New Easter 40% off ShopLocket Bargains

Just in case you find yourself on a chocolate fuelled on-line shopping frenzy I have two more guilt free 40% bargains from the continued studio spring clean.

Bunny Boxes Win

The reality of a post chemo day is that it can be a challenge to anything more than flick a finger round the gorgeousness that lies within Pinterest all day. Determined to ensure I did something Eastery I had to make a choice: the annual simnel cake or a couple of barkcloth bunny boxes for my nieces mini-eggs.

As you can see the bunny boxes won out. Find the template here. I oversized mine by 150% and used off cuts of lampshade laminate rather than card to make them nice and rigid.

Last years Simnel Cake

My apologies to visiting family for the lack of simnel cake this Easter. Maybe I should make a "things I really should be baking" pinterest board and we can look at that together instead? Mr Hollywood's hot cross buns would be another contender.

BBC Goodfood Recipes

 How about you - what have you not made for Easter that you wish you had?

Bang up to date

Sometimes you find a vintage fabric that's what 30 or 40 years old or more and something about the colour or pattern just makes you think you saw it yesterday heralded as the latest trend. 

That's how I felt about this barkcloth called Kanye.

1. Pyramid Crewel Cushion in Clementine from John Lewis

2. Cloud 9 fabric called On Point - Peachy from the Simpatico collection designed by 
Michelle Engel Bencsko.
3. Kanye x-large retro drum from FollyandGlee

 There were a couple of items that I kept seeing on the design blogs and Pinterest pages that I loved. They both combined a fabulous geometric pattern with those gorgeous desert inspired celementine/smokey grey/coral colours. And then came along a barkcloth find and it was love at first sight.

Why an earth have you called it Kanye? Well ....silly story but when I look at it I see diamonds. And when I think of diamonds I think of a rather amazing Kanye West concert and holding our hands up in the diamond shape swaying to his  splendidly over the top performance. Yes I know hard to believe I know but once upon a time I frequented such events and yes OK we probably were one of the oldest there but hey!

Room for a little Kanye in your home but a different size or shape - come say hello@follyandglee.co.uk.

Blossomless

A big virtual hug to everyone who's feeling the cold today. It is bitter even for those of us lucky to still have the power on. Here's hoping all will be restored by evening and you'll be cosy and snug.

Burleigh

Now that I'm working at an enforced slower pace I thought it would be great to take the time and let nature inspire which fabrics I use and when. I'm itching for the first sign of buds on the forsythia so I can make some shades with this beauty.

Forsythia

And oh won't the first cherry blossoms be welcome?

Spring Farm

 Mind you I'd settle for a primrose or two right now.

Wellingham

Sadly the view from my window is of trees as bare as a babies bottom!

Thank goodness for barkcloth - there's a design for every eventuality. 

Meet Burleigh.

Burleigh

Pompoms - They don't make em like they used to!

Today I've enjoyed a few treasured moments fondling something so soft, round and plumptious that it seems cruel not to share.

Yes its my twindling stock of original vintage cotton pom pom trim for lampshades - made sometime before 1957 by Wrights in the USA.

 Wanna cop a feel?

40% OFF ShopLocket Bargains

What Cancer Cannot Do

So here is what I have learnt in the past six weeks about cancer and its limitations.

Cancer can't diminish love, it can't prevent friendships from deepening and new ones blossoming, it can't silence laughter, it can't suppress memories, it can't shatter hope, it can't conquer courage, it can't invade the soul, it can't steal an eternal life from the universe......and it sure as hell can't stop me playing with the barkcloth and making lampshades.

FollyandGlee

So I am back from the hospital this afternoon chemoed up to my eyeballs and delighted to announce the shop is back up and ready for business. My sincere apologies to customers old and new for slow responses and the absence of a phone service - I'm working on it promise.

I hope you like some of the new barkcloths. I'm on an imposed quarantine for a few days and hope to get a few more together.

My aim is to launch a lampshade fundraiser for Cancer Research but I want to do it properly and there are many talented folk I'd like to ask to help - this will take some energy and concentration both of which I'm a little low on at the moment.

FollyandGlee

For now any purchase from the shop will be my wig money. Yes having gone short for the  first time in 20 years last week in preparation it was still a shock this morning to discover rather less on my crown than when I went to bed. Not being so keen on sporting a "monk like do" it may be time to take the rest off......but its so cold!

FollyandGlee

I have wrestled a little with whether or not this blog was somewhere I wanted to share my f****** cancer journey but never fear it won't be the focus. In many ways the mental scars are more scary than the physical ones and I know that in doing and sharing more of what I  love I'll be protecting myself. The other deciding factor in going public is of course the hope that others who have to embark on this journey to the dark side get to see its not all darkness. My favourite t-shirt of all time reads "blessed are the cracked for they let in the light". And I am a little cracked at the mo.

Take care and go hug a loved one x