E is for... Inventions in Leather

On Thursday I sat down with my sewing machine and made two little creations. One - not so good, probably gonna meet the bin very soon, and the other, a little better. My original project is still on ice, but the marginal success was this little ipod holder. The little apple motif (Apple - apple - see the play on words there!?) was inspired by a similar project found on the Ginger and George blog.



As a first attempt I am quite pleased with this, though it's a little bit of a tight fit so i'm hoping the leather will give a little over time. Working with leather is great fun. There is no fraying to worry about and its easy to cut. Plus there is the lovely leather smell to go with it. I set my machine to the widest possible stitch and took the corners very slowly. My hope is that the visible stitching and ever-so-slightly wonky lines just add to the rustic "handmade" look.

Will be looking out for more leather projects to make soon. Oh and that fabric in the background was bought at hobby craft this week and now have no idea what I should do with it... suggestions welcome!

Em x

E is for... Envisage

At the weekend I had a one of those annoying brainwaves, where my brain works like a fast growing creeper, and a little idea for a crafty project turned into enough ideas to keep me busy for a week. I went to a local fabric factory shop looking for the perfect patterned cotton to use to back it, and came out without the cotton but with a whole different bag of inspiration.




I managed to pick up these 4 scraps of beautiful soft leather for the fantastic price of £1.20! There is a lovely dark brown, a deep red and a vibrant yellow. I had to stop at these pieces and not buy the whole box. Ever since then my mind had been brimming with ideas for ways to put these scraps to use. Whether any of these ideas will turn out as I envisage is another topic entirely. Today I think will be a sewing machine day, and any successes I will be happy to share with you in the coming days!

Em x

E is for... Industrious

Today has been a beautiful winter's day, and I have been rediscovering a local National Trust property that I went to last more than 10 years ago on a school trip. With the snow still making travel tricky, the pilot and I were the only 2 visitors, meaning we had the full attention of the many staff. With demonstrations of carding, spinning and weaving, I now have a very different outlook on my sewing supplies. I have also got great value out of my Trust membership, and it is only day 7 of the year. I'm considering this an achievement in my constant aim to be more thrifty too.

Today we have learnt lots about the cotton industry, enjoyed some of the great outdoors and taken some gorgeous photographs. All in all, I’m very happy with today’s little close-to-home adventure.

Em x

E is for... Expression

Made at http://www.wordle.net/

Inspired by this post I have been having fun with Wordle, and thinking about inspiring words for 2010. After much umm-ing and ahh-ing I have finally chosen my word for the year:

Rediscover

I see this year as a fresh start in many ways, and I want to take this chance to refresh my love for things which I have managed to lose sight of or taken for granted of late. With this in mind I want to rediscover:

- The simple things in life – right now that’s snow, playing with the bunnies and a big warm sweater.

- Myself – OK , sounds a little hippy but I would really like some enlightenment on the subject of “me”. If I don’t understand me... how can I expect anyone else to?

- Lovely things in my surroundings – starting with taking more pictures, I really must appreciate more the beautiful scenery and great days out there are to be had in the North West.

- Some hobbies – many of which have dropped by the wayside as life has become more complicated and more pressing things have made their way to the top of my to-do list.

Today I have embraced my new discovery philosophy with a great day out... picture to follow shortly

Em x

E is for... Eagerness

Yesterday I got to thinking about spring. In the supermarket the selection boxes have been replaced by Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies. Warm winter clothes are being sold off in the sales, and new stock consists of summer skirts and skimpy shirts. Now Christmas is firmly behind us I decided it’s time to take the Christmas tree down and start getting ready for spring. I eagerly bought a little bunch of tulips and set them on my window sill, and undressed the tree ready to be taken to the recycling place.



However by this morning I was proven a little too enthusiastic in my spring-has-sprung philosophy. I drew back the curtains to see the most snow I think I have even seen in this country. Last night there was the sprinkling of snow which has lingered over the past few weeks, but this morning there was an incredible glistening white blanket over every visible thing. The trees were almost groaning with the weight of it. Forget spring... winter is here to stay for now, I might as well get used to it.


