Ooooo, I love crafting...

...it's playtime for grown-ups.

I love the fact that there are so many different crafts, all with their own quirks, and involving different skills :o)

Scrapbooking is great for mixing & matching all those wonderful patterned papers, embellishments, ribbons, and tons of other scrumy stuff in order to make those precious photos 'pop'. It is also a great way of recording those special memories. Better still, it is the perfect excuse for indulging in those 'magpie' moments - must-haves that are bound to come in handy..........at some point (LOL).

Card-making also allows for the playing with wonderful papers and bits & pieces in order to create that special piece of correspondence that carries so much more thought than just grabbing something from the shops.

Then there's painting, ceramics, sewing, cross stitch and many, many more (okay, I'll hold my hands up and own-up to being a 'Jack of all trades, Master of none' ) so many in fact that there just aren't enough hours in the day to pursue them all as I would wish - but heck!, it's fun to dabble.....

One of the things I really love about crafting is that there is always an opportunity to play.

Knitting is one craft that can be taken to the extreme as far as playing is concerned. I am not a great lover of purchasing knitting patterns and following them slavishly, I like to play...

There are some wonderful yarns out there at the moment with a whole palette of amazing colours - so why limit yourself to one yarn or one colour? The current trend for knitting on BIG needles is super for achieving quick results and all those furry, shaggy, luscious yarns are magic. The names are pretty amazing too...'gladrags', 'fancy this', 'fancy that' (yes, fancy this & fancy that really are names of yarns) 'whisper', 'pizaz', 'snowdrift', 'soft & comfy'...

As you can see from the piccy, I have been playing a lot lately...

Mum knits a lot to raise money for her club (local branch of the MS Society) and this time of year scarves are always very popular. The problem is normally coming up with something a bit different that will encourage folk to buy. This year has not been a problem - there are just soooo many different colours and textures. However, it is still nice to be able to offer something a bit different, something that folk wouldn't normally see in the shops or even if they visited their local yarn retailer. I have had a wonderful time mixing different yarns and creating unusual effects, and if anything, Mum has had problems keeping up with demand *very big grin*

We are doing our bit to support local retailers, Mum is raising funds for a very good cause and I am having a lot of fun. Oh, and I think there are a lot of folk out there who will be nice and snug when we get the next lot of snow..........(he, he).

It's a MAD world...

Mr Blair and his colleagues have been threatening us with increased taxes on private motoring, air travel, and anything else that can be lumped under the global warming banner in their efforts to make it appear that they are trying to reduce carbon emissions...umm!

Next month sees the extension of the Congestion Charge zone in London - this too is aimed at reducing the number of vehicles clogging the streets of our Capital, pumping out more carbon...

Every which way you turn the message is the same, use public transport, don't make un-necessary journeys, think of the planet...So you can imagine my surprise whilst sitting smuggly on my British Rail conveyance, trying to read my free (re-cycled paper) newspaper, trying hard not to get battered at each station as the next influx of passenges barge past to nab that last seat...when I turn the page to be confronted with an article about overcrowded trains (there's a subject close to my own heart...LOL).

It would appear that a passenger had the nerve to complain to the service provider about the serious overcrowding of the trains on their line. A fair enough comment to make, you would think, nah!!! The service providers response was along the line - if you don't like the crowding, get off.............?????????????? The article went on to say that senior management of this provider had been unavailable for comment - there's a surprise!

With the push to get folk to use public transport you would think that every effort would be made to increase the services to meet the increase in demand but British Rail have admitted that they can't cope with the rising numbers and unless there is a huge input of funding (most likely from increased ticket prices :o< ) crowding is going to continue to be a BIG problem.

Is it any wonder then that some folk would rather sit in the car park (more commonly known as the M25 motorway) each day. At least they are in the comfort of their own vehicle, they can listen to what ever they want (or not, as the case may be), they are not subjected to the crass habits of other, inconsiderate, individuals - other than poor driving - (none of those 'picking, poking, inspecting of bodily parts, to contend with...excuse me whilst I just go and throw-up at the thought) and they can regulate the temperature of their environment - to suit (Toni climbs down from her soapbox...).

Get off? I'd certainly like to tell that individual where he could get off.....................

It seemed like a good idea...

...at the time.

A few years back, one of the publishers of craft magazines brought out a new cross stitch publication - handbag size. Great for commuting!

I have to own up to the fact that it was not just the convenient size that caught my eye...on the cover of issue one was a pic of an article that appeared inside, and what was that pic? The Professionals - fast cars, lots of smash & bash the bad guys, you know...all that macho stuff but best of all............Lewis Collins :o) or as he was known in the series BODIE (sighhhhhhhh). Whether you remember the series on normal telly or have only seen it on the re-runs on 'Men & Motors' most females who watched it were either fans of Bodie (I quote - tall, dark and beautiful, and engagingly modest...) or Doyle (Martin Shaw of subsequent Judge John Deed, fame).

However, I digress...

