Slouchy wool hat

Rib and stripes - the easy bit

With stripy triangles to finish the top of the hat

Texture

So a few weeks ago I decided I wanted a slouchy wooly hat.  But could I find one I liked?  Of course not!  Then it occurred to me - I could knit one.
So with the help of my good friend Katie and some books from the library, I've done it.
I started with some rib, then made stripes by switching between stocking stitch.  This was the easy bit and done by the beginning of the week, and then I had to ask Katie's advice on how to finish.  Advice came just in time for me to take my knitting to the Family Christmas Dinner, and rather than be bored in the afternoon, I managed to finish the knitting side of things.  Once home I stitched it all together and a hat was born.
I am so pleased with it.  Its exactly how I wanted it and yet I just made it up.  I love that it came from my own fair hands.  I really can't wait to make some more stuff and try out more stitches. Thanks Katie!

Last Creative Writers of the year

Today we had the last meeting of the year for the Creative Writers group.  
As many of the members are also members of the Poetry group, which meets the week after, and as that would be Christmas Eve we decided to mix the groups together.
What a success!  It was a really good meeting with a lovely mix of poems and stories and even a hymn (which was sung).  And there was Christmas food.
I didn't have anything to read, but I have at least started a new story and I have the idea for a second.  Progress.

No homework this month, but I suggested that if anyone had time for writing they could either use one of the homework's from the past year that they had missed or they could go back to one they had done and review it.

craft&design magazine

I love a competition.  I don't often win, I'm lucky in other ways, but I still love to enter them.  (I love a survey too.)
So imagine my surprise when I received an email to tell me I'd won a years subscription to craft&design magazine along with a wall planner and calendar.  All from a tweet I'd see on Twitter.  
Yesterday my first issue arrive and although I haven't had a chance to read very much of it, the images look amazing.  If nothing else I rather think I'm in for a very inspiring year.
Thanks craft&design magazine.  I can't wait to have a proper read.

Boxes

I love boxes.  And I love making them.  So when, while browsing the web for wedding things, I came across these designs I couldn't wait to give them ago.  Only problem was that when I printed them off they were too small, but this was soon fixed with a little creative photocopying.

There were something like 10 different designs but either they weren't very good designs in the first place or the photocopying messed them up and so they didn't all work.  My favourite design (below) looks great but I can't get the last two tabs down without ripping the card.  Its quite disappointing.  When I have some more time maybe I'll see if I can correct them.

Woollen experimentation

Years and years ago my Dad taught me how to knit.  But although I knew about pearl and plain I didn't know anything else and I just forgot about it.  Every so often I'd think 'I really should learn how to knit again', but I'd never do anything about it.
Then (a couple of weeks ago) I decided I wanted a wooly hat, but I couldn't find any I liked and the one I did I can't get in the UK.  And I suddenly thought - I could make one!

Cue my good friend Katie.  We've been friends for a good 10 years and throughout this time she has always been knitting.  What I like best about Katie's knitting is that while she can and does read patterns, she is happy to try out her ideas without a pattern (her llamas are amazing).  This is my sort of creating.  So over she came for the afternoon, and once we had some wool and some needles we got started.  So far I'm just practicing but if you look (hard) at the above photo you can see the start of some ribs.
This is going to take time and practice and as yet I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it, but I know that Katie will be there ready to help when I need it.  That is, after all, what good friends are all about - I hope I can repay the favour some time.

Hobbycraft - a treasure trove?

Yesterday we went to Hobbycraft.  It was my first ever visit and I was blown away by it.

All my life I have spent collecting materials for making stuff; sometimes out of the bin – cereal boxes or paper that’s only been printed on one side; or from one of my dad’s sheds; or from wonderful tiny art shops where everything you could think of is crammed into this tiny space; or while I was at art college from the old department store across the road from the college who had a great haberdashery department; or even from somewhere like B&Q.

Every project has needed a plan just to get the materials, especially as the wonderful art shops are closing down and I’ve moved to a different location.  So to walk into one big store and find pretty much everything I’ve ever dreamed of and a bunch more is amazing and in away a little scary.

I love those little art shops, you know the one’s where you have to be careful when you turn round that you don’t wipe out a whole display, but they are definitely on the decline and with a store like Hobbycraft around I suddenly understand why. 

