Thoughts from the Bus Stop

Husky

Love this ad for Patons Husky knitting yarn, found in a 1976 copy of Woman's Weekly ;)

Leeds Reunited: Humpty goes home

I knitted this Jean Greenhowe 'Humpty Dumpty' for my dear friend Camel when we were 18 - in 1993! I knitted it to look like Camel, complete with Doc Marten boots and Leeds United colours. It was probably one of the first toys I ever knitted.

Humpty has lived with Camel ever since, but years of hot loving have taken their toll and recently she came back to me for a while to be given the '10 Years Younger' treatment. In this case, this meant removing all her stuffing...

...and giving her a nice hot bath in the washing machine. Then I shaved off any bobbles with a razor, restuffed her with loads and loads of new stuffing, and... put Humpty together again! Let's go to the reveal:

 

Ta da!

* BOOK OF THE DAY: Jasper Fforde - The Big Over Easy *

Sequins and sunshine

Sunlight hitting the sequinned handbag which hangs on the back of my front door, covering the hallway with shiny shapes. A lovely surprise!

* SONG OF THE DAY:  My Life Story – Sparkle *

The Knitting Gorilla

Screenshot from 'The Kniting Gorilla', via BBC iPlayer

From CBBC's 'World of Happy', a sweet animated tale of how knitting brought a father and son together: The Knitting Gorilla

Storm in a Teacup

 
Storm in a Royal Delft Teacup, by John Lumbus (c) Laikingland

I would LOVE this teacup automata - turn the handle and and the golden boat rides the mechanical waves, while above the stormy clouds reveal a shining bolt of lightning.

It's by artist John Lumbus, who has worked with the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Covent Garden. Why don't you put the kettle on, wet the tea, and while it brews, watch this video of a earlier version in motion?

* SONG OF THE DAY: The Fortunes - Storm In A Teacup *

Patchwork Pattern Maker from the V&A Museum

   

This online Patchwork Pattern Maker is a great free tool from the V&A Museum in London, to coincide with their Quilts 1700-2010 exhibition (on till 4 July 2010).

Just complete a simple registration, then upload your own image (I've used my 'Duck House' design here), and the site will reproduce it as a patchwork pattern in your choice of 5, 10 15 or 20 colours, either in basic squares (either 10x15 or 20x30) or in squares and triangles (24x36), in a downloadable PDF which includes your individual colour key and tips on how to create your quilt.

You could also use your pattern as a cross stitch chart. I might try making my pattern up as a paper collage using colour torn from magazines. Thank you V&A!

Overheard

Elderly lady behind counter in charity shop:

"And then she went in her bag and got out a... what are those things they eat in Devon?... a Cornish pasty!"

 
Cornish Pasty Recycled Felt Food Sculpture (c) British Cream Tea

Hotting up: Knitted stop-motion advert

This fantastic advert uses knitting to represent a house warming up when its heating system comes on.

And here's how they did it. Such patience and skill!

Here comes the sun?

When I was putting away some crockery earlier I noticed this sunrise logo (above) on the bottom of an old saucer, which made me smile. I have been desperate for the sun to arrive.

Blimey, this winter has been hard work. The months of perishing cold have forced me to stay indoors whenever possible cos of my dodgy immune system, and the extended solitude has played havoc with my mental health. Hours and hours of time to fill, and plenty of projects I could be working on, but I've been too depressed to do any of them (including blogging!). Yuk. So every time we've had a sunny day I've got all excited at the prospect of Spring, but it keeps showing its face then disappearing again in high winds and pouring rain!

BUT... I was out this afternoon and I saw my first cherry and apple blossom of the year! What a sight for sore eyes. And there are daffs everywhere, and daisies in the grass and forsythia flowering and buds popping on trees and shrubs. It's all much later than last year, but maybe even more appreciated!

* SONG OF THE DAY: The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun *

David Shrigley's funny video for Pringle jumpers

>* SONG OF THE DAY: Weezer - Undone (The Sweater Song) * *

Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art at the British Library

The Klencke Atlas, 1660 © 2010 The British Library Board.

