Blogging

I was very kindly lent a book by Ros, called Blogging for Bliss, which has inspired me to set about improving the blog. It is a really useful and user friendly book full of excellent tips and ideas and there are some great examples of blogs to take a look at. So I have begun to change things in the hope that I will make the blog as eyecatching and interesting as possible. I would be grateful for any comments. What do you think of the design so far?

Back to work tomorrow - the end of the summer holidays. Back to routine and academia, deadlines and targets. I now have to think philosophy instead of crochet, religious art instead of patchwork. Im hoping that this will be the last year that I have to rely on my income as a teacher and that the shop will start paying me a wage. I think Im getting there, things seem to be picking up and Ive been thinking of ways to promote the shop, the classes etc. I have lots to look forward to over the coming months and I hope that I can balance the challenges of two jobs, three children and all the obligations that come with those roles. I'm going to think positive, set myself realistic goals and try and keep calm................

Life is so precious

Today has been tinged with sadness as I said farewell to one of my oldest friends, Brian, who passed away last week. Many of Brian's, and indeed my, oldest friends turned up to celebrate his life and support his wife Bev and son Josh.

I won't go on at length but I wanted to share this with you because I want to say the obvious. Life is too short, so live, love and laugh often. Tell those nearest to you how much you appreciate them and forget whatever it is that niggles you about them.

I took a picture of the 'boys' for posterity and because we don't see enough of each other. The grey hair and bald patches are there but we're still smiling and healthy.

As Brian used to always say, 'Bless Yer' bruv, until we meet again...now where's my cup of coffee...

Footnote: Lawrence is wearing my glasses because he refuses to accept that old age has got the better of him and he needs his own!

village green

What a horrid day, rain rain and more rain. Typical school holiday weather really. The window cleaner, who fancies himself as a meteorologist, duped me and told me that it was going to be really warm and sunny throughout the summer and I fell for it. Should have known better.

It's been quiet in the shop today, nice and peaceful and I had time to do a bit of knitting. We are getting ready for Village Green in September, which promises to be a fantastic event again, weather permitting of course. So I thought I'd show you some of the brooches that Annette has been making and part finished handwarmers which I started this morning. We have got loads more to make before we are ready but at least we've started...

It's been a while

Hi all,
It's been a while since last I blogged. As usual life flies by at a fast pace and I have lots to tell you. Firstly, one reason for my lack of blogging is because I have been working on an exciting commission. I was asked to provide a range of items for a photo shoot for the Christmas edition of Ideal Home. How exciting! My brief was to create a range of homemade articles in shades of Nordic red and white. So along with my trusty team of helpers we have been knitting, crocheting, sewing and patchworking like the clappers to meet the deadline. The results were fantastic and the shoot is taking place over the next few days in a beautiful house in the Oxfordshire countryside. Hopefully some of our bits will feature in the mag when it is published. I cant wait to see it. A big thanks goes to Annette, Mad Jen, Lilian, Sue, Jane and especially Lara and Debbie, who made it all possible.
Anyway, this has prompted me to finally get to work on adding an online shop to the website (you never know, we might get some orders once the mag is published). Oh but what a nightmare for someone who has a pathological dislike of computers and anything technical. Lets just say, so far I've thought about what I will include in the shop. As for actually getting it done......aaaaggghhhhhhh. Watch this space!

I'm such a square

I've been asking myself why I like squares so much. Is it a sad reflection of my personality? I've always been a hearts and flowers kind of girl but recently I find myself hankering for all things square - patchwork squares, crocheted granny squares, square shaped jumpers, square cushions. There is just so much to inspire!

Had a great weekend last week. I went to Guilfest, the must-visit festival for the Eighties Chick (I told you I was square!). Took my little Rock Chick baby, spent an absolute fortune, had a fantastic time watching Kid Creole and the Coconuts ("Mum...why are they singing no more casual sex????"), the Human League, Status Quo and others. Spent two nights in a tent with 6 children and had the biggest laugh ever. What a tonic!

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

What a scorcher of a day. It was busy in the shop this morning. Crochet club was on so Mad Jen was in making us laugh. She brought with her the most gorgeous baby blanket that her mum had made. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic so I cant show you but I'll try and get one - it really is truly scrumptious. Jen's sister Amy, who created the granny square blanket which features on my website and logo, made another one for me because a) I don't have the time and b) she is the neatest crocheter ever!

Jen has also been busy crocheting some gorgeous amigurumi animals for the shop, which are sitting in the window, (I love Pickles the Pup, even when he is trying to pee up the side of the teepee!).

Anyway, I wanted to thank them, so I made them each a button jar with a pin cushion lid. They are easy to make and look really lovely sitting on a shelf, full of gorgeous buttons. I managed, thanks to Lara, to find some etched glass preserving jars on a website called Barnitts and they are perfect for the job because the centre of the lid comes out so that you can sit the pin cushion bit in the top. Anyway, take a look and let me know what you think.....

The afternoon was really quiet. I think everyone was too hot to come out shopping. I closed the shop early, picked my baby up from school with her friends and headed to Rossi's for an icecream which we sat and ate on the beach. Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.....

Sew Sew Lovely

Since joining the patchwork group, I've found myself becoming more and more puritanical about what I do. I've discovered that there is nothing to compare to hand stitching. I have always thought that using a sewing machine is the best course of action because it is quick, neat and even. But how wrong can one be!

There is something deeply satisfying about sitting around a table with a group of lovely people, drinking tea, chatting and sewing. I even like tacking! And equally satisfying is seeing something take shape that is completely hand made without the assistance of anything other than ones own steam. When I'm about to explode after a day at school, or shopping in Tesco (yuck) I can sit down with my sewing on my lap and take pleasure in a line of small and perfectly formed stitches (well almost perfect; I am still learning). And I can fondle the fabric as I go! (perhaps I need to get out more).

Having said all of this, it's early days and I haven't attempted the quilting yet (that's on next week's agenda). And would I like to make curtains by hand? Oh no, I don't think so..........