tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36648445214283491492024-03-05T17:35:27.431+00:00Julie Made ThisMy random ramblings and some things that I have made.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-35803330414188381912022-03-23T21:00:00.000+00:002022-03-23T21:00:28.188+00:00Collage Chicken - Trying Something Different <p>We've been learning about Henri Matisse lately, which led to experiments with collage and it was but a short hop to try collage illustration.</p><p>I'd never really tried to use collage for anything more than a few simple kids projects with my daughter until now, so we both turned to Skillshare for inspiration. After watching the course through, my 11yo and I both got to work.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19RoRMwYWTzthR5P-6mtq4VMG8tqcJcOnNVKImRSybJwzFxkHBPHMXMwIQQEUds8mXPTtn1KapIRoc7mazNLzyb_VJreFLCl4phUnSaTPKc4uG-oTY3B7x-QmwNO71FH1yBQt4c4b33UD54lCueDrbb4Fj8UTV_-z2RzBTFrflflc3EQWIDMaqrHm/s2000/IMG_20220321_112022439-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Collage chicken being assembled, with background papers. Created by JulieSpriddleArt." border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19RoRMwYWTzthR5P-6mtq4VMG8tqcJcOnNVKImRSybJwzFxkHBPHMXMwIQQEUds8mXPTtn1KapIRoc7mazNLzyb_VJreFLCl4phUnSaTPKc4uG-oTY3B7x-QmwNO71FH1yBQt4c4b33UD54lCueDrbb4Fj8UTV_-z2RzBTFrflflc3EQWIDMaqrHm/w400-h400/IMG_20220321_112022439-01.jpeg" title="Collage Chicken - Work In Progress" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collage chicken - work in progress</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is my first attempt as a work in progress. Until now I'd always assumed collage was a simple art form, but designing, making our own papers, preparing a background surface, cutting, piecing things together and finally assembling this small greeting's card, was an incredibly involved process.</p><p>I opted for a small, square format card which I prepared using gesso coloured with a little acrylic paint. I added some glitter marker over the top to give more definition.</p><p>The papers are prepared with either watercolour or water soluble pastels, just playing really. Rather than copy paper, I used really cheap and thin watercolour paper from Hobbycraft.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLrAZi12Ag5GgTAAOR7bahhC4LZPE_ediwB8LP0GSZ-t7ijM-NjYK_DmrkKGejvA2GBCQVNgjxpqxePW8bIgeRdR_5XGkhEeDlF0-J45FyR-Ld9mjvTMQ_9FsqWMOLmp8jm2HDokUwgWcPbecQYkeS2JwyUNGcXR45APFMG5WT9APNwzjUvn907TI/s1366/IMG_20220323_135024392_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chicken illustration formed from collage pieces, with two pairs of scissors and a glue stick." border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="1366" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLrAZi12Ag5GgTAAOR7bahhC4LZPE_ediwB8LP0GSZ-t7ijM-NjYK_DmrkKGejvA2GBCQVNgjxpqxePW8bIgeRdR_5XGkhEeDlF0-J45FyR-Ld9mjvTMQ_9FsqWMOLmp8jm2HDokUwgWcPbecQYkeS2JwyUNGcXR45APFMG5WT9APNwzjUvn907TI/w400-h400/IMG_20220323_135024392_HDR-01.jpeg" title="Collage chicken" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collage chicken greeting card - several days work!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Overall, I'm pleased with the way this turned out. It took much longer than I thought it would, with cutting and sticking alone taking three nights! Not a technique for when I'm in a hurry, but the results are very impressive. Fun, but like stippling, something for when you have plenty of time to do the technique justice!</p>Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-52605175758223170222022-02-12T22:04:00.000+00:002022-02-12T22:04:13.902+00:00Long Time No See<p> It's been a while since I posted here, but I thought I'd say hello as I was passing through and considering what to do with this blog. Looking back at the archive and my last post was 2017, so as you might imagine things have moved on somewhat.</p><p>I'm still very much creating, but much of my focus is on art these days. What started as something I was doing mostly to amuse my daughter, blossomed until it became my primary creative pursuit. I still like to knit, sew and do general crafts, but with only a little time available to do these things, I've had to choose and art has won... For the moment anyway. I'm a serial crafter of longstanding, so undoubtedly once I have more time on my hands these things will creep back into my life.</p><p>In January 2018 I created a new Instagram for my art (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliespriddleart/" target="_blank">JulieSpriddleArt</a>) and in combination with my personal Insta, it pretty much replaced this blog. I've been posting regularly, just not here.</p><p>However, Instagram has changed a lot since 2018 and not really for the better. It used to be a good place to see art from emerging artists, shown in the order they were posted and ads were few and far between. These days, the algorithm favours stories and reels, ads are every 4th post and it's SPAM galore. Nothing is posted in chronological order and I'm not at all sure people see most of what I post. Meca (or Facebook) the parent company is now threatening to shut the site down in Europe unless they are allowed to steal our data and target ads even more than they already do, all of which is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.</p><p>I've spent the past four years building up the account, so I'm not intending to shut down my Instagram, but it may be time to think about establishing my own site... Except I don't really have any budget for that right now, hence why I'm casting a speculative eye over Blogger again.</p><p>We shall see...</p><p>In the meantime, here is an African Wild Donkey.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbzIBW-rMLJjlIf-IhiSVf9uwtOQJcbZWM8ZWQMTghGWrINPmftivukJcqbxJrFUSlXOzJ09bOmSFqzCUjzLncVMe01C8PfE--YavTAVQZfjcAtwPhR6nUyM-alCXn7AHgomsTtN8rLG0Oy5LPZ3pSeKBdMrYQJCmOVhuW02KzcICuRyHfClNv57KJ=s1989" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="African wild donkey on a colourful geometric patterned background. Created by JulieSpriddleArt." border="0" data-original-height="1989" data-original-width="1989" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbzIBW-rMLJjlIf-IhiSVf9uwtOQJcbZWM8ZWQMTghGWrINPmftivukJcqbxJrFUSlXOzJ09bOmSFqzCUjzLncVMe01C8PfE--YavTAVQZfjcAtwPhR6nUyM-alCXn7AHgomsTtN8rLG0Oy5LPZ3pSeKBdMrYQJCmOVhuW02KzcICuRyHfClNv57KJ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Wild Donkey - Created by Julie Spriddle.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is prompt 3 in the #WildlifeWednesdayChallenge over on Instagram, which is an art challenge intended to highlight the plight of endangered animals from around the world. In the case of the wild donkey, this is a cousin of the domestic donkey and is considered critically endangered in the wild with numbers estimated between 400 and 800.</p><p>Here, I've attempted a colourful African inspired pattern for the background, using my Artistro paint markers. I drew out the pattern first, then sketched the donkey before colouring around it, leaving a donkey shaped hole. This colouring process took a very, very long time and was an exercise in patience. Once the paint was dry, I filled in the donkey using Faber Castell PITT brush pens, with the reference courtesy of Holly Cannon via her Facebook group.</p>Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0Coventry, UK52.406822 -1.51969324.096588163821153 -36.675943 80.717055836178844 33.636557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-628401138366565632017-11-16T23:36:00.001+00:002017-11-16T23:36:47.739+00:00We made a lot of poppiesLast weekend was Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. It was also the weekend my sister Jo came to visit, along with her OH, Phil. M was very excited as she likes seeing her relatives, which sadly doesn't happen that often due to the distances involved.<br />
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We spent some time on Thursday and Friday making poppies from felt with a sewn on button. We made these last year, but they were mainly my effort with M only doing a little of the stitching. This year, once I'd shown her how to sew on a button, M did most of the work herself. She even cut the shapes out of felt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCHoUsK78L_5ThOKZbm4I6ilbHmz2Vhl_d49GQPIu2Xch5DMK1dL0s_Jk8Bz-uIdEkCnKgyLHWQ3mw8ByUX91lrKmh_8rvt3UEQv5B1stw3YXr2ykWZA9GFWxVdjERUTPwnkWIGen-iwH/s1600/IMG_20171112_083504_818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1600" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCHoUsK78L_5ThOKZbm4I6ilbHmz2Vhl_d49GQPIu2Xch5DMK1dL0s_Jk8Bz-uIdEkCnKgyLHWQ3mw8ByUX91lrKmh_8rvt3UEQv5B1stw3YXr2ykWZA9GFWxVdjERUTPwnkWIGen-iwH/s400/IMG_20171112_083504_818.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A lot of sewing practice!</td></tr>
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We added a purple poppy to the collection this year after learning they were to represent all the animals who died in wars, particularly the horses who were very much on the front line in WW1.<br />
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M spotted a very similar flower hair tie in a children's sewing book I'd bought her for her birthday. After reading the instructions, M had a go, resulting in the white and purple flower with the blue spotted button. I helped by sewing it onto a hair tie as that bit was too fiddly for M. Still needing to make more flowers, M decided to make another one for her Auntie Jo, but this time we glued it to a pin along with all the poppies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok9hiNtaVjaxz7aTIqma_jhkXhrr8Ubtsqjo2LzbeH5b_zNIXIO8Q1Q8cqe92nrkZEXWSGQY-pYLiweYHlD5USeLEmMv4f9toNODQEjwPTVuM85TIJ_b6r3QNBRAbpsK_XWMzjksyq9yw/s1600/IMG_20171113_090218_358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok9hiNtaVjaxz7aTIqma_jhkXhrr8Ubtsqjo2LzbeH5b_zNIXIO8Q1Q8cqe92nrkZEXWSGQY-pYLiweYHlD5USeLEmMv4f9toNODQEjwPTVuM85TIJ_b6r3QNBRAbpsK_XWMzjksyq9yw/s400/IMG_20171113_090218_358.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A flower for Auntie Jo.</td></tr>
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These were all lots of fun to make and served well for teaching M how to sew a button on.<br />
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We showed Auntie Jo around Brandon Marsh on Saturday.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2YX7UbP1X3LYYPguwWFLmFeVT0JrOayumLR5aXhMg_z-OUQOLLx1G_8u4GZTUeFTXFbNmcphUTly2k1n_tb8bUyNIZfHP23kCMxbhN-FAONkd9juLz0Tqn-al9l2Dx5imwHrZpfZRnEs/s1600/DSC03097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1024" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2YX7UbP1X3LYYPguwWFLmFeVT0JrOayumLR5aXhMg_z-OUQOLLx1G_8u4GZTUeFTXFbNmcphUTly2k1n_tb8bUyNIZfHP23kCMxbhN-FAONkd9juLz0Tqn-al9l2Dx5imwHrZpfZRnEs/s400/DSC03097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Auntie Jo and M pretend to be dormice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa0OIIzPxF2SBO4KRFHcE7NYgiH3S50VNIjlqC4A36ZlicwZQUPpDpgUGCbx1MUIqKFdll5trp1EgRPE1MdXk6SmeU0BZUTI4d0eNf4zGw3aP_MIUz5-mjzshFF-5LMFSdLlJnealcTzs/s1600/DSC03103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1024" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa0OIIzPxF2SBO4KRFHcE7NYgiH3S50VNIjlqC4A36ZlicwZQUPpDpgUGCbx1MUIqKFdll5trp1EgRPE1MdXk6SmeU0BZUTI4d0eNf4zGw3aP_MIUz5-mjzshFF-5LMFSdLlJnealcTzs/s400/DSC03103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Brandon Marsh in Autumn</td></tr>
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While on Sunday we drove over to The Black Country Living Museum, which is a fantastic place to visit and the location of most of the external filming for a television program called Peaky Blinders, which both Jo and Phil love.<br />
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We're oblivious to the TV show, but love history and exploring buildings, so were happy as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ksC9z4N0eOBoZplCmZIinscSYi1IIj1cdC_LoxIgLhDpcUouOOJ80vLQqHgdkZAabmJkF0ykVA_CUh9L2ZQOx2LmJV5BDcyeQlJAFXbw7lQOIyawYuTnnDFCdMeV5Hg4lYImzBhmB7u/s1600/IMG_20171112_220634_724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2ksC9z4N0eOBoZplCmZIinscSYi1IIj1cdC_LoxIgLhDpcUouOOJ80vLQqHgdkZAabmJkF0ykVA_CUh9L2ZQOx2LmJV5BDcyeQlJAFXbw7lQOIyawYuTnnDFCdMeV5Hg4lYImzBhmB7u/s400/IMG_20171112_220634_724.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">M experiences a Victorian School.</td></tr>
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M experienced her first lesson in a school, taught very tongue in cheek by a Victorian school master. Baffled, M did her best to recite her 12 times tables, learned about Victorian discipline and the rich fossil record of Dudley. She also learned about the famous one eyed dinosaur of Dudley, something M quizzed Dave about later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2mpGBgfysl0PztpkI4TNxGpw5oyIqSZyOxWiNBnokQUkdlHmdPcdpL7I7GwViy0TDxvOInDM1a0acrw25LxQAw17dnbcAxRi_xRHSkbp1-0BrG_IjdZ5bQCnCpKF5iUY3dZxC__OWCVh/s1600/BCLM_Nov2017_13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
Otherwise we wondered around looking at things, talking to the historical interpreters and trying not to get too cold. It was a bitter wind out there! We hid in the old cafe building by the canal to enjoy some chips, sandwiches and a hot drink. M played with her auntie and Jo took a lot of photographs.<br />
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I took a couple of photographs too, including the source reference for this drawing of one of the museum horses being plagued by magpies intent on stealing its mane. As we watched, the magpies would go up to the horse's neck and pluck at a hair, resulting in the horse waving its head at the offending bird, which duly flew off only to return less than a minute later.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET0zlbNV9a_Vk5SSAiKu6MJzsmM_BzI1LynPI5TUlgpaJ-UoOHxA80_vXaWAsEW-zIO6xjCv_myym-RcYMDQTZ4ZLtMihSlKasIUHf-VVt9g7O7dvlFnIiB_wCp9IGoGy6c0IWfxbzNw/s1600/IMG_20171116_225208_410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET0zlbNV9a_Vk5SSAiKu6MJzsmM_BzI1LynPI5TUlgpaJ-UoOHxA80_vXaWAsEW-zIO6xjCv_myym-RcYMDQTZ4ZLtMihSlKasIUHf-VVt9g7O7dvlFnIiB_wCp9IGoGy6c0IWfxbzNw/s400/IMG_20171116_225208_410.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Drawing of one of the horses at BCLM.</td></tr>
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A good day, but gosh we were cold and it took hours before we felt warm again that evening.<br />
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Useful Links:<br />
* The Black Country Living Museum - <a href="https://www.bclm.co.uk/">https://www.bclm.co.uk/</a><br />
* Peaky Blinders - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaky_Blinders_(TV_series)</a>Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-53438554772177279612017-11-09T08:29:00.001+00:002017-11-09T08:30:03.867+00:00TalismanOver the past year, M has reached a new milestone. At the tender age of seven she is now capable of winning complicated boardgames on her own merit. She can read instructions on game cards, understand rules and no longer needs a helper to ensure she remembers her plan from turn to turn. We tend to favour non-competitive games over the more cut-throat variety and the gaming style in this house is friendly. Dave enjoys games, M enjoys them and even I like to play occasionally when I have that elusive spare hour.<br />
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Last weekend, while in a burst of tidying I unearthed an 1980's version of the Games Workshop classic game 'Talisman'. Neither Dave nor I remember acquiring it, there were no rules, prompting an internet search, then Dave and M had a go at the game while I was at work. M won.<br />
