tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27864163172291516352024-02-19T03:23:44.167+00:00Slightly NoodlesClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-10324471820994703082011-08-01T10:08:00.000+01:002011-08-01T10:08:52.247+01:00China-bound<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if anyone still gets my updates anymore, but here's to the few that do...</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am, as per title, off to China! Needless to say I've had to set up my own site to get around the Wall, so if you're still interested in me and what I do, please pop along and say hello! </span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.slightlynoodles.com/">www.slightlynoodles.com</a></span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The content of the site will mostly be about my life out there, as it's also a portal for keeping my family and friends back home in the loop with my goings-on. But a few of you have said that you like the way I write, so what I can promise you is lots of pictures, anecdotes, and my style of writing. Knicker-wetting humour is indeed one of my aims.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">See you soon and zaijian!</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Claire xxxx</span></div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-53823401052917451652011-06-13T13:32:00.001+01:002011-06-13T13:34:03.448+01:00The Magical Disappearing Blogger<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hello everyone, it's been a while eh? I am sorry that I have not continued to regale you with tales of granny squares crocheted, faces painted and dolls' house stories. I've missed the distraction myself really...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I've been meaning to post a message on here for quite a while but I've not managed to get round to it until now. Needless to say, this is me saying goodbye. There are a couple of reasons why this is so, the first being the continued lack of mobility in my right hand, which has now been properly diagnosed and has turned out to be a permanent condition. Although I could theoretically continue crafting, it would cause me more pain than usual and I do still want to have an operational right hand when I'm fifty! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The second, rather more exciting, reason, is that pastures new await, but I cannot say anything more as it involves letting down people who have no choice in the matter, and I haven't decided how to tell them yet.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So, dear fellow bloggers, here is my farewell. Thank you for visiting me and leaving all your lovely comments, good luck with your blogs and thank you for making the world a slightly more beautiful place. Perhaps, in a few weeks, and before this blog disappears, I will let you know where I'm off to.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">C x</span></span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-87310241335797614142011-05-11T21:00:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:25:53.818+01:00G-G-G-Genie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqMWV3hmzBuoc9gPxu-n1_gpPw7A24b5hZEnLSNdUAvX_XLp3cuQnEmoSSq5sF1mtI4X8zfSPqdSGySurM_VBnlncmxmi3Fk-HCkhyphenhyphenI_P70vkJVe_NTLWc6eXM8U3oHpwu7Ph4lVWsddA/s1600/DSCF3958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqMWV3hmzBuoc9gPxu-n1_gpPw7A24b5hZEnLSNdUAvX_XLp3cuQnEmoSSq5sF1mtI4X8zfSPqdSGySurM_VBnlncmxmi3Fk-HCkhyphenhyphenI_P70vkJVe_NTLWc6eXM8U3oHpwu7Ph4lVWsddA/s1600/DSCF3958.JPG" /></a></div><div style="color: white;"><br />
