Claire December 31st, 2008
Thought I had better post before the year is out – couldn’t believe the time lapsed since my last post….. Have wanted to blog but, well, life got in the way (for life read work, Pinky and Boo, work, cleaning, Pinky and Boo, sleeping and trying to be a domestic goddess – and the members of Stitched Up I tried feeding a rather well cooked Victoria Sponge to are testament that I need to spend a bit more time practicing that on….)
I have been here soooo many times – even David’s family have commented that I need to update the blog more often (Hi, I mean to!) and I can’t face another “sorry, been busy, must try harder” thing.
So, after doing a lot of thought about work, Pinky and Boo, blogging and generally where I want to to be this time next year, I am going to try and post once a week at least, more of I can. I think it will slow me down a little bit, make me remember the small stuff. If any of you have Alicia Paulson’s “Stitched in Time” book she puts it perfectly there…
So what has filled this year? Weddings have played a very large part in 2007 – first of all there was David’s uncle William’s wedding, then Vicky and Jez in April, then us, and the other week David’s youngest brother tied the knot. Looking back at our wedding there are so many things I would have changed if I could – I would have listened to some people a bit more, ignored and told where to get off others although I wouldn’t for a second have changed anything about marrying David.
Craft fairs – good grief they have taken it out of me – 10 in total and I have lost more sleep over them than I realised when I signed up for them than I would. But I have met some lovely people, built up a small client base, learned lots of (painful) lessons and strengthened friendships as a result of them.
Work. Changing jobs was a real eye opener for me, as is working part time. I haven’t worked part time for 10 years, and certainly not at the level I am at now. It’s easier working full time! I am only in post until June 09 at the latest, so we shall see where I will be after that when I have some head space…..
What’s in store for 2009? My plans so far consist of spending more time doing things for me, with the people I care about rather than running round like a headless chicken.
Pinky and Boo – need to decide where it’s future lays, and moving it in that direction.
Work – well I will have to do some but the most exciting thing is I had an interview before Christmas and have been accepted to teach for a local FE college via the Textile Workshop, starting in January. But that doesn’t feel like work to me….
Blogging more….. less said and all that
Remembering to tell those who mean something to me that I love them and appreciate them in my life. And for the ones who are negative, critical or generally wastes of space, spend less time worrying about them or listening to them. Or simply tell them where to get off.
The other exciting thing that’s coming up is Project Glamour- it’s something Hannah and I were chatting about the other evening, but I shall blog about that in the new year.
Til then, I wish you all the very best for the coming year – may you all have health, wealth and happiness for you and yours xoxo
Claire November 17th, 2008
Or that really should be “squeek”…. Look who has travelled over from Northern Ireland to come and live with me and keep my pins nice and safe.
Eileen, my new granny sent this little lovely over along with a couple of kits to make them as she thought that they would look lovely on my stall, so thank you, I plan to take the kits with me on a long train journey to and from London on Thursday and get them made up.
After a manic week – combination of not feeling very well and needing to sew, sew, sew for the craft fairs the relief I feel as the end is in sight is immense. The Beeston fair was awful – really slow Thursday, a bit better Friday but still not great, and David managed til 1 on Saturday. However, he packed up early (after taking the princely sum of £7) as I was selling out at The Place. If you are one of the visitors that came to the event, you will know what a buzz it was. That’s what all craft fairs should be like, and restored my faith in myself and my little bits and bobs. Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re down (and hormonal, wich always helps…) then rejection of your things you have literally spent every waking moment putting together, makes you think it’s a personal rejection. Especially when I don’t think my prices are expensive….. Anyhoo, I feel like a new person after Saturday. The only shame was that I didn’t have a second to take pictures or have a look at the other stalls other than the ones around me that I could see from where I was, but a small price to pay really.
Better go, I have a cat to get in….. xoxo
Claire November 4th, 2008
Last time I knew I was blogging about a dog show….. sorry weeks have slipped past. I do know that most of my time has been taken up by work (yes, I am supposed to be working 3 days a week and 2 on Pinky and Boo, but that all seems like theory and not much reality…) and doing , well, stuff for craft fairs. Feeling more than a tad frustrated that work (the day job’s added extras I have been roped into for my “old” project) is taking over and I haven’t done as much as I wanted to have done by now. I am at a 3 day event in Nottingham (Beeston, if you know it and are around) on 13th, 14th and 15th November, and another one in Nottingham again on 15th. I have managed to rope David in to manning the stall on 15th in Beeston whilst I do the one in Sherwood. 
