Something Close To Normal

Well, just now it seems to be fairly "normal" round here.  We still miss our dear old puss-cat and the house seems quiet and a bit empty without him.  But we're getting on with our lives - you have to really.

* * *

I'm busy helping my mum, as usual, but she is coping a bit better now, which is a relief to both of us.  She's sorted out some problems she was having with the carers who come in on the three days that I don't go to make her lunch & tea - and she is a lot happier with the new arrangement, which starts at the beginning of February.  I will still be going over as usual, but a lady my mum has known for years is taking on the other days, but hopefully there will be less problems with the timekeeping and arrangements for the other days (phew!).

* * *

Last Tuesday I went to Milton Keynes, to visit an old friend, M, who I hadn't seen for quite a long time.  We had lunch and a great chat, during which I told her about James' music lessons at school.  He has been learning the classical guitar for about seven years, but recently the school have sponsored him to have lessons on the double bass. 

He started towards the end of last term and has had about five or six lessons now.  Because he has learned the guitar, which is tuned in the same way, he has picked up the bass very quickly and is already playing pieces that would be graded at Grade 4 or 5. 

He's very enthusiastic and we had been thinking that we might have to rent a double bass at some point, as he was finding it difficult to get the use of the practice room at school - there is only one practice room that contains a double bass and it's not quite small enough to take backwards & forwards on the schoool bus! 

So, I mentioned the double bass lesson arrangement and how keen James has been.  M's reply was "Would he like a double bass?".  Her son, B. is a musician and had played both guitar, bass guitar and also the double bass, for a while, but apparently the instrument had been sitting in the spare bedroom for about four years, unused.  She said she was a bit tired of dusting it and would I like to take it home!

I came home with a 3/4 sized double bass in my car (it did fit - just - good thing it wasn't a full-sized one!).  It's on long-term loan, for as long as James wants to use it.  I am just so thrilled for him - how generous!

Now it lives in the corner of the dining room and is used every day!

 

I need to find someone who can give it a bit of an overhaul and also check over the two bows we were given with it; one of those is in a rather sad state - it needs to be restrung - but the other seems okay and is quite a good one.  James is over the moon and can hardly resist playing it at all hours of the day and night.  I have had to threaten that I'll take it back, if he won't stop fiddling with it when he should be doing homework!

 

* * *

I've been finding some time to work on various bookbinding projects.  I have three commission books to work on, which are all at the planning or quote stage, but it looks as if I'll get those done in plenty of time. 

 

I've been able to make a few smaller items and start on a project that I have thought about for a while.

 

 

I've made some more leather books. These are pocket-sized journals with a longstitch binding.

 

 

And a cream leather book, with covers lined in a beautiful piece of soft, fine, gold-marbled red paper (which was actually given to me by a fellow blogger at the Bloggers' Weekend, in November 2011 - I saved it until I found a special project for it!). 

This is big enough to be a guest book, or a sketchbook, as well as a special large-sized journal. I gave it a longstitch binding in deep red waxed linen, to go with the red lining of the covers. 

 

And this is the start of the Project:

 

 

These are Guest Book Covers, in grey linen. 

They have a hinged section, for a side-binding (like stab-stitch, screw-posts or perhaps a ribbon-tied binding) 

 

The covers are lined with plain, soft white art paper (the paper behind this cover is ready-cut sheets of cream text paper, which could be bound into this album.

The idea is that I can sell a customised book, without having to do all the work completely from scratch.  If it is already established that the covers are a particular size and are grey linen, also that they are pre-made, this takes away a significant chunk of the preliminary planning for me and also means I save time on making up the covers.

 

I will offer the customer the choice of coloured silk edging for the covers - like in the photos above.  They can choose pretty much any colour they want, as I have a very wide stock of silk pieces (52 individual colours/shades just now!). 

 

They can choose the type and colour of paper inside - either 30 pages of white or cream text paper, or 20 pages of stiff card for a photo album.

 

The covers can be lined with coloured art paper, to fit with the customer's colour scheme.

 

And the binding style can also be chosen, to be one of the styles shown - a Screw-Post binding, Ribbon-tied binding, or a Japanese-style Stab-Stitch binding. 

