Celebrations!

I’ve been very busy again with lots of crafting projects as well as starting back at work. I’m happy to report I’m actually really enjoying myself. Last weekend we attended a 2nd birthday party, and I never miss an opportunity to craft a gift. This year the boy in question was the recipient of a crocheted koala from ‘Amigurami Two’. I also had a play with some wood block stamps I bought at the Knit and Stitch Show at Ally Pally a couple of years ago and decorated my own wrapping paper and card to go with him.

Next on the craft agenda was related to my online avatar for twitter. I had intended to use the same image on the blog but I haven’t been able to get it to look how I’d like. Having been to the textile museum in Toronto and seen an exhibition using thread and fibre hung over nails in the wall, I was keen to try something similar. I then saw a photo in this months Selvedge magazine relating to Stroud International Textiles Festival. I have admittedly lifted the idea and used it to create my own version. Here’s how it emerged:

I really like the way the loose threads look like stray light adding the feeling of fluorescent tube lighting. This is definitely one of those projects that has proven very difficult to photograph well and I’m really happy with the result in life. It now has pride of place in our hall.

Now to the very important business of the royal wedding. When we were in Canada we were asked about the wedding by the great majority of those we spoke to. I’m not a particular royalist, but I can see an excuse for a party and it’s good to get together with your neighbours to celebrate something nice. I tweeted last week about a book called ‘Knit Your Own Royal Wedding’. Imagine my joy when M came home with the very same book, a gift from a patient! We are going to a party on the day, and I will be wearing my wedding dress. This is hugely exciting for me as I only got to wear it for five hours on our big day. I am currently knitting, crocheting and sewing every available minute to get as many of the figures finished as possible before their showcase at the party. Each doll is taking about 3 days, so I want something a bit meaningful to do with them after the event. My idea is to try to raise some money for our local hospice by suggesting a minimum £5 donation per doll. I’m not sure if this seems too much but I’ve spent about that on making each one, without the time. Tricky. See what you all think. So far I’ve finished the happy couple. I am proud to report that my version of William is the main photo on his pattern page on Ravelry.

We had a very nice time in Lyme Regis today meeting up with our friends and happened to see Alan Titchmarsh shopping. I did have the dolls with me and it crossed my mind to increase their status by getting him to pose with them…. I thought better of it.

Canada

One month on, and we are home from Canada. I’ve not had much chance to blog until now and been quite busy sorting things out at home before going back to work. It was an amazing trip, and I would fully recommend visiting in winter. Yes it was cold, but it was completely different to any other holiday we have ever done. The Rideau Skateway and Winterlude festival in Ottawa and seeing the frozen Niagara Falls were seasonal must-dos. I have taken 1400 photos (!) and I am having trouble deciding what to put up here. Consequently, I am only going to post a few favourites and suggest you have a look at M’s photos here and here.

During our time away there were lots of sources of inspiration, not least these exhibitions:

Kai Chan: A Spider’s Logic at Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto

Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women at Gladstone Hotel, Toronto

Tim Burton Retrospective at TIFF Lightbox, Toronto

We also made a trip to Drawn and Quarterly in Montreal which was fantastic! I came home with comics in every checked bag and hand luggage on the way home! I have a list of books I would also like to purchase when I have saved up some more cash. It was on this visit that I discovered the wonderful ‘The Believer’. This months issue has a great article on crochet as well as lots more interesting comics/literature related articles. I cannot rate it highly enough and have subscribed already. If you are unaware of McSweeney’s and what they do, I urge you to take a look.

I could go on for pages in a blow by blow account of the whole trip, but that could get a bit tedious. We loved it and look forward to being able to make a return trip, not only to visit our friends in Ottawa, but also to spend more time in Toronto. Queen Street West was our favourite area, and I could see myself spending many more days there than we had available this time.

Whilst we were away I did a fair amount of knitting, and as well as the cowl I posted last time, I managed to get a rather large shawl finished. I made it with Lang Jawool Magic sock yarn purchased at Knit Knackers in Ottawa, and the pattern was Whippoorwill by Carina Spencer (Sweet Mama Small Sugar) via Ravelry. It took between 80 and 100 hours, and looks rather good on.

Since getting back I have started work on amigurami for this years birthdays, but I will only post pictures once they are in the hands of their intended owners.

Now for a short piece about food and household planning. Whilst we were away, we did a bit of brain storming about how we could be more economical with food and make good use of our produce grown at the allotment. We have three objectives: (1) Eat fresh, local produce and make things from scratch as much as possible; (2) Save money; (3) Support local businesses. Whilst we were away an alarming number of small businesses have gone bust with little warning.

Our friends in Ottawa had a great blackboard in their hallway made from a reclaimed door, which has given us the idea to paint the panels of our kitchen door in blackboard paint to keep record of fresh fruit and veg we have at home, and homemade preserves we have in the basement. This is to minimise the risk of forgetting about things and allowing them to go off before being eaten. I have also decided to stick to doing a weekly shop rather than the almost daily trips where extra luxuries invariably make their way into the basket.

I made a trip to the butchers, and decided to buy whole chicken with giblets, joint the bird and freeze usable portions. At the same time I bought a side of pork belly, boned but took the ribs home.I then used half the pork to cure my own bacon, half to freeze for a roasting joint, and the ribs and chicken carcass were roasted with veg and giblets to make a fresh stock for the fridge. There was enough meat left on the bones after roasting/simmering to shred and make a meal and lunch the next day. I fried some garlic, ginger and spring onions with the meat, added white pepper and hoi sin to taste, and used it to fill filo parcels scattered with sesame seeds.

I’m not going to pretend this all took a bit of time and planning, but once we get into a routine I think the new regime will work well!