Bank holiday washout!

Gosh a lot has happened since my last post! I went to Plymouth last Wednesday for my conference (and book launch!), which was great. Realising how rotten a five hour train journey in prole class (sorry, standard class) would make me feel, I had the foresight to book a first class upgrade – only £20 difference (on a standard fare of £180 – ouch). However, I didn’t have the foresight to fully prepare for the ten hour round trip, and the yarn stash was fully depleted one hour into the return leg!

Anyway, the two balls of Debbie Bliss’s finest have been put to good use as a bag for my mum (photos to follow soon), although it’s looking that nice that I may actually keep it (my mum doesn’t read this blog, so thats alright yeah?)! Crochet traumas aside, the conference was a great experience. The book launch was ace and I was very excited (or should that be excitable?) about seeing my name in print. And the free wine! Oh, the free wine!!! Mental note – must not gratutitously swig free bottles of wine when presentation is scheduled for 9 a.m. the follwing day (although B&B fry-ups certainly helped to redress the balance).

This weekend was a bit of a washout – wasn’t it for everyone? We spent most of the weekend in the car, scoping out areas that we’d like to move to. The three hours a day getting to and from work have finally pushed Johnny to breaking point, so it’s all change. Unfortunatley, we ruled out a move to York, as pretty as it is, as the commute would still be untenable. We also ruled out Headingley in Leeds as the houses were so ridiculously priced (it’s Leeds, not London!), although my heart did go out to all the washed-out cricket fans that we saw (soggy grass skirts and boxers do not a good look make). So we’re back to the drawing board… Will keep you all posted, as there’s still some irons in my fire (ahem). Life is just a heady mix of papers to write, job apps to fill in, bags to crochet and houses to view!

WIP, WIP, Hooray!!!

At last, I have finally finished off the project I started at Easter using the vintage buttons. The crochet and buttons were finished weeks ago, but I just could not be bothered to get the iron out to fix the interfacing. Why is it that so many things fall down at the last hurdle? Anyway, it’s done now and I’m very pleased with the results.

The patter was from Debbie Stoller’s The Happy Hooker (pattern on p. 137). I love this book – I taught myself to crochet from it at Christmas and haven’t looked bag. The patterm has been modified slightly. I did 47 rows, rather than 39 as I tend to take a fair bit of stuff out with me. In the light of this, I also lined the bag up to and around the handles to give it greater strength.

I’ll not be posting again for a few days as I’m going to a conference in Plymouth (and should be packing now, in advance of the mammoth train journey later today). I’m a little nervous about it as I’m delivering a presentation on my work to loads of academic types and I’m the most junior by a long shot. I’m also a little excited as I’m going to a (my) book launch tomorrow! My name in print!!!! Well, a chapter to be precise, but it’s a start. I have worked so hard recently, so it’s lovely to see the fruits of my labour paying off.

Hopefully will have some interesting stuff to report here over the coming weeks as there are massive changes afoot in our household at the moment. I am very excited about them all but am sworn to secrecy. I feel like I am going to burst! Things are finally coming together professionally and personally after a very difficult five years and I’m lovin’ it! Hopefully the eczema under my eyes will vanish now and I can leave the biccie tin alone!

Wish me luck for Plymouth *tightly crossing fingers*…

Arctic Monkeys

Okay, so the eskimo costumes were meant for kids, but why should they have all the fun?

Little brother and I at the Weston Park Museum, Sheffield

Bears, bears, bears (and some cake for good measure)

The past week has been bear-tastic in this house! First of all some bear-related purchases, starting with this beautiful wristlet, decorated with yo-yo flowers and a small bear softie, from Isa’s Etsy shop. I’ve long admired Isa’s embroidery and sewing skills, so when she added some new bags to her shop I was quick to grab one!

Then, I just couldn’t resist this little vampire bear called Spook and his bat friend Pampy in Mumka’s Etsy shop. Before you think I am draining her shop of all stock and keeping it to myself, I must explain. John and I got together on Hallowe’en way back in 2000. Since then, I have has a soft spot for anything Hallowe’en related, and tend to go in for it in a big way. In any case, it’s a long time between our brithdays (Feb/Mar) and Christmas, so it’s nice to have something fun and celebratory to look forward to during the long, dark winter months.

