The Red Carpet, Awards....and we what did during half term...

Busy  at the award ceremony the other week - what a gay old time we had. I don't recall seeing your good self though - were you there?

 I am  hoping that you missed that rather embarrassing moment when I blubbered like a broken tap as I was presented with the 'Golden Fabricos Award for Best Newcomer'.  I couldn't help but gloat as I glimpsed Crusty Alltop's dagger-like glares (I do believe I saw her elbow Cath Scratchitt and whisper: 'That's the one  I told you about...').  This year I sadly missed out on the 'In memory of the Dipped Basket Award' - this is the presentation for the most innovative design of 2012.  My submission of a rare, beautifully carved King  Charles the Second oak coffer (garnered from a skip only a week previous) - refashioned into a mid-century sideboard failed to make the grade this year.  Drats!  I had spent a fair bit of time sanding that down and then a ruddy age buffing it up!!!!  I have my eye on the prize for next year - I shall spend the next 51 weeks unpicking some Elizabethan stump work (so 16th century dahling) a lucky purchase at the car boot.   Goodness knows why those Tudors had to spend sooooo long doing that stuff.  I shall be using the thread to make a few doilies for the Christmas tree - what's not to like!!

If you are new to reading this blog I welcome you aboard but sorry that half of this nonsense will make little sense!

Aside from attending the Awards we had a busy half term - I am surprised that I managed to fit the Awards in to be honest.  So:

Maille decoupaged (aka: sticking bits from an old Bunty Annual..) a letter 'M' and she was very chuffed with that

Bronte and I made some resin pendants:

Can you guess which ones are Bronte's?  The little flower pictures are old stamps from Finland...I forgot to photo them after we had put the resin on!

I had a go at fabric paints:

Did not turn out very well (and I had something specific in mind to make out of my creation)  so creation on hold for a while!

Dom made some home brew beer - I did not photograph that....

Bronte benefited from the lucky purchase from a charity shop - a vintage (?1960s) Moygashel linen skirt that fitted her perfectly and she likes it (phew - so difficult to do that nowadays!):

A while ago I bought Bronte a BEAUTIFUL velvet fitted coat - from the 1950s (secretly I wanted it but either the coat was too small or I was too large....not sure which way round that would be....)

I bought a new camera (very cheaply and I was very chuffed as to how I did that) just after Christmas so I have been practising how to do that blurry shot thing:

How do you do..(sorry that I chopped off the thumb)

Old meets new...

As we had a couple of nice weather days we went for a lovely walk.  Spring n-e-a-r-l-y here....

Still practising with new camera

I am glad that our countryside (and cities come to think of it) is peppered with twisty turny roads (they were a bit of a pain to learn to drive on though I recall)

 Scenic views - too slow to capture the deer, let alone any birds!

We dyed an old blanket:

In order to....

Make a bit of it into this:

Initially I 'wanted' these badges sewn on...

But it was Bronte's bag....

So Bronte stitched some stars and sewed on badges of her own

Used the tried and trusted eyelet technique!  You may recall this from the last duffle type bag that I made.  I also used the tried and trusted 'cut round the bottom of a plate pattern' technique!

Next time I am going to give piping a whirl! 

Had tea and cake of course!

(I confess to not making the cake....shameful)

I bedecked myself with the lovely brooch that dear Eco Ethel so very kindly made just for me!

I attempted to bedeck myself with her lovely bunting too but thought it best on the mantle:

Thank you so much again Eco Ethel

 Bronte finally had an outing with the camera that we had bought her for Christmas.  One of those low tech analogue ones.  Here Bronte is wearing some stirrup leggings from the 60s that I |used to wear in the 80s (much to my horror she is also wearing an old shirt belonging to  Dom and vintage jacket that I bought from a charity shop circa 1985!!!!)  I thought that teenagers wanted new stuff!!!

We know how to live!

PS: I will be sending the usual signed, limited edition (just 500,000 published) of my book : 'Crafting with La Cootard' (the follow up to: 'Creating with La Cootard' which of course was the prequel to the best seller: 'My Granny would spin in her grave if you thought that was chic dear') to Crusty Alltop - she rather rudely returned a copy last year saying that she thought I had pinched some of her best ideas.  I replied saying: 'If those are your BEST ideas dear then you need to think again...'

PPS: Reflected 'fame' (guarded usage) is a very sad thing.  My dear friend Bryony had occasion to visit Ms Judi Dench's home during half term. She has visited before and was invited in because Ms Dench wanted to meet Bryony (what the MAHOOJA)...there is much more to this story but would bore the vintage pants off you.... though it did result in a series of the funniest emails that I have ever written (laughing at my own jokes as always).  This time around 'we' had the rehearsal down to a T - Bryony would take along a selection of my bags and purses (and perhaps some bunting if there was time) and once Ms Dench had a need to use the 'small room' said bags and purses would be strewn around with gay abandon.

This would naturally result in a:
 'Oh, this old stuff...my friend makes it....'
'Really....for the Oscars..?'
'Well..... I suppose she might if I ask her nicely' -  type of conversation.

A great deal depended upon 'small room' usage! To this end tea drinking was to be doubly encouraged (with optional extra of senna if Bryony was feeling brave!!)

If time allowed and Ms Dench was 'delayed' (oh dear) in the small room then bunting erection would commence.

 Bryony had her hair done and everything!!

Tension building...

Bryony had me lined up on 'speed dial' so that I could light some matches and get sewing STAT!!

Upon arrival......

.....Ms Dench was in America.............

PPPS The hair bit was made up - Bryony never has her hair done....

PPPPS Bryony is also my source for a behind the scenes video of Miranda Hart doing a personal comedic scene...I have been sworn not to show that so best not....it is funny though

PPPPPS: I once met Terry Wogan...when he was commentating at Princess Diana's wedding.  In order to be in prime position had stationed myself on the Victoria Memorial in front of Buck House the night before  - barely saw a thing and being marooned on the island Memorial meant that I was desperado for the 'small room' myself....

PPPPPPS: Only kudos with the children is the fact that Dom and I went to 'Live Aid' - first time around!! Bronte has my ticket (which of course I kept)  framed in her bedroom....'Queen' were quite good that day....

Arrivederci Roma......