I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms at the moment - I've had to dismantle the sewing table and put the machine away. I've got a box of half-finished projects to complete, and a thousand and one crafty ideas I want to try (I'm making more lists). And I've had to pack the sewing room away, even if it is only temporarily. I'm trying to make do by selecting fabric and notions for some of the projects, and sketching ideas for others (always on the backs of used envelopes - what else would I use?)
Over the past two or three months I have come to realise just how important a space to sew/craft/make things is to both N and myself, especially now we are not at work. We each have a creative side which needs to be nurtured and given an outlet, and for that we really would benefit from a dedicated space or area that we could each make our own. I think we both know that it is one of the reasons a slightly bigger home would be so appreciated, if it was to happen. We will continue to wait, as patiently as we are able, and perhaps the right place will turn up at the right time for us.
I love browsing in charity (thrift/goodwill) shops, of which we have a good number in our local town. It is amazing what little gems you can pick up if you have a good look. These three items found their way into our kitchen recently - a glass jelly mould, a wonderful glass jug originally for cider but now holding olive oil, and a mug with ducks on it which caught N's eye. We always have a good look around the 'shop' at the donation centre we volunteer at (should we eventually move, I'll be on the look-out for some furniture from there), and have donated larger items there in the past. It's always busy with people looking for interesting or unusual (or old!) pieces.
This is a bag of rags I bought last week. It is all clothes/linens etc which for one reason or another cannot be sold in the shops (marked, stained, too worn). It is bagged up and sold to someone who then sells them on for rags. I paid the going rate for my bag. When we got home and sorted through I found I had off-cuts of brand-new Christmas fabric; a pure cotton double duvet (just a couple of ink marks which I shall try to bleach out) just pleading for some applique; a pile of old towels which N wants/needs for DIY and gardening duty; another single duvet cover with a few marks but plenty of fabric to be used for clothing, and three men's shirts, one of which N has grabbed (it's just a little faded along the hem) and the other two I shall repurpose to clothes for me. None of these items would have gone for sale in the shops because of marks or wear and tear, and I have been more than happy to make a donation to the charity, and come away with a bag of goodies I can put to great use.
I must mention I have a new mobile phone. I've finally gone onto a contract, having been pay-as-you-go for years, but it has got ridiculously expensive to send texts now so I've taken the plunge with a contract (very cheap and cheerful but lots of text time). So I have been trying to let my 'contacts' know I have a new number. My son sent me a text by return informing me the text I sent him has to be the 'best text ever' - I think he may be referring to my spelling; the new phone made me do it, honest!
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