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<div style="color: white;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLuVRIB-VnpzzbzdmrqWzD-SreNXYAvBa5JXCERdPGhuB2J2NlGf4OMYbJvgolfVSjoztzG4r6dSiM-WfjKNxN0g4eaiQfCQyyDGNlE0dQ4keY1Rg3uzqdI4mA4IEYmUSSnqVufnjLDMp/s1600/gdragon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLuVRIB-VnpzzbzdmrqWzD-SreNXYAvBa5JXCERdPGhuB2J2NlGf4OMYbJvgolfVSjoztzG4r6dSiM-WfjKNxN0g4eaiQfCQyyDGNlE0dQ4keY1Rg3uzqdI4mA4IEYmUSSnqVufnjLDMp/s1600/gdragon1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N-rUfmWR7xKtEO7C1zDV8pgO2ZwAR7RIc5vJck9e92DJCgoSUGVyxciDACyEfSe-izBtTJq5co-1BeBqRiIlGrj6aXpQLkKWgLnDbKNTKIxBvOeXbsERceJMc5U2Z2VwPFkUcGQ3_Z_a/s1600/2qu14jc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N-rUfmWR7xKtEO7C1zDV8pgO2ZwAR7RIc5vJck9e92DJCgoSUGVyxciDACyEfSe-izBtTJq5co-1BeBqRiIlGrj6aXpQLkKWgLnDbKNTKIxBvOeXbsERceJMc5U2Z2VwPFkUcGQ3_Z_a/s1600/2qu14jc.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">K-Pop and androgyny rock my world. G Dragon of BIGBANG - a guy, by the way, in case you weren't sure - encompasses the awesomeness of both like a boss. Vogue Korea, I love you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I tried to recreate his 'Genie' photoshoot using only water-soluble face paints, which is no mean feat when it comes to getting the depth and quality of colour that oil-based and professional makeup gives. It turned out ok, shame about the model...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-68147366619238232882011-05-09T10:06:00.000+01:002011-05-09T10:06:23.088+01:00Doctor Doctor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-eygcXpDTAXuuTKH_L4lxukjZ0JkEeo_ihyzEFoUy2L8eJpqJ7PCgnQZ6551MewgLtAwD9GdE99Pzo_hZ_jVIaSsVw7vJp83o7bXI9MLMgMtD8Pks3h_oYRS6-h8yhSFgmpBrfsMjGcj/s1600/DSCF3762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-eygcXpDTAXuuTKH_L4lxukjZ0JkEeo_ihyzEFoUy2L8eJpqJ7PCgnQZ6551MewgLtAwD9GdE99Pzo_hZ_jVIaSsVw7vJp83o7bXI9MLMgMtD8Pks3h_oYRS6-h8yhSFgmpBrfsMjGcj/s1600/DSCF3762.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Doctor Doctor, please fix my flipping arm. I'll pay you! Yes, I am still a bit crippley at the moment, and a new university term has started. I am already having dissertation supervisions even though my last two essays have not been handed in; as you can imagine, my mind is a bit full.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">Some pictures of my beloved rocking house and dolls house instead, as my most recent painting is yuckypoo and I need to start a new one before I stop painting altogether! The mischievous little miss eying up the gramophone is Camilla. I'm always imagining scenarios for her - knocking Mummy's hats off the top of the wardrobe, having a teddy bears picnic in the bath, that sort of thing. Yup. Sad.</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-32816335775030745502011-05-02T09:22:00.001+01:002011-05-02T09:23:21.756+01:00Painter's block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-KjXQDCUIILHMb7MSTDbt9dVDPoHFH5h_tyQJXceEUqF3IUmUzpp_6nTQvOadfyGN5Ydjp0AWC2jx-H8RKqWuzzN2mEWRYR6quGHRdv0yr4uuniX8M2v_vQIGggh1bbJEPYcdGW3nzXg/s1600/iiiis+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-KjXQDCUIILHMb7MSTDbt9dVDPoHFH5h_tyQJXceEUqF3IUmUzpp_6nTQvOadfyGN5Ydjp0AWC2jx-H8RKqWuzzN2mEWRYR6quGHRdv0yr4uuniX8M2v_vQIGggh1bbJEPYcdGW3nzXg/s1600/iiiis+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI4otP5raTejHy7MEc-2bK9UZyize0mvjF0lo1FmEUlcBPHyvvdOzEH6lGg0FJTqkjmdMRmrSQARoAyVlVVmJ8VIs3asrpxnTnRHdxdTYnezsQ9QbbPXUyXvMX8eYcc8pNRoH34fY0Mn-/s1600/iiiis+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI4otP5raTejHy7MEc-2bK9UZyize0mvjF0lo1FmEUlcBPHyvvdOzEH6lGg0FJTqkjmdMRmrSQARoAyVlVVmJ8VIs3asrpxnTnRHdxdTYnezsQ9QbbPXUyXvMX8eYcc8pNRoH34fY0Mn-/s1600/iiiis+2a.