Tuesday 8 November 2011

The Handmade Tale.




It has been rather a long time since I visited my poor blog, but the Notonthehighstreet Christmas catalogue 2011 is out






and look what is tucked away within the glossy pages: my Personalised Garden Journal! As ever once half-term has been and gone the orders start flooding in as we all turn our thoughts toward the festive season; the arrival of the Noths catalogue just gives the whole process an enormous push and I find myself inundated which I love.






Piles of cut out journal covers and Christmas hearts, stockings and thickly padded tea cosies lie neatly (!!!) stacked all over the sewing room and house in readiness for a session of embroidering to be fitted in whenever the chance arises.







Such good timing then that I have some hideous lurgy which means I bark fit to rival the most aggressive seal, my poor chest - not generally a topic for blog discussion but indulge me - now so sore that I quake at the thought of another coughing fit and actually suck on lozenges where I am usually unable to stop myself chomping like a horse on Polos. Such is my suffering. Feeling a tad sorry for myself? Me? well, yes now you come to mention it.







Still, the good thing is that a day in bed on Sunday meant I worked steadily through the aforementioned cut out pile and actually achieved much in my poorliness. Today has been mostly spent hacking away yet again but still I work on and award myself martyr status in the doing. I think I shall write a sermon on the benefits to one's self-esteem on being under the weather. Or maybe I'll just keep taking the meds.








So, now we've done with Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes...






We turn to this





once more. Manic times are here again...hurrah!






Bye for now x

18 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you're feeling so poorly Pip, not what you want at this time of year at all :( Hope those meds kick in soon! My noths catalogue just came through the door, your journal looks fab, bet you will be inundated!!! I don't think I could cope with doing an xmas catalogue actually, you're very brave... I already feel like I'm on a mirror production line! hehe, can only imagine what it must be like for you with all those orders pouring in!! Get well soon xxx

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  2. Your embroidery is so beautiful - really exquisite work. I think I am missing out - I don't get that catalogue!

    And I hope you feel better soon - best thing for coughs is Potter's Herbal Cough Remover - it absolutely works a treat, even on cynical types who don't believe in remedies you buy in health food shops!

    Pomona x

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  3. Pipany,

    My heart goes out to you! I am a fellow sufferer having dragged myself around with bronchitis (and possible asthma?) for a few weeks unwittingly. Such is the plight of a mother putting herself last. You know what I mean, don't you?

    Your embroidery is exquisite and so joyful. Congratulations on receiving so many orders although you deserve them completely.

    Fondest get well wishes,

    Stephanie

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  4. Beautiful embroidery Pipany, as always. :)
    Take care and I hope you feel much better soon!
    Vivienne x

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  5. Hope you're feeling better soon. I love your gardening journal and I've never seen the noths catalogue before. I'm not surprised you're inundated!

    Kate x

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  6. Oh dear, I do hope you feel better soon. Not at all the time to feel unwell with such a rush on. Have you tried a 'tea' of lemon juice and Manuka honey for that cough ...works wonders, hot or cold :D

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  7. I saw your work in the catalogue when it popped through my door! It looks fabulous and I'm sure you'll be kept busy with lots of orders!

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  8. I'm sorry you are feeling poorly, Pipany...having a bad chest is so debilitating, I hope the medecine works quickly and you feel better very soon. I spied your gorgeous garden journal in the noths catalogue when it came through my door. Your stitching is so beautiful, and very distinctive, so I can tell it's your design. I love to see all those Christmas hearts together too. It must be hard work to produce so many as the orders flood in, but so worthwhile and an achievement to have created something so appealing.
    Take care and get well soon.
    Helen x

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  9. I do hope you feel better soon Pipany. My cough has almost gone, but it still catches me every now and again. Thanks for asking.

    I did spy your journal in those very same pages the other day too. Busy, busy times.

    Keep warm and get well soon,

    Nina x

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  10. As other commenters have said...your needlework is ALWAYS quite exquisite, Pipany. Hope you feel better really soon.

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  11. Sorry to hear that you too are coughing. Must be a fashion at the moment :o
    I am still suffering from it too.
    Hope you are soon feeling better and can enjoy getting ready for the festive season.

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  12. Ooh, poor you, but well done for keeping going through the poorliness. Hope you are fully recovered now.

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  13. What a lovely piece of embroidery. Your personalised Garden Journals are delightful! Congratulations on all those orders Pip, what a shame that you are unwell at such a busy time.

    Take very good care of yourself.

    Jeanne
    x

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  14. Dearest Pip, your poor soul! I hope you're feeling a bit brighter now. Well done re NOTHS and all the orders stacking up, that's just what's needed. Not seen you for way too long....need to rectify that and gather for a spot of knitting and a catch up.
    Lots of love
    Diana x
    Ps love Isabella's outfit, just gorgeous!

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  15. Me again....I meant 'you poor soul' not 'your poor soul' though of course your soul may be poorly too, but I hope not!!
    D xx

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  16. Hi Pipany,

    You must be so proud to have your journal posted in the magazine. Congratulations!!

    Hope you will feel better soon!

    Take care,

    Madelief x

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  17. Hope that you're feeling much better now Pipany - lots of people have been affected by this miserable bug!

    Good luck with those Xmas orders. Lesley x

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  18. yukkity yuk - sounds like you have the bug I had a few weeks back - the cough goes on and on :( Hope you feel much better soon.

    Wanted to ask a question about the quilt - do you use a machine to do the quilting, or by hand? If you use a machine - which machine, and have you come up against any limits in the size quilt it can handle?

    Reason I am asking as I am debating between buying a new machine capable of quilting, or whether to continue hand quilting. I have an 8 foot x 6 foot quilt to do and every time I look at it as a hand sewn job my enthusiasm fails and it ends up back in the to do pile! Help!

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