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Crafty makes, beautiful things, random thoughts, books, vague ramblings.
Saturday 30 July 2011
All set up at the Miller!
The usual colourful chaos, surrounded by lots of other gorgeous goods...the trick is to make more than I spend!
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Find me here on 30 July and 27 August!
Right, I'm off to find the camera so I can get some pics for a blog post next week....
Thursday 28 July 2011
Sunday 24 July 2011
What I did on my holidays
Well, I'm back after my holiday - anyone miss me? I went away with the excellent intention of having a go at mobile blogging using the Android app I'd installed before we left, but for some reason it only works if your blog is linked to a gmail account (which this isn't). I was thwarted also by there being NO wifi in West Wales, as far as I could tell - you get so used to going in and out of wifi zones in the high streets and shopping centres that being without it was quite a shock. Mobile reception was also patchy, so trying to upload photos would have been difficult anyway. I've found a new app and will try it out some time. The lack of instant access to FB, Twitter etc was frustrating at times but was probably good for me...
Regular readers will know that our family week away was spent in Cardigan Bay, a beautiful rural/coastal area with gorgeous beaches and clean seas, in the company of both my sisters, one of my brothers-in-law and my very cute niece Catrin. It was a bit of a nostalgia week as Penbryn was the setting for many of our childhood holidays, and it's also the halfway point (ish) between Northern Ireland where my youngest sister lives and Essex/London where the rest of us are.
So, we drove down from Epping along the M4 in torrential rain, with thick black cloud as far as the eye could see - pretty standard for a Welsh holiday, but still a little dispiriting! - but as we crossed the Severn Bridge we started getting flashes of sun which made the seven-hour drive a little more bearable. The views as we drove through the Brecon Beacons were spectacular as you can see below, which was just as well as I'd insisted we took the slow route through Crickhowell, Brecon and Llandovery rather than the M4 up to Carmarthen.
The flat we'd rented turned out to be in the annexe of a church that we'd driven past many times on our way to the beach and although 9 people made it a bit of a squash (even if 4 of them were quite small) it was lovely to spend some time with my NI sister and her little family. Her daughter Catrin and my No. 2 Daughter Tove are so similar that they could be twins, and there's only 3 months difference in age. Tove is rather more boisterous as she has to compete with her elder sister, but by the end of the week Cat was standing up for herself nicely (much to her mother's horror, I think) and had learned two new words (no and miiiiiiine) which will serve her well.
It continued to rain for the first three days of the holiday but in true family fashion we didn't let that stop us, and we made it to various beaches on most days. New Quay (Cei Newydd) was spotty with rain and a bit breezy but the kids loved blowing bubbles and pottering about on the sand with their buckets and spades, while Arthur took pictures with Dylan's help and Conall stayed home watching the Gaelic Football finals.
Monday was a no-chance-of-it-brightening-up day with 'heavy and persistent' rain (according to the weatherman!) so we headed for Aberystwyth for lunch and The Magic of Life Butterfly House near the Rheidol Power Station visitor centre in the beautiful Cwm Rheidol. The kids were amazed by the enormous butterflies roaming the polytunnel (I was quite chuffed when a few landed on me too).
We also made it, all wrapped up, to Penbryn itself on the Tuesday. Daisy was all for the idea of caves until she saw them and changed her mind! They did have a wonderful time splashing about in the stream that cuts across the beach though.
Fortunately the sun came out after this and we had three good beach days at Llangrannog with its hair-raising approach roads and Penbryn again. I managed to swim on all three days and Conall and Arthur had a lovely time digging enormous holes for the kids to leap in and out of. Catrin and Tove particularly loved them, and the sheer size of the hole was the cause of much dad-envy from other children.
Arthur and I also snuck away for a couple of hours on our last evening for a walk on the beach at Tresaith and a quick drink at the Ship Inn with its amazing views over the Bay. In the bar there is a dolphin-spotting board - there is a family of bottle-nose dolphins which is well-established in Cardigan Bay (I saw one!) - and what looks like an excellent bar menu. We climbed over the rocks to the left of the beach to see the waterfall, and then wandered along the beach to watch the sunset.
Regular readers will know that our family week away was spent in Cardigan Bay, a beautiful rural/coastal area with gorgeous beaches and clean seas, in the company of both my sisters, one of my brothers-in-law and my very cute niece Catrin. It was a bit of a nostalgia week as Penbryn was the setting for many of our childhood holidays, and it's also the halfway point (ish) between Northern Ireland where my youngest sister lives and Essex/London where the rest of us are.
