pandora pocket

Cake

 

Picnic on Tooting common with the Robinsons: ghostbusters, bubbles and banana bread.

 

Afternoon tea with the Flynn-Marshes: George-in-a-box, Donald's African penguin and lemon drizzle cake made by Willie Carson's mum.

Only two more weeks / four more days left at work, and plans for a lot more cake.

Le weekend

A crazy kids weekend, starting with Henry driving Poppa in the plastic tent car through the snowy Alps...

 

... and maybe taking those Alpine hairpin bends a little too fast whilst driving with Nana.

 

Following which I was invited to my fairy goddaughter's fifth birthday party, to face paint about 30 manic fairies, elves and Superman in their magical mushroom strewn dingly dell.

 

Sunday I rested, with a ball of Debbie Bliss cashmerino and the Spanish Grand Prix.

 

Yellow roses remind me of Wolfgang Tillmans - the first ever photographer to win the Turner prize and my personal favourite of the four that year (2000). Yellow roses are also a symbol of friendship, which is most appropriate as these were a gift from my dear friend Caroline as she leaves London for a new adventure in Birmingham. Yellow roses will now always remind me of both Wolfgang and Caroline.

 

My birthday weekend last weekend was lots of fun. Chez Bruce, pancakes and champagne in bed, chocolate cake and contractions (Lisette) in Richmond Park, London marathon (David), and a rat in the toilet.

Circus Violet and the Gang - new prints and ceramics by Camilla Engman.

Watergate Bay

 

I think the sandcastle building was more about the competitive dads and the paddling was definitely about the cold. Jamie Oliver's Fifteen was fantastic and delicious and the old school rave back at the Blue House afterwards was I'm sure a rare treat for the neighbours. All in all a fantastic weekend - Happy 40th Paul, Ru, John and Chris.

Josie is giving away prizes all week.

DIY

 

A lovely long weekend which involved a birthday celebration at a masked ball, a chocolate overdose at the Redshaws and a good dose of DIY. Although now that I have painted the shelves, I feel the need to repaint the whole room. David agrees wholeheartedly (from the sofa).

Inspiration for a new quilt from The Small Object: triangles.

Rob Ryan's pop-up shop in New York, posted by Lena Corwen: Ryantown USA

Marmite

 

Today the Marmite pot which I made for Philippa's hen night in 2003 has found a new home. Already it has found a friend who laughs a lot and loves it - and Linus is not drunk like David was every time he insisted on putting it on.

Liberty quilt for charity - A Little piece of mind.

Liberty fabric competition.

Spring clean

A recent trip to Buffalo to visit Josie and her family proved both craftily inspirational and tough when it came to closing my suitcase. I was remarkably restrained when it came to fabrics (only 22 yards), thrifted children's clothes (only the most comedy) and Orla Kiely goods (I only bought an oven glove) from the new range at Target...

     

Whilst sheltering indoors from temperatures of around -9, Josie and I learned how to make blocks for a spiderweb quilt (Spiderpig quilt) and I have returned to the UK with grand ambitions for all kinds of crafting projects. I have started by dusting off the badge maker for Astrid and Chantal...

    

To follow, a touch of spring cleaning. I want to dust everything, throw everything away (nearly everything) and find a home for any item which I decide is necessary or beautiful enough to remain in the house. I need shelves, boxes, labels and numerous trips to charity shops. There is one room in particular which needs a little spring attention...

 

Or maybe I'll just go back to work.

Lazy

I've been a bit lazy. Maybe more than a bit. Over the last month, I have been doing a lot of visiting my dad interspersed with sleeping, watching crappy movies in front of a crackling log fire, plenty of eating and absolutely no blogging or crafting. It's been bloody lovely. But a little bird in Buffalo has been tweeting in my ear, so here are a couple of things I actually left the house for in December...

Christmas opening on Columbia Road and the Rob Ryan shop

 

Ice skating at the Natural History Museum...

 

... and pints of beer afterwards

 

Santa's express at Selfridges

 

Spoons in Cranleigh

 

and Caroline's 40th

 

Phew that was exhausting, I need a lie down.

narly

     

Having just finished the inspirational and comedic book 'Yes Man' by Danny Wallace, I have already enjoyed the power of a yes in a situation where I might otherwise have said no. So when David asked if I would like to use our free flight and stay at a generous friend's chalet in Verbier this weekend, I decided to put all feelings of guilt, responsibility and poverty to one side. I said yes.

The snow was deep, powdery and beautiful; the food and wine were endless and delicious; friends were generous, welcoming and fun. Despite the blizzard at the top of the mountain, I even had a ski lesson. Now - back in London with no injuries worse than bruised calves - I am refreshed and ready to deal with anything else life wants to lay in my path. It's amazing what a tonic a change of scenery can be.

 

Funny how I had already made our Christmas cards to a Swiss chalet theme, athough I haven't managed to write any of them yet. And I don't know how Christmas crept up so quickly but it would appear there are only two weeks left before Santa comes to fill our stockings.

So tonight, before I head to Shane Bradford's opening night of Hermetic Seel at the Vegas Gallery, I shall be getting all festive at Ryantown during the first Columbia Road Christmas Wednesday (found through wee birdy). And then I guess we should get a tree or something.

Yes.

Auburn Studios

 

Josie has opened a new shop called Auburn Studios over at Etsy.

She is selling a pattern to make your own travelling art show like the one in the picture and a pattern to make your own moleskine cover. She also has a heap of beautiful hair accessories and plans for much more besides. Make it a favourite - I have.

Another favourite of mine at Etsy is Mister Rob (Ryan), whose tiles I would happily line my house with and whose shop - Ryantown - I plan to visit one Sunday very soon. I used to love going to Colombia road on a Sunday back in the days of Betnal Bean.