Recent crafting success.

Present for a certain gorgeous boy on the other side of the world. Hopefully it is helping to keep the chill of Winter at bay.

For Japan, with love.

If there is one thing we bloggers are extremely good at it is talking.

We share so much of our lives and thoughts with one another.I know so much about your families, your friends, your pets, your crafting, humour, anger, emotions, politics and points of view.

How about quiet though?

As a mark of respect and a way of raising funds for Shelter Boxes to send to Japan Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours have proposed a Day of Blogging Silence.

24 hours to be quiet and to let the world, and particularly the people of Japan, know that we stand by them.

This is the outline about the event as posted by Henny & Lucia over at 'Utterly Engaged'

The aim is just raise awareness and respect and acknowledge the devastation going on in Japan.

The guidelines are simple.

1. This coming Friday, March 18th, no posts at all on your blog.
2. Please post a blog post about what you will be doing this Friday whenever possible in hopes to spread the word and whoever else would like to join in. You all can check out what Lydia of Ever-Ours did for her’s here or how we did ours here and do it your way if you’d like. We’ll be posting a reminder post on Thursday evening on my blog too.
3. Tweet and Re-Tweet the shiznit out of the link to http://www.forjapanwithlove.com please.
4. Encourage your readers to contribute to donate shelter to Japan.

Whatever anyone can contribute will be appreciated.
Every little helps.

Throwing it out there for comment.

Girls wearing make-up to school.

What say you all?

hesitation

Dear blog,

I'm hesitant. How do you feel? Is it worth it?

trash

How crap is that? Four days into Blogtoberfest and already I missed a post but there is a really good reason, honest.





You see yesterday Maria and I took a little jaunt up to Bath for a bloggy meet-up. Bless her, Maria did all the driving again while I plugged away at the 'Plane Socks' because as we know Christmas is getting ever closer. Having met-up in the driving rain we were prepared to swim our way around Milsom Street but the weather cleared as we approached Bath. (Which was a relief to both of us as heading up Brassknocker Hill in the rain was not something to look forward to.) We were meeting up with Joy and her lovely travelling companions, Daryl and Jess. After rescuing them from the depths of the Marks & Spencer's luggage department with a restorative cup of tea we went off to explore.


I automatically slipped into tour guide mode and dragged them from one end of town to the other heading up toward The Circus and then back down Saracen street to the Cath Kidston shop with a detour via Queen Square. I hope it was a good blend of 'historical and sociolgical tourism' or as it is properly known 'looking and shopping'.

Joy was in such a blissed out state Maria had to collect the shopping for her! Darryl was outside eyeing up The Saracen's Head over the road. He should have gone in, we were at Cath Kidston long enough that he could have downed several pints!



As always at a blog meet up there was much laughing, chatting and a 'knowing' of each other even though you are just meeting for the first time.

Thanks to Joy, Daryl and Jess for sharing a little slice of your holiday with us :-)

Did you notice my poll (eyes right>>>>)

Last week I sent out an email wondering if I were the only one fed up with 'Aussie Crafty Bloggers' going on about just how magnificent a time was had at Sewjourn? Or if others wished they too could have attended the fabulousness that was Sew It Together, Melbourne 2010?

I get a resounding reply of NO!

I was not alone in my deep, deep envy.

Now I accept that Sewjourn is a magical place imbued with the spirit of the luvverly Jan, and the chances of finding such a venue customised to delight the hearts of crafters here in the UK would be tricksy without a mahoosive dose of good fortune. However I reckon that if we put our heads together we could come up with our own version of Sew It Together right here in Old Blighty.

I have been given blessing and benediction by Sheridan . So if you think you might be interested in attending a Craft Extravaganza come October 2011 would you take a couple of seconds to fill in the poll in the sidebar? And if you could spare a few more minutes would you pass the word to any other bloggers who may want to join in?

Answers on a virtual postcard please.

Have nearly finished the top for a Christmas quilt for a special girl in the lives of those

Chez Trash Towers. I bought the coloured star fabrics at lubbard Spotlight near Sylv's house and married it to some bright white cotton curtain lining from the old-fashioned haberdasher's around the corner.I love the bright colours against the white and I really love them both made up as wonky stars. My problem is with layout.

You see, I bought seven colours which is all well and good but my quilt is five blocks by three. My basic maths confirms that this would equal 15 squares. Unfortunately this is a problem in that my basic maths also confirms seven colours doubled up only equals 14 blocks. So we came up with a plan. And this is where you all come in.

I made a rainbow wonky star and have tried it in two different spots in the quilt. What I would like would be for you all to pitch in and tell me which you prefer.

This one in the bottom row?

Or this one smack bang in the middle?

I have to confess I am currently of a mind to do a third purple one (Treeclimber's favourite colour) and place it in the middle and then use the rainbow wonky star as an add-in on the backing.