So, we drove down from Epping along the M4 in torrential rain, with thick black cloud as far as the eye could see - pretty standard for a Welsh holiday, but still a little dispiriting! - but as we crossed the Severn Bridge we started getting flashes of sun which made the seven-hour drive a little more bearable. The views as we drove through the Brecon Beacons were spectacular as you can see below, which was just as well as I'd insisted we took the slow route through Crickhowell, Brecon and Llandovery rather than the M4 up to Carmarthen.
The flat we'd rented turned out to be in the annexe of a church that we'd driven past many times on our way to the beach and although 9 people made it a bit of a squash (even if 4 of them were quite small) it was lovely to spend some time with my NI sister and her little family. Her daughter Catrin and my No. 2 Daughter Tove are so similar that they could be twins, and there's only 3 months difference in age. Tove is rather more boisterous as she has to compete with her elder sister, but by the end of the week Cat was standing up for herself nicely (much to her mother's horror, I think) and had learned two new words (no and miiiiiiine) which will serve her well.
It continued to rain for the first three days of the holiday but in true family fashion we didn't let that stop us, and we made it to various beaches on most days. New Quay (Cei Newydd) was spotty with rain and a bit breezy but the kids loved blowing bubbles and pottering about on the sand with their buckets and spades, while Arthur took pictures with Dylan's help and Conall stayed home watching the Gaelic Football finals.
Monday was a no-chance-of-it-brightening-up day with 'heavy and persistent' rain (according to the weatherman!) so we headed for Aberystwyth for lunch and The Magic of Life Butterfly House near the Rheidol Power Station visitor centre in the beautiful Cwm Rheidol. The kids were amazed by the enormous butterflies roaming the polytunnel (I was quite chuffed when a few landed on me too).
We also made it, all wrapped up, to Penbryn itself on the Tuesday. Daisy was all for the idea of caves until she saw them and changed her mind! They did have a wonderful time splashing about in the stream that cuts across the beach though.
Fortunately the sun came out after this and we had three good beach days at Llangrannog with its hair-raising approach roads and Penbryn again. I managed to swim on all three days and Conall and Arthur had a lovely time digging enormous holes for the kids to leap in and out of. Catrin and Tove particularly loved them, and the sheer size of the hole was the cause of much dad-envy from other children.
Arthur and I also snuck away for a couple of hours on our last evening for a walk on the beach at Tresaith and a quick drink at the Ship Inn with its amazing views over the Bay. In the bar there is a dolphin-spotting board - there is a family of bottle-nose dolphins which is well-established in Cardigan Bay (I saw one!) - and what looks like an excellent bar menu. We climbed over the rocks to the left of the beach to see the waterfall, and then wandered along the beach to watch the sunset.
I also managed to fit in a few runs (even one in the rain!). One route was through Sarnau village which is very small so that one wasn't much fun, and the other two took me down to the beach carpark at Penbryn and back. The run out on that one was all downhill (almost 3K!) which was hard on the legs (no pain, no gain. Or something like that) but the downside was the very steep climb back up. The upside was the scenery, as the road is so steep that the views across Cardigan Bay are amazing. It was on the way back up that I stopped for a look at the view and saw a dolphin, so it was all worth it.
The other notable wildlife spot was the Red Kites, which were very rare when I was studying in Aberystwyth in the 1990s but now seem common as far south as Penbryn which is a real success story for the Welsh Kite Trust and other organisations. Lots of buzzards, too, and millions of sheep.
We had a lovely time, but I did miss my washing machine (I'm on load number 8 now with at least another 4 to go) and Costa/Starbucks/Caffe Nero for my coffee hits! I do hope we go again next year.
In other news, while I was away Carolyn over at CeeGee Jewellery Design nominated me for The Versatile Blogger award, which was very kind of her....but now I need to think of 7 random things about me to share with you all! So I'm off to do just that. Look out for my Versatile Blogger post in a couple of days....
Thursday 14 July 2011
Race for Life - 13 July 2011
Well, despite a stinking cold (me), spotty rain and grey skies (everywhere else) the Epping Race for Life happened! I finished my 5K in 38 minutes and 34 seconds, and about 19 minutes of that was actual jogging. I rather enjoyed it, and I raised £120 for Cancer Research too. I'll have to aim for the 10K next year, and I still hope to do the Moonwalk with one or both of my sisters.
