alis design petals

Help I can't stop crocheting

2011-01-07T17:42:00.010Z

I had real trouble with computer wrist last year and took the advice of my physio sister to exercise the wrist in a different motion. So I thought crochet might do it. I had a pouch of hooks that were my late mums and always thought I should take it up again - you know keeping the family traditions going. So I did! Do you know a small amount every night has really helped my wrist (or perhaps it was the drugs the doctor gave me!) what ever I have become obsessed. So now have nearly two blankets one for each of the children - I can't take credit for the colour they choose them - but I do like them. they are both made from DK wool.

Thinking about making a bedspread for myself to keep me warm in the cold nights.
Hope you like them.

printing tutorial

2009-04-26T21:39:00.004Z

Great fabric printing tutorial by seed podbook it is very clear and easy to follow.

Easter images

2009-04-26T21:30:00.003Z

These are a few of the images from my Easter in Scotland with my family - buns and chocolate everywhere.

Skinny notebook

2009-04-21T22:00:00.003Z

My sister gave me a little easter gift of a skinny notebook by Sarah Hough - looked her up on the web because this little book is just to good to use I think. Beautiful designs.

knickers4africa

2009-03-31T20:01:00.004Z

I have come across this type of charity on a few occasions in the recent past. It started with a radio programme of BBC radio 4 about Oxfam and the desperate need for bras in the developing world - bras are very complex garments which are just too expensive. However or second hand garments are very valuable. This is one garment I would have never recycled in the past but will in the future. Then I can across knickers4africa who provide new knickers for Africans and also collect second hand clothing such as baby clothes and bras.

I thought hard, wether or not to give my support this charity - Was it something I felt was worthy? - It wasn't food? But then I read about there efforts and that knickers (cotton) can help the health of a person.

So have a read and make up your own mind - at the very least put your old bras in the recycled bins for oxfam.

Long time no read

2009-03-19T14:53:00.013Z

I have been very bad at keeping up with my blog. WHY? Well

1. At the start I got a bit bored needed something to say. Everyone else seems to have a particular skill either knitting, sewing etc. I do have skills; I can sew and knit quite well but am not focussed on any particular subject. I don't want to make soft toys or knit egg covers it just doesn't rock my boat. But I really admire those craft bloggers that do. I love to look in on their latest creations and would love to possess them. So I have been thinking seriously and I have a plan - watch this space.

2. Was very busy (work life balance) - I am having too work extra as Cornwall County Council in there wisdom thinks it is perfectly acceptable for your boss to retire and not get replaced - giving me two jobs to do - and I'm doing them both poorly - crisis management - which is never good for a long period. That's my rant off my chest.

3. Took a holiday to India for 3 weeks - great experience. Started with a family wedding in Bombay (the Indians themselves don't call the city Mumbai I have discovered) - spent time at my mother in laws family home showing the children that part of their heritage and the best bit went and saw tigers at Bandhavgarh reserve. Made new friends such as the bangle shop owner - lost lots of weight. By son learnt how to play cricket. And by discovered my daughter just has to work with nature in the future she amazed us with her knowledge.

4. My computer wasn't working properly - but hooray it is now fingers crossed it is working again.

5. Been doing a couple of courses to help the situation at work - boring management stuff.

cup cake heaven

2008-09-18T21:20:00.002Z

I discovered a lovely blog all about cup cakes. I was bowled over be there beauty, they look like precious jewels - I now understand the USA's obsession with them. What's more there was a long list of links to other sites. WOW!

Great new book

2008-09-17T20:40:00.005Z

Just discovered this great book - my luck just after I have just done a module with training textile design and technology teachers. It formed just a small part of the day. I gave them some 'smart technologies' such as thermochromatic dyes, electronic modules such as radios, led lights etc and just let them play. We had talking dog collars, colour changing children's hats etc. It is really good fun to introduce some thing new and stand back and watch the ideas grow, listen to the conversations and witness the furious activity (they have to do the same thing in the classroom). Only one student found this hard - he was a planner - there is always one who has to know something will work completely on paper before you start making; where the idea of designing through modelling is completely alien.

