Author: Beth

Post-it loves

I have been extremely productive at work recently, as you can see under the cut. That said, I really enjoy my job - I work with nice people and I feel like I'm pretty good at it. Plus you can never underestimate the calming influence of having a regular routine.

Yesterday I went to a Young Singers' Day with my good friend Astride and did a bit of alto-ing for the first time in ages. I think I'm a tad rusty on the whole singing-in-harmony thing (sopranos really do have it easy), but it was great fun and just the right amount of challenging. We were conducted by Leslie Olive, who really knew how to bring out the best of a slightly shy group. The repertoire was a good mix, and included the Hallelujah Chorus (just for fun), Rutter's version of All Things Bright and Beautiful and Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium.

I've been in a bit of a letter-writing mood recently, and have been doing so with the aid of my lovely cupcake stickers, number confetti and good old colouring pencils. So a couple of gorgeous young women of my aquaintance will be getting some love in the post soon. And by "love", I mean odd rambling stream-of-consciousness meanderings with occasional illustrations and in one case, some post-it notes.

Do you want a letter? Comment and I'll send you one.

Continue reading Post-it loves

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In which I am an aeroplane and Peace is damply achieved

Zooooooooom. Ahem. I mean, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am here on this most auspicious of occasions to expound upon the notion of embellishing cheap but comfy Primark hoodies with embroidery and buttons.

But before we embark upon this journey into the significant and momentous, a few lighter notes.

  • Last weekend I went to the Peace in the Park festival in Sheffield, and had a wonderful, if damp, time.
  • I was accompanied in this endeavour by my beau, Johnny, who rather delighfully supplied me with wit and cheese throughout.
  • This glorious man has built me a wardrobe, and fixed my guitar (important note: I cannot play the guitar) and got me all excited about UV LEDs, all in the past fortnight. Oh yes.
  • I recently googled the phrase "how to be awesome" with some interesting results.
  • On Thursday I am going to Hacktion Lab, which promises to be the most educational activity I have ever undergone in a damp, Welsh field. Think of it as being a music festival with techie activism instead of bands. Ooh, and there's a workshop on L.A.S.E.R. graffiti!
  • I'm thinking about going to some of the Surrey Artists Open Studios workshops, since they seem fun and crafty. With anyone I can drag along. Such as... you?
  • Tetris, that game that pleases the primal puzzle-solving nature of the human brain, has been immortalised in a blanket by some awesome person on Craftster.
  • My brother gave me his old digital camera as I'd mentioned I wanted one. The good news: it has a very good flash. The bad news: it has a lower resolution than my phone. I guess I'll just keep saving up for a DSLR...

Continue reading In which I am an aeroplane and Peace is damply achieved

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Knitting machines, owlie bags and Nokia themes.

First, I'd like to apologise to anyone whose comment has been deleted - I've had some fun with spam recently but the new field in the comment section seems to have sorted that out now, so comment away! :)

A few years ago I picked up a bag at a jumble sale. It was a garish green and pink monstrosity that clashed with every item of clothing in the known universe, but I'm pretty sure I've used that bag more than any other I own. Colours notwithstanding, it is the perfect size and shape for me - a messenger bag small enough not to get in the way, but large enough to fit books and my little netbook inside, with cute elasticated pockets at the side which are the perfect size for a phone or a pot of bubble mixture. Folks, I love that bag more than I will ever love a woman, but the damn thing's falling apart. The fabric is disintegrating like so many broken dreams. What's a crafter to do in that situation? Why, make a new one, of course!

So here's my prototype version of The Comfy Bag. I made a rough pattern by tracing around the original (which I can't bear to disassemble) and put it together with pillowcase fabric, then lugged it around Sheffield for a week by way of product testing. It needs some tweaking, and I need to learn how to use a sewing machine properly, but I think I'm well on the way to resurrecting and (dare I say it?) improving my old favourite.

More stuff, my new knitting machine and some web design on the inside... Continue reading Knitting machines, owlie bags and Nokia themes.

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