overmilkwood...

Five go down to the sea...

2012-01-26T19:06:00.010Z

I know I've been absent from the blogosphere for almost a year now (give or take two months) but I swear I've not been idle - there has been so much change.

So. Much. Change.

My status has changed from unhappily married (in the latter years only, we truly had some great ones prior to that) and gainfully employed (ie regularly earning) mother of two living in a red brick terrace in a SE London 'hood to unmarried Irish coastal farmhouse co-owning quasi self-employed girlfriend to a beautiful man ...who makes gingerbread houses on xmas eve for the small fry...

("girlfriend" ...who ever would have thought, at MY age too?!).

One thing remained happily constant throughout however : the mother of two bit...(praise the universe and all that is good for that)

charming I'm sure...

We moved lock stock and cat (of which more later) in mid October.

Into a rambling farmhouse on an acre of land by the Atlantic Ocean in deepest West Cork. Yes. It IS windy here, right by the Atlantic. Windy and glorious in equal measure.

The kids have settled in the local school, their only complaint is the smell of cowdung in the playground at lunchtime but when I asked about this recently they'd forgotten they'd ever mentioned it, so they are obviously acclimatising well. Heh heh. Good thing too as I'm not sure what I could have done about that particular issue.

We've been happy and content in general, missing friends in London greatly but not the place itself (yet). The only blow we had was the loss of my aged arthritic (it really was her time) cat Ms Jean Seberg who cast off this mortal coil early in the new year, to tears and dismay and a surreal spell where she was frozen by the vet for a week while we returned from a visit up the country in order to bury her in the garden where she was so happy.

I've been meaning to get back to this blog for ages now, since things have settled a bit, but never quite got around to it...until today.

Why today I hear you ask (heh heh heh...the sound of my silent audience...the ones who got bored to death waiting for me to say something, anything...is deafening)...well, the impetus was given by my reading this post by veryberry which calls out to people to Resolve to Sew in 2012...well, I'm up for that...indeed it forms a great part of my Grand Plan (which isn't really so Grand, nor even Well Formulated at this point, but definately involves sewing!) Let this be the point at which I officially share my Resolution To Sew 2012. (after I commission a wallet from the aforementioned extremely talented veryberry that is)I'll also share the fruits of that resolution on here as time goes by...without leaving 10 months between posts anymore. That'll be the other part of my resolution.

Back soon...(cue hollow laughter from the amongst the tumbleweed and dust...)

scarf to...to...to...hmmm...

2011-03-22T21:37:00.004Z

I've been trawling the charity shops like I always do and found a cheery scarf whose colours evoke for me boiled sweets by the seaside...[bad for the teeth but hey, we were young, we knew no better...] It had to be bought, and so it was.

It duly got shredded (well, cut into long strips). And the strips stitched together. A large crochet hook was located deep in the bottom of stitching craft paraphanelia box no.59 [third from the right, second shelf down].

Google was fired up and my almost annual search for how to perform those basic crochet stitches unleashed.

I was beginning to wonder whether I'd have enough of the strippaged yarn to make anything useful (cos, y'know, it's all about usefulness round here ;-) ) when, lo and behold, deep in to-be-upcycled-sometime-this-century stash box no. 33 [extreme left, bottom shelf] what did I find but another candy-striped scarf bought in a different charity shop sometime last year and utterly neglected, nay erased from the memory banks entirely.

A silver lining in the cloud of the hideous forgetfullness that forms the very core of my being these days.

Still not sure what it might end up being, but I do love it...

brooklyn meets canary meets the boyfriend (hat)...

2011-03-14T12:51:00.004Z

OMG...O...M...G...

how many months was that? flew by...in the twinkling of an eye...and the meanderings of a bleak London winter full of lurgeys and Too Much Day Job...(TMDJ by far!)

anyway, here we are again...I won't even apologise for my absence, or promise to do better next time...will just enjoy the fact that I've found a window and I have some bloggable photos on my laptop, all at the same time...

so, I've got this lovely friend called Bert (you may remember him, Bert the Baker from a previous post... what? just the last one? no way...it was AAAAGGGES ago...) and Bert needed a new scarf. He mentioned this to me and all the little cogs in my rusty old brain whorred and whirred and finally engaged upon the notion of making him just such an item for Xmas (ok, so it's a historical post, forgive me...some day I'll catch up with myself again...maybe). Apart from anything else it presented itself as a charming opportunity to try out some beloved noro yarn in the form of a lovely Brooklyn Tweed inspired stripey scarf. (BtB loves stripes)

Shock Horror though, the man started talking about needing a new scarf a bit TOO much. And looking at them in shops and craft fairs a bit TOO much. Yours truly began to get anxious, and worried. And wondered how to avoid having her present (non-original as it was) undermined by coming second to a new SHOP BOUGHT item (the HIDEOUSNESS!)... until the obvious solution presented itself : send him an anonymous warning note.

Of course!

One happy evening of cutting and sticking later (I may be 42 but the simple pleasures never fail me) the job was done and winging its way courtesy of her Majesty's most Royal Mail to deepest East London (where he lived at the time - I wasn't just randomly sending it to East London, oh no, I'm waaay cleverer than that)

And a couple more happy evenings of knitting and purling later (well, many hours on buses, trains, sofas, hard chairs and soft if I'm honest, my knitting ain't a speed sport) the scarf was born.

BtB loved it. And hadn't even bought himself a new scarf in the meantime. RESULT!

Later I added a small linen robot button and loop so he could fasten it tight (on super chilly mornings)

the addition of the button turned everything green...it was like magic*

and made him a matching hat, which I call Brooklyn meets Boyfriend as it's an amalgamation of the Brooklyn Tweed inspired noro striping and Stephanie's Boyfriend Hat

(waiting patiently for a tube)

And he wears them all the time...

Bye, for now....

*errr, not really

on a roll....bringing back elevenses...

2010-10-13T10:03:00.008+01:00

just over a week later and I'm back again...what's going on?!

Well, following on from my teacosy sucess last week I went one further, this week I made two teacosies and found a good cause to raffle them for...

...last Sunday morning I hosted a "Tea and Talk" event in support of the Mental Health Foundation...that's my kind of fundraising, none of that sweaty running about or (God forbid) dangling upside down from a length of elastic above some whitewater rapids...no, no, no give me elevenses (much underrated in my opinion) in my kitchen with a bunch of friends and a tableful of tea and cake anyday...

The full spread...mmm

...and just LOOK at this maple, chocolate and walnut swirl my friend Bert (Bert the Baker, nice ring to that actually) made for the occasion...particularly delicious heated up was that one...swoon...

with only 3 days notice lots of people turned up, ate cake, drank tea, bought raffle tickets from the ever eager Ms Reva and contributed £117.07 to this great cause...

here's the teacosy winning team, Amarapuspa and Jill with their prizes

I've also set up a Justgiving page and I'll try to put a widget on the sidebar in case anyone who wasn't there fancies throwing a few bob into the pot, as much or as little as you like...I might even run an online teapot and cosy raffle for those who support the cause that way...oooh, yes, now that might be a good idea...what do you think? Fancy a teapot and cosy to call your own?...

hmmm....that took a while...

2010-10-05T22:27:00.009+01:00

...I know...I know...it's a joke...veritably...

...however, I AM still alive [apparantly]...

...and I even knit something last week : a pretty orange eco-wool tea cosy to keep my friend's tea...ummm...cosy...now Ms Bester wants one, but without the spout and handle holes, to wear as a nice bobble hat...sounds good to me

it's proving a funny old year...I'm hoping things will settle down soon and I'll be able to get back to crafting and connecting with my much missed crafters blogosphere...fingers crossed...

in the meantime...this is post 97...about a year ago I promised to make something nice to give away at post 100...watch the space as they say [at this rate of going you've only got a couple more years to wait!!! ]

long lost annie XXX

(from the sublime) to the ridiculous...

2010-01-25T21:43:00.006Z

ok, so there really was no sublime...but this is getting ridiculous...it's JANUARY!!! I posted last in OCTOBER...blimey, how did that happen?

well, stuff has been going on, as always. Big changes afoot chez Milkwood. Am sure I'll you all about them in due course.

The crafting has been hit as a result of the energy demanded by the changes, but I still have some things to show (as I should, I've had 3 bloody months!)

First up - my dear and darling friend Gail had herself a dear and darling third child, a beautiful little girl called Maya. So obviously it was an opportunity not to be missed to indulge my love of all things cute and cosy and rustle her up a baby quilt...

isn't she adorable? good god, I'll be coming over all broody next, and that would NEVER do, believe you me...

Then came Xmas (Happy Xmas all!) and I went a bit crazy making neck warmers for the ladies in my life. All from ultra gorgeous, warm and snuggley Noro Kureyon

One for Granny Margaret, another for Granny Una and a third for my lovely friend and colleague Mia, who much to my delight wears it every day in our chilly office (well, whenever I am there anyway, for all I know she rips it off with relief the minute I leave for the day - but I hope not)
Cute aren't they - I got the pattern from the woman down the wool shop, but apparantly you can get similar pattern on Marths Stewart's website - don't say I never tell you anything...

Oh, and I finally finished the Stolen Moments wrap, which I am very happy with...my one quibble with it is that it (the Big Wool I knit it from rather than the wrap per se) moults a lot all over my coat (one of the guys at work thought I was covered in cat hair - it's GREEN - huh? what kind of cats do they have in Sydenham then??...) and (oh, there appear to be two quibbles) it has gone very bobbley very quickly. Sigh.

Is very warm though and I LOVE the colour...(is a bit, um, greener, in real life)

Ok, I will make no promises about my return...but I hope to be back sooner rather than later...

Hope you are all doing ok out there in blogland and sorry again I've been so useless of late...

the shock...

2009-10-11T20:55:00.006+01:00

...of finding I hadn't blogged since July...and it is now October...OCTOBER!!!

Jeez I feel like I was dead or something. But I wasn't. Not really sure quite what was going on...oh yeah, real life (I think they call it) bloomin' 'eck it doesn't half get in the way of bloggin'n'craftin at times...

Anyway, here I am, back to some sort of bloggin'n'craftin half life at least...sorry about the hiatus...I'd promise it won't happen again (but you know what, I bet it does)...

Ms Reva had a birthday during that self-enforced silence...girl turned 7

We had a number of celebrations and I made her a cushion, well we made it together really, though she didn't know it was happening. Best sort of mum'n'dottir crafting where no-one quite knows what's going on. Happens a lot round here.

She stuck all these bits of fabric from my scrap box onto a square piece (from a sheet we had in our holiday "hut" in the 1970s - aaaah, those were the days) one day while I was busy doing something else and one night while she was busy doing something else (sleeping to be precise) I appliqued them all down exactly as she'd put them, added a back and a label (for I suffer from an acute case of labelitis) and an internal cushion and a crafty birthday pressie was born.

The look on her face on the morning of the day was priceless, and the sight of it on her bed every day better still.

Gotta do more of that sort of stuff. I love it.

Realised tonight this is my 95th, or 96th post. Now I know that's fairly pathetic over more than two years compared to all those prolific posters out there, but it does mean post no 100 is approaching (sometime in the next decade that'll be) and so I'll have to start thinking about a suitable giveaway for the traditional celebration. Unless fashions have moved on so far since I was around last of course that that is now passe. Hmmmm...watch this space... (ahem...if you have the patience of a saint that is)

Hope anyone who found their way back here again after my very impolite silence is well and enjoying life and all that Autumn (can it really be) has to offer...

21 go down to the sea...

2009-07-13T16:50:00.005+01:00

annual summer camping trip time again...our largest group outing to date...11 adults and 10 kids all went down to Dorset for a weekend of fun, frolics and fossils...

...chesil beach in the mist...

we managed to celebrate two birthdays

with home made cake...now a pre-requisite for any camping trip for me I'm afraid

...fit in some walking...

there be a baby in that there purple scarf refashioned into a sling apparatus

we visited some rocky beaches

the girls jointly invested many weeks pocket money in an inflatable

(versatile that scarf!)

and my lovely friend Jane (one of the Birthday Girls) even made a dress over the weekend...
a rather small dress, but a dress, nonetheless

go camping...it rocks!

random photos of those pesky smallfry...

2009-06-10T20:27:00.005+01:00

random pics of the smallfry, just because...

running through a doorway in the tudor part of Hampton Court Palace where we had a lot of fun thinking about King Henry "the Horrid" (as Esther christened him) - what a brilliant place for a day out with kids, from the palace with its kitchens and twisty turny corridors, to the maze which we had to lose ourselves in twice it was so much fun, to the formal gardens, the rose gardens (with a scent so beautiful it made us all stand still) and gorgeous wild areas in which to picnic...

had to include this shot of my wonderfully disaffected looking 6 going on 15 year old - doesn't she do sullen well? Fabulous [shivers at the thought of how well-practised she'll be by the time she actually hits 15]

it just took a bop on her trusty spacehopper to wipe that sulk from her face (how long will that grass last in the face of such bop-hopping? anyone's guess...)

ack, this one doesn't do sullen. Yet.

post sugary fudge making the old ritual of "licking the bowl". I did it with my sister (fighting over every last scrap of sweet goodness) and hopefully their kids will do it too...that old cycle of life eh? my mum would be proud to see me upholding the old traditions...

crafting? it'll be back soon, I promise...

midweek musings : smile

2009-06-03T08:18:00.001+01:00

Breathing in, I calm my body,
Breathing out, I smile,
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment

Thich Nhat Hanh: present moment, wonderful moment

knitters...sitting comfortably?

2009-05-30T21:32:00.006+01:00

the last project on my needles, way back in February and still, sad to say, a UFO

first of all, a huge thank you to all of you who were so positive in reply to my last post. It meant a lot to have so many nice messages telling me not to stop. Indeed so much so that I am quite convinced to continue, and not to feel guilt about the erracticness and random nature of my posting. So here I am, almost another three weeks later...hello...

I got an email during the week from the lovely Tanya Shoop. Tanya is the sister of a very good friend of mine who I met when studying for my MA in Art Theory at Chelsea School of Art here in London. The people I met on that course were far and away the best thing about it (suffice it to say the level of theoretisation ( is this a word?) I needed to apply during the course rendered me incapable of making art since...someday this will change I am sure...but not today or tomorrow I suspect) Anyway, I digress. Tanya is a great knitter (and one day we will knit together at our local Stitch'n'Bitch in the local pub, once I resolve my reservations about mixing booze and knitting, or at least learn the wisdom of the soft drink). Anyway. Not only is Ms Shoop a wonderful knitter but also a very gifted Alexander Technique therapist/teacher. Luckily for me her email contained this article, all about knitting in a way that should ensure you can keep on doing so past your forties. You knitters should all take note. Thanks Tanya. The knitting community salute you!