 

I have listed this pair of covers in my Etsy & Folksy shops.  So far I have had one enquiry, though the customer asked if she could please have the album shown in the bottom left corner of the last photo (above), only in blue rather than purple (!).  I think she kind-of missed the point...  I clarified the listing with a note, to make sure it was really clear what was on offer.  

 

Better luck should follow, I hope!  We will see...  I hope to make a few more pairs of ready-to-customise covers in the next few weeks.  I'm really hoping this will work out well, as I don't have time to make custom orders completely from scratch just now.  This seems like a good compromise. 

 

* * *

Finally...

 

A Sketchbook, made with a sheet of gorgeous handmade paper, in a soft mauvey colour.  It has a deep red-purple suede quarter binding on the covers and a traditional Case style binding.  

The cover lining / flysheet are also in the same handmade paper.   

The book is bound with deep red-purple hemp cord.

This is a gift for a lovely friend.  The label will have her name stamped on it in matching mauve ink. 

It's going in tomorrow's post!

 

And that's about it for now - my "Normal Life".

 

Off to make my mum's tea for her now... bye all!

Bloggers' Crafting Weekend 2013 - The Latest News

 

Soooo, we are Going!  The Crafting Weekend is booked and people have confirmed their places!

 

That is the Good News.

 

The less good news (bad news for some), is that we have now reached our "Max" of 16 people. 

 

We want it to be a smallish and friendly group; also the hostel is not huge, even though it officially "sleeps" 30.  The sitting room doesn't hold all those guests at once and we need space in the dining room, for scrapping and crafts, as well as eating. 

 

I am sad to have to turn people away - sorry if it is you.  However, I will keep a "Waiting List", in case anyone drops out.  Let me know if you would like to be added to that list. 

 

* * *

Current Plans and News

 

Facebook:

The Group has set up a Facebook Group, for all who are coming along, or interested in attending.  If you are on Facebook, you can find me ("Liz Gillum"), Ruth ("Ruth Sim") or K. ("Kirsty Frisby") and ask to be added to the group.  You'll be welcome to join in the chat and waffle.

 

Some Plans have been made and ideas discussed:

For instance, the general consenus on meals, was that we will pay the YHA to make our dinners for us, but we'll organise our own breakfasts, lunches and snacks.  Last year we had B&B plus evening meal, at the Coalport hostel.  We were given very nice dinners - three courses, plus salad - for a really reasonable charge (under £10).  

The charge this time has yet to be confirmed, but it will be somewhere around £10-£12 per dinner, I believe.   I have collected people's booking fees, but not the dinner cost, so I'll contact everyone soon, with a price for this. 

 

Jobs: 

We are going to have a Jobs List and share out some of the organisation.  Last year, I did much of it myself and was suitably shattered by the time the Weekend came round!  This year, as I have a lot less spare time, I am roping in other people.  Some offers have been made, to help with various things. I will go through these soon and get in touch.  Those people will co-ordinate one of a number of things, such as organising food for specific meals, sorting out lifts to or from the coach / bus / rail stations (if needed) etc etc... 

 

Workshops & Demos:

Some people have offered to do demos or mini-workshops, in areas of crafting that interest them.  I'll go into more detail soon. 

We will also have "Ruth's Challenge" again this time.  I'll leave it for Ruth to elaborate at some future date!

A few people have asked if I'll do something related to bookbinding - I'm thinking about this; if you have particular needs/ wants for this, do let me know and I will think about that too! 

At this point, that's as far as things have got.  More planning will be done, more ideas thought up and talked about, more cakes and cookies promised (!).... But it's early days yet.  I would like to have the money side of things organised fairly soon, since our pocket money will soon be tied up in our Christmas Shopping plans.  Otherwise, we have plenty of time to get ourselves organised (not that I plan on dawdling).

I will try to sort out "Jobs" quite soon, so we have an idea of what needs to be done and who is responsible for making sure it happens (ie. who to blame...he hee hee...).  
The rest will probably just come together gradually.

