the patchwork dress

5 x 5 x 5

This blog was 5 years old on the 5th of the 5th month of May... just to show what a terrible blogger I've been I haven't even got around to posting until today!

Five years of blogging has opened some amazing doors to me, including meeting lots of other crafters and bloggers, making things, and connecting with folksy and etsy to sell my wares and buy others!  Lately I have got absorbed away from this life into other areas - and that may be what this year is about, mainly my work life and just more downtime for recovery inbetween.  Sometimes I don't feel like saying much - or maybe I don't have much of interest to share!

A habit I've developed is being swayed by technologies hosted by other blogs - over the last 5 years I've tried facebook and scrapped it, (it just annoyed me, I don't 'like' it although can see it suits a lot of people), looked at twitter and couldn't be bothered, started a tumblr but couldnt get it to work or pursue it, oh - and Polyvore - same with Pinterest... note to self "must persevere".. or should I? Do I actually have the time?

I recently upgraded my phone to one that has 'aps' - and passed my old phone onto N - who promptly amazed me by discovering all these functions on it that I never knew it had, or even tried to work out!

So, resolving to play around and explore more with the new phone, I recently downloaded the Instagram ap (which again have seen now on numerous blogs)- and played with the filter process on these 5 pictures from the weekend - which were all taken on my phone.

I really like the effects and wonder if this is something I may stick at - however there is something about having too much technology at hand for instant results, like Pinterest etc which detracts from the process of cutting out a picture, grouping it with others and sticking it down.. I'm not sure if I am a technophobe or not - or if there is something about the satisfaction of hand and eye which trumps all aps.

I heard on the radio today about the futures of 'augmented realities' with google specs that will do this and that for you - and to be honest I am concerned about losing function of the brain and the senses - the subtleties of energies, sixth sense and intuition - all of which enrich life far beyond any ap - giving the sense of wellbeing technology is supposedly freeing us up to find.  But sometimes the best days are the ones you leave your phone in your pocket, or even better your house, while you go out and use your amazing nature given and free aps of the senses!

But don't listen to me, this last shot is often my replacement for the television set.

things afoot...

Spring is in the air.  Today we are being treated to spells of sunshine and showers.  The birds seem frisky and full of song.  Spring is afoot.

Speaking of feet, I am working on a second pair of socks from this book, using the bamboo sock wool bought in Harrogate.  

the book is laid out as a graphic, broken down into steps and stitch numbers to keep you right... also a pic of what the socks should look like completed...

They are more complex than my first pair of socks, and you have to really keep an eye on the ball, as the pattern is worked in a repeated round of 4 rows, with each row different.  

I find I like to 'knit' - and 'purl' is just a distraction until I can 'knit' again. It's a strange game I'm playing with myself...  'Purl' just makes the 'knit' times seem better, and there is enough knit and purl exchanges in this to keep it interesting!  Does anyone else do this?

There are a few errors where I lost track, and my cast on is a bit annoyingly lacy - but I hope to improve these with experience. These, as they say in Glasgow, will be just 'a wee pair of wearing socks' for N around the house, while improving my sock knitting confidence.

'One Good Market' got in touch to say they were closing down the site, and hence my shop - a shame - it wasn't working out for them.. truth be told it wasn't working out for me either, but I assumed everyone else was doing a roaring business and it was just me.. so I don't feel as big a failure.

- so I am back to keeping my Folksy shop going, but feeling quite relaxed about the whole thing.  It's important to have some projects which are creative satisfaction outside of work and 'business', and while it is nice to sell things I also want to find time for enjoyment and gifts, otherwise everything can end up as 'business'.

Keeping things flexible means I can wax and wane the 'selling' side of things to keep in balance with periods of freelancing and grow it when things are quiet.  Whatever it seems important to love what you do, or at least have some part of life where this can be your credo. But, hey, you never know what's coming and I do still love reading about those who have given up the dayjob on Etsy!

a small completion

Before the new beginnings of a collage I spoke about in the last post, I personally feel at the opposite end of the spectrum, or perhaps the end of the tail of the circle, just before recircling again with a new start I am itching to finish off a few things, maintain and repair other items in my life.

Clearing the decks, completing the old, making space. Perhaps no coincidence that this was a project knitted in the round?

At the beginning of the year I challenged myself to learn something new, something that I could pick up and put down without losing track too much, and something that would have a number of small completions - even if only a couple of rows one evening squeezed between dinner and bed, I would feel as if I were progressing on a personal creative project, even only if increments.

Ok, so they are slouchy socks that will probably never make it over the threshold!  I told my perfectionist self it was ok to make mistakes, as these were practice socks - teaching me the technique and there was enough in the pattern to learn, let alone picking up dropped stitches etc - that is something I'll teach myself next.

On the first sock I was so carried away by the heel turning, that I totally missed the part in the pattern which created the sort of rib effect on the heel.  So despite them not matching, I tackled it in the second sock.

