Thursday 21 February 2013

It's all about me


Today is my day on the 'It's all about me' hop. Thanks to the amazing Madame Samm  for organising the hop and Marlene from Stitching by the Lake for being our fantastic cheerleader. Thanks are also due to Amy Bradley for her lovely design.

It took me ages to get started on this piece. I had the pattern and lots of fabric but I could not decide how to make the design more about me. Then I was reading through some old work notes and in the middle I found this poem.

Warning
by
Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
and run my stick along the public railings
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
or only bread and pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
and set a good example for the children. 
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

I have always liked the idea of doing what you want as you get older and I already wear purple as it's one of my favourite colours so that made my decision on the dress colour.

I also knew that I didn't want to make a wall hanging as I don't have a sewing room or space and we have lots of paintings and embroidery on the walls already. It was at this point that I was going through my folder where I keep the information relating to my current projects that the idea hit me. I would use the design to make a folder cover. As my folder has lots of projects in it that must mean that I'm busy? So I changed the word biased to busy and added things I do to the frame.


My hair is slightly longer than this at present and has always had a tendency to be unruly so I had to add in some stay hair. I also tend to put my needle into my top rather than the pin cushion.




The words on the frame pick up on my hobbies - all that is except cleaning. Cleaning is a necessity that gets in the way


Look what's the top project in my folder. I'm also about to start work on my Double wedding ring quilt as I've now got all the fabric I need - I just need to get my nerve together.

Why not hop over to the other folks taking part today and see what they're doing as there's sure to be lots of fun and creativity about.




Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll visit again soon. I'm off to make a cup of tea before I go hopping over to see what people have made and then I think I'll do some more sewing. Hope you'll have time for some sewing today.

Lyndsey

82 comments:

  1. I like the book cover idea. I've put a needle or two in my shirt as well. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Love the journal cover! I almost did the same thing.. Might still do one. :)

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  3. Great folder, love the idea! The poem is really cute. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. She is lovely and the idea with the folder, just great!

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  5. what a great idea, I do need a project folder as well! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. your journal cover is awesome. And a great idea. Thanks for sharing

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  7. me too. Busy. Very.
    Love all the words you embroidered.

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  8. Great folder! I love the Jenny Joseph poem too - I went to a funeral recently where it was read out as part of the eulogy!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  9. Great job. The stray hairs are a great addition to her.

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  10. I love it -- I wished I could think of a way to add my extra hobbies but didn't think of adding them as embroidery -- brilliant! Love the stray hairs, love the needle -- nice job! :)

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  11. Thanks for sharing your busy lady.

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  12. This is a perfect folder cover! How Fun! :)

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  13. Lindsey you did a wonderful job making your"me" person and now when you look at her you will see yourself and ll the things that tell the story of you....great job and it is so nice to meet you.

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  14. What a good idea for your lady! I should make myself one..cleaning does get in the way, doesn't it? Lol. Thanks for sharing. vickise at gmail dot com

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  15. I love all of the words on the borders....great idea! You'll enjoy using this as a folder. Thanks for sharing today!

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  16. Great idea to add all those words that mean you and turn it into a notebook cover!

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  17. The joy of getting old is you can act like a loon, and no one expects different! :-) Ask me just how I know?? tee hee... Love your "ME" what a perfect way to keep all our projects in order. Heck it might even keep me from loosing things for a change. Now where did I put that blasted pattern?

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  18. Rosemary B here:
    Wow a folder cover! This is perfect!
    I love this. I love your purple dress AND your stitching. Just beautiful!
    I have so much going on in my sewing room, I put some project down and forget where I put it.
    I also keep mine in plastic sleeves though....
    Your YOU is lovely. Thanks for sharing your creativity and craftyness too

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  19. What a great idea to have made her/you into a folder cover...I love that idea! Purple is good, too. :O)

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  20. Congrats on being in the top 2! This certainly deserves the honor! Now where is the tutorial? Or, are you making one for me and keeping it a secret?

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  21. How cute! I love the idea of a notebook of your projects! I may have to copy that idea!

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  22. What a great idea to make a project folder cover! And I like your all your "busy-ness"!

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  23. Great folder! I'm a little busy this next couple of weeks, so I can relate--well, since retirement I always seem to be busy! lol Of course, there is always room for quilting--never enough time for cleaning.

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  24. Lovely job! Great idea to make a project folder. Can't you just imagine the looks you will get if you happen to take it somewhere with you!

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  25. Yes I can relate to all the busy stuff too. Very nice notebook cover. I have made lots of fabric covers too. Maybe I need a "me" one too.

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  26. I LOVE the folder cover. I embroidered the poem for my Mom and for a friend years ago. I have my moms back now. Great Job!

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  27. Fun cover for the notebook. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Great idea. And a new way of using the pattern. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. Sew nice ... and making a binder cover is a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing ... :) Pat

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  30. I understand busy.. and SO CUTE

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  31. That is so clever and so appropriate too.