As usual, though, work has stymied my creative activities and last week’s WIP using the vintage buttons remains unfinished and gathering dust. But another WIP is on the go (mental note – must finish one project before commencing on another). I’ll not reveal too much, but here’s a taster.

And from ‘taster’ to ‘tasty’ (d’ya see what I did there?!?), I baked a cake! A real treat in our household as with only two of us, there’s not always the stomach capacity for a full cake. But, sod the cellulite – it was raining and we needed a treat, so I delivered one in the form of a cherry and almond loaf, taken from Nigella’s How to be a Domestic Goddess. She *so* had me in mind when she named that!

What inspires you?

In the craft sense?* For me, there’s two things that have always caught my imagination and inspired creative ideas. First of all, my Great-Grandma’s throw. I remember this being draped over me when ill as a child, and when either John or I are ill now, it’s still the first thing to come out. It must easily be forty years old, and there’s definitely loads more life in it still! I always used to wonder how such a tiny crochet hook could make something as impressive (not to metion massive – it’s bigger than a double bed!).

The second thing is my recently-aquired vintage button stash. My dad found these in a house clearance in the early 1980s and I reckon they’re from the 1960s at least. There’s nearly 2lb of them!!! When I was given them by my mum recently, my brother accused me of stealing a ‘family institution’, although in his 23 years I have never seen him with a needle and thread! I’ve a project on the go that is using some of them, which I hope to finish over the weekend.

* On a deeper level, I’m inspired by the thought of ever having to move back to my home town – it keeps me going and pushes me along (google ‘Fleetwood’ and you’ll understand!).

Sheldon the Turtle

Today is a Bank Holiday, and with the sun shining, John and I decided to talk a stroll through Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens. This beautiful, early Victorian park has been painstakingly restored over recent years and the results are truly breathtaking. The Gardens are home to a multitude of plants, shrubs and flowers, but the real centrepiece are the amazing curved glass pavillions, which house a variety of exotic species from all corners of the globe. For a girl like me who adores flowers, this is absolute heaven and I quickly proceeded to try and capture as many of the beautiful sights as possible (which are now on my Flickr account). I think that these two details are my favourite.

However, whilst I was snapping away, something small and green caught my eye.

A turtle, sans shell, sunbathing completely in the buff!!! I don’t know who was more embarassed as he scuttle away and coyly peered out of the branches.

After I gave him a minute or two to compose himself (and more importantly to get dressed), he came back out to make his introductions. He said that his name was Sheldon, and asked if he could possibly hitch a ride in my oversized handbag? Given that there were now no secrets between us, I said ‘yes.’ As quick as a flash he jumped in, snuggled into his shell and looked up contentedly.

Want your very own Sheldon? Then look here on the Knitty site.

Happy Birthday to You (Two)!!!

It’s a very special day in the life of two of my favourite men today. My Dad is celebrating his birthday today, so ‘many happy returns Dad – you’re the best!’ I’ll not shame him and reveal his age, but I’m 27, so do the maths… Here’s a photo of him to remind him of his more youthful days!

At some point this month it’s also the birthday of my favourite sweetie, Mr Victor. I’ve lost his birth certificate, but know it’s some point in early May. He’s seven!!! Many meowy returns, little puss.

The perfect sewing kit…

…even if I do say so myself!

Not being the most experienced crafter in the world, I like small projects that allow me to try new skills with (near) instant results. Recently I decided that I would quite like to work in felt, and after using the arm of the sofa one too many times as pin cushion, decided that a needle case and pin cushion were called for. Katy Cactus is my first ever felt stuffie – she’s double-lined with felt to stop her innards coming out when pins are driven into her. I am pretty impressed with myself, although I realise that a cactus pin cushion isn’t the most original idea in the world (but it is to me). The sweet little needle case, I am sad to say, is not so original. The hedgehog design on the front was inspired (read ’shamelessly copied’) by a little bag that Isa made on her Crafting with Love site. It was so cute that I couldn’t resist – humble apologies Isa. She did it much better than me!