So I have mixed feelings about it.  Part of me is amazed at all the wonderful things on offer and I’d happily go back and spend another couple of hours looking round, while on the other hand I would rather spend my money in one of those little shops in the hope that they will continue to exist for a bit longer.  The problem is with the items that the little art shops just don’t have the room to stock.  Where else could I have got the length of balsa wood or the star cutting stamp that we picked up yesterday except maybe the internet?

I think I will have to add it to my list of possible suppliers but just make sure I start with the tiny independent shops first.

Novembers Writers group

Where has November gone?  I turn my back for 1 minute and suddenly realise I haven't blogged for weeks!

Today was the November writers group meeting.  Last months homework gave us a selection of stories about what we think the best things in life are; and my favorite was the description of a wood.  Sounds simple but she had really captured a wood in autumn, with all that colour and rain.  I could see it all quite plainly.
Of course I had nothing to read out myself.

This months homework could be Christmasy, or not, depending on how you feel.  I really will try and do this one.
Grandmother pulled the tray of gingerbread men from the oven and...

Operation Christmas Child

Its that time of year again where I pack a box of goodys for Operation Christmas Child.  These boxes go out all over the world to give a child, who would normally get nothing, a gift at Christmas.  I love this idea much more than just giving money.  I know that some little girl somewhere is going to be given my box and find inside a lovely soft teddy, all sorts of art supplies and a nice warm hat, amongst other things.  Maybe she won't like all of it, but maybe she'll be able to swap some of it with someone else, or share it with another child.  I just hope that she will realise that while I can't do much, I do care.
If you want to make yours the deadline isn't until 18 Nov.

Fleet 10K

Yesterday morning before it got really wet and windy I took part in the the Fleet 10k race.
It was my first 10k race and I was pretty nervous.  I knew I could run the distance but the thing I really wanted to do was run it in under an hour.  At the 5k mark I was feeling good and had a time just over 28 minutes.  Not my fastest 5k time ever, but under 30 minutes and leaving me with something in the tank for the last 5k.  In the end I came in 364 out of 504 in 55:37. 
The fact that the winner came in nearly half an hour ahead of me is a little scary.  That's really fast!  But I am happy with my time and feel that its all good practice for the half marathon next March.  I just need a few more miles under my belt, I hope the winter isn't too harsh.

Rachel Joyce

Last night at the Guildford Book Festival I was on the roving mike for Rachel Joyce's session.  This means that I get to sit in the session and at the end when they have FAQs I have to get the mike to the person in the audience so they could ask a question.
I'd not heard of Rachel Joyce before so wasn't sure what the session would be like, but I'm really glad I got to see this one.  She was so nice and if her books - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Perfect are as good as she was speaking they will be very good indeed.
I just wish I'd been allowed to record it or had thought to make some notes.  I know that I can't remember all the brilliant things she said.  But the one thing that really stuck with me was when she said there was a chap she had seen who needed help, but there was nothing she could do, so she put him in her book so she could look after him there.  I just thought that was a beautiful thought.
You can tell how good she was as not only do I now want to read both her books but I left the session all fired up and wanting to write something.  A feeling I've been lacking for a bit.  Lets hope I can keep hold of it.

And thats the end of my time volunteering at the festival.  I've really enjoyed it, but I keep forgetting it is a book festival then being all surprised that everyone is as enthusiastic about books as I am.  I hope that I'll have time to help again next year.

Guildford Book Festival volunteering

This weekend I've been busy helping at the Guildford Book Festival.

I've handed out clipboards and paper to children, tidied the Green Room and guarded the books while the bookseller went to retrieve some from another venue.

I've enjoyed it so far with one more evening to go, although the festival continues until Sunday.  

My two favourite parts have been 1. watching Alex Scarrow talking to his young fans while signing books for them - it didn't seem to matter what age they were or how scarily keen they were, he took the time to really listen to what they had to say and have photos taken. And 2. being allowed to watch Chris Brookmyer and Mark Billingham for free - payment enough for volunteering.  Chris is one of my top 5 authors (Stephen King tops the bill) and as a budding writer it is always great to hear from 'real' authors.