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Later, I enjoyed a blow by blow account of how the game played through and so I thought I'd draw M's character leading her mule through the game world that is the Talisman board.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWbr_Q4in5-xyktNNQQj-qlpWlXSnDOq58L-Lhjk3BxdUeJlp3GhiTECQuYI4NvjasOFyzzxQR2AfaghWUlwt83RqXd8ufqF17c250PZnIX9Q0EYu_SOOZwlTh9QLG4WxcEttbrfZoYA/s1600/Talisman_Nov2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="960" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWbr_Q4in5-xyktNNQQj-qlpWlXSnDOq58L-Lhjk3BxdUeJlp3GhiTECQuYI4NvjasOFyzzxQR2AfaghWUlwt83RqXd8ufqF17c250PZnIX9Q0EYu_SOOZwlTh9QLG4WxcEttbrfZoYA/s400/Talisman_Nov2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talisman.</td></tr>
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I was trying to capture the curly tree thing with tangled roots that the illustrator (<a href="http://garychalkillustration.com/index.html" target="_blank">Gary Chalk</a>) had with his board artwork. Not a patch on his work of course but I like the way this sketch turned out.<br />
<br />Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-81601266078645146932017-11-07T20:46:00.000+00:002017-11-07T20:46:14.088+00:00Charlie in inkOn the back of #inktober, I have apparently acquired a new found confidence in the use of ink and last night decided to have another go at drawing our cat Charlie.<br />
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I've been reading a little and practising something called blocking in as a method of sketching, so I thought I'd try it on a cat. Charlie is a solid looking animal who lends himself well to being drawn inside a rectangle, so that's what I started with, steadily refining the outline, then completing the sketch in ink pen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQe6psYhKTCxcDUT0fkJGp_lWq1YqxlDiAO-lUfm9L7aTYzAngaqzUvc8iqS9gvxxajIkBBvjoBqiyax7skEELdi_cdu1vHEQeMCPLwal19JH2Qty-SAH9mENpknNKmEb0M-MdCLjlSQ/s1600/Charlie_Ink_Nov2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQe6psYhKTCxcDUT0fkJGp_lWq1YqxlDiAO-lUfm9L7aTYzAngaqzUvc8iqS9gvxxajIkBBvjoBqiyax7skEELdi_cdu1vHEQeMCPLwal19JH2Qty-SAH9mENpknNKmEb0M-MdCLjlSQ/s400/Charlie_Ink_Nov2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie sunning himself in the garden - drawn in ink.</td></tr>
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I've no idea if I've done the blocking in process correctly, but I thought the sketch turned out well.<br />
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At some point I need to find some suitable cat models that have eyes!Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-51120948469173229392017-11-01T17:39:00.001+00:002017-11-01T17:39:59.293+00:00Inktober ends with HalloweenHallowe'en has passed, marking the first day of Allhallowtide and the end of Inktober 2017. My last two drawings for the challenge were:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mTAJ_bUKzKP_eVFcuokncBmHgMNS03CBSKp8ZXBkTBSayOAtvyzREFyKKXmJ6WilG6n_5HvyktlYUIWRjJLWfZWSTUdaZoYGuMHWyAC9AptjcgtqHcO5LbngUUuqf23METAAeYnyb9o/s1600/Inktober2017_Day30_Found.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mTAJ_bUKzKP_eVFcuokncBmHgMNS03CBSKp8ZXBkTBSayOAtvyzREFyKKXmJ6WilG6n_5HvyktlYUIWRjJLWfZWSTUdaZoYGuMHWyAC9AptjcgtqHcO5LbngUUuqf23METAAeYnyb9o/s400/Inktober2017_Day30_Found.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober day 30 - Found.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft6JsWNRRz_n9lrPhoij36CP2iVd5QqNb4qCNHjuKj7SX84lPydc9qguXTh_6Pol86GJrGU02o66ODWJBsGuxRcpXsd48xslazHo62yfKxlj-bAsvTarHzvtPq5CbKYuGJT5IHC1zqeY/s1600/Inktober2017_Day31_Mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="960" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft6JsWNRRz_n9lrPhoij36CP2iVd5QqNb4qCNHjuKj7SX84lPydc9qguXTh_6Pol86GJrGU02o66ODWJBsGuxRcpXsd48xslazHo62yfKxlj-bAsvTarHzvtPq5CbKYuGJT5IHC1zqeY/s400/Inktober2017_Day31_Mask.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 31 - Mask</td></tr>
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In terms of lesson's learned...<br />
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While the challenge has been fun, it has also been exhausting having to come up with a concept, then turn it into a composition for each day.<br />
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Including research and preliminary sketches, each drawing took at least two hours out of my day, which is a huge commitment for me. I have been making a point of drawing on each day this year but the length of time has tended to be an hour or so for each session, which is a lot more manageable.<br />
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The other big issue I had with the challenge was thinking of an idea of what I could draw in the first place. I need to practice tuning into my creative process so I can come up with several concepts for a drawing very quickly, then decide on which one I want to develop. Back in the day, I used to be able to do this easily but not any more, I appear to have lost the knack. I'd say it was this rather than anything else which made the Inktober challenge so difficult.<br />
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I'll leave it there, other than to hope everyone had a good Hallowe'en and here are M's Jack o'Lanterns.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERl-WuO8n6PJpcstBWWnx8hZWkiqdOdd0-4lT_x8v0k9SIGQ5KsPxoa0wrX1nrO-NNrqVCLozsu1isj_mAyfzgmeR_kA5E4stLaSRmpsRk__RZHgP-SS_ya1vMHtF9KXzL0PYG1v_rSo/s1600/Pumpkins_2_+Oct2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="532" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERl-WuO8n6PJpcstBWWnx8hZWkiqdOdd0-4lT_x8v0k9SIGQ5KsPxoa0wrX1nrO-NNrqVCLozsu1isj_mAyfzgmeR_kA5E4stLaSRmpsRk__RZHgP-SS_ya1vMHtF9KXzL0PYG1v_rSo/s400/Pumpkins_2_+Oct2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's carved pumpkin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggby_GHgbZW358oulAgk-o4IJgRGeDHf0rjVLiyq2-3q9i-cIgMmLetT_Fp_U3vdFVSC8y-NxJc4ofAdGLH1GJbvSLRL_9VFcGyfiP_aMhQCkV0WSNghtXEDhpcyGFpp30I6JVrYGnrPo/s1600/Pumpkins_3_+Oct2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="518" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggby_GHgbZW358oulAgk-o4IJgRGeDHf0rjVLiyq2-3q9i-cIgMmLetT_Fp_U3vdFVSC8y-NxJc4ofAdGLH1GJbvSLRL_9VFcGyfiP_aMhQCkV0WSNghtXEDhpcyGFpp30I6JVrYGnrPo/s400/Pumpkins_3_+Oct2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's carved swede (or turnip).</td></tr>
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M carved a face into both a pumpkin and the more traditional swede (or as we used to call them, a turnip or neep), which is what would have been used before pumpkins were widely available.<br />
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We don't do trick or treating as a family, but explored the more traditional aspects of Allhallowtide, including a feast on All Hallows Eve with added spooky poetry. This was very enjoyable and the first year M has been able to fully take part, selecting and reading book extracts as well as poems of her choice, rather than just listen to us grown ups.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-24851320296518145292017-10-31T17:23:00.000+00:002017-10-31T17:23:11.284+00:00Inktober Day 29 - United with extra pumpkinsThe first real cold of the season has been working its way through the family, hitting me first then M and now Dave who has struggled into work today, saying he has things he needs to get finished. One of those things, is needing to submit his pumpkin for his employer's pumpkin carving competition.<br />
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M and Dave spent yesterday morning hollowing out and carving pumpkins. Dave went for a novel design, transforming his pumpkin into skull. M meanwhile was working on her allotment pumpkin, a fine specimen that she felt should be a tiger. M did all the scooping and drew her design, but Dave went in with the knife to make it come to life.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL-5ovJ-lnFzbfM9dCVon9syhRpHphyDpTe_9FSScXgupGA4yc-90CczJCMFwWNKbp6KsV_5SsDJh8KD4gBtS4v1zj_mJvqCYdh1Px6oswbZp-0y-LzXnWzH24G5j4-F-9EjkS2KZogI/s1600/Pumpkins_1_+Oct2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL-5ovJ-lnFzbfM9dCVon9syhRpHphyDpTe_9FSScXgupGA4yc-90CczJCMFwWNKbp6KsV_5SsDJh8KD4gBtS4v1zj_mJvqCYdh1Px6oswbZp-0y-LzXnWzH24G5j4-F-9EjkS2KZogI/s400/Pumpkins_1_+Oct2017.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkins</td></tr>
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Meanwhile I spent the day dividing my creative thinking between Hallowe'en and Inktober. The former required research, putting together some fun things for M to do over the next couple of days. There'd normally be a fair bit of seasonal baking at this point, but the oven chose to die on Friday night so no baking for us. Someone is organised to fix it at some point on Tuesday (i.e. Hallowe'en) but that isn't much help in terms of having an oven for some serious baking sessions.</div>
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The Inktober prompt for yesterday was a difficult one - 'United'.</div>
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I'll admit I was stumped and lacking in inspiration. My immediate association was 'football' (or 'soccer' if you're across the other side of the Atlantic) but that is so not me, it held no appeal whatsoever. Then there was 'tea and biscuits', but I couldn't be bothered to set up a suitable still life to use as a base. I could be terribly cliched and draw two hands holding each other, but I'm not into cliches. So I asked M, who said "Charlie and Missy", who are our cats.</div>
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Once I had the suggestion, I was off and after a bit of thought, looking at pictures of fires in fireplaces to see what happens with the shadows, this is what I came up with.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KO-Pq6pcPc_f35nskCzjojJglUbt6cT9HNWrGRXzNhFC8QQgLywQjRcNF30SxilhhWgBKg_8zHISyUAk3_p2n2v-wm90OdDv_19QbgBug68Qvxs40zchqHnsakXnRoj8DRWzP3Dp4eE/s1600/Inktober2017_Day29_United.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="960" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KO-Pq6pcPc_f35nskCzjojJglUbt6cT9HNWrGRXzNhFC8QQgLywQjRcNF30SxilhhWgBKg_8zHISyUAk3_p2n2v-wm90OdDv_19QbgBug68Qvxs40zchqHnsakXnRoj8DRWzP3Dp4eE/s400/Inktober2017_Day29_United.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 29 - United</td></tr>
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Note this is not a picture of my cats, just two similar animals. I do have a fireplace, but it is not as impressive, has not been lit in years and is buried in toys. So this is not my living room, but maybe one day...</div>
Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-39654694129513965912017-10-29T10:18:00.000+00:002017-10-29T10:18:26.797+00:00Inktober Day 28 - FallA very quick update from me for #inktober. We had a full day yesterday, Christmas shopping and we picked up a pair of winter boots for M. The evening saw us helping some family friends celebrate their wedding, so it made for another late night drawing session. The prompt was 'fall' which I decided should mean both falling and autumn, hence I drew the following which is loosely based on a photo of M when she was a toddler.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvTnmRbdpYAnr-wvXGo2efkJqeSOeM9BDLaz4a5_wUORkVkNq8_KiwlaNspX9QPWCyIaqPwVI1CJ27Q5mgTIBiRtUsyL2P5R-3ORUSLNpIeocktcx244FB1dwZwaBlRdyvcCw0Sauplk/s1600/Inktober2017_Day28_Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvTnmRbdpYAnr-wvXGo2efkJqeSOeM9BDLaz4a5_wUORkVkNq8_KiwlaNspX9QPWCyIaqPwVI1CJ27Q5mgTIBiRtUsyL2P5R-3ORUSLNpIeocktcx244FB1dwZwaBlRdyvcCw0Sauplk/s400/Inktober2017_Day28_Fall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#inktober day 28 - Fall</td></tr>
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It didn't turn out too badly, but I'm not sure about the shading, something I find very difficult to do with an ink pen.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-48117199044596965962017-10-28T11:07:00.001+01:002017-10-28T11:08:55.287+01:00Channelling Christmas yet to comeBriefly because I plan a full day of Christmas shopping, because yes, it is nearly that time of year again. And in keeping with the theme, I channelled the festive spirit for last night's #Inktober drawing as per the prompt - Climb.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0rQoFh2E46SAojQG68g5rjRy2WGRLcahpMAX0H05SCAv4_hTqN1mmFZziOYjBEJz4i8TU7wpQBWtNGSiO9EzRv0KhZkiKlR4G07mKfV12LmJbWBPx2ElQ8Dpx5pFoMZKbyAaLQXYTsU/s1600/Inktober2017_Day27_Climb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0rQoFh2E46SAojQG68g5rjRy2WGRLcahpMAX0H05SCAv4_hTqN1mmFZziOYjBEJz4i8TU7wpQBWtNGSiO9EzRv0KhZkiKlR4G07mKfV12LmJbWBPx2ElQ8Dpx5pFoMZKbyAaLQXYTsU/s400/Inktober2017_Day27_Climb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#Inktober2017 - Day 27 - Climb</td></tr>
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I thought it might be interesting to show a similar picture I drew last December, albeit in pencil not ink, to see how things have come along.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFazOMQ1jWVxxETWV1xWSQW0rm_22uL60xQnvrI0jKZwrQ9HXYbaw_MpC-YPXmveqX8dAtUFBYrkM1bOippF84CbKod7i5svcqG9UBATt-8QBZAcUHUNyYn6Xj2101txEKbK3PO8HjfA/s1600/TreeWithCat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFazOMQ1jWVxxETWV1xWSQW0rm_22uL60xQnvrI0jKZwrQ9HXYbaw_MpC-YPXmveqX8dAtUFBYrkM1bOippF84CbKod7i5svcqG9UBATt-8QBZAcUHUNyYn6Xj2101txEKbK3PO8HjfA/s400/TreeWithCat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From my archive - drawn December 2016</td></tr>
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While both of these drawings make me smile, last night's sketch definitely has a more three dimensional feel to it.<br />
<br />Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-21683938978504313022017-10-27T11:31:00.000+01:002017-10-27T11:31:31.178+01:00A trip to the allotment and Inktober day 26We've been suffering the first real cold of the season, with it being my turn last week and M's this week, which means we've not really been able to take advantage of 'half-term' activities. M was well enough to attend a friend's Hallowe'en party earlier this week, but otherwise poor M hasn't felt up to much, so was keen to go to the community allotment yesterday.<br />
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Disaster struck a few minutes after we arrived when M moved some stacked garden chairs which had been rained on. Unfortunately the rain had pooled in the bottom chair on the stack, so when M picked up the last two chairs she tipped a sizeable puddle onto her legs and into her wellies. Fortunately, M took it in good humour as I sat her down and poured the water out of her wellies while she inspected her soaked trousers and sodden socks. After a brief check to see if there were any spare clothes/wellies on site, we went home so M could change but were back half an hour later.</div>
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M immediately got stuck in with planting beans, decorating a pumpkin with pins (we'll carve it over the weekend), saw onion seeds for the first time and helped set up a new mud kitchen. We ended up staying an hour past the end of the session so M could help test the mud kitchen thoroughly, before we headed home with a happy girl.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7tCAey6iCYSxyauXtPFtfY457kKEZoIJaJJnnYonKKG3MI3ZQ7-CU5p_V9Q-GOuP6Qm2kmk-YH0jSHVWR8HAq_j_HCL6xqze13MjvRPyfRmEiDvmstE7_N7s6p1A6y9BuExxin6vjlI/s1600/Allotment_Oct2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7tCAey6iCYSxyauXtPFtfY457kKEZoIJaJJnnYonKKG3MI3ZQ7-CU5p_V9Q-GOuP6Qm2kmk-YH0jSHVWR8HAq_j_HCL6xqze13MjvRPyfRmEiDvmstE7_N7s6p1A6y9BuExxin6vjlI/s400/Allotment_Oct2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An afternoon at the allotment.</td></tr>
