WOYWW 128

DON'T BLAME IT ON SUNSHINE..
DON'T BLAME IT ON MOONLIGHT...
DON'T BLAME IT ON GOOD TIMES...
BLAME IT ON ... NOT HAVING ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!!!!!
A slightly shorter blog this week, gentle readers...and apologies in advance for not visiting as many desks as normal.  
The reason?  A week long Christmas craft market and another fair at the weekend.  It's my own fault and I'm not complaining - much - it's just a busy busy time.
This is what my desk looked like last night...
Pandemonium!  Julia cut me loads of tags from her paper/card scraps so I've been pricing up the stuff for the fairs.  The tin contains pinky-red twine that is used to tie the tags on. I should have taken out shares in the fabric manufacturers that make red gingham, I've used that much in the previous few weeks!
Last weekend saw me cooking for Julia and Ally's card marathon (which is how I got the name Lunch Lady Jan in the first place!). They kindly let me set up a small stall of my crafts and this is a selection of the desk tidies..
Anyone up for ping pong netball?? Lol...
Even though I don't make cards or scrapbook, I really enjoy the marathon days. Everyone has such a lovely time crafting and eating - the selection of cakes this time included sticky gingerbread, extra marshmallowy rocky road, crunchy topped lemon drizzle cake and cappuccino cake.  Thank goodness for my Kitchenaid food mixer - he worked overtime the day before!!


Talking of gorgeous cakes...


As promised, here's Part 2 of Jane's dolls house addiction!  To repeat myself, HOW do these tiny little things get made? Extraordinary attention to detail..


One lucky family enjoying their Sunday lunch - those Yorkshire puddings look delicious, yum :P 

One last cake inspiration. At my niece's wedding a couple of weeks ago, the wedding cake was quite alternative!  She and her husband dislike rich fruit cake so instead, they had a cake of cheese!! Not a cheesecake but..well, see for yourselves...
It's a work of art! Like a Dutch Master's still life. Slices were served after the dessert course and the wedding favours were small jars of chutney with the bride and groom's names on. Different and fun!!

It was good to meet up with Debs for lunch last week - there's something about a WOYWWer that you recognise them immediately AND have lots to talk about. It was fun :D

Enjoy your crafting week - I'm off to cut more fabric.  See ya :)


53 comments:

CRAFTY WOMBLE said...

You are one busy lady at the moment - you were right about the cherry material desk tidy it turned out a treat! I have seen the cheese - cake before in photo's and ideas but chutney favours was inspired. We had a chocolate and sponge wedding cake as we are not very keen on fruit cake and both detest marzipan! I am warming to fruit cakes as I mature myself....... I've never been a dolls house girl but have enjoyed seeing the photos a lot of love gone into that (and effort) me thinks.

Sarah said...

Love the frenzy of fabrics and florals - hope you get it all done - it's the prep work for a stall that eats the time up not just the making.
Wish my house was as neat and well nourished as that one...I like fiddily-diddily work and details but would pass on that. Thanks for sharing today, Sarah at 2.

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Happy WOYWW..loving your desk tidy designs. Great colors. It's 2 AM here and your talking of Pastries etc, is making me want a cup of java and something to go with it.
Don't you love it when the weddings have such unique different ideas!! One gal here made 300 beautifully decorated carmel apples for her favors. Have not yet seen a real layered cheese cake here but it is a great idea. Have a great week Sylvia #47

Cardarian said...

Ha, ha did you say a "slightly shorter post this week" ???? I love that it isn't short and you showed amazing things! I wish I could come to that lunch! The dollhouse is amazing and so are your desk tidies - I mus get hold of one of them!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

Bridget Larsen said...

Thank you for clarifying how you got your pseudonym, I wasnt game to ask, so Julia set you up huh. Thats called a great friendship. love the miniature house
Bridget #29

jude said...

