*** GOD HELP MY BANK BALANCE ***

I stumbled onto something on You Tube the other night... and I've now got a burning desire to try this:

***  ACRYLIC PAINT POURING  ***

ABOVE: It's Liquid Paint Pouring!  Messy.  Sort of similar to the Alcohol Ink Painting I did a year or so ago, but using paints instead of ink.
OMG I love it!
And like I NEED to add another 'hobby' to my already full days?

But, I am going to give it a try ... and SOON.

But certainly not today.  Today I have my cleaning job to do at 'P's.  Then I will be coming home to sew.

I got a commission for a large Wonky House Runner last night.  The lady saw my Runners at the Market on Sunday, and text me last night with the dimensions/colours etc that she wants.  She's already paid a deposit too!
Cool eh. 

It's so LOVELY when people really appreciate and love my work!   I am still waiting to hear from the Real Estate Agent who commissioned a House Runner two months ago too!  I might just give her a phone call soon... see what the hold up is.

But for now... I better get up and get the day started.  

ONWARD...

12.45 pm:  And there I am, dusting, polishing, vacuuming, cleaning... killing a million spiders and YOU?
Nothing.  Not a word from anyone!
Are ya all so busy ya can't be bothered stopping and saying SOMETHING? Pffffft.

This blog has been looked at/read 300+ times already TODAY... !  Not good enough.  Maybe I will go on strike?  

Yeah.  Might take a break for HOURS.

Have some lunch.  Watch some TV.  Do some sewing.  

You all have a nice day. *sniff*

*** ***  I'm thinking of going into Hamilton for some paint and shit ! *** *** 

I didn't go into Hamilton after all.  Decided I've got too much on my plate right now... but I will be trying it sooner rather than later.

ABOVE:  Me Mum decided to send me a photo of a runner I made, on her dining room table... cos she loves it.  Thanks Mum.
And I'm not BLITHERING!  I was having a bitch! lol

3.35 pm:   And I forgot something quite 'important' to tell you about today!!!

Brylee met a young man at her work, and they have been dating for a few weeks now.  And today, he came home with her for dinner.

Yep... we finally get to meet Jordan.

And so far, I'm quite impressed!

 ABOVE:  Meet Jordan.  He's rather cute.  
And he baked cookies!!!!   YEP, he baked.

 ABOVE:  Double chocolate no less!  Bloody YUM!
Not bad Jordan, you can stay for dinner.

ABOVE:  I watched him arrive in his car... it's a bloody PURPLE SHAGGIN' WAGON!!!   When I said that to him, he had NO IDEA what I was talking about.
This indicates he's a good boy.  *smiles*

Brylee... keep going out with him, but don't get in the back of that wagon!

DOGSTARS:  Yes, he gave me his permission. *smiles*

9.35 pm:  Home from Card Night with the girls, another very enjoyable evening had by all.
I didn't win, or lose tonight.  But it's not about winning or losing really, it's about having fun.

Time to sign off for the day... catch ya tomorrow.

OH and THANK  YOU for all the lovely comments!  {{{HUGS}}}

THE PYRAMID

Well.... good morning!
Lovely Monday rolls around again.

Stew and Brylee will be off to work soon, Griffin (when he gets outta bed) will be out with his mates.  

So, it's a housework and sewing type of day for me.

Remember me mentioning I bought something totally unnecessary at Market yesterday?
Well... this is it:

ABOVE:  It's a perspex pyramid!  I saw it, decided it was super funky, and I really, really wanted it.
So I made Stew come back down to the market to look at it.  If he'd said "What the hell do you want that for?", I would have left it there.

BUT... he didn't.  So I got it.  *smiles* (it wasn't expensive at all)

For now... I think it's going to sit on the kitchen bench and have food put under it... or a plant?  Or whatever the hell I can think of.  It might not stay on the bench... we will see.

Isn't it funky???   It's got copper corners, and the top part is copper too.

