Welcome to WendyRoomCreations. I love all kinds of crafts from patchwork and quilting to embroidery, crochet, knitting, felt and paper-making. I hope you will enjoy reading about my latest projects and I look forward to welcoming you into my world.

Sunday 23 December 2012

Running downhill at breakneck speed.........

Desperately chasing my tail to get things ready for Christmas...................

nothing wrapped............................

cards still to write................................


oh dear, pressies still to buy/make...........................................

mince pies to make, cake to decorate..................................


ironing to do, washing to do, beds to make................................................


but I can't do any of that until Desert Island Discs is finished because it's Dawn French this morning!  It's not all laughter.  I'm crying with her just to hear her talk of her mother dying.


Only 2 days to go and it's cold and damp, flooded garden, flooded fields.  I would much rather we had snow and then my snow people could dance again.



They were having such a great time singing and dancing together.

One last moment to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous, Merry New Year. 


And as Tiny Tim said "God Bless Us Every One".

Saturday 15 December 2012

Are you feeling Christmassy yet?


After two days of standing bare-branch naked the Christmas tree is finally decorated thanks to the efforts of No 3 Son.  He was bored and looking for something to do.  Shame he never feels that way when it comes to doing any housework or tidying his room.


I caught Miss Scarlet whispering her Christmas wishes in Santa's ear. 
I don't know what she said but he looks rather shocked and she is blushing.


And the Little People have been getting rather excited too. 
They are looking forward to opening up their tin of biscuits.
 
 


 
And Smart Ted Bear has bade us his adieus as he is off to give someone a special hug this
Christmas.
 
I admit to being rather sorry to see him go but if he brings someone else as much happiness as he has me then I couldn't ask for more.    I think Benny and Bernard are going to miss him too.
 
Philippa xx


An emotional day

I feel so shocked and saddened today by the terrible events in Connecticut yesterday.  It never ceases to amaze me of the atrocities that one human being is prepared to do to another.  How can a young man be so angry with his mother that he kills her then goes to her place of work and kills so many innocent children and adults?  It really is beyond me.  Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

I remember when a similar shooting happened at Dunblane in Scotland many years ago.  I felt the same sadness, perhaps more so because my own son was the same age as those victims and it could just have easily been my son's school and my son's class.

Life is so very precious.  Why are so many hardened and apparently indifferent to ending it?

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Snowy, frosty start to the day

Last night was reeeeaaaalllly cold and this morning everything was covered in white frost and looking beautiful.  If it hadn't been so dark I would have attempted to take a photo to show you.  Only one mile from home there had been snowfall too which made the trees even more beautiful.  I hear in Scotland the temperature dropped to minus 12.  Brrrrr!

Wherever you are I hope you are keeping warm and dry.

Philippa xx

Saturday 8 December 2012

Christmas is coming....

Christmas is coming and as usual I am not ready, have not done enough shopping and still haven't decided what everyone is getting.  I did spend the afternoon out in my garden room the other day and made one and a half presents. I would show them to you but that would spoil the surprise just in case the designated recipients decided to look in on this blog.  I'll perhaps take some photos to show to you later.


Jasper decided to keep me company again and as always was right where I wanted to cut fabric up.

He was very put out when I needed to shut up shop and had to turf him out.  He doesn't like getting his feet wet and the garden is rather damp at the moment.  So he went and sat on the only dry bit under the light, gave me a filthy look then turned his nose up at me.

 
No. 3 Son with Phoebe
 
 
Did I tell you that Phoebe recently cut her leg very badly whilst playing down the park?  A "helpful" person had left their broken Jack Daniels bottle sticking up in the grass.  This was the third time she has cut her leg at the park in 18 months.  A costly operation and several check ups at the vets ensued. 

 
 
Thankfully a month later she is back to running around, chasing balls and hiding behind trees.  


Have a good weekend.
Philippa xx

Sunday 2 December 2012

Upclose and personal

Busybusybeejay asked if it would be possible to see my stall a little closer and I will try to show you all (please be patient with this computer dinosaur, it may take me a few minutes).  Umm now let me see which button do I need to press?