Just Daisy's party and her birthday to get out of the way and then it's a well-deserved week in West Wales, followed by Wonder Hill High Market at the Miller on July 30th. I've made the birthday cake, complete with Sylvanian Family meerkats and a giant sparkler, now all I'm waiting for is the kids to arrive....
Monday 11 July 2011
Wow, thank you!
It's my big girl's fifth birthday at the end of this week! I can't believe it myself, really, but there we are. I know I'm biased but she really is amazing (just like the other two, obviously) - utterly gorgeous, a talented little artist with a HUGE imagination, generous, loving, bright and happy. She also has a stubborn streak, and if she isn't the world's most co-ordinated child when it comes to dancing (or walking) well, I know where she gets that from and I apologise....
She is in many ways a typical five year old - she loves pink, fairies, princesses, Hello Kitty, Barbie (ugh) and imaginative play; she adores her dollhouse at her Granny and Grandpere's, and spends hours with her Sylvanian Family toys. She also loves climbing trees, making mudpies and helping her Daddy with his Hornby set and with DIY. Go figure!
So in honour of five year old girls everywhere (and to show some support for a new online venture, WowThankYou, which aims to promote designers from the UK) I've made a birthday wishlist of things I know she would love to have if we had the money or the space. I found them using the rather clever gift finder on the site. It's easy to use and there's a wide range of handmade products to choose from thanks to the way that sellers categorise their items when uploading.
So here we go... it's a random mix but I know Daisy would love these!
And finally - for me - three of these lovely Personalised Big Hole Charm Beads by CeeGee Jewellery Design, to fit my birthday charm bracelet from my longsuffering other half.
She is in many ways a typical five year old - she loves pink, fairies, princesses, Hello Kitty, Barbie (ugh) and imaginative play; she adores her dollhouse at her Granny and Grandpere's, and spends hours with her Sylvanian Family toys. She also loves climbing trees, making mudpies and helping her Daddy with his Hornby set and with DIY. Go figure!
So in honour of five year old girls everywhere (and to show some support for a new online venture, WowThankYou, which aims to promote designers from the UK) I've made a birthday wishlist of things I know she would love to have if we had the money or the space. I found them using the rather clever gift finder on the site. It's easy to use and there's a wide range of handmade products to choose from thanks to the way that sellers categorise their items when uploading.
So here we go... it's a random mix but I know Daisy would love these!
Buzzing BumbleBees Hairclippies by AdoraBelle
Fairy Cookies by Kathryn's Cakes
Handmade Tutu by Monkeys from Heaven - in pink, of course.
Princess Castle Keepsake Box by Funky Treasure
Flower Bangle by Glitterbugwishes
Daisy Dreams Necklace by Ellansee
A Personalised Name Canvas by Handcrafted by Picto
Large Personalised Girl's Toybox by Presently Thinking Ltd
Handmade Mermaid Rag Doll by Kate Murray Soft Toys
Doll's House by Paperpod
Go Play on Platform Playhouse by the play company
And finally - for me - three of these lovely Personalised Big Hole Charm Beads by CeeGee Jewellery Design, to fit my birthday charm bracelet from my longsuffering other half.
Now what can I find on WowThankYou for his birthday?
Saturday 9 July 2011
Rambling about running
Some of you may know that recently I started running, in a bid to shift the post-three-babies weight and get back to my relatively slim 2005 self - I have no desire to be a lollipop head and I'm sensible enough to know that my tummy will never return to its smooth and stretchmark-free former existence *sobs quietly*. I do, however, want to be able to walk into H&M, pick up a pair of size 12 trousers and know that they're going to fit without having to try them on. On a slight aside - what is it with shops and their different trouser sizes? H&M, Top Shop and Gap used (pre-babies) to be perfect for me, but I had terrible trouble with Dorothy Perkins (if the waist fitted the hips gaped), Next (though they seem to have changed their fit), and most other places. My sister is the opposite, but then pre-babies I could only be described as 'boyish' whereas she is built more along the 'pocket rocket' lines. Where was I?