A tasty Culture24 Picture Special: Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art at the British Library

DIY Snow Globe Postcards tutorial from Giddy Giddy

Image (c) Giddy Giddy 

Via WhipUp: A wonderful tutorial from Giddy Giddy - make your own postable Snow Globe postcards. I collect snow globes, and I love sending fun stuff through the post - can't wait to give these a try!

* SONG OF THE DAY:  Belle & Sebastian – The Fox In The Snow *

Archives unlock fashion on film

(c) Screen Search Fashion

Screen Search Fashion

is an online resource which provides a guide to aspects of 1920s and 1930s fashion and dress as depicted in non-fiction film from the collections of Screen Archive South East(in collaboration with the Royal College of Art.

You can see what people wore on holiday, or at the summer fete or carnival. There's also a section dedicated to work clothes, including unforms. It's great to see original garments wore by ordinary people in real life - something even the best-researched costume drama can not do.

The clips are accompanied by photos of relevant items of clothing from local museums. It would be fantastic if, in turn, the clips could be screened within these museums' displays. I love looking at fashion collections in museums but nothing can compare to seeing how garments were worn, what they looked like in motion, and for which occasions they were worn.

It's a fascinating site to explore - I hope that over the next few years they're given the resources needed to extend the site to include film from the 1940s to the present day (so long as that doesn't include any of my family's 1970s home movies!).

Joe's 40th birthday... and some of his favourite things

Joe 40 (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

My very dear friend Joe, who is like the big brother I never had, has reached 40! He is not very impressed by this. I wanted to make a special card for him, and it took a long time to come up with the idea, but I'm pleased with how it came out.

It's 30cm high and mostly made in card, but with fun foam for the balloons  (which have thread 'strings'). I drew the hearts, stars and banner. I made tiny bunting from card and strung them on sewing thread, so they hang freely. I cut windows in the 'J' and added photos of his lovely wife Rachel and kids Isabel and Roxanne.

 

Due to variouss illnesses in his house and mine, he didn't get it till weeks after the big day, but he loved it - phew! Isabel (7) said she liked the photo windows best, so I told her, "Those are photos of Daddy's three favourite things in the whole world." She said, "Well, Daddy has FOUR favourite things - Mummy, me, Roxie... and BEER!" Out of the mouths of babes...

 

* SONG OF THE DAY: Peggy Hayes sings Peggy Lee - Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe*

Pogue mahone!*

Kiss It Better (c) Kristen Bailey 2009 

Just a little homemade card to wish my friend well following surgery on the base of her spine. Ouch! ;)

* It's Gaelic...

* SONG OF THE DAY: Stephen 'Tintin' Duffy: Kiss Me*

Artist knits replica of pyramid stone as penance for childhood theft

Andy Holden's Pyramid Piece at Tate Britain Photo: PAUL GROVER

Via The Telegraph: When he was twelve, Andy Holden was taken to the Great Pyramid of Giza. While he was there he broke off a piece of the stone and took it back home with him. When his parents found out, they were furious.

As an adult, he was still consumed with guilt, and in 2008 he went back to the Great Pyramid and returned the stone to its original place. He then spent a year creating this 10ft high knitted replica of the stolen stone.

His show, Art Now: Andy Holden is on at Tate Britain till April 10th, and includes video footage of his him returning the stone to the Great Pyramid.

Being Human returns!

Series 2 of Being Human - tonight at 10pm - can't wait!

* SONG OF THE DAY: Annie Lennox – Love Song For A Vampire *

Japanese Culture for beginners

Back in Crawley to see my folks a few weeks ago, I went to a 'Japanese Cultural Event' at Crawley's lovely new library. I have more enthusiasm for, than knowledge of, Japanese culture. Mainly the tradional stuff - geisha, kimono, graphic prints - but also modern phenomenon such as cosplay, especially the sort of outfits worn by the 'Harajuku kids' made famous by street fashion magazine FRUiTS. So it was great to get a good introduction from a Japanese person who lives in Britain.