Anyway getting back to the book it is just full of ideas and tips really great. Published by CRAFT: craftzine.com that brilliantly mad crafting magazine (another favourite) written by Syuzi Pakhchyan it is available at through amazon

I also found a great new blog called moondial which has the rather grand title Fashionable Technology Research Consortium, which focus' on new technologies etc. Very interesting blog!

T.O.M.T The other mans treasures

2008-08-30T06:50:00.002Z

Rodney Allen Trice is a New York based artist/designer who's work is practical, thought provoking and amusing. His website T.O.M.T.™ states that he is dedicated to object recovery and reassignment, this is a brilliant website well worth a look.

Newlyn Fish Festival Cornwall

2008-08-29T06:42:00.004Z

Bank holiday Monday - the holidays are nearly over and where is the sun?

We had a great afternoon at the Newlyn Fish festival for once the queue for the car park was worth it. It was very busy full of interesting stalls, smells and displays particularly the harbour displays.

Pete Goss opened the festival and during the day his new ship the 'spirit of Mystery' was named and blessed.

Spirit of Mystery
Cornish sailor Pete Goss has taken part in successful sea trials with his new boat 'Spirit of Mystery'. It will follow the historic route of the 37-foot Mounts Bay lugger 'Mystery' which set sail for Melbourne in 1854.

What was really great to see was the relatives of the original ship members very present.

Fisheries Protection Vessel ‘St Piran’ - visit the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee, Fishery Protection Vessel.

Edinburgh fringe

2008-08-29T06:28:00.004Z

We were very lucky with the day as it had been raining everyday before. We went for the day just to soak up the atmosphere on the streets of Edinburgh and didn't go to any shows. It was great!

2008-08-21T11:09:00.003Z

The 'BAD' public bath equipment by Sabine Mueller and Andreas Quednau

location: Solitude Palace Gardens, Stuttgart, Germany
materials: CNC-milled and oiled multiplex wooden board, garden hose, transparent hose, brass fittings
total built-up area: 25 m2
net building cost: €20.000
date of commencement of project: 2004; date of completion of project: June 2006

This is a project found on iaacblog a really interesting blog by the Institute for advanced architecture of Catalonia

What were they thinking?

2008-07-30T12:58:00.002Z

Summer is here

2008-07-29T12:15:00.006Z

At last the summer holidays are here - seems to have taken ages to come. this weekend we had great weather but I was too good to be true. Just had a severe weather warning - flash floods come through on email!!!!

I have been partying this weekend which if you knew my life then it isn't a common occurrence.

Friday night - KT Tunstall in concert at the Eden project St Austell Cornwall. what a magical venue with the Biomes lit up, stars in the sky, bats flying and brilliant music.

Saturday night - My friends Kathryn and John had a Woodstock event in their Fields on Saturday night with live music, hog roast and crafts for the kids. Brilliant chill out event.

Sunday - weather was gorgeous - daughter was at riding stables and took son to Penzance to try out the open air swimming pool on the harbour.

It's Tuesday now and the rain is coming down and all you can do is crafts on the kitchen table.

Bloggers?

2008-05-31T08:50:00.002Z

Recently I was listening to the news on the radio and there was an article about blogging with a journalist who was obviously not one of our fans. We were described as depressed and boring with very little ability to write. It made me mad and it made me think. Yes I would never describe myself as a novelist, with dyslexia running through my brain. I guess I don't think through words I think with my eyes and hands. Yes I have done a blog about my recent illness which was linked to stress and depression. Was he right?

NO!

Blogging to me is a window into the lives of others in far away places. I am an intrinsically nosey person - I freely admit this. Reading craft and design blogs (my main blogging experience) give me ideas, inspiration and pleasure. In addition doing my own blog has forced me to write - as a child with poor English skills I never wrote a diary or read very widely because it wasn't a pleasure, but through blogs I have found myself buying more books, reading more. In addition the pleasure in getting comments, and arranging swaps with people from countries I might never visit is wonderful.

So to that journalist my advice is start Reading craft blogs, forget about our use of grammar and lighten up!

