Martha Says Hi

Heavy Light

2012-02-10T22:29:00.000Z

The cold light and heavy shadows arrive at about 4pm at the moment.

I like them, it's a treasured winter feeling.

O_o

This post is all about knitting and gardening, or lack of.

2012-02-08T15:39:00.000Z

Last night was our monthly WI Knitting Meet. Since most of my knitting gets done on trains and whilst watching Pan Am back to back, it's nice to knit and talk! I normally come away from these meets all flustered and buzzing from all the chat and ideas that are zoomed around. Pretty much a years worth of meets have been full of this exciting energy and I teach about 2 people each time to crochet or knit. It's fun and great to share skills. However, I don't get any of my own knitting done! It takes the whole 2 and a bit hours to explain a beginner how to crochet (Granny Squares) and I sometimes feel as if my voice is echoing in my head on the way home!! I do love teaching people though, but it was equally as nice last night to have got a bit of my Presto-Chango baby jumper knitted in the quiet spell!

It's super simple and I really shouldn't admit that it's taken me a month to get so far, but the baby has only just been announced a boy, and he's due in June, so the pressure is off!

The pressure is on for my garden though. I have done an awful job of looking after my one story up roof garden since the end of summer and am not looking forward to sorting it out next month. However, I have discovered that this laziness has been a good thing. Many of my plants have died and come back to life over the past 6 months. Some which I may have chucked out, have actually just been sleeping, plants are clever things eh?

Four of the pots I hoard on the roof have been of great interest to me... I planted a mixed bag of wild flower seeds in June or July, and they did grow, but they have never bloomed. They have kept a luscious green throughout the winter despite the lack of watering. Perhaps they will flower this spring/summer? Who knows what they actually are? Do I keep treating them mean or should I start the care now?

In the photo below, a peek of my neglect. In the frozen terracotta coloured trough, there is some rocket. This rocket is the hardest rocket ever, again, not really watered by plants since last Autumn and it's still growing strong. The dried up stalks either side are a mixture of Sweet Peas and Runner Beans. I got a small handful of beans and two Sweet Peas last year, clearly the pot isn't big enough, lesson learned.

The two other pots with living things in them are 2/4 of those mystery flowers I mentioned. And the dead pot I think is the skeleton of an Oregano plant which had gone to seed, it looks as if it's passed reviving, but you never know; it has a month to decide.

Our Thyme Plant is always just surviving.. I will look after it this year, I've promised the potatoes.

And we shall finish the garden graveyard tour with a photo of a little cat who I will never not water, Solina! I won't ever forget because she meows to let me know she is growing, perhaps flowers should call when they fancy a drink too?

O_o

Victorian Fashion Meets Martha

2012-02-02T20:57:00.001Z

CollarCore!

I have finished my crochet collars, and to nod nicely to the Victorian times where every self respecting, neck wielding lady wore a collar, I've made photos in old time sepia. Pretend I'm called Ethel and I'm off to meet a some girlfriends for a trip to the library and a stroll in the park. (I'm a wealthy Victorian btw)

Oops, just popped back to 2012 to grab my phone.. I'm expecting a call.

Back again!

This one looked a tad odd white white ribbon, not really my style but a brooch pinned there instead changed it completely. There isn't a colour photo of this but the collar is mint green and the brooch is gold with white diamonds; not real mind, just an old costume jewel of my late Great-Grandma.

Oh and just for shitz n gigglez, I conjured up another smaller scalloped thing on the way home from work today thanks to a long commute. It doesn't look too good as a collar, or as a headband, but it might be good sewn onto the edges of a cardigan?? I still need to revamp those...

Yeah. I'm happy and glad that I could successfully make up my own pattern and think that the next ones I do will be a bit bigger in terms of design, almost more like a bib necklace, but not as chunky.

Possibly a sparkly one, for the night time strolls with my Victorian pals.

Lipstick On Your Collar...

2012-01-31T11:19:00.000Z

Oh fancy collars. The above scan(I know, a scan!) of my work in progress shows the first stage of my wardrobeupdate. Not through choice but through poor financial situations, many of myclothes are 4 years old or over, which isn't rare I know, but being 23, wearing what you wore when you were 17 isn't ideal, or fun.

Cardigans and tops are the main victims so Idecided making a lacy crochet collar or two might be a nice and easy solutionto keep things fresh looking. Luckily, Peter Pan and his collars are very muchin favour with fashion right now and so I had plenty of inspiration to choosefrom. I have not followed a pattern for these, but they are very easy to decipherfrom old pattern photographs and because the basic construction is simple, it'smakes a strong starting point for lots of possibilities.

The top green collar is simplewith single, double and treble crochet stitches and will be completed to havethe points longer at the front, as inspired by a dress with a satin long collarwhich my friend Becci was wearing last week- I'll take a photo to post up, itreally is a lovely dress.

The bottom pink one, is moregirly, here shown with only one side of scalloping finished. The cotton is muchsofter structurally than the green and so suits a more feminine style of crochet.

I have inherited some blackt-shirts from Marco which I will try these collars out on, and then simplyrolling the sleeves up and tucking it into a skirt, you would never guess it'sa lad's top! Hopefully. We'll see.

Has anyone else bought, made or worn these sorts of collars, any hints or tips to share? Also, on the thought of updating cardigans, has anyone majorly changed one? As in, have you made a new cardigan out of an old one?.. I have about 5 to upcycle but want to keep them as cardigans.

O_o

Misadventures In Spinning

2012-01-28T16:49:00.000Z

I tried spinning (of sorts) for the first time this morning. However, I'm not so satisfied that it went too well. First of all, I do not have a drop spindle. I used a pencil with a card circle top and a hook, I found this method searching on the internet 'spinning without a spindle'. There was some felting fibre knocking about from my art student days so thought I'd have a go. I made two lengths so I could ply them together at the end, the dark green was my first length which actually turned out better than the second go with light green.

The light green was thicker and because my pencil and cardboard whorl don't have enough weight, it just didn't pull enough so it's not twisted enough. It reminds me of the Rowan Big Wool, which is very soft, but felts and piles very easily.

It's nice to know how to ply and spin from roving and I can't wait till I can justify the funds to buy a drop spindle, even off ebay they are pretty cheap, but I'd like to buy one from a local knitting shop so I can see what it's like first. Ah, well, I might be able to spare the cash in March, until then, I'll see if I can find a heavier pencil...

O_o

Synth Cake and a Sushi Dinner

2012-01-25T21:45:00.001Z

It's Marco's birthday today which means a cake was made, by me!! The cake is a synthcake. Korg MS-20 in fact. Victoria Sponge with a Madagascan Vanilla Cream and Bonne Maman Strawberry Jam filling.

Divine. The dials, and the patchbay on the cake are not quite to scale, but mostly in the right order- whilst the keyboard isn't, I am still pleased with the outcome. It's delicious, and the actually the first sponge cake I have made.

To go along with the knitted sushi I have been knitting him (below) I also made some actual Nori Maki. Never rolled Sushi before either, so today was a day of firsts for me! I didn't use a rolling mat and they came out fine! They could have been a little tighter, but they tasted amazing.

Accompanying the sushi comp action was brown Udon noodles and stirred veg with a sauce of peanut, ginger and soy. YUM!! Enough left for both our lunches tomorrow too, double yum!

I saved an empty to go sushi box (from Boots) cleaned it and then packed the knitted Maki up with the wasabi and little soy fish and pickled ginger. Not too sure how I would have presented it without the box.

I now love novelty cakes and think every cake should be a fun shape now, what do you think?!

O_o

Hiding Things

2012-01-21T13:05:00.004Z

I created a new game with my cat yesterday. She prefers to play with things she knows are there but can't get to, and then becomes crazy cat diving onto the little hut with both paws out front!

On the knitting front, my new copy of The Knitter was waiting for me yesterday. There is a lovely sock pattern by Sarah Wilson - The Sexy Knitter called Sulpice. I have not actually made any socks before so these probably won't be my first attempt, but the cable pattern is really stunning.

Picking up whatever I head nearest to me I started a few rows moss stitch and got 4 rows into the cable pattern before I realised this chunky 2 colour wool wasn't going to show the pattern in it's best light. So I'll start over, much smaller and in solid colour.

It's nice to be knitting from a chart too, I'm hoping to push myself a lot more this year in techniques. This is a good start.

Amanda, my sister is over and we are meeting a friend later for some London fun, I might take this pattern along and we can take a break with a coffee somewhere. Addicted.

O_o

Make Up For Catsssss

2012-01-20T15:16:00.000Z

Oh my gosh!
Cat make up! Or, should I say, make up for cat lovers!
I want all of it, look at those cat head shaped lipsticks!I've just found these via the Bust website, they are made by Paul & Joe.
I feel that no more words are needed, I'm too excited - when is my birthday again?
Goodbye, meow.

=o.O=

Maki (ng) Sushi (knitted, not real)

2012-01-17T20:22:00.002Z

Kon'nichiwa, stitches!

I am knitting food! Marco turns 29 in 7 days and I've decided to knit him some Sushi! Well, Maki, he's a fish friendly man. I have the pattern from a book given to me as part of my WI - Knitted Fast Food by Susie Johns. I really like making them!
So far I have only made 2 and half of one, but they look so fun! Their seaweed wrap (ribbon) hasn't even been attached yet, so this makes them Uramakis, but I'll do a selection of both with one or two 'mixed rice' (beads sewn on). There's a Nigiri to make too, but I don't think it'll take too long, so I can play pretend kitchen for a little while longer? (Rav link)

See, yummy!

Simple and easy peasy knits and purls and a bit of sewing. Good for my to and from work commute. It's quite nice when you can knit something on the train and it's not obvious what it is to others. When making an item of clothing or something with a more recognisable shape people can tell if you have made an error or it's not going quite to plan, they almost watch you, judging. With these, I simply blend back into my seat because watching a strip being knitted longer and longer isn't that interesting for them. Nice.

Any one else think this?

Enjoy your midweek, Sayōnara!

O_o

Frozen City

2012-01-14T23:46:00.002Z

It was a freezing cold day today, but that didn't stop us finding a huge amount of pretty and strange things on the low Thames tide. After 10 hours outside, I'm glad to be home and drinking my tea. :)

I love this one, it looks like she's in a film.

O_o

HELLO!

2012-01-13T12:11:00.001Z

Hello! Have the greetings of Happy New Year passed now? If it hasn't then hello 2012 to you.

In these past 3 weeks or so I've been having a nice time, good for me I know! I hope everyone else has? We spent our holidays up in Bradford, Yorkshire and had two of our good friends' wedding at New Year, an now they have moved to New Zealand for life, so it's been eventful too! There have been football matches (Bradford City), lots of drinks with friends, family parties, birthdays and making plans, so getting back to normal life and work back here in London has taken a little while longer than I thought it would. 10 days is the longest I've been away since we moved here 2 years ago! But never fear, since my WI knitting club on Tuesday, I've felt grounded again and am ready to embrace the year!

I think I have been hiding from the blog because I know that the holidays bring such a huge 'round-up' and I just didn't want to take part. So I'm focusing on my knits and crochet makes!

I made another Angel Scarf, as a present this time, I made two in fact, using my beautiful yarn bought from Soltice Yarns. I really didn't want to crochet using this yarn but I was really running out of time and the pattern I wanted to go ahead with was taking too much time. (Ravelry Link for Pattern)

I completed the clucky hens for my Mum! Of course, it wouldn't have been a present if I didn't! I made 5 and they loved them!

I knitted my man a hat. This was a very scary event for me, I wanted to it be perfect as it's pretty much the only thing I've knitted for him in the 4 years we have been together! I got it finished and blocked in time and am very happy with it! (Ravelry link for pattern) There is only one mod he's suggested, which is to make the rib brim bigger so it folds round. I'm not sure whether I should just make another hat or try and figure out how to knit back into ribbing? It was constructed brim up, so I can't just frog back. Does any one have any suggestions or advice?

My oldest friend (and most treasured) Becci made me this crochet hook case for Christmas! I love it so much and have been needing one for a long time, silly me for not getting one sooner! Now all that needs to be done is hunt out all of my hooks and needles to fill it up!

Please ignore the wine stain on my table!

Becci and I have introduced a new project to each other and we're going to collaborate artistically again which is very exciting! Tomorrow is our day walking the Thames Path which is one of my favourite things to do in London. It' going to be a good Saturday!

Has anyone else walked the Thames Path? Or any of the river walks? You can end up walking a very long way and finding places you wouldn't normally see, which is fun!

I just woke my Solina cat up, she looked so cute sleeping beside me on some fluffy blankets, it was hard to resist giving her a hug, so I did! She yawned, I had a camera in my hand, so I clicked. It rare that she yawns when I'm ready with a camera, it looks so funny!

And now she's sat on me! Like a statue!

Okay, enough of me giving live updates of where my cat is sat!

I have an exciting knit and crochet post for those who live up north, soon.

Until then.

O_o

Christmas Memories of Past & Present Times

2011-12-16T11:12:00.001Z

Hello!

We only have a small 3ft tree but I have finally put it up! It's a white iridescent tree with coloured lights! It has to have coloured lights, I just love them. We have a huge waterfall of white lights behind a wall unit in our living room all year round so it's nice to have something different at Christmas. The tree this year lives on our big kitchen table, there's not a lot of space to park it when you have a cat and not many surfaces in the living room.

It looks nice on the table, and I can touch it whenever I want! (I like touching the decorations) Oh, and cooking is much more fun when the tree is keeping you company.

Okay, ignore the mess, I hadn't tidied up yet!

