Friday 17 July 2009

The week so far

Its been a busy bitty sort of week. Do you ever get to the end of the week and can't remember what you did at the beginning of the week? I know I was busy on Monday, but what on earth with? Ah well, it'll come to me sooner or later. Now Tuesday, I do know what I did on Tuesday, I had to drag a group of 50, FIFTY German school kids round town on a 2 hour town walk. Actually, it wasn't bad at all, they were good fun really, the weather held out ok and I always love the Old Town, however many times I take the same route. Mind you, its very much up and down, especially the climb up to the castle, and then of course the long walk back after the two hours to get back to my car. Still, its all good excercise.

Wednesday, I had to go to London to the German Embassy to get my passport renewed. I was dreading it, I don't cope with masses of people too well these days, I seem to be turning into a bit of a hermit, lol. Plus, I was told that I would have to have my fingerprints taken for the passport. WHAT? Fingerprints? I know its silly, but.............. you see, retinal printing I could cope with, anything else really, but the idea of fingerprinting just conjures up images of police stations and makes me feel vaguely like a criminal, lol. Stupid I know. Also, I couldn't get pictures of of old cop movies/tv episodes out of my head and had convinced myself that it would be an ink and paper job, lol. 5am start to get the 6something train to London, trying to find the German Embassy and then queuing to get in, and waiting to be seen, and waiting some more.................... and more. Thankfully, I came prepared with wool and crochet hook, teeheee, so I sat there in the German Embassy, amongst god knows how many people, quietly crocheting flowers -


When I was finally called, it didn't actually take all that long to get the passport sorted. Of course the passport photos I had showed my head too small, so I had to queue up to get another set done there and then. But the fingerprinting only involved the two indexfingers pressed onto a sci-fi green screen, and once I had paid the £91.80!!! I was assured my passport would be ready in 2 - 3 weeks time. Hurrah, I might yet make it to our cottage in France this summer. Late summer.

Being so close to Knightsbridge I thought I check out the posh shops. I so wish I hadn't, lol. I spent a little while strolling through a department store, and had a look at their women's clothing sales rails. Right. It went something like this - under £200, under £400, under £600........... Thats sales prices, not original prices. Sigh, how the other half lives. A few ladies were pulling out this and that from the £600 rail, and heading off to the till with 2 or 3 items at a time. Whats a grand or two when you are getting bargains, eh?

I did go into Harrods, Food Hall only, because I had never been in the Food Hall and heard such wonderful things about it. I could live in there, lol, not just because of the fabulous foods, but also because of the totally gorgeous decor. The wall tiles, the ceilings, the food displays, awesome! I didn't have my camera with me, so here are just a few pics courtesy of google images -


After that, I decided Knightsbridge really wasn't for me, and headed off to Covent Garden. OMG, the masses and masses of people! I am really a country bumpkin at heart, I found it very stressful. Passed a stall selling soaps, looked at the labels, and was totally disgusted. How the heck do these people get away with selling at such a prestigious location when their products are totally inadequately ( and thereby illegally ) labelled? And why do consciencious idiots like me bother to do the right thing? Apart from a few small craft stalls and a couple of high street chain stores, Covent Garden was so disappointing. So many of the shops were selling cheap crap that I could just as well have found in our seaside tourist shops. My sole purchases of the day consisted of a dress for granddaughter Paige from the Monsoon sale, and a dress for the very long awaited daughter of our best friends Will and Theresa, again from Monsoon.

I got so peed off with London, I went to Charing Cross Station a couple of hours before I was due to meet up with my husband, so that we could travel home together. I found myself a seat, got out my wools and crochet hook and CROCHETED some more flowers, lolol. I did get the odd look or two, but I really couldn't have cared less. Couple more flowers on the train home, and I now have a veritable garden of crochet flowers! They are going to be used on some cushions I am going to make next week.

I did make a few flowers into brooches, because they were so pretty. Yummy icecream colours, fluffety yarns, and a few beads, and there you have it, La Croix Rosion flower brooches. I am going to take just a couple with me for this weekend's fairs and see how they do. What do you think? Would you wear one of these? On a jumper/dress? On a hairband perhaps? Pinned to a fabric handbag?