I am so pleased we've been able to get this organised.  I am sorry if you have missed out, either because the date wasn't suitable, or because you were too late to snag a place.   I'm hoping that we will organise another Weekend in 2013 - perhaps in October or November.  I'll keep half an eye open for a good venue and let you know if I come up with anything good. 

Looking forward to meeting up with my Blog friends - old and new!

XX

Bloggers' Crafting Weekend - You Are Invited...

 

* * *

 

Dear Blog Friends,  

You are invited to the new, re-organised Bloggers' Crafting Weekend!

 

* * *

 

The Basic Information

When? Friday 1st March 2013 (4:30pm onwards) to Sunday 3rd March (1:30pm)

 

Where? YHA Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (close to M1, rail links and coach station).

 

Details?

• We will have the Whole House to ourselves.
• It's a small hostel, with 5 bedrooms. There are also a kitchen, dining room and sitting room. We'd have it to ourselves from Friday to Sunday, meaning we could arrange our weekend (and the furniture!) pretty much as we chose.

 

How Much?

• Assuming a minimum of 10 people came along, the basic cost will be £65 per person, for two nights, hostel hire / bed only. 
• If more than 10 come along (sleeping in), then this would lower the cost and a proportion of your payment will be refunded to anyone who pays up-front to secure their place. 
   
• If we choose to, we can have our breakfasts and/or dinners provided for us by hostel staff. This would cost about £15-£40, depending on what options we choose.  

• Day-only visitors will be asked for a contribution towards the hire of the hostel, since we are renting the whole building for the weekend.  Obviously, you wouldn't be using all facilities, so a small charge to chip in seems fair.  I think £5 per day is ok, unless anyone objects?

Transport?

• The Hostel is at Bradwell Village, on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, just on the edge of the city and countryside (see the website for a link to a downloadable local map).
• It is very near to the main A5 road and not far from M1 Junction 14.
• It is close to MK Central Rail Station (about 1 & 1/2 miles).
• There is a Coach station in the city centre also, which is served by many national coach routes.
• The city also has good bus services that pass through Bradwell Village and stop just round the corner from the hostel.

 

We may be able to organise some activities, like we did at last year's Weekend. If you would like to volunteer to demonstrate/teach some craft or technique that you enjoy doing, then do shout (I have had a volunteer already!)

Catering

• Last year we brought along food to have at lunchtimes, plus tea, coffee, snacks, cake (!) etc. This will also be the plan for this time, as it worked very well and was much more sociable and nice than having YHA sandwich boxes!
• I would like someone else to organise that part for me, as I will not have time (list of Jobs below!) 

We need to decide whether to arrange our own breakfasts and/or dinners, or to book these from the YHA staff.

• I recommend that we organise breakfasts amongst ourselves (volunteer needed - list of Jobs below!)  Cereal, toast and/or muffins, crumpets, croissants are not hard to sort out... We'd almost certainly have lots of snacks and plenty of lunch and dinner, so a huge breakfast wouldn't be needed!
• Dinners could also be done by ourselves. We could have a "Dinner Co-ordinator" and some people could be "assigned" as Dinner Providers, then discuss and agree the menu with the Co-ordinator. 
• The alternative is to ask YHA staff to cook for us - this would cost around £10 per dinner and would be 3 courses, with soup, a choice of main course, salad bar and choice of desserts.  I would still want a person to co-ordinate this with everyone, collecting the menu choices and letting me know (or the hostel maybe) a few days beforehand.  I would collect the money for dinners, via Paypal, as for the booking (and would confirm the cost!)

We need your opinions about meals.  Please would you tell me what you think - either via comments, or on the e-mail you write me, when booking your place!  We'll go with the majority, to be democratic (though if you decide to opt out and go for a burger, we won't stop you!)

 

* * *

If you want to come along:

• There are 15 "sleeping over" places. 
•  
• I am assuming we'll have 10 people for now, but if more of you do book, then I will refund your overpayment (however, I will probably wait until we have a firm, confirmed number of people, before refunding anyone, so I only have to do it once).   I won't be making a profit from you, I promise.
• Therefore, I'm asking you to pay me £65 to secure your place. It would be best if you could send me the money via Paypal (easier to keep track of the money, quicker etc). If this is a big problem, let me know! 

