A box full of surprises

 

Does anyone remember the program Camblewick Green from their childhood.  It started with the saying 'Here is a box a musical box wound up and ready to play, but this box can hide a secret inside can you guess what is in it today?'

The video shows my fist attempt at creating a box known as an Etui or exploding box and I was so proud of myself and it that I wanted to share it with you. It very much reminds me of that time when I watched Camblewick Green as a child and then again whilst reliving my childhood through my own children waiting with anticipation as to what would be the secret inside.  I have seen many Etui  kits for sale where you spend the afternoon gluing all the components together but I wanted to create something with an element of machine/hand sewing to it which could evolve over time to create a versatile and useful little box, that could sit on a shelf out of the way but be to hand when needed.   And do I use it? Yes I do.  

This is one that I recently made for a friends 50th Birthday and she absolutely loved it and is the envy of her colleagues and family,  so much so that her daughter has tasked her with making her one for her birthday in July. To say there was an element of panic on her face at the thought would be an under statement but I'm sure with a little guidance she will be able to make her one. 

This one was for a friend with a camper van so limited space and it sits on a shelf in case an emergency repair is needed. 

They have evolved overtime and each one is a little different and totally unique to the person it is being made for including one in Harry Potter fabric. 

In fact I have gone on to make many more as commissions and gifts as Christmas and Birthday   One of my sewing ladies from our group tells people she has box envy and wants to learn how to make a box and  I have now been asked to run a workshop which  is equally as exciting and nerve racking in equal measure  as I have never done anything like that before, but with retirement less than 10 years away now may be I need to start and diversify and start to consider running workshops on achievable items to make.  Watch this space. 

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I have two offerings from my March reads 

The first of which is Book 6 of Ann Cleeves Shetland series.  I have read a number of the Shetland books now and although there a number of differences between the books and the TV series they are equally as good.  

A group of university friends come up to the islands to celebrate the wedding of one of their number. . Polly is not the most confident within their close knit group.  She has recently started dating Marcus who is her complete opposite. Eleanor and Ian are married and have desperately been trying for a family the last pregnancy resulted in a late miscarriage.  |After Lowrie and Caroline's wedding one of their number is reported missing and the following morning a body is found.  It soon becomes clear that this is a murder and Perez is called into investigate.  

Definitely worth a read if you are a fan of Ann Cleeves ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My second March read is the novel Too Close by Natalie Daniels.  The story tells you about the life of Constance before the accident that led to her being a  resident of a psychiatric unit. Constance is a  young mother who has no recollection of the accident that brought her here. She is accused of driving  her car off a bridge and into water with her daughter and her daughter's friend in the back.  Dr Emma Robinson  is assigned to Constance as her Forensic Psychologist who has to work with Constance to establish whether she will be fit for trial.  Emma Robinson has her own demons with the loss of her daughter in a terrible accident. The two women become very close during the time they are working together and at times Emma questions whether she has crossed the professional boundaries but at the same time she doesn't think that Constance intentionally wanted to harm the children in her care. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and it is definitely well worth reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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What have I been watching on the telebox of late. 

Having read the Natalie Daniels novel I went on to re-watch the drama series of the same name starring Emily Watson as Dr Robinson. Is is still available to watch on ITV hub and is equally well worth a watch and kept very close to the original story. 

Hollingford Drive is set on a modern housing estate. Two sisters live their with their respective partners and children.  When a young boy goes missing and later found dead suspicion falls on the local residents and in particular two school children who parents would do anything to protect them and themselves. 

A bit predictable in places but still worth a watch and is currently available on ITV hub ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lastly is a film I have wanted to see for a long time and finally found it by accident whilst looking for a film to watch on Netflix,

August in Osage County is set in Oklahoma. A death in the family brings Bev and Violets dysfunctional family back together.  Following the funeral dinner family secrets are revealed causing yet more pain to Violet's three daughters who in turn have their own issues that they are trying to deal with.  Starring Meryl Streep. Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberpatch and definitively worth watching ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

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I think that brings us up to date for now.  Don't forget that the clocks go back this weekend and here in the UK we will be celebrating Mothers Day so what ever you are doing to celebrate I hope all the mum's and to be mum's have a great day.

Mx