Fabric Fusion 2011

I've been remiss and neglected the blog of late but that's because I have been making and making some more.......MONSTERS!!!!!!! I absolutely love these guys who are based upon the great patterns of Rebecca Danger, I'm a fan can you tell?
I've been making lots of stuff not just monsters, which was to update existing stock and flex my brain for this past weekend's Fabric Fusion event in Bradford on Avon. I got to set up camp with the lovely and talented Lou Butt of Louise Butt Designs and spend 2 whole days knitting, stitching and chatting to some lovely people who stopped by the stall. Did I mention the cake? So today it's back to tidying up and putting things away and thinking up new ideas for the next event.....a Handmade and Vintage day at Jumble Jelly in Bradford on Avon, check out their website for all the details.
Back to the wool stash!

Integrity is where it's at

I've kept on with my daily reading at Girls got Gumption and the more I read the more ideas keep sparking off in my brain.
I'm going to tell you about an amazing professor I had when I was studying for my BA at Trent University. His name was Michael Treadwell and he has since sadly passed away but I consider myself to have been so fortunate to have had him teach me. He said many things that have stayed with me over the years, one of the most significant was that "All knowledge is one". The idea that all things are interconnected and that as you explore the world, if you are watching, you will see how it is one large circle. He would give us this smile as he would sit there and open his hands, as if to say "see I told you", when we as students would have this lightbulb "a-ha" moment. I am delighted to say that I have had many more of these moments since then but each and every one makes me think of him.
So I was reading Tori Higa's profile and she spoke about integrity in your work, which is interesting to me as I was only talking about that very subject the day before with a friend. See how it all fits together in one big circle? I've been thinking about this a lot because there have been times when people have encouraged me to change my materials in my jewellery in order to make a greater profit and I've said no. I know that it wouldn't be right for me or what I am trying to achieve. As creative people selling our work, I am very aware that my name is on what I sell and it represents me and my values. Often I am selling to people who I haven't met, if all they have to know me by is my work shouldn't that reflect me? Tori mentions that for some people "success" is often defined by how much money you are making, that if you apply your code of values to your decisions and can be faithful to those than you are truly a success. I'd like to think that applies to the way I try to operate, maybe not a great businesswoman but it feels right.

The world is opening wide

I've been doing tons of reading and thinking and creating lately, which means that sometimes my head is a very full place to be. But I've discovered a great website called Girls got Gumption. It's a fantastic collection of creative women who share their stories and thoughts about life, the universe and tapping into that creative flow. There are about 25 women profiled and I want to read one profile a day and then I can really savour the experience. Today I read the story of Summer Pierre, the advice that really resonated with me speaks to where I am in the creative journey, she said "PLEASE DO IT NOW. You will never be adequately prepared, or have time to get ready to live your dreams. Start now."

At the moment I feel as if I am standing on the edge of a precipice, feeling fearful with butterflies in my stomach but so wanting to dive headlong into the new ideas I'm creating. I can feel that my focus is changing and I am making room for the "me I am meant to be".
I know that I often struggle thinking what if I run out of ideas, what if I can't make what I see in my head, what if, what if, what if? At the moment I can't believe that I've had those thoughts because there are so many ideas in my head that I am more afraid thinking what if I don't get that idea on paper and I forget it, or what happens if I cannot describe it how I see and forget why it was really important. So I guess part of the lesson is that these fears too shall pass.

Summer Pierre quoted J.D. Salinger in her profile with the phrase "Write the book you most want to read". I love that, it is so powerful.

Holy Barking Bacon Biscuits Batman!

Now there is on odd blog title if I ever saw one but I thought I'd take a break from the usual baking regime and mix it up (quite literally - sorry I can't resist a pun) and make some dog biscuits for my favourite four legged creature. He's still a puppy and prone to behaving badly but he only has to show me his bat ears and he reverts to the really tiny puppy we brought home 9 months ago.

As we speak he is sitting by the oven door and the rest of the cooling biscuits whining for more. That's what I call advertising and a good recommendation. Tiger gives these biscuits 5 out of 5 paw prints!

So here's the recipe....oh the measurements may appear odd but I reverted to my default Canadian measuring and didn't weigh the ingredients as I went. I'll try and update that in the future.

