Today I Saw

At the weekend

2012-01-30T20:55:00.002Z

click on the image for more detail

hope you had an enjoyable weekend and a good start to your week.

Beaded flowers

2012-01-27T07:56:00.000Z

It's been a busy week so I haven't managed to blog. I had a lovely weekend last weekend and hoped to do an 'At the Weekend' drawing, but alas, I didn't. Perhaps this weekend (I have a fun weekend planned). Below a couple of snaps shot in the darkness this morning of some bead work I started last night. Hope you have a fun and enjoyable weekend. x

A brilliant video

2012-01-19T18:32:00.001Z

I don't normally show other people's work here but maybe I should. Maybe I'll do it more.

Anyway, Daniel has made this really wonderful video, for a band called Django Django,which I couldn't resist showing. They spent weeks taping individual printed shots onto a wall. I love it!

Drawings from my childhood

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000Z

Working with children makes me think about my childhood. I'm constantly inspired by the children's drawings I see each day. I even take some home with me when they don't have a name on! At the weekend, whilst sorting out boxes, I found a box of my old school books. I looked through them hoping to find some fun drawings. I didn't find any until I got to an exercise book titled 'Finding Out'. I seems to put a lot of effort into the nature studies : )

My favourite is the snail's shell, but I also like that honesty seed at the top.

At the Weekend

2012-01-16T21:27:00.001Z

click on the image to see more detail (I've updated this picture by linking it to flickr)

Yes! I managed to do an At the Weekend drawing!

How to make nut milk

Pretty in pink

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000Z

We don't need to talk about how many of these I ate yesterday. They just looked so pretty! Hope you have a good start to your week.

Wedding invite

2012-01-09T22:47:00.000Z

At the weekend I worked on a friend's wedding invitation. This is the map I've drawn. I'll show the whole invite once I've finished it and she's sent them out. You can see that I was looking at RIFLE Paper Co. for inspiration (my favourite stationary company) but I tried to not be too inspired and to keep my own style.

I'd hoped to do 'At the weekend' drawings the last two weekends and didn't get a chance for either. Never mind. Hope your week has started on a good note.

Magical paintings

2012-01-07T15:42:00.000Z

I hope you are having a good weekend. Thank you very much for all the wonderful comments about my book dreams. They were really kind and thoughtful.

Most of this weekend is going to be spent making invitations, for a friend's wedding and for a party we are having. Last night Daniel was out and I spent the evening experimenting with patterns. I've been thinking a lot about the books I'd like to make. I have lots of children's book ideas. These patterns are for a book about a magical girl. My plan is to make as many books as possible this year. Every time I make one I'll send it to a publisher's and I'll just keep doing that until they say yes to one of the ideas. That's my plan anyway. Simple, right? : )

Enjoy your weekend and thank you for taking the time to visit.

Round drawings

2012-01-03T21:27:00.001Z

I have two new year's resolutions this year. They aren't really resolutions just things I'm thinking about a lot at the moment.

'don't buy stuff'

'get a book published'

I'll come back to the don't buy stuff thing. And as for the other, I was so close to getting a postcard book published last year but it fell threw. I was dissapointed that it didn't happen but just tried to focus on being proud that I had gotten so close. It's given me confidence and now I feel determined to get a book published. Not a postcard book but something else. I don't know exactly how or even if I can make it happen but I'm going to try really hard. Here's two picture I've done so far this year.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T18:13:00.000Z

An early morning hike yesterday. Up to the top of a snowy mountain. Ate a packed lunch. Back down by early afternoon.

Thank you for your support, friendship, positive comments and encouragement throughout 2011. Without it I know I wouldn't be nearly as productive in my creativity. For that I am very grateful. Thank you.

May 2012 be a good year for you with happy times and wonderful adventures.

x x x

Handmade Christmas: Sweets!

2011-12-30T08:00:00.001Z

The last of my handmade gifts. For each family member I made florentines or truffles. For the truffles I used this recipe and for the florentines I used Nigella Lawson's recipe from 'How to be a Domestic Godess'. Delish!

Handmade Christmas: Pot holders

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000Z

This is the green set of oven mitts and pot holders which I mentioned. I had hoped to make all the pot holders in the star quilt style but that was the first bit of 'proper' quilting I've done and it took longer than I expected. I had to just revert back to my usual 'casual' style patchwork. I was happy with how it all looked. See how one of the fabrics is a detailed map? I love that fabric.

Homemade Christmas: Shopper bag

2011-12-29T08:00:00.000Z

A few months back my mum told me she'd lost here shopping bag so she needed a bag which folds up flat in her handbag. Voila!

Handmade Christmas: Hot water bottle cover

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000Z

From the collection of fabrics I've been printing recently I made a patchwork hot water bottle cover for my good friend Joseph. The photos aren't good quality as it went dark by the time I finished it. This was a project which involved lots of swear words. After making the entire thing I realised the hot water bottle didn't fit! Lots of cutting, mumbling and re-sewing made everything alright.

