Plants and Places

Back at the beginning of December, I entered a giveaway on the Home Shopping Spy blog to win a copy of Angie Lewin's first book, Plants and Places. Well, it look a little time to get to me, but it came through last week. I've not really had the chance to look through it properly yet, but I've had a quick flick and it looks just lovely. I love Angie's work so much, and this looks like such an informative and gorgeous book. Here are a few photos of a couple of the pages:

Sunset, 4.38pm, Yesterday

Red and Blue

I love looking at flaking paint, imagining all different ways something might've looked over the years and just how long it's been there. It's like history being slowly revealed in an archaeological dig.

Almost Springlike

These lovely Narcissi are the current window display at Treacle. I do love the simplicity of them, and how the condensation on the glass makes blurred shapes and colours behind. I also like how you can see the outlines of the old stickers on the window that used to belong to Manger, the previous inhabitants of the building.

Thanks to Lovely Jan who agreed to meet me there yesterday for a cuppa, a knit and a chat to stop me going stir crazy at home working on the new project! I may have something to share from it soon; the odd sketch that hasn't made it on the page.

And what's more, it does even feel like spring today! The rain seems to have disappeared (fingers crossed) leaving us with clear blue skies and a nip in the air, but with also a definite feeling of promise.

Sunset, The Beach, 4.30pm Today

Sewing Inspiration

I'm itching to get back on my sewing machine but the new job is preventing me at the moment, plus the poor, overworked thing is in need of a service first. However, there's nothing to stop me looking about for inspiration - which is always the fun part - and these are a few things I'd like to have a go at or incorporate into one of my creations:

I love these ruffles, I can imagine putting them on the front of a t-shirt or around the neckline of a dress.

Gorgeous in all possible ways.

Lush, and so easy to whip up with a cheap, plain jumper and a length of ribbon or bias binding.

I really want to take part in this Swing Dress Sew Along, but, again, I'll have to wait. Apparently, the step-by-step photos and the processes will stay up after the project is finished, so I'll have to have a go then.

Back to my drawing board with me and away from the distractions of t'internet!

Pavement Graffiti

I've been seeing a lot of this kind of pavement graffiti/advertising around at the moment. Several companies seem to be doing it; this one you sign up to a website that offers money off local services and products. But, rather than being interested in what it is that is being advertised, I'd like to know how these images are created. I'm guessing it's some sort of stencil that is then "painted" with bleach to clean the pavement underneath and leave the message behind. If so, it's a cool idea, and one that'll last for quite a while while not actually creating any kind of waste. Anyone else have any ideas how it's done?

Ahhhh, Memories

Hard to think this was only four days ago. Monday was a gorgeous day, cold and windy but bright and clear. I loved the sight of all those seagulls riding the thermals, too scared to be near the crashing waves on the beach. If only it would stop raining this week...sigh.

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Alphabet Envy

Apologies that this image is slightly too big for my column, but I had to put it in its original size otherwise so much of the lovely detail would've been lost. I came across "The Daily Drop Cap" on Pinterest today. It's the brainchild of designer Jessica Hische and this is the blurb from her site:

Daily Drop Cap is a project by designer & illustrator Jessica Hische. Since September of 2009, an illustrative initial cap has been posted daily (or at least regularly), to prettify the internet and beautify your blog posts. Individuals are welcome to use the drop caps on personal (non-commercial) sites within blog posts by following the instructions below each letter. The project will end after the twelfth alphabet is complete, but the site will remain up for your use and inspiration. Enjoy!

How cool. I LOVE alphabets, as you know, and I'm definitely going to have a go at using the odd letter or two on here. If you take a proper look through Jessica's site, you'll see she's also produced letterpress prints of each letter that are just droolworthy. No understatement.

And a Bit O' Crochet

This was my Christmas holiday craft project:









I'm really quite chuffed as it's the most complicated crochet pattern I've followed, plus I was a good girl and used the right hook with the recommended yarn and everything. AND I got it finished in the holiday break, too. However, this baby is MAHOOSIVE. It's supposed to look like this, but it's come out a good three inches bigger on each edge than it's supposed to. Must be my tension, I reckon; too loose. Not that it matters at all, I still like it very much, especially when rocking it out and about on the seafront. It got its first outing on Sunday and its second yesterday. It's nice to wear it with the bottom two buttons undone to cover the shoulders a bit more. I do like how I feel like an elf or Little Red Riding Hood in it! I'd quite like to crochet up another one, possibly in grey and maybe even with the right tension!

Bit O'Knitting

Shockingly, I've finished a pair of socks. These are for Husband and are knitted from plain Trekking yarn that I dyed over at Lovely Jan's. I'd seen this yarn in the Mint Julip colourway and I thought I'd quite like to recreate something similar myself. I christened it "Spearmint Rhino", not because I think strippers would look good in it (although I'm sure they would!), but because of the grey and green. Geddit? (Groantastic, I know!)

Boat-Floating Stitchery

Aren't these beautiful? They're all the work of the uber-talented Corinne, aka septemberhouse. Check out her AMAZING work on her blog here, or through her Flickr photostream (where all these pictures are from) here. Gawjus stuff.

How I Did LOL

(Taken outside Blatchington Road post office this morning.)