Goodness knows how it will pan out, so we shall see…. I have another fair in West Bridgford on 5th and 6th December but that gives me a bit more time to make stuff.
I think if I do shorter, less rambly posts, I may have a better chance of updating by blog…
Also, here’s a shout out to Hannah, new blogger on the block. If Hannah hadn’t fitted my wedding dress for me I would not have had a dress quite simply – pop over and say Hi if you get the chance.
‘Til next time, adieu x
Claire September 28th, 2008
D’ya know that with all the planning and stress and effort that went into the wedding, I hadn’t actually thought about what the heck we’d be doing afterwards…. Daft I know, so it’s a good job that I left pretty much all of it up to David for the honeymoon. David lived in Dublin for a year and so knew what he was doing when he booked the accommodation – I left it all up to him. I just wanted to chill for a week, which is what we did.
We stayed in a self catering apartment in the centre of Dublin (and I warn you, if you are thinking of visiting and are a light sleeper, it’s NOISY!) which was great as we walked everywhere.
The only “touristy” thing we didn’t do was the Guinness factory – I don’t drink Guinness so walking round a brewery isn’t my greatest idea of fun, although the view from the bar was supposed to be great. However the weather wasn’t…. it didn’t rain, but wasn’t really clear enough to get a good view of the city, so we didn’t bother. Christ Church Cathedral was gorgeous and I loved it in there.
The Ha’penny bridge was about 5 minutes walk from our apartment and was crossed several times a day going pootling around.
And you have to have your pic taken with Phil Lynnot… there was another one taken late at night after several rounds of Magners and a couple of whiskies, that I won’t share with you…
I do think we’ll go back again, and next time I will hit the beach!
Need to get back to “non wedding” blogging – I had the mother of all car boot loads today that I have to share with you and loads of other bits and bobs. xoxo
Claire September 16th, 2008
Thank you to all of you who commented/ emailed about the wedding – I really appreciate it. I know I sounded like a moaning, ungrateful cow but at the time I wrote it I was feeling quite down about the whole thing. I have sorted a lot of it out now – one of the things that made me feel better about it all was getting the photos back, some of which I will share today. What I thought would be logical would be to show you photos of the day today, then in the next post (goodness knows when that will be…. when I can summon the energy probably) show you the reception, then the post after the honeymoon, and then to round it all up show you some of the crafty things I made for the wedding. So – less gibbering, more pics. Sorry if they take time to load, but the images are huge and I haven’t had the time to play with them.
Scary – me without a scrap of make up – never to be seen online again….
The dress – that’s what 2 weeks’ solid sewing and 250 crochet roses looks like…
Close up of the neckline – I used large and small irridescent sequins in the centre of each one, and used vintage crystals and pearls from old necklaces, and pearls, seed beads and Swarovski crystals in the centre of each one. I also used some vintage Guipure trim to add a bit more “oomph” to the roses
David and his best man looking remarkably calm in the church doorway well before I arrived.
Smile for the camera x
Trying my best to look elegant when getting out of the car, and not fall flat on my face…
The important bit
The relief when it was all done and legal in the vestry… I think my shoulders fell about 3 inches after the service!!
Trying not to get blown over in the gale force winds outside, about 3 minutes before the heavens opened up and it poured it down making us all seek sanctuary inside!
Next time on “Pinky and Boo” – Wedding part 2 – the reception xxx
Claire September 2nd, 2008
Just a flying visit to say “Hi” and let you know I am still out there. Distinct lack of blogging before and since the wedding, and an even bigger lack of pics to show you.
Quick update for you – I am now officially Mrs McCurdy. After months of planning, blood, sweat and tears though it didn’t really turn out how I had hoped it would. I loved the dress (will show you a pic when I have them…), loved the wedding itself – the service was lovely and what shocks me the most is that I didn’t cry my way through the vows as I thought I would have), the food was fantastic and it was lovely seeing people at the wedding that had all made an effort to be there and contributed to make it happen. However the weather was foul (despite everyone getting sunburnt the day before the rain starting pretty much as soon as we stepped out of the church) , the DJ didn’t play pretty much anything we requested until I pestered him, and very few people danced, and amongst lots of other things, my hair wasn’t anything like I wanted so now I can’t help feeling a bit sad and disappointed when I look back on the day as a whole. Just goes to show – you cannot plan everything! I am very, very happy that we got married and I suppose I should just think of that, which was the point of the day, and the honeymoon in Dublin was lovely – just what we needed – sightseeing, food and time out. Too soon it’s back to the grind!
