Monday 23 July 2012

The kindliness of friends....

You might remember how I made a purse printed made from a vintage envelope for a friend's mother for Mother's Day (see here if desparado: http://thecustards.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/dropping-in.html.  The envelope had been written to her father to her mother (sounds a little more complicated than it is!).   I had  made this as a gift but in the words of that old song:
 'Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.
 It's just like a magic penny, hold it tight and you won't have any.
Lend it, spend it, and you'll have so many
They'll roll all over the floor'

A few weeks later our friends came round for tea and gave me an unexpected present - I was utterly speechless and then burst into tears.  Well you would have too!


I had to look for a while at the cover of this book as I could not fathom it out! What was my name doing there - there must be another me somewhere in the world doing exactly the same thing!


All my favourite pictures under the cover of my very own book.


There's my wallpaper preserved for posterity.

The embroidered bag top left is one of my everyday shopping bags - I  should not use it so often but it is a favourite of mine.


The best things are when they are least expected don't you think. Thank you to the Robinson family and well done to Martin for thinking laterally as to how to circumnavigate his way round my 'no copying my photos' request (very clever Martin).

This has made up for something that happened recently (oh not something else Jenny - give it a rest please do.  For crying out loud LET IT GO!) that I thought was possibly going to be a great thing for me,  would have given me that shameful self-centered ego boost  and be a bit  more positive about the things that I make. Rather stupidly in the Homes and Antiques article I never even mentioned that I make anything - that would never have happened if I had been a business person (thank you Polka Dot House once again).  Anyway an  interview had been carried out  for another  well known High Street magazine (the one that always has a lovely cover - yes that one). They had been 'inspired' by my entry (ooooeerr missus) and we chatted for a long time.


I was a finalist in their National Awards!! Me!! Yes, me!! 


Photographer booked (I was actually going to have my hair cut for it - I had retained that stylish grey streak for the H&a article but this time I would go for a whole new look!!). I had a chat with the photographer and he told me that he was sworn to secrecy but it was going to be very exciting news for me.....................edge of your seat drama readers


 A week or so after the interview I had a telephone call - they had read the article in H&A - lovely though it was -  my entry would have to be withdrawn -   all rescinded because of fear of copying a rival magazine.  Their readers would not be pleased if they thought they had copied H&A - even though I had not mentioned making 'stuff' in that article.....pause for reflection....


I meekly asked if I had broken any rules/regulations. No came the reply - we just don't think that our readers would like to read about you if you have been in one magazine already...but, but I said....this was about making 'stuff'.....oh stuff it.


  Life is like that sometimes - smacks you in the face like a wet kipper when you least expect it....fully realise that worse things happen in life...would have been very nice though.  Left me feeling full of self doubt all over again...how I wish I could have that brimming self confidence that some possess.  Shop closed before I had had time to turn the 'We are open' sign over..


Now I am going to draw a big line here:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------..(ignore that the line is broken - there isn't some hidden symbolism!)


We have crossed that line and we will talk no more of Pintergate and now C.L.Gate!  


I am moving forward - '..for Harry, England (other UK nations welcomed) and St George' (please say this out loud in a Laurence Olivier voice).


Cheers me dear
PS As  Kirstie Allsopp and Emma Bridgewater were judges - I was hoping for my own TV programme by the end of the year.........

26 comments:

  1. Hello!
    It seems we are both enjoying the kindest of our dear friends in our posts!! hehe..
    This book looks very lovely and how wonderful to receive as a gift.
    I soo agree about the thoughts and quotes on holding on tightly to ones pennies!
    A definite cry to the universe to receive less and less am afraid!
    Wishing you a week full of kindness!
    Love Maria x

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    1. Aww - thank you so much Maria. I wish you much kindness and warmth too
      jenny xxxxxxx

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  2. Wow how fabulous, you deserve to be a winner! Your book is very lovely too, what a personal gift and a tribute to your lovely pictures (without being stolen!). Just have to say whatever happened to Aqua Manda? Can still smell it's zingy, citrusy scent ...

    Enjoy your week, won't you?

    Claire xxx

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    1. What will be will be Claire - I did have a flight of fancy for a brief while! I bought the unused Aqua Manda a few years ago (it is one of my first postings this bog) - 50p from a car boot - I thought it was great when I was younger (a bit like Tweed!!!!!!!)
      Enjoy your week too

      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. The book is smashing. What a great idea! And I love your patchwork wallpaper - it's just the prettiest thing ever.

    So sorry re CL Gate - and blimey I am such a Kirstie Allsopp fan! I'd have gotten my knickers in a knot if I'd known she was involved.

    Magazine peeps seem to be a bit unfeeling. I also had a let down from one of the well known sewing/craft mags that contacted me, well one of their editors did, asked for photos to be submitted, for their Best Of shopping feature, which I did, told me when the article would be out and that was the last I heard of it - needless to say it never appeared in the mag. Poop. Oh well.

