My Creative Space....

On the agenda today - preparations and packing for tonights pop-up stall at Cathy's exhibition.

On the weekend, I made myself this display board to hang my pocket mirrors.... just using things that I already had hanging around the house (gorgeous fabric gifted to me from Liesl). It's going to sit on an artists easel that I picked up from the oppy for a couple of dollars.

This is Mr Limpy Houdini Dog's creative space.... I haven't the heart to tell him that this heater isn't even switched on!

The home of our creative spaces

Grand Designs....of sorts (with apologies to Kevin McCloud)

 

 In the car on the morning of his surgery

Have I blogged about the saga of poor litle Mr Limpy Houdini Bucket Head Dog?

It's been going on for soooo long now that I can't even remember, but I've managed to create a photologue on my mobile phone while keeping the family up to date on his progress, so I thought I'd share!

Anyhow, a couple of months ago, he managed to injure his knee (goodness only knows how considering he spends 99% of his time on the couch or snuggled up in his bed).

I took him to the vet, and we tried anti-inflammatories and weekly arthritis injections, but it didn't get any better.

He was still limping around on three legs after four weeks of treatment, so the vet decided that he needed a knee re-construction.

I love this photo (taken on my mobile phone in the vet carpark) - Mr Limpy and Ms Wheezy.

The sun was so bright that I couldn't actually see the shadows on the photo until I came inside.

He had surgery, and stayed in hospital for a couple of nights so that they could keep him confined in a small space..... and then poor Mr Limpy came home with a giant bucket on his head!

He couldn't jump onto the couch anymore, so he and his granny blankie were banished to the floor.

I seriously considered sewing a fabric cover for that ugly plastic bucket, but I feared that if I took it off for long enough to make a pattern, he'd be sure to chew his stitches, and end up back at the vets.

Last week, he was finally able to take out the stitches and take off the bucket.... which meant that I was back to having the dilemma of trying to stop him from attempting to jump on the couch, as the vet said that this might put extra strain on his other joints.

Since my nephews attempt at making a stairway using cushions, I've been thinking about types of ramps.

I joined in with Bec and Brianna's op shopping expedition after work on Wednesday, and they mentioned that they'd seen a foam triangle cushion at the oppy that could be used as a ramp. The oppy wanted $25!!! That's highway robbery.. sheesh!

But while driving home, I had a Grand Design brainwave (it doesn't happen often, but it does happen).

Do you remember my brooch stand?

My Creative Space + Mr Limpy Houdini Dog

If you've been reading my blatherings on twitter or facebook, you would have heard about the trials and tribulations of poor little Mr Limpy Houdini Dog.

He's been having some problems with a knee that keeps dislocating, so after a couple of vet's visits, some arthritis shots, and some painkillers, he's off to see the surgeon tomorrow morning to get the final determination on a knee reconstruction.

He usually spends most of his time lying on his granny blankie on the couch, but at the moment, he has to just lie on the floor as he can't jump up onto the couch with his dodgy knee.

After my nephew came to visit after school yesterday afternoon to help me take poor Mr Limpy to the vet, I arrived home to the following.....

I'm assuming it's a Mr Limpy dog accessible stairway to the couch.... creative yes?

The home of my creative space

Ode to Houdini

A while back, there was a One-Legged Chicken and a Runaway Dog featuring over at Myrtle and Eunice....

It reminded me so much of my little puppy dog Houdini (not his real name).

Over the years, I've lost count of the number of times Houdini Dog has escaped and run away due to the *PO gene that he inherited from his daddy dog Riley.

On one of his most memorable escapes, he made his way to my mum's house, enticed her dog out onto the street, and then ended up in the dog catchers van. There was a huge fee to bail them both out of the dog pound, and then a council fine for me in the mail two weeks later for having a 'dog at large' (he's so scary that he might just lick you to death)!.

When I opened the parcel that arrived yesterday, I was thrilled to receive the beautiful piece of fabric. It took me a minute to realise that there was something actually wrapped in the fabric.

Tania, you've outdone yourself, it's brilliant and I love it!



*Piss Off

Happy New Year

Well, my little New Years Eve celebration ended up being even quieter than I'd originally planned.

There was no energy to bother with a party frock and a photo session, and it was a bit of a struggle to even find a pizza shop that was open - apparently all the pizza makers in my suburb are still on summer holidays.

