I am starting to get motivated enough to start packaging all of the brooches that have been floating around the house for goodness knows how long. This is only a beginning but I am working on the whole 'if you package it, you will sell it', even if I don't know how, when or where.
My new green suede shoes - would you believe they are Clarkes. Back in my day Clarkes only made school shoes, big, black and chunky (extremely comfortable though). These were from a dream shoe shop down in Whakatane. I have forgotten the name though... I'll have to go back down there again and do a bit of detective work. That would probably mean another weekend away - hmmmm.
Last night we had one of favourite people in the world come to stay - Timbobombalina. Unfortunately his bride, Annaballarina also another of our favourite people in the world, couldn't make it (they do live in Australia and Tim was over for work) so I sent her an early birthday present. Panic ensued when I realised we were out of wrapping paper. And then I saw I had printed out an attic24 tutorial twice. Best wrapping paper in the world. Pretty, recyclable and informative.
Hugo learning to write his name,
A stack of presents waiting to be posted,
And freshly planted pots by the front door, dispelling the whole junkyard effect we had going for so many years.
Robot crochet and the chance to make a head-dress. Is there anything else left to say!
As usual I am very late with planting my bulbs. My secret weapon though is that I dig a shallow hole for them and this really seems to help them catch up. I think it works the other way too, the earlier they are planted the deeper the hole. I love it when the boys help plant the bulbs. It is always such a surprise to them when those strange, papery onion things send up their startling flowers, that what they are actually planting are hidden pieces of hope.
Crochet hexagons colonising the couch - Jonno suggested turning it into a cover for the couch... I think I have infected him...
The tragic remains of Miss Haversham caught in a bowl and awaiting resurrection...
Baskets of wool peeking out from tables and lasciviously beckoning me away from things like cooking and helping children with homework....
And jars of buttons glowing, filling my mind with holey moonlight ideas.
Archie very kindly agreed to be my model this morning and let me snap away - how much longer will that last for? He did a very good job too although I think maybe the shawl is slightly to big for him. I have been working on this for a little while as a solution to cold shoulders during winter when knees are being kept warm by a blanket. Wrapping oneself can be so tricksy. I crocheted it in 12ply wool so it is particularly soft and snuggley. Jonno even had to pat it occasionally during its very long gestation and I had to shoo our cats away whenever their gaze was followed by a flexing of claws.