Bank holiday weekend at Chelsea Flower Show

2008-05-29T16:31:00.004Z

I had a lovely weekend in the big city (London) with my sister and dad. My sister had bought me as a Christmas present a ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show something I watch avidly on the television each year. This year I got to see it in the flesh. The atmosphere was lovely, the crowds were great and the rain only came done once. It was great. I especially loved the Little garden exhibits many because they were at the scale you felt you could done that yourself. The large exhibition gardens were brilliant - my favourite was the QVC garden. However in retrospect to get a clear view of each garden you are still better watching the gardens. Came back refreshed and inspired to tackle my weed infested garden. If you want to see more images click on my flickr link.

Street furniture

2008-05-20T20:30:00.003Z

Street furniture by Naho Matsuno Japanese designer - I would like this to spin and become a round about for kids of all ages.

Flower lamp

2008-05-20T19:09:00.003Z

road side scholar has a great section on lamps well worth a look. This one is by designer mary ann williams, and is made out of 100% felted wool.

Ironing ladder

2008-05-20T18:46:00.003Z

Came across a new blog which kept me rummaging for near 2 hours - name of this interesting blog apartment therapy

This Ironing ladder is a flavour of the interesting products featured.

Lovely spring bank holiday

2008-05-05T16:37:00.007Z

It has been beautiful weather in Cornwall this weekend and it days like these you remember why you moved here.

Sunday - Food fayre at Godolphin house, Helston

The Godolphin family lived here from the early Middle Ages. It was taken over by the National trust last year. I love this house and gardens. It is tatty and rambling, it has a human scale and this coupled with the fact it isn't chocolate box perfect like many National trust properties you can see the ghosts of the past.
The food fayre is an outdoors local food market with specialities from all round Cornwall from herrings to salsa.

Monday - Bank holiday - Kayaking on Stithians reservoir

My daughter Blythe and I went Kayaking at the local reservoir - it is always great up there when the sun is shining - you are guaranteed to have a quite day as everyone else is at the beach.

Got my book

2008-05-05T16:14:00.005Z

So pleased to get my book from Yvonne @ Yvestown blog it is small, unreadable in Japanese and just lovely. I want more.

Thanks Yvonne.

1st May and the sun is shining

2008-05-01T13:48:00.004Z

At long last the wind has died and the sun has come out. It is great

May Day 'Day Song'

Unite and unite let us all unite,

For summer is acome unto day,

And whither we are going we will all unite,

In the merry morning of May.

Padstow Obby Oss

Today in Padstow on the north coast they celebrate the spring by dancing through the streets.

Sewing therapy

2008-04-18T15:06:00.006Z

Been having a hard few months feeling progressively unwell, not sleeping then sleeping too much, constant headache, aches and pains, starting to feel very low, grumpy and so it goes on. Well the doctor spelt it out for me this week - take a break or end up having a breakdown. This was a shock as I was convinced I had some infection or horrible illness - no idea stress can manifest itself so physically. I've always prided myself as been calm, able and strong - guess I do have limits.

So got a forced week off work (doctor wanted two) - this is my first day and spent the morning not knowing what to do, yet I must admit I feel better already. Decided to do some sewing therapy. Didn't want to ruin any fabric so I used two tea towels and made a bag. This took me a long time - WHY? Because I couldn't remember how to put the lining in. I have made tonnes of bags and lining should be second nature - your brain is a strange beast. I do feel better now having absorbed myself in something for a couple of hours, but really tired. So I'm going to go for the walk the doctor ordered for everyday.

Here is the result it isn't great. In fact it is very badly made and will fray but it did it's job and I enjoyed it.

I have been touched by friends - on is taking me out to a craft evening tonight (got no choice) and another turned up to take my son to his swimming lesson last night. I am touched by their kindness. We all need to seriously think about how we live and what is important in our lives - would my children prefer to have a happy mum or a grumpy mum who is always running off too work?

Products to make you smile

2008-04-11T10:54:00.007Z

Art out of a single piece of paper

2008-03-18T16:30:00.005Z

Came across this art by Peter Callesen - absolutely fabulous. Doesn't it just want you to have a go. This is the kind of art that looks so simple but is incredibly complex.