And that's about all I have for now... I'm off to get ready for me day. 

♥MONDAY♥

ONWARD...

***  4.25 pm:  !  ***

Oops, I have been fluffing around all day, doing a bit of this 'n' that!
Kinda forgot to blog.   Actually, there's not a lot to blog about.

I did some housework.  I went to the supermarket.  I yakked with my son till he buggered off to meet up with his mates.
I had lunch.
I wrote a list of stuff I needed to get done between now and the next Market.

Then I sat down and tried out a few different sizes of Soup Bowl Holders.  Cos some people have asked me if I had bigger ones?

ABOVE:  I made them 2 inches wider all around, and then mucked around with the inner measurements.  I tell ya, half an inch can make such a difference!   (DON'T be dirty!)

By adding half an inch to one measurement, the bowl holder came out too wide and shallow (the left one), and by making both measurements half an inch more, it came out too deep (the right one).

So I tinkered till I got it just right:

 ABOVE: This one is perfect!  It's the exact right dimensions in height and circumference for a bigger bowl.  And such pretty fabric!  Sadly, I don't have much of that fabric, so whoever gets the three bowls in that fabric will be lucky.

And now it's 4.30 pm and I have to stop and think about cooking some dinner.  I've got chicken drumsticks out, so some sort of casserole maybe?  Let's wait and see.

Stew broke the tip off one of our vegetable knives the other day.  He was good enough to own up to it immediately.

So...

ABOVE: Whoops!  I just took the tip off our 'best' carving knife.  Oh well.... shit happens.  Should NOT try to prise the lid off a jar with one's best knife eh?

Well... the Pyramid has moved.  To the outside BBQ table... cos I needed to cut fabric on the kitchen bench.
And really, it was too big for the bench, and I couldn't find anywhere else inside the house for it!
So, it might just end up with plants in it?  
Time will tell.

Watching TV, You Tube videos on another 'craft' I wanna try... and generally being a bit lazy.

APRIL MARKET

*yawn*.... I HATE GETTING UP THIS EARLY!

But at least I'm ready:

ABOVE:  I've got all the layers laid out ready to jump into!  Thermals and Ugg boots, I sure hope that keeps me warm!
Otherwise, Stew will be heading down to the Warehouse for hot water bottles!

All I have to do after getting dressed is put me face on... and that only takes 10 minutes *smiles*.

So, here's hoping it warms up quickly and the peeps come out and buy shit!  I never know how this market is going to pan out.  Last time was quite good!
Fingers crossed this one is too.

I might amuse myself today by taking photos of other stalls?  Or peeps...

Catch ya later, wish me luck.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: All set up. Really happy with it. 

ABOVE: This is one of my favourite stalls..  she always has lovely stuff.

ABOVE: This lady is new... and looks as cold as me! 

And WHOOPS! I just bought something totally unnecessary... before even making a cent. Oh well.... too bad. Will show you when I get home later.

OH WOW!!!  I just had a chick come up and say hi to me... I had no idea who she was. But she knew me.. like REALLY WELL... cos she's read my blog for years!!!   TOo funny... and so lovely to meet you ROZ! 

ABOVE: Roz's hubby took our picture... don't I look warm! Lol

2 pm:   happily home again.  Market wrap up:  It was deadly quiet till 11 am, I thought it was going to be a total bust!
But at 11 am I made a few sales, and even made a sale when we were packing up!

So, I'm up a couple of hundred bucks, so I'm happy.  *smiles*  

Now... I'm having me lunch, and taking a break.  
Next on the sewing list of 'To Do's' is more smaller Tree Runners, cos I sold all three that I had today.  And Wonky House Runners.  And Soup Bowl Cosy's.

And... after typing that... I promptly fell asleep!  And snored a bit.  And Stew saw a mouse.  And now I'm awake!

Plotting mouse killing.  I will need to buy some mousetraps.  F*#k... weevils and now a mouse!
Dirty rotten little bastard.