A few years ago when Marco and I lived in Leeds, we had the tree in a corner and put all our presents for everyone around it and it filled the entire area! Waking up on Christmas day with all the presents laid out was lovely, it's my favourite part of the day, seeing all the gifts ready for giving. My Dad would always have the handing out job when we were younger, he would time them all right and we would all open one at a time and see what each other got given, show our gratitude and ohh and ahh. Then he'd hand out another to someone else. It was really fun! My Grandad would always take ages opening his! Liking the wrapping and teasing my sister and I who desperately wanted to know what was inside! He was quite a shy man and so he would so this which would attract more attention which always made me laugh!

This is my sister 'helping out' one year, it's difficult to work out which year it was, could be 1998 or 1999 or I might be totally wrong. Haa, this photo makes me laugh every time! I think this is a picture of a photograph, so excuse the haze across the scene.

Below is a photo of when we lived in Inverness, Scotland so this would have been 1995. Amanda is the one with the cracker prize mustache on, our (Scottish) Nana is holding up an item of food from the Christmas dinner and I'm the normal looking one in the yellow hat. My Mum took the photograph and my Dad was probably serving with the Army someplace :(

This was a Christmas when we had a powercut for the whole of the day, and so my mum was stressing about how to cook Christmas dinner! We managed something eventually, but it wasn't really one of Amanda and I's worries, we were busy playing out and having fun!

Speed forward in time and Christmasses are a lot different, of course many parents part ways, Santa becomes a mere story, money and real life bring their own sobering realities.

However, with growing up, also comes the luxury of control. Making your Christmas what you want it to be! At this stage of my life, Santa isn't really a part of Christmas, not until I have to spin that lie to some mini me types. So good times and friends and family are the most important. We have a Christmas Day tradition to meet friends for drinks in the local pub, then over to Marco's brother's for dinner then meet friends in the evening for a party or other nice times.

Marco and I out with our close friends on Christmas morning 2008, before dinner (not invisible, just behind the camera!) It was either warmer than it should be, or we were merry on drink already in regards to coat-lessness!

This year we are also going to see Bradford City FC play Crewe on Boxing Day with family and friends.

Of course, we have lots of other family on my side to see too, which this year is shaping up to be fun with a birthday party and even the cat going to stay with my mum! Oh and for New Year, our friends are getting married! It's all go this year.

Has anyone else's time of year changed pace? Or perhaps it's stayed the same throughout your life in a comforting and warm way?

O_o

Clucky Gifts

2011-12-12T14:32:00.001Z

My mum and step-dad are clucky about chickens. There is a story why, but it's rather dull, so I won't explain it. As a little extra joint gift, I've made them 5 hanging chickens. I'm thinking that they can use them for their tree or hanging around the kitchen.

They are crocheted in thick stringlike yarn and based on this circle motif from 1893, I've folded them in half and made up some red goggly bits for the head. A button will be for the eye and I’m not too sure about how to make the legs yet.

The idea is heavily inspired by the lovely bird decorations from Lucy at Attic 24.

They'll hang from some ribbon of some sort. I love them, and thought I'd share in case anyone else has crazy parents/friends that they need a quick make for! They so far have only taken me about 2 hours, to source the doily pattern and figure out how to make the red head goggly bit By the time this evening is over, they will probably be ready to cluck into some home made wrapping until they emerge into a free range home on Christmas day!

You can see on the above photo, the three views/stages of the creation chicken, with a flat view. I'm not one to do detailed DIYs, it's very simple here.

I love checking of makes on my Christmas list! It's so satisfying! You?

O_o

Zero waste Christmas?

2011-12-09T22:39:00.001Z

At least a save waste Christmas?

Last night was an evening full of re-cycled fun! Etsy and the Crafternoon Tea Club hosted an event which promoted the reusing of gift wrap and challenging our thoughts and practices of what makes a gift giftable. We were invited to bring a something/s that we have been given/don't use and to wrap it creatively to give to someone else. The lovely Becky of Crafternoon explained that there is enough wrapping paper wasted in the UK every christmas to cover the island of Guernsey!! I'm not so sure that the residents would like that very much, so I'm all for trying to make my waste not wasteful.

This event was completely up my street as I've been sticking to my Thrift Pledge since I made it at the start of this year, not gifting any new bought gifts. Although I've not blogged every step, I have been making them. And this Christmas, I don't want to buy any new, just make and re love to others. :) We can use scarves as wrapping too, I bought a handful in October to do this, and am really looking forward to learning some furoshiki Japanese style wrapping.

So after work yesterday, I met with my oldest and dearest friend Becci for some crafting joy. We were amongst the first crafters to arrive, so we were kindly shown where the drinks were and then sat down at the huge long crafting table laden with supplies and wool and stamps and lots of old french comics and embroidery magazines. Mince pies too! Here is Becci demonstrating the delights!

There were music sheet books and old magazines for us to re purpose and use as wrapping or even to create gifts with. I chose to hole punch some amusing pages and then thread some wool through the holes to glue onto my brown wrapping paper. I then saved the punched paper to glue onto a little red shape much like I have seen the lovely TOKKETOK demonstrate. I wish I had a hole punch to practice this a bit more, because I clearly need to, but it was fun.

I think my dotty top influenced my design ideas...

My gift was above. Then we popped them all under the tree and dished them out to everyone! The idea was to tell the story of the item inside and who it would be good for, and to shout out if it was the perfect gift for you or someone you know. GREAT IDEA!

I was very very kindly sent a parcel last week by Amy of Bits And Blobs full of dresses and things she was clearing out prior to her move to London next month, amongst it was a beautiful purple bag, possibly handmade by Amy? However, it was the perfect re-giftable gift to assign to this event! I wrote a story that it was a kind wicked witches bag that she'd made to keep her woodland party potions in! I hoped that this would be a good description for the deep purple, sophisticated material that the bag was made out of. It must have worked because no sooner than the description was read out, it was in the arms of a grateful recipient. This really was the aim of the game in total, if you don't find a use for something, don't waste it, re gift it! It's not any different to buying vintage clothing, in fact, it's better in most cases as the story can be passed on!

I came home with a gift very suitable for a certain friend and also a little something I decided sounded good for me, a lovely necklace, which I wore today and got a compliment! I really enjoyed re telling the story of last night and how I came to be the new owner!

It was a fun and inspiring night, thank you Etsy and Crafternoon for the wonderful gifts, mince pies, beer and laughs! And thank you my dear friend Becci, for being great to have fun with!

More photos of the wonderful evening can be found here

Has anyone else planned a zero waste Christmas? Any tips or links to ideas? Really, we should be much more thrifty on the whole approach to gifts and the like. Agree?

Paper Cat Hat?

2011-12-07T22:04:00.001Z

The day today was calm, it started out like this...

Solina convinced me not to use them as cat hats and instead pop them in my Christmas cards.
Good idea little cat.
I cut out the snowflakes yesterday during a few quiet periods at work out of envelopes from that morning's post. Re use and make the world more fun I say!

I've been knitting and cleaning on my day off today, after a busy weekend just gone I needed a bit of rest. I was up in Bradford/Leeds on a friend's hen do, and got very drunk, was the in the last 4 to go home out of about 20 girls, so I deserved my hangover really.

Anyway, snowflakes! Yes, nice and calm.

O_o

Craftacular Fun

2011-11-30T10:11:00.001Z

Hello, happy last day of Novemeber!

Craft and personal events are mish mashing in a lovely diary filling way right now.

It goes without saying that making has been a daily do, almost turning into a chore; there are only 4 weeks left till Christmas! I have just about finished my sister's 70s pin wheel cushion, which is crocheted in yellow with blue and green accents, in a zig zag stitch.

I have also started a lovely simple lace scarf and a more heavy knit scarves for some parents in the family. I am hoping to get these finished and start on a hat for my man, and still have time to make 3 childrens scarves in Bradford City Football Club colours (Claret and Amber), not forgetting to sew a kindle cover and a tea cosy or two for other loved lovelies. I'm really glad I started in September, however there's nothing like pressure to really get the needles clacking eh?!

On Friday, I was a lucky lady and was invited out to dinner courtesy of Azra at DaWanda to have a thinktank meeting about Da Wanda and it's role in the British handmade scene. Some great opinions and ideas were shared and Azra chose some wonderful Lebonese wine to accomapny our Turkish food. It was an inspiring evening, sharing the table talk with:
Janine of Janine Basil
Rowan of KitschenSink
Alice of Alice Gabb and
Catherine of Catherine Marche
All the girls but Catherine were selling at the BUST Craftacular fair the next day, so it was an ultra good day with lots of smiles and temptations to buy every beautiful handmade item in sight, however, my pay day doesn't fall until tomorrow so be it a blessing or a misfortune, I bought nothing.

A blurry photo of Rowan and her wonderfully fun KitschenSink jewellery.

Alice Gabb and her royal stationary designs, and candles. Her friend is hiding behind the hat box!

Another blurry one, the sparkly Janine Basil and her wonderful hair accessories.

My fellow Shoreditch Sisters WI were also there, holding up the jam corner! Rob Ryan was sharing a table until he sold out of posters and at one point when I looked over the queue was so long, it reached down the whole side of the hall! Unfortunately not a queue for the jam as I had originally thought though!

So this isn't really two weeks of life, but it sure feels like it! I'm off to the V&A museum with my friend Becci this afternoon to go and see The Power Of Making exhibition. I'm looking forward to it. Has anyone been?

O_o

Mega!

2011-11-16T22:44:00.001Z

Made a GIF din'ah? From bonfire night on the 5th, I loved the display :)

I'm off to see Aphex tomorrow night in Manchester, so excited- on his guest list an'all. Gosh. Enjoy your weekend, I'm out of bounds till Sunday sooo.. enjoy!

p.s did sum knittin 2!

(I'm all for kool spellingz right now, I'm excited- excuse me!)

Knit Gifting

2011-11-16T12:12:00.001Z

Another thought about Christmas making.

I am really trying to give everyone on my list a handmade or vintage gift; I want to avoid that awful feeling of looking around shops on the weekend before Christmas feeling uninspired and empty of feeling for the items on the shelves.

When you have to buy someone *something*, it quickly becomes just anything. Scanning the shops in panic for a gift that says 'I know you' but leaving with one that sighs 'I've got you a gift'.

Do you know this feeling? I don't want it ever again, from now in fact. I hope this year is the start.

One gift I'm making at the moment is so lovely, the colour and the wool is taunting me into keeping for myself, but I keep knitting with the recipient in mind and then... then I get to a stage in the project where I realise that it's not going quite to plan.

I have thought about frogging it and starting again or just changing the design (again) slightly but I have instead decided to give the gift with a set of instructions!

Instructions are going to be with most of my hand knits will have to do after my mum called telling me that she popped her crocheted phone cover in the wash and now it doesn't fit her phone, que me saying 'well what did you think would happen' and a few giggles.

Now I must let people know that not all the gifts are machine washable- it's boutique baby!

How great that the wool is the same colour as my cat too, grey is the best colour to knit with,

don't you think?

=O_o =

Pun Awards

2011-11-11T16:39:00.001Z

Hello.

What a week, it's been a busy and exciting one over here.

My highlights were Monday & Tuesday..

Monday night I found myself at a magazine awards party. I didn't just wake up there, I did walk and knew I was going to to Shoreditch House to make pom poms with a few of my WI. But I didn't know just exactly who it was for.

Well- It was Company Magazine awards party. Oh gosh, I don't think I have ever felt so underdressed in my life! beautiful people from the magazine and beautiful drinks and stunning goodie bags! Pixie Lott might have done an outfit swap with me, but I didn't ask.. So here, luckily so early in the party season, I have learned a valuable lesson. Always carry emergency office to party supplies. I'm just thankful that I don't dress boring for work anyway.

I loved my goodie bag by the way people, LOVED it. I was once a delegate at a music industry show and came away with a Playstation Portable amongst microphones and things in my goodie bag (twas heavy)! Although there were no games consoles here, it was still heavy and packed with make ups and nail varnish even an early copy of December's magazine and some chocolate! It was a good night with more drinks than I could drink and great laughs with friends making pom poms amongst magicians and editors. Thank you Company Magazine, we were glad to have been part of the awards party!- I have no photos of this night myself but you can click to theirs to see what went on.

Then Tuesday night was my second favourite night of the month! My knitting group. :) I have no photos of this either, since my phone got stolen off me, I take no photos unless it's with my big camera, and with all this wool to take to and from work it's just not possible unless I want to fall down the gap between tube trains due to my back giving way.

So do I have any photos to adorn this text with? Not from this week's events so far. Well, not any that I own.

Tomorrow I will be going to Southend-On-Sea in Essex to see my sister, Amanda in a show. She has been living in Southend for coming on two years now and this is the first time I am taking the short and inexpensive trip to see her, oops at sisterly love.

In the wool filled side of my life, things have been getting longer and bigger, as they should. And this week the project filling my train journeys comes in the form of a bow scarf. It's very simple but I had never knitted a loop before, and this was a ribbed loop in which one end of the scarf goes through to secure the scarf in a bow shape at the neck. I hate the garter stitch so necks time (ha! pun award) I will try moss stitch instead. It has a cute love heart shape at each end and I'm going to sew sequins on them.

So perhaps I can get it finished tonight and wear it to the cold seaside tomorrow?

We'll sea. (2nd pun award! HA)

Enjoy your weekends, bloggerz.

O_o

EDIT- I've finished the love heart bow scarf; now to add sequins!

Remember, remember...

2011-11-05T23:14:00.000Z

The 5th of November, gunpowder, treason, and plot.

I really do love Guy Fawkes night, and this night was spent with my best friend Becci who has now at long last pretty much moved to London. This makes me happy.

We went to Southwark Park to watch the display and it was so great, with so many amazing fireworks with such sharp colours. It's one of my most favoured nights of the year, better than new year. (I don't like new year)

Keeping with tradition, I baked three tins of Parkin, which is a cake which is popular back up in Yorkshire and eaten on bonfire night but I'm not sure that I made it right, so I have deemed it a failure.

