Win a photo art cushion

This months theme is 'SPECIAL PLACES'

We had a great time in Tuscany this year. It brought back so many happy memories of my childhood. Especially climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was wonderful to take my children there and climb the tower with them. It is one of my special places.

This is your chance to have the photo of your special place in the centre of a lovely photo art cushion.If you would like to enter the competition and receive future newsletters, send your chosen special place photo as a jpeg image to

roemayophotocomp@hotmail.co.uk

Please include your full name and address. Also include which cushion and colourway you would like if you are the lucky winner. Please remember square photos work best. Prize is the winning photo made into the photo art cushion of the winners choice.

Closing date: 12th September 2008

The winner will be notified by 26th September 2008

For full details see our website: roemayo.co.uk

Prom!

"Muuum? When I've finished my A levels can you help me make a prom dress?"

Such was the plea from my daughter who has never used a sewing machine or shown any interest in learning how to sew.

She had sketched the design she had in mind and after much searching of the Internet we came up with a vintage Vogue pattern. Just what she wanted. Then came the fabric hunt as of course she had bought the shoes and needed something to match. It was when she realised that lace would have cost her £120 before the satin lining that she decided to settle on silk (I'll pay you back - I'm still waiting)

Two days before the Prom the dress was started and she learnt to sew in a straight line, but unfortunately the human shape and size have changed since the 1950's, and much alteration and fiddling was needed. At this point I really wished that I had a tailors dummy as I was sorely tempted to stick pins into my daughter. She finally kept still long enough for me to sort out the bodice and start gathering about 5 yards of fabric into the waist.

Feeling completely stressed out and sick I finally finished the dress at 6.15 and she walked out of the house at 6.45pm looking absolutely gorgeous even though I say so myself!

Photo Art Competition Winner

Congratulations to L Gregory who was the winner of my Photo Art Cushion Competition May 2008.

She chose the pink ribbon border design to frame the lovely photo of her kitten.

If you would like the opportunity to win a photo art cushion in the next competition, please see details on the RoeMayo website the next competition theme will be announced in July.

Win a photo art cushion

Full details of this competition can be found on my website: RoeMayo Photo Art Cushions



This is your chance to win a Photo Art Cushion of your choice from the standard ranges, by entering our photo competition.

THEME: PETS

We all love our pets, from the smallest hamster to the largest horse, tortoise to tarantula, parrot to python. This is your chance to have the photo of your favourite animal in the centre of a lovely cushion.


WHAT PET OR ANIMAL PHOTO WOULD YOU PUT ON A CUSHION?


Send your chosen photo as a jpeg file to roemayophotocomp@hotmail.co.uk Please include your full name and address. Don't forget to let us know which cushion and colourway you would like, if you are the lucky winner. Remember square photos work best.

Closing date: May 1st 2008

The winner will be notified by 14th May 2008

St George's Day

As well as being St George's Day, the 23rd of April is also the birthday ( and death day of Shakespeare). It is also the birthday of an important family member but we will be celebrating with a BBQ at the weekend!

St George - the patron saint of England is usually depicted as a dragon slaying, maiden saving knight so I thought that I would try to find out a bit more about him. There is a whole host of information on the Woodlands Junior School in Kent not just about St George but other saints and customs.

For instance, I didn't know that St George was not English, but apparently he was Turkish and although he was Christian he became a Roman Soldier. He was beheaded on 23rd April because he would not give up his faith. He lived in the 3rd century but did not become England's Patron saint until the 14th century when he replaced Edward the Confessor. He is also the patron of many groups including soldiers and scouts, farmers and riders to name a few. He also helps those who are suffering with plague, syphilis and leprosy!

I always wonder how they find out these amazing things - can they be called facts?

For more snippets visit the above link. They would also like postcards from where you live to help them find out about other areas. I think this is a great idea and so will be popping one in the post this weekend.

Finally she threw herself out of a plane!

After last weeks anti -climax both Fern and Tom were not excited about the jump. Again the day had started well, but the weather turned and the clouds rolled in, leaving us hanging around waiting for them to clear (as the weathermen had predicted, ha ha!).

But Fern got to practise the plane exiting position

With no break in sight the support party (the Mum's) came home with sausage and bacon butty orders. Tom had not had any breakfast and was feeling slightly peckish. I've not seen anyone eat a sandwich so quickly, and it was rapidly followed by another two. We managed to find the only warm spot in the hanger and waited another hour until there was a slight glimmer of blue in the sky.

In anticipation they quickly got kitted up and trooped out to the plane.

Father was summond from home and arrived in time to witness the plane taking off.

My heart was in my mouth when we spotted the small dots jumping from the plane at 13,000 feet. It wasn't long though before the chutes were open and they were landing all safe and sound.

Their Top Gun Moment

Poor Andy left holding the chute. The very brave gentleman who looked after my daughter on the tandem jump

The Plane hit a tree

Saturday morning started beautifully, the perfecty day for the Big Jump.

We got up early, (Tom has not seen this time on a Saturday morning for a long time) and drove out to the airfield. After much form filling they were ready for the briefing. Tom was to be in the first group to jump.

Tom was not his usual chatty self

They trooped out to the plane which was being refuelled (or was he practising wing walking?)

And they're off!

Tree 1- Plane 0

The plane clipped a tree at the top of the runway. The wing had been slightly damaged and needed repair.

Unfortunately while we were waiting the weather changed, the wind started gusting upto 25mph at ground level, and the blue sky disappeared.

This was the only parachute to be seen.

A not so quiet weekend

Why is it that you have weekends which are popular and have so many things going on, and some weekends which have nothing going on at all.

This weekend is a popular one, well Saturday is, Sunday we'll just collapse.