Akemi Solloway is a lecturer and consultant on Japanese culture, and leads study visits to Japan. She started by explaining that she wears kimono all the time - she had her train ticket tucked in her obi! What really surprised me was that everything else she needed - purse, keys, etc - she kept in the long 'pockets' of her kimono sleeves. She also explained that while the fan she had on her was wooden, she sometimes carried a metal fan which could be used for self-defence if walking alone at night!

Akemi dressed a volunteer in a summerweight cotton kimono known as a yukata, and tied an obi round her waist which she finished with a big bow. The lady said it was likely wearing a corset - rather tight but good for your posture!

Then Akemi took us through part of the tea ceremony. Along the way she told us loads about Japanese history and modern Japanese culture, and told us about the two-day Japanese Art Festival she runs in Richmond every year, which includes art, music and food. This year it's 27-28 February, and it's FREE! I really hope I can get there.

Pop Music, Let's Go! My top tunes of 2009

Lauren Laverne signs teen rock book deal

Lauren Laverne has got herself a book deal with Harper Collins. She'll be writing a teenage fiction trilogy about... a fifteen-year old girl who wants to be a successful rock star! 

I loved Kenickie sooooo much. Their debut album 'At The Club' was such an important record for me! Kenickie were cool in every way - the music, the lyrics, the outfits, the one-liners, the attitude (a member of Kenickie was always good value on Never Mind The Buzzcocks).

Lauren was my favourite, and I'm so glad she's ended doing TV and radio. She's stylish, funny, smart and a breath of fresh air compared to many other female presenters. A true original. Well played, punka.

 
 

Footprints In The Sand

 Flicking through an old scrapbook, I spotted a page I'd torn from a copy of Scripture Union's bible fanzine, 'disclosure', featuring a wonderful devotional aid from renowned preacher Reverend Gerald Ambulance: 

We asked Rev Gerald Ambulance to bring a prophetic word to really speak into your situation. This is the best he could come up with.

Beloved siblings, I have sought the Lord for a word. I sought him by day and I sought him by night, and then in the morning there he was - everywhere. Just like he always is. So that was worth it.

I covered the subject with much prayer, fasting and transubstantiated communion wine. And lo, as I lay on the kitchen floor, the Lord came to me in a dream, and an infallibly spooky vision was manifest unto me.

And behold I saw a beach, with two pairs of footprints on it. And I said,

'Oh no, not that one again Lord! That is so 'Eighties'. The editor will throttle me.'

And he said, 'Just bear with me, OK?'

'All right,' I said. 'Let me guess. This is my life, yes?'

'That's right.'

'You and me walking along together, yes?'

'You got it.'

'Then how is it that at the places when times get hard there is only one set of footprints?'

And the Lord said, 'That, my child, is when we were hopping.'

Reverend Gerald Ambulance now ministers online at Ship Of Fools. :)

Paper Cutout Animation

Video for NZBC, via YouTube

Via CraftStylish: This is a beautiful stop-motion animation, made for the New Zealand Book Council by Anderson M Studio. It's been created from the pages of a book ('Going West' by Maurice Gee) - goodness knows how long it must have taken!

It reminds me of Su Blackwell's work, especially the ad she did for Beringer wine (below). I love stop-motion animation but am in awe of the animators - I just don't think I'd have the patience (or skill!) required to produce it myself!

Beringer advert, via YouTube

The Poverty and Justice Bible

I bought this a while ago and never got round to blogging about it. 'The Poverty and Justice Bible', published by the Bible Society, is an edition of the Bible where any verse related to poverty or justice is highlighted in orange. This really helps you to understand how often these subjects are tackled in both the Old and New Testaments - they are really important to God, which they should be really important to Christians!

I've found them really useful when writing to persecuted Christians or their families, looking for a Bible verse to encourage them. They probably don't understand English, but they can look up the verse reference in their own Bible - it may be the only part of my letter they understand, but it will help them to know that we are family!

For more details about the P&J Bible, check out the Poverty and Justice Bible website.

Images (c) The Bible Society

 

A Close-Knit Couple

Look at who's come to live with me - aren't they cute? They are Russian originally, but came to me from California, via Etsy seller Glamourama. They make me smile.
 

