It's Back

Slowly, slowly, stitch by stitch my need and desire to create stuff is coming back.

When you lose the urge to do the thing that calms your busy mind, the thing that gives you happiness, the thing that you look forward to after a busy week at work then you wonder if it will ever return.

It was the same when my dad died, I had no desire to create anything. Then all of a sudden I was back on a making roll.

I just have to learn to go with it more.

Learn that there's a lot in life we have no control over. I'm steadily learning that letting go can be empowering.

This week I've finished and worn the Schooldays Top, finished and worn an stitched cardi and started a couple of new things too.

With Miss Millie's 13th birthday looming preparations need to be made. There's nothing she wants other than a vintage tea party and as her parents are seriously skint I think thank heavens I can sew and she likes what I make her. No clues to the above as yet, just in case she pops on by.

She does have a birthday treat this weekend which has now come before the day itself. She has a whole weekend Lambing at the local agricultural college. The lambs have been popping out much earlier than planned so she might miss the births, but she'll have the joy of everything else sheepish. What more could a sheep mad girl who dreams of owning her own flock and dogs really want.

Now about that other thing I finished and wore this week.

Before Christmas I bought Clare Youngs book A Year in Crafts. I loved making the brogues bag from it, although I really wish I hadn't bothered now. There are so many other things in there that I want to try, but it was the stitchy stuff that drew me in at first.

The same day I bought the book I started working on a cardigan of mine transforming it from plain old blue to a stitchy sensation.

Then life happened a lot, so it got ignored on the one day in the future you'll get finished or binned pile.

Then this week my sweet youngest girl was poorly. I sent her to school as I had no childcare and I told her it was easier for me to leave work once school called than me not going in to start with. Quite soon the school nurse called. I cancelled my classes and spent the day with my love, picking up this blue cardigan again.

I'm really thrilled with how it's turned out, it's been worn twice since too.

I think I'll be adding bullions and chains to a fair few knits now I've fallen for this one.

 

So you see, it seems I've got back my creative head and hands for now.

I'm pretty glad.

Posted with Blogsy

Stitching, Baking, Making

In January I bought some fabrics I'd had my eye on for a while.

They were superbly reduced which made the temptation to buy impossible to ignore.

Some while later I found the perfect pattern in a library book for the grey print.

The Back to School Dress by Christine Haynes started life with me as a dress.

Then it was ignored for quite a time while I lost my making mojo.

Yesterday I took it in hand again and the dress became a snappy little top.

Although I really should unpick the neckline and sort out the slight pull to the right, I wore it today and felt grand in it.

One word of warning though. Wearing cardi's over puffed sleeves can give you bruiser upper arms.

Not the kind of look I'm generally after.

Bruiser arms fed by an addiction to these little beasts is another problem altogether.

My other attempts at finding my creative joy again has been to start hat knitting.

Red Artesano merino at first has been overtaken by a green All Seasons Cotton.

Hopefully soon I'll have my hat ready for next winter!

Sometimes I try and solve losing my making by fiddling with fabrics.

I think these want to become a quilt. They just need the hands to start chopping them all up now.

Before all of that though there's so many other demands on my free time.

Getting the house ready for selling, wading through finances and making future plans.

All weekend we worked on the outside of the house for that instant fall in love moment.

Miss Millie treated us by baking her first suprise cake for Sunday afternoon tea.

Here's half the front of the cottage all spic and span.

By early summer it'll be a riot of colour with pale lemon Scabius, pink roses, purple thingies and hollyhocks.

It'll be hard to leave our home, but the thought of new adventures beckons us on.

Posted with Blogsy

A road trip

Here I am again. It's this new fangled Blogsy thing. It's making life in the blogosphere a whole lot easier I must say.

Last week was half-term, we had a full few days indeed. Usually we like to take it slow and cosy, with a family day out or two. This time I made sure the girls and I were busy seeing friends.

At the end of the week we went on a little road trip. Just us three. All the way down to Sussex for lunch at the De La Warr pavilion in Bexhill to meet two special friends. Penelopemakes I met through blogging and Rainandroses and I met through Vanessa Cabban years back. Over time, many emails and chats later we now just chat on the phone as friends do, but who hadn't actually met up.