By the way, Tanya's website is well worth a visit, lots of hints and tips on there even if you happen not to be a knitter...

hot on the needles...new cardi for Ms Bester (who is still struggling into the one I knit her 4 years ago, age 8 months, and plaintively asking each time when I am going to knit her another...luckily for me she is the patient kind)

I wasn't quite practising what Tanya preaches down in the park this afternoon I'm afraid, but I excuse myself on the grounds that it's the first time I've picked up my needles since February so I was a tad overexcited...Once this overexcitement wears off it'll be straight backed chairs rather than picnic rugs for me, I swear...(as long as I can get a variation on the straight backed chair I can drag along to the park that is)

me, looking grim, I wasn't grim, honestly, I think it is just old age (and bad knitting posture, obviously)

As you can see the weather here in London is stunning. Our new garden is complete, it only took 13 months hard toil (well, erraticly spaced toil I should make plain, with lots of gaps for tea) and so we really are enjoying the mini-heatwave we've been treated to over the past week. Here are some snaps for my dad, who has been badly treated in terms of regular snaps of the work (he is interested in things like this, he used to be a carpenter, and a fine one at that)

look dad, a patio! some beds! steps! a lawn!

some tired landscape gardeners taking a well deserved rest and glass of bubbly

gratuitous shot of the table outside, later that night (I'm riveting dinner company with my camera around my neck I tell you)

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are...

going and returning...

2009-05-11T21:34:00.006+01:00

I can't quite believe it has been over a month since I last wrote here, I wonder what to do...should I stop altogether? this blog seems to be the last thing to get attention in my crammed full existence...but I love it...I love the friends I have made...I love the fact that I have somewhere to show my creative endeavours which somehow stimulates me to keep them up (although this has suffered much of late, hence the resounding silence I guess)...I love the knowledge that there is a little space out there over which I preside, where I can witter to my hearts content and no one can tell me not to...so I guess I'll keep it going for now, but as things remain crazy in my physical domain the posting is likely to be sporadic for a time...I'm sorry about that...

things are changing...I am changing...it's interesting and frightening and enlivening and liberating...but that's probably enough to say here, am not quite sure I am ready to share my soul completely...my crafts and other nonsense...absolutely, for sure!

so, not much crafting... Mr G flew away to Australia leaving me in sole charge of the smallfry...I did what any sane 40 year old mother of two would do...ran home to daddy!!! luckily I have a wonderful father who put his home and car at my disposal so we three ran amok on the highroads and byroads of the emerald isle. It was blissful.

Highlights of the trip:

spending Easter with my sister and her family in Co. Kildare...

Visiting the beautiful Japanese Gardens there and watching her two sons play Gaelic Football (not in the Japanese Gardens I hasten to add)

Walking on the gorse covered Curragh and smelling that evocative scent of coconut that magically emanates from those bushes...

visiting Fota Wildlife Park with my brother, his wife, one of my gorgeous grown up nephews, his girlfriend and her daughter...

native to Ireland? err, don't think so...

Laughing so much with my sister in law that tears were rolling down my face and I nearly had to pull the car over (dad, it's not true, really, I swear)....

Being cooked the most amazing curry by another of my gorgeous grown up nephews...

btw if you want to know more visit the company Eoin cooks for : Green Saffron. Their spices are incredible and I believe they are about to start selling into Selfridges, Harrods and on Portobello Market

visiting the beach with my old friend Lisa and spending two hours or more in a beach side playground while the smallfry hung and jumped and swung and we chatted...

driving around East Cork where the sky seems bigger than in any other place on earth and the hills do roll and the tiny men who stop you to divert you on country boithrins (roads) tell you "ye're a fine pair of women, have a great day, all fine women deserve that" which stimulates the older of the smallfry to wonder why...for quite some time...

visiting the home of my other gorgeous grown up nephew, seeing the beautiful photographs he is working on and being impressed yet again by his talent (and his kindness)...

going to Summercove with my father and the girls and sitting on my raincoat on the grass overlooking the water eating apples. Bumping into my sister there by accident and having an impromptu lunch at the pub sitting outside in the sunshine...

meeting my four oldest friends for dinner (the "big party this year girls on tour" as Siobhan calls us), getting drunk and planning further 40th birthday celebratory weekends...

coming home to find my apple tree had blossomed...

hope you have all been well too...

on growth...and development...

2009-04-08T23:22:00.005+01:00

my baby turned 4...how this happened is beyond me...seems like only yesterday she arrived and brightened up our lives like nothing we could ever have expected...on birthdays I feel so lucky to have her and her sister in my life...apart from anything else I feel lucky that we are privileged enough to live in an affluent society...though elements of this affluent capitalist society irritate me beyond belief there is no arguing with the fact that we have plenty to eat, a roof over our heads and wonderful health care should we ever need it...

my baby turning 4 prompted me to think of the kids less fortunate...I don't do this very often as it leads me to a dark place full of wondering what sense or reason there is in this crazy world where bankers earn millions in bonuses and people starve. Instead I have a fairly innocuous amount of money come out of my bank account once a month...about the amount it would cost to buy two pretty mediocre bottles of wine or 5 super skinny vanilla frappucinno deluxes...and I sponsor a little girl in Paraguay through Plan. I've recently given up alcohol and coffee (in a temporary way!) and so have even less need for pretty mediocre bottles of wine or frappucino deluxes...which means I can now extend my sponsorship to cover two little girls ...which feels right given that I have two little girls of my own, like I am putting something back and helping in a tiny way to redress that awful imbalance...

I feel funny telling you about this, I don't think anyone outside my immediate family knows, why should they? it matters only to me really...but as I was browsing Plan's website while sorting things out for my new sponsorship this week I noticed that they actively solicit people with websites to link to them...free viral marketing I suppose you would call it in this free market economy...and so I've put a link at the side of this page...I urge you to visit their site, read a bit about the work they do, and make your own judgement...

am off to Ireland for a while over Easter...see you when I'm back

in the meantime have a very Happy Easter...hope the bunny is good to you!

a log cabin and lots of tea...what could possibly be nicer...

2009-04-06T08:42:00.014+01:00

doesn't that look strange?

I was paired with Laura for Vonnie's Time for Tea swap. Laura is a graphic artist (currently looking for a job - GO snap her up - she won't be around for long) and jewellery maker and just look at what she sent me

gorgeous buttons...part 1

gorgeous buttons...part 2

fabulous print...part 1

fabulous print...part 2

excuse the awful photos of the prints - those dark patches are to do with my less than perfect photography skills, NOT the prints

there was also some tiptree jam (love it) and some chocolate...unfortunately one of the parcels Laura sent (yes, I had installments of wonderfulness all last week!) got damaged in the post and tea and some other bits and pieces she sent got lost, but still a wonderful swap package I thought. Thanks Laura.

I broadened my horizons for this swap and made something I have always wanted myself, a soya wax candle in a vintage china teacup ...I tell you these are making me damn happy at the moment...

I have this tutorial to thank for revealing to me how easy it could be...

I also made Laura a merino wool tea cosy from the yarn Mia gave me for my birthday, in a new variation for me, two by two rib, it may be my favourite so far...

I sent some rose quartz and green aventurine stones for Laura to play with too

Great swap. Thanks Laura and Vonnie.

so to log cabins...have wanted to make a log cabin square forever (at least it feels that way) but been too nervous...project improv forced my hand as the charity square was due last week, and had to be log cabin. I cut the strips the weekend before and happily sat down the night before the deadline, filled with false optimism, thinking maybe I'd manage two or three squares...come midnight I couldn't even see straight, managed to sew a couple of pieces on wrong side out and had a paltry one square to show for all my efforts.

It was a LOT of fun though, and now, finally, I can say I have pieced a log cabin square. I hope there will be many more where that came from as I do love the randomness of the pattern that emerges when you don't think two much about the fabric placement...I like this Improvisation business...it's just my cup of tea...

I LOVE lunch...and other people's birthdays

2009-03-29T21:28:00.012+01:00

in a concession to our new found position as parents of a combined total of six smallfry and the incompatibility of such a situation with late night dinner parties (with smallfry in attendance) the Dinner Circle has recently mutated to Lunch Circle. Inaugural meeting today at the home of my good friends Ms. D and The Wolf. The King and Queen of the Dinner Circle, Anna (who totally stupified me by at the initial DC meeting by whipping up from scratch only the damn finest ever chocolate brownies for pudding WHILE we were sitting around the table relaxing after our main course - I tell you - that's a hard act to follow!) and Fraser were there too, along with their adorable new addition, Ms Martha. Cue gratuitous photo of me with Ms M...(cause it's always nice to have a baby photo when you can)

though she is wearing the kimono cardi I knit her so maybe not so gratuitous after all...
(aside :: the knit I am sporting is a 20 year old creation by Ms D...I am a cold body and had to snatch it while there...it's an amazing fairisle which has worn incredibly well over the years)

Ms D claims she has been suffering a dearth of home entertainment opportunities of late and so in a frenzy of making up for lost time presented us with the following ::

Jamie Oliver's Caponata as a starter starter while the kids were tucking into their mini version of our main course (see below) - this alone would have made me thought I'd died and gone to heaven
Fresh beetroot and mozzarella Salad as a starter proper
Home made tagliatelle (yes, you read that right, the pasta was hanging out in the garden to dry when we arrived - I cursed when I realised I didn't have my camera to hand) with melt in the mouth Lamb Shank and ragout as a main course
Fig and Almond tart (with thyme...very interesting, not to mention totally delicious) for pudding
Milk and White Chocolate Easter Egg ring for the kids pudding...somehow I find myself able to vouch for its deliciousness too...hmmm

I am telling you all this as the Lunch Circle members demanded a blog entry of their own...happy now folks?!

It's Ms D's birthday on Friday (Happy Birthday my darling friend) so I rustled up a little soya candle in vintage teacup gift for her...

see that cake in the background there... that was only the bloomin' children's pudding (can you tell I am in total awe of people who can bake?)

Other other people's birthday news ::

I finally sourced the yarn for Nich's socks (which I mentioned in the last post)...

super chunky araucania, in a suitably hippyish hue

finished the dropped stitch scarf for another dear friend's 40th (we are falling like flies I tell ya) - whose name I can't mention in case she reads this blog - made from handspun handdyed yarn from Rosalinde the alpaca which I sourced here...

the yarn came with some photos of Rosalinde (which my animal mad pal will love) and wrapped in with it were two organza bags full of dried lavender...I tell you that scarf was the most relaxing, enjoyable knit I ever had...I was swooning on a cloud of heavenly lavender scent with every stitch...mmmm

Final installment (I promise!) on my own birthday news ::
Lovely, thoughtful, perfect gift from my ex-workmate Midori who I met for sushi during the week (random factoid - I managed to get out for Sushi three nights out of six last week, a record, particularly for me...)

Midori lived for six years in Japan so when she discovered my new found love for Japanese tea knew exactly what to get me...

Tea Tray with Green Tea Caddy and Genmaicha

isn't that tea caddy simply the most gorgeous ever seen?

Thanks Midori, you ROCK!

I'll be back to show what I made for the Time for Tea swap and my Project Improv log cabin square as soon as I know they are safely delivered. In the meantime enjoy yourselves, whatever you are up to...

jammin'...and yarn searchin'

2009-03-16T22:26:00.006Z

so... there I was Saturday night hanging around in the kitchen at the birthday party of this really lovely man I know...drinking, chatting, getting a bit drunk (it's this thing I do at parties)...next thing Mr G introduces me to a pleasant man wearing a nice blue scarf (don't think it was handmade, unfortunately - that would have been really good)...we chatted....it emerged he was ONLY ONE OF MY ALL TIME MUSICAL HEROES...blimey, knock me over with a champagne cork.

I've loved the high llamas since I was knee high to a llama myself (and I suffer a bit from musical amnesia so only those close to me know what a miracle it is for me to even recognise a piece of music nevermind remember who is responsible for it)...believe me when I tell you this man is a genius. Anyway, we chatted somemore and then my friend whose birthday it was called us all into the living room where he had gotten his guitar out and had started a singsong. Being the natural shrinking violet that I am I didn't immediately start shaking a jingly shaker in time (NOT) to the music. Nor did I appear to be enjoying it all so much that a random (very sweet) stranger went and found me a tambourine so I could make an even bigger noise. Nor did I then decide it would be a great idea to press gang another poor soul into joining me in an official capacity as backing percussionist up next to the birthday boy who actually has musical ability. Nor were we then joined by the man himself. NOR DID I END UP JAMMING WITH SEAN O'HAGAN.

well, er...I did actually. Last Saturday night.

Enough of all that, back to the crafting. I am looking for recommendations for a good, bright, hippyish variegated chunky yarn (he wants them bright and cheery) to knit these socks for my friend Nich who so nicely requested some in exchange for the "1 Hand Knitted Item Of Your Choice" voucher I rather lamely presented him with for his birthday.

Your recommendations, please...(all the ones on ravelry seem to be done in yarns more easily available in the US)

feeling happy...and Project Improv

2009-03-09T21:33:00.008Z

after all my wailing and gnashing of teeth yesterday vonnie found me a partner for the time for tea swap (many thanks m'dear) so I can breathe again...imagine if I'd been left out of that one...doesn't bear thinking about...phew!

I'm swapping with the equally tea-obsessed Laura ...looking forward to this one immensely

I've been noticing this ProjectImprov thing around blogland of late...I stumbled upon the source today and lo and behold the lovely Jacquelyn who is the brain behind the operation tells me I am not too late to join

read more about the ideas behind improv over at Jacquelyn's blog...to me it's a wonderful idea...gets me loosening up and sewing improv-y (not that much I do is non-improv-y but I do tend to hit a bit of a brick wall with patchwork) and also results in some quilts (which I am sure will be stupendous) for charity. It's a year long thing so plenty of time to improv (or even improve!) though the blocks for the charity quilts need to be done by April 1st

Jackie at CantonVillage has volunteered her services to do the actual quilting...the generousity of the blogfolk never ceases to amaze me...

you know what, it's not to late to join in...

and now, just for my sister who asked so nicely...

me'n'him doing our own projectimprov
(I don't look that much like a Romulan...do I?)

the owls have landed...and other ramblings...

2009-03-08T08:53:00.012Z

apologies for long absence, this being 40 lark is very tiring. There were parties (well, one) to arrange, new hairdos to dream up* , vintage frocks to dust off...you know the sort of thing. All that, added to very stressful work schedule and the exhaustion that comes with being a woman of such advanced years rendered me incapable of doing anything other than collapsing into bed with the kids on a nightly basis thus making impossible the night-time art of blogging (or indeed crafting - I am starting to have withdrawal symptoms if I am honest) However here I am, Sunday breakfast time, having already shrieked at the children that Mummy has been wanting to do this for over two weeks and she HAS TO DO IT NOW in such a way that they didn't argue, not even once...

So, to my lovely swap partners whose swap parcels I received weeks ago and never reported on, I say a meek sorry

but look, just look, at the lovelies I got in the post...

first up, from the wonderful vonnie# in Scotland...in MeridianAriel's Owl swap

such beautifully wrapped parcels - almost couldn't bring myself to open them they looked so special...but am glad I managed it because look what was inside...

owl stitch markers, can you believe that?!

an owl bag for my knitting, in the most scrumptious shade of orange

owl mitts (incredible eh?)

AND matching beanie hat

there were also some little nesting wooden shapes for me to decorate which one or other smallfry has managed to away with, for now...and some delicious Jaffa Cakes.

I felt thoroughly spoilt. It was lovely!

Vonnie had told me how much she loved the Owl and the Pussycat story

so I made her some soft toys/cushions to remember the tale by

I also sent some yarn, some chocolate and some lush stuff for her bath so I hope she felt she got a somewhat fair swap . The girls were loathe to let the owl and pussycat go, which is always a good sign I think.

