July 24, 2005

A bag for a friend

I have finally managed to use some more of that wacky fabric I found and make the bag that I promised my friend Tamara. So if you are reading this Panda, sorry for spoiling the surprise but I promise it will be in the post very soon!

I really like how this has turned out actually. Originally I was waiting to see if I could find something suitable to line it with, but in the end I decided to use the plain cotton. I kinda thought it was a bit too plain and so I ended up doing a little applique using some of the motifs from the fabric. Now I can't decided which side I like best!

All of this was done during Em's nap time and when she woke up I wasn't quite finished, so I managed to persuade her into being good with the promise of making her a little bag too. This was thrown together but she likes it!

Posted by Maxine at 11:46 PM | Comments (4)

July 20, 2005

My First 'Month of Softies'

I have finally managed to complete something for a Month of Softies! I was so excited when I saw that this month's theme was 'sock monkey'. Month of Softies and lovely monkey's combined - how could I resist?! I have also been a little nervous about attempting to make a toy and so this was a chance for me to use a pattern and have a go.

To be honest, its not that clear in the photo but there are quite a few dodgy mistakes and they probably would've been better disguised if I had used a similar colour cotton instead of just whatever was to hand! But I am taking this as a practice one, so hopefully practice will make perfect. I had never sewn limbs on before and could never get my head around how to do it. I think I have worked it out, my arms turned out great and you couldn't see the join at all, but I kinda lost the momentum with the mouth and made a few mistakes. I am not sure of the terminology but am I right in thinking, to sew on limbs, its kind of like a backward stitch, where you work the needle in and back towards you instead of the opposite way if you were just sewing two pieces together? Does that make sense? Any advice would be great.

I have decided to call him 'Mr. Monkey' and you can see him here looking around for 'Mrs. Monkey' who appears to have gone off somewhere (probably down to the shops to look around the sales). Hopefully Mr. Monkey will find Mrs. Monkey before I send this to the Month of Softies gallery, otherwise he will have to go all on his own.

Posted by Maxine at 01:56 PM | Comments (2)

July 18, 2005

I Love Tat

I am totally addicted to car boot sales and places full of junk and tat. Yesterday was a gloriously hot day and I didn't realise how sunburnt I was until last night (bad girl for not having my sun cream on). I had a great time at another car boot sale and I am totally hooked. I am already planning my next trip and thinking of all those treasures I can find.

This time I got a couple of toys for Emily, a Gordan Ramsey cookbook and this Handicrafts book from 1973 - the year I was born! By the response I got from Warren he thinks I am a total loon because of how excited I was about this book. But not only was it 50p (50p!!!) it has all the basic instructions I need to help me learn various crafts (which I need badly, because I basically fumble around making things up as I go along and end up with lots of mistakes). I don't know when I will have the time to sit and make use of it yet, but I know that it will be there when I need it!

Also lots of apron patterns for Tie One On inspiration. I hope I get time to make this gardening apron and if you are reading this Sal I think it has your name on it - especially as you are now living 'The Good Life'. I have lots of ideas for this months Tie One On theme (I would like to use retro/vintage material discovered somewhere but I don't know how lucky I will be) but I have yet to source material and fit it into my day - hope I make it.,

Posted by Maxine at 10:09 PM | Comments (3)

July 13, 2005

Mural

As well as an absolute scorcher (not very often you get such weather in this part of the world), another reason for me slacking off as far as this blog is concerned, is due to my latest project.

I was asked a few weeks ago if I would be interested in doing a mural for a local church and I have just started working on it. My friend Susan is also doing it alongside me - to be honest its that long since I have done anything like this that I felt more confident getting someone else involved, so we would be moral support for each other.

I am quite excited about it actually. We are doing a mural of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' in the church where CS Lewis was christened, so it has a lot of historical significance. In fact the building next to the church was his grandfathers house and he was bought up in a lovely 'fairy tale' looking house just around the corner from where I live.