I hope everyone else had a good bonfire night/weekend, remember to keep the telly or radio on for your cats and dogs!

Becci ^ Watching the fireworks.

OOooooh, Ahhhhhhhahhhh

O_o * *

Now we have evening sun at lunch.

2011-11-02T13:51:00.004Z

^ This one is my favourite.

Solina cat is a good cat. She never complains or struggles when I make her pose for photos. Even ones like this. I woke her up to do so too!

Anyone else enjoying the lunchtime evening sun?

CIty Living

2011-10-30T12:27:00.001Z

Finished gloves (gift for my sister) and family time :)

Anyone else have family time this weekend? Or party time!?

O_o

I'm not a halloween person, but I do like craft.

2011-10-28T10:30:00.001+01:00

Making some fingerless gloves, not sure if they are to be a present or for keeps, the blog isn't probably the best place to air them then I suppose! They look good with the blue of my skirt, so perhaps they will end up for me? (Fingerless gloves are a must with touch screen phones now)

My mum is coming to visit today for the weekend! Halloween is not my thing, I rarely dress up or go out for it, so it's going to be a quiet one for me, and I'll live through everyone else's dress up fun, such as Eleni's 1920's flapper outfit!! I do love a bit of 1920's and Eleni suits it so much! If I was to dress up, I'd go as a glitter bomb, and excuse to wear sequins and Solina would go as Salem from Sabrina The Teenage Witch!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, does anyone else not care for Halloween?

O_o

Twisted Stitcher

2011-10-23T13:47:00.001+01:00

Hello!

Blurry cats are a result of waling around the house without glasses on and laying on the sofa with watery eyes because of a cold. Marco and I have been ill, and are enjoying doing nothing together and complaining how shit we feel! Our blurry cat is being nice to us, cuddling and making biscuits on our blankets as we lie. Making biscuits is what we call kneading, I hate kneading, it ruins our clothes and blankets but giving it a nice name makes me less annoyed!

Along with knitting and crochet, a bit of embroidery has made it's mark in my present making mission. Not having done any serious needlework since this, I decided to try as hard as I could so I didn't put myself off it. The two pictures below show the back of the work, very proudly showing my neatness. Making no knots in the back and threading the beginnings and ends into and through previous stitches, that's how to do it, right? The red one is a reindeer for a christmas card and the multi squared one is the back of a present for my sister, I want to make her a set of stitches to hang on her wall, abstract patterns of colour. :) I just love the patterns at the end of the line, perhaps, like most things, the reverse is much nicer to display! However, this craft takes much more time and I've been working on the squares for 6 days of work train journeys.. Any such thing as speed needling?

O_o

Tech Step Heart

2011-10-17T15:54:00.000+01:00

Hello!

Did everyone have a good weekend? It was a party time weekend for me, met a friend for too much ale drinking on Thursday and out to Bangface on Friday, with two full recovery days Sat and Sun just chilling out and sleeping!

However I'm having bad heart palpitations today, it started about midnight last night whilst I was trying to sleep and it hasn't stopped for about 16 hours despite taking two beta blockers. I think it's imitating the tech step beats from Friday. Luckily I'm off work today so I'm trying to stay calm and still, and working on the crochet blanket for our bedroom, above. There is a blue too, but I haven't started on adding that into the mix yet.

I also won a selection of fabrics from the Sew Happy Geek Blog, and they arrived for me from America on Thursday from JAQS Fabrics, who have some amazing prints on their website. I love the patterns and can't wait to make with them! Any ideas? They are almost too lovely to cut up! - Thank you Sew Happy Geek and JAQS!

p.s I have added a Disqus comment function to my blog now so I can chat back and reply more easily than the dis jointed blogger way, unfortunately it has rid of all my previous comments in my entire blog, which has disappointed me a little because I have not replied to some last week and there were some good conversations. Well, here's to more, I don't think you need to log in or anything to talk either, so that's good. I hate capatchas and log ins. Please let me know if there is any trouble with it. ta x

O_o

Sleeping cat and crafting frenzy.

2011-10-12T12:47:00.002+01:00

Solina, my cat, had her 6th birthday on Monday, we've only had her for 10 months and it was her first birthday with us. I was an awful cat mum and didn't get her any treats or toys, horrid I know. She has been sleeping a lot lately, I think she's getting ready for winter too.

I've been getting ready for winter in terms of gifts and knits. As part of my Thrift Pledge which I discussed with myself earlier on in the year, I am STILL trying my hardest to not buy new for any presents this Christmas. I think, nearly all birthdays this year have had made or resued items as gifts and most of my clothes and houseware has been second-hand or made. I even found 3 bowls in a charity shop that were the same as the new Ikea ones I had bought last year and needed more of so I would say I have been pretty sucessful.
The only clothing item I buy new are underwear (of course) and basic tops, although I can say that due to my finacial circumstances shopping for new has been a rareity too! Also great is that the majority of my wool and acrylic yarns has been bought in charity shops or it's been given to me, and what I do buy new has been supporting local spinners and makers.
So I would say I have a good dent in my Christmas making/vintage gifts. My Mum's present is finished, nearly done my Gran's, I have vintage bought half of the gifts already for my sister and two friends. I have a few more, okay, a lot more of family to do. But I shan't fear as it's only October and there are a healthy amount of long nights ahead!

As a break and little reward for working so hard on gifts for others (err?) I decided my crochet myself a hat using a pattern I saw on Minimalist Knitter's blog. I was using some yellow wool from my mega bag buy last week, and was really excited about it. Yellow hat in winter, bring it on! However, a couple of evenings into it, I realised it just didn't look good. The puff crochet stitch in the yellow made it look much too, well I'm not sure if I can really say, but it wasn't the, on a dreamy, golden evening, sipping cider on a narrowboat type hat I was hoping it to turn out like. So I am now looking for a knit hat pattern, crochet stitches can be too harsh for some yarns.

Know of any nice patterns for 3 balls of yellow?

A bit more knitting news, I did end up attending the Knitting and Stitching show last weekend, but as an exibitor! I went with the intention of volunteering my time to help teach crochet and knitting in the Craft Club stand, affliliated with WI and Crafts Council. But alas, I found myself in front of 12 ladies giving an official looking Powerpoint presentation on the Craft Club programme and the Crafts Council's involvement, luckily I knew about the concept and programme beforehand and could bring my previous bits in as an art teaching assistand and also throwing in my WI chatter helped. Talk about being thrown in the deep end! Craft Club is all about teaching others your craft. They have a great website which tells you everything about it, so I won't repeat my talk, but it's easy to get involved and 'pass it on'. p.s I didn't announce to the room that it was my first talk on this subject which helped my blag it a bit more and made my confidence grow as the talk went on, plus, I got taken seriously and there was even a successful Q&A at the end! So this has been passed onto my WI knitting group last night and we'll see what becomes of it.

Anyone else have any crafty news?

O_o

'Get me another tie, get me another shirt, get me another wooly.'

2011-10-05T17:14:00.000+01:00

Hello, there's a bit of good news! My Solstice Yarns parcel arrived this morning! I only ordered it yesterday lunch time and Eleanor worked some magic and it's here now!

This is a skein of 'Sea Sprite' which is made up of 50% Falkland Merino and 50% silk hand dyed by Eleanor in Shipley, North Yorkshire and is just perfect for the Christmas present I'm making with it! I'll be making the present for Marco's mum, and they also live in Shipley! So it's a Yorkshire born and bred gift! Eleanor is also a good friend's mum, who also has strong ties with the family (musical ones) so it's great to link everything up into a meaningful gift. I still have not decided on a pattern, it's such a difficult choice, but now I have it here, and jumped on the choice for colour it might make it much easier!

I love the colours, they compliment my skirt that I bought today, a charity shop find. It's a long wool pencil skirt with a dusty pink lining and kitchen blue wool from the 50's. Unfortunately I didn't bag the jacket, I saw it last week but didn't thought it was just a cape coat and didn't see the skirt. It was a swing jacket / cape and was just beautiful. But now I just have the skirt as the jacket was bought. I'm lucky to have the skirt as the lady said that a few people tried it on but the waist was so tiny it didn't fit. I don't consider myself to have a tiny waist but this skirt fit perfectly so I bought it. £7.50, can't say no to that.

I also bought all this wool for £5 in another charity shop :) A mix of pure wools and acrylics. The yellow pure wools in the bottom left corner are just waiting to be a hat I think. And the red is going to be great for christmas ornaments. I normally buy my wools in second hand shops, so I have lots of odd balls and different ply balls which can make knitting big projects rather hard, so I've decided to make a blanket, there are a lot of granny square blankets that are so lovely, and I only have a knitted square blanket, so I'm going to slowly put one together, for myself I think. For our bedroom, it gets cold at night, we have to have a fleecy blanket over the duvet, but it's only cream and not very fun.

Oh, and I'm underway with a second crochet Angel Scarf for my Gran, I love this pattern. Another Christmas present! This cone of wool is lovely, a deep red (ignore the photo colour) and mohair-y. I got the cone for £2, again from a charity shop. Yeoman Yarns is what the label says on the inside, and goodness knows how many yards are on the cone, but I think I could make about 6 scarves with it! Cones are great, I'm a cone lover!

So much wool to look forward to creating with!! I'm yet to go to the V&A Power of Making exhib, in fact that's where I was off when I got mugged - what an awful word. Oh well, I shall go soon. I shall end with a photo of Solina, unable to stay away from the wool on the table! She loves looking at it as much as I do, I often come into a room and a whole ball has been spiderwebbed around chairs and tables and it's funny because you can see where she ran with it in her mouth! Silly cat.

O_o

Gone.

2011-10-04T14:05:00.003+01:00

Hello!

The response from my last post about FGM/C was really great, on and off blog. It's good to share and learn about serious topics on blogs reaching out to endless amounts of people. And to even just write/comment on such a hard topic on a blog, publicly can be difficult.

There are quite a few good things happening around me that are coming up, Renagade Craft Fair comes to LONDON and also coming to London is Rowan and some other makers from around the country who I am excited to meet! So this weekend seems like it's waiting for me with glitter hats and balloons!

I don't have any photos of my knitting or what's been going on in my world because on Sunday I had my phone stolen from me. lunch time walkign to the bus stop, in the sunniest of weather, two people on a motorbike, mounted the pavement and drove behind me, with the back passenger grabbing my hand, therefore taking my phone with him/her and off they sped, down the pavement at speed, leaving the "oi" that I shouted lingering on an empty street. I turned around and ran back to my house, and we drove around the area looking for them, but to no avail. Police came in minutes and were nice, but obviously, can't do much. I was lucky though, my bag was not stolen and they didn't clonk me over the head or anything. So I'm okay, I just hope they turned the phone off at the top and couldn't work out the passcode to get back into it. I've blocked it and changed passwords and things, I just hope they didn't look in my photos and see what I and my life looks like to target me again. I know I blog my life, but that's different to having access to a whole catalogue of my life.

So now I have no phone, no Iphone4, only theives have great things, because they take them from us.

No photos in this post as my camera is much to big to sling in my bag!

PLEASE look out for yoursleves, and if you hear an engine behind you when you really think it's strange for there to be, move.

O_o

Anti - Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

2011-09-28T12:58:00.000+01:00

Hello hello hello!

Last night, my WI had our much anticipated monthly meeting. I knew from the start that it was going to be different from the others because we had it in, Time For Tea instead of our usual place, Concrete, but I didn't know how much is was going to absolutely be the best meeting yet.

Way back when, I was first looking to join Shoreditch Sisters WI, I met up with the sisters in Spitalfields and stood chatting and sewing a vulva patch to be contributed to a large quilt in the hope of raising awareness to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) that happens all around the world, yes, even here in London girls from the age of 9 or younger can be at risk (dependant on family belief). The campaign has grown larger and larger thanks to the huge efforts of Tara Scott leading the project and gaining some media coverage about the issue.

Eg, here and here

The meeting last night was supposed to be a chance for us to learn more about the anti-FGM/C movement and then to make a few more patches and also learn/teach some crochet. However, it proved so thought provoking and insightful and the discussion was so strong that we ditched the crafting and listened and talked for over 2 hours straight.

FGM/C is the removal of part or all of the exterior female genital area for non-medical reasons.

Our guest for the night was Efua Dorkenoo.

Efua is a founding anti-FGM/C activist from Ghana and has been working together with communities, parliaments, health services and charities to educate and eradicate Female Genital Cutting. Working since 1983 and setting up her own charity FORWARD *link* (Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development) Efua is truly a savour and idol to countless women throughout Africa, UK, US and beyond.

Even before Efua walked into our meeting, there was something in the air. This could have been the result of 40 ladies in one tiny room making quick work of the oxygen/co2 ratio in the room, but now I know it's true, we were about to be in the presence of greatness.

Never before have I been able to feel comfortable with a room talking about anything as I have done since joining with the S Sisters. This meeting was no different, there were tears, shock, but laughter and a great sense of unison, being women and to be proud of our own, and others' bodies. Our discussion was broad with brave personal accounts from some girls who have been part of FGM not knowing any different, to opinions and facts from other girls who've lived in communities where it's common, and others who have escaped FGM, and very thoughtful questions bringing insightful answers. Our WI is a safe place to talk about issues such as this, and I am so thankful for that.

Efua not only brought the truth to us about this practice, but left me feeling inspired at the amount of work she has done and still plans to do to really bring it home to the world that FGM/C is NOT acceptable. We learned that some girls feel they want to have it done, because they want to fit in with those around them and that girls with families who feel they need to practice FGM to get the bride price and to be married. (this link is to an interesting paper about the bride price)

I've found this PDF which is a guide for midwifery students about FGM and on page 12 (scroll down a little) there is the story Tradition! Tradition! A Story of Mother Earth, byEfua Dorkenoo, that she told us last night with such life and enthusiam to tell the roots and reasons behind why FGM came about. If you click on anything I link too, please make it this one and scroll to page 12 so you may be told by Mother Earth herself.