 

How to Book:

Please E-Mail Me, to confirm you want to come.  Also:  

  

• In your e-mail, would you also tell me if you prefer to order your dinner from the Hostel Staff, or for us to organise all meals ourselves?
• Important - If you have a food allergy or do not eat a particular food, for whatever reason - especially if it makes you ill - please let me know, so I can pass it on to anyone who will be responsible for organising meals.  We don't want anyone to be poorly!
•  
• And, if you can volunteer for a job (only one job!), do say... I will try and take preferences into account!
• Would you also tell me where you will be travelling from, what transport you think you will use and if you'd like a lift (if possible), or can offer one to someone else (not obligatory!)
• I will e-mail you back (first come, first served, ladies!), with my Paypal address and a confirmation of the payment amount. I would be glad if you can confirm that you'll pay within a short timescale. If there's a problem with the payment, do let me know - I wouldn't like you to lose out because of technology etc!

• Also, anyone who has a skill, interest or speciality, which you would love to share with us - either by doing a short demonstration, a mini-workshop (hour, 2 hours, 3 hours...), then I would very much like to hear your ideas! 
• We had some fun last time - Clair showed us how to do some great giftwrapping and ribbon-rose-making; Julie also demonstrated a different ribbon rose; I did a bookbinding tutorial; Ruth posed us a Challenge for the weekend, which was good fun. 

• Some people brought along a few extra craft items, which they didn't want/need, and we had a "swap shop".  I think it would be nice to do this again, unless anyone has a huge objection (?). So, bring stuff along - but please don't bring anything unusable and please retain responsibility for anything of yours, which is not re-homed!  Perhaps we'll ask someone to co-ordinate this a little bit...

 

 The Job List (to date)

• Breakfast Organiser (sort out what's for breakfasts and who will bring it)
• Lunch Co-Ordinator (organise two days' lunches)
• Dinner Organiser (sort out a menu and contributions, for both days' dinners)
• Snacks Co-ordinator (very important job - crafters need tea, coffee, squash, biscuits, and cake!)

 

(We'll split the whole bloggers' group up, into "meals groups", so we have enough food for each meal. If you prefer to contribute to a particular meal, do say and I will do my best!)

 

• Lift from the Rail / Coach Station - Friday pm
• Lift to the Rail / Coach Station - Sunday pm

If you think of anything else that needs organising at this stage, do shout!

* * *

Okay, that's it for now.  I do hope those who were so keen yesterday, are still keen today! I will await your e-mails!

And, any questions, do shout - I am very friendly, house-trained and don't bite (much)!

* * *
02/10/12 - please note, this post is now closed to new comments.  If you want to comment on the Bloggers' Weekend, there is a new post, published today.  We also have a Facebook Group up and running, or you can e-mail me direct (lizziemade -at- aol -dot- com)
X

 

Bloggers' Crafting Weekend Update - New Dates Information

Hello All,

Have been trying to organise a Crafting Weekend for 7th-9th December (see previous post for info). However, there are not enough of us, who are available to go on that weekend.

 

Sorry, but I have told the Milton Keynes Hostel we don't want to book that weekend.

It seems more sensible to try for a weekend in the first quarter of 2013, once Christmas etc are out of the way.

Sooooo....

If you want to join us, would you please let me know, if you are free to come on one or more of these weekends (obviously, if you are willing to consider any of them, then it's easier to work out who is free each time and try to fit round as many folks as possible!).

* * *

 

Friday - Sunday

8th -10th February

1st - 3rd March

8th - 10th March

 

* * *

Hopefully we'll have one weekend where lots of us are free! I have avoided January, because it's still close to Christmas, we all tend to be a bit broke, rather busy etc; also the weather can be pretty horrible in January - don't want to cancel, due to snow!

Do let me know your availability. At this point, the Milton Keynes hostel is free on all those weekends, but obviously that could change at any point. I'd like to book this soon, so we all know where we are!

 

Please E-Mail me your information, as then I can add you to my E-Mail List for the Weekend, so you will receive any mail I send out to the Group! 

 

To remind you, my e-mail address: Lizziemade (at) aol (dot) com.