I'm looking forward to helping out with the roving mikes tomorrow, but I'll also be glad of  some free time again.

October's writers group

Things have been kinda busy round here the last couple of weeks.
We had a long weekend in Frankfurt visiting a friend, my car got really ill and my degree certificate finally turned up.  And did I do any writing?  Nope, just a diary of what we got up to in Frankfurt.  Maybe helping out at the Book festival will inspire me?

Apparently the homework from last month was very inspiring, with stories among others, about dead dogs and tree spirits.  Lets hope this months is as inspiring.

This months homework: If everything in life were free, what is the FIRST thing you would go and do? (borrowed from The One-Minute Writer) 

Guildford Book Festival 2013

As I'm not studying any more and only have a wedding to organise, I thought I might fill some of my spare time by volunteering at the Guildford Book Festival this year - 17 -27 October.  First job, hand out festival programmes round where I live - something to keep me busy on Saturday. 
I'm quite looking forward to meeting everyone next week and finding out what we will be up to, although working full time is going to get in the way a bit.

Septembers writers group

I can't believe we were defeated by a door!  
Because the room was locked, we couldn't find a key and there was no where else to meet we couldn't run the meeting.  How annoying is that!  I will be having words with the department who look after that room.

However I did still get to give homework out:
Imagine you can hear a voice in your head.  What would it say to you?

I look forward to next months meeting with trepidation.

Paper portfolio

Having made all that paper at the summer school, I suddenly realised I had nowhere safe to store it.  Ideally I needed some folders of acid free paper to put my sheets in, but it would also be good if they could be kept under a little pressure too.
After a little thought I decided to put my book binding skills to good use and make myself a portfolio.  
The end result was an A3 portfolio which I am very pleased with; it holds all the paper I made and has plenty of room for more later.  There are a couple of things I could improve on, but over all it does exactly what I need it to and means I can now take my paper with me to show people without having to worry about crumpling any.

Twitter

After resisting for as long as I could I've finally joined twitter.  And what an amazing place it is.  I've already found so many amazing things, which I would never have seen without it.
For instance Anastassia Elias Toilet Roll Tube Sculptures or Cardboard Heaven by Nina Lindgren.  I can't wait to see what other gems I can find out there.

Origami butterfly

While looking for wedding things I came across these origami butterflies on the Go Origami! site.  Although I love paper I haven't done much origami and thought they looked like a good place to start.
They were so easy it was hard to stop at only 2.  I look forward to exploring the Go Origami! site for more pretty things to make.

John Browning Kites

I have been a member of the National Trust for years, first with my Mum and now with 'im outdoors.  I'm always meaning to visit more properties than I actually do, but on Monday we manage to visit one - Mottisfont in Hampshire.  

It had been recommenced by a friend because of its lovely gardens and its small art gallery in the house and I thoroughly enjoyed the walk by the river and round the walled garden, even if we were a bit late for the roses.

But it was the art gallery that really got my interest.  They have a selection of Winnie-the-Pooh illustration on display at the moment which are great, and in the next room they have a selection of mechanical art from the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre which were really fun to watch but it was the kites in the stairwell that got all my attention.

Kites by John Browning, made from handmade paper and leaves in very none kite shapes but which apparently fly beautifully.  They were all works of art in themselves and I spent ages fascinated by the near translucent leaves.

My big question - How did he do it?!  My only thought - I want to do that!

Writers Group - August meeting

This months writers group was a pretty small affair as many people were on holiday.  This meant we got to listen to everyones pieces and do a quick writing exercise.  For our exercise I gave the line ‘I told you I’ve not got anything for you, so why are you following me?’ she asked, her voice trembling as a starting point and then gave everyone 10 minutes to write something.  As always the variety if ideas amazed me.

Homework: While reading our local paper a couple of weeks ago I came across the headline ‘Thieves and saboteurs sought’.  I was most disappointed to find this wasn’t a request for people to join a local theatre group, but a story of a real robbery.  Look in your local newspaper and see if you can find a headline which could be read in several different ways and use this as the inspiration for your story.  Do not use the original story as your inspiration.

