Sunflower Duet

'Sunflower Duet' is an acrylic on canvas artwork I completed this week in an art workshop.  I am fairly pleased with this, while still being aware of my naive skills at present.  I enjoyed painting this and used brushes to start and then using a knife to paint with for the first time.  It was tricky and fun all at once!

Green and Co. Scarf

Wow, I've just been introduced to the craft of felting and have made this lovely scarf. In essence it was easy, though time consuming and quite tiring on the arms.


I bought 3 silk scarves from a little shop in Moffat, on the boarders of Scotland, at the end of August this year. I talked to the lady about using them in a feltmaking class and said I would send her a photo of the result, which I did.


If you are interested then read on for the Method...


• I cut 1 square scarf into 4 strips. 2 strips for each makeover.
• Tacked the 2 rough ends lightly together making 1 long scarf.
• Placed the material on some bubblewrap and old towels.
• Using marino wool in matching colours I teased out pieces to lay all along the length top & bottom.
• I then tucked this undernieth and teased out another layer of coloured wool over the top.
• I placed a light layer of wool under and over the join to hide the tacking stiches.
• A length of net curtain over the top.
• The next stage is to sprinkle a generous amount of soapy water or plain water rubber over with a bar of soap.
• Rubbing up a lather and helping the wool to knit with the silk.
• Add more water or soap as requried.
• Then the work is rolled up, with the bubble wrap but not the towel, onto a rolling pin or leg of an old stool!
• A couple of elastic bands to hold it all together.
• Rolling back and forth about 100 times.
• Unroll and check to see how well the wool is attaching to the silk.
• Roll up again and roll back and forth another 100 times!
• By this time arms are aching and have worked up quite a sweat!
• When happy that it is fixing together, unroll and remove the work from the other materials.
• Rinse it out and remove much of the soap.
• Next the fun bit...
• Scrunch it up and through it down onto the towel.
• The wool will shrink and the silk will gather.
• Keep doing this until again you are happy with the shrinkage.
• Leave to dry fairly flat.

Voala!

It took me 2 morning workshops to complete this scarf. I have not made another yet.


Make 2 per day and you could sell them at craft fairs and have muscles like PopEye!



Do you think you would get paid for the labour involved?

I think not! I was great fun though.

Record of Past Profiles 1

This is not my first profile, as I have only just decided to archive inthis way.

I was born 1961 under the star sign of Aries the Ram. I'm married with no children and 5 grandchildren. I trained in Natural Health and ran my own business in complementary medicine for 5 years, giving this up to concentrate on my current job in psychiatry as a Technical Instructor, teaching IT to adults with mental health issues. I am now also responsible for the Art & Crafts Department and am enjoying a renewed interest in all things Arty Farty and Crafty Dafty. I am dyslexic having just recently been assessed, so if you see any errors please comment. I am researching my ancestral past and have visited relatives in Surrey & Sussex and viewed an ancestoral home in October 2007. I have also traced a relative from a different branch of my family and they live in Reading. I contacted them in 2009 and hope to meet up with them some time. I also run a Family Research group at the day centre where I work and one lady has so far been able to link into Royalty! We are confirming this just now 2010.

Cyril the Caterpillar

I got the idea for Cyril the Caterpillar from a magazine, but the owner of the magazine took it with them, so I made it up from the visual memory. 

He's very simple to make.  Just casting on 30 stitches and knitting around 20 rows for each colour.  Each section of his body was done in a different stitch pattern. 

Knitting straight until all eight sections were complete.  I stitched him up like a sausage, only stopping at each change of colour to stuff and pull in to produce the shaping.  I used old buttons for eyes and nose and crocheted on a tonge.  I could have stitched on a smile instead.  However, I like the cheeky look.  I found a load of white dufflecoat toggles and used these for his feet.  He feels good to hold and is quite floppy.  His feet clatter about on hard surfaces.  I have made a few more which have sold on our craft stall.

