My Gemini doesn’t get out much. At present, its permanent home seems to be in its box. Mostly this is because I don’t have a space with accompanying plug sockets for it on the desk, or anywhere else in my craft room. So I mostly use my mini Aldi die cutting machine. But a recent… Continue reading This Week In Crafts: Embossing (Or Not) Tulips
Creative Inspiration: How to Find It
There’s an Ancient Greek sentiment, from various of the Ancient Greek writers, along the lines of “The Gods help those who help themselves”. I imagine Inspiration and the Muses work in the same way. Don’t sit around waiting for the Muses to show up, or to be struck by a blinding flash of inspiration. Work… Continue reading Creative Inspiration: How to Find It
Recently Read: Regrets and Myths
I’m quite pleased with my reading this month, though I only read two of the three on my list. No, what I’m pleased about is that I didn’t add any more to the pile, or read ones which weren’t on the list. That is, I feel, quite an achievement. Perhaps I was helped by the… Continue reading Recently Read: Regrets and Myths
Nature Notes: February on the Balcony
It’s been chilly this month. Chillier even than when we had the snow. But at least the last week or so has begun to remind us that Spring is indeed on its way, with sunshine, warmer temperatures and crocuses in the park. It has been very windy in recent days, but early spring sunshine has… Continue reading Nature Notes: February on the Balcony
Stitch By Stitch: The World Map Part 1
It took me a couple of weeks to pick the map up again, after the struggle with the blending filament. But I did. I managed to trick myself by saying I would “just” do the fish, and then that part of the globe would be done, back-stitching excepted. That seemed perfectly doable: a one-evening task.… Continue reading Stitch By Stitch: The World Map Part 1
Notes From My Office: February 2021
It seems a bit odd to think that I’m only a couple of weeks short of spending a full year working from home. I’ve read lots about how people have been reprioritising their lives over the last year, since the first lockdown gave them room to breathe and think. Finding some way to rebalance a… Continue reading Notes From My Office: February 2021
This Week in Crafts: Ducks and Swallows
I haven’t actually crocheted at all this month. There are occasional thoughts of coasters to go with the colourful tablecloths, but I haven’t made any. Yet. Probably there will be some at some point. Just not now. Instead, I’ve been playing with several bird stamps, and with the few Distress inks I have, to make… Continue reading This Week in Crafts: Ducks and Swallows
Fat Quarter Sewing: The Red Tablecloth
Having decided to make more Fat Quarter Tablecloths, and looked at my available fat quarters, naturally I needed to go shopping. I simply don’t have eight which would work well for a tablecloth. Very sad. Also naturally, when I went shopping, I ended up with a set which only required one from the stash. Oops.… Continue reading Fat Quarter Sewing: The Red Tablecloth
Life in Hibernation: Love and Pancakes
I thought of writing about Valentine’s today, but being the unsentimental variety of person (as is M, fortunately), I’ve never been much taken with it. I prefer the random bars of chocolate he comes home with to a box of truffles bought because the Retail Gods demand it. I did make a card, about a… Continue reading Life in Hibernation: Love and Pancakes
This Week in Crafts: Signs of Spring Card Kit
According to the language of flowers, snowdrops mean hope. A fitting sentiment for this time of year generally, and definitely for this year. Signs of Spring Card I don’t think I’ve seen any snowdrops out in the wild yet, though. I’ve had to content myself with the ones I make, first the die-cut ones last… Continue reading This Week in Crafts: Signs of Spring Card Kit
