TinkeringTimes

Autumn

Autumn, as collected by a three year old, in the safest and most precious place he knows.

Technorati Tags: autumn,conker,England,trike,childhood,play

Thank you

To my little one, who has just learned, all by himself, that it's nice to give flowers. And to Elsie, for leaving me the perfect vase to put them in.

(And in fact while I'm at it, to hubby, for moving your model aeroplane at last off the top of the Dansette giving me my nice pink and green space back.)

Sandy

 

You might remember me admiring *this* gorgeous bunny. Not least for it's understated, subtle, appearance. So I bought the pattern and set about my first attempt at amigurumi.

Ahem. As you'll see my attempt was slightly less understated and subtle! really I was using up remnants of yarn leftover from two baby blankets so it is what it is...

Also my local haberdashers didn't have any of those beautiful pure black plush eyes and I just couldn't wait for any through the post so we settled for Manchester's finest alternative.

But all in all for a first attempt I'm actually pretty pleased. And since its was a mere six rows in, toddlerboy took one look and said his name is Sandy and claimed it as his own. So it's well loved no matter what. Just as well really.

Pollocks to it.

OK humour me, yes this is a child's painting not in fact a Jackson Pollock. (Depsite the clearly way above average use of mass, movement, balance and confidence of colour)

However what I love most about this is the genius who is my toddler's key worker at nursery, who spent a long time on toddlerboy with this until she finally got the story out of him that what he has painted here is...... "daddy cooking beans in the sunshine"

And that is why I love good nursery staff!

A new adventure

A lovely something came my way. A perfect and rare chance to really combine all the things I love. Children, the internet / social media, craft, design, art, learning, museums and galleries... you get the gist.

What is this magical thing? I will be writing three times a week from now on for AOL's parenting blog www.parentdish.co.uk

Sounds great! And it sounds easy but I know it won't be - eventually I fear inspiration may run dry, so if you have any suggestions of short pieces I could create related in any way to the subjects listed above, please do pipe up with suggestions, links, ideas, press releases, products, events, research reports and other interesting bits and bobs.

The image, by the way, was one I found whilst trawling for something suitable. It reminds me of all the mixed emotions I had when pregnant, setting up my little one's room. The excitement and fear in equal amounts that has never gone away. (Although the cot has recently made way for a big boy's bed).

prezzies

a little round up of some of the many fab and unexpected prezzies we received for Jude, thank you so much to anyone who sent us things... (there are lots more but I don't have photos of them all)

baby towel - with ears, aaaahhh; and blanket. from the white company
thankyou Richard & Jess

hat and boots - probably from someone on etsy but I don't know who...
thanks Vic

babygro & t-shirt with handstitched motifs in the cutest wrapping paper ever!
from Crib - thanks Jenny to at Aurora Bloom

How to catch a star - beautifully written and illustrated
thanks CJ

Skwish - from me; which I love because it looks like some 1950s atomic sculpture!

green furry monster (modelling 6 years worth of Elle Decoration!)
thanks Cath - he rocks!

Story book from Pollyanna, which was her dad's when he was little - which makes it very special.
Thanks Pol

lady of leisure

Day 2 as a lady of leisure - i.e. after finishing work and before the baby arrives...
It's been lovely spending time sewing without feeling guily about other things I should be doing!

So today I whipped up a cusion cover from this gorgeous vintage fabric I've had stored away for a few months. It's a cotton / linen mix and has such a lovely density to it.

In the shop

And reading this book mum brought over for me - it's an easy read but so full of character and touches lots of things relevant to me right now. A touching, colourful and charming tale of two strong women, a rainy grey city, family ties and a passion for cloth, family history, vintage clothing and fabrics and the lives and loves around them. Definitely worth picking up...

And a guy I knew at school came by to talk about the UK DIY crafts scene which was a joy - to find someone as obsessed by it as me, but also someone male who's interested in it - few and far between!

He has some fantastic ideas about support for the UK scene which I'll be saying more about as the year unfolds hopefully - but as a one-off for now he's running a crafting stall /event / installation at the Interesting 2007 conference and has taken a stash of purses and birdy brooches from me to include in the goings on, so if you're there keep an eye out for a few of these and grab yourself a bargain...

Kind of busy for a lady of leisure then! Though there was also some sitting out in the sunshine eating ice-pops...

leaving do for the self employed...

Tomorrow is my last day of work before starting maternity leave.
Since I'm self employed and work from home on my own and therefore won't have anyone throwing me a leaving do, I'm inviting my virtual friends to join me for one instead...

If you'd like to join in please bring your photos of tea, cake, champagne, big lunches, party hats, silly dancing to 80s music, and whatever else seems appropriate to this flickr group and discussions anytime tomorrow (Friday 1 June).

or post your comments / pics / links etc to this post

hope you'll join me for Friday jubilations...

babe's room

the babe's room is coming on nicely - nearly done now. new additions:

gorogeous blanket and cushion from Quiltbaby



birdy mobile is finished and up

rearranging

Finally started rearranging things around the house to make room for baby so...

Step 1: This sofa, now fully reupholstered, packs away and moves into the loft.
Step 2: This sofabed comes down from the spare room and replaces the first sofa
Step 3: The cot goes up in the spare room, now baby's room
Step 4: Just because we're in the mood we finally also put the mirror up that replaces the one I smashed - oops!

And for extra detail:


1. Frances, Eyore, Elmer, Skini-Bear, Bunny, Mouse and George move into the cot (tho those with buttons and badges are on a short term lease, moving out somewhere safer when baby moves in)
2. Nik's dinosaur moves onto the window - at least whilst I decide if its shadows are too scary...
3. Nik sewed this plane, I love it and so it moves onto the window too
4. Gorgeous blanket knitted by my mum is laid out in cot all soft and cosy for the little person.

So we got through quite a lot in a Sunday and we're feeling very happy with the results!

things to make and do

I'm finally back at my pc after days and days away so I've been able to see all the lovely craft streams in my rss feeder, here are a few of my favourite finds - please try one out and let me know how you get on...

1. National Handwriting Day Ok it was last week - 23rd Jan, but I was in London and anyway I'm on a mission this year to write people more letters on lovely paper and in home made envelopes. So far the lucky recipients are loving a cheery bit of mail amongst their junk and bills. So I suggest you do your bit too as a belated national handwriting day gesture, go on, you might like it.

2. Valentine's Day - which I haven't missed (yet). My cards are normally ribbon based in some way or another, but I might try one of these this year - they're so adorable (and a bit less girly for hubby!) So here's a lovely robot based pdf template for you.



3. For no reason at all other than it's just beautiful, make an origami star vase. Not sure it'll hold much water but I bet it looks fab full of buttons, badges, pens, ribbon or whatever you have too much of in your house.



4. A little not-so-light reading - bare with me... this one came through from the makers of marvellous Etsy so I know its going to be interesting, an interview with Naomi Klein of No Logo fame. I've not read it yet so take your chances but Etsy don't usually get it wrong.

Happy happy days.