I said earlier I bought 'something' at the market eh?  Well... I have to clean it, so I will show you it tomorrow.  Gotta save something for tomorrow!  

Proud of Brylee today. She worked a full shift, then went on an FBG walk!

ABOVE:  It was a lovely afternoon for a walk too.
My next one is probably Wednesday night.

And that's a wrap for the day folks.  I'm tired and ready for bed... but knowing me that won't happen till at least midnight.  

ALL SQUEEZED INTO ONE DAY

So... all the things I wanted to get done in the past week, to get ready for Market tomorrow will have to get done today.

Painting the board and stand must get done today.
And I really want to make a white fabric cover for the screen too.
I doubt I will get a chance to do any more Wonky House Runner sewing though!

Last night Stew put up my new paper towel holder :

ABOVE: I had to move the 'EQUIVALENT' wall hanging.  I think it looks great there though.  

Lower back ache ... Oh My Lord it's been a bit horrible lately.  I really think I need to get me a decent pillow to use overnight!
I'm thinking about a pregnancy pillow!  They look perfect for the purpose.

I had a look on Trade Me, there's quite a few different sorts, and prices.  

Anyone used one?  Opinions? Thoughts?

So... I'll leave that in your court ... I'm off to paint that stand and board.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

2.33 pm:  And it's been all go here.  

ABOVE:  Bit of role reversal going on here... The man of the house is baking, and I'm spray painting!

After I did the painting I did another trial 'set up' for the market.  I want to use the screen better, so I've made a white sheet covering for it.
That meant setting the trestle tables up differently, and we found the small, rectangular table didn't fit the space, it was too long with the two other, bigger trestles.

So we went on the hunt, ended up in Hamilton, and finally found the perfect trestle table.  A small square one, fits the allocated space perfectly:

ABOVE: The new table is under the striped table cloth.  I'm really happy with how the white stand came up on top of it too.  Looks way better white.

ABOVE: Stew tidying up the end of that white stand.  After that, he go to do his baking!  lol

ABOVE:  I couldn't resist pinning some of the Wonky House Runners on to see how they would look. 
Awesome, of course! *smiles*

And now... I'm taking a break.  Then I might get another Small Runner sewn, if I'm lucky.

And Nah, I decided not to sew... I doubt I will sell out of anything tomorrow!  It's going to be 3 degrees overnight, so tomorrow morning is going to be bloody COLD.
I am going to sort out my clothes for the morning, making sure I've got thermals on and me new UGG Boots and warm socks!

Bet I'm going to be bitching like ... a bitch tomorrow! lol

Time to sign off... and just relax for a few hours.

THIS COULD BE INTERESTING

OR NOT.

Today I go and do a 3 hours cleaning stint at a new house.  
This house is HUGE... about 380 sq meters in fact.

I'm quite sure there is NO WAY I will get through the extensive list of things the owner wants me to get done, in 3 hours!

And I'm certainly not busting a gut trying to do it either.  I will do as much as I can and then stop at the 3 hour mark.  I'm not going over 3 hours!

So... I will report back when I get home on that score.

Apart from the cleaning job, I still want to get some more sewing done, and paint one of my stands... it's just unpainted wood right now and it should be white.  So that's next on my list of 'To do's'.

Right... better get moving!  

ONWARD...

1.30 pm: And I'm home from work... tired but happy.  The house took the full 3 hours as I expected, and I could really have done with another 30 minutes to get the last few things ticked off... but I'm really happy with what I did manage to get done today.  There were only a few items of furniture that didn't get polished today, and they will get done next time.

So. It can be done!  

I'm very happy to be home now, and will be taking a couple of hours to just relax and wind down.  I was quite stressed out today... worried I'd not get as much done as was 'expected'... but the home owner was there for a good 2 hours today, and we talked about expectations and she's really realistic, thank goodness.