I want to thank Efua for her wisdom and great talk and am looking forward to seeing her soon.

Thank-yous also go to my fellow S Sisters for sharing and educating each other, not just last night, but constantly with our personal experiences and opinions from our diverse interests and backgrounds, our meetings really are the highlight of my month.

We the Shoreditch Sisters want to help raise awareness, please visit this link (embroideries campaign) to help with our quilt mentioned above too.

I really really don't want to leave anything out or indeed paint a picture that is patchy of truth and opinion so I urge you to check these websites out and learn for yourself, or question further personally. They are also great sites to put you in touch with people who can help if you are affected or know anyone at risk.

FORWARD

www.forwarduk.org.uk

TOSTAN

www.tostan.org They work with communities on long term projects to educate and move an anti-FGM/C message forward WITH the local people. Facebook & Twitter

EQUALITY NOW
www.equalitynow.org they have Twitter & Facebook too. Oh, and YouTube.

Can I please add, that if anyone has any other information or things to add, please tell me or link up, this is an issue that thrives on being aware and needs to be upscaled.

O_o

I went for a walk...

2011-09-23T20:41:00.002+01:00

I gathered some acorns.

O_o

Reasons

2011-09-21T21:17:00.001+01:00

These photos were taken around this time last year and have been imprinted on my brain for the whole time that has passed since! Autumn really does fill the air with excitement, it seems to be echoed with fellow bloggers agreeing with this being the best season which is great to hear! Even when I was younger, my family teased me for wearing cardigans and being cold in the summer, but the truth is, I love the cold and I love wrapping up :) You know what to expect in the colder months, cold. Rain is even my friend now, see?! So my adult years have winter excitement in them again- because we all died a little when we realised Santa isn't real.

When it's shit weather outside you know that most people that are out, want to be out. Those people are taking their time and don't just live for dry days, they are out enjoying the emptier streets and clean white skies. I like this.

I made a list of *some* of the many things I'm looking forward to because if you are not looking forward to the cold and rain and dark nights, maybe this will help? Add yours too.

(I never used to like peanut butter until I asked my friend Becci to list her reasons why she does, then I concentrated on them when I ate it and eventually became to love it, same with mushrooms)

O_o

Swept Away

2011-09-16T19:58:00.001+01:00

Marco brought home a tiny piece of decorative pottery that he found on The Thames at low tide.

Since then, I've collected more. My friend Laura has hawk eyes so she also helped me look.

What do you think their story is?

^above is the one Marco found me :) It was a surprise.

O_o

Blowing a gale, better keep warm then.

2011-09-12T18:53:00.000+01:00

Today is another productive day on the woollen craft front! I've finished a scarf for myself ready for the bitter cold days which are on their merry way. The pattern was a free one from Ravelry by Amanda Perkins, it was easy and four days quick so I might be making a few more yet, a nice lace crochet stitch, like a fan, or an oyster.

I used some tweedy type wool which was actually not the best to use because it was so thin in parts that I had to tie or join it back together by rubbing/spinning it myself, so it doesn't look as neat as it could be, which is another reason that I thought it best to be a present for myself, I'm being kind.

Tonight I need to be searching for another project to distract myself away from my Herringbone Cowl Knit that is becoming a bit of a bore. Of course, that's not true really, but I just want it to be finished all by itself, TADA, done, blocked and being worn type of thing.

My chair, just because I am so pleased that I own it/them!

Happy end of Monday everyone!

O_o

And The Old Ragdoll

2011-09-11T23:02:00.001+01:00

I met THE Rosie & Jim today! (At the Thames Festival Of London)
Childhood idols! Has anyone else met them? The man pictured owned them and had a boat there (not the old Ragdoll) that he had hand painted. It was beautiful, I didn't take a photo though. Oops. O_o

The knitting/crochet gods will be proud!

2011-09-09T00:26:00.000+01:00

Hello hello hello!

Lots has happened and although I don't, and can't, blog about everything in my life, I can exclaim my happiness about what I've been making!

So I arrive here at the blog post station with two completed makes! No.1 = A cardigan has been crocheted, and the maker and completer was myself! Woo! I am glad because it look only a few days and the end result is very wearable, as in, it went well and I should not hide away in a corner with it! Knitting or crocheting something for my own pleasure is pretty rare too, as I always feel I should be making something for other people so it's lovely to have something just for me. This something is a granny shrug, which I made from this pattern. It's very simple, I recommend it, simply a 6 cornered granny hexagon which can easily be made during a few commutes and slow work days, which is how this one was made.

The photos of myself wearing the cardigan are purely for demo purposes, excuse the oddness.

So I blocked it too, with the steam iron setting like I do most makes (except acrylic *warning, don't*) and it became even softer. Can you spot my joining of the two sections in the above photo? No? Neither can I! :) Of course, you and I know where they are, but do let us marvel for a while!

I acquired this wool, which is an angora blend, from a £14 charity shop jumper that I bought about 18 months ago (not sure if I've blogged about it) I have a lot left. It's so so soft and the colours are hypnotising, always different merging into and out of other colours. However, this palette doesn't really suit my wardrobe much. The photo below (sideways, oops) is one I took late this afternoon just to illustrate the cardigan, and as can be seen, the colours of my dress and the heathery colours of the cardigan don't quite live in matrimony, this didn't stop me wearing them together today even out of the house because, as I've said before, I'm totally function over fashion. ;)

No 2 = Is the world ready for my double achievement? Here follows the broomstick lace scarf I made for my sister a little while ago, finally blocked. Made from a cotton/linen blend, verrrrry soft and a beautiful light berry colour.

The blocking part was something I had really been putting off for a few weeks. Blocking boards are soft, squishy, yoga mat style items, an item I do not own, and not owning one can make blocking a tad difficult so I came up with my own solution. Steam blocking was my chosen way so I needed to have it on something that wouldn't be melted or ruined... my ironing board was out, as it was just after blocking my cardigan above, so I took the cover off and came up with a BRILLIANT IDEA!

Sticking two size 4 knitting needles into the end of the scarf, through the holes and secured by the groves of the frame. A photo of the underside of the brilliant idea is below the photo that is, erm, below.

Okay, then I placed a towel over the metal but under the scarf, like above. And steamed with my iron and ironed over the scarf on top of another tea towel quickly and then let cool whilst a tiny bit of stretching with my hands too. Above is after this process. Below is how I did the next part. I simply found another groove! See the difference in the right hand side with out the tea towel, -blocked and the left hand side with the towel- unblocked.

Solina loved it and modelled for my sister, showing her how lovely it will look when she receives it. :)

I will stop now to go and stoke my cardigan and scarf.. errr, I mean cat.

O_o

Drinked & Dooed.

2011-09-04T22:33:00.000+01:00

Hello! Happy end of the weekend.

I've had such a wonderful 4 day weekend! My sister, Amanda (white dress) came to stay and we crafted and crocheted and drunk nice drinks and sat in lovely parks under the sun!

On Friday night we met up with two friends, May and Laura and popped along to Drink, Shop, Do in Kings Cross for some drinks, scotch eggs and some cress head making!

The venue is amazing, it's a shop, bar, and craft event space! Everything in the shop and bar area is for sale, I didn't get a great photo of the whole room but it's amazing, the website has nice photos. It's my new favourite place. So we made some very funny cress heads as shown below and had a 10/10 time definitely helped by the friendly staff and lovely drinks :) Has anyone else been here? They have clay moulding nights to Steve Wonder hits too!

If you'd like to see our fun through iphone photos then scroll on down!

Of course, I shall share the growing cress head photos when they sprout!

Happy Monday for tomorrow!!

O_o

Knitting ramble, swatches and a project underway!

2011-08-25T19:54:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone!

I thought that I'd talk a bit more about knitting today. Herringbone again, it's in my life in a big way. Got it down to a T. This stitch was practiced as much as I could last week, in different woolz and needlez. The above is some lovely wool which I bought from Enfield Women's Institute last year at the Knitting & Stitching show in Alexandra Palace, it's really tweedy with so many different colours! The needles were small but gave a loose knit for the wool's thickness, which is nice enough to let the colours shine!

Below is some Pattons(Diploma) which is 55% WOOL 25% ACRYLIC & 20% NYLON, really soft DK wool in a lovely heathery red, this was knit on size 10 needles (glittery ones!) and was very stretchy and thick at the same time.

But then...

Marco bought me 4 giant balls of some Woocraft Huggy which is half wool and half acrylic and so very soft. Oh, and from Bradford! (His home town/near where we used to live) and I have been wanting and wanting to knit something special with it since bought me it for Christmas two and a half years ago!! I have two balls of this cream colour and two of a darker brown. I tried this colour in the swatch on size 4 and a half needles and really liked it.

Below is the flag of victory and favouritism!

And so, I began making a cowl on my circular needles which are about size 5. I was inspired to do a cowl from this pattern, but have not followed any of it!

I cast on about 120/130 stitches and started at my knitting club last Wednesday and have been knitting on my work commute (I read on the bus and tube and then knit on the train) and a little bit at work when it's quiet and have only managed a little bit so far at home, I've been tracking my average time on it and so far it's just around 5 hours.

You may notice that 130 stitches is not big enough for a cowl.. Ahh you would be right, it would mearly make a collar, but I shall knit a section of about 70 stitches in the darker brown colour that I have in the same wool and have it as a feature in my cowl. Like one big block stripe. Always thinking.

I'm looking forward to wearing it!

Anyone else underway with a ready for winter project??

O_o

Sweet Peas

2011-08-20T17:23:00.000+01:00

After a lovely tea-nic and a chat with my friend Amy, it was suggested that I cut my sweet pea flowers so more will grow. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner! I knew, but just didn't think about it as I only had two flowers. Now the two have been cut and are in an egg cup filled with water in my living room, as you can see above. Lovely. I hope more will grow.

O_o

It's nice when it rains, it also means I don't have to water my plants!

2011-08-18T21:35:00.001+01:00

I love the colder seasons approaching. Granted, it's only August but the past two days have been dark and with the rain this afternoon it felt much more like the end of September than it should have. September is my favourite month of the year so that's a good thing for me. I enjoyed taking the long route, walking in the rain from the tube station instead of getting the bus.

The way I see it, the rain weeds out a lot of people out and about. There become less people walking about, those who were fickle about being outside, go in. Decision made. Those who really want to be there, are still there. Walking, not hurrying. Enjoying the empty streets. Empty space is a luxury in built up cites, I like empty more than I ever did, living here.

Exactly one year and 4 days ago I had a similar situation like today happen to me. I was out, walking, picking blackberries on my way home this time from work, then from a social event, but the same weather conditions! The heavens opening and me not minding! Although in the post a year ago a lot of the blackberries were not ready, today, they were pretty much all spent. Funny how things change. So I got no blackberries from this particular woodland walk, but I did get happy :)

Thank you for the shared love for my velvet chairs! They smell better today, the more I use them and have them in the house they less they will smell I think. White vinegar seems to be favoured for solving problems like this though, so as soon as I get to the supermarket it will become a permanent feature in my cupboards!

Friday tomorrow people! Woohoo!!

O_o

Jewel Velvet Chairs

2011-08-16T13:15:00.000+01:00

HI! Take a seat, or two. Call up a friend and park your bums on these lovely velvet padded treats.

I am pleased to announce the two new items of nice to have recently come into my possession.

Yesterday I was wandering around Crouch End, where I live, and was doing my usual round of charity shop shopping when I over heard half a conversation about some place giving things away. I remembered that the British Legion Hall was closed and linked it to that, whilst sighing at the thought of missing the chance to have the coat stands that the charity shop owners were bringing in. As I left there was talk about chairs.

I carried on and walked home. There's a little short cut I take through the lovely tree lined streets amongst the beautiful cared for front gardens of large victorian family homes. This way is also the British Legion Hall. I walk past, and see 4 men hurling wood and other interior fittings into a big skip. I stop. Outside, stacked up are about 60/70 gold and teal velvet chairs. One of the men chucking the wood into the skip stopped and asked me if I wanted to get through, although I'd just walked that way, and I realised that I must have been stood staring for about 15 seconds! Ha, dream land.

I approached one of the men in suits, obviously not doing heavy lifting and ask him if I could take a chair please? He and the skip men announce that everything outside can be taken. WOW, heaven. There was also a huge old till, you know the ones with the little placards that pop up at the top saying shillings and d. Well, it was metal and as big as a telly so I walked past that and selected two chairs, one of each colour and with the least amount of fag burns in them!!

I nearly had to fight for my selected gold one with a little boy who was about to pick it up! Well, not fight, but he wanted a chair too and was trying to convince his Daddy to let him have one, I didn't want to select another chair (a lot of fag holes in some) and kindly said, Oops, can I have this chair please? I wanted to get them home! Now an extra person, would have been helpful to me at this point because they are HEAVY. I live 7 mins (half a mile) away from the hall, and half of that distance is up a hill, I live at the top, and by the time I get to my door, my arms are shaking and my back is twinging!

An aching back doesn't stop a clean up operation though! They were smelling pretty musty, and a few Google searches of how to clean velvet padded chairs didn't really offer me any great solutions so I got a bucket of warm water, a sponge and squeezed some Ecover liquid stain remover on to make a foam and just scrubbed the chair all over. I used the Ecover stuff because it's natural and I didn't want to ruin the chairs or take the colour out. The purple spray was upholstery cleaner, but it had bleach in the ingredients.. I didn't want to take that chance so it wasn't used. It's a good product for non invasive stain removal on all sorts of clothes, unlike a vanish bar one I have which tends to take the colour out of clothes :( That's why I've linked it. You're welcome.

Anyway, back to cleaning! I then dried the chairs by scraping along the fabric with a tea towel, and left them out to dry in the warm air.