Writing to persecuted Christians

Image (c) Open Doors

Since I've had ME/CFS I've not been able to do as much at my home church - the stuff which requires physically being there - so I've wanted to find other ways to serve. Having a lot of sofa-based time on my hands, the internet's been a Godsend (see what I did there?) and I've been able to find out how I can support fellow Christians who are being persecuted for their faith in places far from my home simply by writing them a letter (and praying for them!).

The two main organisations I support are Christianity Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and Open Doors. CSW publish 'Connect and Encourage', which is has the stories and addresses of Christians who have been persecuted (some in prison) or their families, and explains how to write to them. Their website has details of the countries they focus on. Open Doors concentrates on a few specific campaigns at a time.

Both also send out advocacy alerts by email, as and when they need you to write to people of influence who may be able to help a particular persecuted / imprisoned Christian. That could be someone in their country's government, their country's ambassdor in your own country, or your own MP/MEP/Senator/whoever represents you to your government.

Sometimes writing a letter of support to someone who has been beaten, raped, had their home burned down, been imprisoned or whose loved one has been executed because they're a Christian can seem a pathetic gesture from someone who has complete freedom to practice their faith. But don't I believe in a God who can do big things with small offerings?

CSW says, "it lets them know that someone cares about their suffering, and it can also show governments and local authorities that people around the world are taking interest in a particular case or prisoner" (which can also result in a prisoner being treated better, even if your letter doesn't reach them personally). It really is worth doing!

Other organisations which support the persecuted church are Barnabus Fund, Release International, China Aid, International Christian Concern and Voce of the Martyrs.

Image (c) CSW

A kaleidoscope of colourful knitwear: Jóhanna av Steinum

Browsing the website of the NICE Festival of Nordic Art and Culture, I came across this amazing knitwear by Jóhanna av Steinum, which is being exhibted at The Bluecoat in Liverpool.

Johanna is a fashion knitwear designer from the Faroe Islands – a small group of islands in the North Atlantic Sea, famous for having twice as many sheep as people and a strong tradition for knitting. Her garments are made by women from the Faroes and the Ukraine, where knitting is also an important part of the heritage.

Just look at the unihibted use of colour and pattern - great styling on this shoot, too. It makes me want to go and raid my cupboards for an outfit full of clashing colours and textures - or maybe chop up three patterned jumpers from the charity shop to make myself a new sweater dress... mmmmmmm!!!

All images (c) Steinum.net

 

64-knit colour: Biggan Yarns

At last, I've stumbled across a high-quality DK yarn with comes in loads of bright colours! Normally if I want bright colours I have to use 100% acrylic yarns, which are nice and cheap - great for making toys but not nice enough to use for clothing.

Biggan yarns come in 64 (!) colours and are a machine-washable 100% merino wool which is soft enough to wear against the skin. Biggan Design was founded by Swedish designer Biggan Dups. It's based in Australia, but you can buy Biggan yarn in the UK via Woolaballoo, for about £5 per 50g. I am sooo tempted to order two dozen different colours and crochet myself a beautiful shawl!

* SONG OF THE DAY: Terry Hall & Damon Albarn - Chasing A Rainbow *

Both images (c) Biggan Design 2009

The Hesitant Hooker

I've finally done it. I've learnt to crochet!!! I'd tried learning from a book and ended up with a right mess, so I figured I'd be better off learning from a real person and booked up for a 2-hour 'Learn To Crochet'' workshop at Hove Museum. And here is My First Granny Square!

Our tutor was Jan Eaton, who has written loads of books about crochet. She was great, and explained the mysteries of foundation rings and turning chains, making them much less scary. I made another square when I got home, but I went wrong - didn't put enough stitches in the corners - see?

But the good thing was that using the pattern and diagrams Jan had given us, I could identify the mistake and correct it! It was so great to have learned a new skill - obviously I'm doing the crochet equivalent of playing 'Chopsticks' on the piano, but it's still exciting seeing a granny square take shape!

