tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18108266638989994602024-02-07T20:30:06.350-08:00Rhymes with ShoeSusan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-45629203902162345952013-08-16T14:37:00.000-07:002013-08-16T14:37:28.914-07:00Stealing is WrongI just heard a scooter drive by on my street...and I felt a frisson of anxiety and anger.<br />
<br />
Today I cycled over to my friend's house in Streatham. As usual I put my handbag in the basket on the back of my bike, using my lock to secure it to the basket. I'm fairly blase these days about cycling in London...sometimes cars and buses try to squash me, sometimes pedestrians walk in front of me, and sometimes I buy way too much at Sainsburys and have a little trouble getting home without things falling off/out...but generally everything works out okay.<br />
<br />
As I cycled up my friend's street two guys on a scooter bumped me and the passenger grabbed my handbag and yanked, trying to free it from my basket. I hollered a bit and we had a bit of tussle over the bag but I was still straddling my bike so was kind of getting knocked about a bit as the guy yanked on my bag. Eventually my basket broke and they drove away with my large pink handbag with a big U-lock hanging off it.<br />
<br />
So I dusted myself off, hopped on my bike and cycled the last 200 yards to my friend's house. They picked a perfect time to target me...I'd just pedaled uphill for from Brockwell Park (that last bit from Tulse Hill station is brutal) and was almost to the downhill. This meant I was totally focussed on those last few yards of uphill and not on the potential for two jerks to try to rob me.<br />
<br />
The police came round to my friend's house in less than 5 minutes and were very nice. I have some painful bruises and a big lump on my shin (but really they weren't trying to hurt me - if they had been they could have very easily done so). I've cancelled all my stuff but I won't get my three balls of lovely green wool back, or my 2.75mm needle or Franklin Habit's pattern that I bought in printed form when I took his class....or my Zumba card (with 5 more stamps left). There are so many things that were in that kitchen-sink of a bag, many replaceable with only a little trouble...but have I lost something much harder to replace? I'm worried that I'll be less confident to go out in the world on my little bicycle, that I'll look with suspicious eyes on people I would have blissfully ignored...Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-52578994616262019202012-04-16T13:21:00.000-07:002012-04-16T13:21:30.148-07:00PJs....jammies....jimjams...pyjamas....Well, I'm joining in the fun happening over at <a href="http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Karen's.</a> I love to lounge around the house in comfy pyjamas. I have to dress up for the office so when I get home I like to change into something comfortable and most days I reach for fleecy pyjama bottoms, a raggedy M&S t-shirt, handmade wool socks and a woolly jumper. <br />
<br />
To be honest, some days I wouldn't want to answer the door in this get-up...the colour combinations aren't always easy on the eye and well, many of these pyjama items have seen better days. I prioritise warmth over fashion so in my drafty house I wear whatever keeps me toasty warm.<br />
<br />
I found this lovely vintage pattern when I was thrifting near my parents over Christmas and this is what I plan to use for Karen's PJ Party.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGdVj-Hg01vxa-BiuAtQvD-buwBd2GooaCwU-DxRXt8FbdadgoVKMh_W_u7VePxxSuwFMWK5hAhiCKwF-gD5RdZCZvWMfR5zsBOBYdCJ0z5hwHiBaJZ088RejFMTjT7ka0nZBjaZaNHE/s1600/PJ+image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGdVj-Hg01vxa-BiuAtQvD-buwBd2GooaCwU-DxRXt8FbdadgoVKMh_W_u7VePxxSuwFMWK5hAhiCKwF-gD5RdZCZvWMfR5zsBOBYdCJ0z5hwHiBaJZ088RejFMTjT7ka0nZBjaZaNHE/s320/PJ+image.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't they look like they are having fun? I am pretty sure I have suitable fabric in my stash. I have some great purple spotty cotton and some plain purple which be just the thing!</div>Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-53894010829414328692012-02-18T09:00:00.000-08:002012-02-18T09:00:53.585-08:00Red and PinkMmmmm the house smells so yummy<br />
<br />
I've been industrious today!<br />
<ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Washed out the vegetable drawers in my ice box (I'm not sure what possessed me, but they were empty and I seized the moment)</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Posted my five mittens to afghans for Afghans</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99ynQPqvL93vbgH9D_NOpMkl9kafeeHPLOeLyJ5z22IAopQNcm5_5ikxgJMLojVMN2CVpovEGzoxOKomzb0sSyyZq3hYsSruJfATaA0M8_jhfu8bb33t0a0ykKI6OqFvIALI-QDYAWjM/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99ynQPqvL93vbgH9D_NOpMkl9kafeeHPLOeLyJ5z22IAopQNcm5_5ikxgJMLojVMN2CVpovEGzoxOKomzb0sSyyZq3hYsSruJfATaA0M8_jhfu8bb33t0a0ykKI6OqFvIALI-QDYAWjM/s200/IMG_0388.JPG" width="149" yda="true" /></a></div><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bought a refill for my laundry detergent - I use the ecover brand and there's a shop in East Dulwich which refills them</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bought a bunch of lovely veg at the organic veg shop - aren't they gorgeous! I just love the vibrant colours of veg, the red-pink of beetroot juice just makes me happy</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo1AiobDUHzPZt9WmMZAXpiAebtCR1WYcQ8n_a8qKY-Zp8YL3giLK6ltsmQg-IsoSPP00BhNFX4Hg1W0LsalWg9vTjPWg6EAcfWeuSXssL7IUfow9Wpt7lHiQsShn-nQS-KOSsLgOBHg/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo1AiobDUHzPZt9WmMZAXpiAebtCR1WYcQ8n_a8qKY-Zp8YL3giLK6ltsmQg-IsoSPP00BhNFX4Hg1W0LsalWg9vTjPWg6EAcfWeuSXssL7IUfow9Wpt7lHiQsShn-nQS-KOSsLgOBHg/s200/IMG_0395.JPG" width="200" yda="true" /></a></div><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bought three kinds of cheese from the lovely cheese shop two doors down</li>
<li>Made rhubarb compote, yum! for putting on my yoghurt</li>
<li>Cooked up beetroot greens and sausage - very yum for my lunch and leftovers for another day</li>
<li>Cooked the beetroot (for some yet to be determined recipe in the next couple days)</li>
<li>Chopped up a pineapple</li>
<li>Made <a href="http://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/honey-peanut-butter-booster-bars/" target="_blank">breakfast bars</a></li>
<li>Spoke to one of my sisters</li>
</ul>Phew, I'm ready for a cuppa tea and a sit down. It's hailing here in Peckham so a wonderful excuse to chill out...I wonder if there's a period drama or a Miss Marple on the tele.Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-39599036455160655572012-02-17T11:10:00.000-08:002012-02-17T11:11:51.143-08:00Thrifty goodness<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week I started a new job just up the road from New Malden station. I’ve been heads down absorbing information and trying to remember everyone’s name. Today at lunchtime I wandered out into New Malden high street to investigate.</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What did I find? Well my goodness gracious I discovered that New Malden is charity shop heaven! I went into no less than six charity shops during my 45-minute jaunt (and I only made it half way up the high street).</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was rather overwhelmed by the number of shops and have to admit that I only gave each a cursory walk-through. I tend to focus on the housewares section of any charity shop, looking for pretty dishes, picture frames, glassware, candleholders, knick-knacks, and similar. Apparently many of my fellow New Malden workers like these things as well because in each shop there was a cluster of people congregating in housewares. I also like looking through the clothes, but in my quick lunchtime whirl-around I felt I needed to focus.</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my second shop I patiently waited behind a lady who paid for her £5 purchase with pennies and five pence coins.</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my fourth shop, while waiting my turn to look at housewares, a cross-stitch book caught my eye and I realised I had been neglecting to look at crafty books!</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my fifth shop I remembered that bed linens make excellent fabric for toiles.</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my sixth shop I saw a huge cone of (wool?) yarn for £5, reminding me that people donate crafty things.</span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div><div class="yiv281245263MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I came away from my most enjoyable lunchtime with a very little sweet glass vase which I hope to fill with flowers from my very own garden come spring.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOYH-CKoHv_JBAhw7-KkT-gKveczX-ekDxhPnvCzXejLl6kqYaeCvvZvlFKP7jsTcfjwXJJP5BxfPunnaAhmtTji-LK51hNIHcT27IX9EbT5j7mYLdF8-1cxY2B9NNmQjJwGGW8LVJUg/s1600/Sweet+little+vase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOYH-CKoHv_JBAhw7-KkT-gKveczX-ekDxhPnvCzXejLl6kqYaeCvvZvlFKP7jsTcfjwXJJP5BxfPunnaAhmtTji-LK51hNIHcT27IX9EbT5j7mYLdF8-1cxY2B9NNmQjJwGGW8LVJUg/s320/Sweet+little+vase.