a few tasty morsels

one of the most beautiful knitted pieces I've come across...ever...


my collection of metallic threads...I have no idea what to do with them...


a colourful elephant


3 smallest, littlest pets, tucked up


colourful kitties....

I've been trying to sort out my photographs. Can you tell?

easy come, easy go

We have an unexpected change of plan this weekend. We were looking forward to seeing some good friends but it's not to be. Lurg has laid R low. We must stay at home. Although disappointed, I find myself looking forward to forty eight hours of home-time. The kids helped me with the food shopping today. We have barbecue food for tomorrow. I don't actually need to leave the house until Monday morning. If our British weather can be consistent and do as it's told, it will be possible to spend the entire weekend at home.

I have plans:

- stick the colour-coded magazine clippings, cards and found stuff into the square sketchbooks I seem to be attracted to and get some mood boards going
- draw our new chickens
- make an embroidery sketchbook
- knit more lopi wool felt swatches
- do a little plan for my summer of creativity
- craft myself a little health and vitality book so that I can start my 40 days of health and wellbeing on Monday (see projectforty)
- work out what the point of twitter is and why I have felt compelled to sign up
- enjoy a little family time
- take some photos (apologies for repeat showing of the above!)

Let's see how I get on shall we? Will check back on Monday...enjoy the sunshine

buttons, badges, ribbons and hens

Buttons on my mantelpiece.

Chicken on my windowsill.

Badges on the lintel above my cooker.

Harmonious patchwork strips on my sewing machine.

Handmade comforter for O on my kitchen worktop.

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My creative life has taken a somewhat chaotic turn. One day I draw. The next I sew. I knit in the evenings and I'm in the middle of what I am calling my 'great aunt makes'. I spent an enjoyable day yesterday with 6 other ladies on a workshop entitled 'harmonious patchwork strips'. We died calico, cotton and silk along with threads and other embellishments and stitched them together to make tonal wall hangings or pictures. I would like to make mine into a book wrap but with the current demands on my time, this may take a while.

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It was fantastic to spend a day playing on my sewing machine. I can't be a proper stitcher as my sewing machine is not a Bernina. As with all hobbies and activities, the hierarchy of kit and equipment is immediately evident. I became increasingly covetous yesterday of P's collection of bobbins, pre-wound in a rainbow of shades.

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I estimate I sewed for a total of 3 hours out of the 6. The longest I've spent machining, well, ever. I managed a few straight lines but my technique is, how can I put it? Organic. Possibly eclectic.

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Today I made a ribbon blanket comforter for O. I hope he likes it. Or rather, I hope his parents like it. I learned of them at my knitting group. The babies like to feel the satin ribbon and the softness of the fleece. I have fabric left for more. I just don't have other babies to give them to. I'm off to have a trawl through my sewing magazines. I think knitting maybe about to have a summer break.

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I have to snatch my crafting time from the jaws of other demands. I'm actually quite enjoying it. It makes me do more and it makes me appreciate the things I get to see or go to. I am finally beginning to accept that the more I have to do, the more I get done and the more 'free time' I have, the more space there is for procrastinating. What I need now is a little creative focus.

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random acts of craftiness

I love How About Orange and this endpage of a book I stole from my friend S (she saw it first at the jumble sale) reminded me of all the lovely things on Jessica Jones' blog.

I also love wool/fibre/yarn and find it impossible to resist new-looking-stuff. Hence the purchase last weekend of some 100% Icelandic Lopi Roving which, according to its label is 'unspun' and 'fragile'. I have to say, I think it's found its natural home in my house. My plans for it are also a little unspun and fragile although I think they involve bowls and felted baskets. Who knows? I am now at the point of project-overload with plans and ideas a-plenty and zero time to accomplish anything. Recognise that little scenario?

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Inspiration has come from many sources this week and here, my friends, is a list....

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my fabulous Aunties (we went for a beautiful walk with S at Westonbirt and saw this)

- ferns (the beginnings of which punctuated our walk)

- the Stroud textile festival where I saw some amazing new work by Michael Brennand-Wood and gleaned some good ideas from the vintage shop in Stroud and their collection of beaded and beautiful dresses.

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bits and bobs

a small collection of small objects:

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a vintage ribbon on a spool from Leigh, Lancashire (birthplace)

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tickets to see favourite band Starsailor (you'll cry when listening to those lyrics - promise)

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a small strawberry made by smallest child

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a small book picked up on a recent visit to Columbia Road market

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a milk bottle tag from a summer purchase

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a representation of Audrey Hepburn's right armpit

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you didn't know I had such an eclectic mantelpiece now, did you?!

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can't stay long. I have the small matter of a kingsize duvet to wrestle with before I can go to bed. Must do it now otherwise bad mood will ensue when arrive by bedside with task to compete at 11pm.

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will blog craftily again shortly.

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the business of books....

I have started to practice 'morning pages' as recommended by Julia Cameron.


A book, made simply by collecting handmade papers, bought over the years and sandwiching them between some card.


More books, each made in a different way. From the top:

- A4 copier paper, folded into 16 squares, cut and folded
- A4 graph paper, cut and folded
- handmade cover, stitched signatures
- the handmade paper sandwich
- envelopes with rings
- my work diary (I didn't make this, it is just ever-present in my existence)


Inspired by lobster and swan, my collection of cuttings, tearouts, adverts and bits and bobs from magazines, newspapers and any other piece of paper I've had my hands on over the last few months.

I'd just like to thank....

Kathy at Little House in the Big Burbs for giving me my first ever blog-licious award and, not only that, a badge to pin to my crafty chest....here goes.


In the spirit of the award, I must now list seven things I love and pass the award to seven others. I think the first element of this process will be much easier than the second, so much so that I am going to limit the things I love, otherwise I could fill my love quota in a trice.

7 lovely things:
- bamboo knitting needles
- my embellishing machine
- sketchbooks - making them, looking at other people's sketchbooks
- embroidery floss
- my camera
- pens
- blank paper

As a recipient of this prestigious award, I will now pass it to:

Brown Dog at Little Brown Blog
Jackie at Stitchworks
Shani at Stranded Yarns
Anna at See.Be.Draw
Calico Kate at Calico Kate
Abigal Thomas
Garden Girl at All things lovely

I'm not sure what I do now. Do I tell them? I think I'll just wait for them to realise.

Happy Easter.