Thursday, July 29, 2010

Holiday Hiatus

Just to let you know that we're away on holiday tomorrow until a week on Tuesday - as I haven't packed for myself yet, it's time to get my hands off the keyboard and into the suitcases!

See you all when I get back - I promise that there will be a big splurge on the altered art goodies!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Waving from happy times

Lovely blog readers, I feel that I'm neglecting you.  In my defence, I am having a fabulous time with my family - there has been ear piercing, morsbagging, computing, berry picking, jam and jelly making, sleepovers, barbecuing, playing, sewing and general relaxing galore.

We've cared for a friend's hamster for a week and in return received the most amazing trug full of fresh allotment produce

My husband took me out for lunch in Loughborough and we were transported to the middle east

Children and friends have enjoyed trampolining
and composting
I am loving the summer break this year!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Ironing = love

In ironing, a fabric is heated through the gla...Image via Wikipedia
I am being very naughty sitting on here and playing about when I should be doing the ironing - again!  Mountains of rumpled clothes are waiting to be turned into expressions of love, hugs to wrap around my loved ones (not that they will think that, but I will know!)
Image via Wikipedia
Q TipsI'm trying out Zemanta - just to see what the heck it's about!  Do any of you use it?  Any tips?
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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Fiendish Giveaway Update 3

OK, sorry to have been a bit absent from this - to make up for it, I'm going to add some more lovely items - a yard of punchinella/sequin waste, some sea glass, a purple tag, a brass heart, some jigsaw pieces and some used postage stamps - a mixture of foreign and UK from a variety of decades

sorry for the lack of pics again - I feel a headache looming!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Fabric lust

Alpine Fabrics: Category: Domestic Diva

I so hope this comes over here. Anyone know of a UK stockist?

Summer Manifesto

I've been almost away from the world of screens and their constituent countries of blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Ravelry for a few days.  I realised that I was feeling anxious about catching up with everything / everyone - ridiculous - so it's either change that attitude or at some point I am going to have to scale down my online activities.  I think that will happen naturally this summer as having pondering my enjoyment of my extended weekend I came up with a simple manifesto for this precious summer.

MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY

So, that's what I'm off to do as there are things to make, homecomings to arrange, children to hug, gardens to care for, space to discover, people to love and moments to experience. 

Don't worry - I'll be reporting back!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Fiendish giveaway Update 2

No pics yet as have to go out in a moment- just added -

bits of altering 'kibble' - a ruler, a stick on Ganesh, some tags, teeny stick on gems and whatever else usable I find in a container I'm going through.........

I'm also going to add in a bonus item that you will only be able to claim if you are a follower the day before you say 'MINE': a beautiful cream painted metal tin 8" by 5 1/2" marked herbs, with 6 small herb tins inside (great for altering / storage)

Vintage Sewing - lucky me!

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Back in the mists of weeks ago, I was really happy to write about a fabulous charity shop find - the most darling snake charmer basket stuffed to the gunnels with wonderful sewing and knitting things.   Here's a collage tour for your delectation - if anyone wants to see larger pics of any of the items, just let me know and I'll oblige.

Personally, I'm taken with:
- the old cotton reels - there's an eau de nil one which I love, plus a darker wood large reel that is  swoonworthy by itself
- British Safety Pins - would this be a wartime packaging - very sparse
- hand painted green buttons - teeny tiny mushrooms
- advertising descriptions on the needles
- old bags - memory lane
safety pin box - bless!

and more - summarised as 'I love it all!'

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

My winnings!

Remember I won a giveaway recently?  Well it's here - two beautiful skeins of handpainted beauty and a bonus badge that I will wear with pride:

I would post more, but there's a thunderstorm so off I go!

I've got an Award

My first blogger award!  I was really surprised to see that I was the first blogger to be listed on Susie's award post on useless beauty designs - how flattering

So I am proudly displaying my award:


and will happily comply with the requirements:

Thank the blogger who bestowed you with the award.


Thank you Susie - we're new internet friends so I'm enjoying slowly getting to know you


Sum up your blogging experience, philosophy and motivation in five (5) words.

  1. fun
  2. creativity
  3. contact
  4. inspiration
  5. addiction



Nominate 10 deserving bloggers

All Things Quilty
Lilys Quilts
ALTERED ART AND A LOAD OF TAT
Inside Out Style
Flossie Teacakes
If the Knit Fits
That Intuitive mum
Mimi Love
The Artful Zebra
down---to---earth

Fibre adventure

Lovely Fiona gave me my first lesson in spinning at knit night last week.  It's a lot harder than it looks!  I was instructed to soak the results in hot water to set the twist, so I went the whole hog and had a go at dyeing too, using a pack of Koolaid.  I've a small stash of packets that Lori sent me all the way from S Carolina - many years ago we were all ATC and altered art freaks together - just occasionally there's a benefit to being reluctant to throw things out!   

