WOYWW 277

FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS.....

What a week....we took Owen back to Uni, I had a couple of 'interesting' days at my dad's, played with the band twice at the weekend...then had two major power cuts, followed by the water being cut off for 8 hours due to a burst water main and finally our Internet provider cut us off early cos we're switching to another company. Gordon has managed to jack up a temporary connection but I'm not sure if I'll be able to comment. So if you visit me and I don't get back to you, then sincere apologies!  Phew, I'm worn out :-)

Anyhow, you don't want to hear me whinging, so here is the upstairs desk last week...


Bits of fabric and amplifier cables? What?  It's a long story but a friend of mine was trying to cram all those cables into that tiny beige bag, so I said I'd see what I could do.


See, lots of cables...small bag.... doesn't work.....

That's better...no more shoving and squeezing :-)







And this was the yellow flower bag that I showed the making of two weeks ago. It looks a bit wonky in this pic but it isn't really!




Now for yesterday's Downstairs Desk.......  Kyla (Lil Pidge) asked me if we could have a sewing day together for her to make a bag. Of course, no probs...

So I moved everything downstairs, there's more room.  Before Kyla arrived, I made a start on some bunting for my latest great nephew (groan, how old does that make me feel?!) who was born last Sunday...yay, happy dance!

Kyla had brought an interesting selection of fabrics with her, including these fabric swatches which she was soon cutting up and then joining together!











My son Rhys did the honours with the camera....nice pic, girls!








Julia was desperate to draw out this week's Man Bites Dog cards...I think she was startled by the outcome, LOL!





I enjoyed having a riffle through Kyla's gorgeous threads box.....

Kyla did pick a tricky bag to do for her first time but she did brilliantly, was a quick learner and produced a really fab bag!




It was really stunning, great choice of fabrics and colours and looked very professional! You can see that Harry the Cat was impressed, in a feline sort of nonchalant way. *grin*!  We laughed and chatted all day and had a really good time...let's do it again, eh Kyla? Perhaps we can get Julia to show us how to use the automatic buttonholer :-)




I love WOYWW, what a wonderful way to meet creative, fun, interesting and crazy people. Bring it on...!!

42 comments:

Sue said...

Many congrats on the birth of your great nephew.

Loving your bag and the one Kyla made.

Hope you have a lovely day.

Annie Claxton said...

hehehe - took me a while to get used to being Great Aunt Annie :o) Looks like you've had lots of fun this week, nothing better than crafty time with friends. Love Kyla's bag. Happy WOYWW Annie C #37

glitterandglue said...

Oh my, Jan - a great nephew. Congratulations to you all - glad all went well. What a fabulous day you had with Kyla - been reading all about it on her site, too.
But what a week you have had - with power, water, son off again, hard days with your dad... trust you feel rested now after all that.
Hmm - I tend to agree - lots of cables into small bag don't go! Great solution.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #18

glitterandglue said...

Diolch I ti, Jan!!
Margaret#18

Belinda Basson said...

Well I see you made it to my blog, so you must still have connection! I don't always use a black backdrop, I often use two white canvasses like and L shape, but black makes a nice change to the white and is nicer for the more vintage stuff and the bend in the paper does not have harsh shadows either... I do think that bag Kyla made is stunning, think I need to come to you for lessons if that is the first time she has ever made one and it came out like that! You must be a good teacher! As for Julia...she looks like she has seen something crazy!

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Jan thanks for the visit, pleased you like my little kitty too.
What on earth has been going on at yours, you must be fed up with it all.
However that looks like a great day you all had sewing.
Happy crafting and let's hope everything keeps working properly now, Angela x 36

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Jan, what a week, lol. Poor Doug would be climbing the walls without his Internet, be a padded cell job for sure! Love the look on Julias face with the cards, awesome. It is indeed fantastic how many wonderful friends we've all made thanks to this WOYWW lark- I love you all. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #25 xxx

Annie said...

Oh how lovely. What a lot we have to be thankful to our Wednesday link up for eh? So many friendships made and so many happy times spent together. :-)
Hugs,
Annie x. #12

Neet said...

I agree with Annie above, we have a lot to thank Julia for in bringing so many crafters together. Lovely photos of your day with Kyla - wish I lived closer, I could do with some lessons.
Hugs, & Thanks for the visit - Neet 16 xx

Shoshi said...

It's so unfair that you get a "great" as an aunt a generation sooner than as a great grandmother (if that makes sense!) - isn't it! Anyway, congratulations. It looks as if you girls all had such fun together, and the bag is a great success.

Thanks for your visit and your nice comment - yes, you must try and see the Kaffe Fassett exhibition - it's really not to be missed! Be sure to take lots of photos and share them with us. I'd love to read all about your take on it.

Our holiday at home has gone all too quickly and Mum returns this afternoon. The solo shopping trip was indeed a tremendous treat, especially as it happens so infrequently! Just to have time to rummage through all the charity shops and mosey around and just look at things (all the stuff my hubby gets so quickly bored with lol!) was a treat in itself.