I do like Cyril, but don't really know what I will do with him.  He is currently crawling along the top and over the edge of my wardrobe, while watching me type this blog right now!

Afghan in Greens

I've been workng on this one for months.  It is made from oddments, some soft but some more corse.  It will make a warm lap blanket over the top of clothes.  Maybe for someone sitting watching TV or going out in a wheelchair?

Unfortunately the photo is a wee blurd.  I may take it again and re-post it.

This one has not turned out as good as I was expecting.  I think the colour coordination is not quite right, or the combinations for each patterned square is not balanced well.

The Prophet by Kahil Gibran

The Prophet by Kahil Gilbran is a most powerful and beautiful poem.  This book conveys the wisdom of many lifetimes and is a must for any person seeking spiritual growth.  Follow the link below for futher reading:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n5BlBsFbGOQC&lpg=PP1&dq=the%2Bprophet&pg=PA15#v=onepage&q&f=false

Bag from 1980's Big Ben Wool

Cutsie Bags 3

I have progressed on to bags with shoulder straps now, and I really like this one.  I love the colour combinations and the button from my collection of old buttons.

This one below, was a bit of a mistake, as I did not do enough chains for the strap, but carried on anyway.  It can be put over the shoulder as a short bag.  So someone may buy it from our stall.

Cutsie Bags 2

This is another selection of my new

Cutsie Bags.

I like this one particularly because of the range of colours. I wanted to do one with Chakra colours like a rainbow.

This one uses a lilac colour which may not show up as well as I would like. I only just had enough wool to finish of the handles.

 All these bags are made either from oddments or other unwanted wools.

New Slippers with a Lift 3

Had my ski slippers, (as him indoors calls them), for over 3 months now.  I find them comfortable and after a day on my feet they are a welcome change.  The nobbles seem to help sooth away stresses.    I would not recommend them to anyone with balance problems, as I have had a little difficulty on occasion.  They are not pretty to look at and the Velcro fastenings loosen off after a while.  I don't think they are life changing, but I think I would have another pair when these wear out.

Follow the Fitness label below for further information on these.

Cutsie Bags

I was recently involved in the Barnaby Festival in Macclesfield. My Art & Craft department exhibited some artwork and crafted goods. We were able to sell the crafted items, which brought in some money for the department. While there I saw some lovely knitted and crocheted hand bags. It got me to thinkin' and I came away with some ideas. We had a couple of knitted hats that were made some time ago and had never sold, so I decided to UpCycle them into bags.

I crocheted one from scratch.  I made it in a round shape like a hat then put handles on it. 

I wondered what it would be like if instead of working from a round, I worked from a chain and worked around that.  The result was this one below.  I went on to crochet some more which will be in my next posting.

These I call 'Cutsie Bags'

The house seems empty somehow?

Dexter has gone back home after 2 weeks of staying with us.  At first I did not really want him around.  Then I found him boring.  Next it was a bother to clean out his cage, feed and water him.  I got used to the regular playtimes.  Getting him out and holding him.  Letting him loose in the empty bath for a run around.  Playing on the settee, while I watched over him.  He is so cute and came out when he heard food!  His beedy little eyes watching through the bars. 

Now the space on the landing where his cage was placed is clear.  I have hoovered up the debrae for the last time.  Quietness and emptiness abound.  How sad.  I now miss that cumbersome little bundle.  No fear though.  I shan't be getting one of my own.  Maybe we will foster Dexter again, next holidays.

Dexter's 1st Birthday Party

Dexter has been staying at his holiday cottage while his mummy, (my grand-daughter), has been away.

While at his cottage, (AKA my house), Dexter celebrated his 1st birthday with some friends.  Hope Holistics photographer was there to catch the excitement!  Unfortunately the party hats were nowhere to be seen, as I have not found a way to turn my grouped pictures into images for insertion into this blog.  Ah well, never mind.  Dexter still had a good time.

