My name is...

Oh lookie lookie what I got in the post yesterday. Very exciting!! My website, sewn onto tape, so i can sew them onto anything i make. Especially the brooches i'm doing right now! :D

One person's trash is another's treasure!!

I found these wonderful cups and saucers in a charity shop a few weeks ago, but haven't had the camera to take a good picture. The whole set cost me £2! I don't have my own kitchen in which to display these yet but you have to snap things up when you see them! Or you'll kick yourself when you go back and they're gone. I learnt this lesson after missing out on a jumper with hedgehogs on it! One of those with them going down in lines all over the jumper, not one with just massive hedgehogs sewn on the front, quite different.

Things That Make Me Feel Happy About The World

As a variant of a theme, from Chris' 'Things I Don't Care About' blog entries, and Ian's 'Did you know?'s. Here begins my...

Things That Make Me Feel Happy About The World.

NUMBER ONE:

Architechturally beautiful and well landscaped residencies.

BedZED. A zero energy development by the Peabody Trust.

A good week!!

This week has been a jolly good one!! It was my birthday on Tuesday which was great. I had birthday breakfast with Ann and Terry, which involved presents and cards as well as food! I will post pictures when the light is better. I got a recipe book for cakes, biscuits etc, some cookie cutters and the most amazing pink metallic teapot! This is a photograph must!

Chris got me The most wonderful book, 'The Gentle Art of Domesticity' by Jane Brocket, who has a wonderful blog called Yarnstorm, which you can find a link to on the right of this page. Aaaaah it is the most wonderful book, about all the most delightful things i savour in life - baking, sewing, knitting, quilting, reading, gardening. It is beautiful. He also got me a Momiji doll, and a bag and mug for my tea which are Momiji too. AND i got Russell Brand's autobiography and a picture of Alan Lee, my favourite Ipswich Town footballer. That was a novelty present!!



The rest of my week was spent as follows -

Wednesday - I had a migraine all day, couldn't concentrate and learnt hardly anything in my PGCE class then had to leave First Diploma Printmaking early to go home early to nap, then onto Chris' for yummy Shepherds Pie and falling asleep on his lap during the abomination which was the football.

Thursday - Foundation/National Diploma 2nd Year Textiles. The students got an amazing project which i want to do myself, i may even do that, and i learnt how to set up a loom and did a spot of weaving - Brilliant! A great day!

Friday - PGCE class in the morning then National Diploma 1st Year Fine Art for Fashion and Textiles class which was great, i'd worked with that group of students before and they talk to me well and worked brilliantly, even the boys were good and can't help but wear their unusual creations!

Last thing, we went to an exhibition at the Town Hall Galleries - interesting. I should have entered work.

And now to bed.

Chuffed...

Recently i've felt so inspired and full of ideas, more than I have for many many years. I have finally found that I am comfortable with my own artwork, I have learnt to not feel insecure and try a little self belief. I love what I do now, which again is not something i've felt for many many years.

I've recently done a little weaving. I enjoy this a great deal, I just can't find enough crazy yarn in different colours. I particularly like the ones that I would never even consider making something out of, the ones that have a long piece of what is usually cotton with litle fluffy, sparkly or wooly bits hanging off it. I really love the thick stuff too.

Great News!!!

The Archers is now a podcast!!! Go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/archers. YES The Archers is now available as a podcast!!

Southwold Umbrella Competition

Last Sunday Ann, Terry and I went to Southword to see their Alternative Umbrella Competition and have breakfast with friends Carol and Melvin, not to mention also enjoying the company of our friend Sorrell Grove and her partner Jeff. This is THE Sorrell Grove who recently won the Times Newspaper Back Garden of the Year competition!! I have sat in this now well known garden and taken tea, and it IS a beautiful garden.



Anyway, unto the umbrellas. Below are my highlights. The one that won is the origami cranes at the bottom. I was surprised to hear that it had won as one of the themes of the competition is to use recycled materials, maybe they did and I just couldn't tell. My favourite was the umbrella pencils, and I voted
accordingly!


Southwold is an absolutely stunning seaside town on the north coast of Suffolk, if you live close by and you've never been you should definitely go. Unfortunately I imagine you will fall in love with the place, I say unfortunately because house prices in Southwold have rocketed as people from London have bought the property as Summer homes and now even people who live in Southwold cannot afford to move.

A beach hut recently sold there for £90,000.

I still dream...