tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59027328872152712962024-03-13T18:54:35.887+00:00By GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-70366488526877650392011-01-25T21:53:00.000+00:002011-01-25T21:53:21.941+00:00Seashells, seashells on the wall<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bygillian.blogspot.com/2011/01/december-and-january.html">The last two months</a> did</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> not leave a lot of time for sewing, but I did start and finish these three pictures for our bedroom:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-80332698908552679852010-10-27T22:21:00.000+01:002013-03-04T20:30:41.176+00:00Catching up<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My cousin and her partner had a little boy the day before our wedding and she and baby still came! His first social engagement at 1 day old. It was lovely of her to come but she had the best reason not to. I sewed him these shoes:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TMdalMIkqkI/AAAAAAAAAZE/XWUATIMx9Lc/s1600/IMG_7836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TMdalMIkqkI/AAAAAAAAAZE/XWUATIMx9Lc/s400/IMG_7836.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pattern is from Anna Maria Horners book - Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby. They are my 1st attempt at sewing shoes and in comparison to quilting they are fiddily to make.</span></div>
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Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-13181411010657911212010-09-20T21:58:00.002+01:002013-03-04T20:36:02.480+00:00Something special<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before our wedding I went to my quilt group knowing we would be eating cake and have a couple of drinks to celebrate my impending marriage, and I was really looking forward to it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They gave me this</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and sprinkled confetti all over me and my machine.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each member of the group pieced a square, isn't it wonderful. I was surprised, shocked, lost for words and loved their generosity. I found out they had been having secret conversations and always without me knowing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On my last day of work in came into the office to find this <i>(taken with my phone)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a close up</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still finding confetti and chocolates in my shoes, drawers, documents and who knows where else I'll find it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love how much thought and creativity went into each of surprises, they will always be two of my favourite presents.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gillian</span><br />
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Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-47884904435311846972010-09-04T09:58:00.000+01:002010-09-04T09:58:06.464+01:00Something borrowed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our wedding photographer, Jeff Ascough has posted some of his favourite photographs of our wedding on <a href="http://jeffascough.typepad.com/jeff_ascough_blog/2010/09/gillian-paul.html#">his blog,</a> < click on the link to see them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love the photos he has chosen to share.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As ever, I needed an image for this post and I have 'borrowed' a beautiful photograph of my niece in her bridesmaid dress. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This photograph was taken by my new sister-in-law, thanks Mel.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TIIJGdQWWpI/AAAAAAAAAXs/Sn81qwfcJf8/s1600/DSC_4501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TIIJGdQWWpI/AAAAAAAAAXs/Sn81qwfcJf8/s400/DSC_4501.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-75989496428216058512010-08-18T23:06:00.000+01:002010-08-18T23:06:32.035+01:00Something transformed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">O</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nce upon a time a visitor from the south of the land brought a box of sweets to bring Christmas cheer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGHEfa4yPMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/lrzwErfDiO4/s1600/IMG_7728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGHEfa4yPMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/lrzwErfDiO4/s320/IMG_7728.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The hospitable hosts were very grateful for the sweets and viewed the box with interest and untold possibilities. After Christmas it was placed on the top shelf of a very, very tall cupboard and forgotten about.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Time moved on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One day she cleared the cupboard and with great delight pulled out the box. They viewed it curiously and suddenly an idea popped into her head, <i>"Do you think it's possible?"</i> she asked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Yes, I think it is"</i>, replied he.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A flurry of painting ensued.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGHEfa4yPMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/lrzwErfDiO4/s1600/IMG_7728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGHS5sb0yNI/AAAAAAAAAWc/eq2vmQqv7mo/s1600/IMG_7740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGHS5sb0yNI/AAAAAAAAAWc/eq2vmQqv7mo/s320/IMG_7740.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He traded some beans with a wizard who taught him to spin crowns and letters from gold and magically placed them onto the box.</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They looked down with joy and no-longer saw a plain sweet box, it had been transformed into a post box, and it shall go to the party.</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">T</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">E</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nd.