Zen Roses.

These roses were a great reminder to me yesterday when the house (as mentioned previously) had opened a hell-mouth portal and had demonically charged mess spurting forth from every corner. The roses sat there, still roses despite the mess, still fragrant, beautiful and calm.

Right now the boys are having the special treat of watching 'Masterchef'. Archie is so excited because one of the girls is having a big cook-off involving a complicated dessert, "I'll get lots of tips for you Mum". 'Sponge Bob' and 'Masterchef' are definately the top shows in our house... who would have thunk it.

Lots and lots of sewing went on today in a slightly tidier house. Photos tomorrow.

Crocheted Horses and a Good Film.

I spoke to my Mum on the phone yesterday and she said that I had to update my blog. She said that she kept checking and there was nothing more and she needed more... so here I am - an obedient daughter.
First of all though, sorry about the quality of the photos, the light as been pretty appalling for the last few days. However, with a bit of sunshine today, I will get the camera out and capture a bit of colour.

This is a little pony I made for one of Hugo's friends. She was having a barnyard party so we thought she might need a horse. It actually turned out to be a great challenge but because I put the head on slightly to one side, it turned out to be an extremely melancholy horse. That is the thing with something handmade though, they do come into the world with their own emotions. A bit of therapy and a handful of love and maybe then it will just look relaxed and sleepy.

Speaking of relaxed (and not particularly sleepy), I went to the movies with a friend last night and saw the most wonderful film, '500 Days of Summer'. It was the best romantic comedy I have seen for such a long time - funny, thought-provoking and edible. We drove home afterward discussing it the whole way which is a rare phenomenon in my book. So now I am feeling a little as though I have had a holiday with that lingering happy warmth.

Once again, the house is beginning to cave into me and I am sure that I picked up a bit of gas-gangrene from the stairs. I think that means it is time to get the pick-axe out and start hacking through the layers. I might even find Jonno and the boys if I tunnel far enough. I hope you are all having a great week and go and see the movie if you can. You won't regret it.

Spring Roses!!!

My roses are opening their first fat buds to the steamy Spring warmth. I picked a yellow rose today and drank the dew from it. If you make a weired sucking noise, the perfume comes with it and your mouth is filled with rose water. Something I do a lot of at this time of year.

I felt that I needed to include more photos of the jug cover and doily that my friend Belinda made for me. Made from extremely fine cotton, I don't know how she hasn't turned into a crone with hunched shoulders and bulgy eyes. Belinda, you are utterly amazing and I am so lucky to have you for my friend.

Hugo is in the garden at the moment playing with our big,black extremely friendly dog Willow. Jonno heard him say "Sit, stay still Willow, sit. Oh, thank you". Jonno then assumes that Willow put her paw up because the next thing Hugo said was "Pleased to meet you". Good to have a friend when your big brother is slightly out of action with a sore tummy.

Thanks to my cousin (the yellow necklace maker) I have been introduced to sago. Like offal, it was a food I never ate growing up because Mum was left with a pathological dislike of it due to bad experiences at school. So for me, it is the most exotic kind of nursery food ever. Right now I have some in the slow cooker and the house is alive with the smells of cinnamon and vanilla. Better give it a stir and lick the spoon. Have a lovely Friday night.

Crocheted limbs and book groups...

I am hoping the little collection of body parts will slowly creep their way toward each other over the next couple of days and form themselves into something special for one of Hugo's friend's birthday. All of the limbs seem a little strangely shaped but surely that is a good thing... it will be interesting to say the least... or the most.

And a little peep of the print I ended up with the other day - very simple shapes but I overlaid it with some tracing paper that I printed on in a different colour and that gave it a little more depth. I am addicted to the process though and can't wait to start on my next one. Can you see the little bit of cross-stitch sewed onto the bottom right hand corner. It is actually a name so I had to block it out for the sake of birthday top-secretness.

Off to book group soon and I am raring to go. We read 'Tulip Fever' by someoneorother and it was a cracking read, my favourite so far. Hopefully the unveiling of next month's book will have something just as good... I have to admit that we do get the occasional book that is as exciting as a pebble race. Life is just too short for bad books, especially when the world is teeming with wonderful ones bursting forth from writers' hands every minute. Pop, I just heard one then, pop, pop, pop - look three more. Anyhoo, I had better go and pack my book into the crochet bag. Night-night.

Waiting for Summer...

Maybe a case of the post-birthday and holiday blues, but oh, I am missing the freedom and warmth of Summer. Spring is a lovely place to be and as much as I love her for her bountiful blossom, she can be cruel and without a thought, will snatch the sun away for days at a time.

Mind you, life is warm in the house. Jonno just took the baked potatoes out of the oven, placed them onto our orange melamine plates and smothered them with yellow butter. Little green peas are rolling around the edges and the sausages are ready. Food is always the answer.

"Printing by Hand"

After a year of ogling Lena Corwin's "Printing by Hand", I finally lashed out and bought it. Hurray for that as it has turned out to be one of the best crafting books I have ever come across with great ideas and fantastic instructions and beautifully photographed.

So, with boys off at their places of education, I commandeered the kitchen table and set down to work with a sheet of thin foam, my fiskers shape cutter, double sided sticky tape and block printing inks. I can't show the final result as it is a present for someone and their name is included but I was very pleased and managed to build up a few layers of colour.

I can't remember the last time a day was devoted to playing with a new craft. I am not sure how it happened but for the first time, I have become enmeshed by the whole domesticity versus creativity trap. Maybe my standards for the house have lifted but it just seems harder and harder to find whole slabs of time to just play with. Organisation is the key I am sure but my hands just seem too buttery to hold it.

Jonno is off to the movies tonight with his brother so I am going to snuggle alone on the big blue couch and do some serious birthday crocheting (not my for my birthday, I have accepted that the festival is over). Night night.

p.s. Thank you so much for your birthday wishes, I loved them, loved them, loved them.

My Birthday!!!

A little peep of a birthday present from Aunty Mum.
The birthday girl blowing out her candles triumphantly.

And modelling a new necklace from my cousin.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day on my birthday and that the crackle of it is reaching out to you around the world. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes and thank you for all of the phone calls - and what a thrill to be speaking to you young Miss Rosie Gude. Many more celebrations are on their way so I had better get ready (you never know when a surprise party might burst out of the cupboard, that is why I wore clothes all day... you know, apart from keeping warm). More tomorrow. Love Kate thebirthdaygirl xxooxxooxx.