WOYWW 533

AH YES, I REMEMBER IT WELL.....

Shaz in Oz, thank you for the ATC and Twiglet for very kindly forwarding it to me - I think it came the circuitous route from Australia to GB!

In between making cups of tea for our builders (HOW many sugars???), dodging the showers trying to garden etc etc, there has been a fair bit of sewing done!

You see before you the end of the bunting! That's 200m made - I never want to see another triangle of fabric again..... It'll look good when it's decorating the hall so it'll be worth it. And no, I'm not going into the bikini/thong making business as some deskers suggested last week!!

My mate Helen was a star, she came and snipped threads and cut out smaller triangles from the scraps...what a true friend eh?

A couple of answers to some questions raised last week:


Stacy (hope you're feeling better by the way), these are the poppers or press studs I was talking about - aren't they lovely colours? I love using them and would put them on everything if I could!

And Neet, in answer to your query:


This is my gorgeous blue glass bowl that was a birthday prezzy from my menfolk a couple of years ago. I absolutely adore it - it looks especially wonderful with Christmas baubles in but also oranges. It was made by a local artist in Wiltshire - apparently she made strips of glass and then draped them over an upturned wooden form.

G has been doing a project over the past couple of years scanning our old 35mm slides into the computer. He's just started on our Indonesia trip from 1991 and found this:

The first recorded pic of LLJ in a fabric stall somewhere in Java!! I'd forgotten that skirt, a Monsoon special, I loved it so much and was sad when it gave up the ghost. Nowadays I'd cut it up to recycle but I didn't sew in those days... I do believe I bought a couple of batik tablecloths as presents from that shop - in fact, my brother Steve still has his, I'm fairly sure. What strikes me is how red my hair was then - ah yes, I remember it well.......

Before the Indonesia slides, Gordon did our Greek trip and found this:

Me reading in our hotel room on Hydra - the only arty photo of me ever! That was a happy holiday, seeing the pics again brought back great memories :-D

Enough reminiscing for today - have a great week everyone and keep crafting!  xxxxx

26 comments:

Shoshi said...

A lovely couple of posts, Jan, so full of colour and interest! I particularly like the colours you chose for the bunting - such pretty fabrics. I am sorry to be so long replying to your comment last week (for which many thanks) - I seem to have been so busy this week and a lot of computer stuff has been neglected!

Happy extremely belated WOYWW for last week and a normal one for this week!

Shoshi #1 (only because I'm still up at 1.40 a.m.!)

Helen said...

what fabulous memories and how wonderful that G has been able to store them for posterity on the computer - you had some wonderful trips by the looks of things; hope to see more maybe! The "arty" shot of you is gorgeous.
Love the bowl, so glad you showed it. Hope the builders finish soon. Helen #4

Sarah Brennan said...

I smiled at the bikini comment as that had gone through my mind last week when I saw your desk Jan and had to have a second look lol. Isn't it fabulous what you discover when you go through old slides/photos. I must get my father to transfer all his into digital form, I bet there are some amazing ones there. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #6

Crafting Queen said...

You have been busy. Hope the building work is going well. Lovely photos.x

Sue said...

Hi Jan, You have done great with the bunting. Those poppers are lovely.

Nice to look back at photos and remember all those lovely times.

I'm afraid I'm not taking part in WOYWW again this week (not been so good health wise).

Happy WOYWW
Sue

glitterandglue said...

Morning Jan. 200 metres?! No wonder you never want to see another fabric triangle! Sterling work the pair of you. Well done. Your hair really was a good red - mine was similar - I used to be called Moses's burning bush when younger - now I just look like I have been left out in the rain and faded!
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #5

Neet said...

Wow to those photos. What wonderful memories you are stirring up for yourself and hubby. You must share them with your boys some time. Love the skirt myself, what a shame you didn't sew in those days - I cannot imagine you never sewing!
Oh the bunting! Can imagine you not wanting to cut another triangle out again, and how lovely that a friend came around to help with the final cutting.
Thanks for showing the bowl, it is gorgeous, I imagine you have to be careful with it, especially when washing it. The poppers are exactly what I thought they were and what gorgeous colours - an fully understand you wanting to use them on everything.
Have a lovely week
Hugs, Neet 10 xx

Glenda said...

How wonderful to look back on years gone by. Lovely photos of you too! Have a great rest of the week!
Glenda #15

Catriona said...

I love the bowl-glass is my favourite medium for craft buys. Lovely, nostalgic photos and Gordon is very patient to be taking them from slides.

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

Love those old photos - such precious memories - your skirt does look lovely - I have a nice batik skirt that hasn't fit me in years and I didn't have the heart to get rid of it - now I'm thinking journal cover! 200 m of bunting - you must be mad! Bikinis LOL - very funny! Enjoy your week, Jan! zsuzsa #14

Marit said...

Such a lovely post today Jan... I admire your courage to sew all those triangles.. pfew! The glass bowl is wonderful - I have a similar coloured glass bowl (different shape though) that my parents bought for me in (I think) Poland... love it when the sun shines on the glass! The photo of you at that batik-stand is wonderful and fits my mood at the moment (ha, you read my blog so you know what I mean!) I might even get back to old days and tie my hair with henna.... Have a great day lovely one! Thanks for stopping by my blog, happy woyww and a big hug from Holland, Marit #17

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, lovely post and I like the photo in your header - it looks so peaceful there. As I'm in a mood to make up words I'll just say I love all the triangley goodness on your desk today and Helen looks happy too. If you show those poppers again I will have to succumb - they're too gorgeous to resist. Love the bowl too. And what about those photos of times past - a real blast from the past for you. Have a wonderful week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #18

Lillianb said...