Handmade Christmas: Photo Album

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000Z

My parent recently went on a trip to New Zealand so I made my Dad a photo album using all different papers. The cover was from an old album I picked up years ago and then I changed the pages. I painted a design on the first page with pictures of the wildlife they saw on their trip.

Handmade Christmas: Oven mitts

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000Z

I hope you had a happy and enjoyable day with your loved ones yesterday. My day was spent with my family and consisited of eating, drinking, lots of excited present opening by little ones and a little woodwork in the garage, you know for some quiet time : )

I managed to make most Christmas presents for family and friends this year and those which I did buy where mostly from Sonia's or Melissa's shops. So I was happy and looking forward to giving them out on Christmas day. Over the next week I'll show a present each day which I made. I'll start with the pot holders and oven mitts I made for my brother and his wife. I loved making these and made another set in green for my other brother and his wife. What presents did you make this year?

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T16:14:00.002Z

A Christmas tradition of my sister in law's, little marzipan fruits.

Wishing you a happy Christmas.

Hope your day is filled with cheer.

I'll be showing photos of the gifts I've made starting tomorrow. Hope to see you then. x x

In Scotland

2011-12-22T19:22:00.001Z

My grump didn't last long. I was hit by pre-Christmas handmade present meltdown which resulted in me turning the living room into a workshop for two days straight. But thank you for the cheering words, they did help. The presents all got made and I'm very pleased with them so I look forward to showing you pictures.

I'm in Scotland now, looking through knitting patterns and craft books with my Mum. I don't have wintery pictures of Scotland yet (there's no snow, or even frost, even though it was -15C or 5F last year!). Anyway, here are some summery Scotland pictures from my visit earlier in the year. It's always lovely here.

And whilst I show summer photos I hope you are cozying up with a mulled wine and starting to relax. Enjoy.

Festive cheer

2011-12-20T13:41:00.002Z

I'm in a right mood today. A cold. Presents still to make. Having to go to 'Europe's busiest shopping street' this morning. Say no more.

At least I've got glitter on my nails and I'm making gifts out of vintage fabric flowers.

I've been taking photos of each present I've made so I'll get to show them soon. Hope each of you is remaining cheery.

Bright Corners

2011-12-17T13:19:00.002Z

I've finished work for Christmas now. School broke up yesterday. I now have five days to make presents and do anything I want to do before leaving to go and visit family. I've spent recent evenings laying on the couch so haven't any craft projects to share. I'll photograph the presents I make and share them after Christmas. I've mentioned how much I'm enjoying being at home at the moment. So I thought, rather than just being silent, I'd share photos of the 'bright corners' with you. Sorry I didn't tidy for you : )

Wont you come in?

A very handmade wreath on our door.

Come straight into the living room and we'll put the fire on (although I'm pretty terrible at lighting fires!)

My good friend Jo Blaker sends me the most wonderful cards

My Gran wove this rug and I think she dyed the wools too. I've decided it's our Christmas rug to come out only for a few weeks a year.

Choose a book from our little library? What to cook?

Christmas cards still waiting to be sent.

One side of our living room is taken up with my crafts. My desk is a busy (and messy) place.

Necklaces I've made and necklaces I've found and treasure.

Inspiring books I've borrowed from the school library, filled with wonderful photos and illustrations.

Pretty shells hanging from the wall.

And through the hall way to the kitchen.

Look out the window

Study the plants.

Don't look at the dust whilst waiting for the kettle to boil.

Hope you are having an enjoyable and cosy weekend at home (avoiding those shops!)

Deck the halls

2011-12-14T18:08:00.002Z

I'm so enjoying the cosiness of my home at the moment. Each evening I walk home from work looking forward to getting in, putting my slippers on and drinking some chai tea. I'm like an old lady! But I still didn't have any Christmas decorations up until this week. We don't get a tree so I find other ways of celebrating the season.

a basket of tangerines on the table

a garland of bells and pinecones hung in a doorway

candles are lit each evening

decorations hanging from our palm

and of course cards hanging from the mantel.

Just got to get those Christmas cards out now.....

Hope each of you is having a cosy, positive and not to exhausting week.

At the weekend

2011-12-12T18:29:00.000Z

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend. Any further with the Christmas present making? I'm not. I haven't even written any cards yet. Or put up any decorations! I actually don't mind, at least I'm not stressed. Thank you for yesterdays comments about staying bright during the winter. I really enjoyed reading your ideas and suggestions and will certainly be incorporating them into my winter days. Here's my weekend in pictures:

click on the image for more detail

ps. Hugo 3D is fantastic.

Winter Good Things ~ In the Kitchen

2011-12-11T11:56:00.001Z

Winter makes me feel crap. I put a lot of effort into not letting it get me down, sometimes with success and sometimes not. I'm really interested to hear if winter gets you down and what you do to prevent it. Spending time in the kitchen is one of the things which helps me. So I thought I would share three things which we are making a lot.