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGr17SWbv0I/AAAAAAAAAWk/CkuOVMoQimI/s1600/IMG_7815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGr17SWbv0I/AAAAAAAAAWk/CkuOVMoQimI/s400/IMG_7815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-47842576147690256512010-08-15T23:51:00.000+01:002010-08-15T23:51:48.787+01:00Something to do with a hen and a stag<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry about the title, I had to keep the 'Something ...' wedding post theme going somehow. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our hen and stag parties were full of activities.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to my very first ice skating lesson. I have skated before but have never been on a lesson - something I wanted to do for years. We learnt to skate backwards, in a circle, do small jumps and to skate on one foot. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was brilliant, I recommend you try it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the train to the ice rink Helen passed me a package and said "Before you open this do you promise to do whatever is in it?" After some deliberation and making her promise it was not dares or a tacky veil with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> L plates or other 'things' on it (you can guess what), I said yes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then they made me wear this outfit on the tram back to Manchester and as I walked through Manchester city centre, always walking a few steps behind me. Strangely, hardly anyone batted an eye-lid, ha har.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met the others at The Modern restaurant above the Urbis museum for a fantastic meal (I recommend the golden syrup pudding with vanilla custard) and more dressing up items.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the evening we watched </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Charlies Aunt'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at the Royal Exchange Theatre. The play has been running since 1892, making it one of the most successful farces.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGFdc9dBUMI/AAAAAAAAAWM/mIr_U4vTeek/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TGFdc9dBUMI/AAAAAAAAAWM/mIr_U4vTeek/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the boys stag party his brother took him for a helicopter flying lesson as a surprise. In the evening they met the others to watch comedian Al Pitcher and for a night in Liverpool.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We both had great days</span></i></span></i></span></span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></i></span></i></span></span></span></i></span></div><div></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-5929551147465119162010-08-10T14:43:00.002+01:002013-03-04T22:25:56.755+00:00Lancashire living<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago we went on a lovely summer walk near our home in Lancashire, past fields of cows,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by canals with ornate boats</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and by embankments framed by reeds.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to see more photographs of the north west of England then visit <a href="http://jellybeanangel2.blogspot.com/blog">JellyBeanAngels blog</a>, the lady should be paid by the English tourist board. Her photographs remind me the little part of the world I live in ain't half bad.</span><br />
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Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-2041130856933030562010-08-02T20:39:00.000+01:002010-08-02T20:39:02.567+01:00Something sewn<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week was very productive.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had my first wedding dress fitting and with my shoes I look very very tall, ordered my veil and my replacement engagement ring, we met with the registrar and had our last meeting with our reception venue co-ordinator.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The never ending rain</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">made me </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">finally finish sewing 3 new sashes for my flower girls dresses. Their dresses are white and even though the white sashes were pretty, they were lost against the dress, so I made green sashes to link the colour between the adults bridesmaid dresses and the childrens.</span><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My oldest niece Holly will carry our wedding rings on a cushion inspired by the <a href="http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/diy-decorations?lnc=e42ee220a0881210VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&contentid=bc37bbcd948bf110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD#slide_19">ring cushions</a> on the <a href="http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/">Martha Stewart Weddings</a> website.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And because I thought the backed looked plain in comparison to the front I added some ribbon and my late grandmother's brooch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For both the sashes and the ring cushion I used a green lining fabric, although the lining fabric is fine for the sashes I thought it would fray easily under pressure and show every lump and bump of the cushion stuffing. So I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">added an extra row of stitches close to the edges and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lined the lining fabric with a light weight white cotton fabric.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's still a couple of items I want to make... maybe if there's enough time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming soon, our hen and stag parties.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span></div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-68988342897232237762010-07-26T23:04:00.000+01:002010-07-26T23:04:22.826+01:00Twice baked cheesy potatoes recipe<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">When you are having a party it's great to have some hot food the guests love, it can be made in advance and reheated. They're so good your guests will want more.</span></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder" /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">The instructions below make 4 cheesy baked potatoes.