keeping warm

Min and Jono have a funny old friendship - sometimes it's having to sit and wear kangaroo ears whilst Jono listens to her heart with his stethoscope, other times it's running for her life when he's tormenting her.  And then there are times, like this morning, when Jono is someone to hold her and keep her warm.  Let's just ignore the fact that she's on the couch and we're really trying to make her kick that habit -  I had to leave her there for art's sake!

lego in the sunshine and reflections on writing...

We are like cats, chasing spots of winter sunshine in the house.  Sophie's been playing with her lego, rejigging the layout and making a comfy couch for her people, perfect for watching TV.  I've been absent for the past couple of days, busy with work and real life.  I had three days worth of writing to catch up on this morning and it felt like a hard slog.  Definitely not one of those days the writing flowed easily, but I kept going - the words 'you can't edit a blank page' echoing in my head.  I managed a spot of editing this week, going right back to the first page.  A new narrative voice crept in - I like it, but have to make sure it fits the entire text.  Write, write and rewrite - isn't that what they say?!

a room of one's own - the perfect place to make poppies!

Last night, Joe straightened in his seat as ads for the soccer world cup qualifier flicked on to the television.  As an avid 'football' fan from the northern hemisphere, he is on a starvation diet when it comes to the world game.  Often, big matches are screened live from Europe - ungodly hours that require an alarm clock and Joe running the gauntlet of waking the rest of the family.  So last night, when I saw the look of hope in Joe's eyes, I took my leave and shuffled off to my study, not yet fully aware of the productive night that lay ahead of me.  The combination of catch up TV through my computer and all my craft materials in one room proved a heady mix...

A poppy tiara made from wire - my first time making something like this and I don't think it will be my last!  Definitely need more to go around the house for when the mood strikes...

Remnants of previous felting works reconstructed into poppies - inspired by my sister Kate's beautiful paintings from yesterday...

 Felt and wool wrapped wire stems, flowers made from an old jumper (very thrifty!)...

 Last week's cup finally received its poppy...

 And a wire poppy frame.

 Mr fiddly fingers caught me arranging everything for a photo...

and took a liking to the wire poppies.  They are safely out of his reach now - I hope! - and I will add this work to my display in the main street...  but perhaps not today!  It is absolutely pouring down and I will only be going out when I have to - school pick up and Sophie's netball in the afternoon.  Wish me luck getting through the day with a very active boy who loves his outside time!

the flanders poppy round up!

It's all been about poppies here recently - Flanders poppies to be precise.  Our local town will feature Poppies for Remembrance between 11 - 17 November.  We hope to see as many Flanders poppies grown or made and displayed around the town to honour our heroes from years gone by.  It ties directly in with efforts to honour the three Victoria Cross recipients (more than any other town in the Commonwealth) and other former service personnel from the district.  There is such a long lead time on this project, not just because of the huge amount of work to do to ensure its success, but also because the time is right to plant poppies now.

My infectious poppy making to promote the initiative has inspired my sister Kate has been to paint a beautiful field of poppies today and link to my blog.  I  have noticed visitors arriving on my traffic feed and thought it best to do a round up of all things poppy and give you some background on the project!  I love this photo of Sophie (which featured in our local paper this week) hard at work with her finger knitting.

And here is the digital poppy trail from my poster promoting the initiative.  I'm back to crocheting poppies again, now that Sophie's basket liner is finished and think that any moment now I will be making poppies in my sleep.  I definitely will be by the time we reach November!  All heaps of work, but very exciting and a lot of promise for wonderful projects for many years to come.

Please leave me a comment if you'd like to be involved.

sophie's crochet stripy basket liner

Made it!  Now that the basket liner is finished, it's almost time to fill Sophie's basket with wool.  I have loved making this liner and seeing it grow in a proper pattern.  It's funny how just making one thing can highlight other shapes that could grow from a similar pattern ie with a few tweaks, this could have become a hat or a bag.  In fact, it seems a bit of a shame to hide it away inside a basket, but even basket liners should look this pretty!  Now, time for a quick bite to eat and back to work!  It is coming out of my ears at the moment, between poppies and grants and proposals, not to mention my own writing...

chinese lantern love and a basket liner in progress

We were lucky to see an abundance of chinese lanterns growing yesterday.  They are just beautiful and grown en masse form such a lovely display at this time of year.  I've taken cuttings and hope that with some gel I can strike them for our own garden. 

I just love looking up through plants to the sky, seeing the light through papery petals - the effect much like when looking through hollyhocks.

There were white chinese lanterns too, but I was so drawn by the yellow, orange and red that I neglected to take any!  Woops!

Sophie has asked for her own wool collection.  She is becoming quite adept at finger knitting ("I can even do it without looking mum!") and her fascination with all things fibre is beginning - how exciting. And of course she will need somewhere to put her precious wool.  I found a flat circle pattern using half trebles at Attic24 and just kept going once I got the hang of it.  I stopped increasing and that's what has formed the sides.  Hopefully my hand doesn't drop off before I finish and fill the basket with wool!

meanwhile at the lego gym...

Lego man is busy boxing, training to be world champion!  Tom's new Lego creation is a house for his police mini figures.  It includes the gym (some of which is pictured above and then again below), a kitchen, dining room and living room, laundry and a bedroom.  It looks like a great place to hang out!

 Don't you just love the treadmill?!  Tom says the only gym he's ever seen was on Peppa Pig (who says you can't learn anything from the television?!)!  I think the large set of weights is priceless too - great use of Tom's imagination.

And the bird's eye view - what a great share house for the police to hang out!  Complete with a healthy bowl of fruit - just what you need after a long day catching criminals!