Yes, I think I am barking mad.  Mind you; 'Tales of the River Bank'; a series was created by David Ellison and Paul Sutherland, CBC film-editors, in 1959, was very succesful.  So, I'll let my imagination run on.  See Wikipedia for more info on the series.

OK - So I've now found out how to convert the grouped picture.  Here is the party in all its glory.

Hayfever

The hayfever season is looming and I for one aim to reduce its negative influence on my life.  Last year I did quite well.  I have just spring cleaned the bedroom. 

Stripping the bed and hoovering the whole lot:

• Ceiling
• Walls
• Bed Base
• Mattress
• Tops of wardrobes
• Behind Chests of drawers

I damp dusted everything:

• Pictures
• Inside Draws & Wardrobes

I emptied everythin out:

• Drawers
• Wardrobes
• Under the bed

I washed the bedding and curtains.  I treated myself and my DH, (see FlyLady under my favourite websites), to a new duvet and pillows.

I cleaned the windows, doors and radiators.

I cleared clutter from everywhere in the room.  I feel better for it. I feel lighter.  I feel energised.

I sprayed a mix of Tea Tree oil and water over the bed, bedding, mattress and curtains.  Dust mites don't like Tea Tree oil.

Some people with sever hayfever, rhynitis and asthma do this sort of thing more often.  I tend to just do the full monty once every spring.

It has taken quite some time to do it all, but I broke it down into manageable chunks.  15 minutes here and 15 minutes there, the FlyLady way.

The other major thing I do to thwart hayfever, is to drink copeous amounts of water.  At least 8 glasses (2ltrs/4pints), per day.  I use tap water, sometimes filtered.  I drink it at room temperature, as I believe this is most suitable for the stomach to handle.  If it is hot or cold then the stomach has to hold on to it until it is the right temperature to pass to the rest of the body.  Hot or cold adds stress to the body and can adversly affect the immune system, therefore agrivating hayfever and other symptoms.

So folks.  Have a good summer.

Clearing My Clutter 23

Having had my car in the garage for some time now; I have just taken a photo for evidence of my clutter clearing success.  I am still pleased to put my car away and have only left it out once or twice.  It's great coming out in the morning to see my neighbours' cars all frosted up and mine is as clear as a bell!

Click on the Garage link below and scrole down to see the before clutter clearing picture.

New Slippers with Lift 2

I have been wearing my new slippers for nearly 2 weeks now and I am pleased with them so far.  They are more comfortable now my feet have adjusted to the nobbles.  I feel my muscles are being stretched.  Not sure of the long term benefits yet.

New Slippers with Lift

I've just bought these new slippers, which have the toes set higher than the heel.  The idea is that they stretch and exercise your leg muscles.  High heels shorten the tendons at the back of the ankles and sitting down at desks all the time adds to the effect.

Drainflex Sandal from Daxon catalogue online - no. 279.3522

I have often wanted to stretch my feet so that the toes are held upwards.  I don't do it for long, as I am notoriously lazy and any exercise is like hard work man.

Now with my new space-agie looking slippers I get to exercise without trying!  How good is that eh?

They are a bit expensive at £28.00, but these are no ordinary slippers/sandals.

As I've only just started using them, I will see whether I get fed up of the unusual feeling.  The insoles also have little bumps so that they massage your soles at the same time.  This feels strange and hurts a bit.  I am hoping that this is temporary and that it is because I have tension in those parts.  I have trained in reflexology, so understand how tension in the feet affects the rest of the body.  I am hoping that after a while I will notice some benefits and be able to report back to you.  They sound good in theory and feel OK if not odd in practice.  I'll let you know.

If you get yourself some, please let Daxon know how you found out about them.  (No I'm not on the books), and let me know what you think.

I would not recommend going outside in these slippers or sandals as they are called.  I think it might be a bit dangerous and you could fall over easily.  Anyway, around the house is just enough for a daily workout, don't you think?