In Imagingermonkey's FQ swap I was teamed up with the lovely Amy. I forgot to photograph what I sent her (things have been hectic, didn't I say?) but you can see them here. Amy, obviously telepathic as well as extremely generous, included some gorgeous owl fabric in her parcel.

Along with other great fabric choices, some rather smashing ribbons and a bar of delicious chocolate.

Hmm, did I mention feeling spoilt?

Thank you to my brilliant (and patient) swap partners.

The feeling of being well looked after continued with the plethora of truly wonderful, thoughtful birthday gifts I received during the week, including more yarn, a cath kidston sewing basket, vouchers for my local yarn store, tea related recipe books, a retro pinny, fabulous vintage lamp and vase, gorgeous jewellery etc etc etc. As if all of this wasn't enough, I was also gifted not one but TWO spa days where I get to go and be pampered and lay about in hot rooms a lot with my very best friends. I have one word to say and it is...Hallelujah!

I highly recommend this turning 40 business. Now if only I could get away with doing it again...

*at work they have accused me of being inspired by Star Trek in the hairdo department...it's very Romulan apparantly, I have no idea whether this is good or bad but the boys seem to have enjoyed themselves tittering... hmmph

# just visited vonnies blog and am GUTTED to discover she is running a time for tea swap and I have missed the closing date. So that's what I get for letting work and celebrations of the inexorable march of time take over my blogging time. Lesson learnt!

Editted to add - can't believe I neglected to say THANK YOU for all your lovely happy birthday comments on the last post. What wonderful blogger friends you are. And thanks also to those who have given my blog awards over the past months. I really appreciate them and will do a post about them soon...I promise...

greetings from beyond the hill...

2009-02-22T20:46:00.004Z

so, I find myself landed on the other side of a significant birthday. The significant number is divisible by 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20 and... ahem...40. Cor blimey, how did this come to pass? I ask myself (and anyone else who'll listen)

beautiful japanese teapot and tea bowls from my sister Catherine...crazy birthday brunch by moi

Not being content with going over the hill metaphorically I headed to the Alps to mark the occasion more literally. It was a wonderful idea, would recommend it to anyone. I played in the snow, drank plenty of tea and ruminated on the state of things (as you do when you reach this sort of age).

Will be back (once the shock has worn off properly) to share details of beautiful owlish swaps and some fat quarters that made their way to me from stateside.

Until then...
another gorgeous teapot, birthday gift from my lovely friend Nich (he of teacosy fame - discern a subtle theme?)...can a girl (ooops, sorry, woman of a certain age) ever have too many tea making accoutrements? I sincerely doubt it...

beautiful italian yarn, another lovely birthday gift courtesy of my colleague Mia with whom I have recently set up the (two strong) "work knitting club". I feel some tea cosies coming on, or maybe a bobble hat...

ps new all time favourite tea - Genmaicha - mmmmmm...mmm. Thanks Cath!

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london at a standstill...a kimono for Martha...some slippers for some feet

2009-02-03T12:41:00.007Z

we had some snow...it brought the country to its knees...apparantly 6 million people couldn't get to work yesterday...that's some "duvet day"! those of you used to snow must be hysterical with laughter...

a street junction just up from my house...

the bird house in our back garden...

poor birds must be having a rotten time...mind you we ran out of bird food so they got to enjoy some of my organic super omega wonder food seed mix (at a cost of approximately 10 pence per seed I reckon)...I hope they enjoyed it

there were people snowboarding and skiing (yes, really) in the central London park down the road from where we live (while my kids descended the hill on a small tin tray which they had to fight over...poor sods)

I had my laptop at home so was able to work from there...this is my favourite bit about working from home...mmmm, proper breakfast...

other news... my good friends (fellow campers and dinner circle founder members) Anna and Fraser had themselves a bonny baby girl...as is my wont I had to indulge my love of knitting baby kimono cardis with this result...

NORO Cash Iroha yarn - silk, cashmere and merino - yum yum yum

(I made a change to the pattern this time and only put one button - I like it)

(that little Martha is fairly scrummy too I can tell you - was nearly tempted until I remembered I'll be 40 next week and more nappies might just hasten my end...) (can't believe I just shared that particular piece of info)

(what's with all the brackets?)

(must be imminent senility)

and finally, a visual update on the now felted slippers...

sweet huh?

knitting 101...

2009-01-13T14:26:00.006Z

Ms Reva's first attempt - she is 6 now, I thought it time she learned. Very even and neat I reckon. Though it may take a while to make a scarf, even if it's just for a teddy bear...
She chose the wool herself at our local yarn store. She is such a great kid, she always surprises me with her choices. Moss green. Beautiful.

Meanwhile, plundering the archives somewhat, here is my own first attempt, from back when I was six myself. Taught by the nuns at school and my mum at home I managed to concoct this, ahem, fine pencil case.

(spot the original 70s trebor sweet wrapper peeping out through the zipper - now you know what I really carried to school each day)

My knitting, far less even than Ms Reva's though it was, actually garnered me a prize : something similar to this (believe it or not). I still remember walking up to the top of the classroom to the presiding nun and being presented with it. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Still don't really.

My mum kept that pencil case in her knitting bag all these years and my sister found it in her attic last year - mothers, aren't they a marvel?!

Meanwhile, this is what's on my needles at the moment:

What the heck is that I hear you shriek. Why slippers of course (well, one slipper at least) for Ms Reva. To be felted. Lime green ones to follow for her sister. Once I find my needles again that is...(what IS it with me and needles?)

PS I've volunteered to run an after school art club at the girls school. We are meeting to discuss the plans tomorrow. If you have any great ideas for activities to inspire a group of kids aged 6-11 over a 6 week block period let me know. For some reason (am suffering a god awful lurgy to be precise) my inspiration is somewhat dry today...

wishing you a sweet and happy new year...

2009-01-05T21:52:00.005Z

a colleague of mine introduced me to the Jewish tradition of apples dipped in honey at Rosh Hashanah in order to symbolically invite sweet things for the year to come. Being a bit of a magpie when it comes to appealing customs and rituals I brought this one home and shared it with the kids and Mr G way back then (October, was it?). When it came to the recent New Year's Eve Ms Reva, she of the amazing memory and attention to detail not to mention adoration of all things ritualistic (now, where could she get that from I wonder?) asked when we would be doing the apple and honey thang. With yours truly around she didn't need to ask twice.

There being no reason not to we adopted it in for our (non-Jewish New Year) New Year's Day brunch. We wished for sweet things for 2009 and that's my wish for you too. Have a great 2009, wherever you are. Honey coated or not.

(The brunch was great too...apples and honey, home made pancakes, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, bagels, cream cheese, croissants, bonne maman jam, lashings of tea and copious amounts of coffee from Mr G's xmas pressie espresso maker. Mmmm, now that's a custom that has taken firm root chez milkwood...)

I've been absent a lot of late. Real life has got me in its grips and is squeezing me tight. Work is busier than ever, the kids are growing and seem to need more rather than less of me. It's ok, it's just taken me a bit by surprise. Ms Bester starts nursery at BIG SCHOOL next week and I can feel her quiet trepidation. Ms Reva is back to school tomorrow after an illness blighted Xmas and I can hear her not-so-quiet feelings on the subject!

I did quite a bit of knitting coming up to December 25th though, some of which has been passed to its recipients and can be shown.

My dad had some health issues last year, which he has met head on (as he does everything in life, amazing chap my dad) and now walks an hour or so early each morning. I walked his daily route with him on my last visit, riverside in Co. Cork. Every day I think of him taking his constitutional and so this Xmas when faced with the dilemma of what to get the man who needs nothing and wants less I decided to knit him a scarf to wear while walking. A multi-directional diagonal scarf to be precise. There were a couple of nerve wracking days waiting for the sumptuous Noro Silk Garden to arrive but arrive it did and soon those needles were clicking and clacking on the bus, in the doctors waiting room, at Ms Reva's Xmas carol concert, on my bike (oh no, actually I didn't go quite that far) and he received his parcel a little after the big day (I blame the Irish Post!).

That Noro Silk Garden is a lovely yarn, and I like these manly colours, very suitable for my dear dad. They match exactly the colours he likes to wear. I hope he has many many hours of warm walking and feels the love in every stitch. (Shame I don't have a photo of dad wearing it on his walk, maybe he'll send me one...hint, hint)

The aforementioned colleague (with the apples and honey) has recently taken to knitting after a 26 year hiatus. A rekindled passion responsibility for which she lays squarely at my door. I am happy with this and am quietly hoping to recruit more workmates to the dark art. They are mostly male software engineers more interested in World of Warcraft and techno-gadgetry but I hold out a glimmer of hope. Mia knit lots of hats for Xmas and helping her find a pattern on ravelry we came across this particularly fetching ribbed beanie which I surreptitiously managed to knit up for Mr G for his stocking.
The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and it's lovely. Amazingly I knit most of it while sitting watching TV with him and he was still overcome with surprise when he unwrapped it. All I can assume is that he thought I was knitting yet another tea cosy.

Speaking of tea cosies, there were a few of those on the needles too. One for Jane which I forgot to take a photo of but which I hope will keep her tea toasty warm while she is recovering from her leg operation on Wednesday and not wanting to have to make the trip to the kettle too often. And one for an undisclosable recipient who hasn't yet received it. Ooooh, nothing like leaving on a note of mystery eh?...

nice knitting...knitting with alliteration...

2008-12-16T21:59:00.005Z

My darling Ms Reva fights sleep every night. I lie there beside her, wondering why the heck* this should be so, why should a tiny 6 year old who is quite clearly exhausted beyond belief both physically and mentally not fall to slumber with grace and ease. My wondering has thus far yielded no results. We have some of our oddest and most intimate conversations at this time of day. As well as some blooming irritating ones where she is obviously just racking her brains for anything to say to keep herself awake and I am like a broken record with my refrain (in increasingly stressed tone) of "no more talking now dear" (I don't really say the "dear" bit - I just put that in to make me sound nicer than I really am at that time of night after a long long day. I normally stop, sternly, after the word "now"). Anyway, I digress. One night last week it emerged that Ms Reva now knows all about alliteration, she's learned it at school. She delighted in repeating examples of said grammatical feature while I wondered about sleep deprivation and its long term effects on the under tens. And their mothers. It emerged she also knows all about similes now too. (Tautologies? no, I reckon I am safe... for now). Don't they grow up fast now though? I seem to remember learning this kind of stuff in secondary school at about twice her tender age.

So, in the spirit of alliteration, I share with you:

some fingerless mittens for Maaya (my lovely Japanese friend) who recently turned an age with a 0 on the end and threw a wonderful party

these are Evangeline (you need to be a ravelry member to access the free pattern I am afraid - another great reason to join eh?) knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran on size 5.0

and a capelet for Katy (I checked, as long as the sound is the same it counts, apparently) who is far too young and needs to celebrate a 0 laden birthday before I can possibly take her seriously^. Katy has been having a rather unpleasant time of it with a wicked teacher who ignores the needs of young children when it come to the notion of Father Christmas and so it was nice to (hopefully) cheer her up.

in Rowan Cocoon in kiwi on size 8.0

Great patterns both

I have plans for another capelet in a kind of purple, as well as some mittens for myself for those days I want to knit in the park, however I am in the throes of frantic secret gift knitting at the moment so those will have to wait...

I hope you are all bearing up well in this season of insanity (if truth be told I'm getting more manic by the day...)

*"why the heck" being Ms Bester's favourite phrase of exclamation which she reckons is just the right side of proper swearing to earn her no more than an indulgent tutting - I LOVE it!
^joke

a robot...an oversized urchin...and some frogs

2008-12-09T12:02:00.007Z

oops, that was a bit of a long and unintentional break. Real life seems to be interrupting my crafting'n'blogging existence more than I would like of late. It's the day job, and the kids, and the need to sometimes go out and do other stuff...it all mounts up and gets in the way. Apologies to everyone whose blog I haven't visited in a while. I miss you all! Am hoping to get back into blogger/crafter mode properly again soon. Or maybe it just has to be like this for a while. Hmm, anyway, I'll be popping by again as soon as I possibly can.

I've been reading a bit more than usual of late, and so knitting less on the bus. I seem to bring myself to kind of crisis point with too many knitting projects on the go at one time and then need to take a break and read myself back to some semblance of sanity. I have completed two knits recently though, one of which I'll show you here and one which has yet to be received by its recipient and so won't be unveiled just yet. I've also just ordered some rather lovely Noro Silk Garden Chunky for my next project (never mind the 4 WIPs that are currently hugging various sets of needles, just ignore those)

But before all that...feast your eyes on this...

incredible isn't it?

my swap received from Jan in the DQS5 swap. I mentioned that I liked robots and Jan is obviously psychic and just knew I love stars and put them all together to create this stunning mini quilt

it has gorgeous hand quilting too, which I hope you can make out

I LOVE it. Thanks so much Jan. I now have to tidy my craft room so it can look beautiful on the wall.

Other news...I visited my new nephew Isaac in Geneva recently

we (well, me'n'my sis, not the babe, obviously) drank lots of hot drinks by the lake, and did those sisterly things (like wandering around looking in craft shops and at christmas ornaments and interesting teabags for hours on end) that I miss so much (oh come to London Kate, you'd love it!)

I brought lil Isaac along a froggy baby quilt - this was a lot of fun to make, such joyful fabrics.

My two girls got involved in fabric and pattern choices and Isaac's mum seemed to like it.

unbound

Baby quilts really are lovely to make, especially when you get to work with frogs and polkadots!

bound
(forgive the awful colours in this photo - not sure what happened)

However on the way to Gatwick airport I managed to leave my Le Slouch from last year on the train (my sister says I must never travel on trains with anything connected with handknitting again, as I always suffer a loss. I say I should just start taking a bit more responsibility for my belongings and stop daydreaming so much!)

Anyway, this latest knitting/train fiasco lead me to make this little number

it's an urchin, intentionally oversized (so as to slouch) in Rowan Cocoon Bilberry.

It is soft and warm and I love the colour. I just need to make a felted corsage with which to adorn it next. I may even make a non-oversized urchin too, just for the heck of it!

Hope you are all well and enjoying the lead up to the festive season. Take it easy and have plenty of cups of tea. It's cold out there

on staying warm...or, I do like a cup of hot coffee on occasion too ...

2008-11-19T11:33:00.012Z

Contrary to popular belief it is not all tea round here. From time to time (read that as every day at 10am) I like to make a cafetiere of coffee and indulge myself in a blast of hot strong caffeine but all too often my pursuit of this little indulgence gets interrupted (spouse/children/work/doorbell...you get the picture) and I get back only to be faced with the disappointment of a luke warm pot of coffee and a choice between throwing it away or microwaving it. Neither of which pleases me.

Obviously something needed to be done...enter the cafetiere cosy

I made this in less than twenty minutes while also watching Ms Bester do some drawing, so it really is a very quick and simple project (that may just revolutionise your life)

Here is how to make one:

From your collection of felted sweaters choose one whose colour fills your heart with joy.

For a small cafetiere (bodum one cup for example) you’ll get away with using a sleeve, for anything bigger you’ll need part of the body.