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Inktober continues here and yesterday's prompt was 'Squeak'.</div>
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M elected to draw a very big mouse.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DIdOlBtKLjX2jbREWZqsdJj8zPbYplrtPY8UIerfGtDCdrb7hjBjm7iHBa79IghXYeufCQ7WrMOT4ANb7Bz3uL7Hbnv92y7XhapRQcZRrN5r26PA4uyMquPIgZ8sFi7Cfbm_aVB0rG4/s1600/Inktober2017_Day26_Squeak_M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="960" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DIdOlBtKLjX2jbREWZqsdJj8zPbYplrtPY8UIerfGtDCdrb7hjBjm7iHBa79IghXYeufCQ7WrMOT4ANb7Bz3uL7Hbnv92y7XhapRQcZRrN5r26PA4uyMquPIgZ8sFi7Cfbm_aVB0rG4/s400/Inktober2017_Day26_Squeak_M.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's drawing for #Inktober2017 Day 26 - Squeak</td></tr>
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While I decided on hamsters.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-qVASLcAnDygQTxx8ggq6zOFZu2b-AJ-ZXNbLt9g6gxgeyAyIFZjNWjsxr3ws83GZPo3NwBeHPqPM-e5Sh1WW0vTWFDXvBdlVlGstvn95T0qvdkM3JClR9Rw8tye4gPECC2QJVQmARs/s1600/Inktober2017_Day26_Squeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-qVASLcAnDygQTxx8ggq6zOFZu2b-AJ-ZXNbLt9g6gxgeyAyIFZjNWjsxr3ws83GZPo3NwBeHPqPM-e5Sh1WW0vTWFDXvBdlVlGstvn95T0qvdkM3JClR9Rw8tye4gPECC2QJVQmARs/s400/Inktober2017_Day26_Squeak.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">My drawing for #inktober2017 Day 26 - Squeak!</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
Dave drew our cat Missy because she came up to him as he was staring at his sketchpad and squeaked to get his attention. No photo though, as it isn't mine to share.</div>
Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-91405715290586887552017-10-26T09:11:00.000+01:002017-10-26T09:14:53.162+01:00A slight change of directionIt's been a while since I've posted here, as while we've been as busy as ever I just never seem to get time to sit still at a computer, other than when I'm working. I've been doing very brief posts over on Tumblr from time to time, but not here. I guess it might be time to think about using a mobile app to update this blog.<br />
<br />
Amongst the things I haven't been talking about (due to lack of posts) is this year's main crafty activity for me has been to practice my drawing. Like most children (or at least M) I drew all the time, as often as I could get hold of paper and pencils. Drawing as a thing petered out in my teens, although it saw a brief resurgence in my early 20s as I dabbled with watercolours. After that, being an adult took over and drawing mostly stopped.<br />
<br />
M of course loves drawing, so I'd occasionally draw for her and at some point last year I started drawing for me. Last Christmas rolled around and I decided that this year, I would try to improve my drawing skills by practising a lot. Which I have done, mostly to the detriment of knitting time.<br />
<br />
Rolling forward to now, 10 months after that decision and despite my preferred medium being pencil, Dave persuaded me to try #Inktober, which is an internet challenge to draw a picture a day in ink for every day in October. I don't use ink, I have a long standing fear of it as I hate the permanence, the fact I can't erase and have to go with the first mark I lay down, so I was hesitant but M thought it was a fantastic idea and in the end the whole family had a go.<br />
<br />
We've been using the official prompt list from Jake Parker (<a href="http://mrjakeparker.com/inktober/">http://mrjakeparker.com/inktober/</a>) and I've been posting daily on Instagram, Facebook and <a href="https://jules101uk.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>, with the latter being public, so if you want to see ALL of my drawings go take a look.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here are some of my favourites so far:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDJLKmB6D5bBKdMx6gqp9VuexesFJyi5dsqx8DVQBpca4uBCB66k-iRbr2Z3vYsqjIWShiTQlh4QxEJQFPhjxewvJGWLBwtObznR688scinIfUoU-ceiTtWmIpJMXjXTnjlnklbGAzF4/s1600/Inktober2017_Day4_Underwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="960" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDJLKmB6D5bBKdMx6gqp9VuexesFJyi5dsqx8DVQBpca4uBCB66k-iRbr2Z3vYsqjIWShiTQlh4QxEJQFPhjxewvJGWLBwtObznR688scinIfUoU-ceiTtWmIpJMXjXTnjlnklbGAzF4/s400/Inktober2017_Day4_Underwater.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 4 - Underwater</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDtaeR9h286cciGg5DquAyUWbVONonQlyf0NBgdG6bjw9VQ16DBC_o8nWQstsqyKEjpKvIxSmyX6s_hJ8bf7GnjZIa-C94MFrU2UuxNceyB1Gv9DEguFtW9lDLJyq1714xz_0n7qT9E8/s1600/Inktober2017_Day8_Crooked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDtaeR9h286cciGg5DquAyUWbVONonQlyf0NBgdG6bjw9VQ16DBC_o8nWQstsqyKEjpKvIxSmyX6s_hJ8bf7GnjZIa-C94MFrU2UuxNceyB1Gv9DEguFtW9lDLJyq1714xz_0n7qT9E8/s400/Inktober2017_Day8_Crooked.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 8 - Crooked</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTf2yKn5CbD8sJGuTZT1Jg_kI7XGWqWW3pGv8Nqnub8VNzC-9oeRrTXRtQmvjgkNzpbVBGjbTsf-dYJyPZv55QB8ZOxuXlZ18QSgY9bpk0OVqOVHamGvXI4ry9pD_XnJfJSUWe93BB4g/s1600/Inktober2017_Day9_Screech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTf2yKn5CbD8sJGuTZT1Jg_kI7XGWqWW3pGv8Nqnub8VNzC-9oeRrTXRtQmvjgkNzpbVBGjbTsf-dYJyPZv55QB8ZOxuXlZ18QSgY9bpk0OVqOVHamGvXI4ry9pD_XnJfJSUWe93BB4g/s400/Inktober2017_Day9_Screech.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 9 - Screech</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_8tIlFJhPDS2LMZYzt0Q0FGj-qSGtz14Iz1hZN-jubOGPKpGjlzbiU1WtmpSamQZnLzQxkL62l-feC50Bup3Em1kva2itEU7d5lCFun55U3jcvJDFptzqiAIG3k3kPtTFpGKU913KYQ/s1600/Inktober2017_Day11_Run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_8tIlFJhPDS2LMZYzt0Q0FGj-qSGtz14Iz1hZN-jubOGPKpGjlzbiU1WtmpSamQZnLzQxkL62l-feC50Bup3Em1kva2itEU7d5lCFun55U3jcvJDFptzqiAIG3k3kPtTFpGKU913KYQ/s400/Inktober2017_Day11_Run.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 11 - Run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaMsdu0rZeKDGcvsBvGKEe1ETftCZJhOettcgcGl1zx4WWd5h9U-EDg6Js4Npr_GNMD5uzSGL49S4xzgalypncKakUdJYe-7Evkqw4VFTTqyS57rEFvwLEa9RkZxrqq3x8fV-rhm82YU/s1600/Inktober2017_Day13_Teeming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaMsdu0rZeKDGcvsBvGKEe1ETftCZJhOettcgcGl1zx4WWd5h9U-EDg6Js4Npr_GNMD5uzSGL49S4xzgalypncKakUdJYe-7Evkqw4VFTTqyS57rEFvwLEa9RkZxrqq3x8fV-rhm82YU/s400/Inktober2017_Day13_Teeming.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 13 - Teeming</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_ev3MvEKiKXZgX56ZJu4MxhFuMx-EZEdpVc4eVLVWJIXTLGnDK1Fq_QdQKwm_t-UMDM1f1MiQ8RRrv3oBOp-dkV6075V9a4DtHPSXHooq-0Q-QTCtWJ-bKjaB2m6EIWDWArx3zGzKlc/s1600/Inktober2017_Day17_Graceful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_ev3MvEKiKXZgX56ZJu4MxhFuMx-EZEdpVc4eVLVWJIXTLGnDK1Fq_QdQKwm_t-UMDM1f1MiQ8RRrv3oBOp-dkV6075V9a4DtHPSXHooq-0Q-QTCtWJ-bKjaB2m6EIWDWArx3zGzKlc/s400/Inktober2017_Day17_Graceful.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 17 - Graceful</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQhKmfZawv_5-SYALb5MwQ2WUN6vJ2nzPBflT6CMCisRLcgSdaEr_FHkf-rAw1ik8_LfXGo7JZ98p3FFtsKi-2Pva7xKKDR1l4jA8caT55ARL5Mge_qRTiQgLI6pTWhVhzNSBrXGSCrU/s1600/Inktober2017_Day18_Filthy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQhKmfZawv_5-SYALb5MwQ2WUN6vJ2nzPBflT6CMCisRLcgSdaEr_FHkf-rAw1ik8_LfXGo7JZ98p3FFtsKi-2Pva7xKKDR1l4jA8caT55ARL5Mge_qRTiQgLI6pTWhVhzNSBrXGSCrU/s400/Inktober2017_Day18_Filthy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 18 - Filthy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd2JeeKDLwTlDyfvvX2J1zffffVVCIeID1-cexRmEJqBhRsKQwSLmfy0706peIe-UZC_iombQ_ODAQLpoH5UIO5D09ffJydooPA5SgXFpAeEPbmWj92b1E8eHeV7iZ8SAmFB8HbNEoLs/s1600/Inktober2017_Day20_Deep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd2JeeKDLwTlDyfvvX2J1zffffVVCIeID1-cexRmEJqBhRsKQwSLmfy0706peIe-UZC_iombQ_ODAQLpoH5UIO5D09ffJydooPA5SgXFpAeEPbmWj92b1E8eHeV7iZ8SAmFB8HbNEoLs/s400/Inktober2017_Day20_Deep.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inktober Day 20 - Deep</td></tr>
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With only a few days to go, I'm feeling pretty accomplished in that I haven't missed a single day of the challenge, although producing a complete drawing each day is proving exhausting. Sometimes I have an idea straight away, other days I have to brainstorm a bit on the prompt to come up with a drawing. Strangely, those drawings I've had to work on and struggled to come up with something suitable to match the prompt, or had to do preliminary sketches or thumbnails, are the ones I think have been the best ones. A lesson in the learning perhaps?<br />
<br />
Useful Links:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Jake Parker's Official Inktober page - <a href="http://mrjakeparker.com/inktober/">http://mrjakeparker.com/inktober/</a></li>
<li>My Tumblr blog - <a href="https://jules101uk.tumblr.com/">https://jules101uk.tumblr.com/</a></li>
</ul>
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<br />
<br />Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-3401401518353588092017-03-27T09:25:00.002+01:002017-03-27T09:25:46.646+01:00Hop's new dressM's sewing aspirations are high and just lately she's moved on from drawing countless pictures of dancers in varying pretty dresses, to wanting to <i>make</i> the dresses themselves. Sadly her lack of sewing skills have led to her improvising, which means making clothes for her toys from paper.<br />
<br />
These creations take hours to design and then make, but being paper and held together with tape are not particularly robust. The first outfit ripped when she tried to dress the toy, so after some thought M's solution is to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Make the dress bigger than the toy</li>
<li>Use a dress form - in this case a few toilet rolls</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsImy18oyyrnLAqBUAK6C5HIlxObvrIdQYnIAlDfXaZAuj5wzxAS0Sm3bl0sHbcuGDJxcwmSD2QmQ19lfp91YllmqpIDX24AWaRAilcY69RiCNqBD8s5OY1a52PBkMsElFFq8hK5SNbgv/s1600/HopsDress_Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsImy18oyyrnLAqBUAK6C5HIlxObvrIdQYnIAlDfXaZAuj5wzxAS0Sm3bl0sHbcuGDJxcwmSD2QmQ19lfp91YllmqpIDX24AWaRAilcY69RiCNqBD8s5OY1a52PBkMsElFFq8hK5SNbgv/s400/HopsDress_Mar2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hop's dress on an improvised dress form.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoLXF4EZx9fzOvHwoJub8KaSWPnCp7X3kMv6E2xUw3biuq6rMx9l7Dk2Oc6LGyI48cC2LF4e9lFU5G69ISZjC8YCES0aGB4WxJpzkAT8Wl-KcP5CvFcHbJQpu_myGlwVmMTaliZ5zraZf/s400/DSC00876.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The dress being modelled by Hop herself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoLXF4EZx9fzOvHwoJub8KaSWPnCp7X3kMv6E2xUw3biuq6rMx9l7Dk2Oc6LGyI48cC2LF4e9lFU5G69ISZjC8YCES0aGB4WxJpzkAT8Wl-KcP5CvFcHbJQpu_myGlwVmMTaliZ5zraZf/s1600/DSC00876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoLXF4EZx9fzOvHwoJub8KaSWPnCp7X3kMv6E2xUw3biuq6rMx9l7Dk2Oc6LGyI48cC2LF4e9lFU5G69ISZjC8YCES0aGB4WxJpzkAT8Wl-KcP5CvFcHbJQpu_myGlwVmMTaliZ5zraZf/s1600/DSC00876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
It may not look like much, but there is a lot of design and knowledge about clothing wrapped up in this dress. If you look there is a bodice and a full, layered skirt. The bodice itself is decorated with bows and the whole garment is sized to fit (albeit large with extra room so it can be put on and taken off) a specific toy rabbit.<br />
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I'm impressed.<br />
<br />
M tells me she is making Hop some pyjamas next.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I've started trying to improve M's sewing skills but it is slow going. Sewing without an end product is not terribly exciting and it is not a craft which lends itself well to instant results. The results are faster than something like knitting or crochet, but you still need to have patience.<br />
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For this reason over the past couple of weeks we've worked some threading and beading, making some dream catchers, wind chimes and necklaces.<br />
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We've also done some actual needlework, with real needles...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihZgaeAnSGlZehjJtC0zIF7ylr0tE7KpG3zHNk85bq8O2jw7yhcagsFLjIb02MtGQyDEt8Hbn3UXdBi4tkS4YDxzYJ5iATZVWIsMPBxMvFEGXsA_T4tyHysMiz0JgkzfsdeWK0iVgQkpI/s1600/Pompom_necklace_Mar2017_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihZgaeAnSGlZehjJtC0zIF7ylr0tE7KpG3zHNk85bq8O2jw7yhcagsFLjIb02MtGQyDEt8Hbn3UXdBi4tkS4YDxzYJ5iATZVWIsMPBxMvFEGXsA_T4tyHysMiz0JgkzfsdeWK0iVgQkpI/s400/Pompom_necklace_Mar2017_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Making a pompom necklace and working on our French colours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil253khVv_ieXeHaCXlIeT3OM8JEVpK9qR92mrT9dJBiXsD9YonaWeKI4SxlOWZi4nvQwh6SsOzhQvJ96BQ_84M_xZeAq1k8fhOgYUIRM3Mrt39Eqiv3fLlrilLRu2YkE7EcLxO9VWXSeY/s400/Pompom_necklace_Mar2017_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="380" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Patchwork cat wearing her new necklace.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil253khVv_ieXeHaCXlIeT3OM8JEVpK9qR92mrT9dJBiXsD9YonaWeKI4SxlOWZi4nvQwh6SsOzhQvJ96BQ_84M_xZeAq1k8fhOgYUIRM3Mrt39Eqiv3fLlrilLRu2YkE7EcLxO9VWXSeY/s1600/Pompom_necklace_Mar2017_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil253khVv_ieXeHaCXlIeT3OM8JEVpK9qR92mrT9dJBiXsD9YonaWeKI4SxlOWZi4nvQwh6SsOzhQvJ96BQ_84M_xZeAq1k8fhOgYUIRM3Mrt39Eqiv3fLlrilLRu2YkE7EcLxO9VWXSeY/s1600/Pompom_necklace_Mar2017_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS8F_EvXx6Lhfwz33BkepLTA3e74xPzzZ5oaMl2x74pxnv5VT7bIpbQrVsj_nQRj-CMTaIdPXCiwHBExAgmW7uJzvyvgagG0T7PMVrZ0Ogey2dvcffFObkxCA5lP34X8m8CdNhbg5pgLU/s1600/ThreadedFlower_Mar2017_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS8F_EvXx6Lhfwz33BkepLTA3e74xPzzZ5oaMl2x74pxnv5VT7bIpbQrVsj_nQRj-CMTaIdPXCiwHBExAgmW7uJzvyvgagG0T7PMVrZ0Ogey2dvcffFObkxCA5lP34X8m8CdNhbg5pgLU/s400/ThreadedFlower_Mar2017_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A flower stitched onto card.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC88u0zBsgluG6J_jfTA_yyrcYhtbxvU0KNPTSsK-Zo30SK4op0ha8_x00TRSSdiD27mhmUuBVJGLGxRwIFqiBFOPfvn4IuY24sppTXBoukzP2WVkuVYtVLn3B_XN3jwXwiSMRJzodnq9/s400/ThreadedHeart_Mar2017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A heart stitched onto card.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC88u0zBsgluG6J_jfTA_yyrcYhtbxvU0KNPTSsK-Zo30SK4op0ha8_x00TRSSdiD27mhmUuBVJGLGxRwIFqiBFOPfvn4IuY24sppTXBoukzP2WVkuVYtVLn3B_XN3jwXwiSMRJzodnq9/s1600/ThreadedHeart_Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC88u0zBsgluG6J_jfTA_yyrcYhtbxvU0KNPTSsK-Zo30SK4op0ha8_x00TRSSdiD27mhmUuBVJGLGxRwIFqiBFOPfvn4IuY24sppTXBoukzP2WVkuVYtVLn3B_XN3jwXwiSMRJzodnq9/s1600/ThreadedHeart_Mar2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