Scrappy bags

2008-02-14T15:14:00.003Z

My daughter insisted I put her Scrappy bag soft toy she has made for my friends little girl. In fact I an impressed by her concentration, stitching and design - she now plans to make a range using recycled fabric scraps. Martha Stewart move over!!

Clever packaging

2008-01-29T14:02:00.000Z

These arrived by email from a friend and they made me smile

New Year Cheer

2008-01-05T15:14:00.000Z

The weather is cold and wet (very Cornish) the house is warm cosy and just a little untidy. We have been for our annual trip back to Scotland where to my horror I discovered it is becoming coming hard to understand the accent - been away too long! It has taken me a couple of days to get over the driving - I ached all over for the first day. Plus I always feel a little low when leaving my family, home, landscape and cold behind. Cornwall feels small and damp. However I now feel comfortable and happy to be back to normal. My mind is full of ideas and I feel ready to go.

Happy crafting in 2008

Christmas spirit

2007-12-08T05:25:00.000Z

I have just landed after two months of work, work, work and more work. The work home balance went badly wrong, no time for the children, no time to blog and on some days no time to even cook a meal. I ended up having to have a quiet word with my boss reminding him that I only really work part time and I do have a life outside of the office. In the last few days I have started to feel relaxed, the children are getting to know me again and I can feel the Christmas spirit coming (or is it that Bailey's talking). Anyway it is 5am on Saturday morning - couldn't sleep again - so I am using the time to blog.

Yvonne from The Yves town blog has got her tree up and is full into decorating mode, well done you (I do love her house so fresh and clean and decluttered). We managed to get the glitter out this week to make Christmas decorations for the school tree. I now have a dinning room carpet which sparkles. I never put the decorations up until the week before Christmas just so it feels special, but I shall have to dive into the basement and get 'the box'. When I was wee, we never decorated until Christmas eve. It was such a really special occasion my dad going to the attic and getting out all these lovely sparkly things. One tradition I still follow is always buying one new special decoration each year. As yet I haven't got the one but I will know it is Christmas when it is bought.

My other half has very little Christmas spirit I think coming from his Anglo Indian background and the fact he hates spending money. He just goes along with my plans though he has been keenly bidding for original Subbuteo sets on eBay this year.

I don't know if it is just wee quiet hours in the night or my age but I have become nostalgic for a simpler Christmas. I have always found the commercialism of Christmas unpalatable and we have always made a conscious effort to keep the presents under control. I've never had the luxury of a Santa list as for some reason my children either don't won't to make one or they are secret (which is helpful). This year my daughter who is horse mad just wants anything with a horse on it and my wee lad wants a Christmas snow globe (he has started to collects them). So in actual fact they don't really have a great desire for anything. I have got them presents ( don't want you to think I'm a mean Scrooge) and I want to do their stockings really well this year.

Another reason for peace an harmony to land in our house these last few days is that the television is sick. So quiet and peaceful. My daughter has found it hard to live without - and I didn't know why because she doesn't watch it much. I think it is just background noise. While Danny has almost forgotten it was ever there and just plays, makes, draws etc. I will be sad to see it come back.

Starting to feel tired now, so I'm going to bed. Ta Ta for now.

New books

2007-10-19T17:13:00.000Z

I'm getting obsessed with sewing and craft books. These are my latest, which I love - already sorted out a couple of jumpers to felt down. I think these could lead to some really brilliant courses to run at work for teachers.

Second time cool by Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson is an inspirational look at using old jumpers

Generation T by Megan Nicolay a look at what you can do with a basic t-shirt - great for teenagers

Vintage finds

2007-10-15T13:38:00.000Z

Hi it has been a while since I made an entry. Been in full decorating mode. We have lived in our house nearly ten years, what with work, having two children etc, I have just got round to decorating the children's bedrooms properly. So for the last couple of months I have been going to bed exhausted with no energy to blog.

I have managed to acquire a few bits and pieces. My dad sent me a book and apron owned by my mother. The book is great reading - tips on darning, recycling produced by the British government after world war 2 when there were shortages in textiles etc.

It's amazing how things come around full circle, in these days when we are concerned with sustainability and reusing / recycling there are some brilliant tips in this book.

Whoops!!

