The Canterbury Trot

My poor neglected blog!

It's sometimes difficult to find a good level of intimacy with my lovely readers: if things are going well I don't wish to prattle on about them and seem smug, and if things are more difficult I don't wish to moan.

But here is a little adventure I can share with you: last Wednesday I went to the new Yarn Club Social Knit, Stitch & Crochet, in its gorgeous rural location.

I extracted my bike from the cobwebs and saddled up. The way was further than I remembered, but I did not mind, as it was so refreshing to be out in the countryside. I had wonderful encounters with ducks, herons, magpies, and cattle, and despite it being a grey day I arrived feeling uplifted.

I must remember to wear two pairs of socks next time, as it is the sort of building where the cold seeps through the floor, but I have found a great pattern for some aptly-named leg warmers on Ravelry and this seems like as good an excuse as any to make them.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/some-cloudy-day

J. told me a while ago that I looked like an apache when I was riding my bike, with my hair streaming behind me as I crossed a grassy field. This is just how I felt as I made my way back to the city. I am not a horsewoman, but I image that a good cycle feels a little like an invigorating canter. I didn't even mind when mud splashed up onto my face... although I did get a few strange looks!

Disappointments and Social Crafting

Strange things have happened this week, nothing world-rocking, but things that have left me feeling underwhelmed with my fellow human beings: a let down, a theft, a few more let downs, a bad cheque that someone wrote me... you get the idea I'm sure. 

Yet, I have been consoled as ever by my wonderful nearest and dearest, and my lovely cat. I have also really enjoyed the company of other women at the 'Knit & Natter' and the 'Stitch & Knit', where we have bonded over our crafts and vented our frustrations. Or maybe it was just me venting my frustrations! They are both such lovely groups of women which is a real blessing.  

When the sun showed up for five minutes this evening I wandered into the garden, braving the still Arctic winds, and had a look at these three faces. They're a diverse bunch from around the globe, and yet they seem at home in each other's company. Yet, they are all masculine, and in honour of the feminine creative spirit I think I need to find a mermaid or something to sit out there with them. 

I decided to run some craft classes from my garden over the summer, which was a really positive and exciting step.

Another Beautiful Day, & Handmade Me #2

Once again today I thanked whatever it is that gave me the fortune to have been born and raised in this beautiful part of the world, not to mention having the senses to be able to drink it all in, and the mobility to wander through this landscape in a reverie. We visited another favourite haunt, with wonderful wild fowl and luxurious gardens. I was excited to meet this little chap pictured above amongst the blossoms. A brush with a curry plant inspired us to come home and get cooking. 

It was also the first outing for the jumper I made a few weeks ago, although I have to admit I needed my duffle coat over it in the arctic wind! I am pleased though, as it was comfortable and takes me on another step towards operation 'Handmade Me'

Life Lines and Learning

Although my background is in mainly in sewing, I have become very excited by knitting and crochet in recent times. Today I took advantage of the quiet house and indulged in these passions. 

Part of the appeal of these newer skills is that I feel like I am learning all of the time that I do them, especially so with knitting. I have a little lacy project in alpaca on the go at the moment (amongst my many, many current projects), but I can only do it when I am feeling fresh and focussed as I make mistakes so easily. Happily a lovely friend recently introduced me to the concept of 'lifelines' in knitting, and I have begun to make use of them. What I once regarded as almost the dark art of making something stunning from two sticks and a ball of string still foxes me from time to time!

This is another of my ongoing projects. It started life as just some samples to accompany my teaching, but it seemed pointless just to make squares to no end, and so eventually it will be a throw. This is barely a quarter of the squares I need. The colours and patterns look unbalanced and disparate as yet, but I think it will come together. And if not it will just be a ramshackle throw, reflecting my journey, each stitch a little part of my life.

But, it was against this background today that I received some sad, and yet not unexpected news. Immediately a recently viewed clip of George Harrison (one of my heroes) remarking how "life carries on within you and without you" came to mind.

It seemed an appropriate day to be musing on lifelines and learning. 

Holiday Week

This week has been exceptionally enjoyable: from the Kaffe Fassett exhibition in the big city, to some time at our favourite local seaside town, to a spot of kite flying, to bonding over a dvd... let me try to take you through some highlights

On our day in London the first stop was the Fashion & Textiles Museum in Bermondsey to see this bijou exhibition of the work of Kaffe Fassett. Packed into the small galleries was a riot of colour, from his drawings, through mosaic-ed pottery, to tapestries, quilts, and of course fabulous knitwear. It was a real holiday for the senses, and an uplifting experience which refreshed our lust for life. 

I have a real love of blue, and blue and white ceramics especially, and so the pottery-inspired elements were of particular interest to me, as was the touchy-feely sensory wall.

After the rich experience of the exhibition we were refreshed by lovely Bermondsey, followed by a long walk across Tower Bridge and all the way to the National Gallery where we hoped to take one of the free tours they offer. Unfortunately so many other people had the same idea that we decided to wander around the Impressionist works, and then to the National Portrait Gallery to see the Native American Indian portraits. They were very vivid and had a real immediacy to them, perhaps because the artist knew he was documenting a culture which was sadly on the wain.

Later in the week we visited the seaside, and the highlight of that day is definitely summed up by this glorious image. How lucky we are! We had to top that day off with fish and chips, surely it would have been some sort of crime not to? 

Hand Made Me

I am gradually trying to phase out elements of my wardrobe (the mass-produced, bargain basement, cheaply made elements), and switch to a capsule wardrobe of clothes which fulfil strict criteria: they have to be things I just love and cannot bear to part with, vintage clothes, or things I have made for myself.

This is part of my one-woman rebellion against the exploitation and tyranny of fast, cheap fashion. We have seen a swing towards 'slow food' over the last few years, why not 'slow fashion'? Sadly, the regular stream of unhappy news from the factories of the developing world just reinforces my beliefs that there is a price for clothing, and if we are not paying that price here in our stores, then it is likely that somebody else is paying in another way.

I will have to make exceptions I suppose: I don't sew jersey, so if I ever run out of T-shirts I may have problems. Having said that, I have a collection of rock T-shirts, both from gigs I have been to and vintage finds. Some musicians even make sure their merchandise is organic and ethical- kudos to them!- so I suppose I could buy those ones guilt free. I also don't make certain undergarments, but on the other hand I have a drawer full so it is unlikely I will run out of them soon. Swimwear and gym stuff could also pose problems,  as could tights...

Still, there are plenty of things which I can make: skirts, dresses & blouses for example. And it is these to which I am turning my attention now. Pictured are some of the gorgeous fabrics from my stash which I have begun to use. I love the summer, so light skirts are an absolute pleasure to make. Pictures coming soon I hope...

A Journey

Many apologies, lovely blog readers, for the gap between posts! I won't bore you with a complete resumé of what I have been up to, but I will tell you briefly that I have been busy designing and sewing things, as well as working on my knitting and crochet projects, devising and delivering my teaching, planning some events, and even managed to squeeze in a rarer few days away: I was pleased to be invited to attend a wedding at the other end of the country. I jumped at the chance to visit relatives there, and see that beautiful part of the world. I travelled by train which was also a rare treat. 

There is something about a desolate coastline... I plan to get myself a tiny cottage, in which to be crafty, on a windswept cliff when I am old and decrepit.

I came across this fabulous installation on my travels. Books are magical things by themselves, but to see so many sculpted into this beautiful curve, piled high in this tantalising way and dramatically lit was really stunning.