Gee How Quaint

The days that time forgot: Day after Christmas to New Year's Eve

Shapeless.  Formless.  So many hours of 'how am I going to fill in this time?'  I had about enough of it yesterday and decided to fill the void with work.  It began with housework (yawn) then spread into something more exciting.  Today has been fun with printing, sewing, making, creating.  I feel much better now.  More me.

   

A life lived in fear is a life half lived

Last night we went to see the Australia movie. My verdict: Way too long and way too cheesy.  However, at the beginning of the movie, one of the production teams or other team of people involved in the making of the movie had the above quote written out under their logo.

I don't even know who originally said this, but I like it.

So.  This is going to be my motto for the next 12 months.  And fear...what do I fear besides the obvious nasty creepy scary snake and public humliation?  Rejection.  May I see a show of hands out there to see who does not suffer from the affliction of fear of rejection?  No one?  You sure?  Just as I thought.

Now that I am taking this stance, I have a lot of walking to do and a lot of notebook pages of plans and ideas to turn into happenings.  I am going to be a busy girl.  I'm busy anyway.  This is going to be a more productive busy.

And Ugg boots are totally ugly.  Just thought I would throw that in there.  Why would I want my feet to look like shapeless paws?

Indulgences

 

Pant. Drool.  Pant.  One lucky lady received a pair of these for Christmas.  And that lucky lady is ME! Okay, I bought them myself at the sales with Christmas money.  I have been wearing them around the house, glancing down at my feet and gasping 'Oh how lovely!'  These are the new addition to my growing family of Solea shoes. Funky.  Fun.  I can actually walk in them.  What more does a girl need?

Other Indulgences:

Pumpkin pie in a tin - My brother-in-law brought two cans back from the states.  A pie is in the oven now and I shall soon eat it all and not gain a single pound.  I am one of those annoying little creatures with sky high metabolism caused by nervous energy.  It's like I'm constantly fizzing.

Knitting whilst drinking something hot and watching Nigella cooking shows.

Chocolate in all its various confectionary wonderousnesses. (I'm American.  I'm allowed to make up words as I wish).

Watching the birds outside glide across the water.

Playing my new game Settlers of Catan, which my parents in the states had searched for MONTHS to find.  They enjoyed playing the game so much at a summer family holiday that they were on a mission to find it and give it to my brother and sister and I.  Mission Successful.  

Coffee by Taylors of Harrogate. Lazy Sunday, specifically.

Layered cement slab cake-like structure of grotesque proportions

Eye sore that you are.  I love you anyway.  This weekend Husband and I took snaps of this dilapidated monstrocity that sits heavy on the Gateshead horizon line.  You can't get away from the looming giant as it sits on its haunches, watching the comings and goings of Gateshead inhabitants.

I had such a dislike of the famous 'Get Carter' car park.  But now, well, this beast has found its way into my heart.  I somehow love it. 

It was a bit sad, this photographic mission upon which I embarked.  The poor structure is already being undermined by crumbling pillars and a first floor that looks as if bulldozers have been nibbling away at it. 

Today I am working on an artwork based on this car park.  To re-use an over-used phrase: Watch this space.

A surprise Best Seller

 

 

The last minute Christmas rush has had me running to my sewing machine and cranking out more of these.  The Greco the Gecco Swim Shorts Waterproof Bag has been the saviour of many a checkout basket on www.notonthehighstreet.com and my own website at www.geehowquaint.com .  Why so sudden? you may ask.  I have no idea! I may answer.  I introduced this particular blokey bag this time last year.  This has been the case with many new items.  It seems to take a few months before people catch on, dig it, want it, buy it.   Last year my Christmas Best Seller was my Soleil Swim Bag and the year before that it was the pink Nicole Knicker Bag.

Today I sent out what I think will be my final Christmas orders. You never know...there may be some panic buying tonight.  After all those happy weeks of processing 3 to 5 orders a day, I will feel the after-Christmas slump.  My reason for being from January till next October will be to create even better and far more groovier bag designs, re-do the website and plan, plan, plan for knicker bag world domination.

Mwaha ha etc. 

Lego Cufflinks: A perfect 'man present'

Oh my giddy Aunt Telullah!  I found these gems at www.etsy.com and was quick to order a pair for that special man in my life.  Gasp! What?  Oh.  You think he'll see this, read this and ruin his own Christmas surprise.  Oh, how you assume too much, little reader.  He is way too busy to read this drivel.

He's also getting a robe, some books and a new toothbrush.  But these lego cufflinks are THE most terrific gift items I have ever seen.  I think brownie points will be won on Christmas Day.

If you are living stateside and are going through the trauma of trying to find a 'man gift' then grab yourself some funky cufflinks and inflict your quirky style onto your loved one. Now!

Your life will remain empty and sad unless you buy these!

Yoko Ono at the Baltic, Gateshead

  Blink.  Blinkblink.  Blinkblinkblink.  One blink for 'I' and two blinks for 'love' and three for 'you.'  I was blinked at by Yoko Ono last night in Baltic Square.  Okay.  Not me specifically.  I was one of about 40 people who had gathered around the little platform to listen to Yoko's words of wisdom about love and the universe and how when we tell eachother 'I love you' the universe hears.  Uhm.  Right. 

So, friend and I stood in our hats and coats and mittens, watching and listening to the diminutive woman speak and blink then exit stage left.  Was that it?  I think we were supposed to have taken our little flashlights, turn and blink towards Castle Keep.  But it all just ended. 

To be honest, although it was interesting to see Yoko Ono in the flesh, the most exciting part of my night was watching one of the local M.O.T. car garages burn to the ground.

I am such a philistine.

Cookin' along with Gordon Ramsay

  Crazy will commence at 21:00 tonight when the girls and I gather around my kitchen utensils and attempt to cook along with Gordon Ramsay.  Tonight's menu includes a yum-tastic parsnip/apple/roasted chestnut soup, seafood Paella and a version of a Trifle.  I generally believe that Trifle is an abomination to man, what with its sponge, cake, whipped, nastiness lingering in a pool of alcoholic syrup.  Too many textures and flavours in the traditional dish have always had me snubbing it at most Christmas dining occasions.  You have the benefit of the doubt here, Gordon.  I trust your version isn't as appalling. 

I better saunter on down to the kitchen and make those chestnuts roast!

This weather makes me hurt

As the title states, this weather makes me hurt.  My body has been aching for the passed three days.  How is it that my 31 year old self has been dumped into the body of a 60 year old?  I don't LOOK like a 60 year old, but with these aches and pains, I feel like someone who has been around a LOT longer than my three-and-a-bit decades.

My hands are swollen. I'm finding it difficult to hold the sewing needle and make my intricately designed and made artworks.  It's all about the details...and my hands are rebelling.  Keeping at bay the scared little voice 'what if we can't do this much longer?!  What if..' is trying at the best of times.  It's nearly impossible at the worst.

If I couldn't print and draw and stitch and knit and work in my creative way, then what?  Maybe take up painting with palette knives?  Work big and sloppy? I am sure there are other ways.

World Domination! Mwaha ha ha ha

 

I love this notebook.  There are other cheeky varieties, which can be found at Beautiful Things.  As I was flipping through the current Essentials Magazine, I did spy with my little eye a notebook that had on its cover declaring quite boldly 'I'm going to be really rather naughty and this is my plan...'  

I may have to get the latter for myself.   My number one naughty plan at the moment is to trick my husband into allowing a brown Labrador puppy into the family.  I have already picked out names: Lolly for a girl and Simon for a boy.  How can he even think of breaking my heart by turning me down?