DIY hair accessories

We had sushi last night.

Does this qualify as upcycling?

Leg warmers? No, thanks.

Yesterday Doreen gave me a pair of leg warmers that she’d made ages ago.  I have no need for them, having the kind of legs that are so naturally well-covered they keep themselves warm.  But I liked them, and like things to be useful, and I remembered Alex’s friend Dani who came round the other day and was wearing these:

They look like caterpillars. Dani’s mom had bought them for her and she didn’t know where, but I knew something would come of this idea.  So, I unpicked a small section of the leg warmer seam, blanket-stitched around it and VOILA – wrist warmers!

And yes, I am still in my cruddy old dressing gown and yes, I am deliberately covering my left eye (it was red and puffy when I woke up today, it’s such a glamorous look, you can imagine).

I might still work a row of dc (UK dc, that is) around the top and bottom edges, but I might not. I think I like them just like this.

Doreen gave me something else, too. I don’t know why, I haven’t done anything particularly special to deserve it, but she’s very generous. She actually said, “Listen, if you don’t take this stuff, when I’m dead my daughter won’t know what to do with it and she’ll chuck it all out, so just take it now.”

Her daughter, who I’m sure is a very nice person and wouldn’t just throw anything away thoughtlessly, has, however, lost out on this INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL granny square blanket. Sorry for you, Linda. It’s now on the back of my couch and it has transformed the whole room. And, of course, it makes me think of Doreen who, at 82, is one of the most inspiring and kindest and funniest and sharpest people I have ever been lucky enough to have in my life.

Back soon x

2013

Happy New Year!

I have started my 2013 jar a la Rachel in her post that I reblogged yesterday, so already I feel like I have ticked something off my list of things to do.

And this picture below, while not looking like much to get excited over, represents the start of my commitment to being tidier and more organised this year.

I had bits of stuff and pots of cuttings all over my little garden and patio, and it was looking really messy and unloved. I dug out two pieces of wood from the garage  (rescued from a neighbour’s kitchen-gutting months back) and Rob turned them into shelves for me.  The large teapot is a birthday present from Anne, and now houses an ivy plant. The small one was accidentally broken and given to me to use in a mosaic.  This obviously never happened, and I think it will look lovely as a planter.  It had better.

And, as I shouldn’t need to point out, what’s a patio without disco balls? Right, Lisa?

It’s been almost a year since I started blogging, encouraged by the witty and well-travelled Rowena (Reading and Writing), and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it (sometimes I pretend it’s “work”, hahaha). It has helped me focus on what I do and what I’m trying to do, and led to meeting and being inspired by some talented and wonderful people all over the world.  I’ve even had to google some of the places that you guys hail from, so you’ve broadened my education as well – Wisconsin, Mikkeli, Wellington…

Wishing you all good health, happiness, brilliant creative ideas, and many many reasons to get up in the mornings.

To be continued…

There’s a recession on?

If most of us are looking for new ways to cut monthly costs and budget more efficiently (baked beans on toast, anyone?) (cycle to work, maybe?), no-one seems to have told the good people of Somerset West. Yesterday evening Anne and Megan treated me to a trip to the opening of the now very famous Kamersvol Geskenke at the Lourensford Wine Estate out in that verdant, rich part of the Western Cape. (Kamersvol Geskenke is Afrikaans for Rooms full of gifts).

It was the most stupendous and overflowing cornucopia of gorgeous handmade art, craft, clothing, jewellery, furniture, gardens, just…EVERYTHING …that I have ever seen. The quality of the products was just incredible, and the place was PACKED to capacity. The tills and credit card machines were struggling under the pressure, and there was no sign of any let-up by closing time at 8pm.

I’ve managed to restrict myself to a few photos here, to give you a rough idea.

And to think I might not have gone at all if the girls hadn’t pushed me.
To be continued…

I just want to…

…make beautiful things even if nobody cares.

I love this fridge magnet – hope you can see it amongst the junk on my fridge! It was a gift from Fabulaura at the Rondebosch Craft Market last week – not sure what I did to deserve it, but I’m not complaining. She makes a wonderful range of fabulous, funny and clever fridge magnets (and other stuff). Another one she had that sticks in my memory is “You are my favourite husband”.

To be continued…