Anne has been very quiet lately, and at the same time going through packets and packets of orange wool – and yesterday I found out why. She’s been working on an order for four cushions for a new customer (who found us through facebook, how excellent is that!?). These are the two she’s completed so far.
Even the backs are beautiful to look at.
Rather stunning pieces of work, I’d say. Makes this tart proud :-)
To be continued…
The only thing I ever knew about Wichita, Kansas, was that Glen Campbell once wrote a song called Wichita Linesman, and Tom Jones released a version of it about 40 years ago. At a push, I could probably sing most (but not all) of the lyrics. But on Saturday I had a parcel from Wichita and, because I was ashamed not to be able to pinpoint it on a map, I looked it up. Also known as Cowtown and the Air Capital of the World (perhaps there is a connection between those two names, if we overthink some of what Al Gore has told us?), it seems like a fascinating city with an extraordinary history. It is also one helluva long way from the little dorp on the southernmost tip of Africa that I call home!
Back to my parcel. On ripping it open, I was pretty shattered to be met with a collection of giant maggots.
They froze in shock at the sudden exposure. Then they flew up in the air like popped corn as I plunged my hands into their midst to claim this…
…my beautiful gorgeous inspiring bag from Tamara. The colours and design and the amazing fineness of the crochet work are just exquisite. My photo does it no justice whatsoever. This might be a handbag (“purse” if you are American, I believe) that is too good to be used.
And that isn’t all – my bag was stuffed with thoughtful goodies. I got a purple hat pincushion, a sprig of flowers, a matching coin purse (what do Americans call that, then, if a bag is a purse?), two lucky buttons (because a purse should never be given empty) and a beautiful handwritten card.
For those of you who haven’t yet discovered Tamara, she writes a fabulous and inspiring blog (see here) three days a week.
I was very touched and delighted. Tamara, thank you. I will always treasure this. And the maggots have settled down nicely now.
To be continued…
I have spent a very pleasant afternoon in my kitchen with the radio on mosaicing a mirror for my colleague, Joanne Jones. She wanted something with ‘african’ colours, so I figured you can’t get more african than red and brown (unless I opt for a rainbow, South Africa being the “Rainbow Nation” and all…!). It’s still drying, and tomorrow morning will get grouted in ivory.
The smaller pink frame on the left is for Joanne’s daughter, Kate, who is three (and already has excellent taste :)!
To be continued…
Ever since I saw Kate Pruitt’s wonderful project http://www.designsponge.com/2012/03/diy-project-sculptural-paper-orb-lights.html I have wanted to make one. Not only does it look gorgeous, but something new was sorely needed in my lounge. This is what has been up for the last 7.5 years (and, yes, I do know that two bulbs are missing):
When I moved into my flat, I was stony broke (there’s really no other way to put it) and had nothing to spare for niceties, so I was delighted to find this old fitting forgotten and abandoned at the back of the garage. I dusted it off, sprayed it copper and asked the handyman to put it up.
Time for a change. I needed a paper ball, a glue gun, and a thousand cupcake papers:
It was all going well until I decided that my light needed more oomph, something with a bit of colour and sparkle. I just can’t help it – like an Indian mynah, I’m attracted to bright shiny things. I scurried off to my stash of stuff that I buy just in case I’ll ever need them one day, and found a whole lot of green and white paper roses, and some orange and red ribbony flowers from a Chinese garland. Have gun, will glue.
Not being much of a planner, I made no effort to work out how many flowery fillings I would need to fill all the cases. So, less than halfway through I ran out, to my not entirely unexpected dismay, but luckily the Chinese shops in Woodstock are always open on a Sunday so I rushed off there this morning and riffled through the fake blooms til I found more of the same. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t, but no doubt would still not have learnt my lesson about planning ahead.
Anyway, it’s done now and, all thanks to Rob for sorting out the hardware and the wiring side of things, my light is up and glowing!
It looks a bit eerie all on its own in the dark, but I’m quite pleased with my effort. Rob calls it the Moon Flower.
To be continued…
From this morning at the office – Stephanie and Sharon:
PS. Sharon’s grey slouch is made by Anne, flower by moi :-)
To be continued…