I'm hoping to crochet myself a granny square blanket to put over my sofa (if only if came out like Lucy at Attic 24's!). And I've got Debbie Stoller's book Stitch and Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker to move me on to (slightly) more complex projects - it's got a lovely light-hearted feel to it which helps to make learning the various stitches seem far less daunting. Look Mum, I'm a hooker!!!

Knitted Christmas post box

Finally got round to finishing my Christmas postbox! So it will spend a few weeks on top of my wardrobe with my other Christmas decs and then reappear in December. I love postboxes, couldn't resist this pattern. If you want to make your own, it's 'Clarence the Christmas Postbox' from Jean Greenhowe's Celebration Clowns booklet, which is out of print but easy to find on eBay.
 

Regretsy

 

I've just discovered 'bad craft' site Regretsy, and I haven't laughed so much in ages! Regretsy (tagline 'Handmade? It looks like you made it with your feet.') trawls Etsy for examples of truly excruciating handiwork and takes the p*** mercilessly.

They're currently mining a particularly rich seam of Twilight fan art. Other enticing categories include Dead Things, Pet Humiliation and Spelling Issues.  It's a guilty pleasure, in the same vein as red carpet fashion site Go Fug Yourself. For more bad craft, there's also Craftastrophe and Glitter Gone Bad.

* SONG OF THE DAY: McAlmont and Butler - What's The Excuse This Time? *

Loveheart for Eddie and Sharry

Wedding loveheart (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

Today is a very special day! My best friend from school is marrying the lovely Eddie, and I'm being a bridesmaid (my first time!). Sharry at I met on the first day at secondary school, when we were 12. I'm so blessed that our friendship has lasted this long.

Sharry will be a beautiful bride. The other two bridesmaids and I will be by her side in floor-length midnight blue satin, grinning, crying and trying not to trip over, I expect. I know how much planning has gone into making the day special for everyone and it will be fantastic to see it all come together. Congratulations you two!

 Wedding garter (c) Kristen Bailey 2009
 

Queen Victoria doll for Mum

 

Mum's really interested in Queen Victoria, so for her birthday I knitted her this doll of old Victoria in her mourning clothes. Once again I based the doll on Jean Greenhowe's Little Gift Dolls pattern, using the skirt from the Christmas Tree Fairy and the cuffs from Miss Valentine. The widow's cap I made using the veil pattern from the Summer Mouse in the Knitted Animals booklet.

I made Victoria necklaces of pearls and crystals, and pearl earrings, and a mourning brooch with Albert's cameo on it. The crown was knitted in silver crochet thread, using Jean Greenhowe's 'picot hem' pattern, and I sewed on crystal beads. Does her face look amused?
 

 

All images in this post (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

* SONG OF THE DAY:  The Divine Comedy - Victoria Falls *

 

Loveheart for Cathy and Tim

This little felt loveheart is a wedding present for my friend Cathy and her new husband Tim, who is from Canada. They met while working in Spain, and aren't sure which country they're going to make their home in, so I had to give them something more portable than a toaster!

Stuarts Granolithic

'Stuarts Granolithic' paving stone in Holland Road, Hove

Grinding gears at Hove Museum

Mum and Dad came down for the afternoon so the Blonde and I took them to Hove Museum to partake of afternoon tea. In the foyer of the museum is a wonderful coin-operated automata by Ian McKay.

There's a chap reading a newspaper, seated next to a lady with a flask of tea...

... and a kissing couple!

I love automata. I enjoyed making the sheep automata for my mum, and I'd like to learn how to design one myself. I'm not a woodworker so I'd like to see if I could make a fabric one - over an armature of some sort I guess.

Rob Ives' Paper Engineering and Pop-ups for Dummies looks like it might be a good starting point.

* SONG OF THE DAY: The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up *

Bus phone

Spotted in Snooper's Paradise in the North Laine - a bus phone! Saved myself the £30 by making do with a photo :) 

September sunset in Hove

September sunset in Hove (c) Kristen Bailey, 2009

Slept most of the day as I'd been awake all night, but still managed to get outside for a walk as the sun went down. Beautiful, eh?