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi107_t4KigGtg3j3GDJY0VUHIIwl7__mu1uONAIqrxX_Qd_BpB-n-JPRAtsry6NSolGKQbN3ZIabKrRQOcsMeKR8-Ieus-eQBnUeH8UfC2KWv96QWeO1ueGkqZorTz8wW-iird7acSwXm/s1600/iiiis+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi107_t4KigGtg3j3GDJY0VUHIIwl7__mu1uONAIqrxX_Qd_BpB-n-JPRAtsry6NSolGKQbN3ZIabKrRQOcsMeKR8-Ieus-eQBnUeH8UfC2KWv96QWeO1ueGkqZorTz8wW-iird7acSwXm/s1600/iiiis+3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have reached something of a wall with my current painting, mostly because I am not entirely pleased with the composition. As I cannot post a piece of my work yet, here are some beautiful pieces by iiiis, which I have scanned from my book. I'm feeling very much like the girl with the birds flying around her head at the moment...</span></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">計白當黑, ji bai dang hei, is the Mandarin term for the Chinese technique of leaving blanks of white paper in a watercolour painting. The blank paper is part of the finished painting, an idea I personally like very much because I am very much of the 'unfinished' school; I cannot bear to, as it were, 'finish things' and cover a whole page with paint. I remember my art teacher constantly chiding me for never completing a painting, so imagine how delighted I was to find out that not finishing things was actually an ancient and viable technique!</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-84376297188280541002011-04-29T19:16:00.001+01:002011-04-29T20:26:33.537+01:00Lovely Blogger, Stylish Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E-5CRJcrHjs6ATdvD2GFpCJ8nJP-f9p50Op0nrxu3dDOBa8M1vgMzWelCeQ3EV7CLzoR4qukXrwmQrX4HOxtVmheJFAhlgd2h8NRzPv9kCAQT0S1t7gltnVPKOcg2nE_E7xweh7QhH-x/s1600/stylish-blogger-award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E-5CRJcrHjs6ATdvD2GFpCJ8nJP-f9p50Op0nrxu3dDOBa8M1vgMzWelCeQ3EV7CLzoR4qukXrwmQrX4HOxtVmheJFAhlgd2h8NRzPv9kCAQT0S1t7gltnVPKOcg2nE_E7xweh7QhH-x/s1600/stylish-blogger-award.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwRquGfFJNQ0BDBTAkcUXLBqwrQRsGyLywIgIOQ_KGnRsbJpMqtpx8Z9gj3Fh5-GEaaWgKslpWx_01u3kNbyyfSs1IDAnfZJRLsJc4e2vVCtdAwkgfgkI_lDL2T1uZMHU-jzfIZxf9X9b/s1600/One_Lovely_Blog_Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwRquGfFJNQ0BDBTAkcUXLBqwrQRsGyLywIgIOQ_KGnRsbJpMqtpx8Z9gj3Fh5-GEaaWgKslpWx_01u3kNbyyfSs1IDAnfZJRLsJc4e2vVCtdAwkgfgkI_lDL2T1uZMHU-jzfIZxf9X9b/s1600/One_Lovely_Blog_Award.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stylish Lovely</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blog Blogger </span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">err... </span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Enough of the word play Claire, we have important business to attend to! I was, a while ago, nominated by the lovely <a href="http://ofmiceandminutiae.blogspot.com/">Alex of miceandminutae</a> for a Stylish Blogger Award, and only last night she awarded me again with a Lovely Blog Award. How chuffed am I?! So I thought I'd best get off my backside and do my own nominations, as I have managed to forget for so long now that Alex must be growing old waiting for me to pull my socks up and get on with it. </span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">一 Sushi and olives are the only two things I crave more than chocolate.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">二 My birthmark is shaped like an eye and is on the sole of my right foot.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">三 My first car was a 1994 Italian Job original Mini. I called her Honey. She was racing green with a black roof and Italian Job trimmings, complete with flags on the seats.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">四 I am not Italian.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">五 My Mum taught me how to knit, my Nana taught me how to increase and decrease stitches. Thrilling stuff.