Hello! Today is the first day here that truly feels like Spring. It’s also the first day in a week that I feel well (stupid virus, nothing serious) and maybe it’s a combination of those two things that has prompted me to tidy out my iPhoto library today and come say hello with pictures.
It’s not that I haven’t been busy creating (apart from last week) but quite the opposite and once there’s too much to say I find it becomes harder to say anything.
In the last weeks the dresser got Spring cleaned – I found myself picking out yellow and pink china and it snowballed from there.
I was thrilled to get the opportunity to begin teaching one of the MAC’s adult evening Textile classes (insert whooping and cheering). This has taken me on a journey back in time and a re-birth in skills once learnt and used. I studied all kinds of Textile art for my degree before specialising in Print and it has been really invigorating prepping samples to show the students – here’s some batiking I did inspired by these gorgeous anemones.
I’m excited to see how teaching this class will develop my own work as these things always have a synergistic effect.
You know the saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” well this couldn’t be truer in the context of me teaching my daughter to crochet. First she knocked out her own gorgeous Granny Square blanket as her first project, then set about a huge Granny Square blanket as a friend’s birthday gift (here’s where I got jealous!) then for Mothers Day she made me this beautiful cushion cover for a pillow on our bed 😍
And the making = love message has been strong in our house of late as we celebrated a BIG birthday this weekend. We can’t believe our kids are 18 and 20 – where did the time go?
Lemon and Blueberry Buttermilk Cake with edible flowers for the girl who gave up chocolate for Lent.
And following the tradition to have a special item to commemorate a landmark birthday like 18, this little pumpkin asked me to knit her a cardi! Ahh…
It did nearly kill me as it’s the most complex thing I’ve done yet but that’s how you up your skills level isn’t it!
Here’s a little snap of my Spring inspired work table to leave you with. Hope the sun’s shining where you are.
6 comments
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March 14, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Lauren
These pictures are lovely! And I also can’t believe your daughter is 18. Please give her lots of hugs and kisses from her American family. Xx
March 17, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Claire
Thank you – and will do x
March 15, 2016 at 12:13 am
jennyblair
Gorgeous photos brimming with spring colours.. Your batik takes me back to high school and the silky smooth painting with wax…had forgotten how much i loved it. Your anemones look fab …and the cake,and the cardi and the birdies too! 😉 Hope you feel fighting fit soon. xx
March 17, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Claire
Thanks Jenny – I am back in business! How’s the wrists?
March 16, 2016 at 5:53 pm
pat
This is a fabulous post Claire – you seem to have caught Spring fever. So many beautiful photos: your beautiful china shelves, the blue and purples of those anenomes. Your daughter has produced some lovely crochet makes, and your lovely cardie for her, such a work of love you’ve put into that. The birthday cake is a triumph, looks really scrummy, and beautiful. love the edible flowers, reminded me I once attended a Pakistani wedding were wonderful salads and cakes were decorated with edible flowers and herbs. Love the bird designs too. Belated birthday wishes.. . Thank you for sharing. x
March 17, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Claire
Pat – thanks for visiting and leaving such a lovely comments. yes I think Spring has got to me this week!