In the meantime I've been altering costume for M's upcoming dance show. The costumes may have come from a theatrical supplier but they do not take into account the real shape of small children. Fortunately I've been able to limit the alterations to shortening straps and adding extra velcro.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-79259676398984985332017-03-11T09:05:00.000+00:002017-03-11T09:05:44.128+00:00It turned out alright in the end<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I started work on this shawl collared waistcoat back in November, based on a pattern from "<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Custom-Crocheted-Sweaters-Dora-Ohrenstein/dp/160059798X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489222745&sr=8-1&keywords=custom+crocheted+sweaters" target="_blank">Custom Crochet Sweaters (Dora Ohrenstein)</a>". It was not overly complicated but had the novelty factor of being worked vertically with increases based on changing the stitch height.</div>
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Everything started well and I made good progress, but misunderstood the increase instructions and didn't notice until I had almost finished. I wouldn't have been happy with the finished result, so I ripped the whole garment out and remade it, finally placing the last stitch on Christmas Eve. By this point I had lost the love entirely so put it aside, only taking it out last month to reluctantly sew it together.</div>
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I'm glad I persevered though as I think it turned out well.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSYcmp_IZmo/WMO1hdnapaI/AAAAAAAAQvY/oc7jMiYpZ4kkTnyfJYD_SmXiB03J8dTsACPcB/s1600/20170223_ShawlCollar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSYcmp_IZmo/WMO1hdnapaI/AAAAAAAAQvY/oc7jMiYpZ4kkTnyfJYD_SmXiB03J8dTsACPcB/s400/20170223_ShawlCollar1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shawl collared waistcoat.</td></tr>
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Worked up in Wendy Mode DK on a 5.5mm hook I had to rework the pattern a fair bit as usual, I couldn't make gauge, this is why I got lost on the increases. My interpretation of the word 'repeat' and whether it includes the original instruction on what to repeat, differed from the designers intended meaning. As I had to adjust most of the stitch and row counts, it is easy to see how I got confused.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierQw9Ddc8FQj9da3bznOieBqsDioIvNXv8u-MDd-BvGpmE-XTUuxaqYIbAFQNM35wOKBYgwyUdz1sNNxnDpDw83S6qSqUSkItDRcebLOZe25h6EkCKDzc5UMoqkgYtsoymKf6oBvrG00/s1600/20170223_ShawlCollar3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierQw9Ddc8FQj9da3bznOieBqsDioIvNXv8u-MDd-BvGpmE-XTUuxaqYIbAFQNM35wOKBYgwyUdz1sNNxnDpDw83S6qSqUSkItDRcebLOZe25h6EkCKDzc5UMoqkgYtsoymKf6oBvrG00/s400/20170223_ShawlCollar3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitch pattern.</td></tr>
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The stitch pattern combined dc and tr in a cluster, reminding me of my <a href="http://juliemadethis.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/tiramisu-baby-blanket.html" target="_blank">favourite baby blanket</a>. It was easy to memorise and works up quickly, which is why I was able to make this whole garment twice in under two months. The only delay was I couldn't face sewing it together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HwbexjVb7XI/WMO1hYjo-VI/AAAAAAAAQvY/WXDnlrio-3o7Y2AZG3M69sTgd6BDC4TLgCPcB/s1600/20170223_ShawlCollar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HwbexjVb7XI/WMO1hYjo-VI/AAAAAAAAQvY/WXDnlrio-3o7Y2AZG3M69sTgd6BDC4TLgCPcB/s400/20170223_ShawlCollar2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me.</td></tr>
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I fastened the front with a single snap as recommended by the pattern. The stitches had to be stabilised, by darning into the clusters to produce a firmer fabric before sewing the snap on. The only real issue with the design is the curl on the bottom of the front pieces. I tried steaming the area before making up which helped a little but didn't completely eliminate the problem. As Wendy Mode is 50/50 Merino Wool/Acrylic I didn't want to do more for fear of killing the yarn.<br />
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So in summary, this should have been a quick and easy made which was complicated because I couldn't hit gauge so had to rework all the numbers. It was however completely worth the effort as it is a lovely waistcoat and has already made it into regular circulation as part of my wardrobe.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-57771653198098570002017-02-24T08:46:00.001+00:002017-02-24T08:46:41.260+00:00A full day at the Arts CentreYesterday was a very full day at our local <a href="https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">Arts Centre</a>, starting with this energetic and full audience participation version of Peter And The Wolf. Absolutely packed studio performance. Great fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjhDqOhBDh0Rq8Tlog7Fe9DOPlEMWCHifnOVMWzqtQvrD-WnZGIOWpI8PLVl093Zcq0fD9dKEzvy8xdvmNF1uIR7fTq_77n5ABTK5FmzH-k2lnTWWo4zF0hK7OTYTefg_Uq_RgUbQi6Ar/s1600/PeterAndTheWolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjhDqOhBDh0Rq8Tlog7Fe9DOPlEMWCHifnOVMWzqtQvrD-WnZGIOWpI8PLVl093Zcq0fD9dKEzvy8xdvmNF1uIR7fTq_77n5ABTK5FmzH-k2lnTWWo4zF0hK7OTYTefg_Uq_RgUbQi6Ar/s400/PeterAndTheWolf.jpg" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">M moved to the very front to dance and act out the story.</td></tr>
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The packed studio meant I was sat towards the middle of the room and persuaded M to go sit at the front with the other children. M wasn't too keen to start with, but once the concert started she engaged with the performance, answering questions, joining in and making suggestions.<br />
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After the concert was over we enjoyed an indoor picnic hiding from Storm Doris which was raging outside, then went to take in the current exhibition in the Mead Gallery.<br />
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There were only three installations and the first was a bit lack-lustre, but we walked around the corner and M stopped, stunned.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9t9hwC-Mv-_Yl2dcOL9E0N1EmrrdLHFjXua3HJibUmm4w0-N8msw8uCHXVi6Civz3UE0KwTbY4RuWLb0Ap8UjSDHCww0_cUtzbyxJMOSmyJBx-8rOroa4NQZNx_G3QSHeJCYSbsuhJXyj/s1600/PotsAndPans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9t9hwC-Mv-_Yl2dcOL9E0N1EmrrdLHFjXua3HJibUmm4w0-N8msw8uCHXVi6Civz3UE0KwTbY4RuWLb0Ap8UjSDHCww0_cUtzbyxJMOSmyJBx-8rOroa4NQZNx_G3QSHeJCYSbsuhJXyj/s400/PotsAndPans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">M stopped and said 'Wow!'</td></tr>
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M showed great restraint here. She desperately wanted to touch and to get underneath the thing. It isn't every day you see hundreds of pots and pans suspended from the ceiling. Instead she walked around it, viewing the installation from every angle she could while standing a good couple of metres away.<br />
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She turned around and had another 'Wow!' moment, but refrained from touching as I stood by.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHS-83wpHxffbEnHEDM3QoLCh6KQWXJzsH38LhYsRfPR5F-UVSAVyyuY9uiy2DdS335uO28kdj_aWgQcXHHQVyt9ZkkWW6UVUs_WhYIjJ5JwOyfy9gQUphfNiaG4th8iKD9FieSlHKG3-/s1600/TimeForDinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHS-83wpHxffbEnHEDM3QoLCh6KQWXJzsH38LhYsRfPR5F-UVSAVyyuY9uiy2DdS335uO28kdj_aWgQcXHHQVyt9ZkkWW6UVUs_WhYIjJ5JwOyfy9gQUphfNiaG4th8iKD9FieSlHKG3-/s400/TimeForDinner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Time for dinner.</td></tr>
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I love introducing M to art and talking about what we see, which is why we drop into art galleries and museums on a fairly regular basis. I know a lot of six year olds might not be so appreciative, but M thoroughly enjoys anything art related.<br />
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As usual, The Mead had set up a creative space following the current themes in the gallery. M enjoyed playing with cutlery on an OHP, telling stories, singing and moving things around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkygNHR1BnxynhJ3-rweDJ6en7wiaA-nFO2gq4LP3hAwLNFE1CXDA_-tzqR1BgCMIMPsq-ACYxSxRrzyz7EdCj3Smc_Sm6LE9W4_vj4mb_UDSnGFsHNgvsUnSG-KUwaMw79uYU_8CHtsp/s1600/Cutlery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkygNHR1BnxynhJ3-rweDJ6en7wiaA-nFO2gq4LP3hAwLNFE1CXDA_-tzqR1BgCMIMPsq-ACYxSxRrzyz7EdCj3Smc_Sm6LE9W4_vj4mb_UDSnGFsHNgvsUnSG-KUwaMw79uYU_8CHtsp/s400/Cutlery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">M has fun with cutlery and an OHP</td></tr>
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Then she got creative.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uCzDDPH1wTR2gfPlE7J3JHPVkEqxn-otSsCOEi0oDv62tqdoYt4dUaFP1yaGE6W0LmoMYiKtGBYMeVD0scCPurzvHKm_Ob8RdDWWBIYOj7rhwXf3MXibr8ABgKGAgPOy9eSf_sXOFYQJ/s1600/BeingCreative.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uCzDDPH1wTR2gfPlE7J3JHPVkEqxn-otSsCOEi0oDv62tqdoYt4dUaFP1yaGE6W0LmoMYiKtGBYMeVD0scCPurzvHKm_Ob8RdDWWBIYOj7rhwXf3MXibr8ABgKGAgPOy9eSf_sXOFYQJ/s400/BeingCreative.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Making a thing.</td></tr>
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Another girl was talked to and consulted on how to use the resources available. Staff and gallery visitors were talked to. Singing happened. I helped where requested. which meant wielding sticky tape (there was no glue) under close direction. Fun was had, until at last a very tired little girl declared she was finished and we could go home.<br />
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Even I got involved, drawing the following with graphite sticks when not facilitating M's creative needs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5GFRLsRokP6sdFfLe2hvjmvxqNibqy28UCd2jz1UvT5hIRf1UMVDmYBvxgiDju1zY4hpk_HPyL-7Sxl2m1m9EhH34d5t7mFMTOx-yX0iuXN5sl66IN9s4M-6XDR8LY5WPsxBUekkjcui/s1600/MummysEffort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5GFRLsRokP6sdFfLe2hvjmvxqNibqy28UCd2jz1UvT5hIRf1UMVDmYBvxgiDju1zY4hpk_HPyL-7Sxl2m1m9EhH34d5t7mFMTOx-yX0iuXN5sl66IN9s4M-6XDR8LY5WPsxBUekkjcui/s400/MummysEffort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mummy's effort.</td></tr>
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A long day, which left M very inspired and me very worn out!Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-9010510624846703782017-01-18T20:29:00.000+00:002017-01-18T20:32:49.444+00:00Jazzy's new dress<div dir="ltr">
We bought M a small dress up doll for Christmas called <a href="http://uk.lottie.com/" target="_blank">Lottie</a>, who is modelled on a 10 year old girl and went down very well. M decided she needed a friend and dug out Jazzy, who sadly (after 3 years of play) had lost her clothes. Jazzy felt sad and while Lottie offered to lend her friend some clothes, Jazzy is very short and the clothes were too big.</div>
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M asked if I could help.</div>
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Together we talked about the kind of clothes Jazzy needed, drew some sketches and settled on a pretty dress. M insisted that it should be blue, but I explained I only had white fabric to hand, however I would make it appear to be blue. M was sceptical but Jazzy really needed a dress so agreed.</div>
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M fetched her tape measure and we got to work.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvZcCiJB8aibwYoDG83KYCb2IjkhwvB19YNPDXuTnBCmI_AdSleCQ2GHVw2mSk1gOHyGWBtltVFqeuFblpzh1tXrZvl3cjE_c7ISfYiSgkdFB3vZx7-2-V2nLDdaPi2e4I2xE4sT3mbc/s400/IMG_20170108_145032_525.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Taking careful measurements.</td></tr>
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Once the teeny, tiny doll had been measured we drafted out a bodice pattern, which I cut out of white cotton remnants. The skirt was a simple rectangle cut to length and sewn to the bodice.</div>
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I used a sewing machine to edge the pieces before sewing the main seams. The skirt was hand gathered then pinned in place before sewing. In all cases I used a .5cm seam allowance. </div>
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Once the dress was assembled I decorated it with blue Sharpie, adding little dots to make a ditzy pattern. M was fascinated and had a go on a piece of fabric herself along side me. Once I was satisfied I no longer had a white dress, I ironed the whole thing which fixed the colour.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStFO5btWlcajA0DT_BWCJLWTrQXykR7z8hiR9gXzZizrzZrsgQmsZIxx6wWTwRn1lGv8OZ3wkdJLtHMZZvS0axipZ6vp3-ZCbOi-z3RvWn1MI1ClBVH84DSSwi_fWfZ2rwRczYJqzsNY/s400/IMG_20170108_182907_921.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Jazzy's new dress which still needs to be closed at the back and have trim added.</td></tr>
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At this stage all that was left was to sew on some trim and to close the back. The main problem with sewing the seams was the tiny size of the pattern pieces which made it hard to keep the fabric steady under the presser foot as I sewed. The solution was to ditch the machine and hand sew a piece of ribbon around the waist and little piece of trim to the hem.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V6VTbvQk4LGv2GXz1GR-WZiJC09Zl5VgzJ0A5Qvje8oc4bQXNDOkjzcS_4vfsEyqbBGGx_4QORj0eXIsVuq1MRJNZvZoFiDZql_BO_2YLIiIDjGS5YVD7Yz-_9igxhmJ0Mcq77IvV1I/s400/IMG_20170116_080406_634.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Jazzy in her new dress.</td></tr>
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Once the trims were on, I hand sewed the back closed and folded over the remaining edges. M doesn't like velcro so I added a press fastening to close, which disrupted the line a bit but did the job.</div>
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<tr><td><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8In6CG1FkIVv6AtV3XuCPbGoGKX9LDfxM-sZnCIGjjcfELHSeiSa5WKtvVB-IFGp4uimhg4LCOFr7-Lol1AiQMsL1pCrghxmktakQW4Yv_zRFAtOexfOWmwbLL86wQmehlEuJP3P1Fk/s400/IMG_20170116_080516_430.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The back view.</td></tr>
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Over all not a bad first effort. Jazzy was delighted with the result. She donned her new dress and ran off to play with her friend Lottie as soon as the last stitch was placed. Of course, Jazzy and Lottie are now planning the rest of their new wardrobe, so I may soon be called upon to sew tiny clothes again. Time to step up my efforts in teaching the small person to sew I think!<br />
<br />
Useful Links<br />
* Lottie Dolls - <a href="http://uk.lottie.com/">http://uk.lottie.com</a>/<br />
<br /></div>
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Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-69909980582511579272016-10-30T19:52:00.003+00:002016-10-30T19:57:51.476+00:00M's Wobbly ScarfAfter a mild run up, it seems like autumn is suddenly here. There is a cold bite to the air, trees are dropping their leaves, the cats have started staying indoors, evenings are drawing in and my thoughts have turned to winter knitwear.<br />
<br />
I actually spared a thought for the coming winter a few weeks ago when I sorted out M's coats. Being a fast growing girl she needs new coats every year and hanging them up lead to me looking at her scarves. Sadly, M has outgrown the lovely cabled scarf she has been wearing since she was about three. This was a bit of a shocker for me as I don't think of scarves as being something you can grow out of, but she has. If we wrap the scarf in question around her neck twice (as you do) the tails are very short, with no weight to keep the wraps in place let alone keep the draft out of the front of her coat.<br />