Is that any better?  On my computer you can click on the picture and then zoom in or out but I really don't know if anyone outside can do that.  I just hope this helps a little anyway.  Please let me know busybusybeejay. 

Best wishes
Philippa xx

Now I can rest

It was my last fair of this year yesterday and I met a lot of lovely people at the Corn Exchange at Devizes.  I met some lovely people yesterday and had some really interesting conversations. I'm going to miss that for a while.


 
 
I had a really late night when I was just trying to finish off the last of the strings of Christmas bunting.  I'm so pleased I did because they have now gone off to their new homes.  It's nice to thing of my bunting bringing Christmas cheer to someone else's home. 
 
My head is already buzzing with ideas for new things that I want to make for next year but first I have a few Christmas presents to make.
 
 
We've had some great mornings this week with beautiful pink and turquoise skies, and yesterday we even had freezing fog which meant that everything was covered with glitter.  Truly amazing. 
 
Philippa xx

Monday 26 November 2012

Granny Squares Challenge Update

You remember how some weeks back I decided to follow Michelle's lead (the heartfelt company) and make a blanket with different Granny Squares as a way of learning how to crochet..........well I thought it was about time I showed you that the wools have not remained in their pristine condition but some of them have actually made it into the required squares.




As you can see they are not all quite the same size.  I have actually made 4 of each design but these are the best of them.  The very first week's ones which were the traditional Granny Square were actually so bad at the first attempt, all buckled and tight, that I undid them and tried again.  The 2nd time they came out flatter and much looser but are now too big.  Rather than lose time and fall even further behind (I am on week 6 now but Michelle is 3 weeks ahead of me in giving out the patterns) I think I will wait a while before redoing the worse ones.

I am really enjoying learning to crochet and it makes it seem a lot more fun to be doing a limited number of a different square each week. 

Mind you I was really tearing my hair out last night when I tried to understand this week's challenge.  I could not understand the photo instructions when it came to doing the corner, however, drawing on the experience of corners previously done I got there in the end.  It did my confidence no end of good to manage this as the pattern gives the skill level as intermediate. 


As you can see it is not quite finished yet............. and then I have 3 more to make.

Thank you Michelle for the challenge and for finding such lovely patterns for us. 

Philippa xx

PS  You've probably seen on the news about all the rain and flooding that has happened here in the South West of England.  I know the River Avon has burst it banks locally so it will be very interesting to see whether I can drive to Bath as the river passes alongside the main road for some of the way.  Hopefully the high pressure that is coming in off the Atlantic will give us a few dry days and a chance for the fields to drain.  My heartfelt sympathies go out to anyone who has been flooded out in the last few weeks, and for some on more than one occasion.



Friday 16 November 2012

Computer frustrations and general busy-ness

I am so sorry for not posting for a little while.  The Best Beloved has changed computers for me and being a real technophobe I have been shying away from learning where to plug things in on this new one.  I know it's silly but computers are a necessary evil in my mind so the less time I spend on one the better.

It's also been really difficult for me to drag myself to work when the weather has been so wonderfully sunny even if there has been a decided chill in the air.  I am lucky enough to work in the World Heritage Site of Bath, and one day I looked behind me and saw the leaves were all falling off the trees.


I really wanted to be out there kicking my feet through them as I have done since I was a child. 


It seemed as if one minute the leaves were on the trees and the next they were just a carpet on the ground.

Queen Square doesn't look like this now because the tractor arrived together with men with big blowers and all the leaves were sucked up.  That's the trouble I suppose with Bath being so beautiful, it has to be kept that way. 

Yesterday was a good day at work though because after 2 very late nights I finally finished the advent calendar comission.   I hung it above our stairs and it greeted me in the morning.  It looked really quite at home but I know it will be enjoyed in its new home too.  Still I was sad to see it go.



Onwards and upwards.  Tomorrow I am at Spirals Christmas Craft Fair in the Town Hall, Marlborough and no doubt will have a lovely time playing shops again.  If you are there do come and say hello.