Papermaking - day 5

Plain kozo paper

Purple and green layered kozo

Today was the last day of the Papermaking for Artists and Designers at Central Saint Martin's.  I've had a fab week and learnt tons!  But even with everything we covered I know there is still so much that I don't know.  I look forward to experimenting and maybe finding a more advanced class in the future.
Today we were free to concentrate on what interested us, so I spent my time playing with more kozo.  I dyed two separate groups of the fibre - one purple and one green and layered them to see what would happen.  I was very please with the end result (above).
And then it was time to go home with a bag full of damp towels and damp paper samples.
And the question on everyone's lips 'what are you going to do with it?'  My intention all along was to incorporate the papermaking with my book making.  I'm not 100% sure how yet, but I've got a few ideas brewing.  Keep an eye on the blog to see what happens next...

Papermaking - day 4

Beating it to a pulp

Today we started using kozo to make japanese paper.  You might know this as mulberry paper - very fine with the fibres showing.  To use kozo it has to be soaked and cooked which Mandy did last night, then it has to be cleaned of any little bits of left over bark and then beaten with a wooden mallet or rock.  This took all morning.
However Mandy was right - it was worth it.  It is the most amazing paper and by adding tororo-aoi to the pulp suddenly we could dip our moulds and deckles more than once to make thicker paper or to add more colour.
I can totally understand why we started with the western style paper.  While we are pulling the japanese paper in the same way, it is much harder to pull a good sheet straight away and the previous three days of pulling sisal, cotton and abaca sheets have at least given us all a reasonable technique.
One of the best parts of each day is when I first arrive and I can see how yesterdays papers have dried.  Often the colours are quite different and you can really feel the texture of the paper.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how my kozo paper has turned out tomorrow.

Papermaking - day 3

Onion paper

Back to London today for day 3 of the Papermaking course.  This is my kind of holiday.  I might be exhausted by the end of each day but my sense of achievement and excitement with what I have learnt makes it all worth while.
Over the last month or so I have been collecting the skins from the onions I cook with.  Last night I boiled them with washing soda for a couple of hours and this morning I mashed them up in a blender and made beautiful paper with them.  As everyone had used a different plant fibre I got to try out all sorts including green tea and rushes.

Layering colours

The whole day was spent playing with textures and colour.  I love the combination of purple and green layered above.
I also made my first A4 sheets using my own mould and deckle.  Sadly its too big to fit in my vats (washing up bowls) so I will have to get bigger vats and smaller mould and deckles. I feel a list coming on.
Tomorrow we start to look at Japanese papers, so learn a new technique.  I can't wait.

Papernaking - day 2

Cotton with bits of postage stamp

Day 2 of the Papermaking for artists course and wow my feet hurt now.  Not only am I walking to and from the college every day but we are also on our feet all day and it starts to take its toll when you are used to sitting at a desk all day.  
But who cares when I am creating my own paper!  Above are my new favourite items - a round mould and deckle which makes round paper.  I probably hogged this more than I should have today and 'im outdoors is going to have an order for one and several different sizes of normal rectangular mould and deckle when this is over.  I am in love.
It probably helps that along with a really great tutor we've got a lovely group of 8 who are happy to share materials and help each other out as we go along.  Of course working in a group of any sizes does mean that sometimes the pulp gets contaminated, but as we are learning and playing its not a big deal.
Not only did we make round paper but we also played with pigments too, making coloured paper with little hints of other colours in.  I can't wait to see the dried papers tomorrow.
The other thing I leant today is the need to use hand cream.  Spending all day with your hands in water really drys them out.
Now I am boiling onion skins that I have been collecting for the past month ready for tomorrow.  I wonder what onion skin paper looks like?  Guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out.