BEST. LAID. PLANS.... I swear I'm never going to get any sewing done before Sunday!  People just keep on stuffing up my plans!

They ring.  They visit.  Then more visit. And that is nice OF COURSE.

Then like... far out, I've gotta cook dinner and feed people!  Like why?  
And now... I'm tired and don't feel like sewing at all.
And Coronation Street is on a bit later and I wanna watch it.  Grrrrr.  Not enough hours in the damn day, seriously. 

Maybe I will sew and watch Coro Street another day?  HA HA HA.... like when?  I've got over a week's worth of Home and Away I still haven't watched, let alone all the other shit I've taped to watch 'later'.  Pffffff.  I usually end up deleting it all.

Right... I'm signing off.  On a whole, it's been a good day.

SHOPPING WITH THE GIRL

Sooooo.... today Brylee wants me to go shopping with her.
She needs new work shoes... ones that are comfortable and will last the distance.
She's keen on Skechers, cos she knows how good I find them.

There is a new Skechers shop that has just opened at The Base, Hamilton, so that's where we are going.

But first, I am expecting a visitor this morning.  Won't go into details, just hoping this visit sorts a few things out that have been irking us lately.

That will probably take a couple of hours, then the girl and I can go into town.

Brylee is taking me to lunch too!  I kinda told her it was about time she repays some of the hundreds of times we've taken her to lunch... like most Saturdays or Sundays for the past 17 years at least! *smiles*  A novel idea ... your kid taking you to lunch!  I don't think that's happened many times in my life.

Once we get home again... probably mid afternoon, I plan on sewing.  And tonight... *** attention STEW *** .... we are having takeaways.  I am taking today 'off' housework, and that includes cooking!  This 'working' lark is tiring, and OMG I'm only doing it 3 days a week!
But, it's actually very physical work... particularly when you are doing it non-stop for a few hours.

I now realise that around your own home, you never just do housework solidly for hours at a time!  Ya take breaks, sit down every now and then... watch some TV, have some lunch... and just potter your way through it eh?

Except for last Monday... with the caterpillars and moths... THEN I went at it for 7 solid hours!

And OM gosh do I have a funny little story for you... haven't bothered to tell ya till now:

Monday.  I spent 7 hours getting rid of caterpillars and moths right.  Then I went into Hamilton for some fabric. 

Got home.  Brylee had been home, had her lunch and was out and about with the boyfriend I think?  Can't remember, all I know is, she'd been home for lunch.

So... I check the walls and cupboard for caterpillars ... none, phew, what a relief.

I go over to the sink and OMG!  What do I see in the sink???  MAGGOTS!!!

I nearly died on the spot.  I simply could not believe I now had MAGGOTS in my sink!!!!!

MAGGOTS !!!!

Then the penny dropped.  Brylee had spaghetti for lunch, had rinsed her plate in the sink and had left some spaghetti noodles in the sink!

NOT MAGGOTS.   I nearly cried with relief.  Seriously.

Then I had to laugh.  And laugh.  And sit down and eat some chocolate.  Cos, well... I was stressed out right?

When I told Brylee about that ... she nearly pee'd herself laughing.  

And on that happy note... I'm off to do bugger all!

ONWARD...

3.30 pm:  and oh dear, forgot to update!
Today has gone totally to plan.
My meeting went very well.
Brylee and I went to town, and she found some nice Skechers to wear to work.
Then we had a lovely lunch date together.

After lunch we wandered over to The Warehouse and bought some socks.  She needed plenty, and I wanted some nice warm ones to wear with me Ugg Boots on Sunday.

 ABOVE: There's some really cute Skecher sneakers out there, but she's not into pink or glitter.  So, serviceable and sensible is what she got.

ABOVE: We went into Steven's, a kitchen type shop too, where I finally found the exact paper towel holder I've been looking for for almost 3 years!  And more little tongs... they were having a sale, so everything was 30% off.  