Oh yes. Anyway, the running. I'm using the Couch to 5K programme at Cool Running which is designed for people like me who haven't done any exercise for a while (though I recently GPSed the school run and that's a mile each way, and it feels like more when you're late and pushing a double buggy), who want to get fit/lose weight/run 5K etc. It's amazingly sensible, working on building you up gradually from jogging in short 60 second bursts in the first week alternating with 90 seconds of walking, bracketed by 5 minute warm-up/cool-down walks to being able to jog a solid 30 minutes (3 miles) after 9 weeks. I started it in May and signed up for the local Race for Life 5K, which would, in theory, have been 8 weeks into the programme but naturally I damaged my knees and had to take 3 weeks off. I'm back into it now and started week 4 this morning (with 16 minutes of jogging in total). It's surprisingly enjoyable! And it does seem to be making a difference - my jeans are definitely looser round the leg and I'm feeling fitter. Plus the gradual nature of the programme really helps you feel you're getting somewhere - last week the first 3 minute run nearly finished me off, but today the 3 minutes were easy and even the 5 minutes weren't too bad. I'm using Runkeeper and RunningAhead to track my workouts and I'm averaging 2.5 miles in each workout. I particularly like Runkeeper as it emails me 'new personal records' to motivate me, and as I've only been using it for a couple of weeks I get lots of emails and feel very motivated indeed. It doesn't work very well on my phone though, so I have to plot routes manually.
Quite apart from the fact that these runs give me a precious half hour all on my own - the only time I get completely to myself - I'm rather enjoying finding little footpaths through the local forest. I'm trying to do different routes as often as possible so that I don't get bored - today, for example, it was a straight run out and back - but with the help of Google Maps I have discovered a great route that cuts through the forest across the old railway lines to the next village and then back along to road to home, and a shorter version that goes along the side of a couple of ponds. Both of these cover a pretty meadow where I've seen deer and rabbits as well as a host of butterflies and wild flowers. I like tracking the distance using a GPS app on my phone, and as I can't run using music yet as it doesn't work with the run/walk programme I get to hear the birds. It's positively idyllic and the thought of a nice forest run is often the motivation for getting out of bed. I'll try and do them as a walk one day and take some pictures. Probably all the locals already know about the route, but I'm not from round yere....I'll keep you updated occasionally, but the next target for me is the Race for Life which is 4 days away.
Having raved about solo running, I am looking forward to a week away in Wales with my sisters very soon, and I'll be taking my running kit so I can run with my sister - she started with the C25K programme and is now terribly fit. Plus it did wonders for her boobs!
We're off to Cardigan Bay for a week in an apartment found via West Wales Holiday Cottages. The best thing about this is that it's near Penbryn Beach, where we spent all our childhood holidays. I love the area so much I did my teacher training at Aberysywth, and I dream of one day being able to pack up and move there permanently. Though I'd settle for a holiday home...if you don't know Penbryn, it's a National Trust beach with a glorious stretch of sand complete with caves, rock pools and clean, clear water. I'm so looking forward to showing it to my other half and my children, as well as to spending a whole week with two sisters, one brother in law and my beautiful niece.
And now I'm off to pack up my wares for tomorrow's Hackney Homemade market! Have a good weekend, whatever you're doing.
Oh yes. Anyway, the running. I'm using the Couch to 5K programme at Cool Running which is designed for people like me who haven't done any exercise for a while (though I recently GPSed the school run and that's a mile each way, and it feels like more when you're late and pushing a double buggy), who want to get fit/lose weight/run 5K etc. It's amazingly sensible, working on building you up gradually from jogging in short 60 second bursts in the first week alternating with 90 seconds of walking, bracketed by 5 minute warm-up/cool-down walks to being able to jog a solid 30 minutes (3 miles) after 9 weeks. I started it in May and signed up for the local Race for Life 5K, which would, in theory, have been 8 weeks into the programme but naturally I damaged my knees and had to take 3 weeks off. I'm back into it now and started week 4 this morning (with 16 minutes of jogging in total). It's surprisingly enjoyable! And it does seem to be making a difference - my jeans are definitely looser round the leg and I'm feeling fitter. Plus the gradual nature of the programme really helps you feel you're getting somewhere - last week the first 3 minute run nearly finished me off, but today the 3 minutes were easy and even the 5 minutes weren't too bad. I'm using Runkeeper and RunningAhead to track my workouts and I'm averaging 2.5 miles in each workout. I particularly like Runkeeper as it emails me 'new personal records' to motivate me, and as I've only been using it for a couple of weeks I get lots of emails and feel very motivated indeed. It doesn't work very well on my phone though, so I have to plot routes manually.