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients</span></span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">2 baking potatoes - we normally bake 1 potato per person</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">150g grated cheddar cheese</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Milk</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Butter or margarine</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Instructions</span></span></div></div><div><ol><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBlCKajseaI/AAAAAAAAAT4/5GXtunmry2k/s1600/IMG_7588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBlCKajseaI/AAAAAAAAAT4/5GXtunmry2k/s320/IMG_7588.jpg" width="212" /></a>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Wash the baking potatoes and stab them with a sharp knife 8 times.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Place in the centre of a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees Celsius, cook for an hour turning once, when the centers are soft they are ready. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Cut the potatoes in half and using a large spoon scoop out the centre into a pan (be careful, they are HOT), place the skins back on a baking tray.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Add into the pan of potato a knob of butter or margarine and a splash of milk. Using a potato masher, mash until creamy. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Add into the pan 4/6ths of the cheese and fold in well.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Using a spoon, scoop the cheesy mash potato back into the skins.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Sprinkle the top of the potatoes with the remaining cheese.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">When cool, cover and keep in the fridge until needed. I have kept the potatoes for up to 2 days before re-heating.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Heat the potatoes at 200 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and the centre is hot.</span></li>
</ol><ol></ol></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBlC5nGS6rI/AAAAAAAAAUI/lZZpIwZiVYU/s1600/IMG_7597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBlC5nGS6rI/AAAAAAAAAUI/lZZpIwZiVYU/s320/IMG_7597.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Eat and enjoy.</span></div></div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-75957233607864878802010-07-05T23:36:00.000+01:002010-07-05T23:36:42.690+01:00Something new<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our <a href="http://bygillian.blogspot.com/2010/03/something-old.html">wedding</a> is only a month and a half away - eeek.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TDJR7fMYSEI/AAAAAAAAAUw/gKr0x3Oeni0/s1600/IMG_7714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TDJR7fMYSEI/AAAAAAAAAUw/gKr0x3Oeni0/s400/IMG_7714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boy and I decided to make a few handmade items for the wedding, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still have to make the sashes for the flower girls dresses, but</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have been making the ladies favours on and off for the last few months. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have designed, made and posted the invitations, the boy even managed to source some FSC sustainable card, and I think they are great. </span><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A wedding magazine said if a bride normally wears her hair down like I do then she should wear it down on her wedding day. Well, I am ignoring that little piece of advice, I want to look different, polished and elegant like Reese Witherspoon, Kate Beckinsale and Angelina Jolie. My hairdresser</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> tried out 2 different styles, sorry, no pictures until after the wedding.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are my shoes for the big day, aren't they pretty! I visited them for a good year before purchasing them, you see, I normally wear flat shoes, like, everywhere... and they add a good three inches to my height, so I really need to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a. learn to walk in them, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b. break them in. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TDJRjsjRk3I/AAAAAAAAAUo/YEGujvz9Kfw/s1600/IMG_7683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TDJRjsjRk3I/AAAAAAAAAUo/YEGujvz9Kfw/s400/IMG_7683.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do have a plan b for the evening - bare feet, perfect for dancing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry I can't share photos of everything I have made yet, many of my guests read this blog and I want a few things to be a surprise.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-9698287401751942852010-06-27T20:45:00.001+01:002010-07-07T19:19:34.831+01:00Applique baby bodysuit (onesie) & free patterns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My cousin and his wife had their first child in May, a beautiful little girl. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBkepHR6nII/AAAAAAAAATg/pKBwEfAY18E/s1600/IMG_7650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBkepHR6nII/AAAAAAAAATg/pKBwEfAY18E/s400/IMG_7650.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every sewer knows each baby should receive a gift, one made with love and thought in each stitch. For Freya's gift I embellished some shop bought bodysuits (onesies) as each newborn needs some cute bodysuits to wear with a skirt or trousers and a little cardigan. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBkdYhF83TI/AAAAAAAAATQ/Bc6v9Qbc9l8/s1600/IMG_7644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBkdYhF83TI/AAAAAAAAATQ/Bc6v9Qbc9l8/s400/IMG_7644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both the apple and bird are attached using raw edge applique to allow the edges to fray slightly when washed, and the apple stem, bird's beak, feet and eyes are sewn with co-ordinating thread. The bow is 3D, it was fashioned into shape and lightly sewn onto the suit. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBkdy3dpH2I/AAAAAAAAATY/3R7O3ObP1zk/s1600/IMG_7648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBkdy3dpH2I/AAAAAAAAATY/3R7O3ObP1zk/s400/IMG_7648.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Welcome to the world Freya.