Fern is completing her Big Jump on behalf of Kidney Research and I am more worried about it than she is. Obviously this is weather dependent. Hope that it is like today with fantastic blue skies and minimal wind.

Luke completes his Junior chef Academy course in London and we are meant to be there enjoying a nice 3 course lunch. This is where you have to split yourself into two, or form different cheer leading squads.

We have chosen the cheer leading option with my husband going to enjoy the lovely meal leaving me biting my fingernails.

http://www.justgiving.com/fern_and_tom

http://www.westking.ac.uk/courses/chefacademy.pdf

Protagonize.

When my children were small we would make up stories. One person would start, then the next would add a bit and so on taking the story into strange but always hilarious directions.

Protagonize is the grownup version. You can start your own story, add to others, or just enjoy taking in the strange directions some stories are going.

Have a browse and if you feel like a budding author start posting. I couldn't resist and have posted under the name of Guinevere, Why I don't know. I must have been under Merlins influence yesterday.

Easter Decorations

Easter is coming....

I love making things and thought that I would have a go at making some hanging Easter egg shaped decorations finished with a handmade tassel. This is the first I have made and now they have grown into two and three separated by beads.

I have also been busy making patchwork chickens which can be filled each year with mini eggs.

But you must remember that a chicken is not just for Easter. It can be filled with tissues, cotton wool balls or anything else you like and loved throughout the year.

Another Milestone Passed

I just want to pass my congratulations on to my lovely daughter who this morning passed her driving test on her first time of trying.
She is not the keenest driver and does not like it but recognises that it is a useful skill to have.

It is now with great trepidation that I will have to put her onto my car insurance and let her go out alone.

It was so much easier when she just sat there and didn't move. Unfortunately that stage only lasted about two weeks (when she was 4 months old) and then she started cruising round the furniture. Now she will be cruising round town in my car!

Reading Group

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

It is July 1962, Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning, arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their private fears of the wedding night to come......

Our reading group book for February and we had great fun reviewing it this week. I am always amazed that we read the same book but each of us has a different take on it. As usual there was quite a lot of disagreement about the book.

Was Florence damaged by her father? Ian McEwan seems to hint at abuse throughout the book. Florence is devastated when the wedding night has the effect of "summoning memories she had long ago decided were not really hers."

What effect did his mothers accident and subsequent withdrawl from reality have on Edward? Did this lead to his feelings of anger and violence?

Ian McEwan successfully shows the gulf between the sexes and the damage lack of communication can do to a relationship. How easy it is to resort to anger and recrimination as a defensive posture.

'If only' are the two saddest words in the English Language.

Mothers Day Treat

Every year, without fail, Mothers day is postponed for a couple of weeks. Mostly due to my family failing to notice the card companies marketing campaigns! So this year I was pleasantly surprised that they all seemed to have made plans for my special day.

Luke, the aspiring chef, was to cook a special 3 course meal

Menu:

Caramelised red onion & goat cheese tartlets with balsamic vinegar

Herb crusted salmon with blanched courgettes and white wine sauce

Chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce.

He got up early and started preparing everything, The raspberry sauce done by 8.15am, and started on the herb crust by 8.30. He carefully sharpened a huge knife in preparation for chopping the onions. All was going so well until the onion bit back and the kitchen turned into a scene from Kill Bill. Blood on the walls, ceiling, cupboards and floor.

We then spent the next 3 hours in casualty to have the deep cut on his finger stitched. (At least this trip to casualty was less fraught than the one where the school rang up and said, "There seems to be a problem with Luke's heart...Oh sorry I meant his arm")

So Mothers day has been postponed - again, and I'm spring cleaning the kitchen today. Oh Joy!

Better than Ebay?

Your place to buy & sell all things handmade.

Knowing that I have dabbled in Ebay, a friend recently told me about ETSY.

A site similar to Ebay but dedicated to people wanting to buy that unique handmade item.

It has been a refreshing experience browsing the Etsy pages. Their search engines give you the options of browsing by colour or location . The Pounce function is exciting letting you see items from new sellers as well as what has been purchased recently. The gift section, chosen by the Etsy staff, allows you to find that unique present.

I was so impressed that I rushed to my studio and made some more chickens. Sorry Luke, I know that those log cabin squares should have been for your quilt.

Charity Chicken

Hopefully this will be the chicken that lays the golden eggs for my daughters fundraising effort. It is a hollow chicken made from two log cabin patchwork squares and filled with mini eggs.

She is taking it into school for her colleagues and teachers to try to guess the number of mini eggs inside. At the moment I am the only one who knows the magic number and I'm not telling!

Big Jump

When you become a parent you never expect to hear "What would you say if I jumped out of a plane from 13,000feet?" It's just not in the parenting handbook.

These words were uttered by my beautiful daughter a couple of weeks ago. She had heard on the local radio (thank you to them!) about the Big Jump for Kidney Research. Well what can a mother do but support her crazy mixed up kid. Unfortunately she is too big now to wrap in cotton wool so we spent yesterday baking cakes and cookies for her to take to school to raise money for this worthwhile cause.

I take comfort in the fact that she will be firmly secured to an experienced sky diver who wants to land safely and so will ensure that she does too.

Until that day, Kidney Research UK was an unknown charity to me. It was founded in 1961, and is the leading UK charity funding research that focuses on the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. The charity also dedicates its work to improving patient care and raising awareness of kidney disease.

Kidney disease is not, as commonly thought, a disease that affects only the elderly - it can happen at any age. Treatment options include a transplant - for which there is a waiting list or a life on dialysis, a life sustaining treatment - but which can severely restrict daily life.

So I will support and give thanks that I have a wonderful (but slightly mad) daughter who is prepared to throw herself out of a plane from a horrendous height on behalf of this worthwhile charity.