My First Christmas Tree

I love Christmas but my ex, although an armchair Jew, hated it and therefore pissed all over it. Not happy with despising it himself, he had to constantly tell me why it was crap as if repeated slating was going to change my mind. Well I'm sorry but it takes quite a lot to change this girl's mind and I'm not budging on Christmas - so piss off grinchy and cop a load of my new Christmas tree!

Instead of going for a traditional tree I decided to have a modern, minimalist twig tree instead. The main reason was that when I saw it in the shop I fell in love with it, plus I reasoned that (despite the snow on it) I could creatively keep it decorated with other non-festive bits and bobs and it would continue to make me happy all year round. It's bendy so you can twist the branches in to whatever shape you want.

I need some more things to go on it but this is it so far. A couple of people have seen photos and said it looks a bit Tim Burtony, but people that see it in my house say the photos don't do it justice and that it looks absolutely lovely. 

I mean just look at this little fella - what a cutie. The little birds and birdhouses would suit all year round and perhaps the bells might also stay. I'm looking forward to making some paper and crochet decorations, plus hanging up anything small that might look good on it. I like that it's something that can keep me creative. In fact, my flat is still quite bare so I'm already aiming on making some other things to homey it up a bit.

Below are some ideas of things I might hang from it after Christmas is over (use free Picmonkey to make a collage like this). I wanted to have a go at doing something like this before using real twigs. But when I went out, I couldn't find the right sort of trees to get the twigs from! They were all bendy with not enough hooky-bits coming off them and were not fit for the job. Rubbish wussy town trees...

I've always liked simple colour-schemes and minimalist designs so I think this tree suits me down to the ground. I also adore a more traditional Christmas tree with lights and baubles, but this house move has cost me a fortune and I have other things to spend my money on - like presents and food. This tree will be a good all yearer and perhaps I might get another tree next Christmas. Of course I have to put it on the kitchen counter when I have Dotty as I've already found her spread-eagled under it!

Taking it Easy

I have to admit that I have done sod all work since I got back from the festival last Wed and it has been great! This is due to the fact that I actually don't have much paid work to do and I've also come back with loads of cash so I don't care too much. I've been working on some promotional postcards to generate new business and I have a craft faire to attend on Saturday.

This is my first faire (fair with an e makes it more folksy dontcha know) and I'm going to be teaching people how to crochet. I'm not too sure what I'm doing to be honest but I'm going to wing it as much as I can. I've had my first go at making a crochet video tutorial on Windows Movie Maker and am now certain that I hate both my voice and my hands!

I think I'm just going to bring along things I've made so people can see what kinds of things they can create, print off some how-to guides that I've made and make sure there's some video tutorials on my craft blog so they have something useful when they visit my site. I've already had a request for me to make a shawl, but I think I'll focus more on offering lessons so that I have a life and don't have to charge £150 for a weeks work! I'm pretty nervous about the faire but excited too.

BBF has just left to visit his friend in Sweden for the weekend so I have the entire flat and Dillinger all to myself. Although this sounds nice, Dillinger bought in a little dead bird this morning and left it in the hall for our bare feet to find. The spare room was clearly the place of destruction as the poor little things feathers were everywhere. I dealt with the situation but it wasn't a particularly nice experience.

Yesterday I booked our flights to Rome for my birthday in November. I've never been to Rome but when I've asked foreign waiters I've worked with over the years, what their favourite places have been, Rome always came in the top 3. The Pantheon looks amazing and I want to see the Colosseum too. Mostly though I want to wander around looking at old buildings, drink a fair amount of Italian wine and eat a lot of cake... I'm certain this can be accommodated.

Does anyone know by the way, how come it's suddenly September? 

Look What I Made!

I am proud to announce that you can now count amongst your virtual friends someone who has crocheted a shawl. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a woman you have never met but about whose private life you know all about, has crafted with her own fair hands a woollen item to be worn by another person.