I also went out and bought some Febreeze (fabric spray that makes odours not be odorous) whilst they were drying because they still smelt a little. The British Legion Hall had been open for 90 years, I wonder how old these chairs were?! They can't have spent their precious money on many refurbishments in recent years so I can excuse the faint old smell still there.

Let me go and smell them right now.... Yep, they smell alright, like Febreeze.

Any tips for smells on this from any one? I am still yet to vacuum them and I'm sure this windy afternoon will be nice to them once I put them outside, they are nearly there, I just want them to smell new!

Solina jumped on them as soon as I brought them in, I guess it looks comfy for paws.

O_o

Knitting Not Wars!

2011-08-13T17:33:00.001+01:00

Prompted by a dear lady on the other side of the pond, I attempted a knit stitch that has been on the to-do list for a while. Herringbone Stitch. Originally I was using size 5 needles with some worsted wool, but found that for this fiddley stitch it was much too splitty and got rather confusing where you have to drop a stitch and pick up two in the pattern.

So I decided to use tiny needles with the sport weight (?) seen above.

Knitting tight is something I knew I tend towards, but with this stitch, it really hindered my progress! The above took me the full second half (45mins +5mins injury time) of the Oxford V Bradford football game (FYI result 1-1 & I'm on Bradford's side) and I dropped a stitch somewhere in there. And so I gave up. Looser knitting next time. Also, this wasn't intended for the cushion cover I planned to knit, just a swatch to learn the stitch!!

This is a good looking stitch and isn't too tricky, just makes you a bit cross eyed at times! I think my cushion cover will look good, just perhaps not knitted this small if I'd like it this year!!

Thanks Sam for get up and go feeling you gave me for this knit stitch!!

O_o

London Riots.

2011-08-12T12:06:00.000+01:00

Hello,

Thank you for everyone who sent lovely thoughts London way this week, I and everyone I know here and elsewhere are safe and have not had houses burned or been involved in the rioting. It was a shocking time, especially on Sunday & Monday when I was very fearful for my safety. Things were moving so fast I really thought that there was no safe place. I gathered my important things and made note of what I needed to grab if something happened after seeing people flee their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back. I know there is a blog somewhere with photos submitted from people showing what they would take and rescue. It's a though provoking blog, but I can't find it right again..

On Monday I went to work as normal, but we had BBC News on constantly and I was glued to updates on the internet, in particular this site.. www.thewestlondoner.wordpress.com which had a very detailed update of what was going on and when, including photos. I skipped my Lindy class and went straight home, passing a man with a red car door strapped to a mini trolly thing being questioned by the police at St Pancras! There was a strong feeling in the air that something massive was about to happen, like a big event, something was going to go on that was bigger than the something the night before. It did, as you might know.

Watching things unfold, being burnt and destroyed, I'm angry, watching the live news shouting, that's where I shop, stop burning our bus, these are our streets, this is your city. It's awful seeing the place we all live in being torn apart and burnt to the ground. On purpose.

So in these past few days I have heard so many sirens and seen so many police and on my way to work on Monday/Tues/Wed saw so much damage and boarded up buildings and rubble, going through Clapham on the train I also saw engines and a large group of people already on the clean up mission. Seeing this made everything more real than just sitting inside constantly watching/listening to the news and franticly searching on Twitter getting all mixed up with fact and hearsay.

On Tuesday night I was at home at around 10.30pm and was reading on twitter that my area was being looted and some tweets even saying it was on fire. I was getting scared again, so Marco asked me if I wanted to go and check it out. At first I said NO! There was no way I was going out to get all mixed up with everything, but we went out to scope the situation.

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, I had been sent home from work in South London early as I work near Croydon and there was still major trouble going on there and there were worries that I wouldn't be able to get home easily if I'd stayed. When I got home I collected a few nearly new shoes and a mixture of clothing in a big bag and took it down to my bit of town where they were accepting donations for those who had been made homeless. I got there and the place was shut. There were so many police around, there are normally no police at all, and I counted at least 10 around one area! It was calm though, with only a little bit of tension in the air. Most shops were shut, with a only few cafes open.

So walking down now on Tuesday at nearly 11pm I was expecting some trouble.

There was nothing going on.

I was shocked that there was all this talk about rioting in the area I was standing when, actually standing there, nothing was happening. There was a police van parked in the middle of the street, patrolling, and that was it. Every now and then a flashing riot van would drive past and up the hill or through obviously needed elsewhere. I posted a video and photos on twitter to reassure those who were worrying like me, that our area was thankfully safe at this time and not full of 300 rioters like suggested in one report.

The next morning I did see a few more smashed windows on my way to work near where I live, but although we are next door to Wood Green and Tottenham it wasn't half as bad as what others have had to go through right on their doorstep.

I am feeling sad for London. Only an hour ago I received an email from the Mayor Of London (newsletter) saying that £50million will be used to regenerate these streets and get the repairs underway.. That is an awful lot of money that I am sure was going to be used for something else much more important before this all took place. Now the most important thing to spend the money on is getting things back to how they were. Such a shame. There is so much to say on this situation and I could enclose links and photos but I really wouldn't know where to stop, or start for that matter. My heart really goes out to those who have watched their homes and businesses burn, the sight forever immortalised on the news reels and newspaper photographs.

I don't really know how to end this post, there are so many discussions to be had and the situation whist at the moment is not getting worse, the fall out from it hasn't even begun. With minors being amongst those being arrested, there really is a bigger issue here. What does everyone else think? It's tricky.

So as you can tell, I still have my home, my cat, my possessions and my street, many don't have any of those things right now. I am thankful for this. Questionable as it might be, I thank the Police. And wholeheartedly I thank the fire services and the healthcare services.

O_o

They are just kids...

2011-08-09T12:52:00.000+01:00

The riots in London right now, are not making me feel positive.

Olafur Arnalds

2011-07-27T11:44:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone!! I hope you are all having a great start/middle of the week and have lovely plans setting up nicely for the weekend? I have a post I wanted to share a few days ago but was a bit caught up with events and doings to write it out, so here it is, at work, writing a blog post, normal day right?!

At the start of the year here we went to see Olafur Arnalds a contemporary classical musician, it was amazing and we so saw him again last week at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. Having tickets for this show since February was a first for me, such a long time to keep them safe!!

Last time we saw him in an intimate venue with only 200 people in a small room, this time it was a grand theatre with a much bigger stage and more lights! The way the light and smoke is used in his shows suits the music so perfectly and I was pleased that this time I could get a few photos of it all, on my phone btw. I took a video too of the shadows on the walls, which is at the end of the post.

His quartet for this show were great too, although the musicians were brilliant last time, the standard of the players for this tour were a cut above. What fantastic players! Olafur was entertaining and played magically too. The only negative about the concert was that Marco and I, foolishly had drinks before and during the performace and consequently needed the loo VERY badly whilst he was playing. Towards the end of the 90 or so minute set I decided I just needed to go -sure you know the feeling too- and so I missed 2 songs!! :( But luckily they had a screen and speakers outside so I could still enjoy it! Then I snook back in the 'claps' and sat all empty and focused!

Ah, well I have finally written this out and have enjoyed reliving the concert, any one else seen Olafur Arnalds or know of a similar artist to share? If you do like this check out, Eluvium, Helios and Max Richter for a taste of lovely music.

O_o

Putting googly eyes on my cat is much harder than I thought.

2011-07-22T07:05:00.000+01:00

=O.o=

The Big Feastival, WI Tent.

2011-07-21T13:20:00.001+01:00

A lot can happen in 3 or so weeks! In my world and yours.

Hello Bloggerz! I've had this post half done for 3 days so I will hurry and finish it so I can get back to blogging frequently!

On the first weekend of July a well known chef named Jamie Oliver hosted his own festival of food and music called The Big Feastival.

My branch of the WI, Shoreditch Sisters were asked to be there and host our own tent! We were joined by Borough Belles, Clapham WI, East End WI, Dalston Darlings and Brixton WI. It was a wonderful weekend, and Birdy who set it all up did a great job of keeping everything together!! I was there on the Friday and Saturday stationed mainly at our sewing and making area. We had lots of little ones come and make felt birds with us which we sewed and stuffed with lavender and some hearts with banners on too, I was amazed at some of the patience of these 10 or so year olds, and also amazed at the lack of sewing ability from the older girls too! Ah, well they know how now.

We had lots of speakers on the stage, Tracey Edwards the female around the world sailor, The Belles of London City female Morris Dancers, Marawa The Amazing came to do two hula hoop shows and teach us how, we had Lindy Hop lessons, truffle eating, cocktail making demo and tasting (fave!) and so many more.

So much went on and it was great sunny weather ...

oh, and I won a Musical Bingo game!!

Thrift-ola Leona had a lovely section with us too selling her thrifty treasures, ^ this is Caroline in front getting all the bits ready for our craft section below where Birdy and Leona are setting up. How beautiful is this quilt of Leona's!!?? It's covering a really beautiful drop leaf table too. v

Above is the tent nearly ready to welcome Feastival goers in (25,000 on the Saturday!) you can see Beehive Bakery run by a lovely huge-beehive-hair-do girl called Stacie Stewart, behind where the balloons are was Lucy In Disguise selling their new collection, Hair & Make Up Dept were doing erm, hair and make up in vintage styles. WAH Nails were setting up just near these chairs and tables too doing fancy nail designs and adding more fun to your fingers than actually thought possible!

Jamie Himself shortly before the Feastival got underway.

And GLUTEN FREE cakes from Beehive Bakery!!

Tracey Edwards ^

The Belles of London City v

My Friend Caroline teaching our Feastival tent helper how to knit!! :)

And a tent visitor (left), our WI President Becky (middle) and Bea (left) enjoying a moment on the hammock after a busy day!

For some other write ups and accounts of the weekend I've included some links,

Our WI president, Becky, has a lovely write up here with some great photos..

This site has a great all round review of the weekend too, including the cakes to look like other food comp!!

It's not a very detailed account of the event that lasted all weekend but I just can't possibly include everything, plus, it was a while ago now, I'm just so slow on the blog front this month.. :)

Hello to all

O_o

More Lindy Hop (like a frog)

2011-06-23T12:40:00.002+01:00

Hiiiiiiiiiii.

I have a lot to type out here, a lot on my head which is both exciting and overwhelming.

Last night I danced for 3 hours at a different place that I usually go to. I saw an advert for this place and that all the classes last night were free as it was the instructor's birthday and there was a new cycle of classes starting. I originally thought I'd just stay for the 30mins of 1920s Charleston because I had missed this part at my current solo Charleston class. When I arrived, I told them I introduced myself, "Hello, I'm Martha, thank you for having me in your class etc..." and explained that I was taking swing classes elsewhere and was in-between the cycle but felt that I needed a bit more to learn and that I was wondering what the intermediate class was like to see if I was ready to try? I knew that I didn't have the complete skills et for the next level but didn't know if the 1st level would be repeating what I had already learned, they invited me to both classes saying that I can see how I get on. I was happy with this plan.

7pm, Charleston. Mastered the classic 20s Charleston steps, the flapperesque moves, not the jazz 40s Charleston I have been learning. It's surprising how difficult dancing the (simple) steps, twisting the feet, moving the arms and remembering to smile all the time (not just when you mess up) can be. At times I felt like this. But was very happy that I took these gold shoes which have a lovely slippery sole so I could keep up the twists.

7.30pm Lindy Hop Beginners. Straight away we were taught 6 step Lindy. WOW, I was shocked as in the other class we have not even touched upon this yet, we are on our 3rd week of partnered Charleston. My brain knew I had to concentrate and it was exciting getting straight into the swing of things (!). So we partnered up and learned a sequence involving 6-step count 'groove walk' (rock step-slow-slow) into the basic 6 count (rock step-triple step- triple step) with two types of turns and a jump apart at the end. This is exciting for me to know because covering these basics straight away are moves that can be used straight away for social dance. I was getting the hang of this so in a mad moment decided to stay for the intermediate.

8.30 Lindy Hop Intermediate. A level of knowledge as I said earlier was expected for this class and in straight away I panicked a little; this was 8-step Lindy now. (rock step-triple step-step- step- triple step) And we were learning the Lindy Circle. In my first ever class in Holborn I joined at the end of a cycle and went bang straight into the Lindy Circle, I had a few problems with it then as it was the first step I danced, but this time, I just couldn't get it totally right. My footwork is alright but I find that the swing round after the first triple step is so fast I mess up my timing. My frame needs work, it will enable me to get the first triple step faster so I'm not turning as quick to make up for lost time. Remembering also to sit and lean at the top of the circle is difficult, but overall I think I'm not low enough.

We incorporated the Texas Tommy after this which was also a new move for me, but as it's similar to the lindy circle I could pick it up. Although I didn't pick it up as smooth as the video, I keep pre-empting the arm being moved behind my back and so I loose my frame. Also, because it goes so fast I think I'm muddled but then, I ask the lead and they don't seem to think so, just mentioning my frame. I need to get used to the lead doing the leading and if my arm isn't behind me then it's because they have not done it yet and to wait for it.

There was also a dip move named after Frankie Manning with a click at the end and a double stomp thing, which was alright, clicking in the left hand wasn't so easy though!

The other students in these classes were so helpful and very patient with me, although I'm making myself out to say I was a bag of magnets, I wasn't, but it's the criticalness will help me when I read back though this.

A few leads were very strong and I was being twizzled very far at some points, being more grounded and keeping bent will help this one lead suggested. Also another lead who was very competent was really telling me helpful hints, one is that my rock step shouldn't actually step back as much and that I should learn to trust my leads and really go with what they do by keeping my frame strong but my mind loose.