</span></b></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">---------- <b>Bloganniversary </b> ----------</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This month is my one year blog anniversary and to celebrate I am sharing the apple and bird patterns, here they are: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TCemCYIhqjI/AAAAAAAAAUg/48mpYsVUWOU/s1600/bygillian_baby_bodysuit_patterns_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TCemCYIhqjI/AAAAAAAAAUg/48mpYsVUWOU/s320/bygillian_baby_bodysuit_patterns_HR.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click on the image to open a larger version.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used the pattern on a bodysuit for a baby aged 3-6 months, and the pattern can easily be increased. A new mu<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">m gets so many clothes for a newborn I like to give something the little one can grow into.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-45872077266962420452010-06-12T21:04:00.000+01:002010-06-12T21:04:00.437+01:00Like the Twilight Saga?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBPklccEdNI/AAAAAAAAATI/mFY4cuibajo/s1600/41BPXqTWXsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/TBPklccEdNI/AAAAAAAAATI/mFY4cuibajo/s320/41BPXqTWXsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If like me you became OBSESSED with the Twilight Saga books then you may have heard Stephanie Mayer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has published an Eclipse novella called '<b>The short second life of Bree Tanner</b>'. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the good news - as a gift from Stephanie it is available to read online and for <b>free</b> at<b> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.breetanner.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.breetanner.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="http://www.breetanner.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">com/</span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">u</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ntil the 5th July 2010.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you waiting for?</span></span></span></span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-20319139012669526312010-05-28T23:16:00.001+01:002010-05-28T23:17:38.114+01:00Bleaching fabric<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes does not work.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the first time I have tried to lighten fabric and decided to use the bleach. Before starting I read some instructions on the internet, placed each fabric colour in a separate mixture of warm water and bleach for several minutes. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9oYqsA2v2I/AAAAAAAAARw/vJpYfBVzOlM/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9oYqsA2v2I/AAAAAAAAARw/vJpYfBVzOlM/s320/IMG_0249.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here they are, can you tell the difference? </span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9obL-IQtUI/AAAAAAAAASI/zhbK8Sb9H_c/s1600/IMG_7494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9obL-IQtUI/AAAAAAAAASI/zhbK8Sb9H_c/s400/IMG_7494.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9obRNcx1fI/AAAAAAAAASQ/s1D65INAW2U/s1600/IMG_7489-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9obRNcx1fI/AAAAAAAAASQ/s1D65INAW2U/s400/IMG_7489-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. Neither can I. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have any suggestions for future attempts?</span><br />
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</span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-13311008970578898602010-05-22T08:27:00.010+01:002013-03-04T22:46:19.742+00:00Do sewing machines have their own quilts?<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my house they do.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This sewing machine quilt has been on my UFO list for sometime. Over a year ago I woke one Sunday morning eager to try something new, made a sketch, worked out the dimensions and grabbed some old shirt fabric that I'd purchased 2 or so years ago from the NEC quilt show. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9oKSzND-0I/AAAAAAAAARg/4OopmljARYM/s1600/IMG_7516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9oKSzND-0I/AAAAAAAAARg/4OopmljARYM/s320/IMG_7516.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quilt is to go under my sewing machine to stop it from damaging my kitchen table. Some of the shirt fabric I really don't like is hidden under the machine and one of the very first fat quarters I purchased around the edge. I have backed the quilt with more shirt fabric, and it's actually my favourite part. This time I decided to go with white binding, it was probably a bad idea but I think it balances the colours in the quilt top.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9oKw_Gb9UI/AAAAAAAAARo/sHfZf4haMPA/s1600/IMG_7517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9oKw_Gb9UI/AAAAAAAAARo/sHfZf4haMPA/s320/IMG_7517.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm tried out a different type of wadding for this project, I usually use Warm and Natural for bed quilts, but for a machine quilt cheap wadding will do.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Liverpool's new shopping area two new shops opened recently and yours truely just happened to pop by. I'm not accustomed to shop openings and so why not take a moment to enjoy a glass of champaign and ord'erves. Who am I to question their marketing techniques???</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span></div>
Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-60690365925498070412010-05-02T08:56:00.002+01:002010-05-02T08:56:00.311+01:00Hen party gifts<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My friends Lauren and Jon are getting married in June and this bank holiday weekend is Lauren's hen party in London. As I cannot go I put together a gift bag as a surprise and gave it to her on Friday night.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times-Roman, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hen parties usually include an alcoholic drink or two so I included a bottle of Italian wine (they are getting married in Italy), goblets, a pack of hangover tablets, a tube map of London, and Mr and Mrs Questions (with forfeits). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wKh-KvVRI/AAAAAAAAAS4/0ilLtExZ4F8/s1600/IMG_7578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wKh-KvVRI/AAAAAAAAAS4/0ilLtExZ4F8/s320/IMG_7578.jpg" width="220" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wJpsUrbXI/AAAAAAAAASo/hvV6kztJR-4/s1600/IMG_7547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wJpsUrbXI/AAAAAAAAASo/hvV6kztJR-4/s320/IMG_7547.