the patchwork dress

24 : gift for a newborn

Always a dilemma - what gift to give a newborn... gold, frankincense, or myrrh?

There have been a lot of new babies recently amongst my friends, and I started thinking about giving something that would be practical yet attractive, and original.  I know that soon these kids will have a room full of toys, piles of clothes that perhaps they may hardly wear before they are outgrown - and also the thought of the space these things will occupy..

So instead, I decided to give my friend a 'nursery' clutterbucket...

Filled with eco babywipes, nappy rash cream, bubble bath all from Wholefoods.. and a bundle of bibs and muslin squares - which I am fairly sure you can never have enough of, and should last through spurts of growth (and babyfood!)... plus a bar of chocolate for a late night treat.

There are still plenty of bags left in the shop - all ready for 2012!

Harrogate

Last week mum and I took a trip down to the 'Knitting and Stitching Show' at Harrogate.

We stayed overnight at the Barcelo Majestic Hotel, which is a knitting needles throw from the venue, and formerly one of the original spa hotels of Harrogate.  Nice big rooms, swimming pool and an immense breakfast!

We split the show over 2 days, which was probably a good idea on reflection. I wasn't too sure what to expect..initially we came in through a side entrance into a low ceilinged, rather cramped hall full of retail stalls and I thought - is this it?  But after some exploring we discovered there were 4 huge halls (mainly full of stalls) and another basement hall with guilds, workshops, and the very long Prestonpans tapestry on show.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos inside the show - much photography was banned anyway.  One of the highlight exhibits was one to mark the work of Beryl Dean who did amazing ecclesiastical embroideries and designed for the ballet.

To be honest I did get a bit overwhelmed with the number of stalls, the layout and volume of people! 

Luckily in the middle of the 4 long halls was this original theatre, which was converted into a tearoom and 'chill out' space - which was a great idea.  There were lots of textile students hogging the boxes around the atrium, having a hoot!

There were some lovely things, but can a person get spoiled for choice?  In the end I found it hard to make a decision (but that is just me at the moment) and didn't bankrupt myself as I'd expected.  In fact I was quite restrained with my purchases.  Here are some that I can show, the other wee bits are for Santa's eyes only.

On Friday morning we had a short walk around Harrogate town centre and went for coffee and a mint tisane with honey at the famous Betty's tearoom.

I'll be back, hopefully tomorrow with some new bags I have been making... and am considering the challenge of another advent daily post until Christmas... hmm...

 

paying it forward... eventually!

11:11:11

we are all one(s)

Resurrection Fern has alerted me to the fact that Amy Krouse Rosenthal's film "the Beckoning of Lovely" is available to watch online today... an experiment in the spirit of co-creativity..

.. - this is the day I am finally getting around to posting about the 'Pay It Forward' project which I started out back in July 2009!  I had an idea at that time to make a book bag which I would send out to Polly, Ginny and Debs, who had all agreed to take part.

I don't know why it took me so long, but things never came together at once, and I wanted all 3 to be the same.  In that time I developed the design for the 'clutterbucket' - so now, 2.5 years on, I am ready to give these away to the Pay-It-Forwardees!

So now they can keep books, clutter or whatever they like in their 'clutterbuckets'.

Here's one I have collected over the summer - a pile of 'not sure what to do with, but keep in one place paperwork' which I am shortly going to sort through!

...for business...

...or pleasure...

There are a couple more bags in my folksy shop, and I'm going to be adding some more soon... as they will make a great gift for anyone who could use organising.  I made them for nearly all my gifts last year, so am going to have to think of something else this Christmas!

homemade with love

I won this gorgeous book, courtesy of Diana's giveaway.  Thanks again, D for the lovely package.  Can you believe it is most likely 3 years since I 'met' Diana through blogging - that Christmas she sent me another lovely package full of baker's string and soap.

I have been musing about the way I blog, or what this blog is for.. but haven't yet found the means of expression for it.  I don't want to give it up, but don't feel I have much to say at the moment!  Perhaps it will change only when I do.  

The book reminds me of why I started blogging and how exciting it was to discover others all around the world who were observing nature, trying to change their lives by slowing down, sharing ideas... and most importantly making things and sharing their inspiration.  It is full of lovely images and has such a nice tone, even if I don't make anything from it, just to glance through the pictures is a touchstone.

On a homemade, handmade note - I have been making some things for the home..!

...more 'clutterbuckets'! and this time a smaller model which can sit on a desk or sideboard.  It has quilted handles and a pleasing curve to the corners on the base, and is made from 3 layers of fabric, with all seams hidden.

I am enjoying using combinations of rather festive ticking... and so if you would like one for yourself or a friend, they will be up in my  'Christmas shop' soon - from this weekend.  I think they would be handy for holding papers, bits and pieces or crafty projects.

There will also be a few of the original style, with a mix of vintage and new fabrics - like this one..

Hope you are having a good week x.

 

sewn up

Yesterday mum and I went to see Bending the Line - an exhibition by the 62 Group of textile artists at the Collins Gallery in Glasgow.  After visiting the practically empty Gallery of Modern Art (sign of the Times?), we were berating the end of Borders bookshop, which was such a central hub to Glasgow and somewhere to browse or have a coffee without an agenda - when we passed their new windows...

 

 

the space has been taken over by the All Saints clothing chain - but they have done an amazing window display with these old sewing machines which takes up several large windows right round the building.  

The reflections prohibited any really good shots of the old graphics, but really worth bypassing if you are window shopping!  I wondered where they had got all the machines from, and although they probably came from salvage -  for some reason it made me think of sweat shops in India or the east where people still work on machines like these.

finished

 I have finished this sashiko kit project, at last...

 ... not that I have been rushing it. 

Unlike my job, it doesn't need planning, designing or co-ordinating.  

Just joining the dots, stitch by stitch, a line at a time. 

(As you can see I haven't even got round to ironing it yet!)

 

Just to thread up a needle with a length of sashiko cotton, and do one line - maybe two.  It's just enough... and all gets finished in the end.

Luckily,... I have another kit waiting...
 

 

valentine's day quilt

This quilt for N has been around 4 years in the making, from the time I bought the first fabrics, beginning it 2 years ago, and continuing to develop it in a very organic manner. 

I even blogged about it a year ago today! Somewhere in the middle I got 'the fear' of actually tackling the quilting.  I found it hard to decide what direction to go in, as it is my biggest quilt yet.  Eventually I just 'stitched in the ditch'.  The backing is the same Ikea fabric as the edging, which I only just bought enough to do - but managed to work it out.  The edges of the quilt were sewn by hand.  

I am glad to say that it suddenly felt the right time to finish it off, just in time for Valentine's Day 2010.  I must stop thinking of all the faults and imperfections of this quilt - it's not a show quilt by any means, but it is to have a practical life.

I hope to see it in the garden, on the sofa, on a book reading chair for a long time to come.  A bit like the person it was made for.  He's happy, and relieved that it is finished at last!