This is....my favourite quote.

Burne-Jones (left) and William Morris (1890)

William Morris said,
'Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful'
Roughly translated to the 21st century that would be
'Stop buying useless crap!'

Favourite quote from my 14 year old?
'Be nice to your children. They pick your care home.'
Charming! And yet scarily true.....

Thanks to Strawberry Kisses for this weeks 'This is...'
More 'This is....' here!

Don't forget the giveaway!!!!

This is..... a favourite recipe I'd like to share

Are you sure you want cooking ideas from me? Because my first choice of recipe goes like this....
1. Put on coat
2. Exit front door
3. Cross road
4. Purchase some delicious chips, ask for salt and vinegar and curry sauce
5. Return to Chez Shazza. Arrange on plate, with addition of mayonnaise if desired
6. Enjoy!
But apparently Mr.M says that doesn't count, nor does giving you the telephone number of my favourite takeaway......Damn those men!

Which leads me to rely on Mr. Ramsay's rather fantastic cheesecake that feeds a lot of people, and looks very impressive for very little effort, always a bonus in my book! Sorry no pictures but it looks a lot like a cheesecake (because it is).

Baked New York Cheesecake (apparently serves 14- yeah right!)

1 1/2 Packets Hob Nob biscuits, crushed (or Digestives if you fancy)
75g butter, melted
250g caster sugar
800g cream cheese
pinch salt
2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
for topping;
50ml soured cream
25g caster sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 180c, 160c fan oven, 350F, gas mark 4. Mix biscuits, butter and 50g of the sugar. Line the bottom and sides of a 23cm spring form cake tin with this mixture, pushing it into the corners. Store it into the fridge.
2. Whip the cream cheese until soft and fluffy. Add the remaining sugar, whisk, then add the salt and vanilla and beat once more. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Pour into tin and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes until cheesecake set. ( It only takes an hour in my oven so best you check!)
3. Whisk together sour cream, sugar, and vanilla and pour over cheesecake and bake for further 10 minutes.
4. Decorate with berries to make it look pretty, before serving to your guests who will applaud you loudly! (I live in hope.....)

Thanks to Angela at Three buttons for this weeks theme!

This is..something I'm surprised Iike....

Duck. Let me explain.... Now, I've spent all my life refusing to eat sweet little quacky Daffy, I mean why would you? Really, he's just so cute! But then a friend invited us for dinner a couple of months ago and she cooked (no prizes for guessing....) duck! And me being me was far too polite to say "Sorry, I don't eat anything that quacks..." and it did look so nice and crispy (cooked a la Delia) that I thought "Well, I'll just eat a bit so as not to offend....". Well quarter of a duck later and there I was licking the plate! (Classy bird, me!) Just think, all of that time I wasted, years, feeling sorry for Daffy when what I should have been doing was spreading him in Plum sauce and wrapping him in a pancake! DOH!
Thanks to Earl and Cookie for this weeks theme, and to Angela as always!

This is..me showing off!

Well apart from the apron thing (see last post), not alot to show off about this week, except I did a rather magnificent reverse park into a parking space yesterday, that would possibly be the first since I passed my test - 10 years ago! I always expect a mass of applause and congratulations related to my driving. Unsurprisingly, and most disappointingly, this doesn't usually happen - not that I'm particularly bad at it you understand. I'm just still constantly amazed I can get myself from A to B, on my own, in a car!!

Thanks to May the Cloth be With You (isn't that a great name?!!)for this weeks theme!

It's the week of the small peeps birthday's, only they're not so small anymore! Bigski was 14 on Monday. 14!!! And possibly taller than me, but don't tell her that because I'm in denial (not about the age, just the height. ALL of her friends are taller than me). Her shoes are 3 sizes bigger than mine now, so my shoes are safe, make up and t-shirts, shall we say, are less safe. But crucially she's old enough to do all the things she's wanted do for years and suddenly she's old enough, it's such a relief! (Relief to me that is!) And ofcourse she's old enough to babysit!! Yipee!!!

Smallski is 9 tomorrow, with a very sore arm that warranted a trip to casualty just to check it's not broken (luckily, it's not). It's going to make for an interesting birthday party though, I've booked a climbing wall. So typical!

Happy Birthday Girls!!

This is....what I want to be when I grow up! and some exciting news!!

I have actually already given this a lot of thought - even before this weeks theme! I can't quite decide between being a Fairy godmother (Benefits including: cool sparkly outfit, magic on hand, wings, hours to suit) or James Bond (Benefits: licensed to kill - which would be handy when doing the weekly shop, foreign travel, very cool car). Think I'll have to settle for Aston Martin driving psycho fairy!