I am fairly pleased with these 'fireside' socks, seeing as I had to keep looking up reminders on Youtube about how to cast on and basic things like that. It's been a long while since I knitted anything.

This was a very useful video I watched (and rewatched months later for the second sock!) showing how to pick up the stitches for the triangular 'gusset' after the heel.  I liked that it was a guy who made the video for his sister and it wasn't annoying like those "now today we're going to" videos that crop up.

Wool and pattern details back here.

 

manifesting - the wonder of collage

You may remember this post a few months back where I stuck a little collage of magazine images on the wall.

Notice any similarities with the chairs in the top picture?  

Now this is the wonder of collage... I'd visited a furniture recycling project with a friend back in May. As we pulled up, there were 5 little chairs all standing outside in the sun on the tarmac, as if waiting for us.  I made enquiries and secured all 5 for £25, with the aim of stripping and painting them.

This was not an easy (or pleasant!) task - in fact I've only managed 2 so far.  I decided to avoid the 'Nitromorse' route, and used an eco paint stripping gel, which N had successfully used to completely strip a bike frame, so I thought if it works on metal it should be ok with wood.  Which it was - but it's a relentless task stripping paint and varnish!

Eventually, I gave up on the little brown chair having got so far.. I decided I quite liked it half done and maybe would not repaint it.  So brought it indoors to the room where the collage was, and then suddenly I really noticed the chairs in the top picture and realised that's what I now had!

I also loved the simplicity of the drawer storage in this cutting - and last week, crazed by the stacks of stuff in my workroom, invested in 3 Stuva cabinets from Ikea.  

They are actually designed to be children's wardrobes, but I love the fact that you can get a tall unit that can still take stuff on top like a sideboard.

(Still a work in progress!). I like the simplicity of the design.  According to Ikea they are made from recycled materials so a bit of an eco choice too. I chose to shelve mine, with a couple of basket attachments to hold loose items - plus they are much cheaper than 'adult' furniture!

Again I am amazed at the power of collaging to help with manifestation - sometimes you don't quite know how it will turn out - the trick is to let the images that really call to you to be the ones you rip out.  Once they are put together it's almost like the subconcious is showing you a pattern or a story of creative possibilities.

Somewhere I read that November is a better time to make plans for next year than the New Year in January.  I suppose this is the time we plant bulbs etc that we want to see come up next Spring.  Save up some magazines now for a dark night in by the fire, and let your heart and fingers do the walking.

If you don't have space for a collage you can spread them out on a table or floor and take a digital photograph - either print it out smaller or make it your desktop.

An afterthought ** - planting seeds is always more productive at and just after a new moon, so they are growing with the moon.  You may like to try this with your collages - the next new moon is next week Weds 26th October followed by another on Friday 25th November (by my workroom calendar!).

touchstones 1

Have pulled out a few photos from the last few months that I did nothing with, but which remind me of personal Touchstones, things that I connect with and love.  What are yours?

nice coffee and drawing by hand (the old fashioned way!)...

...more tuesday x

 

my creative space

I had an interesting conversation with Suzanne yesterday, and following her post 'my creative space' - I have snapped mine this morning!

This is one of my favourite (bar my garden bench) places in the house, and failing good weather this is my default position for daydreaming, interneting, drinking coffee, shopping online, etc.  It is also where I prepare dinner, bake, and unpack shopping.

The window looks out onto a small tree which is somewhat of a bird theatre.  It is where I hang the feeders, put out seed, or apples and berries down for the blackbirds.  Maybe I love it because the view is always changing as the birds come and go - just watching their antics and behaviour is a gift.  New life is always springing from the garden.  It is also where we buried Murphy (so he can torment the birds - or vice versa!).

As I write, a cheeky jackdaw, who has learned to pull up the wire on the feeder, so that peanuts are dispensed from the bottom of the cage - is trying to do his 'trick'.  This leads onto a rugby type game by the sparrows who are opportunist looters once the deed has been done.  There is then much chasing and stealing of nuts in various scrums around the garden.

The reason I wanted to post this place is its simplicity and 'un-glamour-ess-ness' (?) tucked between the cooker and the washing up bowl, perched on a stool by my recycling containers.  I have been ruminating on why I have this blog, and whether I wish to continue.  It has been 4 years (May 3, 2007!) - and although I do want to keep and continue it, I feel a change is needed.

A need for simplicity and authenticity is prime.  I feel a deep need to stop trying to be what I'm not, and I'm terrible for hiding what I am!  And so I shall bring a change to my posts.  Posting when I want, rather than through a need to keep the blog going.  

The next 8 weeks will be busy for me, so free time will be minimal.  My posts may reduce, or I might need this as a sounding place for what's going on.  Anyway, change is afoot - so I hope, if you do read this, you will find something in it for you in future posts.

Thanks.

curtains to cloth, cloth to curtains

Happy Mother's Day - Mum!

 

Last time mum and I were out, she mentioned something about a new tablecloth, so when I saw this colourful springlike/Eastery fabric at a furniture recycling project, I thought it might do the job.

