Pincushion Love

Here is the sad state of a pincushion. Much used and abused and never a glance in its direction from one end of the year to the next. See how pins and needles abound in an ugly unkempt fashion? Regard the state of the fabric covering. Does this not speak of a woman who keeps a disorderly house?!

It is amazing what a five minute gap to fill can result in - waiting for some files to upload - sitting next to the fabric shelves. Thread within reach. Scissors at hand. A twitchy disposition and well embedded protestant work ethic...








Newly backed, colour co-ordinated OCD-esque prettiness. After all these years of neglect, this little pincushion has earned her right to shine.

Yarn Obsessions

I am itching for knitting time. I do try to knit whenever there is a spare moment, but there is one drawback to knitting (for me) - my reach exceeds my grasp, or something like that. I cannot afford the yarn I would happily spend my winter munching through.

I have lists of things I would happily knit - people I would happily for. But I have to use my pennies wisely and pick my projects with one eye on my paypal balance (£0.00 in case you were wondering...)

And to top it all off, the yarn I do have on these sticks I'm not even liking all that much. I don't like green things on me so why did I buy it this spruce colour at all?? I don't know.

I really have to learn to spin. Soon.

What's on your sticks these days?


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From Scraps to Riches :: a Patchwork Table Runner

It's funny, isn't it, the things that mean the most to people? I can never seem to throw a scrap of fabric with a good pattern away, however small, and I've built up a tidy little pile of pieces, and I do love just pawing through them and seeing all the colours and patterns together.





Last week, after washing our table runner for the umpteenth time and wishing I could find another I liked in my thrifty treasure hunting, I had an epiphany, and then reached for the scrap bin and began to stitch things together any old how with the intention of making another runner for our table.



It seemed that log cabin worked best and it really wasn't long before four big blocks sat waiting for a border to bring it altogether.





It was a couple of evening's worth of work which satisfied my need to make 'something', whilst resulting in something totally necessary for our home.





And I love it that I am able to make these things for my family, that with each stitch there is a tangible message of love and care. Often it is the subtle messages in our lives that speak the loudest, isn't it? The time that someone takes our of their lives to do something for us, well, that speaks volumes and builds up our subconscious feelings of self worth.

And yeah, it's only a table runner. But like all things handmade, it's also so much more than that.



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Samplers

Been playing around with these fabrics this weekend :: a slew of golds, mustards, greys and blacks. This sampler (a simple mat) has whetted my appetite for more; I intend to make matching placemats and napkins and anything else that pops into my tired little head. Liking the fabrics together and geometric patterns always do it for me.

Anything you've made lately you'd like to share?


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Colour Blind

So. We had discussed it over the winter months - the time to redecorate the boys' room was fast approaching with Springtime around the corner. Their room had been slowly sliding into a midden for a while and an overhaul was long overdue, and this weekend winter plans were dusted down and made real.





In my mind I had envisaged duck egg, or antique silver with cream trim. Maybe a manly mint and grey combo?







Yeah... and that's the thing with raising freerange kids - they have, like, minds of their own, and can be mighty firm in their identities and decisions... short-hand for :: the boys didn't want duck egg blue or antique silver with cream trim. Oh no. They wanted cardinal red, bermuda blue and tropical lime green.

I managed to talk them off the cardinal-red ledge but they were not budging on the blue-green combo...







On one hand I'm impressed with their ability to compromise, make decisions, know what they want and be grateful for the redecorating. On the other hand? Well, on the other hand, I have tropical lime green in my house, people.







Come on in!











The boys were VERY happy - pleased as punch - giggling and hopping on one foot kinda happy. I am accepting it gracefully - I mean, not everybody has a room that matches a LeapPad do they? I have plans for one or two accessories to add to the room - art on the walls - a couple of cushions, maybe another floor quilt - perhaps I'll get to finish off those mama-made hand-sewn quilts that are STILL on the WIP pile (and as an aside - a bright orange quilt really will match this room nicely yes?).

It has a carnival feel to it, and the fact that it makes my babes happy is more than enough reason for me to love it too.



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Blue & Yellow

Ignoring for a while the debris and destruction that awaited my return yesterday (can I just say, again, that three males in one house - albeit, or perhaps because, two of them are mini-men - come second only in line to forces of nature and acts of God in their destructive ability and devastation-causing ways. Dust, crunchy carpets, smelly bedsheets, a film of smeared grease over the kitchen, the smell of a byre and two children who hadn't been bathed in TEN days... OH. MY.), I want to ignore the immense amount of work I have done on my return and the mountain-load left to tackle (I am so tired) and instead do that squinting-eye thing I do to focus my mojo on the positive, pretty things in life. Play along and pretend dirty windows are de rigeur OK? OK. This vintage, kick ass plate was gifted to me by a sister I have never met in the flesh but who, on occasions too numerous to count, sends me the most amazing things to make me happy. Her thoughfulness never fails to hit it's mark, and I was once again reeling and agog at the most beautiful, delicate gift I had ever received.

It's aqua, it's vintage, it's ceramic and it's a stop-you-in-your-tracks kind of pretty that had an immediate impact on not only my mood but the course of decor choices in my kitchen!





Sure, we have blue in my kitchen - aqua, duck-egg, creams and whites - but never coupled with yellow. And that one little detail made my heart pitter-patter and I was smitten with the combination. Aqua and yellow.... oh yes.



So I've been shoe-horning little bits of yellow in here and there in the intention of carrying this combo through.





It's even affecting my thrifting!







Not that I'm complaing one little bit.

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Colour. *Everywhere*

It's undeniable; the season has shifted. The blue skies and warm sun arouse not only animals out of hibernation, but the human spirit too.

People are smiling, nodding to one another, as if to say, 'we made it through that winter, good times are back again'. Trees are budding, blossom has started to bloom, the birds are belting out all-time classics that haven't had a dusting down for a few months.

And the beautiful colours of spring and summer are everywhere, and the sun that illiminates them ever more brightly is stretching it's muscles, and I can feel a shift in my energy levels (from absolute zero to pootling-along), and need for a change in crafts too. It's been a satisfying knitathon this winter, and really, sitting by the fire in a warm chair, with warm blankets with warm tea and yarn - would I have wanted to be anywhere else?

But now the sun is out, the sewing machine looks at me with it's sad doe-eyes wondering what it has done so wrong as to be imprisoned for so long, and the needs for spring clothes, picnic blankets (OK, technically not a need since we have so many now, but does that matter? I think not), bags, totes, an excuse to sit in front of the machine and stare out of the window - these needs call to me loud and strong. Oh how I have missed whimsical crafting. And as much as I enjoy the necessity of warming the family in winter, it is so nice to have a time to do fun things for no other reason than 'because'.

Bring it on.

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