Thanks to Bug and Pop for this weeks theme!

And now the rather exciting, to the point that I'm not actually sleeping properly, news is the "She's got bottle!" apron that I submitted for the Howies/Folksy competition got selected! My apron is part of a display in the Howies shop window on Carnaby Street, London!! I'm in really good company with some truly talented crafters, and you can see the other items that were selected here! They'll be on display until the 26th September, and customer voting will decide the overall winner, so if you find yourself wandering down Carnaby Street this week pop in and vote for your favourite (which is ME, obviously! I know, I have no shame!)

This is ...A bit of a catch up!!

Now I sat down with loads to say, but two hours of surfing later, and it's still all a jumble of nonsense in my head with no real discernable shape or form. So no change there then.
The summer has almost gone, in a flurry of camping and giggles. In a week they'll all be back at school in new shiny shoes and slightly too big polo shirts ("Room for growth/shrinking in the tumble dryer" I'll say), the house will be so quiet. Normal service will be resumed. No more sharing the computer or the chocolate -Yippee!!
I've managed to miss a few of the 'This is ...' topics over the summer, so I'm going to shove 'em all in one post.
Are you sitting comfortably? Good, this could go on a bit!


First up: This is my... trade secret.
Now I should cover something to do with pattern cutting or sewing, but no it relates to camping! Because I'm obviously such an expert after three trips.....
Top Tip No.1: Take an umbrella, it WILL rain.
Top Tip No.2: When you pack away your tent, DON'T pack your handbag INSIDE the tent. Proves to be inconvenient. Especially if that's where you keep your front door keys. Oh how we laughed and laughed.....

Next up: This is...a Work in Progress ( or Operation Tea Cosy)

1. Wait to the last available day to begin Tea Cosy ( the day before it's needed is my preference, even though I had a special request last March for one after this one appeared at my house...) and then trash house (even more) to find every loved scrap of print, trim and fabric....

2. Drive self potty (ha!ha! geddit?!!) picking and arranging said fabrics. Ask Kids for input for Aunty Helens Tea Cosy. Ignore kids, what do they know anyway..
3. STOP! Hang out washing and feed people.
4. Make very professional pattern out of wadding ;) Realize taking picture of white wadding against white wall is never going to have a happy ending, DOH!

5. Chop and stitch merrily away creating a front and back.
6. STOP! Go get in washing because it's bloody raining again..

7. Try to take 'arty' creative shots of WiP. Give up and just take bad photos.

8. Go to work and leave kitchen looking like a health and safety accident....

9. Come back 4 hours later and embroider bits and pieces of text (Tea...a drink with Jam and Bread.....) , applique some spoons while talking to recipient on phone and tumble drying wet clothes. Forget to take any more photos.
10. Stitch front and back together, add wadding and lining.

11. Ta Da! Finished!
12. Go and dye hair, after all it's only 10 o'clock...Remember to wrap present!

Well just time to say This is...How I Like to Spend my Weekend.

Helen (the-cat-hater), moi and Rachel (Iris)

The tea cosy was made for Helen-the-cat-haters 40th birthday, and to celebrate she organized a girls weekend in Brighton! Now this doesn't happen every weekend, but we shopped, ate, found lovely tea shops, visited the Pavillion, shopped a bit more, went on The Pier, paddled in the sea and went to a very glamorous club with banquette seating (bonkette seating my Mum called them innocently once, wondering why I looked horrified..) and a live Salsa band! We salsa-d till 2am!! 'Twas the most fabulous time, great to make new friends (hello ladies!) and great just to be with two friends that I've known for more than 20 years, you see we three were at college together, and I have a suspicion in 40 years time if you're on Brighton Seafront you might spot some 80 year-old-babes laughing their heads off. We'll be the ones with the handcrafted Zimmer frames....

This is....What Makes Me Happy!

In no particular order......Mr.M, the small people, family and friends, printing, sewing, coveting a certain skirt, coffee and cake, Mr.Fishy, beer, the fact that I can drive, sunny days, being on my own, bagels and brie, no dirty washing in the basket, possibilities for the future and the first day of the summer holidays!

Picture of Mr.Fishy just because he makes me laugh when he sleeps like that!

And I have another SHOP!!

Jennyflower posted about a fantastic new UK site caled Folksy which is just like Etsy, but in POUNDS! NO conversion stress!! It's just starting out and still in BETA at the moment. You know, fibre to the node! Ofcourse I know what I'm talking about....

And a big thank you to Jacinta at One Little Acorn for this weeks theme and to Angela at Three Buttons for the meme! Thanks ladies!!