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></span></a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-57553188649209253352012-01-30T09:22:00.000-08:002012-01-30T09:22:02.382-08:00Fraud!Well it happened again. I was just trying to make a simple internet purchase with my debit card and it was declined. Hmmmm, I thought, this is odd. I double-checked my balance to assure myself that the money hadn't run out yet. Two minutes later my phone started ringing. It was the bank calling to tell me that the local police had reported my card number as one of many they'd recovered from somewhere dodgy (he wasn't real clear on what the police had found). In any case it meant my card was immediately cancelled and my replacement won't arrive for 5-7 days. Now call me crazy but I don't have a bunch of back-up cards from other banks. I try really hard to be financially sensible and I don't have any credit cards, just that all important debit card. So 5-7 days without access to money could be a real issue for me. Luckily I just stocked up at Sainsburys and recently withdrew cash so I should be okay.<br />
I would like to know the deal is though, I mean this has happened to me at least 10 times in the last 10 years, most recently back in July. My bank has assured me I'm not doing anything weird to encourage it but I'm starting to feel suspicious.<br />
<br />
In crafty news, I have been knitting lots of mittens for the <a href="http://www.afghansforafghans.org/currentcampaign.html" target="_blank">afghans for Afghans</a> appeal. Here's a little sample of the ones I've finished.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNzXl85ubIwX-d21nf7NVd8XYd0czTGOhDwEzIvvAZSZk127HAx3S3ecQcj3X5Ogmr6rFcpOOtmJSIA_6qwEMuSKDqi78QkHe0oaHVSeILVSK2SIBRdQVqmBqUPtu1XqktFePDNsUu6Y/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNzXl85ubIwX-d21nf7NVd8XYd0czTGOhDwEzIvvAZSZk127HAx3S3ecQcj3X5Ogmr6rFcpOOtmJSIA_6qwEMuSKDqi78QkHe0oaHVSeILVSK2SIBRdQVqmBqUPtu1XqktFePDNsUu6Y/s320/IMG_0381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mittens in peacock formation (:</td></tr>
</tbody></table>They are especially looking for jumpers so I think I'll see if I have some stash that could serve. I see the deadline is the end of February so if I get my skates on I should be able to knit something with larger wool. I reckon I'll need to allow at least a week for shipping from here to America where they pack it all up for shipping to Afghanistan.Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-70296830326066722682012-01-20T08:21:00.000-08:002012-01-20T08:21:33.051-08:00Listy FridaySince I've been a bad blogger recently, here's a random list:<br />
<ol><li>Today I heard a funny noise while I was getting ready and looked out the window to see a man beating up a DirtDevil hoover. He was bashing it on the pavement in a rather methodical way. After about five minutes (during which at least three passersby asked he what was up) he collected up the bits of hoover into a big black bin liner and wandered up the road.</li>
<li>I'm just finished knitting a preemie cap using this <a href="http://carissaknits.blogspot.com/2007/07/preemie-hats-for-charity.html" target="_blank">pattern</a> by Carissa Knits. I like to have something to knit while I'm watching television or travelling by bus/train. These will be the perfect little mindless project with a nice charitable outcome at the end. Also, I reckon it will use up all manner of oddballs.</li>
<li>I finished a Beignet skirt, which is lovely, and wore it out to brunch with a few friends on Saturday.</li>
<li>I pulled down the old roman shades that were in my kitchen when I bought the house and replaced them with new handmade ones (with a proper thermal blackout backing). I've washed the old ones and they are drying now. The fabric is a lightweight decorator fabric and I'm considering reusing some of it to make a skirt. Possibly a wearable muslin of the pretty scalloped skirt in the Colette sewing handbook.</li>
</ol>That's all I have for now...perhaps something with pictures tomorrow (:Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-40816102476394259492012-01-09T10:28:00.000-08:002012-01-09T10:28:11.134-08:00Snot factoryI have a cold. I feel yuck. I don't even really want to knit.<br />
<br />