Quite apart from the fact that these runs give me a precious half hour all on my own - the only time I get completely to myself - I'm rather enjoying finding little footpaths through the local forest. I'm trying to do different routes as often as possible so that I don't get bored - today, for example, it was a straight run out and back - but with the help of Google Maps I have discovered a great route that cuts through the forest across the old railway lines to the next village and then back along to road to home, and a shorter version that goes along the side of a couple of ponds. Both of these cover a pretty meadow where I've seen deer and rabbits as well as a host of butterflies and wild flowers. I like tracking the distance using a GPS app on my phone, and as I can't run using music yet as it doesn't work with the run/walk programme I get to hear the birds. It's positively idyllic and the thought of a nice forest run is often the motivation for getting out of bed. I'll try and do them as a walk one day and take some pictures. Probably all the locals already know about the route, but I'm not from round yere....I'll keep you updated occasionally, but the next target for me is the Race for Life which is 4 days away.
Having raved about solo running, I am looking forward to a week away in Wales with my sisters very soon, and I'll be taking my running kit so I can run with my sister - she started with the C25K programme and is now terribly fit. Plus it did wonders for her boobs!
We're off to Cardigan Bay for a week in an apartment found via West Wales Holiday Cottages. The best thing about this is that it's near Penbryn Beach, where we spent all our childhood holidays. I love the area so much I did my teacher training at Aberysywth, and I dream of one day being able to pack up and move there permanently. Though I'd settle for a holiday home...if you don't know Penbryn, it's a National Trust beach with a glorious stretch of sand complete with caves, rock pools and clean, clear water. I'm so looking forward to showing it to my other half and my children, as well as to spending a whole week with two sisters, one brother in law and my beautiful niece.
And now I'm off to pack up my wares for tomorrow's Hackney Homemade market! Have a good weekend, whatever you're doing.
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Virtual Shopping - Eco Style
One thing I've been discovering as I wander about Etsy, Folksy and Facebook is the sheer number of ridiculously talented people doing brilliant things with upcycled materials there are out there. So this week's post (as if I manage to post every week, ha....) is all about some of them. I make no apologies for my choices, but do check out their pages/shops....these are the people who make me wish I was a LOT better paid and had a LOT bigger house to put it all in! They're also all based in the UK.
First up, the fabulous ladies at Make It Sew - I met them at a We Are Handmade event a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with all the great things on their stall - all of which are upcycled from things they've been given or have repurposed. I particularly love their album cover journals like this one below, being an unashamed 70s rock fan!
These coasters by atticspace made me laugh - that's one thing to do with a jumper that accidentally got boilwashed!
Finally, Andrea Davis Jewellery from my nearly-home-town of sunny Monmouth, who remakes beautiful jewellery from vintage pieces as well as designing more modern items. I like the story behind this one. She says about this photo: "A lovely story - a friend of mine, glass artist Cathy Farber gave me the beautiful green beads, given to her by her great aunt Maud. They were part of a necklace made by injured soldiers from the First World War. The little diamantes were mine and came from a friend (Ruby) of my great aunt Mary. I teamed them up with some some new beads, wire & suede ribbon. Cathy liked it so much she is going to buy it for her daughter. I love a happy ending!"
And now a quick mention for me! This isn't upcycled, recycled or repurposed but did come out of a free sample set of pearls from the fabulous Bead Shop Scotland who are possibly my all time favourite suppliers. Given the weird sunny/rainy weather we've been getting, a Rainbow Bracelet seemed appropriate. You can buy it in my Etsy shop or in my WowThankYou shop. If you haven't discovered WowThankYou yet, head over there now. It's a new site focusing on British designer makers and they have a very useful gift finder!
First up, the fabulous ladies at Make It Sew - I met them at a We Are Handmade event a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with all the great things on their stall - all of which are upcycled from things they've been given or have repurposed. I particularly love their album cover journals like this one below, being an unashamed 70s rock fan!
Up next is the amazing O'Blue Thrashion, who makes funky jewellery and accessories - like this bangle - out of thrashed out skateboards. I like the idea that something that's already given someone so much pleasure can get a whole new life, and I also like the slightly grungy, scratched-up look to the bangle.
These coasters by atticspace made me laugh - that's one thing to do with a jumper that accidentally got boilwashed!
Next up...Pixie Blonde and more repurposed jewellery. This time, knitting needles! The colours of these are quite 80s and you'd have to look twice to see what they are.
And now a quick mention for me! This isn't upcycled, recycled or repurposed but did come out of a free sample set of pearls from the fabulous Bead Shop Scotland who are possibly my all time favourite suppliers. Given the weird sunny/rainy weather we've been getting, a Rainbow Bracelet seemed appropriate. You can buy it in my Etsy shop or in my WowThankYou shop. If you haven't discovered WowThankYou yet, head over there now. It's a new site focusing on British designer makers and they have a very useful gift finder!
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