This is....What Gives Me Goosebumps

Shallow, I know, but Ali posted about these screen printed skirt kits from Clothkits last week, and it was LOVE at first sight. Oh hello goosebumps! And though it's filled my thoughts for most of the week, I'll be coveting from a far for a while. No time, not alot of money. That hasn't stopped me having the world's biggest dilemma (only a slight exaggeration, I'm sure you'll agree) - eau-de-nil or tealy, tealy or eau-de-nil? I just can't decide. Oh such sweet agonies!!

Thanks to Juddie at the Flightless Boyds for this weeks theme, and to Angela at Three Buttons for the meme!

This is..My Most Treasured Childhood Possesion

Now, I can't actually claim that the Abba soap is actually my most treasured childhood possession ever -that honour could possibly belong to Sweepy the Teddy-with-a-hole-in-his-stomach, but he's in the attic and I really can't be arsed to go up there to get him. But, 6 Abba albums, a patch from my 1970's jumpsuit, a badge and the (unused) soap are all strangely to hand and bring to mind memories of my Abba obsession, the usual room full of posters, knowing the words to every song (still do - my memory doesn't seem to have deserted me there!) And the trip to the cinema to see Abba-The Movie. I was so excited! And confused! Would we have to get up and dance? Would we sing along? Would we clap and cheer? No. We wouldn't. Singing and dancing at the cinema would apparently have to wait until they turned the cinema into a ropey disco in my teens. So there we sat in the dark, Mum, Dad, little brother and my slightly confused but ultimately happy 8 or 9 year old self, and the one single thing I remember above all else from that film? Somebody in Australia had Abba socks on! Lucky girl! Oh, how I coveted those socks! White nylon knee highs with Abba on the side, what more could a girl want!!? Way more trendy than that lime green jumpsuit with the Abba patch that I wore.......I'll stop there. I wouldn't want to make you jealous with my stylish ways......

Thanks to Teacups on Treetops for this weeks theme and once again to Angela!

This is....My Best Charity Shop Find

Now we have , I think, 8 charity shops where I live and I've mentioned before it's a really small town, so you would think I'd have an abundance of goodies to show! But alas not! I did manage to find these cute little lampshades for the grand sum of £1.98 and a few ornate mirrors over the years ( 5 plus the one that fell off the wall because I hadn't bothered to put in a new nail, oops!).

The best bargain though, was found by Mr.M.

This lovely 1930's club chair and it's partner were being put in the skip, when Mr.M rescued them and put them in the boot of the car! For FREE!! Of course, they weren't in this condition and we eventually got around to getting this one covered (only took us about 4 years!). The other is in the shed, still in it's original state - and believe me I don't use the word state lightly! But we live in hope that one day it might get covered and make it into the house too!

Thanks to Lino Forest for this weeks theme! And go here to see other Charity/Op shop finds!

this is... my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style

This is me, most days, on the school run or sewing in the house, only I've got a head and chunkier legs. Yea, I know, I've cheated and it's not me wearing it, but last time I tried taking a photo of myself I ended up jumping up and down on my bed with a lampshade on my head.....

So, green t-shirt from Peacocks, with the addition of Lobster print from me.

Gap crop Jeans from two summers ago, that I keep having to darn at the, Ahem, crotch area. Either Gap are using super soft denim or I mince alot when I walk!

Wedge sandals from Clarke's.

Necklace bought from Jennifer Collier at Origin Craft Fair about 18 months ago. It's looking a bit chipped due to the fact that I dropped it on a French cobbled street. I like to think that gives it a vintage look!

Additional styling of the tape measure courtesy of the 13year old, you can't see the pair of scissors she put hanging out of the pocket, or the fact that I told her off for shoving pins and needles in the t-shirt - before I realized that's actually what I do when I'm sewing!!

This would be my summer outfit, my winter wardrobe being exactly the same but with boots and a jumper!

Thanks to Kitty's Kaboodle for this week's theme and Angela for the meme!

This is....the Space Where I Create

Now I've put off this weeks theme because I don't have an interesting place to create, it's just the kitchen table, neither exciting or inspirational in the great scheme of things! But you know what - it works (most of the time!) I'm right in the middle of the house so I don't feel cut off from what's going on, situated close to the kettle, telly and the Internet and vitally - the stash of chocolate and biscuits. And it's Mr.M's Granny's table. It's nice to be using it everyday, rather than it sitting in a shed somewhere (we've been using it for the past 14 years actually, I painted it when we were given it and shocked the whole family! Ooops!). It's perfectly normal to have more kitchen cupboards full of thread, fabric, trims and an overlocker, than food and kitchen stuff anyway right?! The only real downside is people keep wanting to be fed - how annoying!Oh, that and Baked Beans stuck to my work surface! Actually I did think of just saying the whole house, a small terrace. I've also got stuff stashed under the settee, under the bed, on top of the wardrobe, fabric in Bigski's bedroom, probably the attic, the boot of my car is full of print stuff, a silk screen behind the bed, only the bathroom is safe......Hello. I'm Sharon. I have a problem......