So, here's my photo story of not quite fluff to finished article, but all the steps in between.  And yes, that is one of Alice Starmore's books - a bit tattered but a bargain from a charity shop.  TBH I don't really get why so many rave about her - can anyone enlighten me?
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Oh, can anyone suggest what I can make with about 16 yards of bumpy orange oddness?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Fiendish altered art giveaway Update 1



As promised, here's the pic of the initial items. and here's what I'm adding today- vintage slides!

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down---to---earth: Tick tock tick

Please, take time to read this post and at least a few of the comments down---to---earth: Tick tock tick. Now look at your day, your to do list, the things that are preying on your mind and be happy that you are here to experience them, plan for them and work through them

I'm off to be grateful that I'm tidying up!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Fiendish altered art supplies giveaway

As promised, here is my fiendish giveaway.  I did one of these a few years ago and got such a kick out of it, so thought it high time I did another to celebrate the last week of school, the change in the weather and DS going abroad with school for the first time.  Also, it helps with my decluttering (see my other blog: From Clutter to Tranquility for details of that!)

This one is going to be altered art supplies focused, but if there is a good response there may well be other crafty ones - possibly scrapbooking, fabric and knitting related

I am going to have an envie / box that I will add at least one item to every day. Whoever leaves a comment saying 'MINE' will get the contents - the twist of course is that the longer you wait, the more you will get - unless someone else gets in there first...... so can you bear to wait?  Other comments are welcome, only the MINE comment claims it!

I'm seeding this one with five great items to start with :

Perfect Pearls in Berry Twist
6 5" elastic cords and barbs for use in bookmaking and more
A set of Tim Holtz metal disks
A Maya Road Coffee Break Chipboard Book
A single microscope slide holder (no slide)

I'll post pics later

(I reserve the right to send this giveaway by surface mail if an international friend nabs it - you never know)

Dots N Stripes

Dots N Stripes

Competition entry

I want to put - don't look here, nothing to see, just because otherwise there might be more people enter the giveaway here- what a Grinch!

Thursday, July 08, 2010

My return swap


Now that my partner has received her swap, I can show what I sent. Given that the spending bar for this Ravelry 'Cheap as Chips' Swap is £5, I thought I did well. If you hadn't guessed it, the theme was purple so I had great fun amassing this and making the cover of the notebook.

I won't be able to participate in next month's swap, but I don't want to miss out on the fun, so I've decided to be my own swap partner. The theme is floral I think - wonder what I'll get myself?
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Giving notice

I'm going to be running a fiendish giveaway next week (and maybe more than one if I have fun), to celebrate the last week of the school year around here.  I've run a similar one in the past and know I have to be around to do it properly - hence why it's not a good idea to try to fit it in over the weekend where someone in the house celebrates a big birthday, competes in a triathlon and needs to get ready for a holiday in France next week....

You Just Gotta Keep Knittin'

You Just Gotta Keep Knittin': "Time flies when you're living life"

Think that just sums it all up!

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Project bag fun

I was inspired to make myself a project bag over the weekend (sewing bloomers just wasn't enough!). 

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and its deceptive roominess - I got my almost finished 80s raglan into it without problems when I went for tea with a friend.

I've got an idea for sewing another knitting project related bag floating around in my head - I will have to play with it for a while until I get what I'm thinking of from brain to fabric

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Monday, July 05, 2010

Summer Party



We went to a fabulous party - a DIY barbecue, Pimms, inflatables and the most glorious weather. The dress code for women was hilarious - posh frocks and big pants, so I equipped myself and DD with the biggest pants of all - bloomers! She looked cute, I looked more like a pantomime dame, but it was so worth it for the giggle
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Sunday, July 04, 2010

Leicestershire Woolfest

Leicestershire had its own tiny woolfest today - it was great!  I met up with various members of Loughborough Knitters, the Big Knit and random woolly minded people (I'm not saying which categories those pictured below fit into!);


wandered up to meet sheep and the alpacas that guard them;
and had a thoroughly great time.  Hopefully this is the start of something great for Leicestershire!

I do knit, I promise!

Given the lovely weather, I thought I'd have a go at knitting with some 80s flavour mint green Cotton Top I have in my stash, courtesy of the local scrap store many years ago. 


I decided on The Incredible, Custom-fit Raglan Sweater for my pattern, using the V neck instructions, adding in a few cream stripes of Fiori at the top for variety (plus I started to get myself worried about how much wool I'd got).  I 'm half way down the body and it is fitting wonderfully.  Shame that mint green isn't so much my colour, but I could have an adventure and overdye it once it's finished.  Any suggestions for a colour would be welcome!

Friday, July 02, 2010

Swappity swap goodies

I took part in a swap on Ravelry and look what I got:

Yum - chocolate for lunch!

I won yarn!

A better post about this tomorrow, but I won yarn on http://graceysgoodies.blogspot.com/ - my first blog giveaway win!