It's been a while since I have posted, I have been low and the last couple of posts were scrubbed rather than published and inflicted on you all. I think it is mainly due to a daughter leaving home for university in September (already dreading that), a crummy job, and others, old college friends, reminding me by their successes that I am puttering through life not realising my initial potential!! All my said puttering just seemed so pointless for a while there.
However I have 'got a grip' (again) and thought I would tell you about a couple of my favourite shops.
'The Treasury' in Kidderminster was the most fantastic craft shop for cardmaking and scrapbooking and was filled to choc-a-block with scrummy papers and glitters and stickers and embellishments. The couple who owned it were lovely always with a warm welcome. You had to go when you had plenty of time because they would demonstrate their latest stock and offer a cuppa - really terrific. It is appalling what has happened, the only blessing being that no one in the flats above were hurt. I heard that the building will be demolished now, but I hope they manage to reopen. So sad.
'Totally Patched' in Bewdley is just gorgeous. Not big, but on a couple of floors in a lovely higgledy piggledy building. Last Saturday the smashing owners had their '18 month of trading celebration' with 25% off fabric!! That was enough for me and daughter to go, but when we got there we found a quilt exhibition as well - staged on the third floor and roof terrace, together with cakes and coffee. I had asked Ian to take a photo - I didn't realise till we got home that he had snapped us as well!
Ian wasn't bored while we browsed, he took lots of photos, here is one of the Severn in Bewdley, not in flood anymore!
I bought material for a quilt - my first attempt, daughter bought some green material to back a patchwork Christmas cloth she did last year.
I have also bought this material - I have no idea what to do with it - I just wanted it!
I also have a growing pile of smelly teddies to stuff, I'm afraid they are lying in piles all around the house at the moment.
I went with friends to Ludlow last night for a Thai meal - really lovely! We were a little late though because one of our friends we were picking up lives on the other side of a ford, with yesterdays rain it was once again too dodgy to cross - which meant a detour and delay.
Rain, we've had enough for now.
I used to go to Bewdley when I lived in Birmingham - it'a a lovely town. I had a lost / semi empty nest syndome moment a few weeks ago. The best advice I got from fellow bloggers was to "keep creating"!! It does work. Lovely fabric you have there. Thanks for the comment about sock patterns - I'll give it try. Mary x
ReplyDeleteSandra,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back and sorry to hear you've been feeling low. Don't sell yourself short, yes there are some bloggers who seem to have very successful lives but I reckon most of us are just like you, puttering through life :)
You are a success already, you've produced two beautiful daughters! Perhaps now is the right time to get out of that crummy job, your Daughter is off to university so maybe it's time to think about a change in direction. Anyway enough of my preaching!
Sad news about the shop, I read the report, it must be devastating for the owners. Let's hope they find new premises soon, sounds as if they have loyal customers.
Make sure you keep us posted on the quilt in progress, and sort out those smellie teddies they're looking very sorry for themselves!
Sorry you have been a bit down. I think most people have been and Im sure that the weather hasnt helped. Here in Salisbury today we had our first Summery day although its quite cool tonight. It was lovely to see the sun and have the warmth that you expect in summer. The fabrics look beautiful. I love those teddies too. Keep on sewing!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are feeling more cheerful soon. Thankfully my daughter is commuting to college, though she is hoping to do some of her studies in London, and I dread the day when both my kids have left the nest. I agree that keeping busy (creating) can help.
ReplyDeleteThose teddies are very cute!
Deb
Oh dear I dread (with a capital D) my children leaving home, going off to uni, whatever. I can really understand how you must be feeling especially as most of my old college / work friends seem to think I have fulfilled my potential either. Haven't fulfilled my potential, are they crazy, I have 3 beautiful sons, a lovely husband, a happy home which we have and still do share with countless animals. I think they just underestimated my potential!
ReplyDeleteAnyway enough of me, great shops hope that one manages to re-start and Thai food - yum yum.
hiya just found your blog ... i lived in Bridgenorth for a few years when i was younger and had my first job in Highley as a groom to a showjumping familly !!