It may be hard to see in this picture but it is in fact a raspberry red shawl that I made for BBF's Mum for her birthday; well I say made for her, it started off being for me but her birthday loomed and I decided to give it to her instead. Obviously I didn't tell her that.

I started out making it as I'd seen a friend wrapped up in a black one after the sun went down in Jordan and she looked great, but I thought it'd be nice to do a bright one before I made the black one. It's absolutely gorgeous, really soft and I'm very glad I gave it to his Mum because she absolutely loved it. I just have to make another one for myself now!

While The Cat's Away The Mice Eat Jaffa Cakes

BBF has been away for the weekend and this is why I have found the time to write 3 blog posts (I know one is just a photo of the kitty but indulge me) It's not that BBF stops me from writing but I find much more time to do things when he isn't around!

He left to set off to camp in Wales for a friends stag do on Friday and returns later today - I've found that my life has changed so much since I met and moved in with him that sometimes I wonder where I've gone. I used to find spending all my time in someone else's company almost impossible; even when my best friend came to visit, I used to need a couple of hours to myself during her stay or I started to feel really irritable and knocky - but I don't seem get that way at all when I'm with BBF.

Isn't that strange that he is the ONLY person I have ever met who's company I can stand almost continuously? And it's not even that he's really dull and demands little attention. Without elaborating, BBF is not a wallflower, but I can happily be around him constantly. Saying that, I had been so looking forward to him going away this weekend as it would be the first time I've had the place to myself since I moved in at the end of November last year!

And I am pleased to report that I have been incredibly productive; I've done loads of little bits and pieces that I've had on my to-do list for ages; I've ironed a massive stack of fabric to sew with, created some more stamp badges as 2 local places are interested in selling them, caught up with friends and family on the phone, I took his daughter clothes shopping (taking a 15 year old shopping makes you feel old and fat by the way) caught up with loads of nerdish history programmes, read the Sunday papers, got up very early Saturday and very late today, and generally had a brilliant time pottering around solo.

The only very small downside to being on my own this weekend was that my eating standards dropped dramatically. BBF does all the cooking so I have pretty much only eaten homemade flapjack, a bagel, some Jaffa cakes and cereal since his departure; but hey-ho he's back later today so I don't have to worry about malnutrition or rickets. Working and living together with a boyfriend for the first time is an interesting and curious journey but that's the subject for another post. I'm really looking forward to seeing him later, but part of me also hopes he doesn't come back until quite late!

Will Craft For Food

Christ, days and days are passing before I can manage to get a post out. I have been reading your posts though as you're far more productive than I am - although you probably just have more time on your hands hee hee!

I've been really busy with 'crafty' things lately; the other day I asked BBF to show me how to use his badge making machine as I wanted to have a go at making some fabric badges. So far I've only tried out a few different types of material, but it looks promising. I'd like to embroider on some before I make them into badges as well.


A few weeks ago I decided I'd like to design and make things all day if I could (wouldn't most people?) so at the moment I am trying to split my time into freelancing, writing CVs and then making things in the evening.  It just takes so long to make stuff! The badges are quite easy and quick so I've focused on those for the last couple of days.

I've set up a new craft blog (now there's a thing!) so I can showcase then eventually sell my things, but it's too easy to spend half the day looking at other people's blogs and queueing up a list of things I'd like to make!

Anyway - here's some of the badges I've made so far...

Work in Progress

This evening I attended my first Stitch 'n Bitch evening in the local pub; I took myself and sat around with 7 strangers, drinking mulled beverages and talking crafts - it was brilliant. 

I'm still loving to crochet  (although the quilt I so desperately wanted to make has yet to get off the ground - well I've got some fabric and how-to books and that's it) and when I saw this group had been going a while and meet near where I've just moved to, I thought it might be worth a look.  

It crossed my mind that I could find a group of either 20 year old bints, or 80 year old biddies but they were a mixture of ages, all making different things; some were new to it and others could knit without even looking! One other woman had never been before so I didn't feel too awkward, and I even helped out 2 people who got a bit stuck. 