Measure the distance between the top and bottom of the handle (by eye, measuring tape, bit of string, holding a section of the felted sweater (whose colour makes your heart sing) up against it – these are all permissible techniques) and cut a long rectangle from the sweater. Make sure it is long enough to go all around the body of the jug and have a little bit (say two inches) to spare.

From your collection of beautiful wools and flosses select one whose addition to the felted sweater will enrich your warm coffee experience as much as you can bear. Use this to blanket stitch all around your rectangle.

Then choose a couple of nice buttons (from your extensive button collection) and cut slits in one end of the rectangle of a size generous enough to accommodate those buttons. Blanket stitch around the slits to make pretty buttonholes.

Attach buttons to opposite end of rectangle in the right places so that they meet the buttonholes when the rectangle is stretched snugly around your cafetiere.

Embellish the cosy to your hearts desire.

Put kettle on. Make pot of delicious hot coffee. Apply cosy to said pot using pretty buttons to secure.

Snuggle up with great book/the newspaper/a craft project/your darling/whoever was at the door (maybe omit the snuggling for this last one, unless you know them well of course) and forget about it for a while.

Remember the coffee, pour into your favourite cup (milk and sugar as you wish) and delight in the fact that is still toasty hot when you finally take a sip.

Enjoy!

Am off to Switzerland on Friday to check out my new nephew (and hopefully drink lots of nice hot coffee with my sister!).

you know that your child has been living with a blogger for too long when...

2008-11-12T10:32:00.012Z

...the first thing she does upon receipt of some postal goodies is dash off immediately in search of the best available light and arrange them ready to be photographed...

...goodies from Helen at Angharad, there was also an old fashioned peg ready for some peg dolly action but the apprentice blogger decided to omit that for a reason known only to herself...

I had no idea what Ms Reva was up to, quite thought she'd lost her marbles in fact (now I know how my overmilkwood-mates must feel about me on a regular basis) until the penny finally dropped. Then I just felt an overwhelming sense of pride...(ahem, you know I'm kidding, right?...right?)

Thanks Helen, for the unexpected goodies for the kids as well as for my lovely giveaway prizes, which I have so far managed to keep for myself, thanks in no small part to the distraction of the peg dolly goodies.

If you planned it that way it was both cunning and immensely successful!

A word about the fabric in the background there: it is a piece of 50s barkcloth I managed to pick up in Jubilee Market one Monday morning - I LOVE 50s barkcloth - we had a wooden holiday chalet on the Irish coast in the 1970s which was still rigged out from the 50s with curtains and cushions etc in this and it always takes me back to those really happy times - if anyone knows a good source for the stuff PLEASE let me know...(cos, like, I really need to start collecting something else you know...)

Apart from photo shoots with the baby blogger I've been engaged with making a doll quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap No 5 (first one I've joined in with)

I used some of my favourite fabrics and made an attempt at a flying geese pattern. Don't look too closely though as if you do you'll see my geese are a little random and not so keen on flying in military style formation

Pesky birds!

I enjoyed making it though and have great plans to make quilts for the girls, and even one for my own king size bed one day. Whoa...hold on there girl...

(you can see more DSQ5 pictures over on flickr)

What else? oh yes...every cloud has a silver lining...as you may recall I lost my fancy dangled harmony option needles on a train from Liverpool and so have been a bit stumped on the knitting front (well, until yesterday when the replacements finally arrived - Hallelujah!). I was forced into using some old plastic ones from the days I used to buy up lots of vintage knitting needles on ebay which brought me the very pleasant experience of knitting with red malabrigo on pretty green needles...

...was almost worth losing the needles to enjoy those contrasting colours together...

In the background there you can see my lovely Cath Kidston bag sent by my even more lovely friend Katy when I moaned about not being allowed to be in her draw due to being a UK resident. Always worth a little moan I reckon. Thanks Katy. Mwah!

The knitting ended up as a tea cosy for my old school friend Siobhan. She had requested a red one as recently as November 2007 (my ability to procrastinate knows few equals) and I managed it in time for a belated Birthday Present this year. Happy Birthday dear hope you like it!

The weather in London this month is a strange mix of beautiful, clear crisp Autumn days and dark days of non-stop miserable rain. Last Sunday was one of the former and we got out to the woods, taking coffee and bagels with us.

It was a lovely little excursion and one I hope to repeat often this Autumn and Winter.

Hope you are managing to enjoy Autumn (or is it officially Winter already? I always get confused) wherever you are, or Spring I guess, if you happen to be down southerly ways...

the robot vanishes...or, how Apryl got two pincushions

2008-10-28T04:59:00.006Z

I was doing this Robot swap with Apryl. I'd left it quite late, but so had Apryl so that was ok. We both knew what we were doing. I worked on my swap package over one weekend and was pretty happy with what I'd made. Apryl had requested a needlebook as she has just taken to the dark art of sewing and I was happy to oblige. Got some pretty fabric sent from Japan and rustled it up. Had a few other bits and pieces to throw in too and decided to make a little robot pincushion to accompany the set. That was fun. He was the tiniest creature I'd made but I loved him nonetheless. The girls adored him and played with him relentlessly. I worried about getting him out of their grasp long enough to parcel him up and send him off but they understood he was for Apryl so I knew it would be okay. I left him in Ms Bester's clutches and went gaily (well, you know what I mean) off to work. Returned that evening and no sign of Monsieur Le Robot. Searched high up and low down, still no sign. Interrogated poor Ms Bester almost to the brink of tears, still no clues. Ms Bester, being the mischievous minx that she is, kept saying she knew where he was but she wasn't going to tell us. This was her strategy for days 1 and 2 at least. After that she capitulated and confessed she had no idea but was really sorry anyway, cue many tears. I decided I could deal with the stress of the search, the tawdry accusations and the ripping apart of my family no longer and made Apryl another, far less interesting to my mind, pincushion.
Just as it was bundled up and ready to be sent what did I spy poking out from underneath the vegetable rack but a tiny (and I mean tiny!) polkadot foot. Oh we yelped with joy when it transpired to be attached to the rest of the errant haberdashery chappie. We whooped with glee and danced around the kitchen. Then we stuck pins in the blighter and took photos of his plight

before bundling him up

and despatching him to deepest Derbyshire.

Apryl also received some chocolates, a robot bookmark and a bundle of fabric scraps to play with during her indulgence in her new found vice.
I believe she liked them (although I suspect she may have questioned my sanity as she received ever more frantic emails from me accusing my entire family and all the neighbours of dastardly deceit and kidnapping of soft toy/pincushions during the height of robotgate)

tea, buttons, original beauties...

2008-10-20T21:48:00.009+01:00

First, the tea :: gift from my lovely friend Clare who was lucky enough to be whisked off to Paris to celebrate her dear love's birthday and who managed to drag her mind from thoughts of romance, wine, riverside walks and other such Parisian delights long enough to buy me this tin of truly delicious tea. I don't think Clare reads this blog but if she does :: THANK YOU CLARE!

Someone mentioned they liked the button's on Isaac's Kimono cardi.

Well, let me tell you, those are some very fine buttons and they are from creamrose if you fancy scoring some for yourself. I happen to know that incywincy does some lovely fabric covered buttons too (thanks again Apryl!)

Now, I got myself to Origin at Somerset House last Friday (before attending a leaving do for my lovely friend Ellie at work at which copious amounts of bubbly were consumed - just as well I didn't hit Origin after lunch - I wager I would have managed to offload some serious cash (or rather credit) had I done so)

And these are some of the things I'd have invested in had I done just that (all these images are from the designer's own websites):

A Globe ring in cellulose acetate and silver from Lesley Strickland, probably in Oyster Pearl...or maybe in Deep Ocean...then again possibly in...

A waffle blanket from Wallace+Sewell :: warm, very tactile and beautiful colours - what more could a girl ask for in a blanket?

A teapot and maybe some nice cups from Virginia Graham who recreates beautiful vintage china but with a very contemporary twist

Something pleasant for my wall from Gina Pierce whose "Peeling Paint" digitally printed fabric panels quite made me swoon. They recreate the effect of walls in the process of being restored, with hints of peeling paint and wallpapers layered over each other.

I love the hint of history, the patina of age and suggestion of lives lived and gone that this design suggests.

Finally I would have certainly picked up a pre-official publication copy of Sew It Up by Ruth Singer.
I flicked through this new sewing manual at the show and was really impressed by the quality and extent of the illustrations. I think even an instruction-phobic like myself would be able to follow these and had I not already been burdened by a pushchair, a recalcitrant 3 year old and a shortly approaching date with Ellie and the prosecco I'd have hefted it home there and then. Ruth is doing signed copies from her blog even though it doesn't hit the shops until the end of the month.

Now, I just have to get my darling beloved reading this post in advance of the festive season. Ahem...

Thanks to everyone for the commiseration on the knitting disaster. No sign of the bag so I have officially given up and am trying to piece together its contents again. Could have been worse, could have been my forecast in there (yes, still going since last March...that's bad eh?! second thoughts maybe I should hope it will be lost...)

PS Jane (who was supposed to accompany me to Origin but got unhappily detained elsewhere on a less pleasant pursuit involving the outpatients department at our local hospital) I hope you are feeling better now, shame you missed it!

a short post about knitting...

2008-10-18T10:10:00.005+01:00

Here is the great reveal of my nephew Isaac's knitted gift as he has now received it all the way over there in the land of Switz...it's a kimono cardi (I call it) based on this baby bulky asymmetrical cardi pattern (scoot down the page a bit and you will find it - is a great pattern) The yarn is blue sky alpaca organic dyed cotton, in Fern and 'twas knit on 6mm (harmony options) needles...

apparantly it is a big hit with the little tyke...

awh shucks...............

I have some bad news to report on the knitting front however.I was at a conference in Liverpool recently and brought another kimono cardi I was working on with me to while away those train hours there and back ( this time in a lush purple bamboo yarn...oooh, my mouth waters at the memory). I made it back to London only to find that I'd left my knitting bag on the train somehow (it was late, the train was crowded, I was tired). Numerous calls to various lost property departments have yielded nothing and I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that I've lost an almost complete cardi, along with a couple of sets of harmony needles and cables, and various bits of knitting paraphanelia that happened to be in the bag (that I have lovingly accumulated over my knitting career).I couldn't bring myself to report this until now as it would have ended with me bawling and wailing over the computer. I've gotten through this post without drowning the laptop in tears so I must be coming through it at last (excuse me while I run outside and scream, LOUDLY)

Ahem, back now. Thanks for waiting.

The fact that my (well rather Katy's) teacosy was featured on cuteable this week has helped in my recuperation...thanks Lynsey

I'll be back shortly with a report on what I liked at Origin, which I dragged a rather unwilling Ms Bester around yesterday morning...it was fun, in that unique way that craft shows and irritated (because they are not at a playground or eating icecream) small children can be...

melancholic robots...they may be sad but hey do they rock...

2008-10-13T23:08:00.004+01:00

thanks Apryl. What a joy to receive this parcel last Saturday morning. Mr Robot may look sad but he is actually extremely happy really he just doesn't want to let anyone know...Robots are weird like that you know. Ms Reva claimed the cushion and set up the shots for photographing

Ms Bester claimed the painting and marvelled at the fact that such lovely teas were included too (she knows how much her mammy loves her tea).

They claimed a button each but happily left me with the rest. I LOVE these buttons. I also got to hang onto the gorgeous wool. Mmmm hmmm.

Thanks again Apryl - I am almost finished my parcel to you and it will be winging its way real soon now.

Oh, thanks to Claire for organising this swap too. It's been fun (although I know we've been tardy!!!)
I'll post what I've made once I know Apryl has received it. Once I've finally sent it that is!

October is a pleasant, pleasant month...

2008-10-05T12:58:00.008+01:00

Figgy Goodness from Borough market...

following a trip to the Rothko Exhibition at Tate Modern...

(for once I agree with the hype... "Rothko is the must-see exhibition of the year"...it is quite something)

Ms D and the Wolf were good enough to take our delightful children overnight Friday (so we could party) and all day Saturday (so we could recover) and so we managed to fit in a fine day out Thameside. Crowded exhibitions and Borough market are so much more fun without smallfry, I have to say it!

October also brought me wonderful gifts from Katy...

Ms Reva is besotted with the "bambi" fabric in the centre - it's super cute

there were also a couple of gorgeous tissue holders (which are now masquerading as a doll pillow and a receptacle for sundry small items while the running noses go unchecked) and two wonderful wooden dolly making kits...all squirrelled away now far from mummy's prying lenses...

but best of all...

A new son, Isaac, for my sister Catherine...(officially part of September but artistic licence permits inclusion in this post)

parcel of knitted goodness is on its way Kate, hope you like it

i LOVE October!

fancy meeting you here...

2008-09-23T16:31:00.006+01:00

that was a rather random break...bet you thought I was gone for good...no chance!

there were some minor technical hitches chez milkwood, then a bit of difficulty getting back into the swing of things after the summer that never was...

Autumn is drawing in, the evenings are getting shorter, it's time to think about coats and boots, hats and scarves again. It's a little depressing given that we didn't actually have a summer this year and the thought of heading into a winter without the lift that some warm sun on your face has given is a little grim.

However, we shall not dwell overlong on such unsavoury topics. Winter does provide a useful call for knitted items after all and the needles have been duly dusted off and fired up. Mostly for baby kimonos right now (watch this space for details of my new nephew - due this week...very exciting)

In the meantime, let me share with you pictures of the lovely things I got in the post lately...

bought from Syko - some beautiful liberty fabric (the one in the foreground was a gift - thanks again Kajsa) which present one and only one problem... deciding what to do with them

some very pretty vintage sheet FQs from Oh Fransson's swap...aren't they gorgeous?...ditto the problem though...still, it's the best sort of problem to have...

and finally, these beautiful photos from Diane as part of the scentofwater photoswap, theme this time was motion and Diane captured that perfectly...I particularly love the washing line shot, while the kids are drawing lots to see who gets the deer on their bedroom wall...Thanks again Diane (Diane also included a very thoughtful tea sample which was the first cup I had when I got home from my hols...bliss!)

now, who could be fed up with all that loveliness sloshing about...not me, that's for sure...roll on winter, that's what I say...

stories from Hibernia...

2008-08-30T21:43:00.012+01:00

apologies for the long absence...I was trapped like a spider by the the mist and rain of Ireland...they diluted my brain to such an extent that I was rendered incapable of writing. But I've recovered now. I arrived to find some wonderful packages from various people, but that will have to be the subject of another post as my laptop won't allow me to upload any new photos at the moment...however I do have some images of Ireland to share, if you can bear to browse through random holiday snaps...

We went up a mountain to visit the Staigue Fort which is fairly randomly located in the middle of some farmer's field, surrounded by sheep, and mountains. Very beautiful, although extremely misty the day we went. Could have been built anytime from 1st century BC to around the 4th century AD. You can just wander in and have a bit of a gander...

we got down the mountain and found a lovely old pub in which to dry ourselves off and drink some Guinness. That Ms Bester looks like she has her eye on mine!