I ended up having a lovely evening snuggled up on the couch with Elbow (it seems that Houdini dog gained a new name while he was being dogsat by my nephews this week). Oh, and I even received a phone call while I was in hospital from someone who found Houdini Dog after yet another great escape!

He spent the entire afternoon and evening sound asleep. He's not used to all of the action of living with all those little whippersnappers, plus an overly excited spoodle.

I managed to catch up on all of my favourite shows that were magically IQ'd while I was away - Bethenny's Getting Married, Flipping Out, Millionaire Matchmaker..... and the list goes on.

I'm taking instructions from my not so fabulously big list and just as Tinniegirl reminded me lastnight - I need to: Remember that ME time on the couch watching trashy tv is good for my soul

So inspired by that motto, today's plan is to chill on the couch in the peace and quiet - just me and Elbow. My own space, my own place, no distractions, no interruptions, no prodding, no poking, no-one annoying me, no-one talking loudly and incessantly, no-one telling me what to do, no complete strangers over-sharing their life stories with me and asking me personal questions that I'm not interested or comfortable in answering ..... it's just soooooooo good to be home.

Knock Knock

A room with a view

Hellooooooooooo
Coooooooooeeeeeeeeeeee

I was expecting to see dustbunnies, cobwebs and tumbleweeds, but it seems that my little space in blogdom was hijacked while I was away sunning myself on a desert island (or maybe it was just the temperature of the central heating that was making me dream that I was in the desert).

I had quite a few false alarms regarding my exit date - I was supposed to come home last Thursday, then last Friday,  but I finally made it home late thisafternoon.

Anyhow, those IV Pina Colada's did just the trick. I feel much more refreshed and ready for action again (well, apart from being completely unfit after being confined for ten loooooong days). I've never ever been stuck in there for that long before.

I've managed to come home with at least three self inflicted needlestick injuries. Note to Self: embroidery is a very dangerous pastime when you constantly have the ventolin wobbles.

I did something useful, and managed to put in a little bit of community service time while I was stuck, by playing test patient for all of the trainee specialists and doctors, med students, and physios. It's always a bit of a novelty for them to have a younger patient to learn with. With any luck, the experience might teach them to think outside the square for any future patients with 'interesting and unusual' conditions!

The granny rug I didn't buy

On a more serious note, I need to give a huge thankyou to Tinniegirl for keeping the blog up-to-date (and making me laugh a whole lot in the process). I was waiting with baited breath every day to find out just what she was getting up to next. I was quite amazed as to just how much info she managed to glean from Frances. Frances has never been very chatty with me (I thought it was her European reservedness), so I was quite suprised. Thankyou Tinniegirl - you're the best craft partner in crime a CurlyPops could ever wish for!

I also want to thank everyone who texted, sent me an email, or left a message on the blog. Sorry that I couldn't reply to everyone, but I only had my mobile phone with me, so they would have needed to amputate my texting thumb before I'd left if I'd tried to reply to all.

The granny rug I did buy

And finally, a huge thanks to my big sister Rach who managed to keep my vacant house safe and clean, looked after Houdini dog and Bastard Cat, kept me in clean clothes (and more importantly clean undies), brought me my mail, brought me in Thai Takeaway and Chocolate Cupcakes when the hospital food was getting to be too much, brought in X-rays from home at short notice, and kept the chocolate stash full! Phew! She'd even made me dinner and left it in the fridge so I didn't need to cook tonight. Thanks Rach, I couldn't have managed without you.

To Be Read With A Fine Scottish Accent

Well hello my lovelies.  It is I, Frances.  I was ever so delighted when a few of you suggested yesterday that it would be lovely to know a little more about me.  I heartily agree.  

So with my dear Ms CurlyPops away on her great adventure I thought I would share my story.

It's a wonderful story, I'm sure you'll agree, and goes back a good long way.  Way back to the wee land of Scotland where I spent my years as a young lass.

I come from a long line of talented and passionate craftspeople.  Our family has a history that goes back many generations.  We are known for our work throughout the land, including resident staff positions for the royal family.  My father was a tailor's assistant and my mother a designer and fine dressmaker. 

In my early 20's I was blessed with an opportunity to move to Paris and begin my own career in the fashion industry.  I worked with many of the great Parisian design houses and it was a time of great joy in my life.  I learned so much, met amazing people and attended wonderful parties and events.