Good luck with all the craft fairs im sure they will sell they are beautiful.
As for the wedding cake what a fab idea different but i like it!Wow these days they make so many lovely stuff for dolls houses i remember i made chest draws for mine out wee small match boxes,and cardboard boxes .So cute!
Have fab creative week good luck for the fairs
hugs judex6

Morti said...

Morning Jan! Lovely desk this week - and I'm up for a game of Ping Pong netball. In fact, I insist that you create a game.... Sounds like a hoot!

I love seeing dolls houses, I think that's why Mum & Dad are/were so into them as well, such miniature perfection.... sigh....

Annie said...

I'm sat looking at a hang about that I made and will probably start using it as a netball game now....what a great idea.....If only I had time!
Always lovely fabrics to see in your space and I love that dolls house.
Hugs,
A x
#48 [well, I was when I left Julia's....sorry for any confusion last week but some little gremlin changed my number for me after I left :-) ]

Helen said...

What a dramatic cake that is. And the dolls house continues to amaze. The card marathon sounds - fattening! Helen 12.

Bridget Larsen said...

LOLOLOLOL I just had to come back to reply to your comment on my blog seeing as I cant hit reply to send you an email (wonder why that happens to some blogs). Yes I seem to cook and craft for the whole of Australia (hey how did you know I lived here?). Those little boxes are for chrissy pressies, and I make cards for the troops so its always a huge production line for me. See my other blog http://bridgetlarsen.xanga.com/
Thanks for the laughs
Bridget #29

Bridget Larsen said...

Damn forgot to say what I really wanted lol, I want to know what else Miss Dunnit calls you
Bridget #29

Bridget Larsen said...

DOH I didnt even read my own ABOUT ME did I lol. Man you must be great friends if you let Ms D call you names you cant mention

Bridget #29

Neil said...

Hi there; thank you for sharing your place of creativity with us this week, it was great to pop in and visit. That cake of cheese is definitely alternative !
Neil #58

Sunshine Girl said...

What a fantastic wedding cake and that dolls house is divine too. Good luck with the fairs! Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Sunshine Girl – No 34

A Hovel to Home said...

Now that's my idea of the place I would like to be locked into!!

Kay #21

Sunshine Girl said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog - not showing the pictures just yet though but I have been knitting a lovely grey baby cardigan for my sons headmaster as his wife is due any day now - it just needs buttons on it and I am currently sewing a mandy shaw quilt so its a work in progress - coming along nicely though - pictures wont be too long away I promise!

Angie said...

Oh those cakes sound wonderful ...haven't had sticky gingerbread for ....decades. ...and crunchy topping to lemon drizzle ...YUM. What a fantastically different wedding cake/favours idea ...brilliant and brave.

You can see that food is important to me lol but your sewing is wonderful ...so colourful and fills me with awe ...as does that Dolls house ...not sure that my clumsy fingers could even place the items in it. xx

sandra de said...

What a lovely cheesy way of celebrating with something you like. Love all your sewing it looks like you are so organised. I feel a tad like Gulliver looking in on the family having lunch.

JoZart Designs said...

Fab post ... love your makes for the fair and the doll's house is amazing. Such a great idea for the cheesy wedding cake and it looks a work of art.
Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog and it all helps me cheer up after the gang has gone!
Love joZarty x

Julia Dunnit said...

Just scraping in at early afternoon now - and I'm just having my elevenses. Bet you wish your life was like mine!! LOVE the cake of cheese pic - so much more stylish than trying to explain...and even though I dont need, I wouldn't mind a whole row of those desk tidies!!

lisa said...

It sounds like you are a very busy bee. All your fayre makes are looking gorgeous. I love the tidies!!
You should have heard the gasps when I showed DD and DH the Dolls house from the other week. I have a list of requirements for the WIP house now so thanks for that.....lol!!
Not sure if I dare show them this one!!
Love the cheese wedding cake.
Don't work too hard and good look with all the fayres.
Happy WOYWW
Hugs Lisax #96

Deb said...

you are such a busy lady, but that is a good thing! love, love, love the tea room, such perfect little details! What a fabulous wedding cake, great idea!
Happy WOYWW! have a great day Debxx #100

dianneo said...