Thanks to Michelle at Quilting Mick for this week's theme and to Three Buttons for the whole meme!

And Good Luck to Cloudcake, she's got an exam today!!

Update! When I say create in the kitchen, I mean stitch related not cooking related. I wouldn't want anyone to mistake my cooking for a creative endeavour, it's not so much that I can't cook , I'm more of a really-can't-be-arsed-to-think-about-it-cook!

This is... My Favourite Travel Memory

Once upon a time, in a land B.C. (before children), two bright young things went on an adventure travelling around Morrocco (just after the first Gulf War - as you do!). They made it all the way down to Marrakesh where they had a high old time with a couple of Scottish lads and a set of bagpipes, before coming across the local dentist. Oh yes, they're TEETH on that table! And I'm holding a set of dentures (as you do!). Funniest thing though is the chap looking through Mr.M's arm..

Thanks to Hila for this weeks theme!

And a follow on from last weeks theme....... Mr.Fishy 'helps' with weeding the garden!

Don't forget the GIVE AWAY!

This is...My Pet

Hello ladies! I've missed you all! Actually this isn't my pet, it's an apron (but you knew that, right?) - I've been on a bit of a blog break because of

1)loads of alterations to sew

2)a camping trip, and

3)the craft fair was today! Hence the apron picture! If this post makes no sense, it's because I've been sewing into the wee small hours once too often this week!

The short version of all that is there are

1) only midgets where I live as I still have stacks of alterations,

2) it rained - ALOT and then ALOT more! And this comment possibly won't be understood everywhere across the world but it was not a good campsite choice - 'Shameless by the Sea' would be the best description!

3) I sold one bag!(£18) So that was worth sewing into the early hours, buying fabric, getting labels made, paying for the table (£80ish altogether). Mmm...I might postpone my plans for early retirement for a while!! Still it was a positive experience in that I met some like minded crafters which was very encouraging and there was alot of footfall, just not sure that this type of craft fair is entirely right for my product. I still feel positive though, not sure why but I do! (Although slightly stitch blinded if that makes sense!) And a very big thanks to Helen-the-cat-hater who came down from London to hold my hand and made the lovely corsage in the photo!

The good news is that I now have stock for my ETSY shop! I'll be stocking her this week, I'll keep you posted! But I REALLY do need to clean the house first.....

Back to this weeks 'This is...'

This is Mr.Fishy! His real name is Stanley (he insisted on having an alias like the rest of the family) also known as Stan the Man - he's so clever he'll answer to anything - just as long as your holding a piece of ham in your hand.....
Thanks to Kyla for this weeks theme!

And just a little mention that Very-Talented-Maria has started her blog! Stop by and say Hi to her here! (She's also far too modest to say but the paper quilt that she's posted is a prize winner!!)

UPDATE:Stan the Man isn't a burmese, he's just got a pointy face! Ha, so glad I never taught him to read!

Forgot to mention the irony of the lovely lady who bought the bag at the craft fair only lives in the next street to me and yet the craft fair was 5 miles away in Leamington Spa!

This is...What Reminds Me of My Mum

Now there are many things I could have picked for this theme....like the potential for a double chin, short legs, my sewing ability, the ability to put colours together, but I've picked my Engagement ring.

When Mr.M and I decided to get married we'd already been together 7 or 8 years ( you don't want to rush into these things....) and my Mum gave me her engagement ring that she and my Dad bought from H.Samuel the jewellers in the mid-sixties, I've always considered it good luck as they've been together over 40 years now! It's a delicate little combo of a platinum setting for a sparkle of diamond and a band of 18ct gold. When Mum gave it to me she said to get the band fixed as it was getting rather thin, 10 years later and whoops, I still haven't done it! Partly because there is always something of higher priority, but mostly because I'm afraid it will get lost if I hand it over to anyone!

Thanks Angela for this weeks theme!

