"So," I hear you cry, "what have you been making then?"

Well ... calorie free cakes, for a start! I must be honest I'm cheating posting this picture actually because it's not really for this blog, it's for Twisted Sisters really. It and a load of others will be strategically placed in public places with a Twisted Sisters business card attatched, hopin to attract more lovely ladies to join our group. They're a bit of fun, aren't they?! (And £7 each in the posh haberdashers in Monmouth)

And I've been doing some work on "the prom dress" allthough you could be forgiven for thinking I was just about to declare war on a small country and this is my battle table. I thank the lord for my Nan's old oak drop leaf dining table.

And I've been doing some work on "the prom dress" although you could be forgiven for thinking I was just about to declare war on a small country and this is my battle table. I thank the lord for my Nan's old oak drop leaf dining table

So then of course we had Mother's Day. I had a lovely tea cup and saucer necklace from my Daughter, which was gorgeous, but the card she gave me was SO much better. I will scan it one day so you can see what she wrote, it was great!

...but I can't pretend to have thought up the idea for my "visitable" Mumatron/Step Mother/Grand Mother - it was actually "borrowed" from Helen's sister, and I believe she in turn "borrowed" it from Marks and Sparks, who were doing the same thing and charging £15 for.

I got some bean tins, soaked them, got the labels off as best I could - the glue was the problem, and as I've not had a lot of time I could have got it off better than I did. On the tins, I stick double layered vintage labels, and in the tins (three holes in the bottom for drainage) were two Peacock Lillies in each. Three tins were celophane wrapped (have you any idea how expensive that stuff is?!?) and tied with ribbon. The lillies will grow in the tins on a windowsill - no need to plant out; and recycled too!

My Mum in law gave me a mahoosive bag of fabric last year and I'd not used a lot of it, so I decided to use some of the pansy fabric I had as it's just SO pretty, so I made little tote bags (remarkably to an excellent standard and finish! Not like me at all!) to put them in, and I just finished it off with little print of the three of us in sepia and Victorian costume on the old fashioned baggage label - and I can honestly say, everyone loved them.

For my Mum in law, I made a shopping bag with her initials beaded on, out of the same fabric - I have to post hers up north, you see, and I couldn't guarantee the tins staying intact - or not costing me a fortune! She could see that her donations were very gratefully received, and she loves the bag. Once again, I didn't make myself one and I'm a bit gutted but I have got enough pansy fabric to make a "statement skirt" a la Emily Jayne Style Consultancy, so all is not lost, and with a bit of luck a wee bag to match that!

And last but not least - the mothers day cards. Dymo machine, pinking shears left over pansy fabric and some glue. Nuff said!

Oh and stay tuned for some VERY exciting news!

Happy Mumatron's Day!

I had to nip out for a hair cut on Friday. I was very pleased indeed when the very experienced stylist asked me about my hair colour, she said it was fantastic. And my hair in such good condition, despite damage inflicted last year. I told her about my "sick" hair mask and she was VERY impressed. She told me about a client who swears by some king of garlic conditioning cream thing for her hair. Apparently it stimulates follicular growth too. Might have to Google that.

Well, just about to throw a full on strop for not getting a card or owt for Mother's day when Meg managed to pull something marvelous out of the bag, literally!

I got some lovely skincare cream but, in complete conjunction with my consumerism liberation, it was the card that I was bowled over by. A simple note card (she'd forgotten to buy one!) but it was what was written in it that mattered to me.

Thanks Meg, the feeling's mutual. I adore you for that card. I adore you anyway, not just for that card. Even if you did call me a "ho"!

I cooked a batch of coconut slices last night to give to my Nana as a Mother's Day present. Unfortunately, (for everyone except my Husband) because I didn't have the correct tin for it and I had to improvise, they were too gooey to slice up, so him indoors has got a rather tasty pudding. Instead, I got up early-ish this morning and made some digestive biscuits which I cooled then half coated in Dairy Milk. They went down a storm.

The apple tree seedlings looked lovely and were very well received, as were the covered note books. The Mother in law received hers up North yesterday and was thrilled by it! Sometimes, having principles doesn't mix with time efficiency or even financial efficiency. In this case, two clashed resulting in the third. What am I on about? I'll explain ...

Making the Mum in law's embroidered note book took time. A good lot of hours. Because it took so long, it didn't get done as quickly as I'd like it to. Because it didn't get made so quickly, I couldn't post it through regular mail to get there in time (regular first class mail would've cost 90p, by the way) so I had to send it special delivery. Disregarding the hours of fabrication time and materials already available, the present cost me 45p to make and £7.85 to post! Note to self - get EVEN MORE ORGANISED!

I'd just like to tip my hat, if you don't mind to someone very important that sadly passed away last night. John Sicolo, legendary owner of TJ's, Newport. A very sad and untimely loss.

Dear Superstar ...

Shattered again after just a few hours on the mountain clearing rubble and brick and stone hunting.

The reclaimed railway sleepers have arrived and it looks like I'm going to get my planting tier soon indeed. That is, when I get off my rump and order 5 tonne of topsoil, which, I'm told, we need.

Talking today to my very favorite artist Liz about my year and my blog, I said that self sufficiency is a big claim. I don't ever think we'll be self sufficient, but sustainable would be good. I need to put a bit more effort into my planting diary too, so I get things going in at the right time.

Mother's day is looming on the horizon and I'm kicking myself for not being more organised. 4 mother's day gifts need to be made, I have some ideas, but not yet ready to put into fabric. Thinking about my favorite artist too, I need to fashion a suitable gift for her by way of thanks for the effort and skill she's put into my artwork that I love more every day.

I think the gift may resemble those being made for mother's day, and involve some intricate bead work - but not tonight, I'm shattered after last night's rock and roll shenanigans. My new Dear Superstar halterneck top went down a treat and I also had an idea for a bespoke top for download comprising of an existing t-shirt/top turned halter neck, with the word EVIL beaded on the front in big bold letters.

Sums me up nicely, don't you think!