<br />
I declared it was time to knit a scarf, my first in several years.<br />
<br />
After talking to M, she came up with a design...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJIWINdNI1SlO6m8PjR9dje26-iqZ9ecdc8QPEzKdGBX6nCyO05t3ARxrP9HvMvIQgWEMxd40Wieh5SJ2jE3utHwhAM-8ZNpf5J5h8YkdLkyDsuC48bfJXS3cMWRuixuOJ5h8XC-IvGY/s1600/WobblyScarf_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJIWINdNI1SlO6m8PjR9dje26-iqZ9ecdc8QPEzKdGBX6nCyO05t3ARxrP9HvMvIQgWEMxd40Wieh5SJ2jE3utHwhAM-8ZNpf5J5h8YkdLkyDsuC48bfJXS3cMWRuixuOJ5h8XC-IvGY/s400/WobblyScarf_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's design for the scarf she'd like.</td></tr>
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Cables. It has been a long, long time since I attempted cables.<br />
<br />
I dug out my copy of the Harmony Guide to Cables & Arans, quickly feeling out of my depth and realising I have no idea how to read a cable chart. This is something I'm going to need to fix in the future, but with winter looming I decided to wing it.<br />
<br />
Using M's design as a guide I swatched some simple 2x2 cables, setting them inside some bands of 4 purl, with two single purl columns separating the middle cables. Most of the twists are on the eighth row, with one cable being offset and twisting on the tenth row. I added a 2x2 rib to each side to finish.<br />
<br />
I had a go at charting the result myself, but it's not quite up to Harmony Guide standards!<br />
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This sounds more complicated than it was, mostly I had to keep track of row counts so I knew which cable I was working. I also had to watch the direction of the twist as M wanted the cable to snake from side to side rather than twisting around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqX3h9kOKVCoxJJhYIxy4UuF8I8sqMJg-oVt2IU3s6KkUgt3ZAtEl86L6OxxU0Zls5kL1QNgFRW04nepg8EeyqlOc4S3UFdwCxW30Nznk8c78bMFUxA2Bm4IqDRbLMv52mza8GNRDQ-E/s1600/WobblyScarf_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqX3h9kOKVCoxJJhYIxy4UuF8I8sqMJg-oVt2IU3s6KkUgt3ZAtEl86L6OxxU0Zls5kL1QNgFRW04nepg8EeyqlOc4S3UFdwCxW30Nznk8c78bMFUxA2Bm4IqDRbLMv52mza8GNRDQ-E/s400/WobblyScarf_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work in progress, slow but steadily getting there.</td></tr>
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After some thought and in the hope of speeding up the knit, I decided to add a keyhole to this scarf as well as working the yarn double. I wanted the extra loft and to make it easier for M to put on herself as she has problems with repeatedly wrapping a scarf around her neck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3ZMxPzqb4KfEsHOOd0eRcEYwb4JKHdGSGc7H9qUWht1tSORBKlB452RtJCOLJkJbiLDw7CCb0ojhuer2X22pMHdGRPM3Y6bIwHOWq2RoSEWCKhpwbUOlCJtl63UWRl1Mu5vL_g5RBRo/s1600/WobblyScarf_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3ZMxPzqb4KfEsHOOd0eRcEYwb4JKHdGSGc7H9qUWht1tSORBKlB452RtJCOLJkJbiLDw7CCb0ojhuer2X22pMHdGRPM3Y6bIwHOWq2RoSEWCKhpwbUOlCJtl63UWRl1Mu5vL_g5RBRo/s400/WobblyScarf_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished scarf.</td></tr>
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Vital info -<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>6.5mm needles.</li>
<li>38 stitches.</li>
<li>Yarn: 200g Mercia Wools Superwash Pure Wool DK (worked double). The colour is <i>Dashing Red</i>.</li>
<li>Width: 16cm</li>
<li>Final length: 135cm.</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj984Yi151wuNXdX1PvJzK3JDlW8a2NXjh4o-ca1QHIf2HkSSTbgsdEVxl-Njp6C1dA_C8CszcyFo4sr_v3Ze2BOkzCTvYCQSEx1d1HkQpUJ5837YZj95ltHIV1BxbVfXGz8BLXMLTYzTM/s1600/WobblyScarf_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj984Yi151wuNXdX1PvJzK3JDlW8a2NXjh4o-ca1QHIf2HkSSTbgsdEVxl-Njp6C1dA_C8CszcyFo4sr_v3Ze2BOkzCTvYCQSEx1d1HkQpUJ5837YZj95ltHIV1BxbVfXGz8BLXMLTYzTM/s400/WobblyScarf_1.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently the extra length was a bit scary, but she'll grow into it. Right?</td></tr>
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The final result is a little on the long side because I was sizing for a scarf to fit a six to ten year old.<br />
So here we have the final scarf.<br />
<br />
Harmony Guide: Cables & Arans - <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cables-Arans-Stitches-Harmony-Guides/dp/159668058X">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cables-Arans-Stitches-Harmony-Guides/dp/159668058X</a>.<br />
<br />Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-56947407972679812592016-09-06T22:33:00.001+01:002016-09-06T22:33:21.077+01:00A brief visit to Middle EarthSaturday we decided to do something different and headed over to <a href="http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/sarehole">Sarehole Mill</a> for the Middle Earth Festival, which was essentially some traders, folks in costume and festivities celebrating all things <a href="http://www.tolkiensociety.org/author/biography/?gclid=CPG3qr3S-84CFWYq0wod5_YKYA">Tolkien</a>.<br />
<br />
Naturally, the weather decided Saturday was the day to rain and rain and rain and rain. We didn't let that put us off, but it certainly made for a cold, wet day and I suspect prevented a lot of the arena type activities from going ahead. We did see a couple of guys in orc masks and a bit of posturing, but full on skirmishes in torrential rain are never a good idea. Not only would it be uncomfortable, it would be dangerous due to it being very slippery under foot.<br />
<br />
Sarehole Mill is in Birminghan, so about 40 minutes away in the car. We found the place without too much trouble, parking in the expected field before walking back to the venue.<br />
<br />
Once inside the first marquee, we briefly looked at 'The Mirk Wood' which M didn't like very much, even when we explained the spiders webs were Hallowe'en props. After that, we sheltered under umbrellas as we looked around.<br />
<br />
We found a falconer sheltering under a couple of gazebos, accompanied by a young Harris Hawk. The hawk didn't like the rain and was flying within the confines of the gazebo. There were a few owls in his van, but there they stayed only coming out briefly toward the end of the day when the weather let up a little. Owls do not fly in rain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBtk5Mcc9MKnCWOLkqFH6C-Qnqrv_94kwe66tkdpiWliS4W-8CH1JPMh5OGZlqToSjx4f1X2OCo-KF8cQFELkVdTpLf46QUHFGMehBdN2z-QWZqThUfxczKD5hS9vJ_Vo0sIpeCsse8rk/s1600/IMG_20160903_201846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBtk5Mcc9MKnCWOLkqFH6C-Qnqrv_94kwe66tkdpiWliS4W-8CH1JPMh5OGZlqToSjx4f1X2OCo-KF8cQFELkVdTpLf46QUHFGMehBdN2z-QWZqThUfxczKD5hS9vJ_Vo0sIpeCsse8rk/s400/IMG_20160903_201846.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">M with a Harris Hawk.</td></tr>
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After looking at the orcs we wandered around the various tents, examining wares or craft displays.<br />
<br />
The wood carving tent went down well, where M voted for a cat in this year's competition. We looked at the other pieces on display, with a whale proving to be M's favourite. She told its creator so at length, telling him he should make more pieces just like it. The woodcarver turned the whale around, suggesting it could also be an elephant, but M gave him a hard stare. He eventually conceded it was better as a whale.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G4QHXzRxloJuvuIdXfmN6Mlc5_eiNkVVUIGXY0OHf2K-GxpzFn5UwIiEGER4cwiF8PrXRQ1j9-5vrGh9s0MsG3Q-WdVEBS0i93U6BwXlexMUin_g9mVudF6ppjOzwJIBPN2yE85paotc/s1600/IMG_20160903_202314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G4QHXzRxloJuvuIdXfmN6Mlc5_eiNkVVUIGXY0OHf2K-GxpzFn5UwIiEGER4cwiF8PrXRQ1j9-5vrGh9s0MsG3Q-WdVEBS0i93U6BwXlexMUin_g9mVudF6ppjOzwJIBPN2yE85paotc/s400/IMG_20160903_202314.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A wooden whale.</td></tr>
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Morris dancers also went down well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTM1YofTJ87sZkiIXyMZiHJnLx5JqM7806C6jmkA6c8fpDZiy8hYoQhxgC8SjNy5R8ugOJ84C83xwQ41Xxnso0CpRbAeNDecg9_bfozViePYEaL5x92LY4xSA5uVJjFswJ520KavZZ9ex/s1600/IMG_20160903_203038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTM1YofTJ87sZkiIXyMZiHJnLx5JqM7806C6jmkA6c8fpDZiy8hYoQhxgC8SjNy5R8ugOJ84C83xwQ41Xxnso0CpRbAeNDecg9_bfozViePYEaL5x92LY4xSA5uVJjFswJ520KavZZ9ex/s400/IMG_20160903_203038.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Morris Dancers.</td></tr>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2MPPbloU71Y/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2MPPbloU71Y?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
But not this man, who shouted a lot. As part of his patter he approached M with a bag of lollies, at which point she carefully stepped behind me! I declined the offered sweets politely so he moved on, finding lots of other takers for his lollies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXC4NAma_12xL_lZ4X9VHtgIeLNFItig48CEfJRe-5QHl9njhmvsxKUhwOIHFJTAU62mZPvTO87HizgSRs-JRLwcTDl2DVzTqhd4ARvhsGh1sB20QHSxFzwD3IZQiLR2uY72vyh7akP6K/s1600/IMG_20160903_203413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXC4NAma_12xL_lZ4X9VHtgIeLNFItig48CEfJRe-5QHl9njhmvsxKUhwOIHFJTAU62mZPvTO87HizgSRs-JRLwcTDl2DVzTqhd4ARvhsGh1sB20QHSxFzwD3IZQiLR2uY72vyh7akP6K/s400/IMG_20160903_203413.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The shouty man.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We spent most of the day looking at the crafts on display. Lots of pretty things were admired and we bought some pretty stones. As I remarked to M and Dave, we really do need to make some jewellery as I have a fair few bits now. M spent some time in the children's tent, colouring and making a wand. We talked to some re-enactors, from whom I learned about a spinning tool for beginners called a 'dizzy sheep' and another one called a 'spurtzleur'. These two tools are apparently mobile and suitable for those who can't get along with a drop spindle, so might be good for teaching children to spin.<br />
<br />
M talked to several of the traders about their wares. In one case and to our complete surprise, one stall holder suddenly gifted M with a nightlight. The lady in question was very taken with M who had charmed her with her observations, admiration and general friendliness. She asked M which was her favourite piece on the stall (an Alice In Wonderland nightlight), then gave it to her!<br />
<br />
The event closed at 5pm and we headed for the car at about 4:30pm, all of us tired and cold. We did stop off at the shops and Hobbycraft on the way home, but ran out of time so decided to go back on Sunday. I had spotted that Hobbycraft had a sale on, with a lot of art supplies at half price!<br />
<br />
Not a bad way to spend a rainy September day.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-79920345264654216582016-08-30T21:48:00.002+01:002016-08-30T21:54:54.183+01:00An Olympic brollyIn honour of the 2016 Olympic games, M and I have been experimenting with making patterns from interlinked circles. We started out on paper and then moved onto painting another umbrella, taken from what feels like my endless stash of plain umbrellas which are just waiting for some decoration.<br />
<br />
The umbrella was a lot smaller this time and only intended for personal use, rather than a huge golf umbrella. Being smaller, it took a lot less time to paint! I mixed up a 50/50 acrylic paint to fabric medium in suitable Olympic colours, i.e. blue, red, yellow, green and black.<br />
<br />
For the circles, I cut a dense cardboard tube into smaller pieces. The tube was the kind you find in the middle of aluminium foil or cling film. These are strong and unlikely to disintegrate after being repeatedly dunked in paint.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0l5SejDI74GvR525IuImpQEMyt8icBBOMvjk8zy8EOAnjqua44cPIxMLXucpU-Dq5r1Fm077yghi3rEP1A14_lMOJlkw2syZO596eT-vbqUA0xTJVu_Zu09fv_Fyv6f5egbbbGKK4qKE/s1600/Paints_Aug2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0l5SejDI74GvR525IuImpQEMyt8icBBOMvjk8zy8EOAnjqua44cPIxMLXucpU-Dq5r1Fm077yghi3rEP1A14_lMOJlkw2syZO596eT-vbqUA0xTJVu_Zu09fv_Fyv6f5egbbbGKK4qKE/s400/Paints_Aug2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paint (acrylic with fabric medium) and cut down cardboard tube.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All set, we retired to the garden with out paints, cardboard tubes and an umbrella.<br />
<br />
An hour or so later, we had this umbrella set aside to dry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2zDzOXUx7c7s8ewJJN5A4danFFQTABPUmlvz2yKHN8eUwDsAPbDTkD1kt2nS8IGXCRjKLygapx4eR2CFhbkzcauEfB5-_j8SSgA1EWtrQa9E1aEbl0m4zuSEjnGNX359X5ogeklPW_2B/s1600/OlympicUmbrella_Aug2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2zDzOXUx7c7s8ewJJN5A4danFFQTABPUmlvz2yKHN8eUwDsAPbDTkD1kt2nS8IGXCRjKLygapx4eR2CFhbkzcauEfB5-_j8SSgA1EWtrQa9E1aEbl0m4zuSEjnGNX359X5ogeklPW_2B/s400/OlympicUmbrella_Aug2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished Olympic inspired umbrella set aside to dry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, at this point the wind decided to pick up the umbrella and blow it around the garden. This caused some consternation, not only because of smudges to our newly painted umbrella, but because the laundry was drying on the line!<br />
<br />
The umbrella was retrieved, I picked off the worst of the vegetation before standing it to dry in the kitchen for the rest of the day.<br />
<br />
Once it was touch dry we signed the umbrella in sharpie, before transferring it to the shed to continue drying for another three days. At that point, I examined it carefully and peeled off any remaining bits of garden before covering each panel in turn with a pressing cloth, then ironing on high to set the colour. Ironing is a mummy only activity.<br />
<br />
After ironing, I re-sewed the parasol to the umbrella frame. I'm not sure if it was poor workmanship, or the tumble the brolly took around the garden, but several of the stitches had popped so it needed a bit of repair.<br />
<br />
M's favourite part of painting umbrellas is the quality control test at the end, namely testing the umbrella's waterproof properties with a watering can. Personally, I feel that any umbrella which cannot be taken out into the rain for fear of it getting wet, is not much of an umbrella.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcMMdDuU6doaybeDDA9CfPizZywpBzUBo-YqBUIivpzsFSVfXLzivZS3otu_5V7bG2ogTu1tvVjUkEg4w2JsKUoSpDoFu9ti1vXoVuxuMbxO5AzZHbygE1b9yEOaOlAxrRIVx11Cb1kct/s1600/IMG_20160820_143954399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcMMdDuU6doaybeDDA9CfPizZywpBzUBo-YqBUIivpzsFSVfXLzivZS3otu_5V7bG2ogTu1tvVjUkEg4w2JsKUoSpDoFu9ti1vXoVuxuMbxO5AzZHbygE1b9yEOaOlAxrRIVx11Cb1kct/s400/IMG_20160820_143954399.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterproof and the colours don't run.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thankfully, the Olympic inspired umbrella passed the final test with flying colours.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLQ2NoVcy6g1nwNeGtIebOzFUm80spXGIdLrbwelw8V0yI1fBtwGp3TV6RP2LupBy9-7ksHZB8Yhp1zeS1uszvR8hSeW8dO-UnSgTug_npcVxZKaQ9H_fu-vR9yjWSja4JmeC1okjsJsz/s1600/IMG_20160820_143935628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLQ2NoVcy6g1nwNeGtIebOzFUm80spXGIdLrbwelw8V0yI1fBtwGp3TV6RP2LupBy9-7ksHZB8Yhp1zeS1uszvR8hSeW8dO-UnSgTug_npcVxZKaQ9H_fu-vR9yjWSja4JmeC1okjsJsz/s400/IMG_20160820_143935628.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished umbrella.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxKd_oyxgYCJnbtOP8_HU0SFmdeJZfKvEAuvGPHaqqniWoGJ3RlafJld6TEfgiHSR14UrqpjjDb923DcX6AW06e7S1Gm1j5Ns2hPw8o6IQLjesf5wh2T-ppHUGTGSNJEyklsekINyjIk7/s1600/IMG_20160820_144010405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxKd_oyxgYCJnbtOP8_HU0SFmdeJZfKvEAuvGPHaqqniWoGJ3RlafJld6TEfgiHSR14UrqpjjDb923DcX6AW06e7S1Gm1j5Ns2hPw8o6IQLjesf5wh2T-ppHUGTGSNJEyklsekINyjIk7/s400/IMG_20160820_144010405.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the view from the underside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The artwork on this umbrella was shared equally by myself and M. We both just stamped circles in whatever way we felt like doing, having lots of fun in the process. Again, I think it turned out well and we were both happy with the result.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-43987388705905971372016-08-21T16:45:00.001+01:002016-08-21T16:45:10.868+01:00Phoebe in blueIt's been a busy couple of weeks here as Olympic fever has taken hold of my six year old. This means I've learnt more about the history of the Olympics and watched more sports over the past two weeks than I've probably done in my entire life! Finding time to update a blog between hosting our own toy Olympics has been tough.<br />
