Scorchio!

I am sure it has been a long, long time since I titled a post like this. Those that grew up in the UK in the 90s will have read that in the voice on an excited Caroline Merton and may well start going "a fer fer fer, a fer fer fer, pour favor". But despite the BBC breaking the story that the Met Office has no official definition for one, we are in the midst of a heatwave.

It means that by the time I've got home I've not felt in the least like putting a hot laptop on my lap hence the lack of blogging. Which means I am waaaay behind in displaying what I got in the Birthday Swap on Ravelry.

I was terribly lucky! It actually arrived on my birthday too although the post office held it until the saturday. I love everything and if I weren't so warm the scarf would by now have been put to extensive use. Roll on winter! Except, you know, in November.

The heat means I've only done a few rows of knitting at the end of the evening when it really has cooled down. So the pop spots shawl continues slowly. I've been working on smaller projects instead that don't need to sit in your lap. So the french knot clock face is now in residence!

I rather love the pinboard it is on.

A drawing by Nickerjac's little boy, a heart shaped leaf Mary Contrary gave me, my medal form the 10 mile night hike I did for Maggie's, postcards and tickets reminding me where I've been and what I've seen and lots more. There's even a perler star my little brother made me when he was about 3. He just graduated yesterday so that goes to show how old some of these memories are! It's something I'll miss if I do end up in Japan but a new one will undoubtedly appear over there and this one will be carefully dismantled and packed away ready for when I come back.

Speaking of which...KNITTING AND CRAFT BOOKS GOING CHEAP. I have 40 listed on ebay ending between Sunday and early next week. Everything starts at 99p so you can get some real bargains. My little flat is looking noticeably emptier - at least to my eyes. Pooch still claims it's stuffed with nonsense - but then he is fairly nonsensical himself.

There will be more to come in the next few days about the other little projects I've been making. For now - I am going to sit back and read and enjoy the heat!

Thirty Five and Fabulous

I have had *such* a lovely birthday! I was woken up by Pooch singing down the phone to me, I had chocolate for breakfast and have had a steady stream of presents throughout the day! I am now blogging before opening my pink, fizzy wine and settling down to a Murder She Wrote. 

My sister had asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I requested a portrait of Jasmine with Charlie - my two most favourite people from that part of the world. 

The expression in those little eyes makes it look as if she's just realised how much weird stuff could happen to her in the next 35 years but maybe I'm reading too much into it! I've also got another shot my sister took at the weekend when Jasmine was snoozing on Auntie Lixie under her new blanket. 

What a cutie. Baby looks good too. The blanket is one I finished a month ago having had it sitting about for months before that. 

Speaking of Lixie, I made this into a badge yesterday. 

I had originally embroidered it to make into part of a blog header. That was a goal back in January 2011 and as part of my maybe-moving-abroad thing (still all up in the air) I've been sorting through old projects. Anything that can't be quickly finished, re-purposed or gifted is outta here. A lot of things such as that may be making a reappearance (or a quick disappearance) in the next few months. 

Now...to the wine!

Circles

Do you have a favourite shape? I think mine would have to be a circle since that is the source of every polka dot ever. But a close second would be the hexagon. After a lot of hexagons in recent months I've switched to circles.

I always thought the applique method where you cut your shape out of wax paper, iron it to the fabric, cut it out with a border and then iron the border around the wax shape (and breathe) was too fussy to bother with. But I'd have to say it has worked pretty well.

It has all been done using a selection of the sewing themed fabrics I had been collecting. It's turned out in quite mellow tones which is unusual for me but rather pleasing. It is going to be a wall hanging for wherever we end up living in Tokyo. I plan to hand-quilt it quite simply so it will make for some comfortable evening sewing for the next week or so.

My other near finish is the clock face I started months ago. Just that tiny bit of green to go!

This will also be coming to Tokyo despite Pooch muttering about how I can't take very much. I've got to take some things though! Sadly there is one thing I can't take.

This is my niece who is now a full 7 weeks old. I was with them on Sunday and had paused mid feed to burp her when she dropped off into a deep sleep! She is so well behaved and sleeps through most of the night. Lucky parents!

Yesterday Newcastle...Tomorrow Stay at Home

My season of travelling for work is at an end. I am not scheduled to go anywhere now until November, by when I will hopefully have left. Ha! My last work trip was an overnighter in Newcastle on Monday and in the evening I had time to indulge in an orgy of pinning on Pinterest and favouriting on Flickr. I have obviously been blogging more about sewing than knitting for a few months now but it's not like I haven't been doing both. It's just that vanilla socks in commercial yarn - which have been my companion during all the travelling - aren't that interesting to report. So on to the good stuff.

My love of hexagon patchwork continues but I have been thinking heretical thoughts recently about it not being 'enough' just to stitch them together endlessly. Then I saw these:

(Click on mosaic for links to originals)

So cute and in fact they reminded me that I have seen this before (it may even be the same person). Essentially you trace hexagon shapes onto a sheet of fabric and embroider them using a hoop before cutting them out (since if you cut them out first they'd be too small to embroider). Isn't that sun adorable? I can think of all sorts of things to put in them.

