Most of my photos look better enlarged - just click on the photo to do this



Tuesday 12 January 2010

This and that

Released! We managed to get the car out today and were able to drive to the supermarket to stock up on larger items we haven't been able to carry when we went on foot last week. We then walked into town for some other items of shopping and I can't tell you how much I appreciated being able to walk, for the most part, properly and not to be tippy toeing along like an old lady!! There were still lots of patches of slushy ice here and there but in many places the pavements were clear - you just don't appreciate what you've got till it's gone do you!! No photos as didn't take the camera and anyway it really wasn't very photogenic all that grey slush and with a bitingly cold wind taking photographs would not have been high on my agenda either!

Marmalade Rose who has a blog I have always admired for its creativity has issued a 20 minutes a day challenge and I have joined in. The idea is to do something creative for 20 minutes each day even if you don't know what to do - just do something - and it's working!



I decided to incorporate some photos or images into my crazy patchwork and this is a pilot piece. I printed out the centre scrap and then added toning fabrics and embroidery round that. It is on its way to a friend now as I popped it in the post this morning. I am inspired to try doing a photo next time and maybe to do a sort of scrapbook collage of photos .... you never know where it might lead do you once you start? Taking decent photos at this time of year is difficult especially as the conservatory roof - I usually do my photos in there as it is lighter - has a coating of snow so is no lighter than anywhere else just now. There I go again bad workman blaming his tools and all that!

Following on form my bird feeder post on Sunday (many thanks to you all for your comments - you obviously liked that post!) my 20 minutes last night was spent crocheting a similar bag which I am planning to line with fabric and make into a little drawstring bag. This photo shows some of the possible lining fabrics I have - which do you think? Watch this space to see if it works.



Noticed the squirrel having a go at the string bag at lunchtime - he had it in his paws and was trying to make off with it but of course it is joined to the branch and he couldn't! A crowd of small birds were sitting on the ground beneath picking up the bits that were falling to the ground. Again the photo is not good as it was too far away and through the glass but if you look carefully you can see him on the branch!

19 comments:

  1. Good girl! Glad you posted that pillow. I think the top fabric in the photo, the one with the small ditsy print.

    Well done with your 20 minutes today. Forgive me if I don't check in with you every day as I now have 19 bloggers joining in. If I check everyone every day I won't be able to find time for my 20 minutes. Lol.

    Keep posting your work though.

    Love Fi x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely little pillow, perfect colours as well :-)

    Glad you are joining in as well, it will be good fun.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the patchwork pillow! cheeky little squirrel :D I like all the fabrics but i must say the much more floral one stands out!
    Lucy xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. nice idea to spend 20 minutes doing something creative.. I suspect I would do well at the moment (being snowed in) but it would be a big challenge as soon as life returns to its mad pace! Lizzie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jane,
    Twenty minutes sounds very do-able doesn't it? You've certainly made the most of the time by the look of your projects. I love the stitching on the little pillow and I've been thinking about doing some hand stitching recently, just for something to pick up and work on like a stitch sampler book maybe. I spent my 20 minutes today making a bigger mess of a bag I'd already made a good enough mess of in the first place so I probably don't qualify to join, but your work motivates me to give it a go! Lesley x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the little patchwork pillow!
    I have a little Ferrero Rocher bag pattern for free on Ravelry that you could make bigger for the fat balls if you want to try it. Probably not in the lurex yarn although it might put off the squirrels!
    http://www(dot)ravelry(dot)com/patterns/library/ferrero-rocher-tree-bag

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely little pillow - similar to mine!! Love the pink tones too. I'm back on course now - just a minor blip - but the 20 minutes a day is a great goal.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Glad to hear you are out and about, the snow has almost cleared here too but then I saw on the TV that we are in for some more tomorrow!

    I like the idea of the 20 minute creativity challenge - your little pillow is lovely Jane. It would take me 20 hours to make something similar! All the fabrics are really nice but I think I prefer the top one for your little drawstring bag!

    I was only thinking the other day that I hadn't see the squirrels for a while and lo and behold one was here today, doing exactly the same thing in my garden. The slight thaw has brought them out I think.

    Jeanne x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good to hear you're mobile again, it's been ages hasn't it? Your 20 minute challenge sounds a goodie and should be easy to stick with, I shall watch with interest to see what you come up with.

    I like all the fabrics, particularly the second to the top.

    Kate x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really love that patchwork - the colours are beautiful and it all works so well together - you are so clever! I am just doing a few rows of knitting today - and certainly would take at least a weekend to produce something as lovely as you have!

    Pomona x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely little patchwork and I like the top print to line the bag. My twenty minutes is going on crochet at the moment, but hoping to pick up old friends like watercolours and coloured pencils soon.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So glad you have your car out and can get around again. The thought of you walking all the way to the shops and wading all the way back through the snow was awful - especially with a load of groceries.
    Perhaps those of us who don't know snow and think it would be lovely to live with it NEED some photos of the muddy grey slush you were talking about for a dose of reality!
    Cheers
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  13. Learning to crochet is on my new years to do list..i really enjoyed this....

    i'll be back to visit very soon...

    love,
    kary

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love your crazy patchwork - as usual :-) I like the top fabric for your little bag, although I think all of them would look gorgeous.
    I try really hard to do a little something crafty everyday, even if just a few rows of crochet. I find it quite calming and rewarding.
    Glad to hear are finally mobile again. I am sick and tired of the snow. Although I realize our snowiest month of February has yet to arrive!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a pretty little cushion. Glad you managed to get out. Fortunately I got the shopping yesterday as today we are snowed in again!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've just added my name to the 20 minutes list too so will try to drop in on you from time to time.
    A x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great idea to combine a photo - love the little cushion!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Adorable pillow Jane!! What a great idea. And yes it's a novelty being able to walk the pavements again, lol, for now anyway :0)

    Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks like you're doing your 20 Minutes A Day. I attempting to visit everyone participating.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have found what you read of interest. Do please leave a comment as I love to hear what you think.