Sorry to moan, and looking back it seems pretty shallow to be moaning at all, but we had just planned what would be a day that we both wanted and one that all who came to the wedding would enjoy, but it simply didn’t happen like that. I will be back with the photos once I have them from my mate who took them and show you the dress etc, as well as some pics of Dublin. Til then xoxo
Claire July 28th, 2008
Thanks so much for the dress comments – you have confirmed in my head what I wanted- aren’t the Candy Anthony dresses just divine though – sooo wish I had the cash to have thrown at one of those bad boys.
Do you want to see what 200 Irish crochet flowers look like?
Yep, 200. Doesn’t look that much really does it? That does however represent many many hours spent with a fine (1mm) hook and different threads. I think I have used up about 5 whole reels and lots of bits of reels of thread. They are all different shades of warm white – thought it would provide a subtle contrast to the Ivory dress… Will be making the dress itself on Thursday and Friday so I will keep you posted on how it’s going.
Less than a month now – aaargh! So much to do, but at least after a week away I feel refreshed, relaxed and ready to go (for once in my life) – just wish I didn’t have to work!
What do you think to these babies? 
My friend Uzmah is a trained florist and she did these for me as my wedding gift – I think they are stunning and are identical to the ones I had pictured. when I planned what I wanted. It’s long (reaches to my knees when I hold them at waist height) and I am so so happy with them. The red roses have pearls at their centres, as I will be wearing my grandmother’s pearl necklace, and putting pearls on the dress, so it kinda goes….
The bridesmaids’ posies need to be finished off – they are missing the peach roses that are in mine and I will get them tomorrow – when they’re done Uzmah will bind the stems with ribbon to make a handle. Watching her work was fantastic – she made it look so easy. I tried copying what she was doing for the posies and mine looked like a toddler had done it – these she made in about 5 minutes each. It would be so easy to hate her if she wasn’t so lovely! I was on a bit of a roll when we’d done them and I have (with help from the Stitched Up ladies – Vicky in particular – thanks hon x) done almost all of the buttonholes too. We’re getting there….Going to start the bunting on Weds too.
Anyway I thought I would end with some pictures of the changing faces of Cromer, where I stayed with my best friend Rach last week – the weather was freezing,stormy
and then boiling hot (such is an English summer!) 
and I have developed a lovely tan. Til next time xoxo
Claire July 19th, 2008
I need your advice, fellow bloggers and readers. Started (at long last) making the toile for my wedding dress with the help of the lovely Hannah at the Textile Workshop. Trouble is I am undecided as to the length of the skirt to have. I really wanted a just below the knee dress, but I really am not sure. I am tall (5’9″) and am shall we say, curvy (read into that what you will but I am certainly no stick insect), but I don’t think I have a bad set of legs. And I am wearing THE shoes that deserve showing off. And I don’t want to trip up (it will happen, at some point, guaranteed). I like these dresses (in fact they are the only ones that have excited me so far!) but I don;’t want to look like a prat, basically. The dress pattern I am using is Vintage Vogue and calls for a mid calf length dress. I just don’t know.
I am getting pretty stressed and tearful and anxious with all that’s been going on recently and really need a break – I am going away for a week today to the seaside with my best friend, to sit on the beach and crochet yet more roses for the dress of whatever length. Please let me know what you reckon – it may give me some inspiration rather than perspiration! xoxox
Thought I had better post before the year is out – couldn’t believe the time lapsed since my last post….. Have wanted to blog but, well, life got in the way (for life read work, Pinky and Boo, work, cleaning, Pinky and Boo, sleeping and trying to be a domestic goddess – and the members of Stitched Up I tried feeding a rather well cooked Victoria Sponge to are testament that I need to spend a bit more time practicing that on….)
Til then, I wish you all the very best for the coming year – may you all have health, wealth and happiness for you and yours xoxo