2007-09-14T16:23:00.000Z

Correction I was erlperle's 100,000 visitor even better - my only excuse was it was late and my brain was tired sorry Mette.

Hello again!

2007-09-13T20:39:00.000Z

I have been unable to blog for a few weeks due to computer access. The move of my other half to work from the cabin at the bottom of the garden has been great but it has also meant that I been unable to get on a computer. I have had to buy an external hard drive to transfer all the work I had on his computer, to the laptop now positioned in the house, plus a card reader to download from the camera. So I am now operational. I have also been up to my elbows in paint having decorated the old office in the house as a bedroom for my daughter.

My postbag has been good just lately. Have bought some Craft books ( Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing , The Crafter's Companion by Anna Torborg and Bend-the-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol )which I highly recommend. I also got a lovely parcel from erleperle as I was her 1000 visitor, my first ever blogger gift and it was great to receive. A big thank you erleperle. I will by popping a gift in the post to Denmark this week.

ecojot

2007-09-05T03:10:00.000Z

I came across this fab range through Victoria E's blog . Ecojot are made by the mirage paper co based in Ontario. The whole range is made from recycled paper. I have always been disappointed that to many manufactures recycled had to somehow look mean wholesome, little bit rough or lumpy and bumpy. Here is an example of good quality design which just happens to be recycled.

Snapazoo

2007-08-08T19:51:00.000Z

Came across an article I found last year when sorting out and thought you crafters may be amused by this toy. It is a remake of an old eighties design by professor Ross Miller.

Learn how to make a snapazoo

Tokyo blog MocoLoco also have a great demo of how they work

willow and stone

2007-08-05T18:24:00.000Z

Lovely new shop called willow and stone opened in Falmouth selling reclaimed and reproduction pieces - My sister who is just crazy for old objects went weak at the knees when she saw the shop recently when visiting from Scotland.

Success

2007-07-19T22:13:00.000Z

Blythe finished her project and it was submitted in to our local agricultural show by the school and to her amazement she got a first prize. I'm very proud of her - I'm also hoping she will get a bit more confidence in her own ability from this as her dyslexia means she lacks any self confidence.

Irana Douer

2007-07-13T20:59:00.000Z

Came across this work on creature comforts and thought they were wonderful

snails,snails, snails

2007-07-04T21:33:00.001Z

Not had one chance in the last month or so to do any craft. My daughter was given a terms project - subject open - so being the nature lover/artist she is, has done a sketchpad on the wildlife in her backyard. When we get it back from school I will photograph it so you can see. It is really good. I was hoping she wouldn't follow in her parents shoes and be interested in design etc but it is in her genes and I must admit she is getting good.

We finished off with a study of snails one of her favourite bugs. {when she was little I once caught her in the garden with a whole line of slugs and snails - licking them to see which one tasted better} Here is the montage of the unlucky snails to be found and examined by Blythe. Actually they were harder to find than you would think.

The rest of my time has been taken up with getting the house ready for my brother and family arriving from Bulgaria at the weekend. Haven't seen him or his children for four years so it will be strange and good. He is my elder brother a lot older than me so I don't really know him very well. He has a daughter the same age as mine, I'm hoping they will get on and be close cousins.

It was the dreaded teachers consultation evenings last week which sent us into turmoil after finding out my little lad, Dan isn't doing too well. My daughter is dyslexic and were hoping that Dan wouldn't suffer the same - I actually don't think he is the same - I rather put this down to his general dislike of school (been like this from day one) and a general lack of faith in the teacher (any class 1 teacher who wears brown and doesn't have a smiling happy character shouldn't be a teacher in my opinion). So after meetings with head teacher the task is to make Dan happy at school before he becomes to disillusioned and trouble! So if any one has any ideas on how to achieve this I would be grateful.

thrifty critter with long scarf

2007-07-03T22:00:00.000Z

This made me smile. I was searching for a knitting pattern and came across this at the thrifty knitter. It is the kind of thing which you would end up talking to - kind of weird, a little bit ugly and looks kind of moth eaten but full of personality. Am I sad!!