Lord Dunraven's Summer House - at the start of the walk

we did our favourite walk in Kerry, across an old "mass path" hewn out of rocks along the coastline beneath the eyes of the Cromwellian forces who were tasked with enforcing the ban on Catholicism in Ireland in the seventeenth century

People would take this route to the "mass rock" on which a priest would preach mass secretly, out of doors, in all weathers. It's a fabulous walk from Derrynane to Bunavalla, with some absolutely amazing scenery along the way. Ms Reva generally leads us, her being of the mountainy goat persuasion.

a random sighting en route - one spade is turned around differently to the others - was it a sign? there was no-one for miles to ask...

we did have some sunshine...and a barbeque on the beach at which Mr. G taught my best friend's son how to play beach volleyball...

while myself and Katie turned our ingenuity to the matter of keeping wine chilled in the absence of the silver buckets we are more accustomed to (ahem)...

and her hubby tried to catch us some dinner...

but the rain returned as we left "the kingdom" (as the county of Kerry is fondly known) and our August drive across the border felt like it could have been in midwinter...

greetings from afar...or, the wonders of modern technology

2008-07-31T12:28:00.008+01:00

isn't it amazing what modern technology can do for a woman...here am I sitting on the top floor of my friend's wonderful Georgian riverside house in Cork City in Ireland (which she restored from a total ruin to sheer amazingness, almost singlehandedly) having a little holiday while working for my London "day job" and blogging. That this is possible is thanks to the equipment you see above, and not much else...(well, a hospitable friend or two does help)

I am in Ireland for a month in total but couldn't afford such a lengthy spell away from the "day job" so volunteered to put in a week in between my Hibernian travels. Intense rain on the West Coast meant that week should be this one. I left Mr G and the kids on a sodden beach in County Ciarrai (Kerry) having fun with their cousins and high tailed it back to civilisation.

I did get to have a 50th birthday celebration day out with all my sisters and my one and only brother last weekend. I can't remember the last time we were all together (we are flung about the globe and it is tricky to catch us all in one spot). It wasn't my birthday I hasten to add, but my darling brother Derek's. Happy Birthday Bro' - you are the best!

we had just had a delicious lunch in the pub behind (oooh, the crab was good) and I believe I was being berated for having my shades on...again!

No great photos of my travels in the beauty of Kerry to share yet, due to inclemency of weather.

But here is a snap of my pretty new shoes in case anyone is interested...

'cos I know you'll all be dying to see those...

and some lovely orchids I found in my friend's house...

Finally, news of a robot swap which I think you should all sign up for. I love robots. Just hope I'll be able to participate as I won't be back in the land of my fabrics, ribbons and threads for a little while yet.

right, I'm off to plan my evening with an old friend in the hostelries of Cork City tonight and my return trip to Kerry on Saturday...cross your fingers for a break in the rain!

(any internet villians out there - you may stop rubbing your hands with glee at the prospect of emptying my house while I am away, the Owens-Fernandos from Luxenbourg with their many beautiful children are in residence - I warn you : they are fierce!)

ILoveArtClub...and my first tutorial

2008-07-22T06:39:00.012+01:00

As some of you know I run a Saturday morning Art Club. It started as a favour to a mum at my daughter's school who had an 8 year old in need of a bit more creativity than the school curriculum offered. I have three constant pupils and a number of dropper-inners. I have to say without a shadow of a doubt this is one of the best things about my week. Come Saturday morning I can often feel a little exhausted from my week of commuting in and out of central London, those 6am rises, the manicness of trying to get home in time to collect the kids from their various establishments of education and care but by the time ArtClub is over I am re-energised and buzzing with ideas again. Ms Reva joins us very regularly and enjoys the whole process a lot. We talk about Art History in an accessible way, looking at examples of our weekly topics from the Art World past and present. We've done colour wheels and mixing, mobile making, printing, observational drawing, collages...you name it.

Dad's Hat by M - great sense of colour and shape, don't you think?

In an ideal world I would provide more classes and for different age groups. I am mulling over how I can fit this in with everything else I have on at the moment and hoping it will organically transpire at some point in the (not too distant) future. If anyone has any fabulous ideas please share them!

Mum's Fashion by L
mixed media on canvas
painted collage, stitching, ribbon, buttons, what more could you ask for?

Last Saturday was our last ArtClub for a while as we head off to do our different activities over the summer break. The children had been working on a personal project for some time and we managed to get them finished in that session and staged a mini-exhibition in my living room. The kids were so proud of their finished pieces it brought tears to my eyes (literally...it appears I am a total softie after all) I am looking forward to next term already.

look - stitching! I love this...

seaside triptych by E
- shame about the bad photo -
this is a lovely piece with great colours and a nice simple composition

One of the children asked me to come to her birthday party to do Art activities with the kids there. I thought there would be 10 guests so happily agreed. In the end there were 17 (gulp!) but it all went well. The children had a ball and I did too. After much deliberation we did
tye-dyed t-shirts
(sorry about teeny tiny photo)

painted plates

and a banner for the birthday girl (and boy - the extra guests came with an extra birthday person too!)
I don't have anymore photos of the tshirts unfortunately (hard to photograph AND manage 17 kids along with 4 vats of dye - these photos are courtesy of my friend Maaya who popped along to check out the action, thanks Maaya) but there were some truly fabulous creations

birthday girl with her wonderful plate

And now...drum roll please...my first ever tutorial...

Take some old china plates and a couple of shot glasses (my plates cost £1.50 total, shot glasses 20p each)

Add some 5 minute Epoxy Glue to your set of ingredients

apply Epoxy on top and bottom of glasses in thin layer and press together with plates for 5 minutes (or however long it says on the tube you are using)

to achieve something like ...

ta dah...

this cake stand

add some cakes
(and tea for the grown ups of course)

then unleash the hungry gannets...Bliss!

Of course we took it one or two steps further but you don't need to do that...

unless you really want to

...the idea for this cake stand came from my dear friend Ms D who had bought one a bit like this from a neighbourhood fair...'twas made by an SE London collective called "The Skip Sisters", unfortunately I can't find them anywhere on the web to include a link and I thought the idea far too nifty not to be passed on...

ps thanks for all the lovely comments a couple of posts back about the scorched capelet, yours truly and the shades. Unanimous vote that my co-workers exhibited symptoms of stylefreakery. I may have to share this verdict with them, now that I am talking to them again...

Updated to say I have just had an email to say my upcycled kids castoffs have been featured on The Crafty Crow. So I get a really dinky button to put on my sidebar. Way hay! A big welcome to anyone who finds me from that mention and thanks to Cassi for including me. I love The Crafty Crow, it's full of great creative ideas to do with kids - if you haven't already done so make sure you check it out.

russian doll fabulousness...ness...ness...

2008-07-20T08:39:00.009+01:00

imagine my amazement when I opened my Russian Doll Swap package from Jenny to find not one, not two, but THREE handcrafted items of total loveliness. Overwhelmed was I, and that is not an overstatement.

lookie here...
a rabbit, with fabulous russian doll fabric dress...so beautiful that I have told the kids they needn't even think about waging a whinge campaign to get her for themselves...this little beauty is mine, all mine. I'm not a woman much given to hoarding toys for myself, indeed the only other one I have is the doll my mum knit for me when I was tiny...but I am hoarding this rabbit and no mistake. It is so beautifully made, from soft soft white towelling, the dress is just gorgeous too, and the face is so delicately done. It's wonderful. THANK YOU SO MUCH JENNY!!!

as if that wasn't enough there Jenny also sent me this gorgeous lavender scented doll...

which you can see nestling on a wonderful apron, here ably modelled by Ms Bester, who insisted the lavender doll should live in the very handy pocket...

The whole package was accompanied by many chocolate goodies from Thorntons. In other words...I was totally spoiled...and I loved it!

My little parcel seemed quite meagre in comparison, but Jenny assures me she was thrilled with it. Kind woman.

Some hand embroidered nesting dolls...

were accompanied by russian doll buttons from creamrose picked up at wemakelondon...

along with Helen's tissue cover which also followed the russian doll theme...

I also sent some sweets and some of my favourite teas, which I hope Jenny will enjoy.

Thanks again Katy for organising this swap - as you can tell I've really enjoyed it.

I'll be back soon with news of my artclub end of year exhibition, and an Arty Party I did for the birthday of one of my pupils recently...we had a lot of fun.

defeat...no, victory...I think...

2008-07-13T22:45:00.007+01:00

as a little diversion while knitting my forecast (progress: steady but slow) I decided to do myself a little summer quickie...the antropologie inspired capelet...mmmm, in a lovely soft silver grey Rowan Cocoon...mmmmm again (what is it with me and grey knits? I love 'em)

you'll note the capelet is designed in reverse stocking stitch, i.e to be worn purl side out

I knit it nicely in a couple of days on the No. 68 (upper deck)

and for once decided I must do what all those knitters out there swear by and block the little beauty (I mean, I had already done a guage swatch and everything)

well, imagine my delight, turning rapidly to consternation when I raised the sheet of protective fabric from the steam blocked knit to find this...on the right side out...

ignore the pretty heart shaped pins (filched from Ms. Reva's sewing basket, knew that would come in handy some day) look closely, you see those orange marks...they'd be scorch marks folks....

just in case you didn't see them clearly enough first time around

between you and me - I was almost weeping at this stage...

but then, inspiration struck...

I turned the little baby "inside out" ...

and smiled again...

phew!

ASIDE: do you know, almost the entire workforce of my office fell about the place laughing when I innocently put these shades on when we were out having a few drinks together the other evening...I mean I know they are large but do they really look that ridiculous? perhaps they'd (ALL) had one too many drinks...hmm, I like them regardless...(the shades that is, I haven't quite forgiven my colleagues...yet)

[vintage brooch from the regular Monday Jubilee Market, Covent Garden, London]

scentofwater photo swap...last day to sign up...

2008-07-07T10:03:00.005+01:00

simplicity ... received

Megan has been running a photo swap for a few months now...so far we've swapped photos on subjects of simplicity and reflections...

simplicity ... sent

July's topic is in motion...there have been some truly wonderful images created and swapped in the last two swaps and it's been a real pleasure to take part

reflections...received

Why not check out the flickr group...there is still 1 day to sign for July's exchange (details on flickr) ...closing date TODAY

reflections ... sent

go on...you know you want to...

just what do you do when the kids grow out of their clothes?...

2008-06-29T18:11:00.005+01:00

there are the obvious options, to pass on to friends or family or send off to the charity shop...the brave few might even ebay them...but you know those little bits of clothing that have a special resonance...the ones that you absolutely adored on them...or that remind you of a special occasion,...or were given by a special someone...what do you do with those? I just can't bear to let them go...I'm pretty good at moving things on and looking forward rather than back...but some things I just can't say goodbye to...

they've been hiding away in a special box until recently...when I took them out, gave them a freshen-up wash and did this...

trousers Ms Reva wore to Florence aged 3 months (and a felted cashmere sweater of her dad's - the moths got it so it had to be...) the back has the smock you see below...

from my favourite smock of Ms Reva's, back when the girl would still wear anything floral ...before she moved on to robots and spacepeople and living in t-shirts...

from the dress Ms Bester wore to the Venice Biennale aged 2 months...and a pretty vintage button

now I just need to score me a billion pins...

what do you do with those special somethings?

wemakeLondon...a roving report...

2008-06-26T23:14:00.006+01:00

your intrepid Milkwood Times roving reporters (ed in Chief AnnieB, cub reporters Ms Reva and Ms Bester) braved the depths of central London last weekend to bring you this exclusive report on London's finest craft fair, the one and only WeMakeLondon...our main aim was to meet the infamous Angharad and check out her lovely wares...we found her in a pleasant corner, penned in by beautiful bags and purses and had a first hand report that the fair was fun. Helen certainly looked joyful as she sat on her perch next to Ms Clothca t (lovely felted items) and surrounded by her handmade goodies. Her purses were almost too pretty (ooh, they are gorgeous, and they are for sale on etsy too) for my slovenly lifestyle (shame that...) but I did score this wonderful tissue holder...

...now complete with inaugural Cath Kidston polkadot tissues...we'll degenerate to lidl multi-packs shortly, as soon as this initial flurry of good taste and throwing caution to the wind with regard to paying almost a pound for a couple of sheafs of paper that you will wipe children's snot with wears off. It won't be long.

After that it was one sort of crafting wonderfulness after another until I thought my head would explode.

The Milkwood team's faves were, in absolutely no order at all:

Cub Reporters Choices
1. Buttons by creamrose
ooooh, we spent a lot of time on this stall, and re-awarded our favourite button award many times over. In the end we made some choices and walked away with two sets, but I know we will be back for more.
They will be perfect for the many baby kimono cardigans that will be gracing my needles for Autumn 08. The Creamrose team were simply delightful and acted as though they weren't put out in the slightest by the cub reporters tactile approach to the sport of craft-fairing. Thank God!
2. creatures by siansburys
we didn't take any of these home (had we not just had a birthday and lots of cub reporter spoiling I am pretty sure defences would have been lower and we'd have snagged at least a brace) but have our beady little eyes on them for the future - they were fab
3. sock critters by millimoomi
the cubs invested heavily at the shrine to sock critterdom that was millimoomi, walking out with not one but two tiny sock rabbits. These are currently taking pride of place in the cub reporter's staff room, although the pink one has hidden and refused to come out for the photo [ed's note - photo now lost also...will be included at later date if photographer not sacked for negligence] - the choice of this pink one struck me as strange, as usually my girls profess to hate pink, but Ms Bester let her love of sock bunnyness overcome her hatred of the colour, as it was the only one left once her more senior colleague had snaffled the yellow...

Ed In Chief's Choices
1. Angharad, obviously. Such beautiful work, such gorgeous fabrics, such an eye for detail and colour. I loved them, and cherish my tissue holder and the opportunities it may yield for an all round fresher faced reporting staff. Do Not Hold Breath. I May Never Use A Polkadot Tissue. They Are Too Cute.
2. I second the cubs' choices above. Those are damn fine reporters.
3. I fell head over heels and totally in love with...wait for it...some knickers. Not just any knickers you understand, ooooh no. These are Greygoat's handmade silky ones. Oh my word they are gorgeous. And she does matching camis too I hear. I have updated my Christmas wishlist already...scratched out all the teflon coated bakeware previously inscribed (well, the oven doesn't work anyway so who needs them, frankly) and replaced with these. In unscratchable ink. Roll on December...

after all that hard work the reporting team repaired to the nearest pizza express and had some damn fine pizza, swiftly followed by a trip to the British Museum and much hilarity in the Egyptian rooms ("there's a dead one" "Ooooooooh, there's another dead one" "Mummy, Mummy, there's a Mummy, Mummy" and my favourite of all, when faced with a Mummy case with a beard painted on the external representative figure "Is that one a Daddy?")

(note: it is past midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning and I have been seeking a moment to write this post since Sunday night...is it any wonder I am on an average of one post a week...)

(note 2: Thank You all so much for the birthday wishes for Ms Reva. You rock!)

eva is...

2008-06-19T22:00:00.005+01:00

I can't quite believe we've made it this far baby...

here's to the next 6, and the 6 after that, and after that...and...and...and..................................

there were sewing kits to open...

and many pins to push...

needlebooks to needle...

more dinosaurs...this time to eat...if feeling brave (those colours - yikes!)

in short much hilarity of one kind and another...

her sister enjoyed the fruit kebabs greatly...

(love that self-administered hairdo)

roll on next year is what I say!

swaps and general wonderfulness...