* SONG OF THE DAY: Belle & Sebastian - Another Sunny Day *

Hedgehog pincushion

This (rather bald) hedgehog pincushion was made by me at primary school as a Mother's Day pressie. I can vivdly remember making it. My teacher had a large shallow box full of brightly-coloured embroidery silks, which I found so exciting that I got told off for sorting them into colour ranges when I should have been sewing! We stuffed our hedgehogs with chopped-up old tights.

Some of our dinner ladies had stayed on after lunch to help supervise the sewing. Take a look at the blanket stitch - can you guess which bit was done by a dinner lady and which was done by a five-year old?

Ye olde Bunn Shoppe, Brighton

I found this advertising card being used as a bookmark in a charity shop paperback years ago. It extols the virtues of 'Cowley, Fancy Bread and Biscuit Maker', at 9, Pool Valley in Brighton town centre, off the seafront near the Palace Pier. The Cowley family traded there for 150 years - not sure which of those years this card comes from! They must have closed in the mid 1940s. I love that their telegram address is 'Biscuits, Brighton'.

These days, if you find yourself in Pool Valley with a yearning for something sweet, treat yourself to tea and cake at The Mock Turtle.

5 Jan 2011 - edited to add:
I've been contacted by Peter Cowley, whose family used to run the Bunn Shoppe:

"Nos. 8/9, Pool Valley housed the bakery run by my great, great grandfather, Francis Cowley, who I believe took over the business that had been started by the Streeter family, possibly Sarah Streeter. After Francis died the business was run by his daughter, Caroline, who actually obtained a Royal Warrant. If you are interested you can read more and see more photographs on my family history web site at www.cowleyfamily.org.uk/bunn_shoppe.html."

Thanks Peter!

Bad Wolf

Image (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

This made me laugh out loud! A rogue Doctor Who fan has graffitied this tree, near Hove Museum.

The blue tones

Hove in blue, 21 August 2009 (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

* SONG OF THE DAY: Edwyn Collins - Fifty Shades of Blue *

Tea and talk

Spotted this ad for the Mental Health Foundation's Tea & Talk campaign, at Victoria Station (London) last week. I thought it was lovely - both the graphic and the sentiment. I've suffered from depression at several points in my life, and during those times I always found meeting with a friend to talk (sometimes about what was troubling me, sometimes about anything but!) was good medicine.

It takes you out of yourself, stimulates your brain and refreshes your perspective on life. Conversation: to be taken several times a week, either in person, over the phone or online.

New knitting booklet from Jean Greenhowe!

Queen of knitted toys, Jean Greenhowe, has a new booklet out this week. Dolly Mixtures is a collection of 9 inch dolls, including a snowman, a pirate boy, a flower seller girl and a Christmas elf.

It's been ages since she's had new stuff out so I was excited to see this, but I must admit I'm a wee bit disappointed that it's another book of large dolls - they're cute but a quite similar to dolls already included in previous JG booklets. But I am a JG addict so will still be buying it!

All images in this post (c) Jean Greenhowe 2009

Dale Maxey: Seeing London

All images in this post are from 'Seeing London' by Dale Maxey (c) Collins, 1966

I spent a few days in Kent last week seeing my old schoolfriend Sharry. The trip was mainly to do with my forthcoming bridesmaidly duties, but Sharry was lovely enough to give me my fix of charity shops, in Maidstone. The very last one we went in - and nearly didn't because at first - it seemed to be a furniture-only shop - turned up this gem of a book, Seeing London, written and illustrated by Dale Maxey, printed in 1966.

I always look at the kids' books in charity shops to see if there are any by my favourite illustrators (Janet and Allan Ahlberg, Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge books) or that just catch my eye. This was only 50p, AND has a sort-of bus on the front cover, so I just grabbed it without much flicking through it! But when we got home and I starting looking at it properly I got more and more excited...

It's a children's guide to London, with wonderful illustrations, hand-drawn maps and lovely writing, describing six different excursions you could take from Trafalgar Square on a big red doubledecker bus, to museums, galleries and landmarks where you don't need to be with an adult to get in (you can tell it's 40 years old!). Maxey says that London's buses remind him (her?) of elephants, "lumbering along through the mist that often seems to shroud the city", and this theme runs through the illustrations.