Homemade granola. I use this recipe and add only a pinch of salt. I love to eat it with chopped fruit and yogurt in the morning or as a snack when I get home from work. I find that eating something delicous for breakfast makes getting up in the dark a lot less depressing and helps me start the day on a good note.

Lots of hearty meals. We get a weekly veg bag filled with seasonal vegetables. I've also been going to a farmers market which started up at the end of our road recently. That is where I get our meat. With good quality meat and good quality veg I find we have all we need to make hearty, tastey food each evening. We've been making things like pork with cheddar and apples with a squash and potato mash. Delish!

Chai Tea. I'm obsessed. I use this stuff mixed with hot milk and it's delicous. Having a spiced hot drink makes the dark, winter evenings a lot cosier.

I'd like to hear what you do in the kitchen to keep the winter from being grim, if you'd like to share. Hope you are having a bright, cosy and enjoyable weekend.

Little stitches

2011-12-07T07:30:00.000Z

A while back when I was having a go at the patchwork needlecases I made an extra small one for my friend Sonia. Now that she has recieved it I can show you too. Perfect for a travel sewing kit I think.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?......

2011-12-06T07:30:00.000Z

No, it's........Supercroc!

'What's this, a fish?' Daniel asked when he saw it. 'No. it's a crocodile!' I answered.

After much discussion with friends and family we've decided it could ba a piranha, a tadpoal or a fish, but most of all it looks like a newt. Hmmm. I don't think my nephew will mind. Well, as my brother said, his one year old son hasn't seen a crocodile before so it won't make any difference to him.

I think next time I'll get a book out the library about making soft toys and actually follow a pattern : )

At the weekend

2011-12-05T21:11:00.001Z

Hope you had a good weekend. Mine was a weekend of seeing old friends, my brother and eating lots of good food, with a little bit of unsuccessful crafting (burning two printed pencil cases with the iron) and some successful crafting (of Christmas presents ~ more on that tomorrow). Thank you for stopping by. x x

click for more detail

Happy December

2011-12-01T07:35:00.001Z

Happy December! This is the picture I'm sending out on my Christmas cards this year. Not much making has been going on here recently, just Christmas cards and wedding invites for friends. I have a long list, which I haven't started, of things I want to make people for Christmas. Really should start that soon....How about you? are you making lots of gifts this year?

At the weekend

2011-11-28T08:00:00.000Z

click on the picture for detail

Hope you had a good weekend. And I hope you had a good Thanksgiving weekend to those of you who are American.

I've worked on a couple of comic strips this year, without success, so I'm happy with this completed number. See how much my weekend revolved around cooking and eating?!

To those people who put orders in the shop ~ when the packages arrive, and the stamps are really wonky (like on the back of the package), it's because I let three year olds take them to the post office. Just so you know. : )

Hope you have a good start to your week.

All wrapped up

2011-11-24T07:36:00.001Z

This weeks has been a little bit less about producing work and a bit more about lying down on the couch! A little rest after my shop update shall we say. Never the less I wanted to show you the packaging I made for the shop orders. I'm always so inspired by Sonia's packaging - every time I order something from her beautiful shop it is so thoughtfully packed with stitched fabric bags for the items to go in. I knew I had to smarten up my act and make something too. I made cardboard envelopes which are stitched down the sides and printed on the 'lid'. I puched holes and added ribbons. Now the items looks pretty for people who are giving them away as Christmas gifts.

ps~ have you guys seen Sonia's natural dyed scarves in her shop? I've bought two and they are exquisite!

Tambourine Gal

2011-11-22T07:33:00.001Z

Just a tambourine gal to bring you some cheer this

Tuesday morning (a day late but nevermind).

Thank you so very much to those people who bought items

from the shop this weekend! I was delighted. Items should hopefully

go to the post office tomorrow.

Shop Update!!!

2011-11-19T16:59:00.001Z

Today I spent all day adding finishing touches, photographing and etsying. Now I can say that there are lots of handmade items in my shop! Yay! Here's a list of what I've added; two hand printed needlecases, two hand printed pencil cases, three patchwork needlecases, four pincushions and three printed notebook covers! Below are photos of just some of the items. Nothing costs more than $15! I've really enjoyed making all these items the last few weeks so I'm happy and excited to share them. Hope you are having a good weekend. I'll be back on Monday with some drawings!

Fabric printing pattern crazy

2011-11-17T18:32:00.001Z

I haven't managed as much crafting this week, I've been meeting up with old friends instead. But as I haven't shared my latest fabric printing with you I have scanned in some pieces of fabric to show you. It's dark in the mornings and after work now so photographing can only be done at the weekends. Below are some of the pieces I'll be turning into pencil cases.

I think the next step for me with all this printing is to start making stamps which are like my drawings. I started by making a few tiny shell stamps and stamped them on paper. The first one is meant to be a fisherman's net with shells in it. The second is the seashore.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope your week is going well. I'm super excited about Sonia's shop update.