<br />
I finished a cardigan for M a few weeks back and thought I'd better write it up while I still have access to the computer. It will undoubtedly be co-opted for something sport related in a short while.<br />
<br />
The simple Sirdir cardigan which has been my go-to pattern for M over the past couple of years, only runs to age 6-7. I'm considering whether to resize it, but in the meantime I need to branch out and try other patterns. The only thing is, there don't seem to be a huge selection of sweater patterns for little girls. And of those that are available, the field becomes even narrower when considering the child in question's personal taste. Honestly, there is no point spending time knitting a cardigan for a small person if she doesn't like the end result.<br />
<br />
After some thought, I eventually settled on <i>Phoebe</i> (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/phoebe-5" target="_blank">Ravelry Link</a>) from Sublime Yarns. This is a simple, close fitting cardigan, with a 'V' neck and contrasting band around the collar, front, hem and cuffs. I decided to knit as close to the pattern as I could, rather than fiddling around and modifying it as I usually do. I was hoping this would make my life easier.<br />
<br />
Until of course, I tried to get gauge.<br />
<br />
The short version of this story is I couldn't.<br />
<br />
I like the Drops yarns from <a href="http://www.garnstudio.com/" target="_blank">Garnstudio</a>, and having used a dark blue Muskat for <a href="http://juliemadethis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/one-last-time.html" target="_blank">M's last cardigan</a>, I'd decided to use the light blue for this one. For contrast I had to choose between turquoise and the left over dark blue from the previous cardigan.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_OHiczzKQA/V7nIB-J15CI/AAAAAAAAM50/QQC6AYtCtMYKMSnEPQoBqyTD7gU8wrSKgCPcB/s1600/BlueCardi_Aug2016_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_OHiczzKQA/V7nIB-J15CI/AAAAAAAAM50/QQC6AYtCtMYKMSnEPQoBqyTD7gU8wrSKgCPcB/s400/BlueCardi_Aug2016_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatch to consider contrast colours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After swatching, the dark blue won. It wasn't that I didn't like the turquoise, but it just didn't pop in the same way the darker blue did.<br />
<br />
Matching tension proved to be something of a problem.<br />
<br />
The pattern for <i>Phoebe</i> requires 10cm = 22 stitches x 28 rows.<br />
<br />
The Drops Muskat is a <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/calendering" target="_blank">calendered</a> cotton with a high sheen, very pretty and with good stitch definition. It also has an expected gauge of 10cm = 21 stitches x 28 rows.<br />
<br />
I'd not been able to match the required tension for the last time I used Muskat, but it hadn't worried me too much. I deliberately loosened the tension, going for a swing type cardigan and making the finished garment bigger. The downside was I went through a lot more yarn than I expected and had to order more to be able to finish the project.<br />
<br />
With <i>Phoebe</i>, I wanted to knit as close to gauge as I could and end up with a finished garment sized as described in the pattern.<br />
<br />
This proved a problem for me as I could not get the Muskat to knit to the required tension. I had to settle for the expected gauge for the yarn, i.e. 21 stitches, rather than 22 stitches.<br />
<br />
My working needle was 3.75mm and 3.25mm where the pattern asked for a smaller needle.<br />
<br />
That difference of 1 stitch over every 10cm adds up and in this case would have resulted in an increase of 1.5cm around the chest. Thinking about this retrospectively, that doesn't sound too bad and is certainly able to be absorbed into ease but would have resulted in an inevitable looser fit. After my previous experience with this yarn, I was also worried that I'd knit a lot more yarn than expected and run out, which would raise the issue of matching dye lots.<br />
<br />
Some deliberation later, I decided to adjust the cast on numbers for the pattern to match the new expected tension of 10cm = 21 stitches x 28 rows.<br />
<br />
i.e.<br />
<br />
I made the second size, intended to fit a chest of 61cm, so my cast on stitches became:<br />
<br />
Back - Cast on 70 st (instead of 72)<br />
Fronts - Cast on 34 st (instead of 35)<br />
Sleeves - Cast on 42 st (instead of 44)<br />
<br />
Naturally this meant adjusting all expected stitch counts throughout.<br />
<br />
Other than that, I knitted as directed, matching lengths to pattern directions.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zTcdSYP7UCs/V7nIB_04q6I/AAAAAAAAM50/F2tP5TRrMZQ0G01bccTcDnbWEw4lOqbWwCPcB/s1600/BlueCardi_Aug2016_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zTcdSYP7UCs/V7nIB_04q6I/AAAAAAAAM50/F2tP5TRrMZQ0G01bccTcDnbWEw4lOqbWwCPcB/s400/BlueCardi_Aug2016_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phoebe in blue.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I deliberately knitted one size up, resulting in a cardigan which is a little too large on the shoulders, but not so big as to look silly.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHEzlOgGg-s/V7nIByAc9sI/AAAAAAAAM50/II2Rm0Z0ypQ74WdXnEpUF7Z8xaRNnlpdwCPcB/s1600/BlueCardi_Aug2016_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHEzlOgGg-s/V7nIByAc9sI/AAAAAAAAM50/II2Rm0Z0ypQ74WdXnEpUF7Z8xaRNnlpdwCPcB/s400/BlueCardi_Aug2016_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting reasonably well on the shoulders and across the chest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For future cardigans I need to remember that M is tall for her age, or at least compared to the children the pattern designer has sized for. Even though I added 1cm to the sleeves and 2cm to the length of the body, as you can see from the photographs, the length is actually spot on for M right now.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmqjd9mP78Q/V7nIB_EfbhI/AAAAAAAAM50/yYNg7rCUP8Ux7PPjTBsE8PIBKbUrPg5vgCPcB/s1600/BlueCardi_Aug2016_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xmqjd9mP78Q/V7nIB_EfbhI/AAAAAAAAM50/yYNg7rCUP8Ux7PPjTBsE8PIBKbUrPg5vgCPcB/s400/BlueCardi_Aug2016_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back view, showing the hem at exactly the right length.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm a bit disappointed with this. I was hoping to get two years wear out of the cardigan, but now expect it will be too short for her by September next year. Lesson learnt, add a lot more for length on future garments.<br />
<br />
It is worth mentioning that I'm not an experienced cardigan knitter. Apart from a baby cardi I made while I was pregnant, I've only knitted one child cardigan pattern before, albeit making it up three times.<br />
<br />
In this case, the cardigan was a straight forward knit. There were differences in approach to handling the decreases to my previous experience, but nothing terribly difficult to understand. The fun came when I tried to make the collar.<br />
<br />
I've never tried to pick up stitches for a collar before and the results were messy. Very messy. In fact, it was so bad that I ripped the whole thing out and started again. Normally I'd have reached for a crochet hook, adding my own collar and front, but resisted the temptation and instead dug out my copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knitters-Handbook-Comprehensive-Principles-Handknitting/dp/0762102489" target="_blank">Montse Stanley's Knitting Handbook</a>.<br />
<br />
This hefty tome is one I think every knitter should have on their shelf. It is a reference work of so many different techniques, with advice on everything, including how to handle picking up stitches for a collar. Following the advice in the book, I picked up the stitches in the main knit colour, which acts as a foundation and masks any irregularity in the stitching. Once the stitches were on the needle, I switched to the required contrast colour to work the rest of the front.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x9vqQdwS_kk/V7nIB1T7NUI/AAAAAAAAM50/_PU1namtUPw0dYB6ycJzt8S99m6faIS3wCPcB/s1600/BlueCardi_Aug2016_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x9vqQdwS_kk/V7nIB1T7NUI/AAAAAAAAM50/_PU1namtUPw0dYB6ycJzt8S99m6faIS3wCPcB/s400/BlueCardi_Aug2016_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The rolled collar - look carefully and you can see the foundation row in the main colour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other area to give me problems was the button holes. I couldn't understand the instructions in the pattern. By now, I was truly fed up with the collar and front, so I did my own thing. I had a quick hunt on YouTube for examples of button holes, which I followed instead of the pattern.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fG8YZPLEiX4/V7nIB5jw-YI/AAAAAAAAM50/IlnznkSaoxotdFhAP41PyHS-p0klC4HWQCPcB/s1600/BlueCardi_Aug2016_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fG8YZPLEiX4/V7nIB5jw-YI/AAAAAAAAM50/IlnznkSaoxotdFhAP41PyHS-p0klC4HWQCPcB/s400/BlueCardi_Aug2016_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttons as chosen by M.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The end result looked OK, were the expected size and in the right place, but were not made in the way directed by the pattern.<br />
<br />
Yarn quantities used:<br />
<br />
6 x Garnstudio DROPS Muskat 50g - Light Blue.<br />
1 x Garnstudio DROPS Muskat 50g - Blue.<br />
<br />
M was pleased with the result and other than it not being as long as I wanted, I think the cardigan came out OK, so overall I'm happy with this.<br />
<br />
Useful Links:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knitters-Handbook-Comprehensive-Principles-Handknitting/dp/0762102489" target="_blank">The Knitter's Handbook (Montse Stanley)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jules101uk/phoebe" target="_blank">This project on Ravelry</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.garnstudio.com/" target="_blank">Garnstudio</a></li>
</ul>
Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-43125788443740693082016-08-07T21:06:00.000+01:002016-08-07T21:06:41.001+01:00Coventry SkyRideToday was the event we've been preparing for over the past month, The Coventry SkyRide.<br />
<br />
Dave cycles on a daily basis, but while I used to cycle to work a few times a week, I haven't done so in a LONG time. M has never ridden a bike, or rather she hadn't done so <a href="http://juliemadethis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-girls-first-bike-ride.html" target="_blank">until last month</a>.<br />
<br />
With it having been such a log time since I've been in the saddle, M's complete lack of experience and adding in a new bike plus a tag-along to the mix, it seemed only sensible to practice a little before the big event. This is why we've been heading to the park with the tag-along a few times a week for the past month.<br />
<br />
I am so glad we did, as I think we gave a good showing today, completing one full lap and then going around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Ring_Road" target="_blank">Coventry's Ring Road</a> a second time. We cycled to the event (and home again), so we've spent a long time on the bikes today. I had M behind me on the tag-along, while Dave was cycling his own bike on his own.<br />
<br />
We've had a good day. The weather was good with clear skies and a bit of wind, almost ideal really.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQHXqDy1NHOdMQeoq2f8tg_08aZElV5gXiS5OY040IL_uWE76Irl0n9gT_v9WE0fodhvbBKosclmynLsE54NlGOIST7DhvxJIBcp3f2mHHJu5CMYCqW7SPu87bAWhlXZsDXH0ARNaxUUZ/s1600/skyride2016_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQHXqDy1NHOdMQeoq2f8tg_08aZElV5gXiS5OY040IL_uWE76Irl0n9gT_v9WE0fodhvbBKosclmynLsE54NlGOIST7DhvxJIBcp3f2mHHJu5CMYCqW7SPu87bAWhlXZsDXH0ARNaxUUZ/s400/skyride2016_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are, just before setting off on the SkyRide.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We arrived in good time but hung back at the start as I knew we'd be amongst the slower cyclists.<br />
<br />
The tag-along doesn't lend itself to fast cycling. M is also still a bit uncoordinated at pushing off and prone to wobbling at inconvenient moments. The main problem for me today was the tag-along having a huge turning circle, which proved tricky on the first part of the route where we were all crammed in together with too many cyclists in narrow streets with sharp bends. This is nothing like cycling endless loops around the park, where we have paths mostly to ourselves and the option to move onto the grass to avoid other park users.<br />
<br />
There was a near miss just before we headed onto the Ring Road, as we were turning a sharp bend, going uphill and into a fierce crosswind I lost control, nearly falling into another cyclist in the crush. I only saved us by jumping off the pedals, forcibly preventing the bike from tipping but twisting my ankle in the process. Fortunately, M was OK and I don't think she realised how close we came to crashing.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vpEMu-TetrWLbvpvh9qwebR7HFFV68cbLrgnzxz-n0krZVgI98wwmUVsjyKMdvAzJ5hlQ0I2QX-pjlM3GncBL1tGzhNs8Q-sngATV5US_mExLvNeGiyK4NgNXTKpcCkFUFRI0PqB8XZv/s1600/skyride2016_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vpEMu-TetrWLbvpvh9qwebR7HFFV68cbLrgnzxz-n0krZVgI98wwmUVsjyKMdvAzJ5hlQ0I2QX-pjlM3GncBL1tGzhNs8Q-sngATV5US_mExLvNeGiyK4NgNXTKpcCkFUFRI0PqB8XZv/s400/skyride2016_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M discovers a cycle powered bubble machine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That aside, after a brief moment to recover we hopped on the bike and made it around the Ring Road with no issues. M was a champ, cycling without complaint and concentrating hard to wobble as little as she could. We didn't crash into anyone. We didn't fall off. We didn't need to stop or walk. We were happy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsCxEm_tctcf2f8Y8PJDjiDh3nJ0cejrYdfBFDtondZdWL1ND-pVNVEkPaxBg2t8-GFeCkUZcl3OwD6cXI2oYtV6NiGZx0jAPlUXst0O0bBsIlK-TTHTDSnp46CERffQHTpTtrJD2oRXm/s1600/skyride2016_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsCxEm_tctcf2f8Y8PJDjiDh3nJ0cejrYdfBFDtondZdWL1ND-pVNVEkPaxBg2t8-GFeCkUZcl3OwD6cXI2oYtV6NiGZx0jAPlUXst0O0bBsIlK-TTHTDSnp46CERffQHTpTtrJD2oRXm/s400/skyride2016_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M has a go at powering a racing track with pedal power.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stopped for lunch (and first aid for my poor ankle), then as cycling didn't hurt in the way that walking did, we decided to try the ring road again before it was opened to normal traffic. It was much easier the second time as there were fewer cyclists and we enjoyed ourselves. I even managed to get some relative speed out of the tag-along.<br />
