Saturday 28 April 2012

It's been a while ...

Box frame by Jane Winton
It certainly has been a while since I approached my blog without some apprehension as my ability to string words together these days is a bit of a challenge. Where I once prided myself on my multi-tasking abilities, for example ironing a pile of shirts, whilst cooking up a two course supper and talking to the cat about the state of the economy, I now find the simplest tasks, focus all of my concentration and take ten times longer. Why is that I wonder? Is it the fact that as I grow older, greyer of hair (thank you Clairol for your subterfuge) and longer in the tooth, that the grey matter inside my head doesn't function as well; or is it that life is getting more frenetic ..  read that as frantic?  I do admit that the last 10 months have been mostly absorbed with our attempts to move house and all that it entails. As anyone, who has been through this 'Top ten most stressful life event' will know that it does require nerves of steel, super human reserves of patience and a jolly good hoover. Our house has been preened and dusted, tweaked and adjusted to try and please the slow stream of anonymous visitors through our door since last June when we innocently put our house on the market thinking that we would be packing our tea chests a few weeks later. Wrong!!! The housing market and process of buying and selling has fallen into black hole since we last sold and bought and using the usual cliches.. it has been as painful as pulling teeth and as frustrating as pushing jelly up a hill.  BUT...  on March 13th we had, not one.. but two, offers on our house... totally out of the blue.
Rather like a pregnancy, I have been reluctant and most superstitious in announcing this news as until the ink has dried on the contracts... anything could happen. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter by the day and we hope.. pray.. that we are able to start packing boxes with gusto.. in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Other news..

Last month I had the pleasure of a day trip to London to visit the Selvedge Fair and say hello to a few familiar faces and good friends. This small jewel of a fair was packed with an abundance of original works from far flung and not so far flung places..
I was smitten with the work of Claire Fletcher from Made in Hastings and her adorable paintings and illustrative works and had to give this little bunny a home..
He asked me to take him home with me.. honestly!

I also had the pleasure of finally meeting lovely Emma from Silver Pebble who had a fabulous display of her dainty silver jewellery pieces..

sorry Emma .. borrowed this image from your blog!


There were was a wealth of talent packed into the hall from  designer/makers showcasing their work including these lovely cards ..

and needle felted birds..
The icing on the cake for me was to visit my friend Viv with her delicious display of embroidered bunnies, brooches, bags and more..


After feasting my eyes and setting my heart a flutter at the fair we then hot footed it into the heart of the metropolis and pounded the pavements, doing rather a lot of window licking on the way and finally ending up at Liberty & Co. where I was keen to see Cowboys & Custard cards in situ and have a snapshot for the scrap book... 


Now I shall attempt to publish this post which in itself will probably take a while as Blogger has helpfully changed all the settings, format, widgets etc etc in my absence.

Signing off but hopefully for not too long!

17 comments:

karen vallerius said...

Looking forward to hearing your house news, fingers crossed. Love the cards, when I was last in London I went to admire (& buy) them in Liberty's!

Unknown said...

Wow Michelle, what a thrill to have your cards in Libertys. Best of luck with the house move too. I used to go to college with Claire Fletcher - she was the year above me. Outstanding talent even then. x Gabs

fee @ chipper nelly said...

your posts are always worth the wait Michele!
Glad the house sale looks promising...keeping everything crossed for you here. And to see your wares in Liberty? a (well deserved) dream!
Sending you a huge hug as always
fee x

thriftwood said...

Love the little rabbit! Congratulations ... Imagine Liberty stocking your goods ... Wow! Good luck with the house move, hope all goes smoothly and have a lovely weekend xx

jane and the happy crow said...

Whoooppeee doo! So pleased that things are moving along at last, soon to be in your dream home! Lovely pic of Viv with her wonderful stuff, I think she sold a lot of it at Homespun too and would have been nice to see your face in pic of you! Hope we are going to see you in August but understand if we dont, remember you can stay at ours. Speak soon XXX

KC'sCourt! said...

Can't wait to see your new house. My husband is just retiring from the conveyancing business in June!! So I hear all what is going on with the ups and downs etc.
Libertys WOW! you clever girl!
Julie xxxxxxxx

Andi's English Attic said...

Fingers crossed for the house move.

What an absolute life achievement photo of you in Liberty's with your own cards. What a thrill! xx

Unknown said...

Good luck for the house move. xxx

How exciting to see your cards in Liberty - a brilliant achievement!

Frances said...

Best wishes to you concerning the house sale.

What a coincidence...I also was in London and visited the Selvedge Fair (and loved being able to chat with Silverpebble herself, and on another day to meander through the wonderful world of Liberty.

Now back in New York, I wonder if we passed by each other!

xo

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Oh I am mighty heartened by your hopeful news...toes, fingers crossed, wood touched...it is excruciating buying and selling property these days.

I saw your cards in Liberty and felt a little swell of pride on your behalf...

Good luck Michele, soon....

Sarah -x-

Kitsch and Curious said...

yay! Fingers crossed for the house! Ooh, I envy you your trip to the selvedge fair, and how brilliant to see your cards in Liberty! I hope they are best-sellers!

Daisy said...

So glad your back. You have been missed. Good luck with the house xx

Debbie said...

Oh my goodness - I really really need the little house in a frame with the word home above it....is it yours? Did you make it? If not, where can I get one?!!!

Niki Fretwell said...

I have everything crossed for you Michele....Ouch!
Good things come to he who waits...and you've waited long enough! May it be just a few short weeks now...
Take care,
Niki x
PS: I thought this post was beautifully written and doesn't show your (young!) age at all!!
x

hens teeth said...

Oh M, the box frame 'Home'...absolutely beautiful.

The icing on the cake was for me to see you, at Selvedge. So lovely to know you had such a good day. x

Karen said...

This is wonderful news .We are all keeping everything crossed for you - hopefully all will be well. Love the display of your beautiful cards in Liberty's. I am taking the boys to The Globe later this month and am hoping to fit in a trip to that lovely store - will have to bribe my son's but they still both like Hamleys! Karen X

Claire said...

Good Luck with the move x