Colour wall

2011-11-15T07:36:00.001Z

That's how we spell colour in England, I haven't spelt it wrong, even though I know spelling isn't my strongest point. Anyhoooow, remember a while ago I said I'd been painting my bedroom wall and I'd show you when I finished. Well I haven't finished it. So I figured I'd just show you anyway. I haven't finished it because I'm not quite sure I like it. I may paint over it and do a different pattern (like the patterns I've been working on recently). Even so I still think it's fun and colourful. Hope your week started well yesterday. I had yoga which is always a positive.

Finishing touches

2011-11-14T07:42:00.001Z

Just dropping in to let you know that the weekend seemed to fly by and I didn't manage to get any items in the shop yet. I guess it won't happen until at least next weekend.

Here's a photo I took whilst putting some 'finishing touches' on the needlecases and pincushions. I also managed to make three notebook covers on Friday evening (they are the little pile on the right above the zips). Hope you had a fun, relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

Pencil case

2011-11-11T18:58:00.001Z

This week I've been having a go at using my new colour fabric ink pads. I've been trying quite geometric patterns which isn't very me, but I do like the way they have turned out. I turned the fabrics into a pencil case (following youtube instructions this time) and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I'm already making more.

And as you can see a bit of the mehndi on my hand in the above photos I thought I may as well show it all. One of the mums at school came in and did mehndi on the children's hands as part of Eid celebrations. It wraps around my arm!

This weekend I hope to finish off some of the craft projects I've been working on, photograph them and put them in my shop. Hopefully there will be needlecases, pincushions and pencilcases for sale.

Hope you have an enjoyable weekend and find some time for yourself. I'm hoping to find time to go to the park.

Printed pouch

2011-11-10T07:30:00.000Z

After a week of muddled up blog sizes, widths, layouts and what not I've had a sort out (and a bit of a new look). Everything should now look readable on your screens. Let me know if it doesn't.

I wanted to use the printed fabrics to make a more interesting object. So I did one of my google searches for a 'japanese sewn gift' or something like that and I saw this beautiful triangle purse . I decided to have a go at making my own. Perhaps it was a little ambitious considering I haven't made any sort of zipper pouch before. Looking back (and at a youtube video explaining how to make a zipper pouch) I realise I didn't go about it in the most logical way, which explains it's wonkyness. hmmm. BUT I have a little moto which I like to say to myself when I'm stitching, 'It's the mistakes which make it perfect'. Total dork!

Thanks for the japanese magazine suggestions, telling me the blog faults (all fixed now I hope) and for telling me about your craft projects! Always nice to hear what you are up to.

Pins and needles

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000Z

Before I get stuck into this post can I just ask you if my blog looks normal again? Everything was overlapping and going of the side of the screen the last few days. I've had a go at fixing it and wondered if the extra large photos are too big. Do they go off the side of your screen? Thank you in advance for letting me know. Bloomin blogspot! : )

Ok, on we go.

I've been getting into making lots of quilted needlecases recently. I think I've made six. First I started with fabrics from my collection. Then I made some with the fabrics I printed on recently. I can't stop doing google searches for things like 'japanese sewing project' and 'tiny japanese patchwork' but with not much success. Do any of you know of some good japanese sewing project books for small projects?

This is a little pincushion made from the printed cottons and linen.

This is the outside of a needle case (I'll be folding it in half and adding felt and a fastening).

and this is the lining of the same needlecase.

I'm hoping to finish these and get them in the (somewhat rather empty) shop soon. I'm really enjoying sewing at the moment. I'd love to hear about any nice sewing projects you've been up to.

Chevrons, dots and stripes.

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000Z

After my evening of printing on paper I had an evening of printing on fabrics. I used the one pad of fabric dye which I have, that's why they are all the same colour. After my fun evening of stamping I saw Melissa's post and thought it was a good idea to take a photo of the fabrics on the wall too.

I can't wait to try some of these patterns in the new colours I've bought. Yellow, orange, sky blue, grey. I'm thinking silk scarves.....any other ideas? I really would like to hear them.

Technical difficulty

2011-11-07T12:50:00.001Z

Just realised the sizing is all crazy on here. Bear with me till this evening when I'll try and sort it out. I'm finding it difficult to adjust the layout of the blog. Will see what I can do this evening. x

Stamping and folding

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000Z

Making these paper boxes is a bit addictive! I learnt how to make these when I was a little kid. The other night I had a go and was pleased to find that I could remember how. They're quick and easy to make and there's a tutorial which shows how to make them in a very similar way here.

Here's a shot of the some of the papers in daylight, much more beautiful when you can see the actual colour.

And whilst were at it here's a picture of my rather 'busy' desk. Just to remind us that we're all human.

