Woolly thinking

This article in The Guardian yesterday about 'graffiti knitters' got me doing a bit of a search when it included a picture of a crochet covered bus from Mexico -




and this morning I got an invite to join Nutty Knitters - knitting not necessary - for a lunch and opportunity to join a group to knit or sew together - going tomorrow, so looking forward to that.

ten ten ten

I was going to take some significant photographs today, but some how I haven't managed it. However we had a great lunch out with one of Mr T's old school friends and his wife.  Mr T has only met up with him a couple of times since 1974! So as you can guess there was a lot of catching up to do. I'm afraid I am not used to eating in the middle of the day and fell asleep in the armchair when we got home!
Yesterday another of Mr T's old school friends who we have reconnected with this year, brought his son over for lunch. John was a lovely lad  and soon made friends with Marvin who is a sucker for a brisk brush down with the deck scrubber.

Marv with his new friend - John

and oh yes, that is me and Mr T with John. Both of us looking a bit scruffy I hasten to add. Mr T has his gardening jacket on and I have a long overdue visit to the hairdresser tomorrow. But I thought I knew you all well enough now to see us in our everyday state!

And John took this one of his Dad and Mr T.

(  I was looking at the picture on my side bar and I had to smile. It suggests that my character from a Jane Austen novel would be Elinor Dashwood, I think is time to  face reality, I am more likely to be cast as Mrs Bennet!!)

o0O0o

Yesterday I put these book covers in my Etsy shop.

I'm not sure about that blue background, your opinion would be gratefully received.

The sky matched that blue today - hopefully the sun will be shining again tomorrow.

Wishing you a good week,

Jill

this week

The weather has been lovely the last couple of days and to show I have a life beyond sewing I thought I would draw a sellection of flora from  the garden. In fact I could have filled several pages as there is so much blooming at the moment including primulas and bergenia - are they late or early I wonder. I was going to post some photographs or my sewing, but now Blogger won't even load the  insert image window.  I am writing this on my lap-top where as the picture above was scanned into my PC a couple of hours ago. So I am not sure if it is the lap-top or Blogger playing up! Yes I am a two computer household - my laptop was a retirement present, and I must say that  I love sitting with it in the evening whilst Mr T watches something  on TV I'm not very interested in - most programmes can be taken in with only a brief amount of attention, I'm sure you'll agree. Although he does sometimes 'test' me to see if I paying attention (LOL).

I have switched to 'Internet Explorer' from Google 'Chrome'  and this seems  to have helped, a bit ironic as I think Google is connected to Blogger.

I've been using the ironing board as an extra work table which is great as I can adjust its height easily. I used the pliers for closing some 'keeper' rings for attaching some charms to the cords on the purse as I haven't and suitable coloured beads.

My button tins are getting a lot of use - here are another couple of purses. They haven't sold as well as the book covers but I really like making them - here are a couple of details.

I find I have favourite patches - stem stitch is my embroidery stitch of choice at the moment, plus French knots. I love the red candy stripes - here with added seed beads.

I love the colours in this one. My favourite machine stitch is the blanket stitch here done in a lovely varigated thread.

I have made a matching purse and book cover in red, black and white. Hopefully they will appear in my shop over the weekend along with some more book covers.  I must say I really enjoy putting the different fabrics together but making sure I photograph them effectively is a bit more of a chore.

Now I must try to catch up with everone else's post. Busy weekend ahead, so posting on the shop will be a priority, hope you have a great weekend - the weather forecast for the UK is pretty good. Hope you are ready for 10/10/10.

Jill



October begins

September completed

The month has been as busy as my pages suggest and is significant in that it has seen the launch of my

Etsy shop which turns me from being retired teacher/pensioner into self-employed crafting business woman (well sort of). My work room has become a bit of a production line lately with several sewing project at various stages, but and it is a big but ... my first love is dabbling so I must build time into my days for this. Of course I am prepared to put in the hours needed at the moment to get the shop up and going, but I hope I can get the balance right. It is very flattering when your work sells and I do like doing a bit of stitchin'

October begins...

I made these pages by first dyeing them with brusho powder watercolours. Rather than cut out the squares, this time I drew them and bleached out the colour. I then drew illustrations. You may notice that the 31st artfully falls from the row like an autumn leaf - or like an erratum slip (when you realise I missed out a  square). This page fulfilled an urge to doodle - now it is back to the sewing machine! I shall find time later to catch up everyone's calendar pages on the flickr site - there are many who have managed to keep going through the month  and well worth a look - it's downhill now to the end of 2010!!

The last day of September

We had a lovely day today - a welcome break in some wretched weather this week, so I took the camera for a walk in our local park. Luton has an excellent Parks department and has several well kept parks and we our very lucky that the best is within easy walking distance from my home - so join me in Wardown Park.

It was still very wet underfoot,

Shooting into the sun.

Sat by the lake

Through the willows

Eyeing me up!

View from the bridge

That's me on the water

Time for reflection

Not the sort of Ratty you really want to see

The daisy-chain wall in front of the museum

It has taken me ALL evening to upload these photos. Some took five minutes others about 30 seconds and it made no difference what size file they were either. I even tried to create a Picasa web album (which I think I did) but I can't access it!! Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Another job or two

I've been photographing my wares today I thought that I wasn't making a very big impact with straight photographs so I thought I would give myself another couple of jobs - photographic director and stylist. I should have taken a couple of 'how I did it' pics which would have made a better tale. But never mind. First I got out my jumpers and coat and hung them on the front of the wardrobe. I set up the camera on tripod as the light was so poor I knew I would have to use a slow shutter speed.  Then I started on my scarf drawer and rediscovered  couple I had forgotten!

This is my new jumper from Monsoon - now I need to sell lots of book covers. (My sister has bought exactly the same one!) I'm having lunch with friends tomorrow and if it's chilly I can wear it, but the flower is for sale - I shall have to make myself one now.

and my coat I treated myself to last winter, which I hope I can still button up!

I love this Laura Ashley white knitted scarf but I've hardly ever used it, but now it has proved useful to set of this purse.

I thought this one might look good with denim.

More blues!

This is a beautiful two toned chiffon scarf that is rather too large to use, but I like to get it out and look at it every now and again. Do you have things like this your wardrobe!

 I'm not sure if I am ready to apply for a job as a photography stylist yet, but it was great fun and my photography course certainly helped. Next time I promise not to mention the shop!!

Sunday, Sunday

I don't want to use my blog just to plug my Etsy shop, but all of you dear friends who encouraged me have only got yourselves to blame if I keep going on about it!!  As it is a new enterprise it is dominating my waking hours at the moment. At least any of you who may be thinking of doing the same thing can share my experiences. I know I have got to put a few hours in setting things up and hopefully when I have got used to the procedures I can do this more quickly. Of course just making stuff to sell is only the start. I have spent hours looking at other posts deciding how I can make my pieces eye-catching as there are hundreds if not thousands of rivals. Here are my new book covers I have stitched this week. My first one sold immediately which was very gratifying, hopefully these will too.

I thought I would photograph them with some accessories to make the pictures more eye catching.

Now I need to start looking at magazines and catalogues for ideas for making the photographs more striking,

Now I am going to enjoy my Sunday evening watching some television with Mr T.

I hope you have a good week and I'll be back soon.