ReplyDeleteit is a beautiful county :0)
Sara x
Such a shame about one of your fav shops.
ReplyDeleteLove your fabric choices! Laurie
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog. Sorry to read you have been feeling a little low. Change is always unsettling. My little girl is only three and I'm already getting anxious about her starting nursery in September. I also put my low times down to the retched weather at the moment, I find the glimpse of some summer sun always makes me feel more upbeat, and washes away my negativity.
I will pop back soon to see how those teddies are getting on:)
Take care,
xFaye
Sorry to hear you've been low - besides everything, I'm sure this grotty Summer we're having doesn't help. What a shame about the shop - hope they can still run their business in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteGood luck stuffing those teddies!!!
Ohmygosh! I'm so sorry to know you've not been feeling so swift. That makes your joining the PIF all the more special! ;-) It's really hard when the kids start to go -- I was pretty sad myself. But, and I NEVER thought I'd say this, you get used to it and it's almost a little hard when they return. Especially now that I've found blogs and have WAY too much to do. Other people used to tell me how easy it would get and I'd think to myself "Oh, but they're just not like me, it will never get easy for me-ee-e." But it does. And one other thing I try to remember -- there's always someone else who is less fortunate than I am. So, for you -- when you get sad, you should just remember me -- I'm WAY less fortunate than you are 'cause I don't have any girls. Not that I'm complaining (well...) and certainly not that I don't adore my boys, but oh...just to have a daughter! I AM fortunate that my oldest has found an intended that I love -- but it will never be the same. Now...did I cheer you up? LOL. Sorry to drone on so long! XOXO.
ReplyDeleteThe shop in Bewdley looks great. A friend gave me some lavender teddies last year - I love them. I think a few days of sunshine will make us all feel a bit better. I've enjoyed reading your blog and will come back to read again:) Rosie.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you've been feeling low! I've been through patches like that but I've yet to feel what it's like for a child to leave home. What helps me is to keep making things but it isn't always easy to find the motivation. I think that patchwork quilt is going to look lovely with those fabrics you've chosen. Good luck and hope you feel things are on the turn. Hope you're able to spend some time with your daughter over the summer too.
ReplyDeleteKim x
I can remember my children leaving home and being really upset about it. Then the younger son went to Nepal for 15 months and the elder one went to live in South Africa. It's surprising how quickly you get used to them not being there once you've got past the initial wrench. Both are back in UK now and I see all of them pretty well every week. No set arrangement, they just drop by. Quilting is the answer in the short term, something to occupy your mind and your hands.
ReplyDeleteThe weather isn't helping anyone who feels down, I'm not given to feelings of downness but even I have had enough of grey skies now. As for potential I absolutely agree with Carolyn, success in life isn't necessarily to do with high flying jobs and vast salaries.
Thankyou for visiting my blog again. Sorry to read you have been feeling a bit low lately - we all have times like that and I honestly think the weather has a lot to answer for. How much cheerier we feel when the sun is shining. This constant rain and cold weather certainly affects me. Like you I have written a couple of posts then not published them - some people do seem to lead such full and busy lives but I always enjoy reading yours. My daughter is 23 and it was hard when she left for uni, but daughters are always there and still need constant contact with their mums. It is hard letting go whether it be nursery, school or uni. There is a beautiful poem by Cecil Day Lewis called 'Walking Away' about letting go. It is very moving.
ReplyDeleteRuth x
Hi Sandra
ReplyDeleteLove those teddies - can't wait to see them finished. I'm sure your empty nest syndrome will pass once you get creative again and possibly think of a change of direction as far as your job is concerned! And as for puttering through life ... well I'm up there with the best of them ... and proud of it! I used to think of myself as inadequate compared with some - particularly some high-flying cousins - but as time has gone on they all seem to have all the cares of the world, live hectic lives and look twice as old as me!!!! Keep smiling is my advice!!
Sue xx
Thankyou for your well wishes, we've left a little thankyou over on the blog for you.
ReplyDelete