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">六 I went to a private Masonic school. Yes, they do exist and yes, it was posh and wierd. I loved it.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">七 When I was 13 I concussed myself falling over on an ice rink. Before the accident I wasn't very good at school, after it I was a straight A student. I think this is significant...</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">八 Put me near an ice rink and I'll cry.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">九 My biggest fears are large ships and submarines. My Dad thinks this is hilarious.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">十 This is fact number ten.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stylish Blogger Awards </span></b></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://diamondcanopywinn.blogspot.com/">Diamond Canopy</a>, <a href="http://elsita.typepad.com/elsita/">Elsa Mora</a>, <a href="http://www.ashleyording.com/">Fancy Fine</a>, <a href="http://nakasnet.blogspot.com/">Hello Naka</a>, <a href="http://tresfly.blogspot.com/">Tres Fly,</a> <a href="http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/">Meet me at Mikes</a>, <a href="http://www.girlalamode.co.uk/">A La Mode</a>, <a href="http://afeitar.blogspot.com/">Afeitar</a></span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you like you can link back to me, write 8 facts about yourself, nominate 8 blogs and tell them.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lovely Blog Awards </span></b></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://glossaryzine.blogspot.com/">Glossary</a>, <a href="http://ess-arr.blogspot.com/">ess-arr</a>, <a href="http://victoriastitch.blogspot.com/">Victoria Stitch</a>, <a href="http://theblackapple.typepad.com/inside_a_black_apple/">Inside a Black Apple</a>, <a href="http://culture-connoisseur.blogspot.com/">Culture Connoisseur</a>, <a href="http://www.crochetclouds.com/">Crochet Clouds</a>, <a href="http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/">allsorts</a>, <a href="http://topographytowardaparalleluniverse.blogspot.com/">topography toward a parallel universe</a>, <a href="http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/">angry chicken</a>, and, and, GAH!! I need to follow more blogs...</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you so desire you can link back to me, write 7 facts about yourself, nominate 15 blogs (if you can!) and tell them.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And just to tickle your taste-buds, if eyes have taste-buds of course, here is a wee glimpse of the beginnings of my next painting.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbpj0YmMmQh1UqQJSFR1MP0GuGZAxEBPqcOUHsQ01f4J_RMs6AEpak-bAxFiwquHMFCt24hW9DAA8m8qqrAUt0Beqxc5x-hHDo5wxbYXIF6Pn0aPj4jOAEryZjltv1s0f_Ebmoi2AJExy/s1600/DSCF3933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbpj0YmMmQh1UqQJSFR1MP0GuGZAxEBPqcOUHsQ01f4J_RMs6AEpak-bAxFiwquHMFCt24hW9DAA8m8qqrAUt0Beqxc5x-hHDo5wxbYXIF6Pn0aPj4jOAEryZjltv1s0f_Ebmoi2AJExy/s1600/DSCF3933.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-56400006113995272642011-04-26T18:01:00.002+01:002011-04-26T21:16:39.448+01:00A Painting Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmgTtjVnq4mx57r6HZIbUSWBHmMMY5bnvr_m1wmnFELC2jYnrod0Ml9eUoSbF-0Qd2hQ_a7i9bc0WdU7OccOFf1NKQLxQHIfLZ3wZKrTCKDyaJD5_I6XXpPcbd3QDGdQY4nIA5hJl3HhE/s1600/DSCF3884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmgTtjVnq4mx57r6HZIbUSWBHmMMY5bnvr_m1wmnFELC2jYnrod0Ml9eUoSbF-0Qd2hQ_a7i9bc0WdU7OccOFf1NKQLxQHIfLZ3wZKrTCKDyaJD5_I6XXpPcbd3QDGdQY4nIA5hJl3HhE/s1600/DSCF3884.