Have a good start to your week and thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Cutting and snipping

2011-11-06T21:18:00.000Z

Hope you each had a good weekend, finding time to relax, craft, go out in nature, or whatever it is you enjoy.
Each day this week I'll share the craft projects I've been working on. Here are the paper collages I made with the hand stamped papers (you can see them in the previous post). As you can see, the first collage is a mixture of printed paper (the blue stripes) and papers from my collection.

This collage is made of different printed papers. I was thinking a lot about quilt designs whilst making these and that's why I printed on fabrics the following evening. The fabrics have been turned into quilted needlecases, which I'll show too.

I bought six new ink pads in different colours this weekend. I'm looking forward to trying them out on fabric this week.

Printing on paper

2011-11-05T11:18:00.004Z

This week I've been a bit of a crafting maniac. Every night after work I've crafted, developing my projects from the night before. Here's how my week of evenings went ~ Monday I went to yoga. Tuesday I made paper boxes. Wednesday I printed on paper, made more paper boxes and made two paper collages, Thursday I printed on fabrics, Friday I made a pin cushion, started to make two needle cases and a hot water bottle cover. See what I mean by crafting maniac?

So I've got plenty to show you here. Let's start with printing on paper.

I used those little carved rubber stamps which Geninne is oh so good at making. I kept it simple, only carving chevrons, dots, triangles and stripes.

Firstly I printed on envelopes

and then papers to fold into boxes,

and papers to turn into collages

The photos here don't show all the papers I printed but they do show that I was having a lot of fun on my small desk.

If you're in England, have a great Bonfire night tonight. This afternoon I'm making cinnamon buns (for the first time) to take to our nearest firework display.

Travel crafting

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000Z

I've been enjoying quilting lately. The only quilting I've done before was a baby quilt for a friend. I've been doing small, hand stitched quilting projects. They're perfect to take on train journeys as the scraps of fabric fold up and fit into my tinyhappy sewing pouch. Although I would usually use a sewing machine at home it's enjoyable to do some hand stitching. It makes me think about women who used to sew everything by hand. My grandmother once told me about a lady who lived down her street and sewed her entire wedding dress by hand. Now that's impressive.

Hope you have a good weekend. I think this is the first week that I've blogged each day in a very long time. Feels good. Thank you for stopping by.

Postcard: Seagull

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000Z

sending it to Hamlett Dobbins in Memphis, America

Pinwheel cushion

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000Z

I've been giving our bedroom a little makeover. So far I've made this cushion, curtains, and started painting a wall. Even though this cushion was tricky to make it was still quick. I think it took about and two hours. I made it using things I already had a t home and I love it! Will show our crazily painted wall soon : )

Hope you are enjoying your week.

Postcard: flying geese

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000Z

I've been thinking about what to do with the Today I Saw postcards. I've decided to only draw things which really stand out at me. I'm not going to write the date on as I never seem to manage to draw, photograph and blog something the same day that I see it. I'll hopefully do one or two a week and I'll be doing them in colour for a while.

sending this one to Nancy Wilson in France

At the weekend

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000Z

This weekend was all about the food : )

Collecting seeds

2011-10-25T18:44:00.000+01:00

Towards the end of the summer I started to notice seeds wherever I was. Even though I live in the huge city that I do, I'm often surrounded by nature - I make sure of that. I'd notice seeds hanging from trees in the street, seeds on plants growing through railings, or poking over someone's garden wall. I'd notice them in our own 'garden' (lots of pots on our steps and window sill). So I started collecting them.
Lots of the London parks have wild flower 'meadows' to attract insects and provide food for birds. There's plenty of seeds so I collected some for next spring. Hopefully I'll have a collection of different poppies growing in front of my flat.
The more unusual seeds and pods which I collected I put in a basket on the window sill. I'm waiting to put them into seperate little envelopes.
I think my favourite are from the trumpetvine, a plant I was unfamiliar with before, but seem to see it everywhere now.
As the leaves start to fall around me, I'm glad I made use of the seeds, harvesting them in and keeping them until next spring. I'm hoping next spring we'll have a abundance of multicoloured flowers to admire each time with step out the front door.

11th October 2011

2011-10-11T22:15:00.001+01:00

sending it to Bron Chong in Australia

Postcard: 4th October

2011-10-05T07:50:00.001+01:00

sending it to Heidianna Terpening in Rochester, America

Postcard: 3rd October

2011-10-05T07:47:00.002+01:00

Thank you for your wonderful comments about sea swimming. I really enjoyed reading each of them. I'll be back soon with a similar post about collecting seeds.

sending it to Kelly Shannon in Portland, America

Sea swimming

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

Last week I had hoped to tell you about the different things we did whilst staying at the yurts but time passed quickly and I didn't get the chance. I was going to tell you about when we went swimming in the sea. It got me thinking, I've managed to go sea swimming a few times this summer.

You would think living in London I wouldn't get much chance for sea swimming but as the tv show says 'You're never more than 75 miles from the coast in Britain'. The first time I went swimming in the sea this summer was in the first week of the school summer holidays. My friend Kate and I drove to the pretty sea side town of Whitstable. Kate was nervous about swimming in the sea but once she was in she loved it. We enjoyed the peace of the shingle beach, eating our picnic and swimming in the sea so much that we went back again two days later.

