Mist

Chapman's Pool. Mist is rising.... and decsending

I love this sign So modern........

Saul Steinberg, Dulwich Picture gallery and the telephone box

While in Dorset this week I spotted this weather beaten telephone box on the seafront in Swanage. There are very few of these design classics left standing on the streets of Britain. In 1924 the Royal Fine Arts Commission invited 3 respected architects to submit designs for a telephone box. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott won. He was a trustee of the Sir John Soane’s museum at the time, and the shape of the roof of the Dulwich Picture Gallery mausoleum, my local gallery, influenced his design. Last Sunday saw the end of one of the most exciting exhibitions Dulwich Picture gallery has ever hosted.

Saul Steinberg

Illuminations. One of the most inspiring illustrators and artists of the 20th century, the show was amazing. Some of his most iconic images were on display.

Valentines....

Do you or don't you send valentines? I do....but it has to be Homemade. ......except for last year. Having just been commissioned for the Homemade book, I was tempted on Etsy.com to buy this delicious Rob Ryan print for my sweetheart of 25 years, an investment me thinks. Over the years I have received many beautiful Valentines from my true love. Strawberry jam toast lovingly cut to spell I love you; Poems hand written and painted onto old postcards but my all time favourite has to be the one that Elspeth wrote about in her Wonderful Weekend book. A polaroid photograph of a heart, with his shoes on one side and mine on the other. So romantic, expressing more than any words, walking the same road, each a half of the whole. Simple ideas are the best. I love this heart shape that I found fossilized onto a rock while walking in Dorset. Buttons or shells threaded onto fuse wire then shaped to form a heart. Or this wooden heart with a crackle paint effect. Paper cutouts, not quite Rob Ryan but still beautiful when lovingly crafted. I have knitted and sewn and I have baked heart shaped cakes, all for my valentine. My latest labour of love is adapted from The Homemade book. A take on the traditional victorian sand cushion. The making ethic has now naturally passed to my teen treasure, albeit in the manner of creating a photograph. . Already a bit of an old hand and teaching her Mother new tricks, this was last year's model, I love the "my funny Valentine" music on the piano. I wonder what she will produce this year.

4 miles from central London

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? -J. B. Priestley

Knitted coat hanger pattern

Covering an old wooden hanger brightens up your wardrobe as well as stopping clothes from slipping off. Inspired by 1940's make do and mend and remembering seeing similar hangers in my grandmother's wardrobe when I was a child, I wrote a pattern for my book, Instant Expert knitter.This is based on that pattern. There is also another version in my new book Homemade. This knitted coat hanger cover couldn't be easier to knit. A simple length of garter st (knit every row), without any shaping to confuse a novice knitter. As well as the yarn you will need: a wooden coat hanger, mine measured 45cm long and 2cm wide and some dried lavender. My local health food shop sells 25grms of dried lavender for 40p, an absolute bargain. I used 4 ply mercerised cotton as I like the sheen but any 4ply yarn, cotton or wool would work, approx 20 grm. Thread for embroidery and knitting needles 2.75mm (UK 12) Pattern With 2.75mm (UK 12) needles and your yarn, cast on 17sts and work in garter st (knit every row) until your strip measures the length of your hanger when slightly stretched. cast off. To cover the hanger, find the centre of your work in both length and width and slip over the hanger hook. Stitch the strip together on the underside of your hanger with a neat catch stitch. Sew both ends. If you want an instant finish, Wrap the hanger hook with yarn securing it at either end with a blob of PVA glue. alternatively cast on 38sts (measure your hanger hook and adjust accordingly if this seems too long or short), work 4rows of garter st. cast off. Fold the piece around the hook and sew edges together so that the hook is covered, catch to your hanger cover to avoid hook cover slipping off. Knitted lavender bag With 2.75mm needles cast on 22sts and work in garter stitch for 4 rows then work in st st for 20cm, work 4 rows garter st and cast off. With a contrast thread embroider in chain stitch a motif onto the front of bag. a heart, flower or an initial are a few ideas. Fold the bag in half, cast on edge to cast off edge, and sew both side seams. With a crotchet hook make a 30cm chain, thread this through the top of the bag, approx 2cm from top.. Fill the bag with lavender or pot pouri then pull crotchet chain tie to secure the bag,tie in a bow or knot and hang over the hook of the hanger. Other ideas Be adventurous and thrifty at the same time by using up odds and ends of yarn and knit a striped cover instead of plain, you can sew in the ends at the same time as sewing the seam. If you are a beginner and daunted by the lavender bag, you could sew a bag from a scrap of vintage fabric and attach that to the hanger instead with a piece of ribbon. www.dried-lavender-bag.co.uk sell lavender on line This beautiful hand made embroidered silk coat hanger was given to me by Sarah Stuart when I ran my mail order business Little Badger. We sold these exquisite hangers and this remaining one hangs in my youngest daughter's room with a favourite dress hanging from it. This orange hanger is a particular gem, it belonged to my beautiful friend Em. It is tightly knitted in chunky nylon yarn, very 1970's, but so well made and such a fab colour that it's a beauty. I am always on the look out for hangers, whether with knitted or fabric covers or occasionally I have seen painted ones. I have found many over the years in thrift/charity shops and at Portobello market, my favourite Friday morning hunting ground. This is my most recent find, probably mass produced, as it's definitely not hand made, but lovely colours and a sweet idea to sew pretty little crochet flowers along it's length.