Ocelots are the cutest things on Earth...

Well if I didn't post a little random this evening I would be risking the wrath of the Random-mistress Cindy!  If you haven't seen her post today, pop over for a look; Lucy's Aurifil usage will forever be my favourite random!

So, when in need of a little je ne sais quoi, I always turn to the kids; and as yesterday I had the joys of Parent's Evening, the snaps I took there seem as apt as it gets...

If you regularly blog all sorts of crafty, sensible stuff, why not make use of the power of the Randomeers.

Make Thursday your excuse to blog a load of old nonsense.  Link up, go on, you know you want to xxx

Random Thankful...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in or from the US of A; I am not that sure why you are specifically thankful today, seems like just a lot of eating and preparing to shop the sales from where I'm sitting, so I am actually quite jealous; but having just done the birthday season, I am not sure why anyone needs a big bunch of celebrating a month before the big C!  Feeling like I don't know a lot really!

So I was hoping for a great bit of Random to just pop up and bite me, but no such luck. 

I did notice yesterday though, that our local Waitrose, (the supermarket of Royalty, for those from overseas), has a crafty Christmas theme going on this year, the windows have been decorated...

Pretty!

The only other pictures I took this week, that did not fit in anywhere else, were these..

WT?????????

I am not entirely sure which part of the curriculum these boxes of random fit into, but thankfully the girls were not too attached, and they made their way into the recycle-bin shortly after these shots were taken.

Right, time for me to browse those sales and watch the last part of the Masterchef Australia final, because quite randomly, I am probably the least foody person there is, but I have been hooked.

Linking up with the thankful Randomeers xxx

Randoming today...

From first thing in the morning traffic jams, with sublime, beautiful views...

...to a bright pink ridiculous mini wardrobe from a lady at work, to house the immanent Build-a-Bear birthday shopping...

... to a doctor who is happy for me to stay on the tablets, if needs be, until after the festive season, before any further exploratory business; I'm happy with that!

I also got Susan's Brit Bee borders finished this evening, and I'm very pleased with my fabric choices and it's looking bloody cohesive, so some sort of sneaky peak to come your way soon, promise.

Linking with the Randomeers; hope you had a good day too xxx

Random Public Service Announcement...

Things I have learnt this week...

You may feel like you are having a heart attack when you aren't; you may also think you are not having a heart attack, when in fact you are.  Doctors cannot always tell the difference.  It's a tricky one!

So ladies pay heed, you have probably seen this before, I saw it over at Jennifer's a long time ago, and I am so glad I did; it never hurts to see it again...

If it turns out that you are thankfully not having a heart attack, the stress, strain, and continuing pain whilst you are sent for more and more tests will probably convince you that you will end up having one anyway!  Google will not help.

If you pack an over-night bag, just in case, you won't need it; the law of Sod is a good one.

If you panic-cut a cushion's worth of EPP papers and fabric to put in the over-night bag, then time on the sofa at home waiting for results is much more bearable.  Always have an EPP project ready for the unexpected; pop it next to your emergency torch and tin of corned beef, you'll thank me.

And because I am obviously not feeling quite myself, here I am rocking hospital chic - spot the Staple dress!

Linking my findings with Cindy and the Randomeers and never more pleased to do so.

Thank you for all your well wishes over the last couple of days - I won't be replying individually this time, but please believe me that you have made me smile when all I have felt like doing was the complete and utter opposite xxx

Put the flags out!

I am going to go link with the Randomeers on Friday, (just to be extra random), because I failed in my photo assignment for Cindy, and will make amends tomorrow.  If you haven't seen her instalment today, you should, it's brilliant!

Today, some of the teachers were on strike, but the girls were still 'in', hubby and son had the day off, so I went to work.  I had my 'in-year review', which took hours, but set me up nicely for a trip to Tesco and then a pit-stop at the local fabric shop on my way home.

Tomorrow one of my fellow managers will be moving up into the village.  I had been dithering about whether to make some sort of house-warming gift, (bearing in mind no-one I work with knows I sew, or blog, or have this whole alter-ego going on!); but as soon as I saw Nova's bunting yesterday, dilemma resolved.

I bought some bias binding and a FQ of some Timeless Treasure pretty rose fabric, came home, and made some.  Just like that!

Apologies for the crappy pictures, the light was fading, and they will be all parcelled up before morning!

