MUSIC WAS MY FIRST LOVE....
Well, dear friends, there's very little to show you this week - life and decorating have simply got in the way of crafting....
But the JanCave has had two coats of Jasmine White, rollered on by yours truly:
...and it's looking a lot fresher. The newly plastered walls were worth every penny! Ron doesn't look that impressed however :-D
So this has been the downstairs crafting - but as usual, I never seem to have one project on the go! The navy knitting at the back is going to be a snood for me to pull on when my cold ears need some TLC - no pattern, I just guessed! The Caron yarn is for a blanket, I've just started the foundation chain. I'm not that keen on the yarn, to be honest, but as I have quite a lot of it, it WILL be used up. The navy yarn is Debbie Bliss Merino, bought for me by our New York visitors and boy, that is gorgeous to work with - so soft. There might be enough left to make some wrist warmers for when I'm playing carols very soon. And the red is for a poppy I knitted for a band friend.
Talking of band, it's been all go - we're rehearsing hard for a contest:
We did a recording in Cardiff on Sunday as part of a televised competition. We're on the long list and have to wait and see if our performance is good enough to be included in the shortlist for the telly appearance next Spring.
And five of us did a community event, where a local Victorian arcade is slowly being done up. Three new shops were opened by the MP and Mayor and we were asked to play some tunes.
We were up on the balcony, hidden from view but the acoustics were stunning, we sounded really good!!
I really hope the shops make a go of it, it's too lovely an arcade to lose.
Now do you see why I've hardly crafted - it's all go!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
35 comments:
you've been crafting of sorts... the arcade looks as if it will be great - reminds me of Covent Garden market - especially with the music performance!! hope your band gets through the cull for the short list for tv - keep us posted. Have a tootling good week. Helen #?
The Jan cave is looking bright & fresh - I'm sure you are eager to get it all organised. I'm glad it is not just me; I wasn't too impressed by that Caron yarn but my local branch of The Range seem to sell loads of it. The navy yarn will make a beautiful snood as it really is so lovely and soft. I'm keeping everything crossed for your band - it would be fabulous to see you on TV. I hope the arcade does well - it looks beautiful.
Toni xx
Hi there Lunch Lady Jan, wow I'm soooo impressed that you rollered all those white walls etc etc and double coats to boot! Think Ron is very harsh critic looks really fab!!
As does your knitting, snoods very practical over there, hope there are enough for hand warmers too... you'll need them!
Gorgeous arcade i really hope too it takes off well and has enough custom etc to satisfy the money side of things,
Happy WOYWW Shaz in oz.x #4
Hi Jan, Your various knitting projects are keeping you busy. Hope you are back in your craft room soon.
Happy WOYWW
Sue #12
I’m sure painting is a craft and you’ve done a lovely job of it too. Bet you can’t wait to get back in there with all you crafty stash....hope you’ve got lots of cupboards to hide the fabric in 😀😀😀 well done you with the band activities...hope you get on the telly.
Hugs,
Annie x #11
Your Jan Cave looks like its going to be a lovely place to craft. My craft space is a building site while I wait for hubby to get it all fixed up for me. We're at the stage of waiting for carpet and a new radiator then I can move back in! For now the dining room has been my craft space. Your knitting/crochet projects look great, I need to get my needles clicking again - got a few projects planned as Christmas presents. Look forward to seeing more of your handiwork soon
Karen x #16
Wow you do have a lot of projects on the go, you seem very busy! I hope the arcade does well as lovely building like that needs to be seen and used.
Have a good week.
Ellie #7
I'm with you on the decorating Jan! I like everything to be light and neutral, so you can then splash some accent colours in accessories and art/photos on the walls. Otherwise it just gets too overwhelmingly dizzy with colours and patterns everywhere. Ron completes that picture perfectly! Lovely photo of you with your new band mates! I hope the arcade will take off - you don't want it crowded just busy enough to keep the shops going. Have a happy week! zsuzsa #15
I am impressed Jan... you spend your time well! I love how bright the room looks! The arcade looks cozy and fabulous, I love little corners and streets with small shops (Luckely I live in an old town that has that kind of alleys, no arcades though...) I hope your day is warm and bright, big hug from Holland, Marit #19
Oh Jan your crafty cave looks lovely - you will enjoy doing your sewing in there I bet! You have a few things on the go I see and getting ready for a music competition! Well done you! I haven't been around for a while but I am back again!
