My secret Santa gift wrapping - inspired by Molly Makes. It's unfortunately the only thing in this house which has been in any sense handmade this year.
It has been nice unearthing some old friend decorations though. You can't beat a bit of twinkle at Christmas.
It's been an unseasonably warm autumn so we've been able to have some delicious outdoor pub lunches and a beach visit.
However the temperature has started dropping now and the heating is on! A hint of a frost means a new bonnet for the baby. This one was made by my mum. I wish I could have posted a picture of the small one wearing it but she currently views headware with deep suspicion and a silent scream usually ensues. I hope she gets used to it or she's going to have a cold head.
I have some Christmas crafting ideas afoot so fingers crossed I'll be able to do more posting. I've set my expectations pretty low as I'm still really struggling to fit anything creative into my work and childcare filled days. I do miss it and hanker after the satisfaction it gives me.
Another food post. A little pizza made by Lena at nursery :-). Apparently she really enjoyed sprinkling the cheese!
I couldn't resist taking a picture of this creation. It's a cheese and onion pie, made using Simon Hopkinson's recipe from his current BBC series. It was delicious and, I think, looks very comforting.
It's been crochet central around here as I was working to a deadline to finish this cushion cover. My cousin's 40th birthday definitely deserved the effort to make something.
I used the same pattern as this one I made for Lena but chose different colours. I also added a border and a green edging when I crocheted the pieces together. I'm pretty pleased with it. I just hope that it looks good in situ.
We went to the Salvo Fair at Knebworth House yesterday. There were lots of things that could have made me part with some cash but unfortunately we don't have room for a potter's wheel or a swinging garden bed! However I did find something which I can make room for - this 1950's P&O teapot. I thought it was a bargain at £6. It's the perfect size for two cups of tea. Now I just need to keep a look out for matching cups and saucers!
Apologies for the absence but we've been on holiday in the French Pyrenees. Holidaying with a baby is certainly a different experience. The days of languid poolside relaxation and evenings spent sampling the local cuisine are certainly on hold! Quiet evenings at the villa, however, did allow me to indulge in early pyjama wearing and crochet. A good combination, particularly accompanied by a glass of vino.
There has been a lot of blog world talk about the magazine Mollie Makes. I hotfooted to get a copy and I'd highly reccommend it. I'd given up on UK craft mags, aside from Selvedge, but this hits the spot. Rather than being twee and gloomy it is light, bright, beautifully designed and a good read. There are lovely things to buy, make and look at and lots of inspiration of the 'why doesn't my house look like that' kind. I'm particularly succeptible to lusting after exquisite rooms. Conversations in our house often run along the lines of:
me: look at this room!!!!!!!!!
P: hmmm
me: HAVE YOU SEEN HOW NICE IT IS
P: yes, lovely
me: why doesn't our house look like that
P: because we haven't won the lottery yet
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next issue of Molly Makes
My colour selection for a new project which I have to keep under wraps for the moment. All of these, aside from the large ball on the left, are Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino. I seem to be stuck on this yarn. It's super soft, easy to work with and has lovely subtle colours. I'd like to branch out though so if anyone has suggestions please let me know. Is Cascade 220 as soft?
Holy moly, it looks like she's been doing some crafting!
A while ago we bought some Ercol chairs on ebay and then had them recovered. I used some of the leftover fabric to make a new cushion cover for the sofa. I'm really pleased with the result as it makes more sense of the chair fabric in terms of the room as a whole. Using silk for the piping was a bad choice as it kept slipping on the machine but I got there in the end. I love these fabrics, particularly the graphic floral by Clarke & Clarke. I need to think of more uses for it. I'd like to eventually have both Erocl chairs in the same room but that will have to wait for a bigger house (bring on that lottery win).
This episode of sewing was achieved because of the invaluable help of my mum with Lena. The baby finds the sewing machine very amusing but I don't think she would have the patience to be entertained for the whole odyssey! I'm continually amazed by how much crafting some parents seem to manage to fit into their busy lives.
Apologies for the very poor light on the chair pic.