I remembered Amy's tip about using a piece of card to press the finished flags, and it worked a treat.  The flags are c. 4" wide and 5" long, and the bias binding in 1.5m.

I am still waiting for stuffing, but in the mail today...

It's bloody marvellous!!  The blocks all look beautiful, and the projects are gorgeous and I would still say that even if those super talented ladies, Kerry and Lynne weren't my friends!

I'll say a bit more about the book when I have made something from it, which I am hoping will be really soon!

So that's my lot, not long 'til the weekend, happy days.

A soupçon of random...

I tried and failed again in the random, until I popped to Waitrose for some lunch yesterday...

OMWarhol!

These are not going to get eaten; I may just take colour-combo inspiration from them, and look forward to the day the when kids demand that I finally throw them away before they put me in an old people's home!

And because I am rarely an opportunist, I just want to remind everyone that voting is still open over at Celtic Thistle Stitches until midnight Friday UK time.

If you haven't chosen your favourite Holiday Memories makes yet, please go have a look.

Linking up with the Randomeers today, and tomorrow it will be the turn of FAL Q4. xxx

Q3 FAL 2013 - Result, singular.

Well back at the beginning of the summer I put two items on my FAL list.

One I finished immediately...

 ... the other, well, it's still a work in progress, in the broadest sense of the word.  I have done a little more on my KISS tapestry, but not enough to have even taken a photo today.  I will get one in time for Q4, and no doubt many quarters after that.

I am racking my brain for other things to join it on my next list; I have a secret project or maybe 2 that I will include, and let Leanne in on the details, and maybe this weekend I will start on a few birthday and Christmas gifts, because for the first weekend in ages we have no going-out plans!

So I'm linking this lonely finish up with the hostess with the mostest, and because it is Random Thursday too, how about this for knocking me sideways...

Linking too with the Randomeers xxx

Early morning random...

I have been a rather slack Randomeer of late, for which I apologise, and this week I only have one funny story, (well to me at least), of early-morning holiday shenanigans.

I am guessing this is a European thing, maybe not, but towels on the sunbeds before dawn is not just a myth, but alive and well.

My bodyclock, come work or holiday-time is permanently set to wake at 6.30am.  If I don't have to get up, I can go back to sleep, but more often than not that is my up'n at'em time. 

Surveying the early morning pool scene, last year and this, beds were routinely bagged before the sunrise (c..7am)...

So without any drama, if you can't beat them join them, right?  I would pop down, reserve a couple, and believe me at 6.30am I was never first, and then retreat back inside.

All round the pool were notices saying that items used to reserve sunbeds would be removed, but hey, they never were.

Can you see where this is going?

I think it was 3 or 4 days in, and when I got up for the second time, and took a look outside, all the beds were empty!

Now I must mention that I only ever used the kids' towels, just in case, because they are older and cheaper than mine!  So unperturbed I went to investigate. 

There were folks wandering round like they were expecting a zombie-apocalypse at the choice they were faced with; unable in a half-asleep state at 7.15am, to comprehend how they could be first up instead of last.

I went and asked the manager 'please sir, can I have my towels back?', to be shown a storeroom with more neatly folded and stacked towels than I had ever seen.  It was hilarious.

Even more hilarious were the grumpy faces of the people surfacing at lunchtime expecting their towels and beds to have remained 'reserved' for half the day, only to see others laying in their spots.

A few days later, some (new arrivals?) had slipped back into old habits, but the towels would vanish off to the manager's Aladin's cave soon enough.

I know it is not going to change the world, and may well be routine elsewhere, but it the first time I have experienced it, and it did mean I didn't have to go back to bed with sandy feet again for the rest of the holiday; and we still ended up on our beds of choice each day.

People are funny, especially the family next door who then just sent their daughters out to wait on the sunbeds until breakfast time!

Linking this 'probably just funny if you were there' tale with Cindy and the other Randomeers.  Next week I will try better, I will, after all, have gone back to work by then.

Random Junk...

We get our fair share of local flyers popped through the door, window cleaners, driveway layers, gardeners, you know the type, what re-cycle bins were made for.  But this postcard image of pure wishful thinking caught my eye this week...

I expect he was just showing the lady of the house how it works, you know, because she couldn't get her pretty little head round it; or all her loose threads and sewing debris had finally tipped him over the edge!  The cleaning company charge £15/hr if you are interested!

Beat that Randomeers!

A little R & R...