Love and hugs,
Cardarian
Hiya Jan, the Jan cave is looking great- lovely and light. There is a market hall just like that one up in Derby, all wrought iron and amazingly decorative. Good luck with the telly thing. That would be fab. Love & hugs to you both, Shaz XxXx
So happy for you and your new space. I doubt I could paint a whole room without side effects on this old body. And excited to hear of your gig, I love good music while I shop. I totally agree with the arcade, here so many places come and go as the rental space is always an issue. Lots sitting empty here. I almost have to order most on line and I hate the fact nothing close to touch, feel and enjoy the look. Even our bookstores are closing. All because of online reading. I want a book in hand, magazines have turned to ads and no creative stories, ideas, or displays. So it's a changing world and I now live rural so that is a disadvantage. Have a wonderful week
Your new craft room looks lovely and bright with the painting done - I'm sure you can't wait to get everything moved in! The shopping arcade would be the ideal place for a lovely wee craft shop - lets hope all the spaces get filled up soon - a wee tea room would be nice as well.
Bernice #24
Hi Jan. I reckon we were made from the same mould... why only have one thing on the go when you can have three or four??!! Do you know, I never realised that a bass player would read treble clef music - just assumed you would be reading the bass... well, I never - I'm not too old to learn something new. That arcade looks amazing - the acoustics in there must have been incredible - all that space for reverberation. WOW! One of these days I'm going to get down your way - and hear your band!
Take care girl. God bless.
Margaret #3
Your musical adventures sound soooo much fun, Jan! All the best for the competition, and what a fabulous venue you got to play in. Making music with others is the most fun thing, isn't it. I really miss my choir singing days, but you know, times and seasons and all that! I just do other things now, and do get the odd opportunity or some solo singing. Your newly done room looks absolutely smashing! Bet you can't wait to get back in there now. I can imagine all your gorgeous colours against that pristine new background. So thrilling. Thank you for your visit - still having problems with the kitties opening up their wounds so they've got to go back yet again this afternoon... at this moment I'm trapped with Ruby lying on my arm and Lily on my feet so I'm having some enforced rest. At least this means they are resting quietly and not doing any more damage to themselves.
Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #8
Do you know? I reckon I'll stick with piano and singing.... Thanks for all the explanations. I'm going to be doing the equivalent on Sunday morning. I'm worship leader ... and we have to link up with the London Senotaph for the two minute silence - we have people reporting back on a recent trip to Israel - some wanting to tell how last night at the Albert Hall went - someone explaining all that has happened to them recently - how about a worship time as well to toss into the equation - a talky bit.... and to cap it all! To link with the Senotaph I have to keep an ear open for the radio which will be brought up through the fold back speakers! If you aren't playing your bass at the time... spare a moment's thought as I attempt to keep all those balls in the air:-) Something tells me this Sunday's worship will over-run...
Love to you both.
Margaret #3
The Jan cave is indeed looking good. As for the acoustics making you sound good, I'm sure had no need of any help in that department. Good luck with the competition, though I expect that it will be one of these keep the results a secret until the last moment. I'll definitely be watching if you make it! Happy WOYWW Sarah #27
The Jan cave is looking fab - I bet you can't wait to get in there. The arcade is beautiful, I'm so glad they are slowly renovating it, and what a fabulous place to perform. Good luck with the shortlist - it would be great to see you on the telly!
Keep up the knitting, although HOW you knit without a pattern I'll never know - just 'making it up' sounds too far fetched to me!!!
Have a great week,
Hugs,
Diana xx
Your Jan Cave is looking so fresh and bright! And I hope you get on the short list!! The Arcade looks so cool!