2008-06-15T20:28:00.006+01:00

sorry I have been absent even longer than usual...putting my back out a couple of weeks ago has wrecked havoc with my normal fairly sedentary, fairly hunched over, happy existence. Apparently (or so the osteopath and physiotherapist tell me) in order to avoid more of the same excruciating indisposition, a body has got to exercise. Which really is not compatible with spending all one's free time crafting or blogging. Is downright inconvenient to be frank. But I'm doing it (through gritted teeth) I may now seriously have to consider giving up the day job (sitting in front of a computer is very bad for me you know) ...there simply isn't enough time in the week to do it all, work, craft and exercise too. Bah!

anyway...there has been much wonderfulness since I reported last...

doll swaps received...(swoon!)

a beautiful bag, containing my doll from from Emily at Ravenhill

Gorgeous isn't she? I have never seen a more charming tea lady in my life. She is currently guarding my precious tea stash and administering to my beverage requirements beautifully.

She was accompanied by a selection of vintage buttons and a doily...which just had to be put in one of my vintage china saucers as that is what you do with vintage buttons in the overmilkwood house (Ms. Reva's latest edict)

so now I can show you what I sent Emily too...most of these pictures are from Emily's blog as she takes a far meaner photo than yours truly. Her little daughter Lilly (isn't she the cutest?) seems to really like Ms Myrtle (yes, Ms M really does spell it like that, no-one knows why) which makes me very happy indeed

What fun I had making this, my first doll. I have plans for many more

The dress was made to be easily put-on-take- offable by a three year old, the cardi was a variation on the kimono cardi I knit a while back, and the books were made by Ms Reva and Ms Bester

In further swap extraordinariness I was the lucky recipient of these pieces of functional felted perfection...

made by Lisa at lilfishstudios who actually made the felt herself...I kid you not...you just wouldn't believe how beautiful, soft and tactile it is in the flesh (so to speak)...these came wrapped in tissue pattern pieces which was a small touch I loved...

finally, this weekend was the Reva Girl's 6th birthday (nope, I have no idea how that happened, seems like only yesterday I was marvelling at her tiny starfish like hands and skinny little jaundiced legs) and here is a taster of the sewing kit I put together for her

which was inspired by her recently developed passion for vintage buttons and the ilk (oh what a proud, proud moment that was for me, when I walked into our craftroom to find her marvelling at old glass buttons and rushing to the kitchen to find a vintage saucer in which to place them to best advantage)...I'll get the other photos of the little kit up during the week I hope...watch this space...

right on cue...

2008-06-03T20:40:00.007+01:00

one week on...

big news of my week is that I managed to have breakfast at home and alone yesterday...it was a totally tranquil moment, I almost had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming...I normally have breakfast surrounded by manic children husband and cat or at my desk at the day job in front of a pc checking emails at 07.30...so imagine my delight when I found myself in a quiet, empty house in front of this...
imagine, once upon a time all breakfasts were like this, or something close to it AND I NEVER EVEN NOTICED...in fact I was probably SOMETIMES BORED by the quietness...what a waste!

unfortunately I had to do my back in and be off work in order to experience this moment of nirvana, but hey, silver linings and all that...

so, I have finished my first ever doll for the doll swap I am involved in and it is on its way to Norway as I speak...I hope Emily likes it ( I am very nervous as Emily only makes fabulous dolls and sells them on etsy!!!)

I realised I forgot to show the little quilt I made for Marie as part of that swap so here it is...I was working to a rainbow theme as she had said she loved rainbows...

and while I am on the subject of swap items I forgot to blog I may as well show you what I sent to Diane in Texas as part of a vintage swap...she told me she liked autumnal colours...and coffee...

Finally, I may have mentioned before this little dinner circle I am part of (a grand term for a very casual, informal arrangement, but we like to talk ourselves up... it strikes us as amusing for some reason)...well, recently the dinner circle turned all oenophilic and we had a Riesling tasting evening under the direction of our great expert The Wolf (he took it very seriously as you can see and had a blackboard and swordy pointer and everything - we even got a special badge when we pronounced those tricky German words in anyway approximating correctness)

it was wonderful evening and I promised (after one too many glasses of delicious wine) to start up a dinner circle blog. Ahem. I now find that I do not have capacity in my already full to bursting life to do this but I share some pictures here in the hope they will enthuse my dear friend Ms D to take on the mantle of dinner circle blogger extraordinaire...go on Ms D....you know you'd love to...
Ms D's wine tasting glasses, labelled in preparation for the inebriation that was bound to unfold that evening...(it wasn't really that dark, we were just on a not-using-the-flash mission)

what a busy week that was...postal goodies and some flowers...

2008-05-27T22:49:00.009+01:00

I can't believe it is over a week since I last posted...no matter how good my intentions I don't seem to manage more than 1 post a week, if that...still, I have a good excuse...it was a busy busy week.

Postal goodies came and were ooohed over...

from Marie as part of the lucy locket quilt swap I received this little beauty...

I oohed (and aahed) over the amazing stitching and will be contacting Marie for hints and tips (I dream of doing such beautiful stitches)

as well as a ball of deliciously soft cashmere mix yarn (I feel so spoiled - I love cashmere, how did you know Marie? did a little quilt fairy tell you?)

and last but not least, ooooh noooo, this delicious and delightful extra strong Lancashire tea, it comes in square teabags (it says so on the box).

No-one in the house is allowed this tea, except ME!!!

Thank you so much Marie...

I also received these two amazing photos in the Scent of Water photo swap. The theme this time was reflections...beautifully captured by Christine (for whom I have no blog address unfortunately).

Thanks Christine...

so, what else have I been up to...

why Chelsea Flower Show, of course...

all those lovely gardens inspired me to revamp our own the minute I got home...

Mr G (photographed here with his lovely helper Ms B) was simply thrilled, as I am sure you can imagine, especially when the rains began to fall

but I did make up for it with a proper afternoon tea...I even let him have a cup of Lancashire's finest...just that once...

(no sweet treats put out until tea was poured, otherwise the gannets swoop)

swap goodies, an exhibition and a meeting...

2008-05-19T08:28:00.012+01:00

On Friday myself and Ms Bester met with the lovely Katy from imagingermonkey and her son, ginge ( obviously that's not his real name). We visited the Skin and Bones exhibition at Somerset House where I was delighted to bask in Katy's reflected glory....the woman was only wandering around the show with one of the exhibition items on her back...I tried to persaude her to hop up on the plinth and be done with it but strange as it may seem she managed to resist. The show was great. Lots of very sculptural fashion pieces juxtaposed with interesting architectural models, designs and photographs. I was most interested in the clothes: think Junya Watanbe, Yohji Yamamoto et al etc along with Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood from closer to home. Well worth a visit, if only to see Mc Queen's amazing appliqued skirt with leather bodice - I almost wept. Don't go expecting pretty floral prints and a fashion trends to follow for this season, this is serious stuff, imprevious to such paltry concerns...

We then retired to Gabriel's Wharf for some lunch and swapping of our sewn goods.

Katy produced a beautiful Astronoughty for Ms. Reva's fifth birthday in a couple of weeks time

and a great bag for all the child's bits'n'bobs...

how cool is that, it's even got a tag with her name on...she is going to love it!

and for me a really lovely little tea coaster...

Katy has obviously been paying attention to my interminable ramblings on the subject of that fine beverage. Ms Reva set up the following shot, to showcase both the lovely new coaster and my favourite vintage teacup as well as the teapot she helped me paint when she was two years old.

See that blob inside the lid? That's Reva Girl's thumbprint...

Thanks so much Katy - you are a star!

I mentioned to Katy previously that I was thinking of making an owl and pussycat mini-quilt, she said it was her favourite piece of nonsense verse and I didn't need any further encouragement...

here's the back:

difficult to see much with all that Michael Miller stripe going on but as I was making the quilt I reflected on the fact that I actually sometimes like the backs of such things more than the fronts. After I had done the appliqued front with the owl and cat on I just loved the wrong side with the stitched outline (before I added the striped backing). It reminded me that when at art school most of my drawings focussed on negative spaces rather than positive, there appears to be something about what is absent rather than present that attracts me...hmm, may need to give this a little more reflection...

other swap news:

sneaky peek of my actual Lucy Locket mini-quilt swap for Marie

I really hope she likes it...

and a finished Functional Felt Swap pincushion and needle-roll soon to be off to a surprise recipient

These are made from a thrifted felted scarf (the blue) and cashmere sweater (the pages in the needleroll) along with some really pretty vintage trims that were in my stash. I really want to keep them for myself as I need one of each (well, I actually do have a needle book but the cashmere pages in this one are just gorgeous so I want it!). The pincushion was inpired by this tutorial right here...I didn't follow the tutorial right to the letter (far too lazy for that) but the end result is pretty much the same.

next up - the doll swap...am nervous about this one I must say, never having made a doll before...wish me luck...no, more than that send me inspiration...

interested in knitting, sewing or the creation of open-source software? ...plus, news of a popster after my own heart

2008-05-12T15:06:00.013+01:00

would you happen to be interested in knitting, sewing or the creation of open-source software? if so, I have just the exhibition for you ...Open Source Embroidery:Craft and Code

The blurb says: "The project was developed by Ele Carpenter when working as an artist in residence at Access Space in Sheffield and Isis Arts in Newcastle upon Tyne" and it sounds fascinating, in a geeky kind of way (I'm allowed to say that you see, as I've done my share of software crafting in my day and so consider myself a kind of latter-day geek). There is an evening preview on Friday 16th and some knitting and embroidery getogethers to be announced...

Other random news is that I donned my old punk-rocker hat last Friday night and went to see Vic Godard and Subway Sect (Mr G is a major fan, and our daughters request some Vic everynight as part of the bedtime routine so it's a bit of a family thing now)...they were playing this tiny venue "The Arts Theatre Club" in Soho...there were about 50 people and Vic with four musicians on a stage I wouldn't have thought you could fit four mice on...it was hilarious. The music was great and Mr Vic proved himself to be a man after my own heart by interrupting the set to request........." a cup of tea"....well, that knocked the wind from the bar staff's sails so much that my dear Mr G had to step across the road to Bar Italia to get the man a takeaway cuppa...so there you go, my brush with celebrity and fame couldn't have gotten much better really...

The rest of our evening out was pretty great too - we went to see Duchamp, ManRay and Picabia at Tate Modern. An exhibition I could have missed to be honest, all that misogynistic posturing of certain strands of the 20th century art scene leaves me cold (though I do admire some of the more conceptual work by Duchamp in particular), but we did fit in a very pleasant drink in the bar afterwards, followed by some conveyor belt sushi in Soho at a tiny place we used to frequent a lot, some espressos and a shared nata at the aforementioned Bar Italia, then the gig and the last train home.

Our aim had been to somehow recreate the aimless wandering around Soho we did so much of a decade ago, and by jove I think we did it...and 'twas just as wonderful as I remember it being...

right, here are some sewing pictures...English paper pieced patchwork technique - I love it. My craftastic sister Marion made a whole double quilt out of our old summer dresses using this technique, I remain in awe to this day. I managed something slightly bigger than a coaster...

...special people...tea bliss...swap goodies...

2008-05-08T21:28:00.007+01:00

as I mentioned it was my friend Nich's birthday...we visited at the weekend bringing tea(bliss*) related gifts for Nich :

one finished teacosy in Noro Silk Mountain - tick
one tin of Fortnum & Mason Regent's Blend - tick
one jar of F&M chocolate covered florentines - tick
one copy of Tea Bliss (which will either make him laugh hysterically and wonder if I have lost my mind or will change his life forever) - tick

and a rather special little gift for his lovely wife whose birthday it was recently also...

"oldfingers family " by tenfingerworkshop (felted habitat by yours truly)

we spent some sunny days in their pretty country garden, enjoyed a bbq or two and a walk through the bluebells...unfortunately I forgot my camera so no photographic evidence exists and the only photo of the teacosy on the teapot is in Nich's camera as I write...don't fret, no doubt I'll post it (totally out of context) one of these days...

in other news on the milkwood front I received a beautiful parcel from Diane in the heart of Texas...we were doing a Vintage Swap exchange arranged by Meridian...and I was delighted to receive some vintage gloves (which Ms. Reva insists are so lovely they should only be used for a wedding) and a very pretty swarovski crystal necklace...I'll unveil what I sent Diane as soon as I know she has received it safely...

Thank You Diane!

*a lot of the bliss was mine I must admit as provided a perfect opportunity to spend a recent lunch hour in the glorious Fortnum and Mason foodhall - my god they do an overwhelming amount of beautifully packaged tea!

tales from the white coated and safety goggled world of tea cosy knitting...and some other stuff

2008-04-28T21:35:00.007+01:00

as some of you may know my day job involves working in a male dominated industry in an office full of men...now one of these men values the restorative qualities of a nice cup of tea (as I do myself) and along with certain other redeeming features of his this shared passion for tea (well, for time away from our desks making sure the kettle has boiled, at least) has ensured that we have become good friends over the past 8 or so years since we met...Anyway, Nich turned 40 this year. When I enquired what he would like as a gift he asked for a tea cosy, as he'd been given a shiny new tea pot for Christmas...

...(exhibit A)...
(note the attractive fossil)

I jokingly told him he would need to furnish me with dimensions if he wanted a snug fit in his custom built cosy and he duly turned in these...

...(exhibit B)...
(note the attention to detail - though I did have to work out the circumference myself, can you believe that?!)

He is now convinced that the knitting practice is one so scientific that it involves not only the most precise measurements but also the wearing of safety goggles and a white coat (although I think he may be secretly hankering back to his previous existence as a research chemist). Which makes me laugh...very few things could possibly be less scientific than my bus knitting...

anyway, the cosy has been cast on and will be unveiled at the weekend...watch this space...

I am again overwhelmed by the number of comments to the last post...it was great to read about everyone's favourite seaside treats and I am now more determined than ever to get myself to Portugal to check out the wonderful clams, squid and other seafood mentioned, along with the chilled white wine...now that sounds like my kind of place (not until I've shaken the half stone or so I put on over my four days in France though...unbelievable! never knew one moule could have such an impact!!!). The British contingent do love their fish and chips and sandwiches it seems, while seafood also figures large for the North Americans. To be honest it ALL sounded delicious to me.

My new friend the random number generator tells me the winner is no 16, which appears to be Varenia (whose stitching looks a lot more professional than mine - oh dear...). So Varenia, drop me an email with your address and I will pop the lavender sachet in the post to you in sunny Southern California.

It was, as always, lovely to discover new blogs out there and I'll be popping by them all to say hello as soon as I can...

