Watch Out Watch Out!...

Theres MAN FLU about!

Yes Mr M has had the most awful cold poor thing...so I have decided to bodge together a curry to see if he can taste any thing!
Luckily I have no signs at all at getting man flu, and he has been banished to the spare room... (Don't feel too sorry for him, the spare room is actually robs home office - where I have made him a cozy comfy bed, plus his mac and all his book and things are there!)

So if you have time to spare, rob has loaded his pictures that he painted for the local animal charity...and there are more to come! I know he would like to have some visitors to his blog - plus hes rather good at drawing :0)

http://robsdoodles.blogspot.com/

Happy Friday!

Sam xx

I just have to get a Vintage Suitcase

Ooooo every month it seems I have a "thing" something that I want or want to make...This month for the hundreth time I'm lusting after a new filofax...I spotted one in paper chase that keeps on playing on my mind, as needle felting is too! But I'm a bit busy with my free time...I have a few pictures to paint and I'm a bit distracted watching old movies that I have recorded off of TCM in the evenings...and the Sue gets on my lap too you see so I can't move.

But Oooo I soooo want a vintage suitcase...and just love the idea of making a craft case....YUM!

Shall I get one???

xxx Happy Thursday xx

Any Ghost Stories?

Well I said it was going to get a bit spooky round these parts.. I love a good spooky tale and I have been racking my brains for one to tell you..they always sound so much better in my head than when I write them down or say them out loud!

The only one I can think of, happened to me when I was about 17.

I was asked to babysit for a friend of my dads who was house sitting in an old manor house, in the woods near Bideford (Devon) on the cliff. (Seriously!)

I was like 'ok!' whatever!, there were about 6 dogs to keep me company too so I thought that would be ok.

It was like the house in the Disney film 'Watcher in the Woods' (No one has probably heard of this film), but can I tell you what I was greeted by.

STUFFED ANIMALS..in the hall up the stairs...a big bear - tiger heads you name it it was there. The house was a mini version of the national trust house - tyntesfield, there was a ball room, a lift and a pantry with food in it from the 1940s!

But I was ok - they had SKY tv - which back then I thought was the best thing ever - 6 cute dogs, snuggled up by me, and my mum had made me a cheesecake to scoff. So there I was watching MTV all alone in a room that had loads of armchairs and a Grandpiano in the corner (Which I had to play chopsticks on !), and an open fire.....and I could sometimes hear the horses snuffling in the stables.

My Dad even said he would stay but I was ok, I liked and like my own company, plus I wasn't there that late and my parents lived nearby.... and after I baby sat a couple more times..with nothing odd at all happening .

A couple of months went by and my parents friend moved out, and when I saw her again she asked me something.

"So Sam , were you ok in the Morning Room, did any thing odd happen?

"No" I replied

"That's good then" she said

"I didn't want to say anything, but the Piano in the Morning Room likes to play itself sometimes...both me and my little girl heard it a few times, but I didn't want to mention anything in case you didn't come back"

"Oh , I said"

Luckily I didn't!

Night Night !


Sam xx

An honest opinion....please?

Look what my dear husband bought me..

THE BAG I have been lusting after! Now yes I have a lap top that I also LOVE, but I don't actually
carry it about with me. Now why you may wonder, did I want a laptop bag.

Well just cause - I liked the shape and the pockets and the strap, and I thought I could use is as my 'school bag'
as I carry about sketch books and projects and bits and bobs.

But then Rob says...

"um thats a LAPTOP bag, I thought you could put your LAPTOP in it..??

But what do you think..

Will I look a complete plum carrying a bag with no computer?

Really be honest ;0)

Ta !

sam xx

PS I have another kitton...can you spot her?
I just had to have her for Halloween...even Rob squealed!

PPS Its going to be getting very Halloweeny round here at Silkiesues xx

A kiss on the nose..

well more of a couple of licks actually..
thats how I was woken up this morning by Miss Sue...Oh and the fact that she walks over and over and OVER my head REALLY
early in the morning so much that the other night I had to go to bed with a woolly hat on as I was convinced I would have no hair left on my head!

But I was quite pleased to wake up early today as the morning is absolutely beautiful, we seem to be having a proper Autumn this year, it reminds me of when I was about 11 on half term, playing in my mum and dads garden, convinced that I might be a Witch and dragging a rubbish garden broom about, as we didn't have a proper 'witchy' one.