I really valued this advice and when I put it into practice it made it so much better straight away. :) I have the rhythm right though and that really helps a lot. To my surprise, when the class finished there was a bit of time for social dance at the end and I was asked to carry on dancing with the same man who gave me this advice, I have read that it is not a done thing to refuse a dance and as I was in a lesson I thought it best to take the offer up. I was not prepared for this as he lead me into about 4 steps I hadn't a clue about including a 'hammerlock' which I just had to go with, I was laughing all the way through the two songs I was muddling through and was also happy that I was doing this magic thing called social dancing that I am so scared to undertake without about a year worth of experience! Haaa, I am also very happy that this man asked me to dance knowing all of the above, so I must be half way there!

I Must:

Keep bent & keep lean back/down on 5 in the Lindy Circle
Make sure my frame is strong & not behind me until moved by lead
Take smaller steps on rock steps
Put all my trust into the lead

I was happy that I:

Went through with unexpected moves & began to trust my leads with what they led
Got to grips with the 20s Charleston footwork
My counting through the steps has improved
6 Step and 8 Step are no longer strangers to me!

I feel a lot better now this is typed out and now I just have to decide to leave my current class and join this one. My current class is taught well, but I find myself quite bored as it moves slow and we only get 3 moves covered in an hour, which would be fine, but these are small moves and it doesn't push me much compared to this class last night. I would join this class in the Beginners session as the intermediates are at the moment a little bit over my head yet. I still have 5 classes left on my prepaid card for the dance company but between the solo Charleston and Lindy this will go soon. I can always take three lessons a week for two weeks (two of current and this new one) I feel so much more challenged in this new class and I feel that my 8 lessons of what I have been doing have covered the basics of the partnered and solo 40s Charleston and I'm ready to move faster with a different approach to learning. Oh and did I mention they have a mirror wall too, that makes so much difference! I don't want to leave the class I'm at now because I like them but I might say I can't get there from work anymore in time (partly true) the new class is on Wed which is normally my day off and starts later so I have more time to get there. Overall it's my money and my choice right?

Anythoughts?

Meanwhile I'll leave you with a great Jack&Jill performance (un choreographed) from the European Swing Dance Championships last weekend. Love it! :)

O_o

Book Covers Are To Be Judged.

2011-06-21T15:26:00.000+01:00

A photo from my Instagram account of my coffee and book session at the weekend in blustery Brighton.

Hello snail friendly bloggers!
What a great response I had from my last post, the tip is passed on! And it's still holding them away!

Another tip I'd like to thank for is the one from Vixen Vintage about a book recommendation. Recently in my adult years books have not been of great interest to me unless they taught me facts and I could use them in research, but during my 90 minute long commute to work I see so many people reading books and totally engrossed in another world. The advent of the Kindle reader thing and the threatening closures of libraries everywhere has made me more aware that I don't read fiction and that I ought to.

The only way I like to choose books blindly is by the cover. Which can make a tube/bus/train ride quite interesting looking at the covers of the books other people are indulging in. But I work best on opinions and a 'try this' type conversation with books. I happened to be going to the library to print something out on Friday and so I thought I'd search for the book in question. They had it in reserve stock, which I found out means in their basement, I think this made me like the book already!

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith.

As I said, I'm a lover of judging books by their covers and this cover is no exception, very simple, giving nothing of the story away, simply setting the age and time of the book by this simple, clearly 1930s portrait. The story is set in 1930s England but I wouldn't actually think that the girl the portrait is of on the cover is English, she looks very American to me. I won't tell the story or synopsis here though, google can do that.

I started the book in a lovely cafe in Brighton on Saturday, and have finished it this lunch time, at work.. It was so easy to get into I really couldn't help but read it! When I read the library description it said it was teenage fiction, this immediatly pleased me as I (used to) love so many books that are classed as teenage fiction. The book still had a hearty 400 pages but it isn't the page count that I like, I just tend to like the subject matter and the way they are written. I am not saying that I don't like adult fiction, but sometimes easy to read books are needed, especially on a commute where paragraphs are often interupted by fellow sleepy passengers running for the train doors, or jolts on the bus as it tears down the road at 7.30am. This book was easy to read but not simple. It was thought provoking and had great descriptions which painted a romantic story board in my mind as I've been reading these past few days.

I have seen that there is a film, and watched the trailer after I had finsihed the book, it doesn't seem like what I imagined it to be and adapations for screen seldom do mirror the book played out in our heads but I still think I'd like to see it. Maybe I'll live in the post book haze for a little while longer though.

Has anyone else read this? Or seen the film? Or even taken it out already upon reading Vixen Vintage's post from last week?

Tomorrow I shall be taking this back to the library and swapping it for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm excited!

O_o

What are little boys made of?

2011-06-18T00:54:00.001+01:00

Slugs and Snails!!

I must have a lot of little boys sliming around my roof garden then..

This week has been a wet one and I started to notice my plants being eaten and damaged -goodbye sunflowers- this annoyed me greatly, as I'm sure it does to other gardeners too. I was sick of chanting 'yuckyuckyuckyuuuuckk' through gritted teeth whilst trying to peel these slime shells off my pots and chucking them as far away as I could. (Sorry neighbours!) I don't like to kill them and I certainly don't want them to land somewhere nasty, but I have no choice...

So during a lovely wine and knitting evening with Amy I mentioned my woes and as a very keen green lady herself, suggested copper tape around the pots. Amy explained that it gives them a little buzz like foil on a tooth filling and they slime away. (doesn't harm them at all, please see end of post for video) The pound shop (£1) was a tried and tested vendor for plant saving equipment such as this copper tape.

Forward two days and I'm in the pound shop, actually 99p store, and there it is, copper tape. Lovely. I bought some.

I got 2.5 metres of the tape, it's just like stickytape on one side and you stick it in a band around the whole part of whatever it is the slimes use to get to the goods. In my case I have a table and some mini chairs, so I popped a band of tape around each table leg and chair leg.. Stop them sliming at the source I say. It was raining slightly and dark outside so I didn't take a photo of the table and chair legs, but you can imagine what that looks like for now (Can only just be seen in the background of the second photo below). Below are some pots that go on my window sill and for now don't stand on a chair or table so I taped the pots. As the pots are curved I had to mould the tape to the pot.

I had a tiny strip of tape left and so I tried putting it on front of a snail who was still on my sill... I took a video too. You can clearly see the snail retracting from the tape. And I'm amazed and so happy that it works!! I took about 4 videos actually so you can see that he doesn't go and be sad somewhere on another plant and he keeps trying and is pretty fast moving. Have a look and let me know if you have tried this before? Or if you will do too?

Thank you to Amy for saving my plant's lives!!

and another time, he kept coming back to try!

Any other gardening tips to share?

O_o

Summary

2011-06-15T12:20:00.001+01:00

Hello,

Have you ever discovered something, then afterwards, it's everywhere you look?!

But then, how can you be sure that it wasn't everywhere in the first place, you just didn't take notice?

This is what is happening to me right now! I simply can't recall the sequence of thought that came to me discovering Lindy Hop dancing, but I did, I booked a class, and now, as you know, I'm thinking about it all the time and having two lessons a week means I'm even dancing the steps in my head at work.

This morning in the free paper they hand out (Stylist) there was a small section on the ladies of The Blitz in Londons 1940s war effort. It was a lovely and heartwarming read, almost crying with pride on my 8am train through South London. They also provided some URLs to some '40s themed events going on and gave a little mention of where you can Lindy Hop your night away! Bam, right there, Lindy Hop (YAY) why had I never seen this talk before? If I'd have read my words properly before I could perhaps be celebrating my 1st or even 2nd year of dancing, I will have had numourous moves branded into my feet bones and those tiring nights of dancing could have been as routine as the morning cup of Joe (Well, actually I have tea in the morning)

However, it's an interest of mine now and WOOHOO at that! I tend to LOVE things/hobbies alot and become obessed very quickly. One time two months ago I had a mad week where I was totally ready to buy a bike and cycle 15 miles to work and 15 miles back home everyday instead of buying a travel ticket (currently costing just short of £200 a month of my tiny wage). So after a week of research and thinking and talking I was ready to do it. Then I remembered that I hadn't cycled properly for over 6 years.. so I was persuaded out of it. But it was all I could think about for days! This is not to say that these ideas and new found ways to enjoy time are ever forgotten, no no, I'm not one of those people who don't have a clue about what just happened moments after it did. They all get added to my mental, chaotic mind list of exciting things to do when an hour is dull. Or my blog, they might get listed on here. Needlework was an embarkment a while ago (can't find the post).. I never reblogged but it's still underway as a thing I do.

So so so so so, I have gone off topic slightly but the bottom line is that very happliy, right now Lindy Hop seems to be pretty big around me. I know London has a massive scene to be a part of and in fact, you can see how big here. Which is great for me and others who like to immerse themselves in an interest fast!

I'm going to try and document my progress so I can see how my worries or desired goals change as I progress through the lessons and learn how to deal with certain dancing situations!

Since the start of last month (when I discovered it all) I have had 5 lessons. My first was 1 class- of Lindy Hop in Holborn. I joined mid cycle on their 9/10th lesson and so I was a little out of my depth but in 8 beat Lindy learned Lindy Circle and some others steps and swing out type footwork which, due to the very large class size, wasn't clear exacly what they were such as what I think it some Jockey Position steps in partnered Charleston..

My much smaller Monday Lindy Hop class I go to now is much better and from two classes I have a pretty good grasp of the best and am getting better at counting the steps. The step vocablauary I've aquired so far from them is the Basic Charleston, Hand to Hand Charleston, some funny turn with hand in the air (!), a double kick when turning 180deg, and the last lesson in partnered Charleston; hovvers, 'dancing to the beat (freezes)', and a funny slide back move. And the lead and follow technique. Okay, Oops at the vocab used there!!

Thursday is my Solo Charleston class, here I've managed to grasp the swing of Basic Charleston (with more arm movements) Jazz Box Step, Suzie Q, Boogie Forward, Clap Back, Fall Off The Log, Lock Turn, Gaze Afar, Shoe Shine, Clucking Chicken, and tomorrow we are being taken through the Shim Sham dance routine.

Counting my steps, using my arms more and keeping low all through the dance are some things to focus on in my next lessons. Also trusting my lead and feeling their dance move 'commands' is something I hope just comes with time and practice!! I'm pleased with how I can remember each individual move but I do find I let myself down if my mind wanders or concentrates on another thought for just a second!! I blame my 6am wake up calls and the 7pm start lessons, espresso over here please!!

If you have read this far, I hope you are giggling at the funny dance move names as much as I do!

So now, it's back to work and thinking of my knitting meet with a good friend this evening afterwards!- oh, and dancing of course, but first I think I'll eat lunch! Whabbout you?

O_o

Keeping Focused!

2011-06-13T22:35:00.000+01:00

Hello! Howz ya Mundeh bin? (say in a Yorkshire accent)

I thought I'd share with you some photos I took of the gardens on my birthday trip out. They were all taken by me and I am really glad they came out the way they have done.

In fact, I'm so proud of them. It's been a few months since I picked up my DSLR to really take photos with some thought behind them, and have not shot a roll of film this year atall, these have made me remember why I enjoy photography and the excitement you get from knowing you have the perfect moment in your camera/film roll.

I used a standard kit lens on my Pentax K-M DSLR with no editing what so ever. The day was bright, overcast and had just rained very very hard, I had the camera dancing between 400 and 800 ISO the yellow flower even had the flash on (experiment). I've had this camera for 21/2 years now and it's given me some really brilliant pauses in time to keep forever. I really just wanted to show and store these with you here, perhaps they'll inspire to take more photos in the rain..

All the photos link to my Flickr page.

Any photo you are really excited about? Please link us to it, we can have a little show off session! With these photos I feel like my eye hasn't disappeared, it's still there, and I love them above because it's surprised me. Show us a surprising photo of yours??

O_o

City and Gardens

2011-06-12T13:16:00.001+01:00

Hello! Thank you so much for my 23rd birthday wishes, I had a lovely day.

Marco took me to the Geffrye Museum in Hoxton where we looked around the Victorian herb and flower gardens and went on a journey through the history of the home. It rained very heavily that morning so when we got there the garden was so beautiful with droplets and glittering leaves. I think that the beauty of the garden needs it own post which I'll put up soon. Dream gardens.

We had tea and a scone in the museum tea terrace and watched it start to rain again! We took the bus to London Bridge and had a wander round Borough Market and then I chose that we walked down the Thames because I love the London river side. We walked east down the river and walked and kept walking! We walked about 7.5 miles as this site tells me, and that's just the walkway alone.

We took a ferry across to Canary Wharf, which was amazing. Canary Wharf is just like what I imagine America (Manhattan) to be like, massive skyscrapers, huge roads, concrete slabs for the pavement, and there's even a photo below of some fake grass on the road verges! Crazy. We had ale, dinner and cocktails on a skyscraper terrace in Canary Wharf and then walked to Poplar in the dark night surrounded by the lights from the bank skyscrapers and hopped on the DLR train. Wow, what a train, very fast and the driver sits with the rest of the passengers! I had a great day and loved going to some where different, and in this case, we felt like we were in another country!! It's my new favourite place!

Marco made my day great, and we were quite hyper despite the weather! He also bought me these Ray Bans which I love, I want every day to be a sunny day now! Thank you Marco. :)

Haa! What have you been up to? And have you ever been to Canary Wharf? Or even Manhattan.. what a weird feeling, being so small amongst these massive places!

O_o

Glarssez

2011-06-09T13:39:00.000+01:00

Those glasses arrived yesterday, I don't like them. They're far too big for my face and they look fake and like they are just for some crap fake glasses fashion.

I am not a fan of fake glasses and don't want to look like I am wearing them! So back they go, through the unzoomy post and I'm choosing some others. I like some Vera Wang ones a lot, in a pinky colour, much smaller and more subtle. You may be wondering why I would choose these hideous slabs of plastic?? Me too, although I can help out with the process...