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To tie in with the love theme the hen and each chick will receive packet of Love Heart sweets and a heart shaped biscuit made using <a href="http://blonde-designs.squarespace.com/blonde-designs-blog/2009/9/8/beehive-and-bumblebee-cookies.html?lastPage=true#comment7937892">this recipe.</a> Each biscuit was packaged in a bag and with a label designed by the boy. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times-Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wJYnXnHWI/AAAAAAAAASg/Jny7D_OjB0Y/s1600/IMG_7539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wJYnXnHWI/AAAAAAAAASg/Jny7D_OjB0Y/s320/IMG_7539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wIw-9YqGI/AAAAAAAAASY/NKzCb_l54cM/s1600/IMG_7518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wIw-9YqGI/AAAAAAAAASY/NKzCb_l54cM/s320/IMG_7518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is common for hens parties to have a clothing theme and for Lauren's each chick will receive a fabric flower that can be worn as a corsage or in the hair, and as every bride to-be needs a veil I made Lauren's using a head band, a flower and some netting from my stash.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wKPB5DdZI/AAAAAAAAASw/9qQIestr_tk/s1600/IMG_7569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9wKPB5DdZI/AAAAAAAAASw/9qQIestr_tk/s320/IMG_7569.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lauren, I hope you have a great weekend.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Gx</span></span></div></span></span></span></div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-38380995716723889812010-04-29T22:05:00.000+01:002013-03-04T22:51:55.226+00:00Mexico by numbers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 wedding</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lost engagement ring (mine)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 engagement</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9nxYaa8ZUI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/YOzy7QXaNLA/s1600/IMG_7500-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9nxYaa8ZUI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/YOzy7QXaNLA/s320/IMG_7500-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 hospital visits</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 extra days on holiday (thanks volcano)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9ny1YA5qnI/AAAAAAAAARY/7XEVhy1NJS8/s1600/IMG_7511-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9ny1YA5qnI/AAAAAAAAARY/7XEVhy1NJS8/s320/IMG_7511-1-2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 days with heavy rain</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 activities I participated in - aqua aerobics, yoga on the beach, stretching class, salsa dancing, beginner tennis lesson, face mask workshop and a scuba dive taster</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 full days of sunshine</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13 bouts of food poisoning</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9mFXg0qwwI/AAAAAAAAAQo/rX351aAuRBI/s1600/IMG_0551-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9mFXg0qwwI/AAAAAAAAAQo/rX351aAuRBI/s320/IMG_0551-3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18 days on holiday</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22 members of the party</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9mFdJGLEbI/AAAAAAAAAQw/s0KQ88umANE/s1600/IMG_7397-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9mFdJGLEbI/AAAAAAAAAQw/s0KQ88umANE/s320/IMG_7397-1-1.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">648 cocktails drank</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was an eventful holiday.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would like to thank June my mother-in-law for feeding our two little fluffy monsters while we were away.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span></div>
Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-39990109901278564682010-04-28T23:26:00.000+01:002013-03-04T22:56:28.398+00:00It never happens to me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but it did this time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may have heard a little something about an Icelandic volcanic eruption and its ash grounding flights to and from Europe. Well, yep, I was one of those thousands and thousands of people stuck in another country.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 weeks ago I flew to Mexico with 21 other people for my sisters wedding. With only a few days of the holiday remaining the wind changed direction, luckily for us we were in a great all inclusive resort and the holiday company covered the costs for the extra 4 days.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9iwqOP1m9I/AAAAAAAAAQI/s1AfkdPunIw/s1600/IMG_3904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9iwqOP1m9I/AAAAAAAAAQI/s1AfkdPunIw/s200/IMG_3904.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9ieOsdaGSI/AAAAAAAAAPw/fdfdptfXTHs/s1600/IMG_3793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S9ieOsdaGSI/AAAAAAAAAPw/fdfdptfXTHs/s200/IMG_3793.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boy's brother was not so lucky, it took him and his girlfriend 4 days to travel home from southern Spain.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's good to be back.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And happy St Georges Day, OK so it was on Friday but I was flying.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-15889746236011920012010-04-02T12:21:00.000+01:002010-04-02T12:21:18.412+01:00Eggtastic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S7XS4F-SVfI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/rclRLgOPUuA/s1600/DSCN0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S7XS4F-SVfI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/rclRLgOPUuA/s400/DSCN0652.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Easter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-7437205565561373222010-03-27T21:34:00.001+00:002010-03-27T21:35:44.687+00:00What next?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warning, this is a random post.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going on holiday to Mexico for my sisters wedding and I want to take some sewing with me but what do I take? Everything I can think of is either nearly finished, is something for my wedding so I don't want all of my relatives to see it, or involves a cutting mat and a sewing machine. Suggestions on a postcard please.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may have noticed my 101 on 1001 listings below my posts and they are going OK, thank you for asking but I'm a little bit stuck on number 60 'Watch 10 classic films'. So far I have seen:</span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunset Boulevard.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some Like It Hot.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taxi Driver.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Great Escape. I can't believe I have never watched this before.</span></li>
</ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the thing, I need 6 more classic films to watch, I must not have watched them before and they cannot be horror films. Please help?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And just because I have to add a picture to my posts, here's a photo of Formby Point.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S6544hlmCEI/AAAAAAAAAPI/gSEAKneXHEA/s1600/DSC_0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S6544hlmCEI/AAAAAAAAAPI/gSEAKneXHEA/s400/DSC_0282.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gx</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-64765781294372938782010-03-24T23:55:00.001+00:002010-03-24T23:56:51.164+00:00Diversity is good.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Last year my quilting group entered The Great Northern Quilt show, and guess what, we came second in the group quilt category! It's the first time we're entered and we were so happy when we heard the results. The wall hanging is now on display in our meeting room and this is the first chance I've had to take a photo.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Each hanging is very different and reflects the work of each quilter.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S6qdqsKmHoI/AAAAAAAAAO4/6cn3h-4p9Qo/s1600/IMG_3728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S6qdqsKmHoI/AAAAAAAAAO4/6cn3h-4p9Qo/s400/IMG_3728.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My contribution is the wonky squares panel in the centre. When I started to make the panel in January 2009 wonky squares were everywhere in blogland and this project was the perfect opportunity to have a go at a new block. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S6qd-_NhevI/AAAAAAAAAPA/Fv8OZySlKbM/s1600/IMG_3730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S6qd-_NhevI/AAAAAAAAAPA/Fv8OZySlKbM/s320/IMG_3730.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I practiced free motion quilting in the shape of cinnamon rolls on my panel. I find this pattern a lot easier than stippling but I might have found it even easier if I had lowered my sewing machine's feed dogs! I was told at a later date I was supposed to be afraid of free motion quilting, ignorance is bliss. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gx</span></span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-37126046933201661762010-03-06T00:33:00.020+00:002013-03-04T23:08:10.226+00:00Something old<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">There are many options for every aspect of a wedding day and with so much choice in the last few months I have started for forget my theme. I always knew the theme was going to be vintage, but until two days ago did not have a colour. I was waiting to see what bridesmaid dresses the high street brought out and as I am going to at least three other weddings this year, and a bridesmaid for two of them, trying to find a different colour was becoming a bit of a concern.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Two days ago I settled on green, and it feels right. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">To keep my theme on track I have made my own wedding mood board (courtesy of Dessy).</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S5GS9bM8zUI/AAAAAAAAAO0/pxd0uoM3fpg/s1600-h/b_17057_snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S5GS9bM8zUI/AAAAAAAAAO0/pxd0uoM3fpg/s400/b_17057_snapshot.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">On a different note, if you are reading this post in a reader check out my new banner, they boy did it in about 2 minutes. He's a star. And I have enabled my blogs comments setting, if you want to leave me a message you now can.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-57348336864261210312010-01-16T00:29:00.000+00:002010-01-16T00:29:59.882+00:00Yummy lentil soup<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0e3_MCd2NI/AAAAAAAAANI/p0idoI2Yz3E/s1600-h/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0e3_MCd2NI/AAAAAAAAANI/p0idoI2Yz3E/s320/DSC_0140.JPG" width="313" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my all time favourite soup recipe and is really easy to make. My mum made it all the time when my sister and I were little.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 medium-large carrots</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 onion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of red split lentils</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 ham stock cubes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1800 ml (3pt) water, additional water is required for soaking and topping up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crusty bread rolls</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 4 portions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instructions</span></b><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soaks the lentils in hot water for 10 minutes, then rinse.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the lentils are soaking, boil the water and finely chop the carrots and onion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the water, stock cubes, lentils, carrots and onions in a pressure cooker and bring to the boil.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use the pressure cooker seal, close the lid and when the pressure is reached add the weight, lower temperature to simmer. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cook for at least 45 minutes, I usually open the pressure cooker once during this period to stir and add water as necessary.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the carrots are soft the soup is ready. The lentils thicken the soup quickly, add water to the consistency you like.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve in a bowl with crusty bread rolls on the side, now dip.</span></li>