The next time I was sea swimming was a couple of weeks later. Daniel and I went on holiday to Spain. The sun was so hot that we would go into the sea to cool down, unlike plucking up the courage to brave the cold water in England. We lazed around on the beach. I painted watercolours of shells, read Roger Deakin, and we swam together. Bobbing up and down in the waves with Daniel next to me, looking up at the blue sky and the birds flying overhead. I thought I'd had my share of sea swimming for the summer but last weekend was sunny and the seven of us decided to go swimming in the sea. We packed ourselves into our friend's tiny car (me in the boot!) and drove to the nearest beach. We arrived and walked over to the sandunes. To my surprise everyone was so keen to get straight in the water. No standing around plucking up courage. They all ran into the sea. 'I think it's the ultimate relaxation' my friend Chloe told me. I took a few photos and quickly followed. It was cold! But oh so wonderful. I was swimming and looking at our friends around us. I don't remember swimming in a group like that since I was a child with my brothers and friends. It felt so good. We were smiling.

I think I've had my share of sea swimming for this year, but we are having a heatwave (summer dresses and sandals in October!) so you never know . . .

The Yurts

2011-09-27T21:25:00.003+01:00

Thank you for your lovely comments yesterday about the card I made for Daniel. Today I'm sharing a watercolour 'story' of what it was like in the yurts. I couldn't recommend this place enough. It was beautiful, peaceful, every detail considered and eco friendly. If you live in England you should check it out here. I'm interested to know have any of you stayed in a yurt before? This was my first time.

On friday evening after work we took the train to Suffolk. When we arrived at the 'campsite' the taxi drove us down a path leading us to a grand thatched cottage. Behind the cottage where the yurts. It was dark and we couldn't really see the site but oh the stars above. We were lead through the field to the yurts. As the wooden doors opened we looked into a cozy, lantern lit yurt. I was so surprised to see a wooden floored, beautifully hand crafted place to stay. We slept so well in the comfy beds as the wood fire crackled. In the morning as I woke I looked up to see the blue sky shining through the sky light. I'd love to stay there in summer when the perspex cover is removed and I'd be able to clearly see the stars as I lay in bed. Oh the stars! We could see so many stars at night!

Daniel and I shared our yurt with Hatty. There's two double beds in each yurt. Early in the morning as Hatty opened the door we looked out at grassy pathways amidst the field, surrounded by trees and able to see the other yurts not far away.

I began to potter around, making cups of tea, putting the coffee on and preparing breakfast for our small group. This was the view from the kitchen. I knew it was going to be a good weekend. I'd managed to find a little haven.

At the weekend

2011-09-26T23:14:00.007+01:00

This last weekend was a real nice one. So I've decided that instead of posting the usual 'At the Weekend' drawing I'd share bits of the weekend throughout the week.

It started on Friday morning. I got up early to make pancakes. It was Daniel's 30th birthday. I gave Daniel his birthday present which you can see in detail here. I'd planned a surprise camping trip to go and stay in some very luxurious yurts with our friends. I made Daniel a yurt card to explain all, including the weekend menu!

Back tomorrow with drawings from the weekend.
Hope you had a fun weekend? Thank you for stopping by!

Technical difficulty

2011-09-20T07:38:00.002+01:00

I've noticed that if I click on any images on my blog they come up in a black box and they didn't used to do that. When I click on the 'At the weekend' pictures that I posted yesterday they show up small and there's no way of seeing them on a larger scale. It used to be that you could click on the picture and click again to see the details. Nobody will be able to see the drawings properly at the current size. Does anyone now how to solve this?

Thank you so much in advance!
Jill x

At the weekend

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000+01:00

Good morning all! Did you have a nice weekend? I hope so. I realised I didn't show a previous 'At the weekend' so this morning I'm sharing two.

Here's one from a couple of weeks ago:

And here's this weekend's:
Do let me know what you did at the weekend. I love hearing about the different lives you each lead.

Postcard:14th September

2011-09-14T19:01:00.000+01:00

sending it to Rae Ong in Tasmania, Australia

Postcard 13th September

2011-09-14T19:00:00.001+01:00

sending it to Jaime Maddalena in Toronto, Canada

Postcard: 12th September

2011-09-14T18:57:00.000+01:00

sending it to Libby Heily in Sterling, America

Tassle necklace

2011-09-14T08:00:00.002+01:00

A few quick shots of a fun tassle necklace I made for myself recently. It's the necklace I made when I painted the shells. Its hard to see here, but it has a silver chain attached to a fine plait of thread. I could get quite into making tassles. Just for fun. Hope your week is going well.