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  32. Such a great idea, usable and cute!!

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  33. Practicle!! Love it!! Thanks!!! Alot of Work!!

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  34. love those word all around, beautiful thank,s for sharing

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  35. What a great idea, I love this. She's very sweet and busy! Well done :)

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  36. How clever! I love that you thought to make stray hair and put a needle in your top even though pincushions are available. This cover will make you smile every time you put something in your notebook.

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  37. your me is just fab! What a great use as a folder cover, I love the way you've personalised it with your hobbies.... and cleaning!

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  38. Enjoyed seeing your fun lady. Good idea for the folder cover, she will cheer you on when you get going on one of those projects.

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  39. What a great idea to make a cover for your idea folder. That was very creative. I think so many folks go to the pillow, if it's not a wall hanging. I can't remember which lady it is - she is a quilting teacher. She does not like pillows and makes no bones about it. So, she tends to encourage folks to make lap quilts or table runners or something other than pillows. Now, if you need or want a pillow, she has no problem. I love your idea of a folder cover. I'm participating in my first hop next month and I'm sure what I'm going to do. Part because I'm not sure what I want to do to finish a project. Colors that I want to embroider are not colors that I would use in my home. So,... Anyhow, thank you for participating in the hop; making a very, very clever project; and being a great inspiration. You made a great finish for today!

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  40. Great idea of stitching on your hobbies:)
    Love it!

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  41. How cute! I love how you've listed all of your hobbies *and cleaning* since it gets in the way for all of us. Super job! ;-)

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  42. I'm having a great time with this hop, I'm so glad you were able to share your talent with all of us. THanks for the pictures of the cute project.

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  43. Cracking up at your stray hairs!!! You are one busy lady, for sure! Thank you for taking the time to make up this adorable self-portrait!!! Love your glasses :)

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  44. Love it,I've looked at all the lady's and think you've all done fab jobs,even my friend Sue,who based her lady on me.....
    Warning ,by Jenny Joseph,is one of my fave poems,and indeed I wear a lot of purple ,haha xx

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  45. Your lady is just perfect! I love the threaded needle pinned to her dress - don't we all do that? What a hoot!

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  46. Perfect! And look at all those things you do - I bet there's lots more and you just quit embroidering. :) Love everything about it. :) blessings, marlene

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  47. Such a fun piece! love what you have created. Thanks for sharing your creativity.

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  48. What a terrific idea to make a folder cover with this cute creation , I guess we see more of your talents in an up coming hop ;-) great job !

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  49. Delightful portrait and clever way to use it and enjoy it!!

    Susie

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  50. ahhh! Lyndsey I love it! So clever, I can see why you were chosen today for the top 3, congrats!!!

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  51. Love your little quilt and all the words are so similar to mine. Love your blog also.

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  52. What a wonderful idea! Love your notebook cover, so cute!

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  53. Cleaning gets in the way of everything. I love your take on this hop.

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  54. I Love your project. That busy is awesome. Like how you changed it. Great job.

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  55. I stick my pins and needles into my shirts, too! I have to be so careful now, though, because I'm always scooping up the baby and wouldn't want him to be pricked.

    Love your lady in purple! And very clever idea, putting it on a binder. :)

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  56. This is such a fun hop. Your Ms. Biased is very Busy and I adore how you have personalized her to reflect your intersts. Thank you for participating. Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

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  57. I love the needle on her ...*boob*!! Funny!! I also read your bio and feel the same as you. I am making up for lost time with my sewing/quilting now that I'm retired!!
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  58. I love her! All she needs is the red hat!

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  59. I love that poem and enjoyed reading it again. A purple dress was just the thing and I loved the needle and the sprigs of hair going in different directions.

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  60. Wonderfully creative project! Congrats on being one of the chosen.

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  61. Your interpretation was very good!

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  62. Hi!!! Very cute!!! Love using it for a folder cover!! Thanks for the fun!!!

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  63. I love your pome and I love purple.

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  64. Grrrrrreat job!!! Love your lady & all the "Busy's" floating round her.... :)

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  65. I love your project. What a good idea.

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  66. Wonderful gal! Your frazzled hair was a great touch.

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  67. Your frame is great I think I would have avoided cleaning but as you stated a necessity that gets in the way a lot Thanks Becky

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  68. Wonderful project, so creative.

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  69. What a great idea! Cute and practical!

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  70. So cute...I love it. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  71. Great job! I love that poem, too! Thanks for sharing!

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  72. The poem is just great, just like your project. Thank you for the smile.

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  73. -oh yes who are not busy....
    Wonderful work, great idea!

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  74. Love, love the glasses....and you're right.....how do we get it all done and still quilt?? Must be magic....thanks for sharing.

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  75. omg.. the words are GREAT ! This is such a fun hop.. my day is today... http://blog.patsloan.com/2013/02/its-all-about-mmm-me-you-who.html

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