Px

Sunday 21 October 2012

Messing about by the river

It being a bright October day yesterday the Best Beloved and I decided to take a walk with the dogs over at Bradford on Avon.  For those of you that may not be familiar with this "working historic town" as the town sign describes it, it is a very picturesque town that straddles the River Avon.  It can be a nightmare to drive through however as so many of the roads that approach the town centre come down steep narrow hills.  That aside, it is a lovely town and does have some good small shops and places to eat.  (Sorry I digressed into my tourist guide mode.) 

As I was saying, we took the dogs through the park down to the river.  Running parallel to a stretch of the river is the Kennet and Avon Canal (which also goes through part of the town).




Seeing the canal boats gave me a small twinge of regret that I haven't managed to get out on our canal boat this year.  The Best Beloved is more fortunate (!) because he flies out on Tuesday to go and do some DIY jobs on the boat whilst it is at it winter moorings.





This is me being guarded from the rear by Treacle with her bone at the ready to ward off attackers.  As always, Phoebe was off jumping in and out of the river.

Happy Sunday

Philippa x

Monday 15 October 2012

Rain, Rain .............and yet more Rain

Yesterday it was sunny but what a difference a day makes because today it is pouring with rain and freezing.  I should be working out in my garden room but somehow I can't get motivated.  I was out there this morning and finished some Christmas bunting but so far this afternoon all I have managed to do is eat chocolate!

So what to do this afternoon?  Tuck up on the sofa with a hot water bottle and some embroidery I think..........and a good girlie film while the males are out.

Talking of males I thought I would introduce you to Timmy.  Timmy was rescued by Bath Cats and Dogs Home from a house that just had far too many animals.  He wasn't used to being touched by humans at all and to that end you can feel you are taking your life in your hands even now seven years later if you try to pick him up against his wishes.


 
Our other two cats are much gentler natured but Timmy has always been the bravest with the dogs.

 
The Best Beloved says he is not a cat lover but I know that Timmy holds a special place in his heart and I swear he bought this antique chair which stands on the landing especially for Timmy because it is not too high (Timmy is not very good at jumping), it warms up in the sun but perhaps more importantly Timmy can see what is happening downstairs whilst lying in comfort.
 
 
Now what film shall I watch?
 
 
Philippa xx
 
PS  They have just said on the news that is is 25 years since the Great Storm that hit us here in the south of England.  I can't believe it.....25 years.  I can remember exactly where I was at the time, can you?  

Sunday 14 October 2012

A Midsummer Night's Dream or Nightmare?

Hi Everyone

Last week whilst at the fair at Pewsey I met a lovely lady called Annmarie.  She was very kind and admired my embroidered buttons.  She went on to ask me if I could make one for her daughter who's name began with the letter "S".  No problem I said.  Annmarie is obviously very proud of her daughter (what Mum isn't you may well ask) and went on to tell me that she is appearing as  Fairy Cobweb in Midsummer Night's Dream.  Could I convey all or some of that on a button please?! I said I would try.  I would just like to mention that the buttons I work on are 22mm which isn't very big is it?

Anyway I put my thinking hat on and during this week I got my needle and threads out, and here is the result.



She looks a little as if she has a Robin mask on as her eye came out rather larger than I had hoped but my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be.  Creeping old age and a chronic health condition have rather taken their toll.  Indeed I have been known to spend several minutes trying to thread the sharp end of the needle. 

Anyway the button is now winging its way to Annmarie courtesy of Royal Mail.

Never one to sit twiddling my thumbs (chance would be a fine thing) I decided yesterday to make a start on some Christmas bunting.  I got as far as six pennants and then I had a little helper come to keep me company....................


May I introduce Jasper who is one of our three cats (Copper and Timmy being the other two).  Jasper loves to come into my garden room when it is raining outside and either nudges my hands asking for a fuss or curls up on my work table thus taking up all the available work space.  I always said I didn't like black cats because I find it less easy to read their facial expressions but Jasper very quickly changed my opinion.  He is about 11 years old now and like me is going grey,and out of the three cats he is my favourite.  Just don't tell the others I said that.