In the finest tradition of meeting bloggers, giving gifts is what you do.

These were opened later as we were very busy chatting and eating lunch.

Afterwards we all visited the Ladybird exhibition downstairs.

It was wonderful seeing the original artwork and then at the end all of the books together (this is just a third of them).

Impossible to pick a favourite, but here's one you might recognise from Shopping with Mother.

As it was the greyest rainy day I've cheated and grabbed a blue sky picture to show you this amazing building.

After a few lovely hours Penny had to leave us and so Karen came with us to Hastings. I wanted to show the girls all the places that were special in my life, all visited while I was pregnant with Rosey and living in Brighton.

We walked the streets at dusk in the rain, intrepid explorers that we are. Once we found Mr Foyle's house we made the next stop a cosy cafe for hot choc and cake.

The only cafe that was still open and with two large red sofas couldn't have been more perfect.

Afterwards we drove Karen home and then ambled onwards to Polegate to get lost in the dark and rain trying to find our travelodge. Thank heavens for mobile phones.

The next day we met Karen on the train to mooch around Lewes and have cake and a lazy lunch too.

We found lots to see and swoon over.

All too soon our day came to an end. We took the train back having our sadness at saying goodbye overshadowed by a Masonic wife and then a very chatty, loud but friendly lady sitting next to us.

Later we had a party tea in our room, played cards and laughed at Gogglebox. A rare treat tv in bed to fall asleep to.

The next day we drove on to Surrey through the snow covered Ashdown forest looking out for Winnie the Pooh and friends. We spent a lovely day with old friends catching up on gossip while the girls were hijacked by their youngest daughter, thrilled to see big girls after two brothers.

The last leg of our journey was hairy. The automatic gearbox failed and so it was all in second gear from Ipswich. Fun! But we made it back wishing we could have those days back again.

The next day I soothed my racing mind by tidying and clearing.

Now for some other catch up news. I bought a Nell brooch from my talented friend Lou. You can find her on Instagram as @nooandnell. My other brooch was a kind gift from lovely Erin @coffeekisses.

These are the squares for the Do you mind if I knit blanket? starting to mix up together. I've nearly received them all now.

Fabulously talented Laetitia of the bloggings of mrs bertimus machine stitched this beautiful square to add to the blanket. She's my mate through this world too you know. She's funny, warm, full of joy and creates amazing stitcheries and paintings you know.

Well that brings me up to date in terms of all the good stuff.

Thank you thank you so very much each and everyone of you sending your words of wisdom and support. I really do need them you know. Still having to live together and keep sane can be hard at times. My girls are an amazing pair to have. Thank goodness they're older and so we talk and laugh, occasionally we swear in the car for therapy.

I'm still waiting for my creative inspiration to come back and I know it will, it's just biding it's time for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Happy Hooker

When you write a blog you sometimes get asked to review stuff. Ive been sent things over the years that just haven't grabbed my interest or wouldn't be right for what I chat about.

A few weeks back I was asked to review a crochet book by Michelle, Sylvie and Cecile Delprat, printed by David & Charles.

I immediately loved the fresh style of the book and it looked a lot of fun. Some books are just too fussy or full of stuff I wouldn't want to make ever never.

Hooked is stylish and has motifs to make for the grown-up you and the kiddy inside you.

The white backgrounds and great colour choices really appealed to me too.

A few bloggers have and will write about this book too as we're part of a blog hop to review it.

If you press here you can go and find out just who they are.

I was supposed to make something from the book you know, that makes sense really if I'm reviewing it doesn't it. Well I did and I didn't.

I used the flower pattern in the book to send a few tutorial pictures to Adabea who was struggling with making flowery things. She then solved my how to blog on your ipad dilemma by telling me about the blogsy app. I'm still learning (this is my first time with it) .

Back to Hooked book.

I thought about making a ring as I love to wear a big ring.

Then I thought I might make a cupcake and turn it into a brooch.