Off to the first felt making class tonight - I'm really looking forward to it!!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #35

Karen said...

Congrats on your new addition to the family. Love the flower bag, I'm on the lookout for one similar for dialysis. Have special requirements on dialysis days! Well done Kula on your new bag too! Karen x #48

Karen said...

Sorry Kyla, predictive text :-)

pearshapedcrafting said...

Looks like a fab day and a great result! Hope all your problems are over soon. Love your bags and bunting and Congratulations to all! Chrisx 45

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear about all your problems. Congrats on your great nephew You ladies had a wonderful time together. Love the bag. #3

Lisca said...

Wow! You've had a bit of a week by the sounds of it! Hope all connections have been reestablished.
I wish I lived closer. Would have loved to learn how to make a bag. Those pieces of material are so beautiful. Here they only sell material in the market place and the patterns are large and designed for dressmaking. Besides it's difficult to find pure cotton. Anyway it looks like you had great fun. Thanks for the photo of you three. It's always nice to see what people look like.
Thank you for letting me peep over your shoulder.
Lisca#45

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hullo there Great aunty Lunch Lady Jan :D
congrats!...

wow, apart from that it sounds like things really are unravelling with all these cuts @ LLJ.. glad you made it over to my blog to comment, and must say love how your flower power bag turned out .. and the one for the spare cords.. what neat trick!! as well as Kyla!! cat approves and all! Shaz in Oz.x #27

Anonymous said...

What a crazy week! How do you end up with power cuts and a burst water main then the weather has been so good! Yes, woyyw, isn't it amazing! Looks like you all had a wonderful day, what exactly was it that startled Julia so much lol!!

Hugs
Brenda 54

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

A lot accomplished and pretty patterned fabrics...congrats, more fun to be had with the little ones. Love all the BIG windows too, as I age I need the light. #59 before I forget! enjoy your week

Eliza said...

What a great collection of pictures, now that is one shock photo it made me giggle. Those cables look like a typical techies collection, I have quite a few more but somehow do try and cull but never succeed, brilliant bag though and Kylas bag love the colours, maybe I should come over and you can teach me how to sew bags. I can't sew at all LOL

Thanks for sharing and visiting already, so sorry you hunger for the OB's it is certainly a way of life always on the road, but fun, I am never bored.

Hugs Eliza, Yoda & Flat Susan who is helping me visit the desks right now.

Happy WOYWW

Kyla said...

After you had such a hectic few days I was so pleased to add to your whirlwind of tasks! It was a great day and I took my bag into work today and have been parading it up and down stroking it! I would love to do another day, maybe a free machine embroidering session?
Kyla x

Diana Taylor said...

It looks like you had a really fun day with the girls, and I am blown away by the bag Kyla made - it looks like it was bought in a shop - very professionally done. I think the hares on your piano are absolutely beautiful - I love the feeling of movement in them, they look so realistic. Thanks so much for stopping by my desk, I'm glad you are up and running again. Have a great week, Diana

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi Jan happy WOYWW and thanks for visiting my desk. You girls sure did have a fun, creative and productive session - great bag Kyla and the yellow flower bag too. Have a great week RobynO#29

Judys Lace Creations said...

Frustrating with power off and no water aaargh!!
Glad you had some play time though.
Judy #63

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Looks like a great day was had by all. Love the hares on your piano.

Fiona #64

CraftygasheadZo said...

Oh wow super pics. Looks like you all had a great time. Kyla did amazing with that bag too but then I know you are a fabulous teacher! Thanks for the visit. I'm ok in my head, body daft and not working but I'm good. Smiling and happy. And yes Rovers are doing really well at mo and I'm managing to go to Saturday games. Not evening ones at the mo. Using wheelchair lots helps too. Thank you for noticing I'm glad my footy madness wears off on people!!!! Debs checks the scores too. Lol Life may throw me lemons but I sure am making lemonade with it! Take care lovely. Zo xx 62

Unknown said...

Oh what a fun time with lovely girls! Especially a day of sewing together. Now, I am dying to know what man bite cards are! But I realize you've had internet/power troubles--so maybe you can share next week. I think Julia needs to make that her profile picture--too cute!! I have been engrossed in learning about my Gelli plate painting, and seemed to have dropped everything when that arrived in the mail from Amazon. I love an Amazon delivery. But I need to get back to my frugal ways. I'm telling you, one of these days, we need to Skype with tea. I've yet to setup a Skype account, but I have cameras on all my computers--and I think it would be so fun! Hugs to you dearest. Sandy Leigh #57

Bernice said...

Love both those bags - and didn't Kyla do well to make such a great job with her first attempt at bag making!
Bernice #30

Helen said...