Have fun
Philippa xx


Monday 8 October 2012

Busy, busy, busy

I had a stall at a charity fair on Saturday over in Pewsey.  The fair was in aid of the Finlay Foundation and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.  Finlay was a little boy who was knocked down and killed by the school bus whilst holding his mum Niki's hand on the way to school.  I remember it very vividly and was very happy to support the event.   The hall was bustling with people all day and lots of happy shopping was done.  I wish I had taken my camera or thought to use the one on my phone and then I would be able to show you just what it was like.

I too did a little bit of happy shopping as there was one stall where the lady had been having a little bit of a clear out.  Look what I bought:

 
 
A Royal Worcester cream jug ("Do you really need yet another jug" says Best Beloved), a 1950s jam pot (I don't have one of these any more), and a small vase also from the 1950s I believe. 
 
 


I don't know if I dare tell you but the whole lot only cost £6.  Talk about a bargain.

They will be holding another event in April and I have already signed up for it.

I'm really getting into a new collection at the moment.  At the vintage fair that my friend Becky and I did a few weeks back I bought an Alfred Meakin jug from the 1950s with a lovely Paris scene on it.  Lo and behold I managed to outbid everyone for a tureen with the same design a week ago


and as you can see it fits perfectly with the items I bought on Saturday. 

Becky and I went to another vintage fair at Chipping Sodbury recently too and I added a few more embroidered tablecloths to my collection.  I cannot help but be really in awe of the ladies who spent hours sewing such beautiful cloths and it sickens me to find them so undervalued now.



 
 
It can't be right that something this beautiful only cost £4.50.  Is it any wonder I succumbed to the temptation to buy?
 
Philippa x



Saturday 29 September 2012

Snow's been falling all around........

Well not actually snow but I've been busy making my snowflakes in readiness for Christmas.



I love making these.  I find it very therapeutic but maybe that's because they are small and quick to complete because as many of my friends will tell you I am the Queen of UFOs (Un-Finished Objects). 

 
 
I like to say that I have a low boredom threshold but My Best Beloved says it is because I am easily distracted.  Who cares, I'm enjoying myself.
 
Philippa xx
 
PS  As I said in my previous post, I've started learning how to crochet and I'm doing the Granny Square Challenge of Michelle's at theheartfeltcompany.  However, my first squares are awful and I am hoping that Michelle can give me some tips on how to improve things.  I am only just learning but perhaps the best that can be said about them is the colours are pretty! 
 


Friday 21 September 2012

The yarn has arrived!!!!

Hi Everyone

Being someone who easily gets bored doing the same thing over and over again I have decided to endeavour to make a crochet sampler blanket.  (What did I just say about boredom and doing repetitive tasks?)
It is many, many years since I did any crochet but as its back in vogue I thought it would be a good time to dust off the old crochet hook and give it a go.  To this end I am going to follow Michelle at theheartfeltcompany who has suggested making 4 squares of the same design each week for 42 weeks.  She is going to give instructions for a different square each week.  At the end of 42 weeks (if I get there) each square will be joined to make a wonderful blanket!!!!!

So the yarn was ordered.............
 
 



And today it arrived.........

 
 
 
It was so exciting opening the parcel............
 
 


To find a rainbow within.



I can't wait to start.

Of course if it doesn't work I'll have to find another use for a lot of yarn.  (Note to self:  think positive Philippa.  You can do this.)

Philippa xx



Sunday 16 September 2012

Sun, cream tea and Lorna

I just thought I would brighten up this rather dull afternoon with a happy sunny picture.


This was the cream tea I had with my sister the day before she went back to Cairo.  We did have strawberries and jam but they weren't in the picture for some reason.


If I could have 3 wishes I would ask for the sun, the cream tea and especially my sister to be back here in England but not necessarily in that order.  I miss my big sis.

XXX