The embroidery transfer groups on Flickr (I belong to two) are another endless source of inspiration and these in particular caught my eye on Monday night.

(Click on mosaic for links to originals)

That top middle pin-up - I think it's best to assume that's a lipstick and the scale has gone a bit wrong. I do not do a lot of embroidery but I enjoy what I do and a lot of my collection could probably be adapted for those little hexagons. You can see my other favourites on this Pinterest Board.

Then of course there is the patchwork.

(Click on mosaic for links to originals)

So divine. I am pretty sure I could keep myself entertained all day everyday making patchwork. There is something so socially acceptable about the schizophrenic way you cut up fabric only to reassemble it into something smaller than the original. More other lovelies on this Pinterest Board.

I hope you enjoyed looking at these favourites! And beware of what I realise I have big problems with...Procraftinating.

Weekend

Last weekend was a very busy one for me. Two social activities! I don't know how I coped. The first was with my favourite little boy - provided courtesy of Nickerjac who has not been at all well. I am always so grateful to friends who provide me with little people to play with. They (the little ones) are so much less judgemental when I decide to be a dinosaur for a while or win the grand national.

I was quite amazed to see one of these in  the Park.

I am not saying it is the exact same one as appeared in Herne Bay playground circa 1983 but it must be a close relation, and I've never seen one anywhere else. The pelvic thrusting necessary to get it to move was probably good for my back too. However, after no less than two playgrounds, a McDonalds, several buses and an ice cream I was shattered and regretfully dropped him back home. Then later that day my littlest sister arrived Chez Byrne to stay the night and eat one of Pooch's roast lunches on Sunday.

While looking for my first-past-the-post picture I found a couple of others I'd been meaning to share. When I wailed to Pooch that I had discovered Pepsi Max was not sold in Japan (SERIOUS issue, people) he told me maybe I'd take a liking for the sweat they drink instead. Sweat. I assumed he was joking.

No, I didn't taste it. Then finally on this, the day of my sister's birthday, I give you Jasmine who is rapidly becoming the little scientist I intend to mold her into. You can tell from the outfit.

Another small child provided for me by someone else. My little niece models a handknit cardigan and hat. The cardigan is shaped a la Pigeon Street circa 1985 and has side buttons. The matching hat has two of the worst pom poms the world has ever seen on it. I know not about the jeans but the shoes are a source on controversy.

Pooch, you will not be surprised to hear, is not so good with babies. He likes children once they start doing stuff but until that point he is uneasy. It is fortunate I do not have a hankering for my own since Pooch would be a positive hindrance during the birth and during the first 18 months. He would need gas and air throughout. However, I do my ex-wifely duty by buying things on his behalf for the children of friends which he can then hand over. The kermit shoes are one of these items. My sister frequently talks about how they are her favourite item of Jasmine's wardrobe and how wonderful and thoughtful it was of Pooch while all the time I sit there hiding my tooth grinding behind my rictus of a smile.

Japan Part 2

One cannot go all the way to Tokyo and not check out the craft side of things. At the very least I needed to find out how availability and prices compared. I wasn't disappointed. My first stop was Tokyu Hands. Pooch was the one to hear about this and had been there before. This gives you an idea of what is on offer.

It was all pretty cool with lots of yummy things. This took me back to my childhood.

Then there was fabric - not a huge selection but some nice ones.

I was also surprised how much leather was available.

And this caught my eye!

Isn't it beautiful?! They also had a little bit of yarn but overall nothing really leapt out at me. It was kind of like John Lewis - all very orderly and well chosen. It wasn't until we got to a place I'd seen online that that changed.

The place in question is Okadaya. It was AMAZING! Unfortunately they didn't allow photos indoors although this photo on Flickr is of one aisle on the yarn floor. Yep - whole floor. When the life doors opened and I saw it I felt I'd found a new home. I felt a bit frantic that I didn't have hours to spend there and had to tear around all the floors. It was all nooks and corners and so many types of crafts and so many variations. Delicious. I managed to come away with just this...

3 balls of each for a shawl, and these:

I have already made the heart one which is for a swap. The other is also a present but I suspect the recipient would prefer to make it themself.

Lastly there was one less successful outing. I had heard some time ago of a button museum in Tokyo and so I looked it up and resolved to go there. It was quite off the beaten track, it was pouring with rain and howling with wind and Pooch and I were both tired. Pooch was a miracle worker and got us both there despite multiple set-backs. This is him when we arrived.

Just to clarify he's wiping his eyes after crying with laughter because of all we'd been through to find it and the sign behind him says the museum is closed for renovation.

Such a shame.

So thus concludes my tales of Japan. It was an amazing few days and I'm looking forward to spending more time there in the future.

Japan Part 1

I was in Tokyo last week. It was a real eye opener. There were lots of subtle cultural things to pick up on as well as some downright insane things. For instance - they stand on the left on escalators!!!