OK non-believers, hold on to your hats!

This is said quilt in its finished and drapey state. Pretty, non?
Filled with lovely colours Emma Scrapbag put together, interesting texture in the chenille.
A mix of both my worlds with the inner fabric a blog friend gift and the outer a mix of shirts
(one of which I actually loved and wore - don't tell my mother about the other) and a dress belongum Princess C-W.

And then we have the binding.
Gorgeous girlie, frilly pretty binding a gift from a friend.
Binding that was machine-stitched on both sides.
Oh Patch Andi, you clever, clever girl to make me feel brave enough to try this.

And then we have several reasons why it took so long to actually finish completely and 100%.

Have you ever been in love?

I think I may just be.

Isn't he gorgeous?

And because it really is true love, this is on the other side.

This is one of the vinyl-lined bags I have been making like a crazy hound these past two weeks.

It started with a washbag for my girl to take on her weeklong residential trip last month. This fabric was too perfect to leave in the shop and some pretty floral, lightweight vinyl from the old-fashioned haberdashers in town.

These were such a delight to make and look so blurry good (even if I do say so) that the decision was made to create more for that end-of-year scam - the teacher present. This year d/Boy has had six 'teachers' (don't get me started), and Princess C-W three so for once I am ahead of the game and have made five so far.

The first was the boat one for Mr. Headteacher and then d/Boy picked out some shapes for the rest. Gingerbread Man and initials for the really lovely teaching assistant (TA), angel for the god-loving TA, bell for the uber-music loving teacher and a Dala (swedish horse image) for the horse's arse faced evil teacher. This just leaves the knitting one, the coffe cup one and the 'gods-alone-know-what-to-make-for-her' one and there is still a month left of school.

But these need not be just wash bags. I made one on Friday for my gods-daughter's half-year birthday and told her it could be for pencils, shells, felt-tips (textas/markers) or, if her mother really insisted, a damp flannel.

And finally I am managing to post the pictures of the most recent blocks I have made for the 'Quilt Around The World ~~ Christmas Blocks' for Carroll and Sudi-Laura respectively.

I am very excited about both of these because I pieced with reasonably sharp points for a first-timer AND also did needleturn applique! Yay me!

's been a busy day.

First there was the getting up early to get ready to leave the house, then there was the drive across to the other side of town to Sylv's favourite patchwork shop. Having waved goodbye to Sylv and Giovanna it was necessary to do a sweep of said patchwork shop to identify an reprobates that may be hanging about.

With none in sight a perusal of every shop in a ten minute walk was required.

Having started with the shops further away I slowly worked my way back down the road. There was the funky African shop filled with soapstone carvings, gruesome face masks and fiddly bead sculptures. There was the unbelievably groovy clothes shopped that only stocked black, white or grey clothing and where simple cotton shift tunics with nasty felt embroidery came with a $720 price tag. I meandered through two children's clothes shops were the jeans were nearly $90 dollars a pair and t-shirts over 30. My poor children are obviously neglected if these are the indicators of good parenting.

Still with no cackling crazy sewists in view it reached a point where I was considering walking through the paintshop and asking intelligent questions but at the last minute I veered away. Imagine me engaged in a discussion about the merits of acrylic vs eggshells for walls with some fella I had never met before and would never see again. Ten minutes of my life that would never return so I walked down a side street and photographed 1920s/30s Australian houses.

When I did return to the fabric shop the v. nice (but quite reserved) lady working there called out as I entered
'Are you waiting for two women from Ballarat?'
Leading question I thought but yes I was.
'They have just rung and said to tell you they are bit delayed because of roadworks.'
I think she must have known it was me from their description - gorgeous, elegant, sophisticated, glamorous - you know, all the usuals.

Eventually they arrived bringing the sunshine and we laughed and photographed our way through the shop. After half an hour we engaged in what I had assumed was an English obsession but perhaps it is me is the odd one out, we had coffee and cake (apologies to Maria and Lesley).

There was a slight tussle over ownership of the lemon tart but Jodie gracefully acceded to Annie, given she was the driver and all. The next hour was spent catching up and setting the world to rights with a small break for a table shift and then to choose from the chocolates proffered to us.

A quick drive up to the far end of the shopping street and landed us in a good craft place. An old-fashioned haberdashers with racks and racks of buttons, ribbon, bias, lace, toggles and thread. A v. smart dress fabrics shop run by an extremely elegant Italian woman with a razor sharp grey bob and a large pair of cutting shears she menaced Jodie with after a small incident with a bolt of fabric, a slipping elbow and the front window display. Fortunately we escaped with our limbs still attached and so were able to look at a) the smart florists (Annie) and b) the funky toy shop (me and Jodie).