Your dollhouses are adorable! I have a desk tidy and I love it. Are you using sand for the pin cushion part? I want to make some but think I'll kind of "double bag" the top. Some people use peas. I think mine is filled with sand (I purchased mine at a craft show a few years back). Have a super week, I hope the craft show went well.

April said...

Wow!! look at that cake of cheese!! I am not a cheese fan but think it's just perfect for them to do this on THEIR special day rather than going with a traditional cake that they wouldn't enjoy! I wouldn't call your desk pandemonium! loving all the fabrics on there All of the desk tidies are super cute. Thanks for sharing - April @ #73 x

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, hope the craft market and fair goes well for you, that you sell everything and make enough money to buy shares in red gingham :) Love the little shop and don't the diners look just like 'ladies who lunch' with their silver hair. Love cheese and not keen on fruit cake so like the 'cheese cake' idea - must have been a surprise to some of the guests! The row of desk tidies is very cute - all lined up and ready to be used. Elizabeth x #78

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

That little house and all its goodies are fantastic, but I bet they are not as tasty as your cakes. Nothing beats fresh home made things. Thank you for your visit earlier, and crochet is really very easy to learn and the ideal craft if you are travelling or watching tv etc. It was the one thing I could do when we had three cats as I could cope with them as well.

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, I'm back - I've just read your instructions to Angie on how to make the topping for the lemon drizzle cake and nearly passed out - I've got impaired glucose tolerance so have to limit my sugar intake, so that cake is off the menu now - and I so love lemon cake too :( Elizabeth x #78

Debs Willis said...

Why, why WHY did you have to list all those amazing sounding cakes???? Now I have to go make a cuppa and hit the biccie tin ( in the absence of LLJ cake - boo hoo!) Even the dolly cakes look yummy!

Was great meeting up last week, but next time......BRING CAKE!!!!!!!! :-)

good luck with all the fayres

Debs xxx

Ann B said...

'Slightly shorter blog' don't know about that, you put so much into your weekly WOYWW and all of it so interesting. What do I like - gingham, dolls house (cake shop to die for) and the alternative wedding cake - now that's my idea of cheese heaven.

Ann B #39

Inkypinkycraft said...

Gosh how great, the dolls house goodies a great, I use some of these its on my cards, a real travesty I expect!!! Happy woyww trace x

donnalouiserodgers said...

the Black Lily, nottingham, 1998, on stage , hissed as a newt, singing that song, only to realise it was ON TELLY, much much months later (at work) - was that you singing 'moonlight' on telly last night?

noooo

(microphones+stages+alcohol+Donna = entertainment city)

Marjo said...

Wow, that looks so yummy, to bad it's not real...lol

Thanks for the peek and sharing. Hope you are having a great WOYWW,
xoxo Marjo #109

Bugged Designs said...

Lots of interesting this in your post this week. Has just reminded me that I need to attempt to make some pudsey bear cakes for baby bug 1 to take to school tomorrow. Your fabrics all look gorgeous. Thanks for sharing #57

Belinda Basson said...

All that effort and no cards to show for it? At least you got the tags to price your stuff. I am off to raid the fridge after your fake food photos and explanations of your yummy lunch....

Anne said...

All that cheese looks yummy. Adore the dols house stuff. Anne x

Anne said...

All that cheese looks yummy. Adore the dols house stuff. Anne x

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

That cheese cake looks amazing, what an original idea. Hope you manage to catch up with yourself!
Fiona #67

My name is Cindy said...

What a great idea with the cheese and chutney - I don't much care for fruit cake either but would take cheese any time!! Don't work too hard and good luck with the fair. Cindy #50

LuLu said...

Howdy,

I NEED 2 of your desk tidies! Do you sell them via PayPal?

Meanwhile, please checkout my FREEBIES Giveaway when you have a moment or 2!

