A Gift Horse

I'm not sure if that's a very complimentary thing to call someone, and Carole looks nothing like a Horse, but she did give me a very nice gift today at Church.

I make a lot of Homemade cards, nothing special, but it does help me to relax, as I can get quite lost in planning the design and choosing just the right colours, or ribbons and gems. I use some of my cards to send on birthdays, etc, but the vast majority I give away for free. I donate them to my community Cafe to sell and the money goes into their coffers. I also donate them to Church and the sale money goes into our Church extension fund. I also have one elderly lady at Church who "orders" all her cards for family occasions from me and I make her special personalised cards, which she has always seemed delighted with. So most people there know about my Hobby.

I guess that's why Carole thought of me when she wanted to get rid of a piece of craft equipment and I'm so delighted she did. I have wanted one of these for ages, but due to cost it is well off my wish list. So imagine my surprise when she just handed me one at the end of Church today.

For those not in the know, it is a die-cutting machine and it costs anything upward of £80 + and I got it for free. I did offer her something in return, but she wouldn't even accept some cake. It is broken as it makes a nasty clicking noise, (it sounds as though a cog has come loose inside), but it still works so what is a noise between friends. I've already got a few Christmas makes in mind for it help with.

Now Lord, I'm still waiting on that sewing machine, a slow cooker, a fixed washing machine and "Oh Lord, won't you buy me that Mercedes-Benz". Only joking !!!

I'm off to check if the washing machine repair man is ready for some tea.

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

Hello Again and Thank You

Apologies for my absence, everyone. I have been struggling with the most awful head cold for over a week a now and whilst I am still coughing like a habitual smoker and sniffling away, I have been brought back to my Blog by Sandra at Rosedale.

Thank you. thank you, thank you for my lovely Belated Birthday pressie. My DH was very sceptical when a parcel arrived from New Zealand and wanted to know "What have you been spending money on now? and Don't they sell it in this country?". I assured him I hadn't ordered anything but was very intrigued.

When I saw the lovely wrapping paper, I actually cried and exclaimed, "Oh, how absolutely amazing is that!".

I was even more delighted when I opened the gift and the card to find some very beautiful specialty yarn, (not sure what I will make with it yet, but having fun looking at ideas) and a fabulous Australian cardmaking magazine. There is definitely plenty of interest to me within its pages, Sandra. Will share my makes with you soon.

My DH remarked, it was slightly odd that a close member of my family hadn't managed to send me even a card yet, and an almost stranger had sent me something personal from half way across the world.

Sandra, I am extremely touched, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Diolch yn Fawr.

Lots of Love Arwedd xx

Birthday Girl

Well, despite my numerous hints about favour vouchers, I didn't get any from the Boys. So you might want to know what I did get for my Birthday: -

*4 bars of Chocolate - not really going to help the figure, but Hey ho!
* a bottle of wine - that won't last long
* a £10 gift voucher
* a copy of the first volume of the Art of Crochet new magazine 99p edition

                       (I'm keeping the magazine pages for the patterns but the "Getting Started" 

             DVD covers the basics which I already know, so if anyone would like it

 I can send it on for you to have a go at "Getting Started". )

* a lie in - my DH mumbled when the alrm went off this morning that he would take youngest Son to school for me.
* lunch with DH in the local Cafe
* tea made for me by the Boys - hotdogs on bread. Plenty of Ketchup (they're addicted to it)!!!
* a text from FM with a voucher for lunch on her, very kind of you FM.
* and a Ticket from my SIL to go to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Fair this Sat coming. I'm already giddy with excitement about it, but MUST be very strict about a budget for buying anything I see that I like.

No card or message from some close family members but maybe that was too much to expect?
Just glad I got some nice things at all. 

Off to scoff chocolate. Nom nom nom.

Lots of Love Arwedd xx