Lovely to look back at all the old photos, I know why you love that bowl. My fav colour and a wonderful design

Happy WOYWDW

Lilian B #12

Diana Taylor said...

Great photos Jan, I think I had the almost identical skirt for donkey's years! Love the bunting,
Hugs, Diana x

Caro said...

How lovely to see the old photos of you - so good to be able to rescue and save them. That bowl is stunning and I can understand why you are glad to get to the end of all that bunting! Have a lovely week. With Love & God Bless, Caro x (#8) P.S. The picture of Alex wasn't actually taken at Carnac - they don't let you wander among the stones there any more so we went to a place called Camaret-sur-mer where there are around 60+ that you can wander around to your hearts content (and conveniently was only 20 minutes drive from the house!)

Dorlene Durham said...

Wow! That bowl is amazing. So pretty and colorful. I love the photos of you from years ago. It's great to look back and see the changes. Have a great week. Dorlene #23

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Great photos and lovely memories. I imagine you are fed up of making bunting. I don't think I could manage all that cutting now as my hand sometimes goes numb if I'm working with scissors for too long, probably due to the years spent cutting out fabrics for the children's projects. Must say though they are going to look great. Have a lovely week and a very happy woyww, Angela x13x

Heather M said...

Hi Jan, great photos! I love reliving memories through photos. Mr M and I only go back 9 years, but every trip is photographed and I will scrapbook them at some point. Have a lovely week, hugs Heather xx (not taking part this week, full of a snotty cold).

Stacy Sheldon said...

HI Jan fun stuff, so poppers are like colorful snaps then. ( You can tell I do not sew right?) :) ha, I chuckled over the thong comment you got and that bowl is fabulous. I am getting better and just surprised on how quick I run out of steam. but, so far so good. ~Stacy #25

StampinCarol said...

WOW! That's a LOT of triangles! So nice of Helen to help you! And the press studs look cool! I can think of a couple projects for them... LOL!
The bowl is stunning! Love the colors.
How fun to see old photos that bring back good memories.
Looked back at last week's post. You've been a busy gal!
Thanks for popping by and have a great week!
Carol N #19

Shoshi said...

Thank you for your comment, Jan, and I'm glad to have the excuse to return to your blog and see all the gorgeous pictures again! What a good idea, making the bags out of old net curtains, to put your fruit and veg shopping in. It's particularly good because you can see through the net - many alternatives to plastic are opaque which has its disadvantages. I think people are developing a more imaginative approach these days, as things we all used to take for granted are taken away from us. I often think of Mum's description of wartime Britain and "make do and mend." That generation never threw stuff away but always mended it. Mum taught me to darn socks but I'm afraid I haven't done that for years and I'm ashamed to say I throw my hubby's holey socks in the bin these days! People used to make incredible things out of nothing, and I can see that skill returning again today. People are very resourceful and all it takes is a bit of pressure, and the opportunity for creativity is increased.

I've got other eco stuff in the pipeline (phases 2 and 3) which I am looking forward to sharing as well!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #1

Little Dorrit does... said...

Hi Jan.
Thanks for popping by. It helps to know there's someone else out there feeling the bathroom refurbishment pain. I had to smile when I saw what a wonderful job you did of emptying and prepping the JanCave for the workmen invasion. Sooo much better than me! Work starts on our upstairs bathroom next week, I will have to see what I can do to clear the spare bedroom over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Your temporary workdesk looks very well organised for bunting mass-production, and I love your blue glass bowl centrepiece. It's fabulous!
Amelia #24

Twiglet said...

Lovely photos Jan. Greek holidays lend themselves to arty photos - I have a few nice ones of me on empty beaches, in the shade of olive trees etc. Nice to look back but oddly I look more like Max than me!! ( Hair colour/ waspy waist/ skimpy bikini - those were the days. lol) I can imagine you need some light relief after all that bunting sewing - I am sure you will come up with something. xx Jo

Carmen said...

The bowl is gorgeous - it looks like a big water splash! Love those photos of you too, I love candid photos like this rather than face on ones. What a great find.

Lindart said...

That bunting sounds like a lot of work! Hopefully you will show us in it's glory all finished and hung! Isn't it so much fun to find old photos of ourselves! The one of you in the blue skirt is lovely, and the arsty one makes me want to go and sit in a window and read! Beautiful! Thanks for your visit! Have a great week, Lindart #21

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Oerr, such answered prayer that ATC finally made it nearly three months after I made them, never even photographed them but coulda taken my time I think! And dear kind Jo to mail them on my behalf. My PiF to Anne arrived day after Jo’s .. reminiscent pickies .. it always strikes me so strangely how young I looked back in those days, some lovely picks by G, arty and fabric shop, if twas now you’d go crazy there wouldn’t you,?! Especially their prices .. my favourite fabrics going back then we’re ones from islands Fiji and Vanuatu etc. I made them up and they fell to bits in the end. Sad to see them go ... wow 200m of bunting that’s commitment! And you can recycle for each event too, stunning bowl.
Thanks for being a blessing, and may God bless you too.
Hugs, Shaz in Oz.x #3

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

WOYWW 769

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