Peace,
LuLu
http://lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/2011/11/woyww-11-16-11-my-first-ever-textile.html

SueH said...

Oh Jan, how fab is that wedding cake. I’ve never seen anything like that before and I’m sure it would be a talking point for a long time after the wedding. Love the idea of the chutney for the favours too……..brilliant!
Sound like you have a very busy week and I hope your sales went well

Happy Sewing!
Sue
x
Really wish you hadn’t mentioned the “C” word though. I think I could kill for a cake since joining Slimming World, Lol!

Hettie said...

That cake is fantastic, but was the garlic for protection from the "Outlaws"?!!
Love the ping pong tennis idea!! Maybe you should make a psychedelic one to match my papers or your blog?!!
Thanks for your visit. I hope you will mention our meet up in the same way when we do!!
The Doll's House is fab too!!

famfa said...

Love the title. Singing it now. Fabulous cake. Lovely dolls shop. Wonderful desk tidies. You're so clever.

fairy thoughts said...

all fabulous, could you come and cook cakes for me too!
the cake shop is gorgeous and the wedding cake , well what can you say inspired
janet

Neet said...

Well, I have never seen anything like that wedding cake - it is bloomin' marvellous and what a fabulous idea.
I will find the blog name of someone I met (from Spain) who makes miniature cakes and things out of clay - you would love those (thinking about the dolls house you have so kindly shown us).
So much on your blog today - you made me worn out just reading how busy you have been. What a star! Thanks for sharing your busy busy blog. Hugs, Neet #9

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah lovely goings on here as usual Lunch Lady Jan! and you did not invite us over for the feast, of your eatable goodies?
How I would have loved to have been there and to have rummaged through some of your lovelies too - and great to finally had your name explained - you have had us in suspenders about it forever!
Thanks for popping over, for your lovely comments and happy WOYWW! love Shaz in oz.x (yes, it is really late that is why my comments are bit erratic or maybe my usual state of mind?? mm?)

Sue said...

Wow Jane, you certainly have been a busy bee, love those desk tidy's what a fab idea! and that
cheese cake! mmmmmmmm love cheese and cake hee hee! Happy WOYWW and Happy Crafting, Sue xx

fairy thoughts said...

I had a holiday day on monday, so missed you again. I dont 'do' sick days. my sympathies to your sewing machine it is obviously working very hard.
janet

Viv said...

Nice to see your desk, what a very inventive crafter you are too.That cake of cheese looks amazing and all the dolls house stuff too :O) Viv xx

Shoshi said...

Gorgeous pictures, Jan, all of them! Love what you are making. The little baggies look so useful!! Thanks for your comment on my blog. I managed to do the class but immediately afterwards got cold and shivery and took to my bed when I got home - I had a dreadful night and now have a full blown throat infection and no voice. Grrrr. My hubby's so generous sharing things with me - including his germs lol!! Why does he only have a snuffle for a day or 2 and I get the full works??? Soooo not fair!! Shoshi #61

The Crafty Elf said...

This was the neatest post LLJ! I loved the sewing pieces you've made and that wedding cake was awesome! Who says you need the traditional wedding cake?? Personally, I love love love cheese so I think their decision was brilliant!
Jane's dollhouse is so wonderful...as I said before what a great hobby!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

For being number 1 this week, I'm awfully late visiting. I'm so sorry I'm late, but, after a computer crash I had to stop by and get a bit of inspiration from your rather messy desk. Of course, I love the cheese cake. My kind of dessert because I'm not a fruitcake person, either. And that doll house is looking awesomely awesome. Which is a bit redundantly redundant! And no, I don't get my microwaves mixed up (grin).

Crafting Queen said...

Wonderful desk fully of lovely sewing projects. :)

Electra said...

So many wonderful things to see in your post! Have fun at the craft fair!

WOYWW 769

 WE'LL MEET AGAIN.... I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - please don't worry, all is ok! - think I just need a...