Sorry, gone to the Spa, (in my dreams), back tomorrow!

Linking with the Randomeers xxx

It's only right...

... that I haul myself from a tissue-filled pit and give you some random, seeing as I am responsible for the official adoption this week of the Randomeers; the merry band of bloggers linking with Cindy on a regular random basis!

So, my contribution...?

Well Daniel was covering his back with this red card... seeing as there was no way to get through the door without picking the parcel up first!

The girls found a frog... and promptly chased it away after trying to get some photos!

 

We had a photoshoot for a school exercise project... all very serious!

 

And I have been making another pincushion, only I am not going to have any pins left to actually put in it...

 

Finally, because I love this picture, and had no other place to post it... some of my Dad's stained glass...

 

Right, I have stuffing to stuff, and more sniffing to sniff; until tomorrow xxx

Randoming again...

I've been feeling a bit snowed under the last couple of weeks, and the kids have tended to get on my nerves rather than fuelling my random posts!!

But we're all back on form...

Moo!

Random continents!

The mouth that bankrupted the tooth fairy!

Mub & Grub

And not a lot makes me smile more than my kids on a good day, but...

My beautiful winnings!

Talking of which, I have finally quilted and attached the binding to my Marcelle Medallion quilt, and am heading towards, what I am hoping to be, a Saturday Reveal.

Linking with Cindy and the Randomeers once again xxx

Be Prepared...

I spent the day preparing.

Dear son heads off for his first full pack camp tomorrow, and apparently the sun is due to return for the weekend, fingers crossed pleased; not worried about him, but rain = mud = lots more washing for mummy!

I then spent the afternoon preparing a Super Tote.  Sooooooooooooooooooo much cutting and interfacing and all that horrible mularky.  I did not enjoy that bit.  But it will be worth it, hopefully a good night's sleep will clear my head for the fun piecing bit!

So not random.  Sorry, but here's a link that will make you chuckle, especially if you are of a teacher-persuasion, the parent of teens, or just glad your school days are over.  Make sure you make it to no.33, that's my favourite!

Oh, and I uploaded the contents of son's Nintendo 3DS SD card onto my MacBook for him today, he is nothing if not random...

Linking with Cindy's Really Random Thursday.

Randoming again...

Whilst I try to play catch up, and laugh myself silly at all your comments about my comments about the Staple Dress, I have a couple of randoms to show you this evening...

Now, I work for the government, so we are pretty security conscious, but I think x-raying the clearly stamped staff Specsavers eye test voucher is a little extreme - or maybe I have clearance for x-ray specs!  Chocolates from my parents have prompted me to get cutting a new hexie project, and dear son came home with Roman armour, (to be used with the Staple Toga no doubt!)...

But more exciting... Fat Quarterly Retreat classes and supplies have been confirmed; I got the ones I hoped for and may have cut the curved paper-piecing supplies already.  My excitement was contagious, so the girls drew me some London pictures...

My friends and I, rain, sun, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Big Ben, The Queen, a Tube train(!) and a big round table to sew on!

Me and a pal!

Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament(!), London Eye(!), Olympic Stadium with people playing football, The Queen in the Tower of London and Me and someone with fab hair and a Staple dress.

Linking up these gems with Cindy, Random Queen.

Bank Holiday Random...

I know, it was Monday, but things have been hectic here what with the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway, and Give Me Liberty link ups, but today I have a couple of random happenings for you.

Pretty unexpected really, for a Bank Holiday Monday, it was sunny!

So bright and relatively early we headed out to the village Boot Fair.  It's only a tiny one in the Library car park held on Bank Holidays, mostly old toys and tomato plants, but worthy of a pootle if the weather is fine.

Some Jacqueline Wilson books, a skipping rope and a bag of marbles later, we got to the Rotary Club trailer of old curtains and wot-not and to my utter surprise, lying there were some pillow cases, and, what turned out to be, a homemade duvet cover which were scooped up and mine quicker than you could say 'bargain'!  I have never managed any such finds in the past, ever.

So where's the random?  Well having made my Siblings Together top on Sunday, I had thrown my backing dilemma out to Instagram-land.  In the dark days of winter, I had pulled the IKEA house print, it had looked great; in the warmer light of the May Bank Holiday, it looked too heavy.  Feedback was kind, but the consensus was 'no'!

I already showed you a glimpse yesterday, but how damn perfect was this...