<br />
Event complete, a bit weary but happy with our performance, we locked the bikes up so we could pose for the official photograph.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2I36ewC7tC3hm_Iv-5j-A-cHvoHttzA-8QLJ-Wv7OctO6E009aTq3NqxumNssBg2UqGAPfYULxMLb93ZjFf16P3qcHfus4yFZqecuRDtnE9TkaYG2tHBxXhC7lQD-mKx51GoEy7FsKp0/s1600/skyride2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2I36ewC7tC3hm_Iv-5j-A-cHvoHttzA-8QLJ-Wv7OctO6E009aTq3NqxumNssBg2UqGAPfYULxMLb93ZjFf16P3qcHfus4yFZqecuRDtnE9TkaYG2tHBxXhC7lQD-mKx51GoEy7FsKp0/s400/skyride2016.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our official snap at the end of the ride. We all have our eyes closed.</td></tr>
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We stopped for a tea/coffee and a biscuit before riding home, via the same park we've been cycling around for the past month. Naturally, we broke the journey so M could have a run around, then pushed on home where ice cream was waiting. How else could we have ended such a brilliant day?<br />
<br />Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-30338544114521725482016-08-06T15:16:00.000+01:002016-08-06T15:21:00.479+01:00An autumnal umbrellaFollowing on from the <a href="http://juliemadethis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/the-daddy-umbrella.html" target="_blank">Daddy Umbrella</a>, I found myself with extra umbrellas just waiting for someone to decorate them. In the meantime, M and I are doing a project on trees so I thought we should attempt a craft involving leaves.<br />
<br />
Painting by taking prints from leaves or bits of plants is something we've done before and it can be very effective. I found myself wondering if I could print onto an umbrella using leaves.<br />
<br />
Lessons learned from the Daddy Umbrella told me that acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium becomes transparent. Multiple layers help, but the umbrella fabric colour is still visible through the paint. This is fine with pale fabric, but a strong colour like black (as on the umbrella I had available to take paint) would mean most colours are likely to be muted and difficult to see. Personally, if I'm going to put in the effort to hand paint an umbrella, I want it to have a bit of visual punch and to stand out from a distance.<br />
<br />
One way to overcome this is to lay down a base colour, a foundation onto which you then paint the rest of your masterpiece.<br />
<br />
I had my plan. I decided we'd try taking prints in white paint, then fill in the resulting shape to give a white silhouette. Once this was dry, we could paint over the top in autumnal colours to hopefully give the effect of an umbrella covered in fallen leaves.<br />
<br />
I explained the plan to M who may have been doubtful, but loves me and so went along with the idea. Last weekend, we collected a few leaves while out on our cycle around the park, then got to work.<br />
<br />
M loved painting the leaves white, even if she didn't like having white fingers and kept running off to wash her hands. Together we applied leaf prints, taking a few prints before stopping to paint over the top. I went around the edges, neatening the leaves up and making them more 'leaf shaped' where either the print or M's painting ability had failed a little.<br />
<br />
After a couple of hours work, we had this:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2sqiQRquRJqE2-LbijN4fVTGNoEX5Bh4gCqYXSlNWH56QXpLvfMUC2clP5uc3tkyYvVFMWQg-2uaWlOgxw5wZ6wA6WBtn7cSRmnQEXyVpjee7fOsP_xe6_MD9CoKysgwThOJeIQ86JE/s1600/leaf_umbrella1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2sqiQRquRJqE2-LbijN4fVTGNoEX5Bh4gCqYXSlNWH56QXpLvfMUC2clP5uc3tkyYvVFMWQg-2uaWlOgxw5wZ6wA6WBtn7cSRmnQEXyVpjee7fOsP_xe6_MD9CoKysgwThOJeIQ86JE/s400/leaf_umbrella1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaf prints, painted over to give white silhouettes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was actually very striking and M was so excited, she ran around the garden a few times whooping. When you're a six year old artist, you get to do that sort of thing. I just oohed and ahhed, and was quietly impressed.<br />
<br />
The umbrella went into the shed to dry for two days, then we started on the next stage. We added colour.<br />
<br />
We worked with a limited palette of green, orange, yellow and red. The brief was to think autumn leaves as they fall from trees, but to only paint over the white. M finds paint difficult to work with, or rather she finds it harder to achieve the results she wants with paint, so this was a bit of a challenge. We talked about holding the brush as she would a pencil, not overloading with paint and steadying the umbrella with your spare hand. I was also ready with a clean finger to remove any excess paint before it had a chance to set into the fabric.<br />
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As it was, M painted a whole panel herself plus a few leaves scattered around the umbrella. I painted the rest. It took probably another two hours.<br />
<br />
M signed the umbrella using a bronze Sharpie and I dated it, then it went back into the shed to dry.<br />
<br />
Three days later, I ironed it using a hot iron and pressing cloth, before revealing the final result to M.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNC9eCtGZeq7ZkQEmCKQzV7ct_rEZaIIP2yIsLi7o3wyTQuAK6zRSAoPdMfXnc1ID4TBkIkQIDql7h2_hpA7y0qrxIFliR771x8Fg3sURCqPBUTqbJ0WtNOTbIlBlmOYUPzWjx9FmYzI/s1600/IMG_20160805_191250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNC9eCtGZeq7ZkQEmCKQzV7ct_rEZaIIP2yIsLi7o3wyTQuAK6zRSAoPdMfXnc1ID4TBkIkQIDql7h2_hpA7y0qrxIFliR771x8Fg3sURCqPBUTqbJ0WtNOTbIlBlmOYUPzWjx9FmYzI/s400/IMG_20160805_191250.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An autumnal umbrella.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were both impressed. I think the brushwork could do with a bit of practice in terms of technique, but the colours are beautiful.<br />
<br />
A water proof test followed, with both of us using a watering can to simulate rain. The umbrella was of course very good at repelling water, but what we were interested in was is the paint going to run. Fortunately, the paint stayed where it was so all our hard work was not in vain.<br />
<br />
Dave got in on the act, holding the umbrella while I tried to get a better angle as well as showing off the view from underneath.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjUkfkvexlctdzf1xP_57IZ10uKB37JNw59bpidBzW26Wkvku1xiLmGzioDwynnZQqvQNxqd6nO8gn3T3iU3_Pi7EnW8kuhWtWPHqzElnsattrI7AdZeuIuwVHh-4Q38PNFzbD8Nz4bI/s1600/IMG_20160805_191506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjUkfkvexlctdzf1xP_57IZ10uKB37JNw59bpidBzW26Wkvku1xiLmGzioDwynnZQqvQNxqd6nO8gn3T3iU3_Pi7EnW8kuhWtWPHqzElnsattrI7AdZeuIuwVHh-4Q38PNFzbD8Nz4bI/s400/IMG_20160805_191506.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the underside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Looking closely, the original print of each leaf is still visible on the underside, giving a new dimension to the piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxAUY3iUmQqPwagT9pZMsqlOLtMQEebRSTm97v4_Afwc9CsY1bYQ47edX6aMSMfqhCtDIp2ummJKl6emNlQJEFB8pghjJjaurnjjzRyyOhHXroSJleA9twdADS0TdPpDlX63W3zOEgns/s1600/IMG_20160805_191818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUxAUY3iUmQqPwagT9pZMsqlOLtMQEebRSTm97v4_Afwc9CsY1bYQ47edX6aMSMfqhCtDIp2ummJKl6emNlQJEFB8pghjJjaurnjjzRyyOhHXroSJleA9twdADS0TdPpDlX63W3zOEgns/s400/IMG_20160805_191818.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The veins of the original leaf prints are still visible from under the umbrella.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Suffice it to say, I think this was a successful experiment. The resulting umbrella is eye catching, autumnal and colourful. Considering one of the artists was six, I think we did a good job.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-56113699576221042392016-08-04T08:59:00.001+01:002016-08-04T08:59:16.381+01:00A phone cosyA few weeks ago, after nearly four years of loyal service my mobile phone died. It was particularly annoying because as far as I could tell, the problem was a software one to do with the Android OS rather than anything hardware related. In the end, I had to remove a key piece of Android software and because it would silently reinstall every time the phone connected to the internet, it became useful for voice calls and text only.<br />
<br />
Reluctantly I bought a new phone, which naturally needed a new case to protect it while in my bag.<br />
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Rather than buy a cheap plastic case, I decided to make one and chose some left over Peaches & Creme cotton to do so.<br />
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After looking through my stitch dictionaries and crocheting a few swatches, I decided I'd try alternate 'shallow crochet'.<br />
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Shallow crochet stitches are spiked double crochet, i.e. worked into the top of the stitch on the row below the current working row. I wanted to work tightly, but a swatch of pure shallow stitches was too stiff and very hard on the hands. I elected for the alternate stitches instead which produces a firm fabric with vertical stripes of 'V's which look a bit like knitted stitches.<br />
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To keep my phone safe from the many things I carry around, I wanted this to be fairly tightly as a piece so decided to work with a 3.5mm hook. I highly recommend a pointy tip, as the shallow stitch is firm, making it difficult to get the hook into.<br />
<br />
I worked 30 dc in the round, starting with 15 foundation-dc, then turning and working 15 stitches into the base of the 15 fdc I'd just made.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlhzaFcdACaHF9NPtU2W6XwxDbTf8fFSxtUKypzX4A_yZgmHcXdk7YBtHnlxhtcKhmcuHbXaKE7YEhq1Z8lu06KdMcA8CxMHpbyXPVkHyw5GBbpnT-vuYfe-6gVd8HmYWT0J0ylIC2BI/s1600/phonecosy_Aug2016_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlhzaFcdACaHF9NPtU2W6XwxDbTf8fFSxtUKypzX4A_yZgmHcXdk7YBtHnlxhtcKhmcuHbXaKE7YEhq1Z8lu06KdMcA8CxMHpbyXPVkHyw5GBbpnT-vuYfe-6gVd8HmYWT0J0ylIC2BI/s400/phonecosy_Aug2016_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternating shallow crochet stitches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I had 30 stitches, I joined with a slip stitch, 2ch, then worked a row of dc, finishing with another slip stitch to join.<br />
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After that, I started working alternate shallow dc stitches with normal dc in the round to give the ribbed effect.<br />
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It is a bit tricky picking up the loops of the previous row, but following the the strands of the base of the dc you'd normally be working into helps. The shallow stitch will result in a 'V'; in subsequent rows, aim your hook just above the point where the 'V' makes a point. If you look at the back of the work, you should see the hook come out just below the back loop two rows down.<br />
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Keep working in the round until the phone is just covered, then finish with a row of dc and then a row of crab stitch (reverse dc). I added a loop fdc half way around one side of the final crab stitch edging.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZfYLLxR4qU6tg3TithYQGQbY1Im-fUoATiwhRSRIKBbNC5DnyoZi3AHrv5UxjZq_6i3lr1il0nKL9rjmRh4Yi3be1Qt5NsANPKaMMwxrmPGEbeJaHsy2_gd-4I1V65_yOF2bkX4aImk/s1600/phonecosy_Aug2016_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZfYLLxR4qU6tg3TithYQGQbY1Im-fUoATiwhRSRIKBbNC5DnyoZi3AHrv5UxjZq_6i3lr1il0nKL9rjmRh4Yi3be1Qt5NsANPKaMMwxrmPGEbeJaHsy2_gd-4I1V65_yOF2bkX4aImk/s400/phonecosy_Aug2016_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All finished, with a button added.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that it was just a case of sewing on a suitable button.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnk-X7s6f8wZytfNdYS7ugx0H7xeIeEdF_7mlo1iZUmGQZIS1ZFVJ0QgV_EWHeg8FSQB88TiUh09JCEz5bHhCVcaA1LTNv1e_lQjiTD25s3bzqr9M65ZISfKyn-L51SbstDB-ColOZA4/s1600/phonecosy_Aug2016_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnk-X7s6f8wZytfNdYS7ugx0H7xeIeEdF_7mlo1iZUmGQZIS1ZFVJ0QgV_EWHeg8FSQB88TiUh09JCEz5bHhCVcaA1LTNv1e_lQjiTD25s3bzqr9M65ZISfKyn-L51SbstDB-ColOZA4/s400/phonecosy_Aug2016_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All finished.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Final dimensions for my case were 10cm x 16cm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY7TWpWSWtapWR4WAvqczxll2vysdXfH96DK3lqiDLRRm-8fpemo4xLhO7slkB32FreG4v6WdTZnBcvW36VDsGYMF-yfv5g93Y8Wj2sU6M17k4ZPguMoPtqXAES35SBN-Fh8gmmuESe4/s1600/phonecosy_Aug2016_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY7TWpWSWtapWR4WAvqczxll2vysdXfH96DK3lqiDLRRm-8fpemo4xLhO7slkB32FreG4v6WdTZnBcvW36VDsGYMF-yfv5g93Y8Wj2sU6M17k4ZPguMoPtqXAES35SBN-Fh8gmmuESe4/s400/phonecosy_Aug2016_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to keep my phone safe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
(As always, I am using British crochet terms.)Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-10516500281137193192016-07-25T09:27:00.000+01:002016-07-25T09:27:52.532+01:00We try some weavingLast week, we had a go at basket weaving using a plastic milk bottle as a base, taking it with us as a group activity for our local home education group meetup. Along with the other children, M found it fiddly as the plastic kept bending inwards. She got the hang of it after a while, but at six years old, M likes quick projects that produce fast results. She wanted the basket and did a fair amount of the weaving without complaint, but half way through wanted me to do it for her. I helped of course, but pushed her a little into completing her basket herself. The results are charming and M loved it, immediately taking both baskets (I made one too) and claiming them for her own.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1mGhEDjaZ6h9sm5QCE0tUm_gol5Lp3T3fK_3mgYSPr3YN2dLrlvM4UMWtm4NbhiHvoTce6Q5sN4WVNFllWvl3yF-09em8UryqEUQ1B9u7nkOc_MsdXZ85frGlxgLHbx52e6ZJbbZrFg/s1600/IMG_20160715_161837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1mGhEDjaZ6h9sm5QCE0tUm_gol5Lp3T3fK_3mgYSPr3YN2dLrlvM4UMWtm4NbhiHvoTce6Q5sN4WVNFllWvl3yF-09em8UryqEUQ1B9u7nkOc_MsdXZ85frGlxgLHbx52e6ZJbbZrFg/s400/IMG_20160715_161837.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple baskets woven on plastic milk bottles. The handles are also made from milk bottle. I've used Duck tape on the tops and handle to finish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I wanted to build on the experience, but without the frustrations M had experienced working on the plastic bottle.<br />
<br />
