for me as I can't get to them. Climbing over a wall and dropping down into a narrow gap is just beyond me I'm afraid.
While he was doing that I have been doing laundry and taking apart all of the fans we have in the house and cleaning them....another job that life is just to short for....lol.

Andy has decided that I deserve a night off from cooking tonight and is taking us out for a meal.....I didn't tell him that I had no intentions of turning the cooker on today and tea was going to be cold meat and salad so there will be no cooking tomorrow either as I will just shuffle that over.

Well I think I shall go and have a nice soak in the bath for half an hour. I feel really grubby after cleaning those fans out.

Hope you are all having a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

In The Zone!!!

I am having just the best time at the moment.
Jobs done in the morning and sewing for the rest of the day until it's time to get tea.
I'm still on the doll clothes and have progressed to making my own simple patterns as I am getting a little frustrated trying to adapt the patterns I have to fit these dolls. Most of the patterns for 18" dolls are designed to fit the American Girl doll. She is a big girl whereas the DesignAFriend doll is much slimmer. Some of the outfits can be made to fit by doing a bigger seam allowance but the more structured stuff is quite difficult.
Quite a few skirts have been done so my next job is to design a pattern or two for tops....they will be jersey tops.....this could turn into a hot mess....lol.
Once I have got some complete outfits finished I will do a photo shoot and show you what I have been up to.

Not liking the heat today. My head is aching and I feel itchy and gross. The fan is on but it's just moving warm air round so I might as well save the electricity and turn it off. I will be having a nice cool bath tonight.

Right....I am off to do a bit of sketching for some ideas before DD gets home and wants feeding.

Hope you are enjoying the heat.
Sheila-x-