A room with two views

Oh ... my ... goodness ... have I been feeling strange today!  There appears to be some sort of mutant virus doing the rounds, everyone has differing symptoms though the common ones are feeling dizzy, fluffy headed and vaguely queasy.  So I've been wondering around hoping that no-one would want to speak to me as I couldn't concentrate on anything, and was more than likely to fall over into the bargain! 

Instead I spent my day being kind to myself, drinking tea (but of course!) and being gently creative.  This involved painting some of my spirit dolls which I will be selling at the autumn fair.  I really should share some photos of them belong too long.  Anyway, whilst replenishing my strength this lunchtime I was sitting in one of my favourite spots and thought it would be nice to share them with you too.  They are my creative thinking spots, and I'm lucky enough to have 2 in the same room!

As it's summer and we have no need of the fire, we like to have a change about and move the sofa in front of the fireplace, where I'm sitting now, giving us a view of the outside and my fantastic, oversized red chair which was a Christmas present this last time round.  I've always wanted a really huge chair that I can curl up in with room to spare, and one was found!

Swapping sides and sitting in this gorgeous chair I can now see my lovely fireplace sofa, complete with pile of crafty, inspiring books and magazines.  It's also the dog's favourite spot for a kip.  Can you see the row of tiny, knitted and felted hearts?  They will be for sale on the school's craft stall - I have been very busy!!  They are so cute I'm not sure how many will actually make it to the stall ...

There you have it - a little peak at my little world of creativity and inspiration - where's your favourite place for contemplating the world and what you want to do next in it?

Pinch, punch, it's the first of the month ...

Woah, where did February go?  March already, and just over 3 weeks to the fair!!!  I still have lots of making to do ...

Do you like the pic of a praying mantis we found in our garden last month?  Actually it's more accurate to say my husband found it on his foot :)  He calmly put it in the plants - I'd have been running round in circles screaming!  But I do love the look of them at a distance - they look otherworldly don't they?

'ello ...

Ho hum ... have you seen the episode of Dr Who with the Master, with the drums beating in his head?  That's how I feel at the moment - with the drums of time ticking by - very dramatic.  But February is almost over and I have so much to do!  I've even forgotten to blog and to send my nephews their birthday pressies - bad Aunty!  Wish it would all stop just for a few moments so I can catch my breath ... 

It's accurate to say I'm feeling overwhelmed - 4 weeks to go until the Autumn Fair and I have lots of things to make, both for the school and my own stall.  I'm also feeling the pressure of  'coming out' and admitting I'm an artist to the world at large.  All of a sudden I have that small voice in the back of my head whispering 'are you really an artist?  are you sure?'  I produced a flyer the other day and realized with dismay I'd produced something I may have done at school, something with a beginning, middle and end and not very exciting to look at.  It took some honest talking from my husband for me to break out of the mould and get creative to produce something a little more artful.  Some things are difficult to unlearn!  BUT I am getting there!  And of course everything will be done on time and in 4 weeks and 1 day I will be breathing a huge sigh of relief and downing a huge cup of tea!  It's all good fun really xxx

Giving myself some (cupcake) space ...

Crumbs ... I haven't blogged for ages.  I've got caught up in working towards something and forgotten everything else.  That something is an Autumn Fair happening at the end of March - I'm having my own stall (yay!) and also helping to produce some creations for the craft stall, so it's all go at the moment.  As well as building up some stock, I'm also having to work on my website, so any interested parties can visit it after visiting me in person at the stall.  I did have some mini dramas trying to set up my webhost, only because I didn't really know what I was doing, but a phone call and an email later and I'm now set to build my creative space in the cyberspace!

It's all too much excitement to take, and called for some strictly-nothing-to-do-with-the-fair creativity today - cupcakes ahoy!  Using my new cakestand and display board (made by my husband from our favourite floor materials!) for the first time.  Very swish.

Back to the production line tomorrow - I love it really.  Will keep you updated!  May have some lovely sour dough to show you as well - I did kill my first starter, but started a new one and we have some results - now to bake bread ....

My Creative Space: Crochet Along Show and Tell

Work in process

My lovely wool-eater CAL is going well - I've decided I don't need to go too mad as it's lasting for the whole year, and if I did more than one row per week, the blanket would be big enough to cover the house by the end of 2012.  I'm so loving the bright colours!  Though it is a tad hot to be doing ANY crochet at present - 37 degrees today and 39 forecast for tomorrow apparently.  YUCK!  Guess who will be taking the car to school?  I am just such a wimp when it's hot ...

Detail - yummy ...

roll on the time of year when I can snuggle up under my delicious crochet blankie ....

See what other delicacies are on offer in the crafty world of our creative spaces ...

Simple thank yous ...

Oooh, I've so many creative goodies to share, I'm going to have to do it over a few posts!  Today it's time for some honourable mentions for my birthday - I had so many beautifully thought out gifts; a fluffy, feathery soft scarf in purple (my favourite colour) and some crystals to light my way in my new business.  And some gorgeously special handmade gifts, such as my chocolate cake made by a friend and her little daughter and the amazing card above - each hexagon has been individually cut out and stuck onto the card to make a paper quilt.

And so many others gave their time in sending greetings, making gifts, phoning with birthday messages; I felt very spoiled and very loved.  Thank you so much xxxxx

Happy Birthday to me! :) Celebrate with the Super Singapore Sling

Only a little post today, I have had such a lovely day celebrating my birthday, with lovely friends and my gorgeous family, from both sides of the world xxx  So in a minute I'm going to phone my birthday buddy then go to bed!  When I envisioned my day I knew I wanted to have a 'Singapore Sling' and share it with dear friends, which I did.  So as a little giftie to you I'm putting the recipe here for the best Singapore Sling in the world (it's almost a guestpost, as the recipe has been tweaked and perfected by my husband, and typed up by him for our use ...)

Duncan's Perfect Singapore Sling:

5 shots of quality pineapple juice
1.5 to 2  shots of gin (sapphire is great)
1/4. Shot of freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2.        Shot of cherry brandy
1/3.        Shot of Benedictine
1/3.        Shot of Cointreau
1             Dash of Angustura bitters

Shake in cocktail mixer with ice, strain and pour into a long glass over plenty of ice. Add a lime wedge and top up with soda water.

Go on, find any excuse to try one.  Then let me know what you think :)