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFoZsxto9alOW25W0vf-rNWKXm0_BS_FCMp62a51AAB1Wp7QlXBY7LIvTWtcykKuNFmBLeLlIFpGOccIzgBeX037_EKVK4_w3DqDgm1M1oFMiWtwsXbalxDCcbg7jszDbw81aU3PzrD-X/s1600/DSCF3894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFoZsxto9alOW25W0vf-rNWKXm0_BS_FCMp62a51AAB1Wp7QlXBY7LIvTWtcykKuNFmBLeLlIFpGOccIzgBeX037_EKVK4_w3DqDgm1M1oFMiWtwsXbalxDCcbg7jszDbw81aU3PzrD-X/s1600/DSCF3894.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She is melting into that on which she lies, and yet marked out from it. We look through to her and yet she is part of the frame. She is in a dream-scape that could not exist and yet we recognise it...</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">SO this is my day's work, and the first painting I have finished for a long time. The materials are F pencil and watercolour on Langton watercolour paper by Daler Rowney. I wanted to echo natural and artificial shapes throughout, hence the petal shape of her breast, the flower-like structure in the top left of the painting, and the window frame shapes to the right. She is taken from a May 2008 Vogue shoot of Natalia Vodianova in Russia, of which I loved the pose, the colours and style of her clothes, the beautiful balance of her face and the helmet-like hat that covers her hair. I have tried to hint at something of the Art Deco and Nouveau, two movements decades apart but unusually complimentary. I suppose you will think, as I do, that she was stunningly beautiful before I made the colours stronger and put down the paynes-grey outlines, but I couldn't leave her like this because the orange of the koi was so strong that she became a little washed out. I also wanted to make primary the area around her face and the outlines of the birds, creating a vertical sweep made from bird to bird. I was heavily influenced by iiiis' work here, and the fish and birds are taken from his book.</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-80735199379574306822011-04-25T17:52:00.000+01:002011-04-25T17:52:34.249+01:00Hand will paint!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0iyRrnsnABYgIxBg1amt5mCE8lGW_XT9ZNos_qyuSv9HLd9LZMtQ9hQT4k3sKJo1PzYYnjY9RruXwuSQFbz5JJL6AJEp3kVxx9djut2v_eKjBkM1jyb2QR6fPnS4s1CdNlcymrKHlKSS/s1600/DSCF3866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0iyRrnsnABYgIxBg1amt5mCE8lGW_XT9ZNos_qyuSv9HLd9LZMtQ9hQT4k3sKJo1PzYYnjY9RruXwuSQFbz5JJL6AJEp3kVxx9djut2v_eKjBkM1jyb2QR6fPnS4s1CdNlcymrKHlKSS/s1600/DSCF3866.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaj_i4ohFzmJgcUQ4zJVCN62bZS4-FF694zffBV2L6loeNW2xEbCtL0VOlCb1tgUpQ6GVcq0785RbZpwA4QWkmX66dpRLcdHo6UP7G6LDnmBfSDxUNe9eJL4l12oy1BRu8T5wHJbjoLtT/s1600/DSCF3872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaj_i4ohFzmJgcUQ4zJVCN62bZS4-FF694zffBV2L6loeNW2xEbCtL0VOlCb1tgUpQ6GVcq0785RbZpwA4QWkmX66dpRLcdHo6UP7G6LDnmBfSDxUNe9eJL4l12oy1BRu8T5wHJbjoLtT/s1600/DSCF3872.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I can do some gentle painting today, the hand is a little less stiff. I haven't used watercolours for a long time, so I felt the need to copy something in order to get back into the swing of things. This illustration hasn't come from my own imagination I'm afraid, but from the beautiful ideas of a Chinese 'manhua' artist called 'iiiis'. I picked up the book in a little manga shop in the old quarter of Jiangmen whilst I was living there. I can never get tired of it and I constantly find new interest in every page, maybe I'll post some scans up soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-85801266216718407982011-04-24T15:38:00.009+01:002011-04-25T17:29:57.286+01:00The Bored One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xWhTkKT3CtnhJJIbknHkwv_vNMqS6WcuNDjLMrSjVoaYl72j9uPrFbwOd5lGt_UbCcNvYgiOGW6U4z7POKYX8DBQ-7WP91Zydc82OXlzwfvX4-tj7cXZdu5DSfWG7YHJV6fGN7CmIyFs/s1600/DSCF3855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xWhTkKT3CtnhJJIbknHkwv_vNMqS6WcuNDjLMrSjVoaYl72j9uPrFbwOd5lGt_UbCcNvYgiOGW6U4z7POKYX8DBQ-7WP91Zydc82OXlzwfvX4-tj7cXZdu5DSfWG7YHJV6fGN7CmIyFs/s1600/DSCF3855.