Papermaking - day 1

This morning I got an early train into London with a huge bag of stuff for the Papermaking for artists and designers, but I made it to the Bank Hill campus of Central Saint Martins in good time without loosing anything and had a brilliant day making paper pulp and turning this into small sheets of paper.
I have wanted to make my own paper for a long as I can remember, my first attempt was using algae from the garden pond when I was small, so to be doing it for real was amazing.
We used cotton and sisal as our base and then added other papers to them, the above are a green and purple version.  The fact that by the end of day one I had 8 different A5 sheets to take home (once dry) made me very happy.
Our tutor Mandy Brannan obviously knew her stuff and it was a great first day.  I can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Life's little challenges

I've been rather quiet over the last month.  
A wedding to organise, a new computer to purchase and get used to and finally something even more life changing to get our heads round; 'im outdoors has been diagnosed as a coeliac.  This means he can't eat any forms of gluten and requires a huge change to our diets.  
No bread, cake, pastry, sausages, pasta or OXO cubes for us.  Of course there are gluten free versions of these and many foods, but now before anything can be eaten we must be sure of its content, which at home is easy with a little concentration, but more difficult out and about.
So now that these three things have all been worked on, venues nearly booked, computer very happily working, and kitchen cleared out and new gluten free products in their place I can start to think about other things, the most exciting of which starts on Monday.
Papermaking for artists and designers at Central Saint Martins starts on Monday and although I have the usual nerves about being able to find the place and have I got everything I'll need, I'm really exciting about learning a new skill, something I've been wanting to try for a very long time.  Fingers crossed that next week will be a relaxing change from the rest of life's challenges.

July writers group

My home computer has finally given up the ghost after 7 years of essay writing.  Maybe it knew my results were about to be published and my degree announced!  Or more likely it feels I have been ignoring it since May.

But even with my home computer out of action I still managed to write something for this months meeting.  At the last meeting I set the homework to write about somewhere you love but don't get to visit often.  We had quite a range of places interestingly all in the UK.

This has always been my favourite beach, although I don't get to visit that often.  To be honest I love the whole of this coast line and know it well.
This time, for once, we have perfect weather, sunny with a light breeze.  
When I was a child I loved to stand under the evergreen trees near the other car park, the busy one, and pretend I was in some tropical place.  The dark green leaves against deep blue sky with light blue water and golden beach was perfect.
We are on the other side today.  The side with all the beach huts and the long walk to put people off.  Of course you could get the boat but its still just a little too hard for some people, and it is Friday so quiet anyway.  We nearly have a section of beach to ourselves.  
Today I am sun bathing, not something I do often.  Laying on my front I can see sand and salt grass and the sky.  I have to sit up to see the beach huts.  On my back I can see out across the bay to the Island, across deep blue water, calm today but not always so.  If we wondered down the beach and round the head it would be a different matter.
And then he gets down on one knee and asked my the question and showed me a shiny silver ring with a huge sparkle in the centre. With tears on my face I say yes.

This will always be my favourite beach.

As you can see recent events managed to get themselves into mine, but it is a real beach and one I really do love.

This months homework:

Describe in detail one item you would love to inherit from a relative or that you have inherited.  Use this item in a story or poem.  (borrowed from The One-Minute Writer)

Change of plan

Last weekend we had a trip to the beach.  The weather was beautiful, the setting was beautiful and 'im outdoors made it perfect by asking me to marry him.  What could I say but yes.
Suddenly the list of things to do has changed considerably, so expect to see more wedding based projects up here while my other projects once again take a back seat.

Repairing a book

Just before I finished Lola a friend asked me if I could rebind his book for him.  I said yes of course, but did warn him that I would be busy for the next month and he would have to wait.  The answer - no problem.  

After a weeks work it is done and I have to say I am very happy with the end result.  I hope he is too.

A well loved book

Using paste to remove the old binding

The new cover

Corners

Waiting for the paste to set

A new lease of life

My second 5k race

I started June with a 5k race for charity and I ended it with another 5k race, this time for me.  And I am very pleased with the results.  Out of 185 people who finished I came 77th,  17th of the 89 lady's racing, with a final time of 26:39.  That smashes my PB, as you can see from the photo I am very happy with this result.  I wonder what I should do next?

The first project

Today I made a start on my first real project since I finished studying with the OU.
I need to repair a friends book but to do this I need some starch paste.  I haven't made any for years but luckily I'd made a note of the recipe from 2008 - it came out perfect.  
Tomorrow I'll get repairing...

June's Writers Group

It was a good meeting today, with a great discussion about using dreams as inspiration in our writing.

Homework: Think of a place or a person you love but don’t visit very often. Write a detailed description of the place or person. Now use this as the inspiration for a story or poem.