With a quick look at their watches it became clear one of them at least had to be a good parent and get home in time to collect children from school so we said our (temporary) farewells (seeing Jodie at Sew It Together) before I caught the bus into town to meet Sylv at her crafting group. So all in all 's been a bit busy today.

Happy Birthday!!

Dear Mrs Moog and Running Mama,

may your day be filled with cake and much happiness.

With much love from all of us up here on the hill at Trash Towers.

Picture of famous cat sleeping.

He is dreaming of ways to exact revenge on rudey spammers.

Gifts Part the Third

This really is getting ridiculous isn't? We are now over month since my birthday and I still haven't actually managed to show you all the fabulousness. Just one more post after this I promise.

My favouritest cousin stitched this sampler and knew exactly which was the right home for it.

It reads

" To know what you prefer,
instead of humbly saying 'Amen'
to what the world says you ought,
is to have kept your soul alive. "

As well as pretty fabric Jennyflower enclosed this embellished paper artwork. Shown here the colours have a more yellow cast than in reality. Along with Lauren's piece (from previous post) it is gracing my bookshelves so I may enjoy it daily.

And while the picture below does not give the most accurate or professionally displayed image of one of the most amazing things I have received in my life ever, I wanted to show it living its life.

Mrs. Locket, Thimbleanna, Mrs Stashbasket, Wonderwoman, Little Cotton Rabbits and most especially Mrs Moog please accept this huge enormous bouquet of thanks. I am in awe at the skill and talent that created my blanket

Gifts Part the Second

The managment would like to state her and now that the delay in showing any fabulous item gifted to them om the last two months in NO way reflects upon the validity and specialness of said gift. Each gift is cherished knowing that a loved one has taken time to chose something especially for me.

Missus Stashbasket sent me a parcel filled with delicious delights. As well as having staged a raid on a beautiful fabric shop somewhere (said fabric now rests with Katy) there was also a notebook staring my assistant and this skein of Posh yarn - oo lala! I am going to brave up and try a lace pattern with this. I think.

Having seen the 'Just Jugs' shelf in real life Mrs Moog knew just how perfect this lil' Cath Kidston number would be.

Two school mamas set the challenge with this book - there are real seams and meeting corners. I have to steel myself just to imagine actually making any of these clever projects.

And just look what arrived all the way from New Jersey! An artwork created especially for me by the incredibly talented Lauren B over at 'All the Good Blog Names Were Taken' . The things this woman can do with paper are a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Not to mention the Jolly Ranchers hiding among all the lace inside the box!

Am loving this whole birthday thing!

Gifts Part the First

I love birthdays. I really, really love birthdays. Mine, someone else's, the dogs', I just love birthdays. And this year my birthday has actually hit the heights of birthday lani-dom.

Now officially at middle age I decided I have enough stuff (obviously excludes fabric and yarn stash increases) and accordingly told CK I didn't want much for my birthday. And so this is (most of) what I got from my lot.

3 flying lanterns, a face mask (ref. prev. post for finished article) , a book many times discussed and a remote control for my camera (used to superb effect last Saturday night).

CK told me I needed some jewellery for my 40th birthday. *No I don't I said. *Go and choose some he said. *No, I won't I said, I don't need any. *Go and choose a piece of jewellery that is beautiful and lovely or the kids and I will!

So I did. I bought myself a gorgeous string of freshwater pearls. They are luminous. They are long. They are lovely. They will be pictured in the next post!

Then there was a parcel from Sylv. As well as the fabric shown over here she also sent some snuggly warm socks, a knitting book filled with crrrrrrazy patterns and the pearls my father gave her in 1969.

These are a necklet that I may never actually wear but I will take out regularly and stroke and sigh over.

Giovanna played a blinder. Again there was fabric but wrapped inside it were some very elegantly patterned cake papercases, an incredibly funky camera bag (perfect for holding new camera 'mote!) and TWO jugs. The cow one has two cows. Obviously they represent me and her but it has to be said I would be the one on the other side, the smaller cow ;-)

This week Smiley Carol has really had to face her fear of my big black dog because I received something in the post EVERY day. Monday my letterbox held a package from Alice Magpie . There may have been a squeal of delight when I opened the parcel to see a Fortnum's bag. things may have got even squealier when I opened up said bag to reveal tins of posh tea and smart biscuits.

Tuesday there was a birthday card from my Auntie Wil insisting I should have a good birthday and that I would celebrate at least another 40. Apparently after I turn 80 all bets are off!

During our day of gratuitous and luxuriant sleeping on Wednesday my assistant flickered a bit when she heard the lid close on the letterbox so when I finally braved the cold (-2 yesterday at 3pm plus windchill) I found a package from Australia waiting for me. Many huge thanks to Annie, Jodie and Rachel for all the beautiful gifts they sent.