I had quite a few ideas, but with all that's been happening in my life nothing has been made I'm afraid

That aside, I know I'll be making all sorts of things once my creative mind comes back properly.

One of my favourites is this bow garland. It makes me think of sweeties all in a row. I know my girls would love this one.

Now something very exciting for you lovely lot is that there's a chance to win a copy of the book and a bundle of crochet goodies.

Follow this link to find out more.

 

Now I've reviewed Hooked, I'd like to say how touched I was by your thoughtful comments. They made me feel very comforted I must say. As always I'd love to reply to each of you, but now even more than usual I'm finding it hard to get everything done that I plan. This post is later than I was supposed to write it. Life feels calmer, a new understanding has been reached, my girls are happy and I am too in so many ways.

I've been blown away by those of you here and on Instagram who talk of me inspiring you. That builds me up no end you know, but to be truthful I'm not sure how, but I believe you all the same. For the little girl who felt her face didn't fit to the woman who stopped caring if it did or didn't and just became me I feel so uplifted when I hear that I make some sort of a difference. So thankyou, it really does mean a lot.

Right I'm off to press send and hope I worked out how to do the links properly.

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Where Am I?

One evening after school we were in Waitrose. Our food was paid for and we were chatting away, heading for the car. 

A lady came up to me and said hello, I read your blog. 

Sometimes people do this and it's lovely to see the people who read the words I write, who look at the pictures I share of our world.  All the happiness in my life is for the most part what I want to focus on, celebrate and share. That's what a creative life is to me.

Well this lady then asked why I haven't blogged so much. I gave her an honest answer and I will give you one too.

I told her my marriage had just ended and so I hadn't found much I wanted to write about.

The next few months will be hard, there's a lot of change that has to come about from all of this.
Some will be good of course, some is scary and some completely unwanted. All the same, we've got one choice my girls and I, and that's to make the best of it.

With that big news spoken aloud, I'd like to get on with the talk of creative whatnots to be honest. Ive not felt like making anything these past few weeks, but I've still been busy hatching plans and continuing with projects.

Some of you might recognise these pictures from Vanessa's blog do you mind if I knit?

Well an idea grew after I set up the online memorial to her. A few people on Instagram asked if there was a way of raising money to go towards mental health, as Vanessa suffered from this as so many people sadly do. 

A conversation grew and the idea of a collective blanket that would then be raffled off came about.

Colours were discussed with my friend Penny of PlanetPenny after I'd come up with the design based on a scarf of Vanessa's. We wanted to keep to her palette of colours so a lot of thought was given to them being as near a match as possible. Then I got in touch with my mate Jane at teawagontales to create an id badge for this project.

Colours were then releaased with details on Instagram, it's such an immediate format almost like being on the phone with everyone at the same time. From Saturday to Monday all the squares had been taken and I'd had to increase the size twice to allow everyone who wanted to take part join in.

The squares have been popping through my door every day lately, the next step will be sewing them all up and then selling the raffle tickets. That's the plan you see, to give everyone the chance to win the Do You Mind if I Knit? blanket and raise much needed funds for MIND.

It's brought a lot of people together to share and chat while they hook their squares.
My apologies for not bringing it into the blogosphere but it would have been so much harder to organise, especially with my world falling around my ears.

In the middle of all this I had a week off work with exhaustion. 

Turns out I'm very anaemic, not surprising for a veggie who misses loads of meals out. 

I sat on the sofa every day, after all the school running back and forth. I watched endless films and found a project to keep me busy.

I'd seen a pattern for a floral heart on Lucy's blog Attic24 that seemed a perfect sofa days make.

I changed the colours to suit me and worked the centres in white instead of adding buttons as Lucy had.

To make it easier to sew the hearts on, I covered the pipe cleaners in a strip of fabric.

I was really pleased with how this turned out..

It's been the last thing I've made for a while, I do feel the urge to get my creative head working again.

First thing I've got to make is something from a beautiful new crochet book Ive been asked to review. 

The book is soon to be released and so I've been asked, along with a few other bloggers to take part in the blog hop. That means there will be links to win goodies too for my readers. 