A while back, Dave bought me a book called <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weaving-without-Loom-Sarita-Rainey/dp/0871927853/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469433098&sr=8-2&keywords=weaving+without+a+loom" target="_blank">Weaving Without A Loom (Sarita R. Rainey)</a>. Now due to life busy-ness, I've not really had much of an opportunity to try any of the ideas in this book, but with M getting a little older and following on from last week's baskets, I wanted to try some of the easier projects to see how she got on.<br />
<br />
I decided to start with paper weaving, as the supplies are readily available around our house. We had a go at home so I could give M one to one attention, before taking the same craft to group the next day.<br />
<br />
The idea is simple, we drew an outline in crayon onto a piece of construction paper, incorporating an area in the design to weave and representing it with parallel lines. The lines don't have to be regular in shape or length, they are there to be woven into. The design was cut out and the lines were also cut, making slits.<br />
<br />
If I was doing this on my own, I'd have probably used a craft knife and mat, but doing this with M we used children's safety scissors. The lines weren't as crisp, but more than acceptable.<br />
<br />
For our first attempt, I suggested we make trees as we are doing a project on trees at the moment. I also thought the shapes would be easy to draw and incorporate some weaving.<br />
<br />
Once the design had been cut out, we cut some strips in a contrast colour and wove them through the slits. The ends were secured with a glue stick, then the whole thing is glued onto another piece of construction paper.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP1h_1ag3ijanKiCxcGg8NbMeNrWkjPBqwxQnpK2sbbtjKIy-yviI1IOalJDotWCyiA7inBNG0cEReo63D_yhpNcWWnIaqamr3lWrn3FkMLcUc2fPIufEtmQQvHkSwAMIMDF97VETVtI/s1600/IMG_20160721_133904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP1h_1ag3ijanKiCxcGg8NbMeNrWkjPBqwxQnpK2sbbtjKIy-yviI1IOalJDotWCyiA7inBNG0cEReo63D_yhpNcWWnIaqamr3lWrn3FkMLcUc2fPIufEtmQQvHkSwAMIMDF97VETVtI/s400/IMG_20160721_133904.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My design is on the left, M's is on the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In my case, I decided to cut the resulting design out, which could then have been used in another picture to complete the design.<br />
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M preferred to leave hers on the contrast paper as it was.<br />
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I thought it worked well. M had completed the brief, we both had acceptable woven paper designs, but M wasn't happy. She said my tree was beautiful but didn't like hers. I thought it was lovely, very Dr Seuss like and said so, but M protested that she wasn't trying to make a tree look like something out of a Dr Seuss book.<br />
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I suggested that maybe trees didn't inspire her in terms of art and that perhaps she could incorporate the weaving into another design. M's little eyes lit up and she immediately started a second picture, on a topic more to her liking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqQHg9Wsz3xLY7ziV0UJvm6Fbf8sarG2JAUoKusTWLHp7cauTMypaSxv603k0c5QPR3XebadGjuuFBurqi0ltxUW1l0PKC_My6MD1dbdzNChouj5hiEYd_Sqm0NOJCKzB1Ytb-elRxtc/s1600/IMG_20160721_134141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqQHg9Wsz3xLY7ziV0UJvm6Fbf8sarG2JAUoKusTWLHp7cauTMypaSxv603k0c5QPR3XebadGjuuFBurqi0ltxUW1l0PKC_My6MD1dbdzNChouj5hiEYd_Sqm0NOJCKzB1Ytb-elRxtc/s400/IMG_20160721_134141.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's ballerina with a woven tutu, complete with background figures. M elected to weave in a slightly different shade of blue.</td></tr>
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And next day, without any instruction or help, she produced another similar piece at the home ed group.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikpvrxfmCfgv1Ao4WCDb06dp3ib7z0GFHCY9B1JmEi7dlrmpgTo7WcAswpFRmOEJXLZHNQsdFw_dcXXRapdyfZU5KqEPUgHhIJepfUYYVZa8YIh4-27KyRadbHynrPiK3ukRxU0TOTi0/s1600/IMG_20160722_171112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikpvrxfmCfgv1Ao4WCDb06dp3ib7z0GFHCY9B1JmEi7dlrmpgTo7WcAswpFRmOEJXLZHNQsdFw_dcXXRapdyfZU5KqEPUgHhIJepfUYYVZa8YIh4-27KyRadbHynrPiK3ukRxU0TOTi0/s400/IMG_20160722_171112.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's dancer.</td></tr>
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I meanwhile decided to make a goldfish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs3IvcfDFX4E6OwKQ2Mmnw9c3klOROLdcEFzuqMLx3lgnT8JBgDhKRvjsW3ExeC9_F-7dIHMTvICTbuTEXdp0PG-tagERQxlahXozUrVxo3j__y3TqG3blLc6bdbIjCjoqppC2l4Fx2A/s1600/IMG_20160722_170958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs3IvcfDFX4E6OwKQ2Mmnw9c3klOROLdcEFzuqMLx3lgnT8JBgDhKRvjsW3ExeC9_F-7dIHMTvICTbuTEXdp0PG-tagERQxlahXozUrVxo3j__y3TqG3blLc6bdbIjCjoqppC2l4Fx2A/s400/IMG_20160722_170958.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My goldfish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Paper weaving like this is certainly doable for small children. Her own designs have a certain charm and stand well on their own as pieces of art. I liked my own goldfish a lot. It was easy to create and I could see how it would build up into an interesting and eye catching collage.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-42070948056040078972016-07-09T22:16:00.001+01:002016-07-09T22:16:08.193+01:00A girls first bike rideToday's achievement was to get the tag-along bicycle up and running.<br />
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This has taken Dave a few weeks to achieve and it still needs some tweaking, but today we finally got to take the bike to the park for its inaugural ride.<br />
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M was super excited and could hardly wait as first Dave tried towing the tag-along, then I had a go before we allowed her to hop on. It has been about seven years since I last cycled, so the pressure was on not to fall off as I was the first one to pull M around the park. It was hard work! M has no bicycle experience, so doesn't know how to lean and was laughing a lot as we set up, leading to a lot of wobbling. Thankfully, I managed to pull out of the wobble but it was touch and go a few times. Hair raising stuff.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFiO_Ft-31Da1nODSruTch8k8H9n2DLFKMw6HEd0lcqBxAQtxz33Y_7vWgNVNeXO-KaqqjlV2JWG3iXCnEez4qVfrTz12xmrgTT0breJkKczOf_YrosM9oFF8VPNEWCHA21uydLpT_SX5/s1600/20160709_BikeRide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFiO_Ft-31Da1nODSruTch8k8H9n2DLFKMw6HEd0lcqBxAQtxz33Y_7vWgNVNeXO-KaqqjlV2JWG3iXCnEez4qVfrTz12xmrgTT0breJkKczOf_YrosM9oFF8VPNEWCHA21uydLpT_SX5/s400/20160709_BikeRide.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dave and M, trying out the tag-along.</td></tr>
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Once we were off, Dave and I took it in turns riding around the park for the next half an hour or so, before I declared it was time to stop. M didn't protest too much as I suspect her bottom had begun to go stiff. Instead she had fun playing with a couple of children for a little while, then we walked home.<br />
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I'd call the ride a success, but we might need to practice a bit to build up stamina for the Coventry Skyride, which we're booked onto at the beginning of next month.Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664844521428349149.post-25703644690987960392016-06-30T22:25:00.001+01:002016-06-30T22:25:43.125+01:00The Daddy UmbrellaGoing back a couple of months to the beginning of May, May Day weekend saw us visit Clun for their Green Man Festival. Sadly, Dave's umbrella was a casualty of the battle between winter and spring. The weather was bad, with heavy rain and strong winds. A gust took Dave's umbrella, pulling it inside out and snapping the struts holding up the canopy.<br />
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M noted the loss and promised Dave a new umbrella for Fathers Day.<br />
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So began operation Daddy's Umbrella.<br />
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M and I talked, discussing what sort of umbrella she'd like to give to him and before you know it, M's talking about decorating an umbrella to make it special. This meant I had to swing into research mode, working out how she could decorate an umbrella without affecting its practical use.<br />
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We took to the internet, spending some time looking at pictures, M sketched out ideas and together we came up with a plan. M would paint an umbrella for Fathers Day.<br />
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The only issue was trying to find an umbrella!<br />
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Trying to find a plain white or blue umbrella locally proved impossible. We did buy some plain umbrellas for practice, but nothing that suited M's plans. In the end, we came across the <a href="http://www.jollybrolly.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jolly Brolly</a> website, M approved and two weeks before Fathers Day, the umbrella was delivered.<br />
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In the meantime, I'd also bought acrylic paint and fabric medium. Acrylic paint is normally water resistant, but it doesn't apply well to fabric. It is too thick, changes the consistency of fabrics and is prone to cracking when dry. Fabric medium can be added to acrylic, thinning it and reducing the impact of the paint on fabric. The plan was to use a 50/50 mix of medium and paint, allow it to dry and then fix it using an iron. Naturally, I'd use a pressing cloth to protect both the iron from the paint and the umbrella from excessive heat. I'd also taken care to avoid acquiring an umbrella with a plastic canopy as that would have resisted the paint and most likely melted at the sight of an iron.<br />
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M and I agreed that we needed a stunt umbrella. A semi-sacrificial umbrella, that she could paint to test the technique and prove it would result in a usable brolly where the paint stayed put. M decided that she would paint the Northern Lights coming across mountains. We looked at many pictures of the Northern Lights and M got started.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejBkP41U8k1PZwC-Aq481gTe8NhSdW5G2sH8ck5JM5hGVXByqzrfEUeC26i8LbCdXdCVJH59qlmC-BwVVX9cuDVrUgDSLit8fgTk7cdebvOiY5pOELxX6fPfE8QTnRuU9OykbstdGvgw/s1600/13385844_1027174510671401_1886233482_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejBkP41U8k1PZwC-Aq481gTe8NhSdW5G2sH8ck5JM5hGVXByqzrfEUeC26i8LbCdXdCVJH59qlmC-BwVVX9cuDVrUgDSLit8fgTk7cdebvOiY5pOELxX6fPfE8QTnRuU9OykbstdGvgw/s400/13385844_1027174510671401_1886233482_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M paints her first umbrella.</td></tr>
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Two hours and one painted sock later, we had an umbrella covered with swirls and dramatic mountains. It retired to the shed to dry for three days and then I ironed it. M volunteered to stand under it while I used a watering can to test how waterproof the paint was. Thankfully the paint stayed put and M was dry, at least until it was my turn to stand (or crouch) under the umbrella while M tested it with a watering can. M learned that water runs off an umbrella and if you are standing close to the overhang, will pour all over you.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0SE1F3Iv3TQOVRPH9ZLqvPWQrW8O2Ugg5PwyLrAWBjG8E1d7KKkMAww3NDlX0e9Z2bvtSCHtRsn_R6GchzXF4OB4deVDMOkxOkd-NgWF24BOx717s1QwV95dXyaCXaJglO9q8VhB27U/s1600/13398557_263340260724027_416508954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0SE1F3Iv3TQOVRPH9ZLqvPWQrW8O2Ugg5PwyLrAWBjG8E1d7KKkMAww3NDlX0e9Z2bvtSCHtRsn_R6GchzXF4OB4deVDMOkxOkd-NgWF24BOx717s1QwV95dXyaCXaJglO9q8VhB27U/s400/13398557_263340260724027_416508954_n.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Northern Lights umbrella.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Satisfied with the result, we set the umbrella aside to dry and M worked on the design for the Daddy umbrella.<br />
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Several sketches later, M told me she wanted to paint the word DADDY around the rim with hearts above it. She would then paint pictures of Dave in various weather types above the hearts.<br />
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We had a plan and got started. I mixed the paint/fabric medium, M painted. I grabbed a brush and applied a second layer of paint, following M's lead. It took a long time and we started with the DADDY and hearts. The umbrella was a full sized golfing umbrella and huge, which presented problems for M who is not very tall and would be leaning over wet paint. I suggested we allow the hearts to dry, then paint in the Daddy's a couple of days later. M agreed, but this meant the umbrella was not finished in time for Fathers Day. We also decided to use sharpie pens to draw the outlines for the figures and pick out the edges of the hearts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogZeypvEjtf5j9A98oILdfAg7gc2qaRFcfwMIlwfXT76bJMN02tq922ryG0TxwV_1d9XhZ2KebrsFelUmL848pfl7twO3iLVT6HCHxKWADWYekczb4TeiLGbrL_lPuH9V09DAwoa74v8/s1600/13402614_514565678732254_567942255_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogZeypvEjtf5j9A98oILdfAg7gc2qaRFcfwMIlwfXT76bJMN02tq922ryG0TxwV_1d9XhZ2KebrsFelUmL848pfl7twO3iLVT6HCHxKWADWYekczb4TeiLGbrL_lPuH9V09DAwoa74v8/s400/13402614_514565678732254_567942255_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished Daddy Umbrella.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally however, after four days of drying time it was ready. I ironed it, we tested it and declared it done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXo6vCAbLItxN6Ms6fNak8IzPwiwNREX_QfDqppBeT390mP-FVwvMTz6CaxiFeZy1ThsPGnAIgDb1Rku6XPKeJ-oJZCqenp3aQJBs2cDQZdzat9wJ-yHnb8Tpnp_OyLbRHUzc6KV_Igw/s1600/13395170_1740683069541623_632794184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXo6vCAbLItxN6Ms6fNak8IzPwiwNREX_QfDqppBeT390mP-FVwvMTz6CaxiFeZy1ThsPGnAIgDb1Rku6XPKeJ-oJZCqenp3aQJBs2cDQZdzat9wJ-yHnb8Tpnp_OyLbRHUzc6KV_Igw/s400/13395170_1740683069541623_632794184_n.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think anyone seeing this will know it's owner is a Daddy.</td></tr>
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As you can see, it is a sizeable umbrella and Dave should be very recognisable as a Daddy when out and about in the rain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatkqmvVagr_gCiF7dIeaYBZflj9ep5yOq-bIZ92F27RMF3f7Ezr26EXY-XQTakSVdAjARLrJ31McUiscdvp2ATj-taFtq35QYNbk634ZugXjTgmUXmCBE0dnhZp7ukm-mrOnhR69YUbA/s1600/13402210_153117275100489_490981343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatkqmvVagr_gCiF7dIeaYBZflj9ep5yOq-bIZ92F27RMF3f7Ezr26EXY-XQTakSVdAjARLrJ31McUiscdvp2ATj-taFtq35QYNbk634ZugXjTgmUXmCBE0dnhZp7ukm-mrOnhR69YUbA/s400/13402210_153117275100489_490981343_n.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very happy M who is pleased with the result.</td></tr>
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M is happy and we may need to paint more umbrellas in the near future.<br />
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Useful websites:<br />
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<ul>
<li>The Jolly Brolly - <a href="http://www.jollybrolly.co.uk/">http://www.jollybrolly.co.uk/</a></li>
</ul>
Julie Spriddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09205892238480112260noreply@blogger.com2