From Rachel there were four gorgeous blocks, so perfectly pointy and stitched; I plan on these becoming a cushion quite soon. Annie sent me some of her stunning cards. Princess C-W was particularly smitten with the one of the poppy. And Missus JodieRicrac sent three pieces of fabric and two packs of her billet-doux. I have spent this week wandering around in a haze of loved-upedness and to be honest I am seriously trying to figure out if I can have another one of these in six months because man! I am flying on the lurve!!

The birthday quilt blog will be updated tomorrow but bleow is a collage of the fabric received since Saturday night.

Come back and visit again because there is more to see yet!

There was a party the other night ....

... and like all good parties (I hope it was a good party) there were elegant surrounds,

good company,

fine wines,

good food,

games

and a couple of old reprobates!

Gifties galore to show off next time.

Trash Towers Christmas letter 2009 EDITED

**EDIT**

This letter was written after reading a round robin letter from a friend overseas. What follows is my reaction to the apparent whirlwind excitement of their lives. This post has been edited with this scene setting because a trusted reader/intermittent commenter informed that it reads in a happy perky kind of way when in reality I was a light shade of puce while typing. It would seem that 2009 saw the writers of this page live lives that were fulfilling socially, emotionally, financially, sexually, educationally, metaphysically and photographically. My response was to outline just how 'normal' life here is on the Hill and to that end I have included (with the exception of the first picture) images that are snaps anyone might have taken rather than posed images of loveliness.

I felt so much better at the end of writing this that by the time I got to the fourth and third last sentences I was in earnest again. People of the blog world you guys ROCK!

dear blog friends,

Ho, ho, ho - Santa is coming! Welcome to a round-up of 2009 at Trash Towers. We have had such a busy year doing so many things it is almost tricksy to know where to begin.

Let me start with birthdays - December 28 sees my assistant turning one and what an interesting first year it has been. We faced Spring with several many half-eaten shoes dotted around the house, this has been superseded by a passion for plastic and so now we tread carefully as shredded drink bottles are sharp on barefeet.

As for the rest of us, we have also had birthdays in 2009, each one finding us a year older.

CK has had a daily workload involving meetings and typing short and sharp responses to the apparent idiocy of others. On the up side he had his first solo blog date and refuses to go on any more stating 'Having started at the top it could only go down from here.'

His daily commute continues to involve the car and a bendy road. Traffic sometimes even consists of tractors chugging along causing up to 15 cars to snake along behind.

2009 has seen both children attend school nearly every
day except for holidays and weekends.

Princess Curly-Wurly's hair is even longer now than it was in January whereas (strangely) destructoBoy's is shorter!

I have continued my daily work at Trash Towers on a somewhat hit and miss basis, however I have been highly successful at avoiding cleaning and dusting although the ironing pile is actually threatening to take over downstairs.

Both children have forsworn regular bathing instead choosing the puppywash on irregular occasions. This has resulted in much giggling and also several pounds of potatoes behind the ears of each child.

What with the crappy weather and decaying old dog and all we did not actually manage to get away this year
so the Summer was spent hiding from the rain clouds and mahoosive amounts of precipitation. Eventually the weather cleared enough that we were able to walk the dogs sans wellies, brollies and raincoats and what a memorable afternoon that was.

2009 was the year Maria Juanita Conchita Gonzalez came into my life. I do love her. A lot. Even when there was an incident with late night train journeys, no mobile access and a flat battery I still LOVED her. So I guess this year has had some sunshine in it.

My overwhelming 'sunshiney, happy-heart spot' in 2009 (obviously after the crackers mob I call family, including hounds) has been this little blog space. Rather than blog-averse (seriously, not much is better than a good pun) I have had many an hour wandering through the blogosphere, reading, commenting, being both awed and inspired. Y'all work magic with words and pictures. Perhaps 2010 will see me attain these skills.

Wishing all y'all a Merry Christmas. May it be merry and bright.

How we keep Smiley Carol smiley :-)

Smiley Carol is our post lady. For some reason my large black dog reeeeaaaaaaalllly doesn't like her. Fortunately he was sound asleep after breakfast the day Smiley Carol dropped off TWO packages!

The first was all the way East Coast USA from the very humorous WMK.

Humorous because while Sylv was here I may have mentioned her husband's propensity for making squawks, chirps and similar R2D2 noises. I presumed the Lego Leia a la Jabba the Hutt era is for me to emulate and be strong and brave.

During her holiday in August Missus Stashbasket undertook some displacement activity in the flight, as a result of that and some handy sock knitting while in Portugal, Cintia came into my life.

She brought with her a selection of felty, coloured balls.

And some of Missus Stash's kitcheny goodness.

The jam was divine and enjoyed by all of us while just CK and I are sharing the chutney. Pah! Those childer don't know what they are missing out on (but jolly glad they chose not as it means more for my sandwiches ;-)

My assistant was particularly crafty in her attempts to catch Cintia and sample the final delight she brought with her.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.