How mental is that?!? But actually it was really good. It was a fact finding mission with the odd touristy thing thrown in. One beautiful escapade was to a fairly minor garden in the general scale of things but still a pretty decent size - say two football pitches? 

It was extremely odd to be in so beautiful a place with all these sky scrapers and traffic around you. You could zone it out though, and it certainly was very soothing. And soooo Japanese. 

It was a very useful trip for me. I took in as much as I could and made quite a few observations that will help me prepare for a potential move there. One is the weather. We were on the edge of a cyclone for two days and it POURED with rain. 

Umbrellas are a key part of everyone's outfits and are carried everywhere. Then there is clothing. Pretty much any style of dress goes but it always seemed to be demure and neat. Cleavage is a no no and it's not like I wave my potatoes around the whole time but a number of my tops I happily wear to work will not be suitable for general wear. Then there is the humidity. It was hot for the second two days and when it is warm it is amazingly humid so lots of cotton is called for. The outfits in which I can rock the what's-that-in-the-distance-pose in are currently limited. 

Then there is the food. Sushi I'm down with. Choosing which fish will become that sushi...

Er nooo. Wimpy I know but we all have limits. Ice cream? Yes please! Sweet potato ice cream?

Er nooo. Pooch loved it though. And it is best not to develop a melon craving. 

Melons are very expensive - watermelon especially. I'm talking about £12 for one of those pictured. They are commonly gift wrapped and taken as a gift when you are invited to someone's house for dinner. 

Tokyo is an exceptionally noisy city. London doesn't come close. It has all the neon and videos of Piccadilly Circus but they all have audio attached. 

Then there are trucks driving around advertising boy bands with their latest single blaring out. 

Then the tube stations all play jingles when doors are opening, closing, trains are arriving, leaving and so on. 

That is a lot of competing noise. Fortunately though I am not bothered by any of this so it is all looking good for the future. 

Part 2 of this will include what I expect you will find least interesting - a small matter of craft shops..!

Swap Sign Ups

I am somewhat bleh with jetlag after getting back from Tokyo yesterday but before I post properly about that I have news of two sewing swaps you can sign up for.

1. Super Swaps: A surprise item made with embellishments such as buttons...
Buttons? I'm in. This is done through the Flickr Group Super Swaps. Sign ups open until 30th June. This is my inspiration mosaic for it.

2. Modern Scrappy Bits: Mug Rug, Coasters or Cup Warmer
Sign ups close on Thursday. My views on cup warmers are not as well known as those on guerilla knitting and have never generated any death threats but I have indicated a preference for one of the other two. You also send a FQ worth of quality scraps. No inspiration mosaic for this one but a cat picture instead.

Finishes

When I found out the Japan was possible I made a list of projects I wanted to finish before I left. I can now cross two more off that list.

Back in early September I had sewn the pieces together from a jelly roll. Today I got them out again and decided that instead of strips, I needed squares.

A little cutting and sewing and there you have it! I kept it really simple because I want it to be used and the fussier a quilt is that more in awe people seem to be of using it. I just used a simple cotton polka dot on the back. No quilting. All done. 

Before I sewed the pieces together I did take the opportunity to take the kind of photo I have admire on other blogs.

Isn't that beautiful? I think unbacked patchwork would make a lovely alternative to a net curtain.

My other finish is a project where I wanted to make 'something' with the selvages I'd been hoarding. At the same time I started lining them up I found out...I am going to Tokyo on Tuesday! So I decided on a project bag. 

This is a close up of the back. There were a few fabrics where I used an inch or so of the pattern as well as the selvage and I'm really glad I did that with this spool fabric. 

This side is not exactly centred. Ahem. 

The frame is a 6" or so one and I will add a wrist strap but I need to find the right thing to use. 

So yes - Tokyo on Tuesday! Only for a few days to see how it is and Pooch is coming too which I am very happy about. But what project to take with me? I am back on with Mum's lace shawl and now have the metres of edging to add. That might well be one which comes with me but I'm also wondering about a bit of sewing. Might be handy for if I wake up with jetlag but don't feel awake enough for lace knitting. 

Quilty Deliberations

I am very lucky to have both sewing and knitting in my life. When I get stuck with one I can switch to the other. I am currently stuck on the patchwork front and so have picked up the shawl I was making for my Mum's birthday. In March. It's currently got over 600 stitches on each row so is leaving me an alarming amount of time to think about my patchwork problem. You see I have been collecting fabrics.

I have had them ready since February but I just can't make a decision about what to do with them. They do not speak to me.

Ne pas.

I have so many ideas. I think that is the problem. Goddamn Pinterest. Not really I love you. My current favourite is this:

But...it just doesn't seem right. Other times I think maybe spools.

Or should I let the fabrics speak for themselves and just go with something blockier?

Or...should I just find something else to make while I'm waiting for certainty to strike? I could make one of these.

I have a pile of selveges. But maybe more like this shape.

Oh I don't know. I do not seem to be in a decisive mood. Cue my favourite graffiti.