Postcard: 9th September

2011-09-13T19:31:00.003+01:00

sending it to Anne-Marie Kolodziejski in The Netherlands

Postcard: 8th September

2011-09-13T19:28:00.002+01:00

sending it to Tamara Hawkesford in Elton, England

Postcard: 7th September

2011-09-13T19:18:00.002+01:00

This is a picture of my friend Jeremy from Texas. He was in France doing the Paris -Brest - Paris bike race. He makes the prettiest bikes ever -totally worth contacting him if you live in America and want a beautiful handmade bike. You should check out his blog here.

sending it to Aniko Fonyo in Japan

Postcard: 6th September

2011-09-13T19:16:00.000+01:00

sending it to Raya Lammens in Begium.

Postcard: 5th September

2011-09-13T19:13:00.002+01:00

Catching up. Hope you are having a good week.
sending it to Jisoo, Seoul, Korea

A little weaving

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000+01:00

I hope you are having a good week. I'm sorry there haven't been any postcards. It's the first week of school and so I've been busy. At the weekend I made a little card for a friend by weaving onto paper. The photos don't really show it, but it looked very fine and delicate, which I was pleased with. When I was at university doing textiles I was TERRIBLE at weaving. The teacher had to put me on a special computerized machine because I just couldn't get the hang of it! So it was fun to go back to weaving and actually achieve something I was pleased with. Even if it was only for a few hours : )

Thanks for stopping by and also for your really kind comments this week, especially about the painted shells. x x

Painted shells

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000+01:00

A recent late night painting and crafting session at my desk ended with these painted shells and a pretty necklace (photos of that soon). These are slightly different from these ones and these ones but sort of combine both styles, don't you think?

I hope you are enjoying your weeks and thank you for stopping by.

Cushion cover

2011-09-06T08:00:00.001+01:00

I spent the last two weeks working on my classroom, preparing it for the children's arrival tomorrow. Tomorrow! Here's a nice patchwork cushion I made. The cushions were already in the classroom but needed new covers. This kind of patchwork is something I haven't done before but is really fast. Ideal, should you need to quickly knock up a gift for someone. It only took an hour and a half! Not including tidying up of course : )

I layed out the template and just started cutting big random shapes of fabric. I sewed them together and hey presto!

Kitchen curtains

2011-09-05T08:00:00.001+01:00

Last week I made these curtains for our kitchen. I actually made them from a big curtain I made for a previous flat. I used Liberty to trim the ends and they are double sided so that I can change them around should I wish. It was hard to get some good photos because of the light, but you get the idea.

Return to shells

2011-09-02T08:00:00.003+01:00

Here are three more of the quick shell paintings I did earlier in the week. You can see the others on yesterdays post. You know, when I was a little girl I used to LOVE collecting shells. My mum would always take a plastic bag when we went to the beach so I could collect lots. I had shoe boxes upon shoe boxes full. I don't have those shoeboxes anymore but my own collection of shells is growing. I'm hoping to use some to make more jewellery. I like returning to old ideas. Leaving an idea then coming back to it later, returning to it again and again. Returning to shells again and again throughout my life.

Postcard: 31st August

2011-09-01T09:25:00.003+01:00

sending it to Ariadne Skyrianidou in Greece

It's meant to say 'tights'. Is the american word for tights 'pantyhose'?

It won't stay cold for long. It's going to warm up tomorrow - to 25 degrees celcius! Yes!

Forever shells

2011-09-01T08:00:00.001+01:00

I'll never get tired of shells - painting pictures of shells, painting on shells, embroidering shells, making jewellery with shells or just good old collecting shells! The other day I did a series 0f large scale (for me) five minute and two minute paintings. Here's a few and I'll show a few more tomorrow. Hope each of you is having a productive, happy and peaceful week.

Nervous creativity

2011-08-31T18:54:00.002+01:00

You can tell when things are about to get real busy for me. I start using every second of my spare time to craft, make and blog. It's a nervous creative energy. I get nervous that soon things will be so busy that I won't have any spare time. Soon the children will be starting school and I know that my work load will quickly increase. It might also be a bit of nerves about starting school and being a teacher for the first time. Do you get that kind of crafting? The 'soon I won't have any spare time so I'd better make make make - crafting?' For now I'll just try not to think of it as feeling nervous and just be pleased that I'm being productive. Photos of the 'creativity' around the living room : )

Postcard: 30th August

2011-08-31T09:14:00.001+01:00

sending it to Barbara Vicari in Pescara, Italy

Is it true that they don't have charity shops in Italy? Someone from Italy told me that.

Postcard: 29th August

2011-08-31T09:13:00.001+01:00

sending it to Katherine Warde in St. Paul, America

One potato, two potato....

2011-08-31T08:00:00.000+01:00

I've been experimenting with painting sea potatoes. This one is a little messy but it was fun to play around with effects of the paint. I also did one in bright colours which Daniel calls 'the tiedye one' and I also did one in muted grays and corals (photos to come I expect).