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</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfect winter food.</span><br />Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-46552356740376282392010-01-07T23:56:00.001+00:002010-01-08T00:04:35.165+00:00Looking back at 2009<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Most years I think about making a resolution, some years I do and most I don't. Last New Year I decided any resolutions had to be fun. I know I'm never going to give up chocolate - EVER, a new year is supposed to be about hope and something to look forward to, so why make it painful. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT;">I achieved 5 of my 6 resolutions:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0ZqUdWrf8I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/vSR4dpv-qWc/s1600-h/DSC_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0ZqUdWrf8I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/vSR4dpv-qWc/s200/DSC_0074.jpg" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Try 1 new thing, anything as long as I
had never done it before. Completed, I went on a dressmaking course.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Finish 3 new books. Completed within the first
2 months.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Finish 2 arts or crafts. Completed but I
still have 15 UFOs, something to work on in 2010.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Sew an item of clothing. Made a dress for my
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1262894085353"></span>niece<span id="goog_1262894085354"></span></a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Take 'us' photos. This is the most important and the one I did not achieve.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Go somewhere new in Britain. We went to new areas down south and to Northumberland. To the right is a photo from our weekend away to Oxford, and managed to fit in a trip to Bath, Windsor Castle, and we got see an not-so-old housemate.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT;">This year I'm not making any new resolutions, I still have my 101 list to work through, see the sidebar to see the tasks I have completed so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT;">Here's some places we visited in 2009:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: ArialMT;">Recognise this place? The location was used in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, only a couple of hundred miles north of Nottingham... Robin's ship must have got lost coming back from the Crusades. It's actually Hadien's Wall. It was built in northern England in AD122, spans 150 miles from the west to east coast and was used as a border or customs post.</span><br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0ZqwjqrmYI/AAAAAAAAAMg/LF1ZJGTfEmI/s1600-h/DSC_0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0ZqwjqrmYI/AAAAAAAAAMg/LF1ZJGTfEmI/s320/DSC_0143.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT;">We spent a weekend with two friends (another not-so-old housemate) in the north-east of England. This sculpture is the Angel of the North by Anthony Gormley.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0Zq3iKnpEI/AAAAAAAAAMo/mXVKGuDyerM/s1600-h/DSC_0173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0Zq3iKnpEI/AAAAAAAAAMo/mXVKGuDyerM/s320/DSC_0173.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ahhhh, the beach. It's not far from where we live but we do not visit enough.</span><br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0ZrDrY4gOI/AAAAAAAAAMw/1dLt9Lc-6Ts/s1600-h/DSC_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/S0ZrDrY4gOI/AAAAAAAAAMw/1dLt9Lc-6Ts/s320/DSC_0295.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boy and I spent a weekend in London, click <a href="http://bygillian.blogspot.com/2009/08/london-baby.html">here</a> to see the photos.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time.</span><br />
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</div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-60689474556557235462010-01-02T23:37:00.001+00:002010-01-02T23:41:39.369+00:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you had a happy holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the third year the boy and I hosted Christmas dinner in our home, there were 7 of us including 2 family members who travelled up from London, and practice must make perfect because it was the easiest Christmas dinner we have made so far.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz-oyReAREI/AAAAAAAAAL4/CZ3jbDP8dHE/s1600/DSC_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz-oyReAREI/AAAAAAAAAL4/CZ3jbDP8dHE/s320/DSC_0153.jpg" /></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did the big food shop on Wednesday at midnight, it was the best time to go - the store was empty, we got everything we wanted and did not have to get up at 7am to find a parking space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year we decided to make a fruit platter for the starter and let our guests graze before dinner, for mains we had the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, we then opened our presents and finally had Christmas or chocolate cake for desert.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz-n3CmnEfI/AAAAAAAAALg/RPu5Lgt6Xhk/s1600-h/DSC_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz-n3CmnEfI/AAAAAAAAALg/RPu5Lgt6Xhk/s320/DSC_0142.JPG" /></span></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We still made too much food, but my gingerbread biscuits were a success, two days later this is what was left. I baked around 50 gingerbread biscuits on Christmas eve using this recipe: </span><a href="http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Gingerbread.aspx"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Gingerbread.aspx</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I added the extra cinnamon and ginger suggested in the comments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On New Years eve the boy and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. We got together on the eve of the millennium and so to celebrate we went to the same city we were in 10 years ago, had a fantastic meal and at midnight we went back to the waterfront. We brought in the New Year in front of the clock with the horns sounding from the ships and watching the fireworks from the peninsula. I loved it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a stitchery I made for my quilting groups 2008 challenge, we all had to pick a Christmas card we received for Christmas 2007 and make something using the design, but we were not allowed to talk about it. I chose this little soldier and came up with the border myself. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz_P9j0R0qI/AAAAAAAAAMI/4HqUsjIaLkQ/s1600-h/DSC_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz_P9j0R0qI/AAAAAAAAAMI/4HqUsjIaLkQ/s320/DSC_0148.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz-n643hcxI/AAAAAAAAALo/fqfxtYT6KSw/s1600-h/DSC_0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/Sz-n643hcxI/AAAAAAAAALo/fqfxtYT6KSw/s320/DSC_0147.jpg" /></a></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, fantasy;"><span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;">- - - - - </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">101 in 1001</span><span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"> - - - - -</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">104. Choose wedding rings.</span><br />
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</div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902732887215271296.post-82068913029914579172009-12-14T21:19:00.000+00:002009-12-14T21:19:09.409+00:00Cup cosies and coats<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm finally back in the sewing groove. I had some time off sewing when I was really busy at work and decided after sharing so many non-crafty posts the next one had to show something I had made. But then I'd had such a long break from blogging that I thought I had to show you something really good, because taking in tops and repairing clothes is just not interesting enough, right?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Two of my friends (Michelle and Nikki) have started sewing (yay) and they got my itching to make something. But again, I wanted to share something great, and have fantastic photos... Unfortunately in the rainy north west the light is not great in the winter, or even good. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, I thought just get on with it and finally stopped waiting for daylight, so without further ado... du du dur... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any idea what this is?</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/SyWAgq0710I/AAAAAAAAALY/2P4Rti0ZwIs/s1600-h/DSC_0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/SyWAgq0710I/AAAAAAAAALY/2P4Rti0ZwIs/s320/DSC_0058.jpg" /></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's the lining from my winter coat. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's a good quality coat but the the lining fell apart. In my pre-sewing days I went to a few repair shops and they said it would cost about £70 to have it relined! So the coat patiently in my wardrobe for a few years until I would attempt to do it. With some encouragement and the fact it's freezing cold (always a good motivator, and I gave my only other winter coat to a charity shop), I used what was left of the lining and made a new lining using some colourful fabric from Ikea. Here's it finished:</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', fantasy; font-size: small;">I have also been making brew cosies:</span><br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/SyWARNl8btI/AAAAAAAAALA/S6p4JAAgPkI/s1600-h/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__K9N3ia1VAY/SyWARNl8btI/AAAAAAAAALA/S6p4JAAgPkI/s320/DSC_0048.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I made them for some friends at work and when I told them, the conversation went something like this:</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Me:</b> I'm making a little present for you.</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Them:</b> Awww, really, what are you making?</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Me:</b> (silence... and turning bright red with embarrassment).</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Them:</b> OMG, you're going red, what are you making?</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Me:</b> Brew cosies....</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Them:</b> Brew cosies... (howls of laughter) what are they?</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Me:</b> It's like a tea pot cosy but for your mug, the little quilt will keep your cup of tea warm.</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Them:</b> Can't we just drink our tea quicker???</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Me:</b> ! </span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They really do like them. I showed them to my quilt group and they loved them too, again there was a lot of laughing. </span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>- - - - - </b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>101 in 1001</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b> - - - - -</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My time away has meant I have made some good progress with my 101 list:</span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">13. All of the little people in my life are to have something handmade By Gillian.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">25. Go to a comedy show.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">26. Visit the ballet.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">49. Do 5 things in the Britain Lonely Planet Guide. (5/5)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">37. Go away for a weekend with the boy. (2/2)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">63. 3 of the above books must be classics. (3/3)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">66. Write a list of 25 things I like about myself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">79. Link my 101 list to my present list.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">89. Decorate the office.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">90. New carpets. (3/3)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">111. Choose caterer.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181226675607829330noreply@blogger.com1