Thanks for the visit and have a great week!
Carol n #29
I love how bright and cheerful your "cave" looks Jan, ( I guess you will have to call it something else now haha) :) The place where you all played looks like an amazing place to shop too, so hopefully all the stores do well. ~Stacy #35
Hey, I see you up on the balcony! Congrats on your audition for the tv - fingers and toes crossed for the short list. That would be exciting, seeing you on tv.
Love the whiteness of the cave - makes rooms seem much bigger and lighter - great for sewing.
Have a good week with that wool.
Hugs, Neet 2 xx
Do little paw prints on windowsill?
The choir sure was singing from a high perch. It all sound very wonderful and quaint.
Monica #32
Love the look of the Jan Cave :-) The Arcade looks lovely, hope it all works out well. Good luck for the competition. Thanks for popping by and your words re mum. It really is not getting any easier - but I am feeling a bit better at the moment. Anne x #26
Hi Jan. The Jan cave is looking good! Good luck with the competition and I hope you reach the shortlist! I love Victorian arcades, my home town has one, but always in danger of it closing if shops shut down. Thanks for your lovely comments on the northern lights pic ... I am encouraged by the replies I received this week. Have a lovely week, Heather #5
Hi Jan, Ron's expression looks like he is unsure of what's going on in there! Can't wait to see you moving in, it looks brilliant. Have a great and crafty WOYWW, Angela x14x
You're too right, Jan, that arcade is very beautiful and I hope it can be saved! Your music must make it even more granderer! I can't wait to see your Cave when it's finished. I love all that white, especially because it will make all the colors and patterns of your fabrics really pop! Best of luck with the competition!! Hugs, Darnell
Looks like you had a great week. Love the photo of you and your band mates in the balcony. Happy knitting! Dorlene #36
The Jan Cave is looking lovely and light. How wonderful that the Victorian arcade is being restored. Just my kind of place. Enjoy the rest of your (no doubt busy) week.
Fiona x
Bet you can't wait to return all to the Jan cave. The cat probably doesn't like the smell of paint. Good luck I hope you are chosen to play for tv. Love that arcade can just imagine all crafty shops in there. Anickoana
Wow, your "cave" is really coming along! It looks so bright and cheery, even if Ron doesn't think so! LOLOL Many blessings for the televised competition Jan, how wonderful is that! And I loved where you played at the arcade! That was just stinking neat! I would have loved to hear that beautiful music resonating throughout! And then shopping with your beautiful music would make spending so much more fun! LOLOL THanks for stopping by my blog! Blessings, Felicia #39
Your new cave is looking great, I hope Ron stayed away from the wet paint though!
Hello busy lady - you make me feel such a slouch. I'm looking forward to seeing you back in your beautifully decorated Jancave - Jasmine white sounds the perfect backdrop to all your lovely stash. Glad it's not just me that has more than one project on the go at the same time - love your basket of yarns. The shopping arcade is beautiful so I do hope it remains open. Hugs, Elizabeth x #22
Your life is so full and rich! You are also making me want to start knitting again - a gal can only do so much!! LOL! Your cat's name is Ron? That's mu hubby's name! I think the room looks awesome - I love a white room, it allows for so much light!
Sorry I'm so late this week! Thank you for your earlier visit, Lindart #34
Happy Very Belated WOYWW. Hubby seems to be using my laptop every time I sit down on the sofa and plan to do some blog commenting, but I have grabbed it now (whilst we watch the F1) and he will have to wait! He is talking about getting me a tablet to use, so I am putting up with the situation for a while longer. I love a freshly plastered wall. Brings back happy memories of the Farmhouse being renovated. One wall in hubby's office remains unpainted (there have been issues with salt coming through as it dries - mystery as to why, and it has been re-plastered etc etc twice now). Ali x #28
maybe not 'crafting' but very creative! Love the white. Ron will be more impressed once he sees familiar things going into place. Thanks for stopping by my place, Jan. Always a pleasure. Creative blessings! Kelly #30
Post a Comment