I'll leave you with a sneak peek of something I've been playing with recently...just to add a bit of colour...

ps time for a tea tasting update...I invested in some Russian Caravan tea today (the kids were intrigued by the name) as suggested by a number of people previously - mmm, I quite like it. The smokiness isn't as pronounced as in Lapsang Souchong (obviously as it is a mix) but adds a lot to the flavour...I could quite like this one...might try with just a dot of honey, if that isn't against the tea drinkers code of course

Le Crotoy...moules and tea...and a petite giveaway

2008-04-22T09:14:00.014+01:00

just back from a magical short break in Picardy...Le Crotoy to be precise

the moules were fabulous, as anticipated...

the town was lovely in a quiet way...had that wonderful salted weathered air that I love so much

...ramshackle peeling buildings

...aged colours

...shutters and "shutter keepers" no idea what these are really called but they are beautiful in their detail
indispensable in a country that relies so heavily on its shutterage to keep that which must be denied access out

...wonderful light, which I was keen to let in

...and a hotel which served the most divine afternoon tea...

my new flavour of choice is thé de Chine à la rose, très délicieux...

while pondering the deliciousness of our beverages my companion in the act of "taking tea" and I did decide that these beautiful and delicate teas are probably best appreciated in a gorgeous French coastal salon with a decided lack of smallfry in attendance...

something that can be tricky to recreate at home...

the children had a ball too of course...

now, it has just come to my attention that this is my 50th post (how did that happen?) so to celebrate I am going to do a very petite giveaway...leave me a comment telling me your favourite thing to eat when by the seaside (moules for me) and I will enter you in the draw to receive a little handmade lavender sachet...

these are made from the very pretty Alexander Henry cho cho (butterfly) fabric and will be finished off as soon as I relocate my pinking shears, which seem to have taken a little holiday of their own...

sneaky peek...and some more swaps...

2008-04-12T16:30:00.009+01:00

here is a sneaky peek at my applique quilt top WIP...

it's based on Ms Reva's "Firework Dog" masterpiece and features a bit of machine applique, some hand applique and my new (old) love, embroidery

I treated myself to this and this and am finding the doodle stitching one really useful so far. I'm not sure it would be much use if you were an accomplished stitcher but to a novice the clear and helpful instructions are invaluable...

watch this space...

meanwhile, there seem to be a lot of great swaps kicking off around the blog'o'craft'o'sphere at the moment...so far I've noticed

functional felting (still open for joining up)
doll making (ditto)
photography (closing date today)
mini quilts (too late I'm afraid)

I've signed up to them all apart from the doll one (having NO experience of doll making and being a tad overwhelmed by my to-do list right now)...I must get started on these swap projects, once I finish my vintage swap of course...

I am off again tomorrow, to France this time, to stay with some friends and hopefully teach one of them to knit...the knitting may all have to take place pre-lunch though, given the requirement to drink lots of delicious wine with every meal (it's the law there, as far as I know)...we wouldn't want any slipped stitches now would we? I will remember to pack my cable needle this time. I am also looking forward to some bracing walks on the beach and fine moules marinieres...mmmmmmmmmmm

...on being three...

2008-04-07T08:10:00.006+01:00

my baby girl turns three this week...I am going to be away on the day so we designated yesterday her official birthday and did all the things you do on such a day...it was marvellous...

the day before - cake and jelly in preparation

the scene in our back garden upon rising on the big day, snow on your birthday - how exciting is that?

the badge of honour (which of course she wouldn't wear but which will join the others on her shelf of birthday cards with badges made by mum)

the gift opening by a very excited pair of sisters, Ms Bester from my friend imagingermonkey was a huge hit, thanks again Katy : you are a star

the party table (yes, in time honoured mean mom tradition I did force them to eat some "healthy stuff" first)

the finished cake (didn't get to photograph the jelly as the party guests got there first...the bunny didn't stand a chance...top tip for 3 year old parties - do jelly, they'll love it!)

she had requested a strawberry cake and this is what I came up with, mostly as a result of the current lack of oven situation...a party game for grown ups did emerge during the mayhem of the afternoon, with about 5 of them standing around umming and aahing and trying to fix my oven, convinced it is just a timer problem, unfortunately there was no winner but I think they had fun

a very tired but happy girl before bed (when she got there she insisted the cot bed be turned into a bed as she is now offially a big girl)

what a lovely day for a truly lovely girl, forgive me for being soppy but that child really does make my heart sing...she's hilarious

There was another birthday girl this week too, my darling friend Ms D with whom I celebrated in style on Saturday night in the company of Mr G, The Wolf and the King and Queen of home entertaining...unfortunately due to a prior engagement I had to forego her oyster eating extravaganza yesterday afternoon (too busy forcing jelly rabbits on unsuspecting 3 year olds) but I hope she had a wonderful time. Happy Birthday Ms D.

I am away from tonight...visiting Ireland to give my dad a big hug as he has been a bit poorly and to sing happy birthday to my sister (hopelessly out of tune) ...back at the weekend

a review...and a forecast...

2008-03-31T21:12:00.013+01:00

I've been tagged on the 4 things meme by two very talented bloggers Katy and Jen
check out their blogs if you haven't already done so, they are great (you may even notice a replica Ms Bester on Katy's entry of today...now there is this little girl called Ms Bester who lives with me and she has a third birthday coming up soon...)

I was intrigued as to what meme actually means, initially thinking it was simply a meme...ie all about me...by me (they are fairly self-reflective normally it has to be said) however I have been put right and it is all far more interesting than that...check this out if you too are intrigued beyond what is normal by this whole meme lark (thanks Apry l)

anyway, grab yourselves a cuppa and settle in for some looking inwards...

(nice excuse to show you one of my latest thrifting finds...I tell you I've gone berserk on the vintage china of late. So much so we are running out of room to store it (well, not quite yet) but I tell you it's just delightful to drink tea from these dainties...brightens up many a dull morn round milkwood way...may do a post on all my vintage beauties one of these days, or maybe I'll just have to invite you all around to take tea...I have about enough cups now I think...and Apryl can bring baked goodies, my excuse being that my oven is still broken - the reality being that the woman makes damn fine cake)

so, to the meme

4 Jobs I have had::
bookmaker (as in the betting kind) - I was the one who took the money and wrote the results up on the board (in the days before t'internet and technology took over all that and bookies became flash) in London's famous Petticoat Lane - how I loved wandering around there...hated the job though
gin bottle quality checker - I was the one who checked the bottles of gin to make sure there was no gunk in the booze...sounds more glamorous than it was (am not sure that's possible actually) there was much standing around in front of a lightbox and conveyor belt for 8 hours a day...I was young and I needed money, that's all I will say
teacher - english as a foreign language, computer programming, art...take your pick I've done 'em all...still doing the art teaching (my artclub) and I must say I LOVE that job
computer programmer - in the late 80s/early 90s - imagine a huge mainframe computer with tiny black terminals if you will..then imagine yours truly with a permanent hangover (it was my first time away from home and I fell in with a lively crowd - what more can I say) - it wasn't a good combination - I kept knocking the on-off switch with my toe by accident and the whole caboodle would power off and 40 or so programmers would wonder what had happened...I would take the opportunity to make some tea, obviously

4 favorite movies ::
jules et jim (or anything with Jeanne Moreau in)
breakfast at tiffany's (or anything with Audrey Hepburn)
million dollar mermaid (or anything with Esther Williams)
lights in the dusk (or anything by Aki Kaurismaki)

4 places i’ve been ::
Sydney
New York
Scotland
Italy (8 weeks after Ms Reva was born we went to Florence...8 weeks after Ms Bester arrived we went to Venice...I think I need another baby!)

4 places i’ve lived ::
Cork
Dublin
London
New York (state, one summer, with a broken heart...awwwwh)

4 favorite tv shows ::
damages
madman
ugly betty
the late late show in the 70s and 80s (only Irish people will understand this)

4 favorite radio programs ::
I am a radio 4 fan - front row, woman's hour which I get to listen to approx once a year!), used to love the saturday morning family show with John Peel before he departed this world too early and RFN independent voices (of course!)

4 favorite foods ::
king prawns
peas
parmesan
prosecco
(and tea, which doesn't really count as an extra as it is a staple...like water)

4 places i’d rather be ::
hmm, quite like where I am right now (though it is a bit messy, truth be told) but if I had to you could probably persuade me to :
a Greek island or San Francisco or Amsterdam or Rome or or or

I think I am supposed to choose 4 people to invite to join in this so I invite Jo, Asti, Penny and Chloe ...but only if they don't feel that this meme is one which "may prove detrimental to [its] hosts" !

now, to the future...I am currently forecasting...and the future is grey (Rowan Pure Wool Aran)

unfortunately I found myself in Suffolk without a cable needle but with an inviting inglenook which created an overwhelming urge to knit...so I used one of the kids pencils instead...must admit those cables are a smidgen looser than they could have been had yours truly even an ounce of patience and self restraint...

and finally (as if I haven't already ricocheted between enough diverse topics in one post) some earrings I mustered from an old necklace I had lying around...I rather like them...now, if only I could wear earrings...

gosh, that may well have been my longest ever post...I'd be amazed if anyone were still here...

a last post on Easter...and the winner of my heart...

2008-03-27T09:39:00.007Z

1. serendipitous find inside the church at Stoven, 2. Easter on beach Southwold, 3. snow and headstones in Stoven, 4. Mr G issuing Easter Egg Hunt directions, 5. hunting for eggs in snow, 6. huts southwold easter 2008, 7. goose egg and easter chicks, 8. huts southwold easter 2008, 9. boats southwold 2008, 10. egg hunt ON, 11. boats southwold 2008, 12. easter display 2, 13. easter display, 14. easter snow 2008, 15. easter sunday 2008 southwold, 16. unusual easter bunny 2008, 17. stoven church easter, 18. huts southwold easter 2008, 19. no need for tea cosy, 20. huts southwold easter 2008, 21. easter chick biscuit, 22. easter display goose egg and bunny, 23. in the graveyard easter sunday 2008, 24. grey pier snow easter sunday southwold 2008, 25. egg in snow suffolk easter 2008, 26. easter heart, 27. easter display 3, 28. lichen slate and snow

we went to Suffolk to visit friends for Easter, it snowed, we drank lots of tea and prosecco (as you do), ate lots of chocolate and fish (as you do too) and had an all round lovely time...a wonderful and much appreciated down time for all of us...mmmmmmm

(not quite sure why my mosaic turned out so tiny, but there you go...seems a bit ridiculous when the titles dwarf the image to such an extent but you sort of get the idea I hope)

came back late on Monday, was straight into work on Tuesday and so finally managed to pull the name out of the hat last night (or the number out of the random number generator, it being the 21st century and me being a time-pressed blogger) and the winner of my heart is...commenter no 23 hurrayic who has a lovely blog and left a lovely comment...

but thanks to everyone who commented on the last couple of posts, and indeed on all my posts ever - your comments make my heart sing, every single one of them...I would love to reply to every one individually but blogger doesn't give me details for all comments for some reason, but I do visit every blog and leave a comment where I can...

have a lovely week

miracles of easter...

2008-03-21T22:05:00.008Z

The Reva Girl's easter bonnet was a big surprise (to me) and a great success, thanks to the amazing partnership of herself as designer and Mr. G (or "Mr. Genius of Millinery Engineering" as I call him these days) as main agent of construction...

Meanwhile we blew some eggs during the week and got painty today...I just had to share this creation of 2 year old Ms Bester...faberge it ain't!

When I saw her ladling the paint on I sucked my teeth and announced "it will never dry"...I was upstairs sometime later when I heard much excitement and commotion below me...rampant scampering, crazy yelping until finally I could discern them shrieking "it's a miracle...it's a miracle..."(or "mirashel"as announced by the painter herself)...yes readers...the paint had dried...

We are off to "the country" tomorrow for Easter, to that part of "the country" where sub zero temperatures and lots of snow are forecast...hmm, should make for an interesting egg hunt on Sunday morning...

have to say I am quite overwhelmed by the number of comments to the last post, in the nicest possible way of course...I've enjoyed reading them all so much...will be back on Monday or Tuesday to draw the winner...leave a comment to this post and I'll enter you too...

in the meantime, enjoy your eggs

belated St Patrick's Day greetings...and a giveaway, at last...

2008-03-18T08:23:00.009Z

somehow it has slipped my mind until about midday yesterday that it was actually March 17th...I think it may have been the Sunday lunch and afternoon spent with my friend Jane and her family...there is something about fine food, crisp white table linen and glasses of beautifully chilled prosecco that do it for me every time...and on Sunday afternoon did it for me so well that I forgot what day it was on Monday!

anyway, it turns out it was St. Patrick's Day yesterday...I got a late call from my new old pal Marty at RadioFreeNation asking whether I'd go on air and witter about the day a bit and obviously it would have been churlish to refuse...the kids were in bed and I was too hungover to knit...I don't think Marty quite appreciated he would be interviewing the woman who forgot it was St Patrick's day but nevermind that... if you want to hear a bit about the day as celebrated in Southern Ireland in days of yore (that'll be the 70s and 80s folks) click here...

SO...Lá Féile Pádraig Shona Duit, my friends...(you can probably guess what that means, if not email me for a crash course in Gaelic!)

now seems a good time to stop wittering and offer a little giveaway...so leave me a comment to any post this week and I'll put you in the hat to win one of my little hearts...if you can't think of anything else to do with one they take kindly to having pins stuck in them...

tell me Something Nice, about something that makes your heart sing...

my swap to Whizz and Dana's quilt giveaway...

2008-03-17T09:03:00.006Z

(not feeling very creative with the titles today, as you can tell)

here is a full picture of the Marsupial Eggs I sent Whizz as part of the Easter swap. The tiny eggs are filled with lavender so smell lovely and they can all hop in or out of the motheregg as desired. It makes a great pincushion (as I found when I returned from work one day to find every one of my pins stuck in it by the smallfry - they loved it - but what was their father thinking? pins, tiny children...most unlike him) or a nice wardrobe hangie with moth repellent qualities...

It was such fun to make...and I like those vibrant spring colours...the pale blue fabric is a re-purposed cushion cover in a kind of velour which was a nightmare to get through the machine

Now, get thee here (fast) to look at a beautiful handmade quilt and be in with a chance to win it...(tell Dana you heard about it here and you'll give me even more chances to win...well if it's not you it may as well be me, right?)

I will be back with my own giveaway shortly...this week for sure, but don't get too excited...it's going to be far less extravagant...

a post about other people's blogs...some swap goodies received...and an attempt at cake...

2008-03-12T17:29:00.016Z

just a quickie...

MeridianAriel is hosting a vintage swap, it'll be fun so go on over and sign up. You've got until Friday to do so...I can't wait to get started...

Meanwhile Dana over at Old Red Barn Co is doing an amazing handmade quilt giveaway really soon...the rules will be announced in her 200th post (next couple of days I think) and I don't think you'll want to miss it (plus, if you go there from here I get extra chances to win...a master at viral marketing is Dana!)

Here is a belated picture of my Easter swap goodies from Whizz

Gorgeous, aren't they? The pretty little keyring is now brightening up my large set of office keys and making my entry to that hallowed portal at 7.30am each morning an absolute pleasure...okay, that was a slight exaggeration I'll admit, but certainly has been less grim of late and the keyring is the only new component in the whole morning ritual so...

My parcel has finally gone in the post to Whizz so once she's received it I'll show you what I made...here is a sneak preview though...

Now, so many crafters are also great cooks and bakers. I love to look at the recipes on their blogs (MeridianAriel and JuanitaTortilla amongst many others spring to mind - hey those guys are wonderful jewelery makers too....hmm, is there some connection between the two types of craft I wonder?) Never being one to shy from a challenge I thought I'd try my hand myself, the kids are still poorly and in need of diversion so today we made....

drum roll....

Ta Dah...

chocolate rice crispie buns....

well our oven is out of action so I couldn't do anything more demanding really (sign of my lack of baking skills being that it has been out of action for months now and has it bothered me once? nope, not even a tiny jot)

Hang on a sec, what's that teeny but malevolent looking van doing there?