Kingfisher

2011-08-30T20:36:00.002+01:00

It's my Mum's birthday this week (she won't read this, she's on holiday) and I made her this card of one of her favourite birds, the kingfisher. She's quite the birdwatcher. She get's so many birds come to her garden in Scotland. When we speak on the phone we'll exchange news of birds we've seen. There's a surprising amount of wildlife here in London.

I included this one of the back because the back always seems to look nicer and more artistic to me. I like the random stitches of the back.

Postcard: 25th August

2011-08-29T11:32:00.001+01:00

sending it to Marcus Mayer in Minneapolis, America

Postcard: 24th August

2011-08-29T11:30:00.001+01:00

sending it to Gia Simon in Smyrna, America

Postcard: 19th August

2011-08-26T10:08:00.004+01:00

How could I not do this one in colour!

sending it to Heidi Lutgendorff in The Netherlands

Postcard: 18th August

2011-08-26T09:58:00.001+01:00

sending it to Kayleigh VandenBosch in Chicago, America

Postcard: 17th August

2011-08-26T09:55:00.002+01:00

Decided that it's best just to scan postcards until I get the camera sorted out.

sending it to Bernadette Lynass in Rutherglen, Scotland

Summer Journal: Part Two

2011-08-25T09:58:00.004+01:00

At the moment I can't take any photos of postcards. I broke my memory card and memory card reader, and I can't find the lead for the camera. (I considered ranting about the organisation of wires here, but I've refrained!) Hopefully I'll sort it sharpish. In the mean time I'd like to share a couple more pictures of my 'Summer Journal'. These are actually collaged pages in my sketchbook which have been made to look like a small book. I love the deep pink in both of these.

At the weekend

2011-08-22T08:13:00.002+01:00

Good morning! Homemade granola for breakfast makes a good start to the week. I'm off to work today to start setting up my classroom. Exciting! Here's what I got up to over the last two weekends. Did you get up to anything fun over the weekend?

Firstly, here is the At the Weekend from when I was on holiday in Spain last week~

And here is this weekends ~

Click on the images (and click again) to see more details.

Have a good start to your week.

Summer, summer......

2011-08-21T12:16:00.003+01:00

We are back from our trip to Spain. It was a nice week of collecting shells, watercolour painting, eating good food, swimming in the sea and day-tripping (to Malaga and to Rhonda). Tomorrow it's back to work for me. My four weeks of summer holiday has come to an end, but oh it was sooo nice whilst it lasted. I'm excited to spend the next two weeks preparing my classroom for the children. Back tomorrow with postcards and two At The Weekend. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Postcard: 16th August

2011-08-17T10:01:00.002+01:00

sending it to Judith Green in Suffolk, England

Postcard: 15th August

2011-08-17T09:59:00.002+01:00

sending it to Matt Roedel in Bay City, America

Postcard: 12th August

2011-08-13T09:02:00.002+01:00

sending it to Vixie Dean in London, England

Maxi dress

2011-08-12T19:00:00.000+01:00

We're on our summer holiday in southern Spain. It's hot! Remember, I made a maxi dress? I thought I'd share pictures of how it looks. It's crazy, colourful stripes. I used an old 70s skirt pattern for the bottom part and made up the shape for the top part. It has three flower buttons up the back with elastic hooks. I'm pretty pleased with it. I also made some cotton trousers which I'll try and show too, although, Daniel isn't to pleased with having to be my photographer (I made him do two different photoshoots for the dress! hehe). At this rate I might actually get to be one of those people who make all their own clothes!

Postcard: 11th August

2011-08-12T17:51:00.001+01:00

sending it to Moira Clark in Arnside, England

Postcard: 10th August

2011-08-12T17:50:00.001+01:00

sending it to Debbie Lewis in California, America

Postcard: 9th August

2011-08-12T17:47:00.000+01:00

sending it to Ieva Cicelyte in Lithuania

Postcard: 8th August

2011-08-09T14:39:00.001+01:00

sending it to Nicole Dupuis in Ontario, Canada

Summer Holiday Journal

2011-08-09T14:24:00.003+01:00

I hadn't expected to do so many nice things during my summer break. Two weeks in I realised I'd been doing nice things pretty much every day, so thought it'd be best to record them in some way. I've got two weeks to catch up on, but here's what I've done so far. A sort of summer holidays journal. As usual, you can click on the pictures to see more detail.

At the weekend

2011-08-09T14:06:00.000+01:00

click on the image (and click again) to see more detail

Postcard:14th July

2011-08-06T12:10:00.002+01:00

somehow missed this one out

sending it to my brother and his wife in Manchester

Postcard: 5th August

2011-08-06T10:49:00.000+01:00

sending it to my good friend Hatty in London

Postcard: 4th August

2011-08-06T10:47:00.000+01:00

sending it to Mano Kellner in Germany

Postcard: 3rd August

2011-08-06T10:46:00.001+01:00

sending it to Shelley McEuen in Indiana, America

Postcard: 2nd August

2011-08-06T10:45:00.001+01:00

sending it to Marta Prodan in Germany