In the article, the lady concerned had produced some huge cross stitch pics, about 15x20ins of several of her favourite TV stars by scanning photos and converting to cross stitch charts. She said that she had completed one of the pics in around 3 weeks. Wondering when she managed to eat or sleep (LOL) I thought "I can do that", I thought it might take me a little longer what with the inconvenience of having to pursue a full time job (snort, ha ha) but I had photos, I had a PC and the necessary software, and threads & aida - no probs... That was, ummm, about four years ago and as you can see from the pic I have a way to go >:o

All went swimmingly to start with. A week away with Mum in the May - grotty weather - plenty of stitching got done... Commuting and stitching didn't go as well. Trying to work from a rather large chart using a large number of mono-tone shades (believe it or not, although the scan was of a black & white photo there are no black or white threads used - lots of navy, greens, greys and creams - but no black or white!!!) in the confines of a crowded train just did not work. 3 Weeks to do the whole thing, huh!, I should cocoa....

Still, with effort I got the head more or less completed and that is where I think I really did a wrong'un! The interesting bit was done, who wants to fill in an area approx 12x18ins of fuzzy shrubbery all in mono-tone shades - nah, borrrrrrrrrrrring. I have considered framing it 'as is' and claiming that it is something arty (snigger) but then I get all guilty and feel that I should complete it. So everytime that happens I have another stint of concerted stitching and a bit more gets done. I would say I am over the half-way point now but how much longer it will take...who knows...stick around long enough and one day........................:o)

S'all gone...

Well that lasted a long time, not! and boy can you tell that the snow has gone - the temperature has fallen considerably (typing pauses as Toni has another cuddle of the coffee cup).

For those of you who have had 'sunny, sunny' days - you don't know what you missed :o)

Apart from concentrating on getting from A to B without any 'Ouch-type' mishaps (LOL), there is nothing quite like snow for making everywhere look fresh & new and MYSTERIOUS... It was like looking at early scenes from the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.

Glad I dashed out with the camera to get some pics because I have a number of class project pages that I just haven't been able to finish because I needed Snowy pictures (there is a limit as to how many times you can use the same Swiss photos before someone comments......tee,hee). Got some lovely shots on the way to the station (if they come out) unfortunately as they are not digital I will have to wait 'til they're processed. Just wish I could have taken some photos from the train as some of the scenery was super but I don't think my little 'happy-snaps' was up to the task and tinted windows don't help...!!!

Coming home this afternoon the view was back to the grotty, usual dirty winter landscape :o(

British rail obviously didn't know about the snow as there were trains, on time trains at that - WOW (I know they didn't know about the snow because no-one had cleared any of it from the platforms). London Underground was a little more clued-up about weather conditions and we had the regular announcements advising us to 'take care as surfaces could become slippery - due to the adverse weather conditions' doh! who would've guessed......

Snow...

...yes, we have snow! Not the 'up to your knees - get the huskies out' type snow but we have snow.

Yesterday was sure cold. I don't do cold.........

This time of year I normally travel to work resembling 'eskimo nell' - hood up, scarf wrapped securely, gloves, trousers, the lot! Even so, last evening on West Ham station the wind was bitter (:o but luckily I only had a 10 min wait (just missed the previous service, bah!).

Coming home from scrap night the temperature had dropped but at least the windscreen didn't need clearing. Jumped in the car pretty quick so that the heater could go straight on. My glowing snowflake thingie on the control panel was glowing orange, so not tooooooooo cold (2c).

Then this morning I look out of the window and we have snow...

It is still too dark to see much but the back garden is well covered (including my car which currently resembles a marshmallow) but the stepping stone path is nicely clear - probably black ice and to be avoided if hubbies footprints are anything to go by, lol. Front garden is covered but the street looks fairly clear. They have been gritting the roads for the last few days so that obviously seems to have worked. Don't much like the look of the pavements (what I can see of them) they look to be covered in that hard crystaline type snow rather than the soft fluffy stuff. Can't find my boots anywhere and I have visions of Ouch (rear & ground coming into sharp contact - grumble, mumble >:o..........). Still, despite the worries of venturing out into the stuff guess what my first thought was...Where's my camera? It should be light enough to get a few pics before I set off for work and I'll take it with me to make the most of our temporary winter wonderland - before it gets to that black/brown mucky, slushy, solid ice stage.

Today should be interesting...and you never know, British rail might not have noticed and there could be trains..........

Sunny Sunday, delayed...

...because by the time I got the washing done and everything else it wasn't sunny any more (huff).

I was trying to tell you all that my birdtable had been rescued and was now located closer to the garden wall in order to provide it with a bit more protection. I also mentioned that the tree was past rescue (being close on 100 years old it was laying down having a well earned rest...lol). These and many other wonderous things I was merrily imparting to the folk of blogland yesterday when I hit the wrong button...grrrrrrrrrr >:o

Sorry I didn't come back but as I have mentioned, the sun had disappeared and I was feeling rather miffed (love that word - miffed - yep, good word that).

I didn't get any scrapping done but I did complete another shaggy scarf :o)

For all it's pretense at 'bright & sunny' it was cold yesterday but not as cold as it has been today. British rail stations leave a lot to be desired when it comes to shelter - brrrrr *teeth chatter at the thought* Having walked briskly from the station to get home my first thought was to get the kettle on...much better..........

It's a kind of magic...

The Shoemaker had his elves, I seem to have some 'virtual stitchers' :o)

Only a few days ago Chrissie (Life is Scrap) very kindly turned my "A4 gone wrong" LOs into 12x12s as they should have been (see, It's done...). On Saturday I got an email from Nicola Clarke who had set me the challenge in the first place and she has 'stitched' the two pages side-by-side as they appear in my album.

Now I just need to sort out the wizzy stuff and save the pic so I can add it to the earlier posting. For some reason things aren't playing..................now, do I press that bu...oooooopps!