WE'RE HAVING A HEATWAVE, A TROPICAL HEATWAVE........

Hello everyone

It ain't half (been) hot, mum!  Phew, just when you thought it could not get any hotter, the next day finished a few degrees higher.  Today, just before 9.30 am, it was already 27 degrees here.  Richard is a gadget freak, so has numerous things telling us what the temperature is outside, in the greenhouse and in the conservatory - boys and their toys.  To be honest, the majority of us don't need boys' toys to identify that it is hot, hot, hot.

Work has been difficult this week, not because of the heat, but because I cannot sit comfortably to work on cards - so, yet again, not a lot to show for my week's endeavours.  However, I have been busy-ish.  A while ago I bought 12 linen, scallop-edged place mats with the intention of turning them into lavender bags.  My idea was to cut them in half and sew them into triangles.  I have completed several of these, waiting for some lavender to stuff them with so, as I always promise, will photograph and show them next weekend.  I know lavender bags are always popular and my fellow Handmade Monday bloggers often have them - all very gorgeous and all very different.  It's a good time to nip over and have a look at their week's words and works.

I also decided that I want to set up a blog specifically for my wedding stationery, and I have spent some time looking for a background that compliments my existing colours and business style.  I don't want to move too far away from the colours I use, but do want it to be along the lines of a wedding, perhaps flowers, something like that.  Finding something that isn't too dissimilar is proving tricky.

I have also been updating the leaflets, price lists and handouts for next week's Wedding Fayre (just hoping it is not as hot next Sunday as today).  Why did I leave the work so late???  I can see my printer is going to be exhausted by the end of this week.

Just before I went into hospital I received an invitation to take part in this year's 3-day event at Secretts Garden Centre in November.  I am really pleased about this as thoroughly enjoyed myself last year and have accepted the invitation - I know that I now need to knuckle down to make stock for that event, plus the other events I have booked for the remainder of this year.  I have lots of ideas for new Christmas items, but want to make sure I don't get carried away with them and forget to focus on the main items I make and sell.

I had to miss out on the last two sessions of my pottery course and a smoke-firing session had been planned by our tutor at her house to take place once the course had finished.  This was to fire in a different way some of the pots we had created.  This is taking place on Tuesday and some of my lovely fellow potters are picking me up and bringing me back home once the firing has been completed because I cannot drive yet.  I have signed up for next year's course and I actually feel my work is improving (well, I think it is).  I think I have realised the importance of concentrating on doing something well, rather than doing as much as I possibly can!

Off to cool down - again.  I hope you have a great week, not too hot and thank you to everyone for the lovely comments left on my blog last week.  I really do appreciate them.

Jill