I also LOVED the worse witch books, the illustrations really got my imagination going...

So I think in honor of my favourite time of year those spooky DVD's are going to have to come out..

Mmmmm whose up for watching a bit of Hocus Pocus...

I'm never growing up.....EVER!!

Sam xxx

What lovely messages! (And a To do List)

Thankyou dear blogging chums for your birthday messages! :0) So sweet of you!

I did very well, and received very nice presents...including some CK vouchers that are burning a hole in my pocket BIG TIME.. but I must think carefully before I spend them...but on what..on what? I really LOVE the laptop bag..(I don't actually carry my laptop around with me, but the bag is so cute....oh the dilema!!)

And I have a massive TO DO list...

1. Learn needle felting as quickly as possible..and then make hundreds of animals..;0) (joking!)

2. Paint animal pictures for our Charity Exhibition in Starbucks for Nov 1st and frame them

3. Sort out 1970s' buffet menu for my HALLOWEEN party!

4. Sort out my costume for the above..

5. Try and make some kind of choice on what to buy with my vouchers!!

6. Message lovely bloggers ;0)


Happy autumny Tuesday!

Love Sam xx

Some Early Birthday Pressi's....

My Birthday is tomorrow, but when I got into work today my desk was decorated with bunting (handmade by Ag and Carolyn) and there was beautifully wrapped gifts and cards ...I was most spoilt!

Carolyn gave me some lovely Greengate salt and pepper pots, and made me a beautiful cushion, hand stitched with gorgeous doggies on. Ag gave me a HUGE scented candle and a CATH KIDSTON voucher....YUM!!

Simon...bless him gave me a Double Decker...and made me a birthday card (My head was photoshopped onto Barbara Streisands head on the Guilty Album she made with Barry Gibb from the Bees Gees who I LOVE!

So thankyou my dearest friends for your kind thoughtful presents...I was very spoiled!)

Sam xx

I'm back...and...

Its here!

AUTUMN...ooo I LOVE it..
Don't get me wrong I had a lovely week in Turkey - It was very hot but I was sensible and kept in the shade (as I'm a ginger...and sunburnt Gingers is NOT a good thing) but I swam and swam, in the deep deep sea...trying to ignore my husband humming the Jaws feam toon ;0)

We met a lovely couple too, so spent a few boozy evenings with them, and it was nice to sit outside in the evening.

There were the most beautiful gravity defying bodies/people posing round the pool, I think I looked more like a pale ginger vampire, bitten to death by mozzies sat in the shade!!

Ooo and I missed The Sue something dreadful, I kept worrying that she was too cold, or not eating...but she was absolutely fine in her cat hotel.

And my hypnosis CD to help me with my fear of flying WORKED! It really did I was amazed, as you see I normally picture myself in my own disaster film...

So I hope you are all well this lovely cozy evening...I will be back soon with my 'to do' list for October!

Sam xxx

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary!

Yes. Me and Mr M tied the knot a year ago today...we had been together for years....(13!) and it was a lovely day.
We got married on the SS Great Britain, with a small number of people, on a lovely warm Saturday. There was a lovely chap called Bob - who was sort of in charge of looking after me and Rob, and I can remember a few glasses of vino later, quizzing him about all the ghosties on board, as it had previously been a hospital ship and passenger liner. I even managed to wander about on my own, just in case I spotted a ghost!

A week after, we went to New York...and WOW that was amazing...after I managed to get through the flight...3 valiums and a couple of drinks...you see I HATE flying...

But New York...WOW!!

Both of us love films, so we made sure that we found lots of famous places that appeared in films...like Ghostbusters...yes I sat in the library where it was filmed...and on the first day ,by complete accident I spotted 'Mr Big' from Sex and the city.....it did feel like being on a film set.

We also found 'The Daily Planet' where Superman worked...its actually the New York Times building and we were able to have a photo taken.

So now to celebrate, Mr M and I are off to Turkey for a week...and 'The Sue' has to go to Kitten Hotel...(I must not cry..I must not cry...I do love my cat ;0) so I won't be in Blogland for a week and a bit...

But on my return I'm sooo going to crack Needle felting....I'm quite excited about it...I needed a new project for the autumn evenings...and I will be posting the stages too...and of course Miss Sue will be my first model.