Paris - a long weekend

I've been a little quite recently I know and part of that is due to a long weekend in Paris.  We had a lovely time - you can read all about it on my Not all who wander are lost blog.
Things should get back to normal now, and I'll be able to get started on some of those projects...

My first 5k race

This morning I ran my first ever race.  A 5k Race for Life with Cancer Research.  My sister and I ran together and managed not only to raise nearly £300 for Cancer Research, but to run the full 5k in 33:59.  This isn't the fastest time ever but I am very happy with it - my sister had hurt her knee and we thought we might have to walk it.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored us.  It really motivates you to know that we are helping such a worth while charity while doing something we love.
I really enjoyed it and can't wait to run my next race.  This time for the love of racing rather than for charity.

The end

Today is the deadline for the last piece of work for Lola and assuming I haven’t done anything too stupid, the last piece of work for my degree.

Over the last 7 years I have taken six 60 credit nine month modules covering a range of subjects from the humanities, creative writing, history and design.  It has not been easy and I am grateful of the support of my friends and family, particularly ‘im outdoors, who have been so understanding when I have had to miss things due to essays needing to be written.

The fact that it is over still hasn’t really sunk in yet.  My Sundays are now free for me to do as I please rather than slogging through text books.  My evenings can now be used for reading or writing fiction rather than writing factual essays.

If asked if someone else should take this path I’d say yes, but make sure you do subjects that excite you.  Part time study is no place for subjects that bore you.

As a reward for my years of study I have given myself a pair of Vibram 5 fingered shoes and I can not wait to use them on some of those Sunday adventures I’ve been looking forward to.  Hello world!

Workspace

Right at the beginning of Lola we were asked to take an image of our work space and post it up for everyone to look at.  Mine might be small and busy but I like it and everything I need is there.  Of course this is only a small part of my workspace – on the other side of the room is a work bench for book making etc.

Now I’ve just found this article on 40 inspiring workspaces and I can see many to be jealous of.  Oh to have that many books and that much shelf space! 

But if I’m honest I don’t think I do too badly.

May's Writing Group

It may have been a small group at the writers group this afternoon but we had some stunning work read out, my favourite being about an old horse chestnut tree that had been taken down decorated by an image of the stool which had been made out of the old wood.

I even remembered to take my own small story to read out too. A piece of flash fiction about pigeons, which went down well.

This month’s homework was inspired by The Clash and ‘Should I stay or should I go’.

Use the following as either the starting line or the inspiration for a story or poem: If you don’t want me, set me free.

Paper making

With only a few weeks of Lola left I've 1) been very busy with my final project and 2) been thinking about what I should do next.  All being well Lola will be my final course with the Open University for now and so I hope to be able to get back to my book binding.
But I still feel the urge to learn something new and I've always wanted to make my own paper and would love to make my own paper for covering my books with.  A search for paper making course came up with a summer school at Central Saint Martins in London and once I'd read the itinerary for the week I was hooked.
It's all booked now for August and I'm rather excited.  The list of things to bring is long and includes the molde and deckle above, which will make the train journeys interesting, but it's giving me something to think about for after this final deadline which is just what I need.

All Things Paper

If you've read any of the posts here you will probably have worked out that I love paper.
So imagine my delight to come across the All Things Paper blog!  It really is all things paper with a wonderful selection of things from round the world - paper flowers, paper dresses, paper vegetables etc and some great projects which I'm sure will keep me busy from June.  Watch out for them here.

Sad Roboto

Another wicked design from the Toxic Paper Factory.  This sad roboto will be joining me at work with the rest of my paper models.  Its very therapeutic to build them while letting your mind think about something else, in this case my next assignment.

April writers group

The writers group met up today.  Just as I'd promised I'd finished my short story only to leave it on my desk and remember it as I walked in the room.  Very annoying.
The session went well although due to the holidays we were a small group.

Homework: This month I bought some Rorschac ink blots with me. Select one that interests you (search for them in google) and use it for inspiration for a story or a poem.

Address book

Another joy of having some time off work and no huge essays to write is being able to work on projects for me.  It might look like one of my normal books, but this one is a little different on the inside.  Its an address book with every other page dedicated to a letter and room at the back for extra notes.  I started it at Christmas but didn't have the time to finish it.  All done now, I look forward to using it.