Bring on the Lemsip with medicinal whiskey.Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-86617864168504152572012-01-07T09:02:00.000-08:002012-01-07T09:02:30.100-08:00I sometimes wish yarn could talk<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas 2010 I knit a very pretty shawlette for my sister S using just more than one skein of this gorgeous sunstone Socks that Rock. The pattern is free on Ravelry - </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/echo-flower-shawl" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Echo flower shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen</span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKjN00a5saySEbcN7rqpaPqmJV5nbAVAGbMgl1q4umofM41d2pXde54LmIHZAddXNUwXr5Z_VWDv5UA7SwPYmtX9ie8rjEDFLt-YG0Ii5dm9WzkC8Ch_xYAxDkmvW98foPc1POG5Q5_M/s1600/DSC_0942-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="131" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKjN00a5saySEbcN7rqpaPqmJV5nbAVAGbMgl1q4umofM41d2pXde54LmIHZAddXNUwXr5Z_VWDv5UA7SwPYmtX9ie8rjEDFLt-YG0Ii5dm9WzkC8Ch_xYAxDkmvW98foPc1POG5Q5_M/s200/DSC_0942-1.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Echo Flower Shawl</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxjIDI8fjt6HjqdPOTX6mmseNkhlAkelKbBehNnavX1OA0coovg1lPyeB5feEYoHv4ryRjTxo6FryutK0k4QLzbPLgtMe0Vz02ls6xc8XwXZ_ukjSiMfmbAl_U9c6TONahSMBXB1pkKY/s1600/DSC_0943-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="131" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxjIDI8fjt6HjqdPOTX6mmseNkhlAkelKbBehNnavX1OA0coovg1lPyeB5feEYoHv4ryRjTxo6FryutK0k4QLzbPLgtMe0Vz02ls6xc8XwXZ_ukjSiMfmbAl_U9c6TONahSMBXB1pkKY/s200/DSC_0943-1.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gorgeous, I think!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This left me with just less than a skein of leftover lovely sunstone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I wanted to turn it into something I would be able to wear – I love little neckerchiefs (as my sister A calls them) so I looked for a pattern on Ravelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knit my little heart out on a half circle shawlette….</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3zNGGVuqGQ1C-WVHfZbbSJ4YzEEGQk4Yeav5XgM4NEmkb2qs0PduY4i_MtMbp6j23FBCch6PxVEP38UZk5h-qhJBw-GCszAssoFOPAsaro4dw-58ESCSnYN2UDWEuEiw0TgtY9vz-QI/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3zNGGVuqGQ1C-WVHfZbbSJ4YzEEGQk4Yeav5XgM4NEmkb2qs0PduY4i_MtMbp6j23FBCch6PxVEP38UZk5h-qhJBw-GCszAssoFOPAsaro4dw-58ESCSnYN2UDWEuEiw0TgtY9vz-QI/s320/IMG_0345.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realised that despite its prettiness, the half circle was simply too small to be a useful little scarf – I know I would be endlessly re-positioning it and rescuing it from falling off, which would inevitably make me shove it into the back of a drawer. So.... I ripped it all out. sigh.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I let a bit of holiday knitting distract me - I’ve knit a lovely hat for my brother C, a pair of Duffers for my nephew/godson J, and an endless scarf for my sister C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN6jkSnLGLdTl6U-CrPjIJ8XzDMvOg5eS2FxoRgvwntjC4aNlcJeEwBmkZjfYTUiqWIhvrMgadxiv3ea8Q0ffvyQ0zCTQFUZmoUN40IQJe_L3FgES6WDQR9VWkEaIkK_y-RGOeJQgvwo/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN6jkSnLGLdTl6U-CrPjIJ8XzDMvOg5eS2FxoRgvwntjC4aNlcJeEwBmkZjfYTUiqWIhvrMgadxiv3ea8Q0ffvyQ0zCTQFUZmoUN40IQJe_L3FgES6WDQR9VWkEaIkK_y-RGOeJQgvwo/s200/IMG_0361.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that ball of lovely </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">orange Socks that Rock keeps winking at me from the corner…what, oh what does it want to be??</span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div></span></span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-39328679708433421402011-12-06T04:07:00.000-08:002011-12-06T04:09:11.503-08:00The return of the Christmas bags<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several years ago I sewed cloth bags to wrap all of my gifts for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were a big hit with my family and the bags were swiftly repurposed for all manner of uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(My favourite is the bag which now holds fifty or so wooden spools that my grandmother saved from her sewing – the spools are very popular with the younger nieces and nephews.