Sinister plans for my buns methinks...better run and save them right away...(eats 4)

if anyone wants the recipe let me know, I'm sure I can turn this into a recipe blog with a little application (please note, I am NOT being serious...I have not taken final leave of my senses, yet...)

hmm, turned out not to be a quickie after all...apologies!

FO and thrift...

2008-03-11T11:50:00.010Z

so, a little FO (finished object of course) to share...from knitting patterns from the domestic sphere - an asymmetrical bulky cardigan and sideways shortrow hat. I stumbled across these on ravelry while looking for something sweet to knit for my friend Maaya's new baby. I've never done this shortrows technique before, once you get used to it it's great. Give it a go. Yes, I know I have already decided to do a quilt...haven't you worked out yet that I rarely stick directly to planA? the quilt will get done too I hope...although baby arrived 3 days early instead of the expected week late so I am under just a bit of pressure now...
I obviously don't have enough babies in my life to say I am crafting 3 goodies for this little one (most of my friends have moved on from baby stage now) ...but hopefully there will be one more very special baby being announced soon..NOT mine I hasten to add, but someone very dear to me is waiting and seeing right now...send her all your positive vibes for some good news later this month...

digression over...here's the knit...

it reminds me of a little kimono, which is kind of appropriate really as Maaya is Japanese...the yarn is Blue Sky Alpaca organic cotton and it is beautiful, soft, warm, perfect...

Meanwhile Saturday saw a bit of thrifting action (have decided to go with the "thrifting" word, so much nicer and more concise than "rummaging around charity shops" to describe the activity). I had to leave the kids at home and drop my bike in for a service and of course the queues were REALLY long in the bike shop (honest Mr G, stop reading now dear) which enabled a bit of a detour and the scoring of the following delicious old skirts which are just crying out for some cutting and repurposing....(or wearing, I just can't decide!)

I also managed to find these glasses (for 25p each) which will hold a long cool drink just perfectly come Summer (assuming Summer remembers Britain this year)

and finally, the darling smallfry #2 was VERY excited last weekend at going to her first proper party as a properly invited quest who received her very own invitation ...so excited she forgot to show her face as she ran out the door...

smallfry #1 wasn't so impressed by missing all the fun due to the pox but that's quite another story...suffice it to say many compensatory DVDs have been acquired...

PS on the subject of ravelry - if you like yarn crafts and haven't yet signed up I urge you to do so now, it is simply the best resource out there...if you are signed up you'll find me there as overmilkwood...

1, 2, 3, 4.....felt

2008-03-06T22:47:00.009Z

my eldest daughter has now been stricken by the chickenpox...so a day at home for all (Thursday is my day off from work so I could rest easy and not worry about deadlines and schedules while pandering to a sick child, tomorrow will be quite another matter)

we spent our morning making these...

I was in charge of the 4 one, but Ms Reva took total charge of the felt portrait one...she had been asking if we could put a picture of Lara onto the first but my energy/creative/hassle levels were low and I kept saying no I don't think we'd be able to do that (which is very unlike me when making stuff with the kids, the one good thing about having me as a parent is that I'm normally game to rise to any creative challenge) however the girl persevered and in the end she put it together herself. Hats off, she did a great job. I was then left to do the stitching (in a kind of renaissance master:minion operation) while she reclined on her sick-couch, spent from her exertion...

I've been making little badges since the kids were younger...I attach them to a blank card for their birthdays and then keep them on a shelf in their room all year...here is Madame Esther's from last birthday...
do you think there is a name for the disease whose main symptom is the desire to put little tags that say your name on everything? If so I'd like to know it...because I've gone down with it...and it appears to be hereditary as the kids are also showing an unhealthy interest...

(come to think of it I was just like this with labelling things at school too)

I haven't forgotten about the giveaway...pop back next week and hopefully I'll have had a chance to get it together. In the meantime why not pay a visit to LucyKateCrafts where there is a very sweet little critter looking for a home right now...

listen to me say "stuff", a lot...

2008-03-02T21:01:00.010Z

last week I got an email from a stranger called Marty Owings...on Saturday he called me up...talked to me for half an hour or so...then put this interview up on RadioFreeNation...

when I listened to the interview afterwards it was weird...there is so much that seems really obvious in my mind about what I do but it struck me on listening that of course none of this is obvious to anyone who doesn't inhabit my mind...(those lucky, lucky people!)

so, there is more to be said than "stuff" and Marty has been kind enough to invite me back in the summer...that'll give me the opportunity to ramble even more about things like recycling, reuse, redeployment as well as some things I've been thinking about how the blog'o'craft'o'sphere turns the virtual into the tangible and tactile through the whole swap-thing, I'll be able to talk about the kids artclub I set up and how wonderful it is to watch kids who thirst for the chance making art and maybe I'll even be lucky enough to be able to say something about some progress in my "escape the 9 to 5" mission...who knows...

I love that Marty is out there, looking at "stuff" and being so enthusiastic about it all...the world needs more people like that, being enthusiastic, giving encouragement and saying Nice Things...I'm a great believer in saying Nice Things...they mean a lot...

Check back over the next couple of days, I'm going to follow Marty's generous spirit and do me a little old giveaway...not sure what yet, but some of my "stuff"...my way of saying "thanks" to the craft'o'blog'o'sphere and all those people who pop in and say NT...

in the meantime, here is the drawing of the "Fireworks Dog" that Ms. Reva did which I'll be trying to translate into an appliqued quilt for a friend's imminent arrival...and oh what fun that should be...

look...there are houses in there too...how wonderful, I've been wanting to applique some houses since I saw this

[afterthought: just in case anyone from the day job is about...it was a bit lazy of me to say it is boring (please don't fire me, I have a mortgage and hungry children to feed you know)...a little tedious on occasion and not very creatively stimulating might have been a better way of putting it...]

the pox is upon us...

2008-02-27T22:20:00.012Z

smallfry2 is down with chickenpox
smallfry1 will surely fall soon...

the sum total of the mite's dietary requirements of the past three days...

...toast in the shape of Nice Things

...covered with bonne maman strawberry jam

(I prefer the blackcurrant myself, but there is no accounting for taste, especially when pox ridden I suppose)

...and strawberry jelly

One of the reasons I quite like to make jelly is these beautiful vintage moulds - one of Ms Reva's best birthday gifts of last year, from Maaya, doyenne of the car boot sale....we have one really large rabbit mould too, makes enough jelly for at least 6 ravenous jelly-fiends

I took the opportunity while having an unexpected couple of days home from the office on pox-watch to photograph some china bowls I scored down in the oxfam shop recently, pretty huh?

and to play with the focus/depth of field (is that what you call it?) stuff on my camera...I'd quite like to paint this...

Publish Post

awh shucks...

2008-02-24T16:27:00.012Z

an award, for me, from imagingermonkey...what a treat. To be thought creative and inspiring...what a truly nice thing. Works both ways as I love the things imagingermonkey makes (and she has promised to make one for smallfry2's third birthday in April - way hay!!!)

The Award originally came from
Arte Y Pico's Blog
The Award rules are:
* Post the award on your own blog.(Post who gave it to you)
*Indicate its original link and link to that site. (Arte Y Pico from Uruguay)
*Give the award to 5 other blogs that you enjoy, find creative and inspire you.

so, 5 that I find creative and inspiring...hmm, make that 5 thousand and I might be able to choose. I am amazed on a daily basis by the creativity out there in the blog'o'craft'o'sphere...I suppose if I have to limit it to 5 I will choose...

All the MN crafters (slight cheat but I'm pretty sure no one is looking...)
Angharad
SaltandChocolate
flossieteacakes
kleas

but really, it's for everyone, every blog I read and every crafter I communicate with - I find you all inspiring!

The DustMotes Mobile for Elsie Marley's mobile swap is finally finished and posted off to my swap partner in the US - check out the flickr group to see some wonderful creations

meanwhile, in another (yet another, yes I know, I am a lucky lucky gal) good mail day these three photos arrived from the aforementioned Kleas as part of the scentofwater photoswap I mentioned a couple of posts ago. Kristin put them on cards so I could send them to people but I can tell you now no-one is getting their mitts on these, I love 'em way too much. They'll be up on the wall of my new "artroom" (as Smallfry1 calls it - love that!) as soon as I get them framed...there is a flickr group for this swap too - great images there
I just love that image - the colours, the composition, the empty space on the wall...it's perfect

love these too, wonderful colours, so evocative

...oh, hurrah for the day I found the blog'o'craft'o'sphere, that's all I say...

another happy day...

2008-02-21T20:20:00.005Z

a lovely gift from jackie in conneticut, a very talented quiltmaker (the quilt on the front of the card is one of hers - don't need to say more do I?)

and a little bit of recycling crafting to meet Meridian's challenge

I've always wanted a needle book, and making one out of some old felted sweaters felt much better than spending a tenner on a Cath Kidston dainty. This is an ongoing challenge that I'll be returning to again and again I suspect, why not join us?

I love the little bow at the back - I was aiming for a kind of vintage lingerie look and by jove I think I've got it!

Other than that, life had been busy. Smallfry 1 is on half term so has been putting me through my paces. We visited Vauxhall City Farm today and stroked some rabbits, oinked at some pigs, listened to hiphop with a couple of ferrets and chased a cow and a bull around a field. Things I don't normally do every day, believe it or not.

I've also started up a little art club for local kids - it's something I've been mulling over for a long time now, children in the UK don't get much opportunity to be artistically creative at school so I'm hoping to plug that gap in my own slight way. Had my first half day session with 4 kids last week and we had a lot of fun. Next one is tomorrow...wish me luck...

you've got mail....

2008-02-15T22:25:00.006Z

yep, a lovely package arrived for me just before Valentine's Day from Jo in Tas for the valentine swap Lucy Locket ran (and I see Lucy is now running an Easter swap - get over there fast!). It was all I could do to wait until THE day to open it but I knew Jo was waiting to open what I had sent her so that spurred me on...I finally got to open it yesterday and this is what I found...

isn't it lovely? And so beautifully made that the little heart I sent Jo suddenly looked very paltry in comparision. It is just so perfectly finished, I couldn't hope for that level of skill in a million years (well, maybe if I try REALLY hard I'll get somewhere close before I die). It is also the perfect size to function as a knitting project bag so I am doubly chuffed. THANKS JO! This was a lovely swap as I got to "meet" someone from the other side of the world, Tasmania, to be precise. Jo is really lovely and we plan to stay in touch, and maybe some day egg each other on to attempt a Dear Jane quilt - Jo obviously has the sewing skills and I have the enthusiasm at least. Now that's a little project that should see me safely through to my dotage...

I got pretty stash enhancers too as you can see. Something you can't see in the photo because they are now living in secret homes somewhere in my house (being fed by my children) are the tiny echildna and tasmanian devil* that Jo somehow managed to smuggle past customs and over here to delight the smallfry. They love them and promise to look after them well...

Meanwhile, these arrived in the mail a little after my birthday but delighted me completely nonetheless (secretly ordered by Mr G - no idea where he got the notion, ahem ahem) ...my long desired Harmony Options interchangeable needle set...these are just gorgeous to knit with (although they come in a very unpleasant plastic pouch - I feel a sewing project coming on...) I paraded them about the town today as I was off work, showing off in the local yarn store until Smallfry 2 (who'd arisen for some reason at 4am today - I knew the potion I mentioned in the last post would come in handy sooner than expected) almost keeled over...I've already cast on another Le Slouch (like I didn't have enough fun with the last one, y'know)

and here is smallfry 2 enjoying the lollypop that getknitted sent in the pack - sugar wouldn't melt in that child's mouth you know...

* before the RSPCA or Customs (or both) get onto me - only joking , they are toy versions of course

a whole lot of love...

2008-02-14T09:07:00.005Z

I've been wanting to post for a few days now but not manufactured a chance, life, kids, work all conspired against me...

It was my birthday last weekend, I went out with a group of friends for dinner in Soho and had the loveliest evening. I managed to wear the dress, shoes and delightful gewgaws of a couple of posts ago and felt all grown up and glamourous, but that wasn't what made the evening so special. Some old friends flew over from Ireland to celebrate with me, we've all been through our ups and downs together over the years and it meant so much to me to see them gathered there together. Newer friends I have made over the past 12 years in London were there too and as I looked around the room I reflected on how lucky I am. I basked in the smiles, banter and laughter of 20 people who mean so much to me in such different ways and I felt inordinately happy and incredibly lucky. If I could bottle the feeling I had that night (and over the entire weekend in fact) I would keep it on my dressing table and dab it on whenever life feels too grim, whenever I have to get up at 5.30am in winter too many days in a row, whenever the house is a mess and the laundry is not done and the children are cranky, just whenever...and I would soak in that feeling of love and happiness and I would relax and remember what is truly important.

Enough of all that (I seem to be developing a very sentimental streak as I enter my 4th decade) here are some hearts, Happy Valentine's Day!

(I'll be back soon to show off some of the crafting goodies I was lucky enough to receive for my birthday, and my gorgeous valentine swap from Jo in Tas)

Hi...

2008-02-07T21:18:00.000Z

I made this for a little challenge going on at the parenting site that has kept me halfway sane over the past 5 years (should I just abbreviate that to PSTHKMHSOTPFY from now on I wonder?) on the topic blue

it allowed me to indulge my twin passions: my new pinking shears and the sewing of fabric to non-fabric (luckily I seem to have kicked the recent sewing to milk cartons compulsion and have weaned myself onto card stock - much softer stuff). The fabric is from some Primark cotton pyjamas I bought in the biggest size they had in order to get max fabric out of them. They have some cute fabrics in their pyjamas sometimes...Primark, top tip...

here's another...

(this one is a recycled vintage tablecloth from the charity shop, I love the fabric)

handy to have around and say everything I want them to...

a ufo - in every sense of the word

2008-02-05T09:06:00.000Z

UFO :: an unidentified flying object (any unrecognizable flying vehicle)
UFO (crafting parlance) :: an unfinished object

I've been busy UFO'ing for the Elsie Marley Mobile Swap. My pieces are nearly ready to fly, now I just have to work out how to let them...then I can pop it in the FO category (in both senses of the word) and be done

I wanted to make something really light and kind of drifty as it is destined to live outdoors (in a warm and rainlight place thankfully - wish I could go too!) and I like the idea that it will waft and wave as the breeze dictates

I think I have managed that light'n'driftiness through my rather, ahem, random choice of materials... featuring old sweaters and goats milk cartons...what can I say? it came to me in a dream ...well if I am honest I was stressing so much about it that I couldn't get to sleep when my poor deprived old brain fastened on old milk cartons as the obvious solution to everything that worried me and once I had chanced upon this perfect solution I drifted off like the proverbial baby - the really peculiar thing is that I then fastened on this and went ahead with it in the cold light of day. Hmm, weird...

The overiding question now assailing my brain is how to get that weight (or rather, lack of) balanced...?

I'll welcome any hints or tips on how to move this little lovely from UFO to FO so if you've sucessfully finished a mobile let me know what you did with that scary top bit, please....

Other news, following on from Jodie at RicRacs brave announcement (great news!) I will also "say it out loud" - I have set up an etsy shop and am working on some little bits and pieces to put in there. Watch this space...