Crocheting in the pub was a bit weird at first, although it combined crafts and mulled wine which worked quite well in actual fact! It was nice and toasty and wintry and I'll definitely be going again next week.

For months now I've been making a blanket; it involves loads of little squares and each one takes about half an hour to finish. The other day I set them all out on the bed so I could see how it was looking, and I discovered that, even though I have over 80 squares, the bloody thing is still tiny.  I think I'm going to need around 200 altogether, which means I'll probably have this blanket ready for when I move into Sunnyvale Retirement Home. 

Here is what it looks like in its different stages anyway - I've hidden the edges and left out any perspective to pretend it's massive.  It's a bit colourful, but If you you're not keen on it then you can just pretend you like it and I'll not make a fuss. 

The Crochet Queen!

Well, l I am feeling very pleased with myself - a month ago I didn't even know how to crochet and now I have made these 2 little Amigurumi cupcakes. I used a couple of different patterns and with trial and error I finally did them. I prefer the pink one as it's a bit diddier but I'm very chuffed with my efforts.

I have also been making some little crochet flowers to use as embellishments and whatnot. Excuse both pictures being a bit bright and distorted but they were taken on a camera phone; they all look better in real life!

Amigurumi - Not Very Cynical

I'm very excited as I now have all the equipment I need to make my quilt and I can't wait to get cracking. I've decided to start with a little one for my friends son who is nearly 2, so I can practice and learn how it's done... also, if the quilt is crap then he won't notice.

I recently discovered Kaffe Fassett fabrics as well which are absolutely stunning! I love both hot, colourful quilt designs and cooler, more simple ones too. Hopefully I'll love making them enough to try my hand at both at some point. 

Whilst I was looking online at various craft websites I also came across these little diddy crochet things called Amigurumis. They're basically tiny stuffed crochet objects like cupcakes and toys which are apparently really popular - I'd never heard of them but I think they're adorable. I started to learn how to crochet a while ago but had some issues. This could be a good reason to try again, although I hear they can be quite difficult to make. 

Lately I've been thinking that I should rename this blog Urban Optimist; I'm naturally cynical by nature but if I constantly wrote about depressing things then I'd bring you all down and end up exploding in a ball of flames! I do think Trading standards would have issues with my name sometimes though...

I Wish, I Wish, I Wish...

In the last couple of days I've been poorly so have been both semi-delirious and had too much time on my hands; during this time, I have made 3 wishes:

1) I am going to complete the 'Race For Life' -There is quite a bit of cancer knocking about in our family and I will be lucky if I manage to avoid it myself. I also want to have something to aim for, need a reason to exercise and 5 kilometers is not far... plus I can always walk it! 

2) I'm going to have a go at making a quilt - I sometimes do a bit of knitting but it's not something that I shout about. I like making things, quilts are lovely and it would be really nice to have one that I designed & made myself. If I'm not too bad at it and I finish it before I'm 80, it might also be nice to make one for someone else. Therefore I am going to start one in my spare time (when I'm not being a freelance mogul that is) 

3) I would like a dachshund - This one is more of a dream though; having a dog is a massive commitment and not a decision to be taken lightly, I have been considering it for quite some time, but if my job is still as virtual when I finally move, then I may see about giving one a good home. 

As I've always considered myself a very good pet owner, unless I can give the dog the time, training, exercise and attention that it needs then I'll stick with cats. I know they are prone to back problems so that's a consideration, but a small dog is better suited to Brighton and I like this breed very much. I've seen a couple of them around town so could speak to their owners about their experience and get advice. 

The last wish may or may not come about and is entirely dependant on time, finances and where I live; but as a freelancer I should be in a perfect position to be able to give a dog everything it needs - and if there's any doubt that I can't then I won't be getting one. If I can provide a good home for a dog then I can also take it to my parents and I won't have to worry about it being hit by a car because it'll always be on a lead. It's still a big decision though and would never be made on a whim.

Here's hoping though, and I promise to keep you updated on all 3 wishes!