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If there were a competition for being bored, I would win the thing hands-down. Or, at least, left hand down, with my right one being out of action and all. I can't crochet, I can't knit, I can't sew, I can't draw, in fact I can't do anything that I would normally do in my free time except gaze endlessly at social networking sites waiting for updates. In fact, I shouldn't really be on Blogger because it does involve some right-hand-age, but guess what? I don't care! And why? Because I'm bored!!</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">As you can see I have been fiddling with my layout and such. You will notice that Blogger has been an arse and deleted all my pictures from previous posts. Lord knows what I pressed but there you have it, the mouldy cherry on top of a rotten week. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please excuse me for a moment, I'm going to sob into a gratuitously large hanky and eat Golden Syrup from a tablespoon.</span></span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-38312507366685579742011-04-19T16:41:00.006+01:002011-04-25T19:40:25.011+01:00So...<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkjhT2VF0kAK32Z3wlOG_AakJv9yIp7_pEkQtvFz9hDmgubxh0Xv30wOu8rFOTWQXV6QPty9XYDp7vpbJPpqDeVEjvLKKe6dBjzj4FrBSJeL0JBd6LKTm7p58Utz_rajpWY3yIp-g-f-3/s1600/DSCF3816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkjhT2VF0kAK32Z3wlOG_AakJv9yIp7_pEkQtvFz9hDmgubxh0Xv30wOu8rFOTWQXV6QPty9XYDp7vpbJPpqDeVEjvLKKe6dBjzj4FrBSJeL0JBd6LKTm7p58Utz_rajpWY3yIp-g-f-3/s1600/DSCF3816.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">... I was supposed to be writing essays for the next couple of weeks, I know. But yesterday while I was typing away in the library my right wrist started to tingle and before I knew it my veins were bulging and my lower fingers were slightly blue. 'Oh dear', I thought, and popped off to see the nurse. Well, I have been signed off of writing essays for at least a week, or indeed from using my right hand at all. Fun. </span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So here I am, typing a blog post with my left hand like a pre-schooler, because I can't do nothing at all and in fact I'm very bad at doing nothing at all because I'm always doing something even when I say I'm doing nothing and... yeah, you get the idea.</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">To change the subject slightly, I have noticed of late that, more often than not, I smell like an old lady. Not my fault. It's my room - old Birmingham terraces with a window that leaks = musty. Musty musty musty musty. So I attacked my wardrobe, shoved all my clothes on rinse and set about making some new wardrobe smellies with an old dress and a smashed up bath bomb. Voila! I now smell like an old lady's knicker drawer. Slight improvement.</span></span><br />
</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-17425740438908255052011-04-14T22:06:00.007+01:002011-04-25T19:42:48.202+01:00Small World Big Fish<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fBqx_gLQCp-6KqRBCuZRPpEqiK8IGkhxJJ25JzRQgOz3phd2jUA8OS6t1i2NkEjLbNSOHgxQyJfpzbOAmwHmSbGZZHm8xxIIsm3Is4nLRviIZOZVDqioB0tNcOkdHvMcyr5VV1RV7wDd/s1600/DSCF3770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fBqx_gLQCp-6KqRBCuZRPpEqiK8IGkhxJJ25JzRQgOz3phd2jUA8OS6t1i2NkEjLbNSOHgxQyJfpzbOAmwHmSbGZZHm8xxIIsm3Is4nLRviIZOZVDqioB0tNcOkdHvMcyr5VV1RV7wDd/s1600/DSCF3770.