Barking Bacon Biscuits (makes about 86 small bones)

2 1/2 cups (625ml) whole wheat flour
1/2 cup (125 ml) skim milk powder
1 tsp. garlic granules/powder
1 tbsp. oat bran or wheat germ or ground oats
1 tsp. beef stock granules (or real stock instead of the water 125ml)
1/3 cup (80 ml) bacon drippings
1 egg
1/2 cup (125 ml) cold water or the stock as mentioned above
3 rashers of cooked bacon ground up in a food processor or chopped up superfine

• Mix all dry ingredients together (everything but drippings, egg and water)
• Mix in drippings, once mixed it will be like fresh breadcrumbs
• Mix in egg and then add enough water so that it will form a ball when mixed. You may need to add a little more or less depending upon your ingredients
• Roll out (like pastry) using a rolling pin until approximately 1/2" thick.
• Cut out into shapes, I used a bone shaped cutter that was about 2" long but you can cut into any shape you and your dog like
• Lay out on a baking sheet, no need to grease or space too far apart as the biscuits don't spread it's more like you are crisping them and drying them out.
• Bake at 180° (160° fan) for about 25 minutes, leave to cool before rewarding your dog!

As there is bacon in them I will be keeping them in the refrigerator but I don't think they will last long. Oh and a disclaimer....I'm not a dog nutrionist, but it stands to reason that if you feed your dog loads of extra biscuits you may need to adjust their meal portion size and use your judgement about whether they are suitable for your pet.

Must go, the dog is now driving me insane with his whining!

Sign up, Sign up it's workshop time!

I've got some news that I am over the moon about! I've been asked to run some sewing workshops at my lovely local shop Jumble Jelly in Bradford on Avon. So we've been having lots of chats about what people want to learn, what we think they want to learn and how we can get those people learning and sewing with their machines. The workshops start in August so there is still plenty of time to get your name on the list, here's a sneak peek of what you could make in the applique apron class but the design is really up to you. Get in touch with the lovely ladies at Jumble Jelly it really couldn't be simpler. Hope to see you there.

Folksy Friday

Quick little post as I dash out the door to have a lovely morning knitting - well crocheting today - and lots of nattering at Jumble Jelly this morning. I'm off to a great start today as I've been included in a Folksy Friday showcase which you can see at this link curated by Dianna Jessie. Folksy Friday has become a phenomenon of sorts where normal people like you and me who love handcrafted things search the fabulous makers at Folksy and then bring items together "virtually" in a display all gathered under a theme of their choosing. It's a great way to get to know other artists and showcase some great things too.

Secondly it's Canada Day, so have a great day off for all my Canadian friends, I'll be with you in spirit and I think it's butter tarts all around for dinner tonight!

Dirt under the fingernails

Today was the first day in ages that I wasn't trying to get into the garden and only succeeding in dodging raindrops. We've had lots of wind and quite a bit of rain down here in the southwest and my roses are flattened and everything looks a little bit downtrodden. So it meant that I was destined to be pottering (ok, actually lots of digging and weeding and cutting) around the garden when the weather co-operated.
The lavender hedge got a big haircut and I have armfuls of lavender stuck into every vase and jug I can find, dotted around the house. If we aren't completely chilled out with the scent of lavender everywhere we never will be.
So slightly wind worn and with pink cheeks and nose from the sun I am sitting here looking forward to an evening of quiet, working on the crochet ripple blanket for one of my little minions. I'm a novice at crochet but have quickly picked up the necessary stitches to complete the ripple pattern, probably thanks to the excellent instructions I found over at Attic24, there are lots of little instructions and lovely ideas to be found there. My problem is that I want to make everything now and end up with lots of projects on the go at once. I could have worse problems I know, so I shall count my blessings.

The Twitter has landed!

I know it may seem completely illogical to some that I haven't jumped into Twitter before now and are thinking  - come on catch up with the rest of us and I'm sure there are a fair few who are shouting - no, don't do it. Either way, the plunge has been taken. I will attempt my very best to wrap my brain around it all, not making any promises that this will happen today I might add. In the meantime, I would love to hear who you follow on Twitter that you couldn't do without and if you feel so inclined you can join me too. Hope to see you @alexa_gibson.

Oh happy day

I'm having one of those great days where I am trying out all sorts of new stuff, podcasts for a start- yes I am behind the times I know. I've also been asked to make a cover for a recorder, this one was a new one for me but I love a challenge.

 You can't just have any old cover you have to make it snazzy! My youngest minion laughs when I say this word so I am dropping it into conversation whenever I can this week. If only to make myself giggle. So back to the case, just some lovely pink linen, lined in purple cotton and with a ribbon drawstring and some simple embroidery to make it personal. Things should always be personal. I'm pleased with the results so let's hope the musician it's intended for likes it too.