I met my first love Jean Paul in my first year in Paris.  It was love at first sight and within weeks we were ensconced in a magnificent apartment filled with fine furnishings in the most luxurious array of colours and textures.  As it is with love that starts with an inexplicable burning passion our flame petered out and we went our separate ways.

It was then, in my third year in Paris, that I met the great love of my life.  Antoinette was a shining light in a dark world.  A seamstress beyond compare, she made couture unlike the world has ever seen.  We had a wonderful life together, filled with warmth and laughter and love.

My darling Antoinette was lost to me in a tragic accident, of which I cannot bare to speak.  It is enough to say that for many years I was left completely bereft.

I had to make a break, seek out a fresh start in a brave new world.  I bought myself a one way passage to Australia and sought work as an assistant with a kind tailor.  Marco took me in, and I worked by his side until he retired in early 2009.

And that is how I came to live with my dear Ms CurlyPops.  I placed an ad in the local paper looking for a live-in assistant's role and found myself in the colourful and creative home of everyone's favourite crafty soul.

These days I'm living a much quieter life, which suits me just fine.  I just love to work with Ms CurlyPops.  She's always coming up with amazing new ideas and stunning, colourful, bright, happy creations.  I can't imagine a better way to spend my late years.

When Ms CurlyPops goes out I like to indulge in the wee tipple of a fine Scotch whiskey, and a few hands of poker.  I've been teaching Houdini Dog and Bastard Cat the finer intricacies of the game.  I can't say that I find either of them to be strong competitors, but I shan't lose all hope yet.

With Ms CurlyPops away on the great adventure I've been keeping the house running, taking care of my household companions and dreaming up all sorts of sewing projects.  I can't wait to talk to my mistress when she gets home.

Do come home soon my dear Ms CurlyPops.   We miss you.

Big Trouble in Little CurlyPops Land

So I merrily headed off to work yesterday morning, and then onto dinner at Chair 14 before the Northern Craft Bonanza lastnight.....

I arrived home quite late, to be greeted at the front door by Houdini Dog (who should have been safely locked in the backyard).

It seems that the glass sliding door had been left slightly open, so he managed to get his paws in, and open it up enough to get inside while simultaneously ruining my curtains in the process.

Someone is in BIG BIG BIG HUGE trouble today!

Just Five Days

Houdini's Granny Blanket on the couch

Houdini dog lived up to his nickname after just five short days......

I've been feeding him his favourite foods, and I even let him sleep inside as it was really quite chilly, but then I came home from work lastnight to find him gone, although I could hear him yelping. I'd had my fences re-inforced all around the back, but he'd managed to dig himself a little squeezy hole at the side of the house instead. It seems that he'd had a jolly old day playing with Zane the malamute next door.

After dinner, I made him a nice little spot on the couch with an op-shopped granny blanket.....

Can you see me?

But where do you think I found him instead?

I think he might be in hiding from Hissy Cat.

I promise this is definitely not becoming a Dog Blog...... it just seems that way at the moment! 

The Prodigal Dog Returns

Meet Houdini Dog (not his real name, but should be). Houdini dog has also previously been known as Foster Dog.

Houdini Dog was conceived completely by accident when my little sisters dog (the mummy) and my bigger sisters dog (the daddy), met up in my mums backyard some time in about 1997.

The entire time that the mummy dog was pregnant, none of us had an idea who the daddy dog was. It just so happened that mummy dog went into labour, and we were able to watch the little puppies being born, and as soon as they arrived, we knew exactly who the daddy dog was!

Unfortunately Houdini Dog was born with two bad genes. The Jumpy Gene (from his mum) and the PO* Gene (from his dad).

At least once a week, he would jump over the back fence, and run away to my mums house (about a kilometre away). He was even caught by the ranger once, and I had to pay a fine for Dog At Large (what the?), and then pay to break him out of the slammer (dog pound).

In the end, we were so sick of him running away, that we decided he should just live at mums house. He's lived there quite happily for about 5 years, but now that she's moving, the prodigal / foster / houdini dog, has returned to live at my place......

Even though he and the cat grew up together as puppy and kitten, now the cat is not happy! I'm hoping that they can resolve their differences and live happily ever after....



* Piss Off