It's a whiteout!

It's official - we're snowed in!! Everything is silent and nature has given us a feast for the eyes.

But it's an ill wind and all that, I've had a truly massive clear-out which is quite a feat for a died in the wool hoarder like me! I've been wanting to re-organize my work space for such an age and I've finally done most of it. I have 9 bags ready for the charity shops and apart from shoes (why did I think I could walk in heels that high?) and clothes, I've included lots of art and craft items, and some finished projects that I don't need to keep. I hope they'll make some money for charity.

My artwork has taken a different direction lately and all I needed was to focus on what I want to be doing now. I want to paint and sew and that's it!!

The Bag Making Bible

I've had this book on order for weeks as It was out of stock, imagine my pleasure to get it in the post today.

If you have any inclination to make bags, you can't go wrong with this complete guide and it has full-size pattterns. Just a couple of little bits of information - flat-headed pins to save sore fingers on thick fabrics, and a machine for making bias tape, woohoo! I feel a retail therapy moment coming on!!

I've not been clever enough to drag and drop the cover photo....

12 for Christmas

This year we thought there'd only be seven round the Christmas table but it's been creeping up steadily - and now we're twelve!!! It'll be so much fun with lots of cooking and laughs and joy - I feel truly blessed to have such a beautiful family.

My daughter Fran has taken on the role of hostess over Christmas for the last few years, and this year her flat will be bulging at the seams, she might have to put the tree out on the balcony!!

I was thinking of having cocktails on Christmas Eve so am busy lookig for something special. I remember having a Sea Breeze or two in Jamaica and brought the recipe home, if I can find it though! Anyone have any good recipes to pass on??

Photos are Back for Baby Shoes

Finished Baby's Red Shoes

I'm quite pleased how these wee shoes turned out - white hearts on red with a black and white treble clef lining - a bit fiddly to sew because they're small but they make me smile!

Oh how frustrating, now blogger won't upload my photos saying permission denied! But they're here on flickr if you'd like to see:

Flickr

Sewing Baby Shoes

I'm all ready to start sewing baby shoes with Christmas fabrics - they're such sweet things to make! I'll post photos asap.

Hope you're all having a lovely day - the weather's definitely seasonal and we might get snow this year in the city.

What a Sweetheart!

Just thought I' give you a glimpse  of my beautiful grand-daughter Alice who is 16 - this was taken by a London modelling agency.

Sunday Lunch

Just got home after a lovely lunch at my daughter's - spaghetti, meat balls, banana loaf and chocolate cake with deep frosting - very yummy!! My appetite is slowly picking up but as yet no inclination for a glass of wine - how strange for me!!

Had a lovely chat with three of my grandchildren - boyfriends, wedding next year (eek I could be a great grandmother in two years' time), old photos are always good for a laugh, there's nothing so dating as hairdos! I'm always being accused of cutting my daughters' hair myself but I promise I only ever did their fringes. But it would appear that maybe I wasn't the only one!!!

Online Shops

I've had time to think things over and have decided to quit my Folksy shops and open my Etsy shops again. Having had a look around Etsy after over a year, I realize how polished and professional it is and for sure they're known worldwide now with over 1,000,000 hits daily!

I'll have to shelve my Folksy business and MOO cards though and get some new ones for Etsy - but that's fine.

I'm going to get it all ready to roll but unfortunately I won't be in time for Christmas. I look longingly at my sewing machine but can't do anything for another 3 weeks anyway.

The Lives They Left Behind

I'm reading The Lives They Left Behind - suitcases from a US state hospital attic 1869-1995. It is  profoundly moving and ..."is a fascinating glimpse into a closed world, where "incurables" were sent as a last result, with no expectation that they would ever return to society. The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that it's so easy to identify with them" (Newsweek).

Beautiful blog - giveaway

One of the blogs that I never tire of is Lost Bird Studio and there's a blog giveaway under way - lovely gifts to win.

Looking Forward to Creating

It's a sure sign that I'm beginning to feel like my old self - I'm itching to start painting and sewing again. I like having the proper use of the dining room back so I definitely want to keep my painting gear etc. in my workroom. But there's no space for the sewing machine too there.....

 I've ordered books from Amazon - that's what becomes of boredom!!!

I'm finding my way around the latest version of Photoshop Elements 9 - such an improvement on Elements 5 - but am waiting for the manual from US Amazon (quicker delivery than UK and even with the shipping cost it works out cheaper).

Phones are a nightmare

My house phones are driving me mad - intermittent beeping whilst in use, going dead and then a second later on again, they're destined for the bin!!

DD2 is out now with a shopping list which includes 'phones'. I don't know why I always get the troublesome gadgets - or is it more common than I think??

I have to tell you something really funny - when I changed to blogspot, I chose a new name but 'Savoir Faire' wasn't available. Neither was 'Savoir Faire Toute'. So I thought I'd be quirky and made it 'Flaire' -- some kind soul who IS French gave me the translation:

savoir = to know
flaire=to smell
toute = all

Might as well laugh 'cos I can't change it now hehe!!!

I'm back!

Well, I came home yesterday and feeling fragile just one week after surgery. So many things to remember and feeling like a baby having to learn how to do simple things. I have my wonderful daughters to help me through it and their halos are shining very brightly!

Ciao!!