    As you said...moving on....

    Hope the sun is shining at yours.

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    1. Thank you wendz - I have very much learnt that business is business. To be fair they did say that they might put me on their 'Emporium' page but then I don't really know what I would put there. Anyway all water under that big old bridge now. We will be fine without them wendz

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  4. Aww Jenny, what a pain, messing you around like that. That's commercial businesses for you. However, let's swiftly move on to THE BOOK! Oh my, that's just fab and I'm so glad you were on the receiving end of such kindness. I like too, your words about love and "what goes around comes around". It's truly a fab book. I have seen people produce books containing a printed version of their blog. I looked into it but I could never be bothered to do it all! I mean, I could be sewing?!
    Hen xxx

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    1. Thank you so much Hen - it was a truly lovely gift and took me completely by surprise. Your quilts and pretties would look lovely in one too (hint for Christmas perhaps?). Thank you for your kind words and support Hen I greatly appreciate it. Sad about Flickr because I would never have met you or Mary and you were both the first people to comment on my photos there. Keep on sewing Hen!

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  5. How lovely to receive the book - now we look forward to seeing your Channel 4 Easter Special [anybody can do a Christmas Special]

    blessings xx

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  6. The book is just Brilliant! I am a great believer in things happening for a reason, for some reason this wasn't meant to be. Usually at the time we can't see why ( that's the irritating bit!) but after a while something will happen and you will say " that's why!" and things will just fall into place. That's how I live my life, it's helped me both face the challenges and not be too disappointed when things didn't work out exactly as I wanted!
    Don't forget you are a very talented and creative person, just keep doing what you do, the rest will happen, usually when you least expect it! Ada :)

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    1. Very many thanks Ada - I have had some wonderful and positive things happen in my life so this is all but a blip. After all these years I do know that you never know what is around that big old corner in life!

      Take care and happy sheeting!

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    2. Hi Jenny, I know you want to draw a line so sorry for this! I have just been reading through a couple of my H and A mags and drooled over your home, yet again!! I am subscriber to both these mags and I wouldn't of minded in the least! There has been lots of times in the past where the same home/person has been featured in both mags. Anyway I have a little Foot Stamping Session on your behalf, still believe in things happening for a reason, but we are allowed a Grrrr! Every now and again! Ada :)

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    3. Thank you again Ada - if you look at that photograph of me can you see that I am really gritting my teeth - I hate having my photo taken! I think what I really didn't like about CLgate is the merry way I was told that I had not done anything wrong - it was just that readers might object. I could not be a business person to save my life! Best wishes
      Jenny

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  7. Your book is lovely! what a fabulous idea!
    re CL gate, all I can say is their loss is our gain! or ever onwards as my mum used to say! Keep smiling!

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    1. Indeed Gill - car boot here I come!! Ho ho

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  8. You seem to be getting both ends of Lady luck! Don't let it get you down, you've got a great talent. The book looks gorgeous.

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    1. So kind of you Amanda - both ends indeed but more positives than the 'other' and in the scheme of things a mere blemish and gone!

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  9. Oh sweet Jenny, they don't know what they're missing! I love that song, I'm sure I used to have a cd with it on as an intro to something else, sung in a child's voice, can't for the life of me remember who the cd was by or what the rest of the music was like! I'll have it going round and round in my head all day now, which is no bad thing.

    And that book!! What a gorgeous heartfelt gift - see how inspiring you are? You are a fabulously talented and generous person, I'm sure other magazines would be very interested in your wonderful creations if you wanted to pursue that...maybe another time. It's often the people who have the most to give who have the least confidence about whether anyone else would want it!

    Wishing you a gorgeous summer, lots of love, Rachel xx

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    1. Thank you so much Rachel - that song reduced me to tears at all the children's assemblies! Singing it cheers you up I think
      The book was a tremendous gift to receive - that is the sort of thing that really matters. Confidence is always wafer thin sadly - most women I know are like that! Sad really but better that than cocky!!! (I am making myself laugh now!)
      Happy days Rachel
      XXXXXXXXXXX

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  10. Oh what a fabulous book!! such a beautiful gift... see believe you are treasured dear Jenny just as you are...

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  11. Well that book just shows what the magazine people are missing. CL, eh? Well I never buy it anyway...

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    1. I have been lured by the pretty cover picture sometimes ....shallow am I....
      Thanks as always Elaine

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  12. There is a business woman in there just waiting to get out. Now where can I buy that book Jenny? x

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  13. Hi Jenny, just caught up with your blog,what a stunning gift the book was,how clever are they to compile such a treat,if there was a copy for sale in your pop up shop I would certainly purchase a one!!I have seen people appear in various magazines in slightly different formats but still find it interesting because each article captures something diffrerent about them.Kind Regards Pam.

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