Marco emailed me a link to a facebook page a few weeks back that have a few glasses offers going on pretty often. So I clicked like and waited for an offer, then bang on 5pm that day, as I was on the train back from work, the offer started! Free glasses, all to pay was postage, really great offer huh!? So I'm on my phone on this site ordering my glasses and guessing my perscription and PD measurements, paying by card on the train over my phone network... Oops for safe money.

So anyway it all goes though all right and I pretty much bought the ones I thought to be nice on my phone screen under the cat eye section. I love cat eye glasses and really have wanted a pair that suit me (these don't now I learn) but they were pretty much free so I went for it. For just over a week I have been worried about how big they would be since I got home and checked them on an actual screen. They are Derek Cardigan glasses, supposed to be £89 or something, but I wouldn't be too happy paying that money for glasses that are this fake looking. Would you?

Solina cat was not impressed, that to me is a sign the cat eyes are not convincing enough!!

Anyhoo, last night was great fun at my W.I knitting group, we were hosted by the lovely, lovely girls at Prick Your Finger in Bethnal Green to knit cakes for our W.I tent at Jamie Oliver's Feastival at the start of July. We went there instead of our usual place because Rachael Matthews had written a pattern book on creating knitted food and she invited us along to share her patterns! I will share photos of our wares and blog more in due time and progress, it's exciting! I made a lovely new friend who lives a road or two down from me who is very sweet and very interesting, she is doing a PHD in the history of female masicisim! Very clever right?! I have just found that she has a blog, so I'll link Caroline here! Secret linking!!

Okay, well I'm sick of looking at the giant glasses photo above so I'm ending this post here and getting back to work (oh yeah, I'm at work right now!) And thank you for your wishes for my tomorrow :)

Agiiiasdfetd phone's ringing .....BYE!!

O_o

Lovely.

2011-06-06T15:00:00.001+01:00

Did you have a good weekend?

I had a lovely weekend with Marco walking around London in the sun and drinking pale ale on the roof garden on top of Queen Elizabeth Hall in Southbank.

The photos below show our Saturday adventures.

This week is a busy one over here, tonight I have Lindy Hop class, tomorrow we are going to see Hot Feet play in Proud Galleries in Camden, Wednesday I have WI knitting club, Thursday I'm off to my second Charleston class and Friday is my 23rd birthday!! All that on top of my day job, I'm going to need lots of energy, so my sandwhich at lunch might have to double!!

Thank you to everyone who got excited with me about my Charleston class last Thursday! I did actually enjoy it, I wasn't expecting to for some reason, it was fun and more relaxed than the Lindy Hop classes, and about 80 people less than the Lindy Hop (that class is about 100 people strong)! So experiencing the smaller class size has make me much more excited for my lesson tonight which is in a place nearer to where I actually live, and it's starting tonight, so I will be moving up with the class and feel much more a part of the class, than just another someone who paid £8 for a hour to go into the instructors pocket. (Hopefully)

Last week I ordered some new glasses and if the postman has been really lovely, he would have known I want them quick and may have zoomed them through the system and sped it right to my door? I hope they come soon. It's a busy day at work today, hectic with the phone ringing and post yet to be opened, anyone else having a similar day? *But still time to blog on my lunch!*

The food plants and flowers were all grown from seed eariler in the year by school groups. The exhibition is open till September. I like it alot, on one side of the garden you can see all these plants and then you look over the balcony and you can see the London Eye, River Thames and St Pauls. Great city roof garden.

Wooden cutlery as plant label sticks!! Need to try this, the growing food must meet what it's going to be eaten with!! It was a busy day, great weather, if a little windy!

Lovely!

O_o

Swing When You're Winning!

2011-06-02T11:20:00.002+01:00

Oh, why hello there, happy Thursday!

I am excited today, this week I am starting my first Charleston dance class. I am still doing the Lindy Hop classes, but want to try Charleston to get a better understanding of how to move and to develop and get used to the beat.

So, two classes a week at £8 each is going to get expensive I know, but I am actually not expecting to enjoy this class as much. Actually, that's unfair for me to say before I have even tried, but watching solo Charleston performers in my current opinion doesn't have the flow and graceful style as Lindy Hop, ideally I'd like to blend the two eventually and partnered Charleston is pretty similar to Lindy Hop so it won't be too hard to mix the two in the future. So I am going tonight to get into the swing of things as there is a swing picnic event this Saturday in Regents Park which I'd like to attend.

Could this be how I feel at the end of the class??

Another great thing about tonight is Jazz Fm's show Peppermint Candy by The Broken Hearts is on 6-7! I shall be somewhere travelling to my Charleston class at that time, but I can listen again on Jazz Fm's website and you can listen too. You won't be broken hearted, it's a heptastic show! CLICKAHERE!

Actually, I only found out about them recently through my friend Rowan of Kitschensink because they wore some thunder cloud brooches she made for them! I had seen them in photos of event and clothing launches but I didn't know they were so fun and totally relevant to what I'm interested in and luckily their first Peppermint Candy radio show started the week I was introduced to them! I'm in for the swing! :)

Click the photo to go to Rowan's write up about their latest cloud fashion accessory, although I must tell them, that I wore it first! <3

If you listen, it would be lovely to know if you were tapping your toes along as much as I will be. I'm sure they would like to know too!
What a themed post this is. I'm excited!! I wonder if I can knit anything swing themed too? I'm on it!

Anyone have any other great radio shows to share? Any genre, any country, internet allows it all :) I'd like to listen.

O_o

Art Car Boot Fair!

2011-06-01T15:00:00.003+01:00

Hello all I thought it'd be a good idea to give a blogs up of something I'm looking forward to and something I wouldn't want anyone else to miss either!

Two years ago I saw photos of this crazy, fun, colourful art & bargain event and vowed to go the following year, alas, last year was such chaos with me finishing my degree and still having the pub job draining my social days away, the chance to go just did not arise. This year, in fact, in 20 days I shall finally make it and join the barmy event myself!

It's called Art Car Boot Fair and it's held behind Brick Lane East London. It's been bringing art and boot fairs together since 2004 so I think they have the fun down-to-a-T. There's a large focus on the car bit of the boot and art since it's sponsored by Vauxhall but click on the photo to find out more, especially if you are around London on the 19th!!

I love London!

O_o

Mouldy Plant..

2011-05-31T21:35:00.003+01:00

How am I supposed to feel when my lovingly grown cat grass turns mouldy?

(The mould is the two spots of white fluff on the above photo.)

Solina cat would not have eaten it because I had popped it on the kitchen table to let it recover from the constant chomp chomp of cat jaws. But what if she might have done?! Would that have been bad?

The mouldy grass is now on my windowsill until I can deal with it (I know it's not that bad) but can cats eat mould? Would they be sick? The mould decided to grow, I think, because it was in a steamy cooking kitchen for a few days and not outside. The weather has been a but nippy actually at the weekend, enough not to open the windows and let the usual air through the flat. My lesson is learned.. no more mouldy plants.

Has anyone else had mouldy plants?? What happened?

=O_o=

Lindy hopping en masse.

2011-05-30T21:00:00.003+01:00

Hi again happy bloggers!

How was your weekend? And bank holiday Monday if you had one today? Long weekends really are great. This weekend has seen me off with a horrible flu like cold. I feel achey and hot/cold with stuffy head and loss of hearing although, I feel fine energy wise and have filled my time with active things so I am meeting people (and friends' babies) looking fine but sounding like shit. Ah well, I might act it up for sympathy tomorrow at work!!

This afternoon there was a filming/dancing event for Swing Patrol and the band Jive Aces with a special Olympic bid dance for Lindy Hop to be a sport in the Olympics! I wanted to go along and soak up the atmosphere and watch some dancing. I met up with my friend Carys who was in town doing some shopPing and we took a shimmy to Spitalfields to watch and listen. We did witness some great dancing and it was interesting to see the filming going on, but I was under the impression that there would be some dancing we could all be involved with? I am not at the stage at all yet where I could just dance but it would have been nice to have done so. I think? I'm not sure, my head is all muddled up and I really don't feel well, so actually I was just happy to stand and bop.

I also took some awful videos, I'm not good at catching atmosphere with videos although I think they can be better than photos on blogs to give an idea of what it was really like, the first video is just of some dancing in between takes and you can hear Carys and I.

Carys: "oh, you're recording?" Me: *laughing* Do you want to talk though it again?! *both laughing*

This makes us laugh because I took a video of us at the Barbican on Friday and she talked though the whole thing which was funny when we looked back on it and heard our voices picked up loud!

(Oh very simple things)

And the second video is supposed to be a directed flash dance mob of Lindy Hoppers lead by the London Jitterbug Champions of this weekend but I think it failed, you can see why! Ah, well I hope you get a good idea of what it was like this afternoon before it started to rain..

AND

So are you addicted also? Let's dance!

O_o

Ice and Shows.

2011-05-28T02:34:00.000+01:00

So after my flavourless discovery on mint tea ice cubes, the next choice was to make REALLY sweet ones with some ice lolly makers I picked up for 89p in a closing down quid shop! I mixed some strong pink lemonade iced tea from Whittards tea shop and froze them, of course. Yep they were yummy. Not much to discover there then. At least I have some way of making ice lollies at home. Why are ice adventures so appealing right now? Five year olds can do it.

This is me posing happily with my first ever home made ice lolly- since I was 10, probably. I was having a chomp and then thought I'd ask Solina cat what she thought, she gave it a sniff and licked the green plastic stick. Yum then. The flavour had congregated more on one side, so licking one side all the time to get the most sweet ice was a little bit silly, perhaps the mix didn't dilute completely and had settled heavy in the water at the bottom. Ah well. So to make my ice making more fun, what's in the freezer now it some blue food colouring dyed water. Blue ice. I'm sure you can't wait to see that.

The following images represent my evening I had tonight with my friend Carys at the Barbican watching the performance School For Scandal directed by Deborah Warner. I won't review it on here because I'm sure a lot don't care, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. :)

Hanging out with Carys is always effortless which is great in a friendship, we can chat till the cows come home and hopefully now she has finished her degree, she'll have more spare time to bring those cows right on home!

Barbican is the most amazing complex I have ever come across, I just love everything about it, they have architecture tours which I am planning to go on very soon, with Carys!

This photo is funny because of the dot faced friend beside me!! Oops, it wasn't intentional.

The set for the over 3 hours long performance was an open set and you could see much of the backstage and stage hands were not hidden and frequently came on to do their thing whilst the actors-tresses were still acting. A deliberate mix between old and new and seemingly unrehearsed actions made the show....interesting. I've read that they rehearsed for 3 months so this is all on purpose to present something difference to the audience.

I wish everyone a great weekend, I'm off to bed to dream about tomorrow.

O_o

Green Screened

2011-05-24T14:16:00.003+01:00

Hi, happy Tuesdays to all!

Today is a Tuesday I'm off work, and luckily it's been a really lovely sunny morning. Plants love sun, but they don't love dry roots. Upon looking at my growing plants I saw that they did indeed have dry root houses (soil) so I thought it'd be best to water them if I want them to be good and healthy Beetroots, Sunflowers, Echinaceas, Chillies, Sweet Peas, Basils, Coriander's, Thymes, Oreganos...

Video also wanted to be in on the action, I thought it would be nice to show you my roof garden growing progress in a different and more personal way other than photos as there really isn't a massive lot to see yet as there are no fruits and the flowers are yet to appear and the seeds sown last month all look the same at the moment. Say hello to low quality, high get-the-point-across iBooth movie time!

You will notice I give my plants a lot of drink, yes I like to water them like it's their last chance and I use a bucket of rain water topped up with tap water and a little jug to make sure I can keep an eye on how much water I'm giving them (although that doesn't work as you can see).

Watching how other people do similar tasks such as this one can be quite insightful and it would be nice to see your garden being fed through video if you can/want to share?

We could even have Skype gardening parties!! Water, dirt and electronic technologies totally go together, oo, we could grow mini Macintosh computers! Mix the electric seeds with PCs and make a Kindle!!??

In fact, I'd love to make a mini city farm like this one.

Oh yes, the bloggers version of Gardening World awaits us! Meanwhile, here's the gripping footage of me doing a bit of watering...

The skirt I'm wearing is made from one of Marco's old shirts, blogged 2 years ago here..

O_o | *

\|/ |

Ice, baby.

2011-05-24T01:09:00.000+01:00

Hello hello mints and mintettes.

You would think that mint and boiling water (Fresh mint tea drink) left to cool and popped in an ice tray and frozen into cubes would be a lovely fresh addition to any drink wouldn't you?

Well, it's not that nice. The leaves go an odd colour and when the ice melts on your drink, the leaf is just floating around, and the ice cubes with no leaf in them taste just of stale water..

It was in prep for the summer and any summer drinking days I may host, but I shan't be trying it again. BUT I have made up some more ice creations with some pink lemonade iced tea mix from Whittards and a fun shaped ice lolly mould, I've made it really sweet and hopefully it will taste nice when I have a little review time with them tomorrow.

Now hurry nice weather!

Tomorrow evening I have a lovely W.I (Women's Institute) meeting to attend, this month we are making rugs out of rags which is great because I am in the middle of knitting a bathroom rug/mat out of old t-shirts and large needles but it's not been going to great and I've gotten bored 3 t-shirts in already, so I'm going to unravel and learn a new way!

I see lots of us have been growing things and never before have I preferred Spring to Summer as much as I do now, plants are growing so fast, I heard on the news that it's equivalent to June's weather for nature right now.. eek.. I hope the flowers still last till Autumn.

Do you think they will? Identifying trees is easier with the buds on though!

Bonne Nuit!

O_o

Lindy Hopper, Show Stopper!

2011-05-20T15:31:00.002+01:00

Oh Hi!

I have a new obsession. Totally and deeply obsessed.

2 weeks ago I found out about a dance called Lindy Hop (swing dancing). My first dance class which was on Tuesday evening was booked before I could even say the words!