We should hopefully be starting it the end of next week but we have a lot of work still to do - hence my lack of productivity with other things. We will be sketching the illustration onto the wall and then involving the kids (teenagers) from the church to help paint it. I would love to do more of this type of work.

Here is a picture of the wall - its not a great image but the room is very narrow so it was hard to get it all in. The doors in the room will become the doors of the wardrobe. The other pic is an initial sketch of what we are going to do, although it has already changed slightly. We will be documenting this project to help us with future ones.

Posted by Maxine at 07:47 PM | Comments (1)

July 08, 2005

Fragile Life

Yesterday left me thinking how fragile life is. It doesn't matter what you do or where you go or how many security precautions are put in place, things can still happen. I don't want to say a lot about it, to be honest there aren't words to describe such devastation, I just wanted everyone out there that I know and haven't spoken to, that I am thinking of you and I hope you are all safe and well. I want to come over and give you all a big hug.

Seeing the scenes at Aldgate East made me think of all the people who I went to university with, a lot of whom I haven't spoken to in over 9 years. I really hope you are all ok too.

It puts things into perspective and makes you realise that just being here is a privilege.

Posted by Maxine at 01:25 PM | Comments (1)

July 06, 2005

Yummy Cakes

Instead of spending my time doing important things, like finishing this website, washing clothes, sorting out the house (finding things is nearly impossible), planning this weeks illustration friday entry (which I will probably end up missing again), I decided to make some yummy scrummy cakes.

If the lovely buttercream butterfly cakes don't look tempting, the fairy cakes topped with Green & Black's organic chocolate are irresistible! I am totally hooked on all things Green & Black, it has to be one of the nicest chocolates around, especially the hot chocolate...with marshmallows...YUM!

I had to take these photos in a hurry as Warren & Emily were waiting eagerly behind me, ready to gobble them up.

Posted by Maxine at 07:56 PM | Comments (1)

July 05, 2005

Recycled Bags

Well I finally got my act together for something and made these two bags out of 4 napkins I bought from a car boot sale. Apologies for the images, they are not great, but with my motivation currently at a low I thought I better put them up now or otherwise it would be never.

I am really pleased with these actually and its ages since I made a bag. They are simple totes but I figure its better to start off simple and to achieve success than to aim too high and risk failure. I think they could work well reversible too, I have added buttons as a detail to the reversible pink side but I am not totally convinced they are right.

If you are reading this Susan, one of these has your name on it! Panda, if you are reading this I promise yours will be over to you very soon, I just have to find some suitable lining material for the quirky farmyard fabric.

Posted by Maxine at 07:44 PM | Comments (2)

July 01, 2005

Homemaking Friday - Chapter Five

Equipping the Home
The kitchen is such an important part of the house that this chapter begins with the question of kitchen equipment. In the small modern kitchen of today, with its labour saving planning, only the minimum amount of equipment is needed.

Every housewife will have her individual needs and the quantity and size depends on the number in the family and also whether a great deal of cooking is done or only a small amount. All equipment must be put away tidily in places that entail least labour to reach - all mops, soap, etc, near the sink; saucepans between sink and cooker; cooking tins near the table and stove. The following is a list of some of the kitchen equipment you will need:

Set of cake tins, 12 patty tins, bun tins, round layer cake tins, swiss roll tin, baking sheets for pies, baking tins, set aluminium saucepans and frying pan, tier steamer, strong pan and deep frying basket, double boiler, milk saucepan, kettles, egg poacher, jelly bag, pastry board, brush and rolling pin, oven thermometer, plain and fancy border moulds, butter pats, grater, conical gravy strainer.

Vacuum Cleaners
These are no longer a luxury beyond the reach of the average housewife, and if you have cheap electricity it is worth saving up for one, even if you can't afford it at first.

Posted by Maxine at 12:04 PM | Comments (1)