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So last year I was visiting my parents in the states and nipped over to JoAnn Fabrics and bought a selection of Christmas themed quilting cotton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had it squirreled away all year until last week when I decided to make more Christmas bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a more accomplished sewist now so I made them with French seams and even included drawstrings on a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t meant to be a tutorial, as there are many excellent ones available online already, but I thought I’d explain briefly how I made mine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZGIFSpxqQgneCrIJtGpfXUGn7HNIoPrJDc42hAh6s9IEVjfxhF6YRJmgR9ma8Q8JbQCUQVfxiZkTfLZpWrwsnyA55nLjPLtg1zdP8SOu6Y0t5-jPllXsOG6hMhaf8OLcKbiSQUOS4KM/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZGIFSpxqQgneCrIJtGpfXUGn7HNIoPrJDc42hAh6s9IEVjfxhF6YRJmgR9ma8Q8JbQCUQVfxiZkTfLZpWrwsnyA55nLjPLtg1zdP8SOu6Y0t5-jPllXsOG6hMhaf8OLcKbiSQUOS4KM/s320/IMG_0333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having laundered my fabric, I snipped and ripped it into squares and rectangles of the appropriate size for the item I wished to wrap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pressed them and finished the upper edges by turning the edge ¼ inch then another ¼ inch and stitching to enclose the torn edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I stitched the other three edges (or two edges for those folded rectangle ones) wrong sides together, pressed/trimmed, then stitched with right sides together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhpgDr3jTBxV2O-qXeUygAVXjJbog1hXR-wiN1cSAIQBkmfJd1Mg7HBGXa4xua4futW5WJYik3-4JV6MZi1muKDwNFeiHuy36p8q3_quBtJacIFuHBmXtKmFQjwlcfX0J-kTnN3RNL6Q/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhpgDr3jTBxV2O-qXeUygAVXjJbog1hXR-wiN1cSAIQBkmfJd1Mg7HBGXa4xua4futW5WJYik3-4JV6MZi1muKDwNFeiHuy36p8q3_quBtJacIFuHBmXtKmFQjwlcfX0J-kTnN3RNL6Q/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally I stitched on a length of ribbon, about a third of the way down one side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Voila – a finished bag. I’m also using these charming little wooden gift tags from </span><a href="http://www.craftshapes.co.uk/cat_gifttags.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CraftShapes</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I had grand plans for painting them or staining/varnishing them but it simply isn’t going to happen this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they are nice just as they come.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-I5R_VNMVePqztntQ1YvVCH2TjuCWnqlNjorgUq-seEnktU7qc1vjoAMEPY9-L5QV8RhPGJK7Z90ukzdKzu3PnKNhkPe5JpMV1CrpeO7uOUNykhyphenhyphenc4Wt8czB6CII6VYb-mJMzft08nM/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-I5R_VNMVePqztntQ1YvVCH2TjuCWnqlNjorgUq-seEnktU7qc1vjoAMEPY9-L5QV8RhPGJK7Z90ukzdKzu3PnKNhkPe5JpMV1CrpeO7uOUNykhyphenhyphenc4Wt8czB6CII6VYb-mJMzft08nM/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1810826663898999460.post-14560549793266664212011-12-02T10:38:00.000-08:002011-12-02T10:38:33.324-08:00Finish it up – itis<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, it would seem that I have contracted a serious case of finish-it-up-itis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it was inevitable, given all the WIPs lurking around the house, but the intensity of the illness has taken me by surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I began by quitting my job, a task that I knew needing doing for over a year, without a new job in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next, I sorted through my yarn stash and re-discovered all sorts of WIPs needing just a little fix or a bit of tidying up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A week later I felt compelled to turn that pile of fabric into something useful (Simplicity 2245 Lisette Portfolio Dress).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I realised my sudden extra free time meant I could actually cook meals for myself so out came the 1000 Vegetable Recipe book and a small parade of yummy dishes soon followed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And finally, having thought about starting a blog for a while, I decided to seize the day and give it a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I intend it to be a place to talk and showcase about my handmades, but I reckon it will take a little while for it to fully form.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m hoping that this finish-it-up-itis turns its attention to my need for an income and pushes me into a job search in the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it might induce me to get the hoover out or clean the hob more frequently, but this doesn’t seem to be part of the disease.</span></div>Susan_in_Peckhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08827999903368727624noreply@blogger.com1