Now I'm hooked. I've been wanting to do normal things and then I get distracted by the thought of Lindy Hop and start practicing my steps and counting, then I get all excited and look for some Lindy Hop classes to go and then realise my last tenner was spent on the Tuesday's lesson. Waiting for payday has never been so exciting!
There's a new class by Swing Patrol starting on 6th June in Crouch End which I am going to instead of the one at Holborn because it will be much nicer to start a place where I know everyone from the start and can learn with the class. There is so much to say about Lindy Hop, it's all just swimming around in my head! However, it's a partner dance and Marco can't do it with me as he works too much.. :( I have been discovering that having the same partner for dances is something that only really matters in performances and shows because in social dance situations, everyone dances with everyone!

The whole feel of the dance and the atmosphere is just what I have been searching for in an interest that keeps me active and fit. I have the W.I and Lindy Hop in my out of work life and that makes me so happy about the variety of my life right now! Of course, there are other things but right now lets talk about Lindy Hop! London has a massive scene so I won't be short of places to dance!

I did not live up to my promise of posting more Prince Charles photos and have really had some lovely and excited comments about my weekend, thank you. If you'd like to take a peek at some more photos I have them up on my flickr!

But, for now, take a look at what I'd love to Lindy Hop like. They have amazing skills..

O_o

Prince Charles!! (Had lunch with my Gran!)

2011-05-13T21:10:00.000+01:00

Hello! I'm blogging from Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire at my Grans house.

Today Boroughbridge had the honour of having Prince Charles award Dishforth 9 Regt their medals for their services in Afghanistan. My Gran was chosen to be one of the 6 residents of Boroughbridge to represent her town and meet HRH. The parade and the band took place and the soldiers were awarded their medals and then he took a walk down the high street and talking to everyone. My Gran and the soldiers and their familes, along with the Mayor and the other VIPs went to have a light lunch and Pimms (my Gran had 3!).

Prince Charles talked to my Grandma and also my cousin Molly who was one of the primary school children picked to be part of this special occasion. I took so many photos and was very proud of them both! The town is very small and we were able to follow the Prince as he walked down the street talking to Chris at the Grocers and of the school children waving ther flags! The whole place is very rustic looking any way and today with all the bunting up and soldiers marching I felt like I could have been in 1945!

I got very close myself to HRH and for that you shall have to wait untill I get home and upload them all properly. :) The royal adventure does not stop here!

Did anyone see it on the news?!!

O_o

Respect your Elders (trees)!

2011-05-11T11:42:00.003+01:00

Hello hello everyone! So it's Wednesday and we are in that odd space in the week where we can really start to look forward to the weekend but still have to focus on what we are doing right now. Which, dun dun dunnn is looking at trees! For me at least.. So the last tree mystery post has not yet been solved, but, never fear because I am taking a trip up to Yorkshire to visit my Grandma tomorrow untill Sunday (an early weekend for me!) and she knows EVERY thing I want to know :) Baking, plants, knitting, health, my gran really is an amazing woman. So I love to go and stay with her and this weekend I'm leaving Marco with Solina cat in London and going up on the train tomorrow morning. It's a trip for a very special reason but it's top secret so shall report back with the EXCITING after the weekend.. Ooooh! :) Massive smiles.

So you lovely people are being told about my plans to see my real life elder, (Grandma) because I can't wait to go on a lovely nature walk or two with her in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside around all the farms and soak up all the knowledge of all the plants and trees I can, the mystery trees shall have names! (My Gran was a farmer's wife you know, and my Grandad was a great farmer <3 )

It's been warm down in London so many trees and plants have flowered earlier so I'm told and this includes the Elder tree! Look at these wonderful white flowers.

So I am hoping that they have also come out up north and that we can pick some and make elderflower cordial or Ederflower jam. In late summer I also have plans to try and make Elder wine when the trees grow the berries.

Tree Knowledge Time...

The Elder tree has long oval leaves, with small hairs on the underside and a slightly serrated edge. They tend to have about 6 or 7 leaves growing opposite each other on a stalk with one at the end. Nice and symmetrical eh! HOWEVER, although the Elder tree is quite small and is found growing under trees, they shouldn't be confused to these Cow Parsley plants that are similar, although nothing but beautiful weeds.

Anyone else love the Elder tree?

It's great to learn these trees, or investigate them one at a time and post my findings because even like the last post where I don't know what the tree is, I am looking out for it and it's thought about. Nice green world we live in really. Apart from the bugs found on these trees. *shudder*

In my non tree life other fun things have been taking place. Janneke, my lovely Dutch friend came to visit :) We went for a lovely walk after I came home from work around my area and had in depth art talks and a really good catch up! We didn't get home from our walk till 10pm so the night was a late one and I'm feeling it this morning. Good old coffee...

I hope the tiredness stays at the door though because I'm off to my WI sub group for knitting tonight in Spitalfields to meet new people and hopefully say hello to some I met last time. I hope I can make a good start on a baby jumper for my Auntie's new baby boy, or pick up the jumper for myself that I started quite some time ago.. we shall see. I might even fall asleep mid purl!

What are your plans?

And I feel like I need to know how everyone's cat/dog (it should exist!) grass, sunflowers, basil is growing!? We should weekly update each other and get a growing race on!

O_o

Barking Mad! - help me find this tree?

2011-05-09T23:19:00.000+01:00

Identifying trees isn't easy when there's not an all knowing all leaf loving person identifying them with you. Which is why I downloaded a free app for my iPhone: Forest Xplorer . There are naturewalks and woodland parks in a map which you can search by area and there's a tree guide! It's simple to use, you either search by the shape of the leaf, the texture of the bark, shape of the tree (not reliable) or the seeds they produce. Right now some of the trees around don't have their nuts or seeds fully developed so it's not a great way for me to search that way, and the shape of the tree all depends whether or not the council have trimmed the branches or not, so I've been using the leaves and bark to search by.

I have not had too much luck with this.. Below are three comparisons to what I think the tree might be that I selected to look at on my way back home from work today. The app gives a lot of options, but I'm not too sure that it's comprehensive but without knowing which ones are not in the guide I can't eliminate or exclude.

SO, below, please correct me if you know any different because I'm not 100%, but I have compared the tree, leaves and bark to the ASH tree on the app. I came up with Ash because of the leaves. They are not the same as the app photo but out of Ash, Elder, Rowan and Small Leaved Lime, Ash seemed the closest match. Again, the app mustn't have all the types??

Hmm.. The bark seems to match, but the leaves are not symmetrical like the example but they are the same shape and the bark is pretty spot on. So I just don't know.

Please, someone identify this tree!?

And then.. Here pops up this other tree!! Similar bark, different but symmetrical leaves! Ahahahaha oh no!

Golly goodness me. Well you know my Monday was confusing, what about yours? Lovely to read/see other peoples little pots of seedlings growing! We could all never be accused of not being eco friendly! Us lot are getting on the good present list early! Woo!

O_o

Don't walk on the grass, eat it!!

2011-05-08T22:34:00.000+01:00

Has anyone ever grown any plants just for their pet?

When we went to Sainsbury's at the start of last week we picked up some seed packets. Amongst the Beetroot, Echinacea, and Sweet Pea that we chose, we thought some Cat Grass would be good fun. The following 3 photos show an (instagram) snapshot of the seed growth in under a week!

So when I saw that they had raised their little seed heads I tried to feed them to Solina cat, but she just didn't seem too interested, until tonight! They are a teeny tiny bit longer than I've shown you on the photo above and it was probably more appealing for her to much on, because look below! She had a little chomp!

So I've now popped the collection of green fun on the floor near her favourite cardboard box and hopefully she'll let her mouth play with that instead of the lovely new dragon plant tree we bought today for the living room. We'll see.

Would you also like to be in on my Beetroot journey? They started sprouting this afternoon, again after under a week! It's been wet weather (but not too wet) the last few days, along with lovely warm sunshine make these seeds wanna burst up! The Sweet Pea seeds are coming along, but not above the soil..(er no I didn't dig them up and then put them back to see if they'd rooted...oops) So I'll take photos of them and the others when they are saying hello.

This week it's been nice blog post week from all you blog people. Warmer months seem to make fun things happen! I understand it's Mother's day in the US too today, Happy USA Mums! This blog has grown by about 7 new friends too although I hadn't posted anything since Sunday which makes me smile, thank you for coming here!

I hope everyone has had a great weekend? Any planting going on? Or sprouting?

OH! I met with a blog friend Eleni a few days ago for some tea and lunch in the East (Hi Eleni if you are reading!) and it was lovely to meet a virtual blog friend in real life! We went looking through this book stall at a car boot/market and I bought a wonderful flower book for £1!! The pages of illustrations are so pretty, I'll let you in on a few in the next few days, they are swoon worthy! I've also found out the proper names of some of my favourite plants so I can share some knowledge too. :) Great learning progress!

^ ^

=O_o=

My Massive Royal Wedding Experience!

2011-05-01T01:07:00.001+01:00

WOW!

Hello, it's post wedding and I am happily basking in the glow of their love! We had a wonderful day in Hyde Park watching the wedding on the big screens amongst thousands of others, cheering and fighting back the tears! The rain stayed away and the sun came out when Kate entered the church at 11am!!

I have read lovely people say lovely things like they are thinking of us here in London and wishing happy day wishes to me, thank you and I hope that you have enjoyed the celebrations too?

The whole feeling of the day was of pride and happiness. It was indeed a 'people's wedding' and I felt that Will&Kate - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge now too - had so many little and unpretentious details down to a T and made sure that everyone was included!

When Prince Harry & William arrived at the Abbey, there were huge cheers from the crowd, and when HRH The Queen arrived, cheering and flag waving ensued! It was exciting to see Kate arrive and hear gasps upon seeing THE dress. Her dress was wonderful, and the wedding party looked great. I am not a fashion critic so I shall not say too much about choices of outfits, but I liked a lot of them and thought that everyone dressed well, complimenting each other perfectly for the time and nature of this wedding. Comments and opinions from yourselves and others on certain peoples dresses and outfits are very interesting to read though, and I must admit that I have joined a facebook group questioning the hat choice of Princess Beatrice. You know what I'm on about...

We were enjoying the atmosphere and having a drink and picnic on our blanket in Hyde park for about 2 hours. When the big moments were happening (guests arriving, I Do, the Queen and the national anthem everyone stood up, but then the quieter times and hymns, most sat to picnic and enjoy the feeling. I say most, but there were SO many people there, lots did the opposite.) There was tickker tape blown into the sky and big cheers when they walked down the aisle at about 12.30pm!

After the wedding in Hyde Park and watching the carriages ride back to the palace, we decided we'd like to rush back (not far, the next park along) to Buckingham Palace and SEE THE KISS at 1.30pm!! As we were exiting from Hyde Park the Horses and Guards rode back along the road we were appraoching (not sure which one!) I took a video, they were so grand! At the end of my video the police horse trotting along behind, did a poo! Got it on camera for all those as silly as I!

Walking anywhere around this area towards the palace was like swimming in honey. I didn't expected that the parks and area would be in lock down. Green Park was closed and the police and security were letting no one in. Quite a lot of people of all ages were climbing the head height fence with a 4 ft bush on the other side to get into the park to join the thousands that would have been proceeding up the Mall to get near to Buckingham Palace. Now seeing it on the news and photographs, even if we had scaled the fences, we would have got no where near and it would have been pointless, I'm not sure why I never expected this, I just didn't think that far. So we walked into Mayfair and caught the kiss on a telly of a nearby pub.. (the kiss happened about an hour after the wedding in Westminster Abbey had finished) and we also saw the fly over from the RAF which was amazing to see the planes so low!

We were given some free drinks (woohoo!) in a posh bar in Mayfair and as we supped we watched the big telly they had on showing a news report of what we had just experienced. This was odd to see something being reported when It hadn't really finished yet.. This area was quiet too as we had slipped away from the hecticness of the main areas and joined those who were having private parties etc..

So to give an idea of timings.. we are now at.. 2.15/30pm and we were walking around Mayfair area taking in the lovely day and suddenly we see the foreign dignitaries in their cars! Nepal, Italy, Bosnia, Turkey, Tanzania, well, all the country presidents and representatives who attended the wedding. All in their black chauffeured BMWs/other cars! As we were pretty much the only people on the street, it was almost like a private parade! My mum and I waved like little girls excitedly into the cars and pretty much all of them waved back! It was great to see a little bit of what we'd just seen on the big screen, in real life!

So after this bit of "ooohh it's so and so from so and so" we meandered on waving at anything and being smiley to Regents Street where we picked up a freshly printed commemorative copy of the London newspaper, The Evening Standard. It about 4/5pm now.. and there is already a newspaper printed on the royal wedding. Double wow. Now, this paper is used to stop press style printing, as it comes out at this time everyday, summing up the latest happenings, but to cover a royal wedding and to have a paper ready when the crowds had not even left the palace is something not short of amazing. Great team they have there.

Armed with our on the day wedding copy of the Evening Standard (out of stock almost immediately) and hungry tummies, I directed my parents to the haven that is Wahaca (Soho branch)! A mexican cafe style restaurant that I have mentioned before here, and recommend. There we ate and re fuelled before going back to my flat for a relax!

A great day was had by us and I'm sure the party was brilliant in Buckingham Palace!

I feel happy that I went to enjoy the party time in Hyde Park although it was hard to choose where to go, so many places for just one moment! It's similar to deciding where to party for New Years!

Here are *some* photos to make this blog post even longer! I'm still smiling! My mum and I wore matching tops and head pieces with read white and blue clothes to match, oh, and our nails were red and blue! I wore glitter too. P.S due to the screen flickr rate..the big telly photos do not photograph well.

This is a picture NOT taken by me.

Click here for some amazing photos too. (hate to link to the Daily Mail but they are good photos!)

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