homemade home

 We all know how to make a homemade home don't we?

Do we need to be told?

 Back in the summer I gained the name of shelf girl, 

after my junk shop purchase,

that I dragged around Lymington 

on a girls day out.

 A project which I had been looking for 

ever since our trip to Barcelona

 After a few hours of stripping and staining

ta-dah!

I was going for the antique look rather than the faux painted distressed look 

which seems to be everywhere now.

 Its now part of our bedroom, 

and fits well I think..

.. vintage cheval mirror an Internet purchase,

oak wardrobe bought from friends,

homemade curtains,

handmade quilts..

 Back in spring I redecorated

Remember my tester patches of ladies foundation?

We went for the maplewood by dulux, 

which is really cosy and I like the way the
darker colour highlights the picture rail.

note: the sofa does not belong in the bedroom, 

it got put there and then left!

Okay so here's a sneaky peek of my big hex..

I'm thinking of naming it 'tutti frutti'

I would like to dedicate this post to Lily Allen

whom I have been thinking of a lot this week.

Life can be cruel sometimes..

..a pretty bedroom doesn't mean a perfect life...

xxx

snowflake season?

  Anyone noticed the unseasonable warm autumn we seem to be having?

I'm big on coincidences!

I cant help thinking that since I made my chunky scarf/cowl

the weather has been more
spring watch than autumn watch!

Therefore it is with crossed fingers that I bring you

snowflakes

I've gotten really addicted to these.

I like the challenge and the moment when the instructions sink in!

Here are a few of my favourites so far..

This is named the ships wheel by snowcatcher

Do stop by this lovely blog, 

the designs are inspired!

Now these snowflakes do look quite complicated

but truthfully they are not! This one is quite enjoyable.

The first two are about a hands width,

so I had a look about for something smaller.

And found the above on crochetville

Its my favourite, its so quick and easy.

This last one wasn't my favourite, but I do like how it turned out,

even if I did make a few mistakes!

Here they are!

These were crocheted on a 5mm hook using

sheba double knit cotton

(nothing too pricey!)

Blocked with many pins and stiffened with spray starch.

I have tried making my own, with water and cornflour,

I found that when dry, the flour left white specks everywhere

especially on coloured wools.

Also the majority of these patterns

are written in USA crochet terms

Great conversion chart here

Everyone get your hooks out!
And if I'm right..

..there should be sunnier days ahead!

update:
' Forever Autumn'  by Jeff Wayne
is playing on the radio!!
Darn it!

remember remember...

 ...works in progress november!!

 I was so very close to cutting into my new fabric stash,

I'd even cut out lots of hexagon templates...whoa!!

the heat of the moment
is playing on the radio how very apt!

Remember the giant hexagon quilt I started?

Thats why I have spent all year gathering all kinds of fabric!

I think the crochet sorta took over the year..

I'd forgotten how much I do love patchwork!

This week I've spent many an hour in awe.

To check out what I mean just visit

fat quarterly

warning..you may be there sometime!

I'm off

got diamonds to cut..

updated:
  If you want to give paper template patchwork a go
here is a tutorial of a similar design.

bright idea

 Well three posts in as many days; must be some kind of record or madness..

Or record of madness?

I just had one of those sparks go off in my head and ta dah here it is!

I finished my chunky cowl last week, 

neither loving or hating it...

...until my remembrance of this 50p pendant I got at the V&H fair

anything to keep me from cutting up that fabric!

my creative space

 So I have finally relocated to my creative space,

fed up with the mess I create around the house.

Plus unfinished floor boards are cold and up here I have carpet,

even if it is covered in thread, and boy is it covered!

Is it Turner Prize worthy?

I can hear the art critics talking about how the triangles lead the eye, 

and all that!!

 Now that I have my new machine,

and with the hope of selling my wares, 

I have purchased some fat quarters from 

Saints and Pinners

(so much easier than trawling through the usual auction site)

 The colours are actually more vibrant.

My love for vintage fabrics has not waned.

I need the consistency of new whilst I hone my making skills.

Vintage fabrics can be unpredictable.

So I'm taking this slow, 

instead of my usual 

bull in the china shop attack!

My first ever buttonhole!!

The love for my spanky is growing...

autumnwatching

 Not another Autumn post, where I go on about the beauty and the colours!!

Okay..lets talk photography.

I am not a professional and this is not a

blow my own trumpet post!

I appreciate a good a snap that's all.

Firstly I think the most important part of taking great pictures is having great light.

These pictures were taken Saturday morning thankfully before the grey moved in.

Without the sun, well I probably wouldn't have bothered.

 Be creative.

The beauty of digital is having the choice to make mistakes.

Don't always go for the obvious.

In the past I have taken many shots of this tree, 

generally slap bang in the middle,
which makes a great photo, 

but can get a little boring.

 Of course there is always one exception to the rule!

Especially when its a lovely steaming New Forest pony.

 Sometimes in the middle works when the subject is the most important feature.

Here I wasn't working with the light, 

I loved how these trees are standing in a queue.

Looking at it now I could probably crouch down to achieve more sky, 

like I said I am not a professional.

Mainly I just snap away.

 Get in amongst it!

Taking a different route on your usual walk
can gift you with some super tranquil scenes.

You may even get lucky and surprise a sleeping deer,
like we did.

It did make us jump when it sprang into life!

No photos this time.

I love observing nature for real, not always behind the lens of a camera!

I did kick myself for a while after though.

 Here I was bouncing the sun off the water,

 which gives a bit of life to an otherwise average shot.

Horizon

The best way to create a dramatic scene is to move the horizon line.

The ratio that works well here is
two thirds land and one third sky,

it gives a great perspective
and the allows the eye to travel up.

This works equally as well the other way round, 

especially when there is a beautiful sky.

I quite often think of the impressionist painters when I use these ratios...

...something I might try soon.

I hope you enjoyed my little ditty?

I shall leave you with the second most important aspect of taking great photos..

the subject matter
  which sometimes just speaks for itself!

In the words of Sir Christopher Packham 

  'get off your sofa, get out there and enjoy the great British outdoors. ...'

... and don't forget your camera! 

edited* yes I was wearing my scarf 
thankyou Julia