XX

Lizzie

STOP PRESS! Bloggers' Crafting Weekend Opportunity - Read and Reply ASAP!

* * *
Note: there is now an Update Post, with New Dates, though the hostel information below is still relevant.

* * *

Hello all Blog Friends!

Last year, a group of us had a very enjoyable and successful weekend away, at Coalport YHA. Ten of us met up and spent our weekend scrapping, bookbinding, gift-wrapping, making pretty stuff, walking along the canal, eating cake (of course!), chatting, chatting, drinking tea, more chatting....

See here for some of the story... and others also published their tales of adventure - Jemma,  Kirsty (there were 3 posts!), Mel, Lesley, JoJo, Julie...  We had a great weekend and want to do it again!

SO!

We have an Opportunity for another Bloggers' Weekend.  This is something I need to sort out very quickly, if we are going to do it, since the YHA hostel I've found has only this particular weekend free before Christmas - and the admin. department has had another query about it today... So I have to confirm tomorrow (Thursday)!!

Anyway, this is what I'm suggesting.  If I get enough interest, to be pretty sure of having at least 10 of us, I will make the booking.  If you want to come, please register your interest today or tomorrow morning (sorry!).  I may be able to come up with something else, but I'm a bit up against it on time just now (my mum is still not well and I'm spending a lot of time helping her). 

The Proposal for Bloggers' Crafting Weekend 2012

When?  Friday 7th December (afternoon/evening) to Sunday 9th December (afternoon)

Where? YHA Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (close to M1, rail links and coach station).

Details? We would have the Whole House to ourselves. 
It's a small hostel, with 30 beds, in 5 bedrooms.  There are also a kitchen, dining room and sitting room. We'd have it to ourselves from Friday to Sunday, meaning we could arrange our weekend (and the furniture!) pretty much as we chose.

How Much?  Assuming the minimum of 10 people came along, the basic cost would be £65 per person, for two nights, hostel hire / bed only. 
If we chose to, we could have our breakfasts and/or dinners provided for us by hostel staff.  This would cost about £15-£40, depending on what options we chose. 
If more than 10 came along, then this would lower the cost and money could be refunded to anyone who had paid up-front to secure their place (before we knew there would be more people!).

Transport?  The Hostel is at Bradwell Village, on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, just on the edge of the city and countryside (see the website for a link to a downloadable local map). 
It is very near to the main A5 road and not far from M1 Junction 14.
It is close to MK Central Rail Station (about 1 & 1/2 miles). 
There is a Coach station in the city centre also, which is served by many national coach routes. 
The city also has good bus services that pass through Bradwell Village and stop just round the corner from the hostel. 

This is the basic info.  I will be able to provide more information later on, once (if!) I have been able to secure the booking. 
We may be able to organise some activities, like we did at last year's Weekend. If you would like to volunteer to demonstrate/teach some craft or technique that you enjoy doing, then do shout.

Catering
Last year we brought along food to have at lunchtimes, plus tea, coffee, snacks, cake (!) etc.  This would also be the plan for this year (and I would like someone else to organise that part for me, as I will not have time!). 

We would need to decide whether to arrange our own breakfasts and/or dinners, or to book these from the YHA staff.  This can be decided a little bit later on.  The main thing just now is to secure the booking. 

* * *

IF YOU are interested and WANT TO COME along, PLEASE contact me tonight or tomorrow morning (by 1pm BST please!).  I will need to call the YHA and make the booking. 

I would be asking you to pay me £65 within a few days.  It would be best if you could send me the money via Paypal (easier to keep track of the money, quicker etc).  If this is a big problem, let me know! 

If we end up with more than 10 of us, I will refund extra money - I won't be making a profit from you, I promise (however, I will probably wait until we have a firm, confirmed number of people, before refunding anyone, so I only have to do it once).

* * *

I do hope we can work this out.  It would be great to see as many of my Blog friends - old or new - as possible!  This is a great chance for us, as we'd have the whole hostel to ourselves, giving us more freedom to enjoy our weekend.

Please Come!

XX

PS.  Duh... this is my e-mail address, just to make it easy for you! Lizziemade (at) aol (dot) com