I'm booked to write that post on the 16th February, so if I'm not back before then, then I will definitely see you then.

Bobo Bun's 2014

Blinking heck. 

Do you realise I've been writing this here blog for six years now?

January 2nd 2009 I sat down and started rambling and sharing with who ever happened to stop by to read or even to say hello.

Today's post is my end of year catch up.

A collage run through 2014 before we begin 2015.

I loved looking back over the last years photos and all the memories captured in them. 

I hope you do too.

Regular readers of my blog will know how much I love to be creative. 

I get an absolute thrill out of looking at colour and print. Being in a yarn store, fabric store and most especially hunting for vintage fabric make me most happy of all.

I'm drawn to textile arts mostly so this is a collection of all sorts of makes from felt brooches, to patchwork, to embroidery. 

I also love tidying up our home and renovating the bits I find at the car boot, in charity shops and at fleamarkets.

This year I've felt the urge to take my dressmaking skills one step further. 

I didn't watch the first Great British Sewing Bee, but was absolutely hooked on the second one. 

From here on I challenged myself to develop my skills more. I wanted to learn to draft patterns and attempt things I hadn't done before. 

 

Miss Millie asked me to apply for a place in the Sewing Bee for this coming year.

I thought no way would I cope under the pressure of the time constraints so I didn't. 

She asked again and this time I thought why not, it's be great fun and I could learn so much more.

I applied, but sadly I wasn't lucky enough to get in. 

There's always other years to try again.

Dressmaking is a boon when like me you're too tall to fit most of the dresses in the shops. 

I'm the wrong shape for most of the vintage dresses I love too so making my own has certainly expanded my wardrobe favourably. 

This year I want to have a go at making trousers. I last tried that when I was at University so I imagine they were pretty awful.

Sitting anywhere crafts are always of the yarny type.

Crochet things generally get finished as this is quicker for me. Knitted things are a bit hit and miss as to whether they'll get finished or not.

I did finish a pink cardigan this year mind you of which I'm most proud. I'm just a slow but tidy knitter and that's how it is. Hats and mittens tend to get finished so maybe I should stick to them.

My last collage for 2014 is a collection of lovely days. Places we've been, things we've seen and just happiness. I realise now I forgot to put Alfie Blue, Lily, Pip and Olly in here too.

Starting the year with a wonderful but freezing visit to Duxford and ending on an equally chilly Cromer Pier for the Christmas Show.

 There then, that's my end of year review. 2014 all wrapped up and on to the new.

This year I've a project planned in memory of Vanessa which will also hopefully raise money for a chosen mental health charity.

I'm trying a new approach to food, mainly to try and be more economic.

I really want to start running those workshops I've talked about for so long.

I've a meet up with some lovely IG/blog mates planned.

Oh and so much more. I do like the sense of new goals and ideas for the coming year.

My main wish though is to Laugh so much more. 

Worries and the stresses of life have stopped a lot of the laughter and so we made sure we relaxed this Christmas and the fun and laugher has been wonderful.

Happy New Year to you all.

Do you Mind if i knit?

The Vanessa Cabban who shared her life with us in blogland and through her art was a colourful, generous, warm, funny, inspirational and hugely talented person.

Today at 11am it is her funeral.

A day when we will be thinking of her family and friends.

We will also be remembering her in a way that I hope she will approve.

I posted my idea of a tribute to Vanessa on Instagram a couple of days ago which you can find here.

It would also be wonderful if you could do the same via your blogs. 

As a mark of our online friendship and out of respect for her memory I will be posting a photo at 11am today under the heading Do You Mind if I Knit? #vanessacabban.

Post a picture of something you're making, it doesn't matter if you can't knit. Vanessa made clothes, crocheted, created papier-mache sculptures, brooches, painted and illustrated books. It's the act of being creative and finding happiness there that's important.

What she did do was to make sure she had time to knit a few rows every day to set the day right. 

Penny of Planet Penny has shared this also via her blog, facebook and twitter feed. 

In Memory of a remarkable woman.