So, today has been a snow day for me and the Pilot. Neither of us was supposed to be working, but there was some intention to leave the apartment at some point. However, one look out the window told us that the cars were not going anywhere. The Christmas tree remains in place – only sad and naked, and thankfully the tulips of optimism bring some much needed colour into the kitchen. I love the snow, and I love the excuse to stay in and find some good old fashioned entertainment. The Pilot sat on the floor and made a Meccano helicopter (a Christmas gift from yours truly), and I used this pattern to make my first creation with the sewing machine. It has been the Boxing Day that I didn’t have this year due to work, and I could only have enjoyed it more had “Batteries Not Included” been on the TV.


Thinking about it now, I remember we had snow at Easter in 2008, so winter could be hanging around for a while yet. I should probably stock up for a few more snow days over the next few months. As if I needed an excuse!

Em x

E is for... Evaluating

I think most people would agree with me that New Year’s Resolutions are a bit like verbal contracts – not worth the paper they are written on. So this December I decided instead of making unrealistic plans to, say, stay away from chocolate or go to the gym more, I will make a list of things I have learnt in 2009 and try to remember these lessons in the new year. Of course I will also give the chocolate and gym points some thought, but because I want to, and not because it’s January 1st.

In no particular order, my 2009 musings are:

- Karma is not a myth. I have never much been a believer in the “what goes around, comes around” school of thought, but the past year has begun to change my mind on this. I’m not saying everyone has to check behind them for the big boomerang of fate to come kick them in the ass for that late library book or for scoffing the last Rolo. But I have seen this year, on more than one occasion, that people really do get what is coming to them, good or bad, and just sometimes you can be around to witness it. So, if you’re having a bad time right now, I really think that the balance of the universe will make it up to you somehow, maybe with a big cake, or your best friend landing on your doorstep and making you smile.

- You are not defined by your job title. I’m sad to say much of 2009 was marred by upheaval in my work life. At the beginning of the year I took to the decision to change roles in my team, for what seemed like a promotion and a chance to prove myself. In the end I think that the stress increased and the rewards most certainly did not. Given it was a tough year for any company, it wasn’t surprising that the travel and benefits that I used to enjoy, dried up very quickly. However what was a surprise was that by the middle of the year I had found myself struggling more and more with what I had long thought as my only career choice. I think the best way to describe what happened was as a mental “burnout”. Every day of work got harder, and more painful than an outsider would ever think possible. A change was needed, but accepting this took the best part of the year for me to really understand. No job is worth getting ill over.

So anyway, I went from being a Senior Analyst to being a Sales Assistant, a move that was never on my list of career goals. And yes, the work is very different, and the pay is less, but this doesn’t mean I am any less of a success. Now my mind is free to develop all kinds of ideas that I would never have thought of before, and without the mental burnout, I feel chances of putting these thoughts into action have increased tenfold, this blog being a very good example. And what defines me now is what I am – not what I do.

- Adventures can be found at home. In September, the pilot and I were presented with an opportunity to move to Athens for 6 months. I was so excited that My Adventure had finally arrived, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be, and the whole thing fell through. That was a real bummer, but I’m not giving up on My Adventure yet. Until the next chance to move somewhere fantastic comes along, I’m finding adventures right here at home. I’m horse riding and snow-boarding and climbing mountains, and these are compelling, fantastic and enjoyable things. Little tiny adventures strung together keeping things interesting. There is so much to explore in this beautiful country of ours, I am determined not to be impatient in 2010, I know My Adventure will happen.

- Handmade is best (and not just because Kirsty Alsop tells me so). With the new job, time for indulging in my handmade hobby has been at a premium. I managed to do a pretty nice job decorating my Christmas gifts with ribbon roses, making Christmas decorations and knocked up a few cards, but making stuff is very much on the agenda for January. For Christmas my Nan has treated me to a new toy. The new sewing machine is still in its box but it’s brimming with potential. I can’t wait to get cracking with it... handmade presents galore for Christmas 2010.

So keeping these things in mind, I’m wondering what things I will learn and add to this list this time next year. But for now I sign off for my first evening of 2010, cuddled up on the sofa and drinking tea, and I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Em x