Sooooooo happy, and the quilt is now going round in the tumble dryer; let's hope the rain stops tomorrow so I can get you some scenic shots.

The second random; well, last summer one of the girls taught herself to ride a bike in the garden, much to big brother's disgust and proclamations that he couldn't do it, it wasn't fair etc etc, all winter.

So, after lunch on Monday we took the bikes to the park, and by the time we left, a couple of hours later, all three were speeding about!

We didn't exactly teach them, (more, gave a shove, let go and shouted 'just keep peddling!'), but it worked.

Hmmm.. I wonder if I tried to FMQ again I would just be able to do it!!?  If only everything was as simple as riding a bike!

Linking with the Random People gathering at Cindy's. xxx

Lateral Random...

My MacBook is joining in with random fun a little too happily for my liking, but I got busy with a mini screwdriver, and it seems to be behaving for now.  So apologies for the backlog of emails I need to reply to, I will shortly, promise.

So back-tracking a few days and my request for ideas on the Patchwork Please! vinyl requirement. 

With a little lateral thinking, I plumped for either popping to a toystore and borrowing a patch from a bag containing ball-pit balls, or waiting for a rain day and giving a pushchair cover a bit more ventilation!

But no, it got me thinking about what I could really pillage from the kids, then I remembered that all those books I tend to buy for birthday party goodie-bags, they come in the same vinyl wallets.  Whilst explaining to my hubby what sort of thing I was after, I was about to show him the pencil case I use for my embroidery thread, and another that holds my latest EPP!  Doh!

Tesco, 50p each, and with zips that can either be re-used or incorporated!

Thank you so much for all your suggestions and kind offers; I think I am sorted for now, but will definitely know where to go for next time.

Linking the random and penny-pinching workings of my brain with Cindy as it is just about still Thursday xxx

Random quickie...

I am giving you a single random, what with my computer misery an' all, but it's better than nothing... I hope!

Discovered when we got back from school today, to shouts of "Mummy there's a squashed owl or something in the garden, come quick..."

Linking with Cindy as always xxx

Random Geography!

Well I am afraid I am a bit lacking in the Random department this week; try as I might, the girls were not really up for list writing for the sake of your entertainment, but I'll keep working on them!

I did discover a random coincidence (?) with this week's fabric splurge though! 

Keen to join in with Krista and Nicole's Give Me Liberty sew-along, I thought a bit of bolstering of my Lifestyle supplies was in order, and so headed for Eclectic Maker as I knew they still had my favourite print in stock.

Anyhoo, maybe some other things fell in the basket, but imagine my surprise/joy and bank-balance flinching, on seeing the return address today...

I had just got home from work in Worthing!  Who knew I was so close to this awesome fabric dealer!?  Not me, until now, (must have ripped off the previous wrapping too quick to notice!).  OK, so they are not currently a bricks and mortar shop, but keeping it local has to be good, as is not so local, and darn right international... hmm.

So I am all set to make myself some lovelies, which will no doubt accompany me to FQ Retreat.  I sent through my class options this afternoon too - so I'm starting to get excited again!

And just because it was there, and I know what you are really after...

Playdoh Earth, cross-section and labels.  Don't say you never learn anything here!

Linking with Cindy's Randomeers because it's Thursday.

Don't forget, you have about 24hrs left to enter my Liberty pincushion giveaway.

Walk This Way...

Just because I am still feeling under the weather, doesn't mean you shouldn't have some fun; go on, off you pop...

Linking with Cindy for all things random xxx

Random stuff kids do...

Well as it is Thursday, that's all the excuse I need to show you this little selection.

Firstly a clip of last week's recorder 'concert'... you didn't think I would just keep the experience to myself did you!?

This week parents were treated to an African 'inspired' dance, sorry, only photos, no movie...

...and then I had to buy these...

That's a pincushion, in case you weren't sure!

If sewing is an unlikely career path, then maybe a bit of fabric designing could be on the cards...

For added random, after months of cold, wet, snowy, miserable weather, I managed to get all the Rainbow and Cub uniforms out in the sunshine for the first time today...

...until it clouded up about 30 minutes later!

And finally, my car tax disc came today; is it just me, or does this just not look like a real date!?

Linking up with Cindy's Really Random Thursday.

Back tomorrow to announce the winner of my inbox-busting Sew Sweetness bag pattern giveaway and maybe a bit of stitching xxx