Thursday, I finally got round to doing some paperwork, sending off the giveaways, doing some shopping, and all sorts of other bits and pieces. And today was another bitty day, one of those days when you are constantly doing all sorts, but end up with very little to show for it. Grrr.

BUT, at least I had a wonderful surprise in the mail! Floss had sent me the Garden Party prize, woohoo, and it was perfect! Just look, look!

I love these old fashion magazines, I think I'll frame the cover and hang it in one of the bedrooms in the cottage

and just look at this adorable card/tag with a bunch of buttons attached


And this cross stitch flower is so beautiful! I can really appreciate the work which has gone into that, I used to do a lot of cross stitching. I might use that as the centre for a little lavender pillow for our bedroom in France, which is decorated in yellow tones


This chubby gorgeous little thing was part of the design on the front cover of the fashion magazine, did you spot it? It is so adorable, I love it, I am going to use that somewhere for sure, maybe I'll redesign the label for the "Little Angel" baby soap I make. Hmm.



Thank you so much, Floss, for the goodies, you chose so well!

Tomorrow I have a stall at a fair, and on Sunday at a different one, so its going to be a busy weekend. Without bootfairing, waaahhh. I keep meaning to catch the midweek bootfair not too far from us, maybe next week, eh?

9 comments:

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Oh I remember the Harrods food halls! I'm sure the odd cake was eaten there! I also remember buying all my Christmas gifts, to send home to my family, at Harrods too. Such a great shop!

Now what is the world coming to, having to supply fingerprints for a passport??? Good grief! I'm so glad you didn't waste all that time, as those flowers are just gorgeous!!! You must be very quick with the hook!

Nice pressies you received there too! Floss has indeed spoilt you. Oooh I wonder what she has sent me? How exciting! Good luck with sales this weekend. Very interested in that hair soap you make. Must chat to you about it sometime.

JuanitaTortilla said...

Oh I thoroughly love your crochet flowers! Although, I do wonder, how many balls of yarn did you bring out with you? :D
I like to spend my idle time crocheting flowers with leftover yarn. They sit in a jar, never knowing what their fate would be. Yes, perhaps as a pin for a purse / bag?

The Food Hall looks great! Would have been an experience just visiting it.

Floss said...

I love the Harrods Food Hall. For a while my dad had a job in London and we would go to stare at the food hall (not to buy anything) whenever we went to visit.

I'm so glad my prize for you has arrived! I love the Fashion Mags too - I have one very precious one which is a bit newer, but the style are more 'me' (a bit Art Nouveau) and I'm never going to give that one away! The beautiful tag is a kind of pay it forward thing - Ele at A Bit of Pink Heaven gave me four lovely tags as part of a bird swap and I decided that it might be nice to pass on one of them to another appreciative blogger!

Have a good weekend - we're flying home soon.

Liz's Knitting said...

Your flowers are so beautiful!! So delicate - love them!!

tomolou said...

just wanted to say a big thankyou for the lovely tray cloth and ribbon that arrived yesterday.Louise

Joy said...

Those fluffety flowers would look lovely on my girly bag L. So hand them over and no one will get hurt. lol

Croap Queen said...

You tell her Hippy. :-)

Boohoo, I´m returning to UK on the 30th. I am NOT a happy bunny - other than I´ll be able to talk to my pals again (no internet access here unless I borrow somebody´s pooter) - I would much rather stay here. Hmph.

Nice flowers L by the way.

Anonymous said...

I'm new to blogs ...but thoroughly enjoyed yours .. mmm I might even be hooked now

I too love anything crafty ... making bead jewellery ... crochet flowers

Rosie

K J D said...

I know this is a really old post of yours but it popped up!!!! I love your flowers.... i love all things 'crochet' - i have just taught myself and am six squares into a my first granny blanket. Hoping to get it done by the time my daughter goes to uni!!!!

Karen

ps I am going back to your current inchy post!