 

The covers and endpapers are in full colour but most of the illustrations are in just black and white, sometimes with red accents. There are two full colour maps of London (click on them for larger versions)...

... and several monochrome ones, labelled with the various places visited in each excursion:

 

The pictures are bursting with life and good humour. Just look at this one, enticing you to take a dip in the Serpentine Lido. I love the girl holding her nose as she goes under the water - especially the way her hair and the skirt on her swimming costume are flying up!

I couldn't find a biog of Dale Maxey online, but he/she seems to have concentrated on children's books, including illustrations for an edition of Edward Lear's The Owl & The Pussycat.

You can find Dale Maxey images on Google. I'll carry on scanning in this book and put my images in a Dale Maxey set on Flickr, and set up a Dale Maxey group, see if anyone bites. Ateeeeeeeeeeen'shun!!!

Baldism

We were walking to Hove Library when Dad (hairy everywhere except his head) let out a cry of distress at this poster in the window of the hairdressers next door!

* SONG OF THE DAY: Super Furry Animals - Ice Hockey Hair *

Shelter's House of Cards (and... vote for me!)

Duck House (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

Housing and homelessness charity Shelter is running a campaign called House of Cards, to highlight the plight of thousands of people whose homes have been repossessed, and the lack of sufficient social housing.

A TV ad (below) has been produced to promote the campaign and Shelter has asked 52 artists and designers to created artwork for each card of a deck of playing cards. Their designs will be exhibited at the Haunch of Venison art gallery, and auctioned in aid of Shelter.

Shelter has run a competition to design the deck's Eight of Clubs, and this (above) is my entry. I've made the eights 'clubs' into trees, around a figure-of-eight pond, with ducks and a duck house, as a nod to the recent 'MP's expenses' furore. It's paper collage on a handknitted background. All entries are being put to a public vote online from 21 to 29 August - so if you like my design, I'd really appreciate it if you'd vote 'Love It'! :)

* SONG OF THE DAY: Orbital - I Wish I Had Duck Feet *

Post Boxes stamps

Image (c) Royal Mail

I love Royal Mail's latest Special Issue stamps, which feature traditional British post boxes. I've been a letter writer all my life, and I love anything with a red post box on - I even collected Postman Pat stuff when I was a teenager (although I see that lately he's sold out to The Man, presumably to fund the purchase of his new helicopter).

I take photos of postboxes, and am part of Flickr's Postboxes by Postcode Area group. I'm currently knitting Jean Greenhow's Christmas postbox for myself, and if I had a little extra cash I'd love to give an appreciative home to one of British Cream Tea's amazingly detailed, beautifully made Red Postbox felt sculptures.

Image (c) British Cream Tea

High Tea

High Tea (c) Kristen Bailey 2009

Got back from food shopping to be greeted by the scaffolders saying, 'Ah - this nice lady will make us a brew!' I said 'OK, but you'll have to come in and fetch them from the second floor,' but they told me just to leave them on my windowsill - they climbed up to get them and went back down to have a fag!

Knit a Poem

Poet Ian McMillan (3rd from left) with Poetry Society staff (c) Poetry Society

The Poetry Society are celebrating their centenary by creating a knitted poem! They haven't yet revealed which poem it will be, but they have over 700 people at work creating the individual letter squares which will make up the 40-foot poem. It will be displayed in October.

They're still looking for volunteers to knit or crochet the blank squares between the letters and the edging of the poem - to receive your knitting or crochet pack, email Rebecka Mustajarvi: officeassistant AT poetrysociety.org.uk

Photos: Alison Friday, Hazel Buchan Cameron, Bob Coe, Tracy Farr and Megan Fernandes

6th September - EDITED TO ADD: And here's my square - a lovely soft pink blank (Rowan Pure DK in Tea Rose). They ask you to put your name, town and favourite poem on the back. - wonder if I'll be able to spot it from the front in the finished article?

 

Score!!!

Thank you, Person Down The Street, for putting a huge wodge of magazines (some over 2 years old!) out for recycling. You have made a near neighbour and her scissors and scrapbook very happy indeed. :)