in amongst the intense nitty gritty of the past few weeks of granny chic book madness (more of this thrilling subject tomorrow), i have been taking little breathers and dabbling with Miss Ethel. when Rachelle (my spiffy book writing buddy) came to stay, we decided upon the peachy idea of having co-ordinating frocks for our up and coming workshops in old blighty. not to mention important busy businessy meetings we are attending in the big smoke. we did not wish to be matching but nicely complimenting each others 'interesting handmade' attire, as one does.... there is a fine line at our age and one we must not cross each of us, either side of the pond has spent stolen moments whipping up a few frocks. each one we tweak or add a different detail to and in doing so, have given a basic shaped frock a whole new look with a bit of bling here or a bit of bling there. end of last week i wore my new red frock with handy dandy kangaroo pocket to test it out. the panel down the front has given the effect of a tabard of sorts (thus a nod towards granny's and their pinnies). i've made my handmade frocks from beginning to end without trying on in-between (once again risking it for a biscuit). so when i popped it on my heart sank as i realized the fawn ditsy fabric down the front did nothing to give me a radiant complexion but more one of having just been sick. so i threw caution to the wind and did the 'button bling' deed, placing two around the neck line to lift things a little. this very act frightened me greatly, for one has to be a little careful when blinging out floral frocks... too much bling and it resembles something an eight year old would wear. my blinging fears were unfounded and the buttons appeared to have done the trick alongside my new miracle face cream which claims to make me look fresh and not haggard according to the info on the box. as it is a 'hint of a tint' sort of moisturizer to fill in all the cracks and crevices on one's face and even things out, i am hoping for a small miracle. i am keeping my fingers crossed i don't break out from a reaction as is the usual way and indeed upon peering closely in the mirror today i noted i no longer looked 43 years, 9 months and 1 day but rather 43 years, 8 months and 21 days!! goodness what a miracle indeed whilst out and about with the sun shining, in my new frock, with blingy buttons and miracle cream up against it, i noted i was the palest person in my town, i have no idea where folks get their tans from, they must be from a bottle or a bed but certainly not from our recent pants weather. i very cleverly distracted folks from my luminous pasty pins by my new bright rosy pinky red gloss balm which was found at the same time as the miracle cream. it is the sort which stains your lip and in doing so gives you a bit of perky colour. a clever distraction technique from pasty palour if ever there was one so there we have it, with frocks made, complexion tightened up and lips worthy of Colin Firth stopping by, i feel i am ready for the coming few weeks of travel. although a thought has just occurred, having got my lips all ready for the off chance Colin Firth will drop by, i will not be here to receive him for i will be away travelling. i doubt with his busy schedule he will have time to hang around waiting patiently for my return and embrace. hopefully word will be slow to get out to him and thus i will have returned back to mossy shed before he arrives wishing to admire my newly glossy balmed rosy lips and just a frock note, for there are many and i appear to have lost the frock plot with thoughts of Colin... however one worthy of a note, Rachelle and i are plotting and planning. tis our hope, patterns for our frocks and other such endearing granny chic attire will be available in the future in some shape or form, no matter your shape or form. hip hip hooray! righty ho, over and out Tif