Happy Sunday!!

Lots of Love and see you soon
Sam xx

My new Obsession...and a request..

I HAVE to learn how to do this...they are the cutest...and as I'm such an animal lover I thought I could make a few little things...

There are some that are truly amazing on the web, so maybe I will try and buy one...but do any of you know much about this needle felting.....

Any links, tips, books, links would be much appreciated!

Happy Thursday!

Samxx

One Classy Lady...

is the lovely Joanna Lumley, and an animal lover to boot.
I was sat on the sofa tonight watching the second part of her program about cats when the section came on
with a special lap cat who was taken into see, and sit with disabled children...

And it brought a real lump to my throat...well a bit more than that...gosh I'm a rather over sensitive soul!

Its amazing to see the effect animals have on human beings...how can you not love them?

Happy Tuesday

Sam xx

A Small Confession...

I'm not really domesticated.

So there won't ever be photographs of any things I've baked or cooked here!
Don't worry though I'm not completely feral! I keep a tidy clean house, I wash up and wash our clothes.. But there are so many other things I would rather be doing with the limited time I have when I'm not working, (and cooking is something I can easily avoid...my poor husband!)...

like making little purses out of scraps of CK fabric, toying with the idea of having a go at making a bear from a vintage sewing book I found in a charity shop, crocheting, painting...pottering in my box room... soaking in the bath reading Now Magazine, playing with Miss Sue ;), watching old spooky black and white films...

I also avoid Ironing...at all costs..

I wouldn't make a very good house wife really...

Have a lovely weekend...say no to chores!

Sam xx

Heavy heart ..

Me and Mr M went to the Bath Cats and Dogs open day today..as we had painted a few pictures for them (along with our friend Ag) Now I have never been to an animal shelter before, you could hear the dogs barking from down the road and I kept telling my self to keep it together, as for some reason I am really effected by animals, especially those who have been abandoned or mistreated. Well we first went into the cats area (My favourite!) and there were some beautiful cats there, I have to say that although they are in there own enclosures, they looked quite cozy, with blankets and scratching posts. There were just hundreds of kittens - snuggled together and playing some of which had climbed to the highest point in there rooms, so I really hope some kind people adopted some today.

Then both mine and Mr M's hearts melted when we saw Trixie, apart from Silkiesue the Prettiest sweetest Cat, with a huge tummy full of kittens :0) I do realise that it would probably be mean to introduce another cat to Silkiesue, as much as I want to, and imagine that she would have a friend to cuddle up with,but I think Silkie has decided that we are friends enough for her! I did speak to one of the 'Cat ladies' and she said it wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I am not convinced.

So off we went leaving poor Trixie. who I would have adopted with one of her new born kittens if I could have..with a heavy heart.

So if anyone reads this blog near Bath, and is looking for a cat or a dog to adopt then please visit there are so many lovely lost animals there looking for a home.

And Rob and I sold one of our painting each, so its a few pennies for them, hopefully we will be able to do some more work in the future, we paint everything for free ;0)

Sam xx

Nostalgic Spaces...

Even when I was small I was obsessed with rooms and houses...and making things pretty. I would literally on a weekly basis sometimes with my friends re-arrange our bedrooms..to make them as nice and organized as possible. Not bad going considering I was about 9 or 10 at the time. And the urge to rearrange things and rooms hasn't left me at all, infact I love creating nostalgic spaces, filled with flotsam and jetsam that I have collected or kept from years gone by it makes me feel cozy and homey.
Having Silkie live with us has made our house feel even more cozy and homey, that I can't believe I have never had a pet before..

what was i missing all these years..

Plus Mr M said this morning..
'you know I'm not closed to the idea of getting a kitten...'

What shall we do?

What about dear Sue?

Happy cozy autumn Saturday!!

Sam xx

Cozy evenings and Crochet..

Yep the hooks are out again - thankfully the crochet monsters haven't returned as it seems that by some miracle crochet has clicked for me and I'm off again on a new blanket. The picture here is how I can been found at work some lunchtimes with my crochet all over my drawing board. Luckily my friends have got used to it, and I have been trying to encourage some of my other work chums to pick up the crochet hooks, as those evenings are drawing in dear bloggers, I loved watching the leaves fall down as I drove to work today...

Autumn is coming!!

Night night!

Samxx