Nice website if your into knitting

annaloucah

2007-06-22T22:09:00.000Z

Annaloucah is producing some beautiful jewellery at present - they are bold statements. Would love to own them all.

posch bags

2007-06-21T21:04:00.000Z

posch bags

by luce beaulieu, canada

reversible bags with 2 different designs
hand -made from 100% cotton knot-tied shoulder strap

to 'ipod' or not to 'ipod'

2007-06-21T19:59:00.000Z

I read this article in the Daily 'Scare' (mail) newspaper about the 'ipod' suit which is to be available in M&S - love to see these these men going through airport security!!!

I was also told about the ipod buggy by my friend Lois

who is pregnant - The buggy has a docking station which

allows you to slide in your iPod and play music, songs and even stories to your little one. This makes me feel very uncomfortable.

Too tired to write much

2007-06-06T20:13:00.000Z

A year ago I had this brainwave - 'why don't you get a home office at the bottom of the garden?' I said to my other half. Well last week it arrived and so did my dad from Scotland to help assemble it. Decided to go for a log cabin in the end. Best quality for the money.

Started work two weeks ago to create level foundation and bought some old railway sleepers - and then on Sunday when the weather cleared we started to assemble this cabin. It was surprisingly quick, but very heavy work. Considering we are both used to days in front of a computer to do manual labour for days was Knackering. I have discovered muscles I don't think I have ever used.

authentics

2007-05-23T19:33:00.000Z

This company Authentics (Germany) was featured on the television last night - they create beautiful products out of plastic. I love plastic products - find the sustainable issue conflicting but the shapes, forms and colours you get with today's manufacturing processes are wonderful.

Passchal

2007-05-23T18:10:00.000Z

Passchal are an american company making products made from recycled truck and tractor tire inner-tubes that are collected from tire centers before they are discarded. The cleaning process can take up to three days of soaking in an environmentally friendly solution.

Untouched world

2007-05-18T13:23:00.000Z

Found this link through my friend Alix now living it up in New Zealand - great clothing store Untouched World store in Wellington with an ethical vision.

felt faces

2007-05-16T15:29:00.000Z

This piece by novembermoon is wonderful - so simple

lost and found stool

2007-05-12T18:49:00.000Z

I love this stool from Demakersvan, made from leather it was made using a shoe stitching machine.

Sculptures from recycled plastic

2007-05-12T18:39:00.000Z

I first came across fiftyRx3 through Karin's style blog (which I love) and they have a recent post showing hanging sculptures by Aurora Robson. They look like huge jelly fish floating in space. Having just spent the morning retrieving my recycling from the garden after a windy night they are inspirational, makes you look differently at a plastic milk carton.

don't you just hate sick kids

2007-05-04T18:38:00.000Z

Hi. Just emerged from my sickbed and starting to feel human again (great to be able to breath again)
My wee boy has been poorly for the last week and after a couple of nights by his side with him coughing and sneezing into my face it was only time before I got the lurgy, and when I get a cold I get a cold. Spend a couple of days watching children's TV, wrapped up and letting the house descend into chaos. Woke up today and felt OK.

The problem is now my training for the big race has been destroyed and only two weeks to go. I now feel panicky about it - can I get my strength back.

I'm dressed to jog and off I go. I will do a proper blog tomorrow about something a bit more interesting.

TTFN

wet saturday

2007-04-14T16:17:00.000Z

Lying on my bed, aching all over. My daughter persuaded me to take part in the race for life this year. She pulled on my heart strings by reminding me my mother died of cancer 2 years ago. In my youth I used to be very sporty - some people hated school dinners - I hated cross country, so this is torture! (the body is willing but my mind screams at me WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!) Since having my little boy 6yrs ago I have never quite got my fitness back or lost the weight gained.
I have a month left before the big day. Not aiming to run the whole 5km - my aim is to get fitter. So two weeks of school holidays have been full on exercise - either jogging or cycling each evening. I have lost half a stone and I can manage more and have discovered muscles I had lost touch with years ago.
Today I madly suggested we cycle to my daughters riding stables, only 4 miles away BUT it is all up hill. Got home lay down and went to sleep.

Weather changed this afternoon and the rain came down, and we are all having a lazy afternoon. Kids have built a den and are gossiping away next door, other half is watching the football and I am lounging on my bed with a cup of tea, laptop and sketchpad trying to come up with a new craft project. So far just doddle's on a page.