Well you've been and commented on mine, so obviously the connection's holding up! Love the pics of Kyla and her bag making day, how lovely of you to help her out - she did great.
My phone is sorted too - time slot given, 4 till 7. get home from work 3.57. man phones 4.03 I'll be there in 5 minutes - which he was - and finished by 4.20... brilliant! then I had to dust everything to put it back in place... eek!! The carpet is awful, so threadbare in places - it's been down since before I moved in (1985!) but I can't move everything out to get it replaced, much as I'd LOVE to!!! Helen 4

Hazel said...

Looks as if you had a lovely time together. Love that bag ... and so many other lovely crafty things to see. Thanks for sharing. Hope you are having a great day and have a lovely crafting week to come. Hazel, WOYWW #69 x

Unknown said...

Hi Jan what a busy time you have had. I would have been pretty useless company last week and you may have come home with more than you bargined for! What a fun way to spend the day. Crafting with friends… tea….cake? I am looking forward to Saturday I haven't felt like doing much lately. Hope to see you when you come down again. There's a lemonade with your name on it waiting!
Have a happy week
Lynda B 24

Ali H said...

Glad you battled through all those "utilities" hiccups ! Looks like you girls had fun stitching together ! Sorry to hear things are tough with your Dad. Give us a shout next time you are down if you need a hug ! Ali x #10

Chrysalis said...

No wonder Kyla looks so proud in the last pic - a lovely result to a lovely day. It's great when crafty friends can get together. Hopefully, it took your mind off all the household mishaps, for a while. Take care, Chris # 14

VonnyK said...

What a week you've had and to make matters worse you're an old fart great aunt (he he). Congrats. If you can teach Kyla to make a bag that fabulous, I reckon you could even teach me to sew, but I'm allergic to sewing machines and live 12000 miles away, so I guess not :) When I saw that photo of Julia I just cracked up, it's priceless. I thought she was as crazy as me from the blog but now we all have proof. I agree with you on the meeting fab people on the woyww, I love you guys. Have a great week,
Luv Von #23

fairy thoughts said...

Hi LLJ
hope you get this okay and the internet is holding together
Looks like you had some company for the bag making .... I'm amazed you managed to finish a whole bag with all the fun I'm sure you had along the way. Hope you get everything sorted out soon
Janet @60 thanks for your visit

Anonymous said...

Already been to Kyla's but I love seeing things from more than one POV - bag is lovely in both places, of course, as are you three! And oh the internet! Yesterday was hellish but I got there in the end and while I've not solved ALL my problems (in fact created a few new ones but ones less annoying that the others I DID solve) so you have all my sympathy.

I already have a long list of sewing like things to chat to MIL about but nice to know you aren't adverse to the odd day of handholding and teaching....
:)

Happy WOYWW!
Mary Anne (2)

Kelly said...

Hi Jan! Great bag! I love seeing your creations. Meeting Kayla this week a pleasant bonus. yes, those babies have a habit of coming. Do you think it's purposefully to show our age? I refuse to get older. That's that! ;-) Creative Blessings! Kelly #66

Debs Willis said...

You've had a bit of a week, haven't you! Hope your dads ok, and you get reconnected soon - no internet? Aaaaaaargh!
Looks like you had a lovely day with Kyla, her bag is beautiful and I love that flower bag, the little yellow flower makes me smile:-)
Hugs Debs x

Debs Willis said...

Doh! Completely forgot to say thanks for your lovely comments about my faux leather notebooks. Think Sheena Douglass has a tutorial on her blog :-)
Debs x

Jackie said...

Looks like you all had a fab day sewing together!
Sorry for late reply been having i pad problems since the IOS update :(
Jackie 5

505whimsygirl said...

Hi there LLJ,

Oh, how fun. I still think I must consider jumping ship and moving to your side of the pond. You all have so much fun together. Sometimes in my crafting I feel all alone here. The bag your friend made is wonderful! I'm not sure what this is about but I keep purchasing small bits of fabri cna haven't done anything with them.... I'm sure once I get started I'll be able to enjoy it; it's just the hump of getting the sewing machine out and making the first stitch.

I love the photo of Julia!!!

I'm sorry I'm so late in calling by. After working all week on the computer I really don't feel like turning it on in the evenings so I usually wait for Sundays and my visit to Starbucks. I set up my "desk" and get down to it!

Happy belated WOYWW
Hugs, Kay (31)

Cardarian said...

A bit late coming back but I had to go and see my mom over the weekend so my time for doing WOYWW calls was put off! Yes my pension plans are delayed due to our totally incompetent bureaucracy, but I am getting there - you just have to pester them day after day until they get fed up with you and then you win! Huh! Still I hope to be in Kent sometime towards the end of the year and will look forward to seeing you and Julia! What a fun tim you had with Kyla!
Big Hugs,
Cardarian

Ohhh Snap said...

It looks like you had a Grand Day In : D. Love that look of surprise on Julia's face lol. I love having the proper sized bag for things that need carrying. Your friend is very very lucky! It's so functional AND beautiful! #6

WOYWW 769

 WE'LL MEET AGAIN.... I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - please don't worry, all is ok! - think I just need a...