The sales lady nearly drove me mental though, literally trying to force me to buy more... cos it was on sale.  Grrrrr... pushy sales people do my head in.  She really did go overboard.

And PINK SOCKS for me, that way no bastard nicks them!

But moving on... after our shopping we came home and I had a nap.  Cos I'm freakin' tired as.
I tossed and turned till 3 am this morning, worrying about the meeting I had this morning, and why?  It went really well!  Derrrr.

***   Midday naps, yeah not the best idea, I always wake up with a thumping headache  ***

9 pm :  and I'm ready for bed!  Seriously, not feeling 100% tonight. Tired with a sore throat.  Hope I'm not coming down with something... I'm too busy to get sick.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PUSH REPEAT

Well... today is going to a repeat of yesterday really.

Up. Go to P's for 2-3 hours of house cleaning, then home.

I have two Wonky House Runners (small) to continue laying out, then sewing.
Sunday's market is coming up fast, and I want to have them finished by Saturday.

So, that's about all I have for now.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

12.30 pm:  and home from another good job done.
'P' is very happy with how the cleaning is going in her home, which is lovely to hear.

I got the Laundry/WC/Bathroom/Master Bedroom and Ensuite done today, on top of killing a million spiders!

There's still HEAPS to do, like all the other bedrooms, cleaning walls, ,windows, windowsills... oh the list is never ending actually!

But, slowly but surely I will get it done.

I'm now going to have my lunch then get on with some sewing... where I get to relax.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  The gorgeous countryside where I got to work today and yesterday.
And those little horses... so cute!  Bit skitterish and wouldn't come near me, just babies really.

Well I have to admit it... I've been a bit lazy this afternoon!  All I did was get 4  Small Wonky House Runners laid out!
And I watched 4 episodes of Home and Away... there's only about 6 to go till I'm all caught up.

Dinner for the family tonight is beef steaks (marinated) and veges.  

I'm going to do some actual sewing shortly!

***  I am so looking forward to tomorrow, a day off to do whatever I want.  No cleaning involved! ***

And on that score, I'm outta here.  Time to do some sewing I think.

***

FIRST DAY AT 'P'S.

Today will be my first day working for 'P'.  Her house is going to be a challenge, her words, not mine.

But yeah,  lots of decluttering, general cleaning and whipping her into shape!
She is planning on moving out of Cambridge at the end of the year, and needs an enormous amount of work done around her home.   I'm her girl for that job!

I'm totally looking forward to it too.  She's a woman I already know, so we shall work together really well I'm sure.

I was so thankful of the help Lacy gave me yesterday, it was well over and above what I asked her  out to do (groom dogs)... I tried to give her some petrol money...

ABOVE: But the damn Tart 'posted' it back to me!  Grrrr.  I will have to 'thank' her in a more sneaky way.  Hmmm.... 

So, today... housework till midday (paid), then home to do some sewing.
Then after dinner I have an FBG walk.

Another full day!  *smiles*

ONWARD...

1 pm:  And I'm home from 'work'.  Very tired.  But happy with what I got done today.  ONLY two rooms basically, and even they need heaps more work done on them!  But as I kept telling myself, Rome wasn't built in a day.
And this home is going to take a long time to get sorted.
I go back tomorrow for another go at it.   

Right now... I've got me feet up taking a breather before I venture into the sewing room.

My own home needs a vacum and dust... but shit... I'm not doing it!  I'm done with cleaning for the day.

6.30 pm:  and Brylee and I are off on an FBG walk in 10 minutes.  Be prepared for another boring walk photo... to add to this obviously boring day!  Where is everyone?  I'm feeling like... Pfffff.  Talking to myself. *sigh*

ABOVE: And there ya go.. another walk done and dusted. Though I've already done this particular walk twice.
Still, was good to get out and socialise, and get some more exercise.  I should sleep well tonight!

And that's me done for the day.  Catch ya tomorrow.