Trebah Gardens

2007-04-10T22:31:00.000Z

The kiddies and I took a trip to a nearby garden. They always have events for children and because they are a large valley garden you can be sure to tire them out. We did the treasure hunt, explored the gardens which are blooming at this time of year. The weather was glorious. Spent ages on the beach at the bottom dodging the waves and eating ice-cream. Ended our trip at the tree encampment play area.

Lotta jansdotter

2007-04-10T08:50:00.000Z

Discovered Lotta Jansdotter through an article in the latest Craft - love her simple graphics and colours

St. Bartholomew’s Church by Maxim Velcovsky

2007-04-09T20:22:00.000Z

Article about St Bartholomews church by Maxim Velcovsky. Simply beautiful interior shots

Simple shoes

2007-04-05T10:38:00.000Z

Simple shoes made and conceived with sustainability in mind. Pity they aren't in the UK

Silvina Romero's recycled fabric accessories

2007-04-05T10:20:00.000Z

Argentinean clothing designer Silvina Romero has designed “textile jewellery” are made by out of discarded textiles, recycled pieces of fabric and threads. Silvina started out three years ago by picking up leftovers in Once, a Buenos Aires neighbourhood where all the fabrics dealers concentrate.

Zakka pouch tutorial

2007-04-05T08:42:00.000Z

Black dog designs has a great tutorial for a zakka knitted pouch

Hidden Art

2007-04-01T20:57:00.000Z

'Hidden Art is a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports and promotes designer-makers, a process that offers benefits to the overall design community'

It is great place to see what is new and fresh in the designer makers sector. Most of these makers come out of Falmouth College of art, Falmouth.

Sunday in the garden

2007-04-01T20:07:00.000Z

Hi

Spent all day in the garden - my back hurts. I feel weather beaten and my hands need to be soaked in moisturisers. We managed to make some headway. Tamed the grass, weeded a 3rd of flower beds, moved rocks, and started to level an area we want to gravel.
It has been great weather today - mild and sunny. The children run wild today, Danny was parachuting his soldiers off the balcony and Blythe spent her day bouncing up and down on the trampoline.

Went for an evening walk around the village (children roller skated). Ended up having tea in a friends garden while the children joined a gang on another trampoline.

Now I'm lying on my bed with my laptop thinking I should be tidying the kitchen but too tired to move.

Spring Garden

2007-03-31T21:27:00.000Z

This is a collage of the flowers in bloom in my garden.

Mercadoimaginario

2007-03-30T12:34:00.000Z

Came across Mecrado imaginario on Flickr, it is a Brazilian site. The colours, shapes, styles are all so brilliant - it makes me want to quit the job and do the same.

Inspiration book

2007-03-20T21:54:00.000Z

I came across this inspiration book on il bloggo. It is so lovely to see this type of personal collection as it gives you a real incite into the person behind the blog.

WINTER HAS COME BACK!!!

2007-03-20T21:03:00.000Z

We woke today to a thin coating of snow (slush). To a Scot's lass like me this is nothing but to my too children and the majority of children in Cornwall who see snow very rarely - this was brilliant. My daughter was out in her pyjamas, wellingtons and coat - bouncing on a snowy trampoline before breakfast this morning.

Mothers day bazaar over

2007-03-16T22:49:00.000Z

At last the day has come and gone - and it was a great success. This was the first time I've made something for a stall and I sold out - Hooray!!

Life has been packed full at present but I can see the light now. One more course to do on Monday and I can eat and sleep again. I may be able to do this blog properly.

Spring has come to Cornwall

2007-02-20T16:08:00.000Z

This winter has been very very short and mild - I'm a Scottish lass so it does takes a lot to make me put on my scarf and gloves, but I do tend to wear jumpers (a couple of weeks ago I was gardening in a t-shirt). Last week we had torrential rain and winds resulting in a flooded lane, a sea of mud and a tree over - but it wasn't cold. I haven't used my birdseed up this year as the birds aren't coming to the feeder and in fact they are pairing up to mate. GLOBAL WARMING!!! Anyway I just love Daffodils they really cheer you up after the dark nights.

