I had to have a little break from all this virtuous ufo finishing... (actually some of them are so old that it's like working on a new project!)
A tiny eggcup found in a charity shop provided the required inspiration:
Yes ok, I didn't really need a new pincushion... but do you only make things you need?
I didn't think so. "I make because I am" or something like that..
And now back to virtuous work.
Sigh.
Yellow.
I'm craving yellow.
I would like to make a yellow shawl... but I'm on a yarn diet.
And the last batch of daffodils I bought for the kitchen table smelled absolutely awful (anyone knows why?) and had to be banished. Even the boys commented on how bad they smelled. Like manure almost.
So I bought a bunch of irises instead. There's a little bit of yellow in there.
I am tempted to paint the sideboard yellow... and whilst I'm restraining myself I bought a small can of yellow spray paint and gassed a twig wreath I found in the garage.
Ahhhh.
Better. Much better.
Not enough yellow around yet though.
The back to school clock is ticking... and my hands are itching to re-claim the house, to take down decorations that don't seem to have purpose anymore, to tidy, to de-clutter, to re-fresh.
The tree will stay untill the 6th and that's an unmoveable date but the rest of the stuff can slowly go whilst the Kings make their way to baby Jesus. I don't know what kind of genetically modified tree it is but it's not shedding any needles...it's dry as a bone and it has simply gone all droopy and sad... baubles slid off it. Weird. And a little bit scary.
Today I gathered all the Christmas cards and chopped them up for tags for next year. (I've also done two hours of ironing and 4 loads of washing. Urgh)
I feel very virtuous about this even if it's not the first time, it feels more like another new year's routine like eating an odd number of grapes and humming Auld Lang Syne (because seriously... who knows the words?) at midnight.
I've had my grapes, hummed the tune, cut the tags. I'm ready for the next 360 days or so.
Ish.
... posting every day in November failed me. Still for a first attempt 25 out of 30 isn't too bad, right? Things have calmed down a little around here and although I feel like I'm still swimming against the current at least now my head is above water. It helps!
Trying to post every day was an interesting experiment. Yes it added another item to the list of each day, but on the plust side it made me realise that there is always something that can be shared. Something that happened, something that didn't. Something I heard or saw or made. Or that made me angry. I reckon I might try again next year; we'll see.
In a few hours I'll set off to pick up my mum from the airport. I still haven't made her bed up yet (!!) but I have time. (She says with a nervous laugh).
First I'd like to show you this:
It's the same calendar I made a couple of years ago; they boys actually requested it and I just could't say no.
This time I painted the cans red instead of white (because that is the paint I had in the garage... )
I almost made one for the 25 so that I could have a perfect pyramid!
Stroud International Textiles Festival 2011
(I spent some lovely time at the Museum in the Park
I wasn't really allowed to take pictures... I just sneaked a few when nobody was looking. It was a great little exhibition.
Jane Edgar
("a showcase of post war printed and woven textiles made from 1937 to 1951)
Tilleke Schwarz (just love her work)
Clyde Olliver (stitching on slate? yes please)
Lynne Setterington (quilts... always a pleasure)
a huge drawing with threads and nails. Gorgeous.
Jessica Turrell (delicate and powerful)
the English language in a jar
how cool is that? (don't tell me you're not tempted to do it too...)
Interesting, fabulous, inspiring work.
All of it.
My sampler is back from the framer:
It was one of you kind people out there that suggested the modern frame and I'm so glad you did...
The sampler was designed by Jane Greenoff and it was meant to be worked with red thread and across one strand of linen. I changed the colour and worked over 2 strands, making it much bigger!
and added a 'secret' word...
My mum did the sampler in its intended way:
It's very small, but so cute!
The boys are back in school tomorrow.... I've got some quilting to show you...
Just in case you're wondering - I am - this is still a craft blog.
And crafting is happening in the background, I can assure you... it's just that... well certain things are secret (I'm designing a quilt for SewHip, shhhh) and most of them aren't finished. I'm kind of 'butterflying' from one project to the next making small and not very noticeable progress in all of them and therefore there is not much to show you.
This is one of the works in progress
Cross-stitch and I go back a long way. I remember walking into a gorgeous craft shop in Rhode Island over 20 years ago (gulp) and falling in love with all the samplers on the wall... my first one was huge. I remember the skeptical look I got from the shop lady who thought I was completely mad and delusional attempting such a project first time around but I was smitten by the alphabet and all those New England houses running around the outside. To this day I've never done anything as big. Unfortunately it was left on the wall of an old boyfriend's house (doh) and it's now lost. I also lost a box containing about ten samplers I completed through the years, during a house move... sad. So so sad.
I began the one above last Christmas when staying with my parents (mum got the cross-stitch bug too). I don't know why I stopped working on it because I really like it still. I think using blue thread gives it a more contemporary edge that will hopefully appeal to Mr M who dislikes samplers about as much as I love them. I'm looking for a modern way of framing it too, so if you have any ideas, please let me know!
Keep crafting people!
At random:
- The boys went back to school. Ohhhh they tried to claim blinding headaches and belly aches but I was ruthless and didn't believe them. Off they went.
- The silence was wonderful.
- Last night I hosted our monthly bookclub meeting. I baked a chocolate cake and smothered in cream cheese frosting and finally I've been able to decorate it with bunting.
I can't remember how long I've had a photo of this idea on my wall... and when I saw that Ali had done the same thing for her son's birthday (great minds think alike) and I couldn't wait any longer. I don't know what my friends thought of it. They don't know of my secret blog-life... (and long may that continue...)
- This morning I couldn't bear the thought of throwing the bunting away. So I recycled it:
Just indulge me, please?
- I received my copy of Selvedge. I haven't had the chance to look at it yet.
- I have a cold. I never have colds. My head feels all fuzzy (name that film... shortly before that line the protagonist talks about daisies... she claims they're the friendliest flowers... c'mon, I know you know it!!)
- I have been listening non-stop to Adele's latest album. It's getting a tad ridiculous.
- I have also made bunting for the kitchen... oh my... why do I have bunting on the brain???
- Nobody noticed.
- No child, no husband... nobody. I wonder how long it will take them?
In the meantime, have a good weekend.
Today is my sister in law's birthday.
She's a cool chick. She's been working really hard for the past five years to earn a teaching degree, whilst holding down a full time job and looking after her family. Now, not contented with all this she's also becoming a forest school practitioner. Unstoppable.
We wanted to give her a present that was useful and pretty and a little bit home-made.... So Mr M came out with the flask idea (for those cold days in the woods surrounded by muddy children) and I dressed it.
Because you can't beat circles of bright colours and big stitches.
What do you do when you favourite soft grey sweater gets washed a little too hot and shrinks a little?
It's still soft. Still beautifully silvery grey. Still wonderfully warm.
I tell you what you do.
You cut it.
Oh yes, you cut the neck off, slice open the front...
but then you lovingly attach the most gorgeous Liberty bias binding tape all around it
and voila'...
a new cardigan!
