Tempus fugit......

Last day of April and we're already one third of the way through the year.  How did that happen?  I'd swear yesterday was only January.

So.

Time to take stock and check my to do lists, which are sorely in need of updating. 

I have SO MUCH TO DO!!!!

That level of stuff to do which effectively immobilises you, and makes action impossible.  I must sit down and systematically sort through and prioritise my tasks.  For example I must make a start on the annual accounts so that I can submit the business tax return.  We also have a fair looming at the end of this month for which I have done precisely zilch so far.  Not to mention the May Kit of the Month which should be ready for release at the end of this week.
Plus a few commissions.....

Like I said.... SO MUCH TO DO!!!!

And the only way to deal with it all is to make a start.

Which I will do.  Just as soon as I've finished tidying up in the workroom*.....

*Procrastination skills = excellent, top marks 

 

It was a dark and stormy night......

Just as I was about to go to bed last night there was a loud thrashing and crashing noise from the back garden.  On investigation I found that the gazebo on our patio had been completely wrecked by the wind, two of the legs had buckled and all of the mooring ropes were broken.

It was only a cheap gazebo, bought three years ago to provide shade and shelter over our patio table.  At the end of the first summer, we decided not to dismantle it so it has remained there ever since and has done sterling service.  

This last winter it has deteriorated and we'd been going to take it down and replace it with a new one when the weather improved, but last night's storm was a pre-emptive strike and it's now lying on its side with its legs splayed and broken like a dead insect.

As it has been raining steadily all morning, we've not been inclined to take it apart.  Hopefully the rain will stop at some point today so that we can clear it away, thereby completely exposing our garden furniture to the elements.

Buggrit......

Pastures new........

A few weeks back I made mention of an exciting delivery.....

As not one soul has even attempted to guess what it is, I will tell you.

Or rather show you.

But you need to go HERE first to find out the back story, then work your way up.

Age shall not wither her......

.... yeah right.

So, it's that time of the year again, and I have celebrated yet another birthday in some style, with good friends.  Last year my birthday coincided with Easter and the royal wedding, and we basked in summer temperatures for the entire 10 days spent in our little caravan in the New Forest.

This year, we didn't go so far afield, which is probably just as well, as the weather was fairly diabolical for several days, culminating in a torrential downpour this morning, just as we were packing up to leave the campsite.


Actually, I don't mind it raining when we're camping.  Our caravan is very cosy, and it's lovely to snuggle up with a book while it's pouring outside.  


Now, however, it's back to work and I'm determined to catch up on emails/enquiries/orders/commissions etc as quickly as I can as I have an exciting project just around the corner which I've promised myself I wouldn't start until my to do lists were more manageable.


Sounds like a plan.....

Kit of the Month gallery........

I had a lovely email yesterday from one of the ladies who bought our April Kit of Month - Daffy Down Dilly.

Jean, from Kent, has already completed her little toy doll, along with the tiny woven basket of daffodils and the teensy, weensy toy chicks. As you can see from her photographs, her little doll turned out beautifully!  


I especially like the alternative hat she made, which sets off the costume perfectly.

 She took these photographs in front a photo of her own garden, so to give you an idea of scale, the little toy doll is just a smidgen under 1  3/4" tall!

It's wonderful to have such talented customers......

We still have a few Daffy Down Dilly kits remaining, so if you too would like to make her, the kits are listed on our website.  We also have a full-length online video tutorial which is exclusively available to purchasers of the kit so you can see, step-by-step how the doll and accessories are made. 

As with all our kits, we also offer full email support until your project is completed.  And as you can see, our kits will make lovely miniature toys to grace your 1/12th scale nursery, toy shop or the doll can also be used as a 1/24th scale child.

Clowning around.....

Horrible grey, dismal, dreich day today in tandem with a fine drizzle, alternating with steady driving rain.

April showers it ain't....

However it is of no matter, as I am scheduled to be in the workroom all day today, working on four commissions which really need to completed by Thursday if at all possible.  

My mission today is to finish off a little clown toy doll which I started yesterday.  I'm having so much fun with it that I'm going to do another later if I have time, just for the hell of it.  I'm also toying with the idea of a juggling clown if I can turn my theory into working practice.

Normally, even the thought of clowns gives me the heebie-jeebies, but my coulrophobia seems to be well under control, probably because I'm not giving mine scary clown faces.

Other than the clowns I will be making a tiny Alice in Wonderland doll, a shabby chic doll, and a tiny witch doll..... so quite a variety.  To give a notion of the scale, none will be more than 1  3/4"  tall.

Which isn't very.  

Tall that is.

So I'd better go and crack on.....

 

Spontaneous Epistaxis.....

One of the very few advantages of living with MS is that your body gradually loses the capacity to surprise you.  On a daily basis, bits that were working an hour ago can suddenly pack up, nerve pain can erupt anywhere and weird sensations come and go without so much as a by your leave.  I used to be constantly on the alert for new and diverting symptoms but that level of vigilance is exhausting to maintain, so I've settled down to a more laid back attitude which can best be described as benign neglect.

Which is why, when I started having spontaneous nosebleeds a few days ago, I wasn't too fussed and treated them as minor inconvenience.

However, this morning, while I was in the shower, I looked down at my feet to see blood swirling down the plughole in a manner shockingly reminiscent of that scene from Psycho.
Having swiftly discounted being stabbed by a madman dressed as his mother, I traced the source of the bleeding to my nose, which was running like a tap.

Holding a face flannel to my nose I managed to exit the shower, and towel myself dry with one hand, all the while aware that the flannel was going from merely damp to saturated.  Safely over the wash basin I attempted to survey the damage, which only resulted in the backlog of blood spattering everywhere, as I floundered around, trying to locate a wad of tissues, with which to plug the offending orifice.

After a full 10 minutes of nose-pinching and continued spattering, the shower room resembled  a scene from the Texas Chain-Saw Massacre,  and since I had dismally failed to staunch the steady flow, I enlisted the help of PP, who calmly viewed my blood-stained surroundings and quickly took over.

A further 10 minutes later we were no further forward, except that I'd moved my nasal sprinkler system into the bedroom.  Small Dog took one look at me and promptly made herself scarce.  She hates the sight of blood, although usually only her own.  She's normally fairly sanguine about anyone elses.

I tried to make a rudimentary nose plug from a twisted tissue, but within seconds it was saturated, so we hit on the damn fine idea of using a tampon, cut in half, then rammed up my right nostril as far as it would go.

Thankfully this did the trick.  The end swelled up and formed a blood-tight seal, preventing the flow from running down my chin and soaking my clothing.

Useful it might have been.  Dignified it was not.  

Pottering around the house this morning, with half a tampon sticking out of my nose I was extremely careful to stay away from the windows, in case I was spotted by a neighbour or passer-by.

It also brought a whole new dimension to my morning cuppa, as I had to avoid the end going into my mug and sucking hot tea up my nose.

It seems to have stopped now, although I'm wary of sneezing, coughing or bending down, just in case it erupts again.

Never a dull moment in this house........