Childrens clothes from UNIFORM studio

2007-02-17T21:10:00.000Z

I stumbled on these delightful children's clothes by UNIFORM studio - they are great. There are echos of Quaker style in them. The colours are fab as well - earthy and soft hues a great change from camouflage gear my son wants to wear

Art conference

2007-02-14T22:47:00.000Z

I spent a great day at Falmouth College of art yesterday on an art teachers conference. I am normally chained to a computer and photoshop at the studio and very rarely have a chance to be freely expressive - I actually find it difficult in my old age to just let myself go. I have been working in the design field for 20 years - where you need a reason for every decision. I must admit I felt a little out of place as the rest of the teacher were fine artists. But I held my own. It gave me some great ideas for some teaching resources, on line and proportion which I think have value for both designers and artists

Worn again

2007-02-13T22:13:00.000Z

I was told about this website great - The worn again company manufacture trainers from recycled materials. They look great not hippy green tree hugging looking.

Well Fashioned: Eco Style in the UK

2007-02-13T19:32:00.000Z

"Well Fashioned presents a vision of the role fashion might play in our ecological future"

I stumbled in this section of the craft council which is great. It gives you a wee look into the work of designer makers who have an Eco view of design - my inspiration at present. I love this bag an new way to use pinstriped suiting fabric - could be made from an old suit.

Party bags

2007-02-13T19:19:00.000Z

This is a sample of the party bags I made for my daughters birthday and filled with sweeties. I used up scraps of felt and simply squares and machine zigzag stitches - making them up as I went along so every one was different

Sewing for mothers' day bazaar

2007-02-12T16:47:00.000Z

The felt bits are coming on slowly - I'm finding it hard to sew for long periods of time as my hands as my arthritis really starts to ache - I blame my mothers genes for this. Anyway I'm very pleased with the results so far. I'm not sure what these bits will become yet.

It seems to be how many variations on a flower can I sew.

Button necklaces

2007-02-12T16:31:00.000Z

I seem to have past on a love of buttons to my 9yr old daughter. I am very impressed by her sense of colour - she has such a clear vision of what she wants, which can be frightening. She has been sewing and making things since she was very small and she has become very confident when it comes to creating.

Studiomama

2007-02-09T20:58:00.000Z

I just love this shelving, makes me want to chuck out all my furniture and start again.

BUT would my children climb the wall!!!

This custom-made bookshelf is made out of 12mm oak planks. It is self-supporting and has no visible fittings so it can be dismantled and re-used.

Studiomama is based in London and owned by the designer Nina Tolstrup. She trained as a designer at the prestigious Les Ateliers school of industrial design in Paris.

Fabulous creatures

2007-02-07T23:27:00.000Z

Just been taking photographs for work of these brilliant crabs. A friendly seafood merchant down in a local fishing town of Hayle let me photograph them. It was an amusing time as these are live crabs and they were scuttling around everywhere (I'm used to photographing inanimate objects so this was a new experience for me). One male lobster was particularly aggressive.

Bottle Top Bag

2007-02-03T21:06:00.000Z

This is a fab bag by Sarah Bailey a textile teacher and designer I know through my work. She uses waste to make her wacky bags - this one has been made from medicine bottle tops, string, cotton, tubing etc. In today's world where there is so much waste this bag gives me so much pleasure in knowing the origins of the materials.

Second time lucky

2007-02-02T21:37:00.000Z

This is my second effort at creating a Blog as I have been unable to get back into it again. So I have cut and pasted from the first into my second. Fingers cross the same thing doesn't happen again.

Mothers' day

Since my children started school I have been helping the PTA with their fund rasining efforts. At present we are in full Mothers' day bazaar mode. I know valentines day is first but that event seems to be not politically correct just now. We are very fortunate in this village that we have a great number of mums who have making skills, soap making, chocolate making, honey production, jewellery etc etc. Me, well my role is to design posters and memos to advertise the event. I also make little things which the children can buy for their mums on the day. Having been inspired by fellow craft bloggers I have been making little felt products which I intend to make into key rings and brooches which are colourful and sparkly