In its former life it was one of a pair of IKEA curtains - while it may have been a bit loud for curtains, washed, ironed and with new hems, I think it makes a great tablecloth on a par with this Gudrunsjoden one.

A bit of handstamping on the wooden tag Etsy's from thecraftydragonfly, an abundantly simple gift!

On that note I also picked up this book secondhand...

The title jumped out as one recognised from bibliographies at the back of other books I've read. The premise is daily guidance for women to live as their authentic selves through embracing simplicity and gratitude.  The words are so comforting and real, that despite being written in the 1990's (you can ignore the advice to wear cowboy boots with that powersuit!) the sentiment rings true for what many bloggers are advocating today - trying to slow down and enjoy what's there.  I think I'll be mentioning it again here.

This book came to me at a time when I have been feeling really burned out, by work, by generally just trying to do and be too much all at once.  This weekend I decided to ditch the car and spend 3 days at home.  Without the distraction of 'wanting to be somewhere else' - I have been walking, resting, doing a little cleaning... 

...have at last made this curtain for the bedroom (we have been living here for over 3 years - I've had the fabric for 1!) - funnily enough the energy to complete this task came out of doing the little hems on the tablecloth - all a curtain is, is a fancy lined tablecoth!

...played at making a wall collage for new moon beginnings..

...and in the simply abundant Remoska (a post to itself), have made some gluten-free sort of bannock things - half plain and half cheese.

 

In some ways I've been a mother to my Self.

 

I'm here!

...find me here!...

...very exciting at Onegoodmarket.com 

After my fairly recent posts about ethics and why I like to do what I do, and how to find the right balance on marketing - an opening came along to join in with Onegoodmarket.com's new venture - to host a site of ethically minded companies and individuals who want to reach a wider market - the kind of people who use their main site Ethicalsuperstore.

I was lucky enough to be accepted into the first 100 sellers, which meant they waived the £250 set up costs. So far I have found them very friendly and helpful.  It feels exciting to be part of this venture and surrounded by people who like to produce things in a fair way with the planet.

OGM will take 10% of each sale, and I will still give 10% to the Scottish Wildlife Trust (that's double titheing!) Postage and packing is free within the UK.

Would be interested to know what you think! 

turning

It feels, today, at last, as if the season could finally be turning.

After all those weeks of enclosed grey, dark mornings and cold evenings I am desperate to see the sunlight again.  Today it feels like something has turned - the energy is on the up and the sun is shining.

I have even turned the radio off this morning to hear the frantic cheeping of the birds - they are definitely in egg mode.

My project for the new year was to teach myself to knit socks! I got this great book and new that it would be something to aim for, but first I just have to knit a pair of socks from this book to understand the technique.  It took a lot of effort to get started - first I couldn't find the weight of yarn specified in the pattern.  In fact the assistant in John Lewis wool department disappointingly didn't know what 'worsted wool' was - a good start, eh?

Next I couldn't find any stock of the needle size I wanted!  A few enquiring emails to Pebbledash, to see if she would be my sock guru.  Eventually, with patience I found some lovely merino wool here and needles here! It occurred to me that the more difficult it was getting, the more I was actually learning about knitting socks!

They may not be the greatest pair of socks ever - but last night I 'turned the heel' - the part I was most afraid of. Reading patterns is rather like gobbledegook - I just had to take each step at a time.. Another lesson I could apply elsewhere in life.  That plus a few videos on Youtube!

Consequently I have turned the heel following one of these videos, so it may be a bit different from my pattern.  I really just made it up as I went along - determined not to get any holes! I also noticed last night that I was supposed to have ribbed the heel flap - which I didn't pick up on at all until a bit late! Nevermind.

The foot of this one looks like it may be meant for a giant :) - but these are my practice socks - probably to be worn of an evening infront of the fire next winter!  However I am really happy to be learning something new that I can see progress in stage by stage.

The heel has turned - hurrah!

more about process

There is a stone-carved block in the wall at our local farm shop that says "Waste not Want not".  I shall need to photograph it sometime and show it here.

After my last post, I have also been thinking about other foundation stones, that are important in the 'principles' of what I make and sell. One is to minimise the amounts of origin 'materials' I use, and also to minimise waste.

When the materials are secondhand or being 'upcycled' this is quite low.  In making the gift tags its the small pictures from the magazines that are used.  The images are too small to become cards, but still speak to me, and see second-life as a gift tag.  

As a child I used to cut and keep images from magazines - sometimes they made it into a scrapbook.  I had no idea why I felt compelled to group them by colour or styling.  Now in making my eco-cards and tags I've taken that habit one step further - instead of hoarding them, I get the satisfaction of the process and send them out into the world again to gain a second use in a card communication or embellishment for a gift.

The offcuts of fabric or card that are too small to salvage go into the woodburner - in small amounts as kindling, but their usefulness is still integral.

We are surrounded by cutbacks and trimming down in workplaces and businesses, but when we value the whole process and why we are doing it, then every part can be valued.  That's what I want from what I am doing here.