Mystery Blogger Award

As I said in my last post I was nominated for a Mystery Blogger Award by the lovely Linda at Nice dress!  I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do it justice that day so here is the separate post.

“Mystery Blogger Award is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion.” Created by: Okoto Enigma

Here are “The Rules” to the “Mystery Blogger Award”:

• Thank whoever nominated you and include a link to their blog
• Tell your readers three things about yourself
• Answer the questions from the person who nominated you
• Nominate 10 – 20 bloggers you feel deserve the award
• Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice, with one weird or funny one
• Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog

So, thank you Linda! I did include a link in my last post but just in case you missed it you can find her HERE

Three things about me? Hmmm…. not much that’s not known since I’ve been blogging for what seems like forever.

Ok… I used to get told off by my primary school teacher for sewing with raffia beneath my desk when we I should have been concentrating on what was being taught BUT that wasn’t the first sewing I am told about. Apparently my mother would thread a load of needles an let me sew buttons all over an old shirt to keep me occupied. Dad was tasked with removing them before the exercise was repeated the following day.(Good preparation for being a professional).

I love driving – though it took two attempts to pass my driving test (a very long time ago!). I will drive almost anything and did go from a large pick-up truck (used to facilitate my carriage driving hobby) to a Smart car when I no longer had my horses. Unfortunately I drove my dear little Smart like I stole it and almost killed it off. Apologies to who ever bought it after it was traded in….

Despite loving animals I am allergic to animal hair and suffer from hay fever. Not ideal when you were keeping horses, and two Siamese cats and a dog. I always try to take rescue animals rather than buying from breeders as there are so many out there – and apart from one completely bonkers Siamese cat I have always had great success in achieving friendly, affectionate animals. Sadly I have no animals at present.(Excluding The Management ).

Now to answer Linda’s questions.

• If you won a lottery what would you buy first?

A flat/apartment for my daughter when lives in London. The cost of property in her area is mind boggling – and even renting in a flat share is horrific. It would be a real joy to be able to set her up somewhere of her own . (No fabric – I have enough and The Management may leave. Although maybe I could set him up in an…no only kidding).

• Do you like turnips?

Love them – although there’s some dispute as to what is a turnip and what is a swede. I like them both. As an aside for any Americans I used to have a carved turnip for Halloween as I hadn’t actually seen a real pumpkin at that time. I loved the smell you got with a candle burning inside.

• Who started you with sewing?

Probably my mum. Though I broke loose and exceeded her ability fairly quickly as she stuck to the same patterns for me for years. It wasn’t until after I did my City and Guilds qualifications that she confessed to hating sewing.

• How many sewing/serger/coverstitch machines do you have, what kind are they and what are their names (if they have names)?

I have three elderly Singers, two hand crank and one treadle. All were in need of tlc on arrival and are now working just fine. There is another electric vintage which was found in a loft completely seized up but working well now.

My main machine is a Pfaff computerised whizz which I was terrified of for months when I bought it – I love it now but I think the Singer buttonhole attachment gives more reliable results.

I have a Janome backup machine which I didn’t use for an age and was very impressed with it when I finally did need it.

My overworked and much loved overlocker is a Juki. I hadn’t heard of the brand when i bought it but wouldn’t hesitate to recommend, or buy another when I need to.

The most recent new machine is my Janome coverstitcher. Only does one job, not an essential machine – but you will have to prise it from my cold dead grasp. Love it.

So that’s …… too many machines according to The Management. I sort of agree as i am currently trying to condense my mum’s belongings into a much smaller space and don’t want my daughter to have all of this to deal with eventually. I did give a couple of the Singers names but don’t as a rule.

• What was the worst sewing project you ever worked on and why?

Oh, after over twenty years of sewing for other people they are too numerous to count (one day I will do a post on life as a professional dressmaker just in case anyone is considering it…). It would probably have involved really ratty fabric (“but it cost a FORTUNE!”), or unrealistic expectations (I’m a dressmaker not a wizard), or just a ridiculously short deadline.

So for my nominations I choose in no particular order:

The Demented Fairy

Sewniptuck

Hand made by Carolyn

The Compulsive Seamstress

Tialys

Textiles and trouble

Core Couture

Pretty Grievances

Sewbussted

Fit for a Queen

So, for their questions…..

1. Do you read, and if yes what is your favourite book?
2. What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
3. What is your favourite season, and why.
4. Do you prefer to sew in silence or with entertainment of some sort.
5. Would you sing karaoke, and what song?

So that’s me done. Hopefully my nominees will play along, but if you haven’t already visited their sites I recommend that you do! They are all very inspiring people.

Bye for now

Kim