This is....My Favourite Book

Oh I've been a slack blogger again! I'm squeezing this post inbetween phoning a customer and the kettle a-boiling. I'm trying to sew my way out from under a rather large pile of alterations, that I'm trying to clear so I can sew a rather large, if still worryingly imaginary, pile of craft fair goodies for the craft fair that is in exactly ONE MONTH, and working part time in the wedding shop ( I spent three hours playing with tiaras and veils the other day and I have an 8 minute walking commute - tis truly the best job I've ever had!)

Still I'll get there in the end!

So best books would be Pride and Prejudice (or Pride and Prune juice as small person called it), Wuthering Heights as mentioned by Lily and Agathe which just reminded of how much I loved it, The Time Travellers Wife was rather fantastic as was Wild Swans, sorry can't remember the authors of these and don't have time to look right now!

And I'm copying Cloudcakes a bit here but you can't go wrong with a bit of Wini Aldrich and I think this is possibly the oldest book I own, I've had it since college. ( No I'm lying, it says 1991 inside, have no idea why I bought it then and not at college!!)

Thanks to Daisy in LaLaLand for this weeks theme!

This is...My Latest Discovery

My latest discovery is the OMNICROM machine at college....

Take one photocopy, in this case a drawing of a milk bottle - our next project at college is based on everyday things, so I've gone down the-fishing-stuff-out-of-the-recycler-to-make-it-useful-again-route. Oh and I've only recently discovered the positive/negative button on the copier, dodgy drawings look much more impressive on a black ground! So grab that copy I was warbling about and place it between the sheets of magic film, for demonstration and bling purposes I've used GOLD! Feed it through the magic OMNICROM machine (of which I have no photos, sorry) ....

and where we had black we now have GOLD!! Something to do with carbon and heat transfer, was far too excited to listen at this point!

And the negative version is left on the film!

Then I got carried away and stitched a photocopy to fabric with my free-needle embroidery foot (not sure that's its official name) which is a recent(ish) discovery, it gives a nice wonky line (well, very wonky when I use it!) that I really like and I then ripped areas of paper away, discovering a new (at least to me) technique that I love, love, love!!

Another amazing discovery of the last few days is that I am employable! I started a part time job in a wedding dress shop at the weekend and really enjoyed it. I'll be working a few hours on a Wednesday and Thursday and all day Saturday, advising potential brides.

Remember, 'Little Bo-Peep' is a good look for weddings, you heard it hear first!
Thanks to Knitowl for this weeks theme!

This is....My Perfect Dinner Party

For comedic value I've invited Jack Dee and Bill Bailey (who's from the West Country like me. Actually, he looks a little like my Uncle Raymond). Brian Blessed is a late entry to the list, I saw him on telly earlier in the week and he has so much passion and energy for life that I'm sure he'd prove very entertaining. Sarah Beeney (Property Ladder Presenter) gets an invite because she can wire and plumb a whole house and we British always end up talking about houses anyway!

Daniel Craig- James Bond- Oh like I need to explain this one!!

My friend Helen-the-cat-hater, yea I know she's not famous, but if the above guest arrives and she doesn't get an invite my life won't be worth living!

I asked the girls who they would invite and Elvis is now providing the music, and littleski had trouble deciding between Elizabeth I or Tinkerbell ( Oh to be 8 again! Tinkerbell won by the way...)

So should anyone be passing by and fancy being stuck in the same room as James Bond and Tinkerbell you'll be very welcome. I'll be serving a pear and cheese salad for starters, followed by lemon chicken and finished off with a baked cheesecake (which is pretty much what I always cook if we have guests!) It's just a casual affair so don't feel obliged to get dressed up, or in the case of Mr.Craig dressed! hee hee!

Thanks to Lily and Agathe for such a great theme, and see who everyone else has invited to dinner here!

This is....my jewellery box

Slightly misleading title as I don't actually have a jewellery box, just a fancy hook.....


and various dump sites around the house!

Thanks to Angela for this weeks theme!

And guess what! It snowed yesterday!! Yay!!

'This Is...MY CHOICE!!!'

Ha! I won! I get to choose what the next 'This is...' topic will be. The last thing I won was an Adam Ant calendar circa 1982! Thanks Angela!
The options I put forward were either 'This is ...my fave colour combination' or 'This is... the contents of my handbag' , now after ooh about 3 seconds of deliberation, I've plumped for
'This is.......The Contents of my Handbag!'
Did I ever mention I'm a nosey so and so......?!


Now on a totally unrelated note: does anyone have any top tips for stitching jersey? My machine has decided to skip stitches on the most lovely polyester jersey trousers that I'm shortening, they have mesh panels- I'll not inflict further description on you. Well, I think I've got the right needle in, a nice new one. Maybe my machine is just objecting to man-made fibres!