 The woman on the end doesn't look anywhere near laughter, though. Maybe because she is trapped in the nightmare!!! herself?

A Quick Warm Up

It's been a bit strange getting back in to the old illustration groove this week. As a bit of a warm up, I scribbled a quick portrait of Husband. "Umah" is his favourite grumpy noise. I have no idea if that is how it should be spelled, but that's how it sounds when it comes out. Just make the "M" nice and long.

A Bit of Christmas Craftiness

Now everyone has received their gifts, it's safe for me to blog about them. But first, I must make an announcement. Hold on to your hats here; it's a big one. Yes....I took pictures of things I made before wrapping them up and giving them away. Shocking, huh? I think I'll split this into two or more posts, as I really did make pretty much everything I gave this year and you don't want to be sitting here for hours and hours reading about every last detail, do you? No, I'll save that as a treat for later ;)

First up, lipbalms:

These were something I'd been wanting to have a go at for some time, and I thought Crimbo was perfect for it. I bought all my supplies from bathbombbiz. I was going to just get a kit and make them that way, but once I'd seen how easy they were to make to your own design from various recipes on various websites, plus the fact that all the kits seemed to contain almond oil which is no good for my nut-allergic chums, I just bought the separate elements, plus tubes, and made it all up myself.

They're really easy to make; you just weigh/measure out your ingredients, melt them all down over a double boiler as if you were melting chocolate, and pour into your desired receptacle. You can add more or less of each ingredient to make it softer (for pots) or harder (for tubes). I added peppermint oil to one batch of ten, and lemon & orange oils to another.

The labels I whipped up in Photoshop in a Victorian poster stylee and printed out on to Avery labels (nightmare afternoon that was). Quite a few people didn't realise I'd made them myself, so they must look quite professional!

I didn't take photos of the making process, though (surprise, surprise), but as I have loads of the gubbins left, not to mention other flavoured oils, I think another go at these is definitely on the horizon - with added step by step photos this time. I might get hold of some vintage pill boxes and use those as interesting tins.

Secondly, PJs:

I made PJ pants for my sisters and Ma and for Husband. This awesome tartan fabric is "Suiting", apparently, which I'd never used before but is very nice, plus soft on the skin, even if it did turn my iron a bit black and gooey. I must lower the temperature next time! I might make a skirt out of it in the future. I have plenty of each colour left, but I could make a sort of patchwork/panelled affair...hmmm....

Anyhoo, here I am modelling Youngest Sister's pair, as we are the only two who are the same size these days:

There's elastic in the waistband for comfort, plus a drawstring in a contrasting colour for adaptability. I also put in pockets in the same colour as the drawstring. You've got to have somewhere to put your tissue, right? Husband's pair were made from an old yellow striped duvet cover. He's so chuffed with them; apparently they're his favourite Xmas present! I'll make him some more soon.

I have more to chat on about, but I'll save it for another time. A treat, definitely.

Wine Gums

A Christmas pressie from Sam again. This collection of lushious, transparent buttons really is called "Wine Gums". Genius. This is what you get when one of your bezzers works in maybe the nicest sewing shop in the city. Awesome stuff. The bottom photo is currently my desktop wallpaper and it really is brightening up my desk no end.

Crafty Work in Progess

The fab Little Red cross stitch pattern was a gift from lovely Sam and is designed by Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane, who, coincidentally, also designed that lovely mushroom fabric I ordered from Spoonflower late last year. Heidi also has a Snow White pattern for sale, so I might have to get that one soon, too!

As you can see, I sorted all my cotton embroidery threads in one of my (many, many) biscuit tins, but I think I might have to move them in to a bigger one, there's just not enough room in this one. Good thing I have a ready stash!

The Green Man

Lob himself as a stained glass masterpiece in the window of the Blue Dog Gallery, Gardener Street, Brighton.

Sunset From the Bus, 4.27pm Today

End of Week 53

And the whole shebang:




I've really enjoyed posting a page a week. I'm not sure I could commit to a post everyday, so this was a nice way of having something constant and regular to post about without it being too rigid. I'd like to try posting everyday through January - as I inexplicably managed to do in 2010 - although being chained to the desk as I will, I'm not sure how exciting the posts will be!

I've been looking over the "resolutions" I made this time last year. I don't really go in for resolutions as such as I think that if you want to do something you should just get your arse in gear and do it, but there are definitely things I'd like to achieve in the coming months. (I totally failed on "going to the dentist",  by the way. Should really do that one this year!) I want to do well in my new illo job, I want to treat the Husbando to a few meals out etc as he's basically been keeping me for the past few months, I'd like to buy a bike, I'd like to move to a slightly bigger flat without crazy drunken next door neighbours, I'd like to have another nice holiday, I'd like to have a go at knitting cables and working from a chart (eek!), I'd like to continue making my own clothes and maybe even make an attempt at button holes and zips! I suppose that's enough to be getting on with already. It's nice to have a general plan, but, like I said, I'd have a go at these things anyway, regardless of any promises I may make on New Year's Day.

Right, I suppose it's time to go and take advantage of the last few days off. We're off out for a lovely long walk and maybe even a pub lunch tomorrow. Husband goes back to work on Monday when I'm going to take down all the Crimbo decs and scrub the flat in readiness for actually doing some work on Tuesday!