So while I've been stitching this week and last I've been digging through my music library and have been having a good ol' listen to the eclecticness that is my music taste. The top ones for this week are the Dixie Chicks, Julian Fauth and Imelda May. If you don't know them check them out you'll thank me for it. The sun is shining here so I'm out to the garden, hope it's shining on you too. See you soon.

Spring has sprung

It has been too long but if I tell you that I have been up to all sorts of exciting things you will forgive me I think.
So the time has flown by with...

Cake - and lots of it, birthday cakes, bought cakes, whoopie pies, cakes I shouldn't have eaten and cakes I am most definitely glad I did. I also discovered the cake hangover. Who knew it was possible?

Knitting - so much knitting and being seduced by Ravelry type reading. I've finished two shrugs in the lovely Rowan Linen Lenpur (which I got in the sale so even better), halfway through a stashbusting wool cardigan for when it gets cooler (and it just did, please don't tell me the English summer is over already) and that leads me to crocheting.

Crocheting - I've been improving my skills which let's face it were basic at best and so far so good. The crocheting has also distracted me from finishing one of the above mentioned shrugs (sewing up seams) and not yet finishing the cardigan which needs a neck. But I love granny squares.

Visiting - my new favourite hangout, where all the cool kids go when the real kids are at school is Jumble Jelly. A fantastic and oh so friendly purveyor of wool, yarn, fabric and if you are really good they give you cake!

Gardening - the garden has burst forth with all the fantastic weather we've had and so I've been pootling about there and also dismantling the poor excuse for a side garden that the builders of our house left us with thereby transforming it into the veg garden (this brilliant idea was thanks to a passing comment by my friend Red). So the beanpoles are in and the blackberry and raspberry canes seem to have survived the transplanting. There's a bit more to do and any pictures would be slightly disappointing so we'll have to wait. My biggest battle is trying not to turn into a volcano when I have to clean someone else's dog poo off my garden path! And breathe. Let me just say, my dog doesn't poo in your garden, don't let your dog poo in mine. Enough said on that topic. But looking forward to some courgettes the size of marrows - which some will be because they always grow faster than we can eat them. Which leads me to Chocolate Courgette Cake. The best. Which also means we've come full circle back to cake.

Today's cake selection is a cheeky little lemon and lime coconut cake, once I've finished squeezing the limes!

We've got a winner!

My free postage offer was a success because someone snapped up the offer very quickly and is walking away with this lovely necklace.

Image makeover

There's been lots of changes going on lately around here and over in the new Folksy shop. The latest one is a bit of an image makeover courtesy of Aleximo Croissant over at Folksy who has been patient and genius at taking bits from my brain and turning them into something I didn't even know I wanted! The result though is that I am thrilled.
So to celebrate the new look I am offering free postage to the next person who orders from my Folksy shop! Go on have a look.

Pretty little sugar skulls

Thought I would diverge from shop talk today, but things in the new Folksy shop are going very well thank you for asking. I have done a happy dance and the first sold items are in the post and winging their way towards their new owners who I hope will love them.

Just wanted to share the back of my new jacket, it was a second hand shop find but I had to give it a little lift with this sugar skull. I do like sugar skulls and love the idea of making something just a little bit prettier. So will my tattoo type embroidery be as addictive as really getting inked? I hope so, less pain involved too. Only problem is that I have to wait for warmer weather to reveal my new skull.....

Facebook Link Update

Finally have organised a Facebook fanpage with links to the blog here and to the Folksy shop, which I can tell you (with all fingers crossed) will have the first items going through the "doors" this week. Cannot wait for it and want to say a big thank you to all for the questions and support I've had so far. The sun even peaked out from the behind the clouds today so I think we are off to a great week.

Sneak peek

 

Here's a peak at a selection of Rowan's Cotton Glace that I am using in a project for the new shop, it will be a blend of these lovely colours and my new crochet skills. I decided last week that my brain needed a kick start and the best way I know of to expand my brain and come up with all sorts of new ideas is to learn a new skill. What new skill is your brain crying out for?

It's been a long time coming...

Never were truer words spoken but it's true and I've thrown myself into the creation of my shop! It's home will be on the UK based Folksy website. Which is a haven for people who love to create and for those who appreciate the art, time and effort that goes into these creations. It's not quite ready to take the wraps off yet but it will be soon. I want to make sure that when I do open the "doors" officially that it will be something that I am proud of and that will truly reflect me in all my eclectic-ness. So keep your fingers crossed for me and here's a sneaky peek in the meantime.