31 Jul 2005: four links
In the spirit of actual 'web-logging,' I present a few links for your consideration:
The Finster Log -- The near-daily goings on of a group of finches in a flight, plus one ridiculously cute parrotlet named Peanut. I'm way too interested in the lives of these little brown birds (plus little green bird).
'Creative Spaces' Livejournal Community -- I love this, as well as this. It seems that a good studio area inspires not only its creator, but anybody who sees it as well.
Cooking with Anna -- Okay, so it's technically my page, on my site, and there's no new content. But there is a new design, featuring my #1 cow-shaped creamer (which seem to be making a comeback, now -- I got mine at an antique store when it was still kitsch-y).
Molly Chicken -- The bulk of my blog reading material is written by crafty ladies, so it's tricky to pick just one. But I think these animal purses are beyond cute -- the attention to detail is excellent!
There. So that's some links for you.
22 Jul 2005: and crochet, no less. tsk.
The dangers of worklessness are everywhere you look:
Jamal gets his own cat ears.
Oh, and just in case you were thinking of applying for a work permit and the necessary visa as a sort of weekend project -- don't. I mean, unless you've got a super excellent job to go to. Then yes. But be prepared.
20 Jul 2005: cat tested, booty approved!
Here's a picture of the quilt, folded, erm, pre-quilting. I'll try to get a good picture of the middle later, but I think you can tell, even from this photo, why I'm not signing up for anymore triangle projects soon. Not so tricky, but very boring. Even though I started with detailed plans, the quilt went wonky very quickly once I got sewing. After five straight days of mad work on piecing it together, I took a break out of frustration/boredom. Now that it's semi-completed, I'm rather fond of it, despite its many mistakes features.
After talking to Rob for a while today, I said I should go to make sure no cats were lying on the quilt (which I had left folded on the back of the couch). What did I find?
Booty's been a big fan of this quilt ever since I bought the fabric. At least somebody loves it!
17 Jul 2005: quilting squirrels
Just when I swore off triangles (I think I've finished sewing all the triangles for my real quilt -- which this obviously isn't.), I came up with a mini project.
The latest issue of Country Living (the UK version) has an article about dying with indigo, which also includes several other plants to try for various colours. My original intent was to dye a few scraps with marigold blooms, but I actually wasn't too happy with the colour it produced (it worked VERY well, though -- the yellow was actually much stronger than what I was hoping for). We had various berries on the counter for breakfast, so I played around with those.
Blueberries worked the best, though the cherries, raspberries, and strawberries also produced lovely colours. I dyed some scraps of the white-on-white pattern I used for my big quilt, and made the quick and sloppy creative and unique mini-quilt above to 'showcase' the colours. Click here for another shot with labels for the various dyes.
As I mentioned before, it's about a million degrees in Minnesota, which has been affecting the local wildlife. The squirrels can often be seen taking a break from squirreling and stretching out:
15 Jul 2005: quilt, hot, cats
From Friday evening to Wednesday morning, I spent the majority of my time working on the quilt. I've since slowed down, now that I only have a few quite easy bits left to do. As you can see, Booty's been quite helpful in the process.
It's stupidly hot in Minnesota, and it hasn't rained once since I arrived. If only I knew a place that's cloudy, cool, and rainy 75% of the time. Hmmmmm. At least there are cats here. I like how Mew Mew framed herself between the chair legs in this one.
08 Jul 2005: anybody can make a quilt! right? right??
Points awarded to America for having giant fabric stores. My mom and I went to Mill End Fabrics today; there used to be one (well, still is) in Burnsville, and it was always a bit dreary and dodgy, but the location here is great. It's still a big warehouse-style shop, but the selection of fabrics is outstanding, especially for quilting. Among other prints, I bought these:
I'm planning a quilt out of these, and I'm approaching this task the way I do most new things: I'm just assuming I'll be able to do it and am diving in. I've only done basic squares-type quilts in the past, but I'm designing a pattern for this one, which is a little bit silly of me. Oh well! I've just got to finish the top (or finish cutting the pieces out for the top) within two weeks, so I can buy more fabric if I have to (and I already know I'll have to).
I love (er, really like) the pink/red patterns in a way I thought I could never love printed fabrics (I tend to lean towards heavier, textured fabrics in a covetous way). I'm not crazy about the blues, but they're the right colour, so they'll do.
Right. Let's get cracking.
08 Jul 2005: thirty bus
Thanks to Rob and my mom for passing on the news that my flight went smoothly and I'm safe. I wasn't even sure what had happened in London until I landed in Minnesota. Rob and I saw a snippet of a news program which was talking about a bomb on a bus, but I didn't catch much about it before I had to get on the plane.
I take the 30 bus from Highbury and Islington to the office every day. It was very strange to hear that, out of all the buses in London, it was a 30 which had been (randomly?) targeted. The local news had a picture of a 30 bus this morning, and they spoke to some regular riders who haven't been put off their daily journey by yesterday's events. Imagine: seeing my little 30 bus on the Minneapolis news.
At any rate, I would have been safely at work (had I gone to work yesterday) by the time the first incident occurred. Even if I had been on that particular bus, I would have gotten off long before it reached Russell Square.
Still, how strange.
06 Jul 2005: clotted cream sure SOUNDS heart healthy!
I'm unemployed. Well, for a couple of weeks, anyway. I'm leaving for the States tomorrow, where I'll be until the twenty-first (if everything goes to plan -- ha!) while my work permit is polished up.
I'm not allowed to be in the UK while it's being processed, so obviously I'm not allowed to be working during that time. I've been taken off payroll, and I'm feeling the squeeze. What if I never work again? What if -- hey, do you think I can collect unemployment for two weeks?
I haven't been back to the States since January, and I'm a bit worried. I was sitting around the other day when I realized I'd have no access to clotted cream. But what if I want clotted cream? Oh no! I spent several minutes plotting how I could sneak it in my luggage before I realized I almost never have it anyway, and two weeks without will hardly do me any harm.
Just to be safe, I had a scone with jam and clotted cream at Liberty yesterday. Whew.
02 Jul 2005: busy busy
A trio of recently handcrafted items (click above to see the larger image). I made the turquoise pouch last week, I think, and stumbled upon an excellently easy way to do pouches with zippers. I've gotten better with top zippers, but having them on the side is extra simple.
Last night, I made the pouch with Liberty fabric. It has a flat bottom and (as shown) can stand up on its own --not that a pouch would need to. This is some of my favourite fabric, so I might end up hanging onto this pouch, even though there's no way I need another one.
Lastly, I made this bag this morning. I'd seen similar bags in Japanese pattern books, but I thought I'd give it a whirl sans pattern. The darts and the flat bottom really give the bag a nice shape (held by interfacing); I'm surprised it didn't wind up totally on the wonk, considering I more or less made it up as I went.
This one is pretty small (didn't want to waste fabric in case I messed up the whole project), but I'm really pleased with it. It's the perfect size to use as a small handbag for the essentials or -- ideally -- for a little girl to carry around her jewels and cell phones, or whatever it is that little girls have these days.
The homemade bias tape (which is a lie -- it's not on the bias at all) turned out really well, although it's clear that it be much easier on a larger scale; tight curves with such wide tape was a bit tricky. If you're somebody I see on a regular basis, and you happen to spot a bias tape maker, I'd be much grateful if you'd pick it up for me, and I'd pay you back.