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For the next two weeks my life is going to be a massive slice of stress on a plate, with cream. I won't be posting during this time because I'm half-way through a re-vamp of the blog and I want to give it my full attention. So in the meantime let me leave you with this little glimpse inside my miniature world...</span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-88217343907438521372011-04-05T17:39:00.006+01:002011-04-25T19:49:01.561+01:00Oo-La-La-Lacy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA37lJm3uE-zkvJiJD1TBkeeEw5qxuomMmFCdikmIaDNWTVP06Htox5mDUAgHxB-WyPnVJViFVpsz8NoHsTXDHHbSBEQ-KHPakWU1DmkxeQl-97ZEpaGhiG6MO3IAXKXjpcGdA2qJIjY-J/s1600/DSCF3207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA37lJm3uE-zkvJiJD1TBkeeEw5qxuomMmFCdikmIaDNWTVP06Htox5mDUAgHxB-WyPnVJViFVpsz8NoHsTXDHHbSBEQ-KHPakWU1DmkxeQl-97ZEpaGhiG6MO3IAXKXjpcGdA2qJIjY-J/s1600/DSCF3207.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdqXxqhdALHy2qVAimNm8v1rdGyO77OZ4XhfwrEcbso4spmDxjRjLHaFHOkXCHOXWviMtg2vYf5DnVwXOsP-M0A83yutVGlUivHzTUN2-caSP7PgPo3-RE_p2NTBXL3IEySgRjjb_pZr3/s1600/DSCF3598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdqXxqhdALHy2qVAimNm8v1rdGyO77OZ4XhfwrEcbso4spmDxjRjLHaFHOkXCHOXWviMtg2vYf5DnVwXOsP-M0A83yutVGlUivHzTUN2-caSP7PgPo3-RE_p2NTBXL3IEySgRjjb_pZr3/s1600/DSCF3598.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgVMIzxAjdASiJkf2JyOxVoI4FC-IJX7McZdrAu_TPgvv0EEyBjDyIfnUTSxn9KiTHlCZiYwRCk7_dSD1JTDklo29cHlE_-Axge-BqfXgl8a8zucINcuwLfnD42EIuRyLI2LthcqA7bgG/s1600/DSCF3597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgVMIzxAjdASiJkf2JyOxVoI4FC-IJX7McZdrAu_TPgvv0EEyBjDyIfnUTSxn9KiTHlCZiYwRCk7_dSD1JTDklo29cHlE_-Axge-BqfXgl8a8zucINcuwLfnD42EIuRyLI2LthcqA7bgG/s1600/DSCF3597.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I stayed away from lace knitting for many years, mostly because I assumed it would be too complicated to really do well. But a few months ago, during one of my regular forays into the John Lewis haberdashery department, I found myself lusting over <a href="http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/Kidsilk-Haze.aspx?testid=10">Rowan's beautiful kidsilk haze </a>selection and before I knew it a ball of 'Blushes' was in my basket. </span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Upon taking it home and knitting a few rows of simple blanket stitch, I realised that it would be the perfect candidate for my lace-knitting initiation and set about teaching myself the stitches from Debbie Bliss' seminal guide on all things knitterly, <i>How To Knit</i>. Within the hour I had finished the first two rows of her 'oriental parasol' pattern, and within a month I'd reached the end of the ball. As I made it so wide it will need another couple of balls to really finish it off, and although it's a bit of a muddled ugly duckling in places [I was obviously oogling James Franco at the time.. obviously], I am very proud of my efforts so far. </span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-53142966920071092062011-04-03T17:27:00.007+01:002011-04-25T19:55:23.213+01:00Oh Mother Dear...<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DxBvkmoOgVDw4nElESfMeyBCjRmog4aMTHpaI5kNihZnv6pyBwVTZm3OBVPpock2crBkOGK_AbmqXL25GZE_ozPu4ZRu5GONS8VkYycHTu-xypTSEOe5DlzxttBeTNrODxQXnE8h-wES/s1600/DSCF3695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DxBvkmoOgVDw4nElESfMeyBCjRmog4aMTHpaI5kNihZnv6pyBwVTZm3OBVPpock2crBkOGK_AbmqXL25GZE_ozPu4ZRu5GONS8VkYycHTu-xypTSEOe5DlzxttBeTNrODxQXnE8h-wES/s1600/DSCF3695.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDGsrprYWktbCO0TVRsjjmNGJLktEPuALFLkdnmGaO54VaTtk20Tf-kejuo8QQkrfZBhoJpo7Cg8s1hcZkz8ZYK7T5D3nTxqsxsN-F2wznHMYHtmVbjtjN3bJ86tIoFuc33mH92vsH8Jd/s1600/DSCF3696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDGsrprYWktbCO0TVRsjjmNGJLktEPuALFLkdnmGaO54VaTtk20Tf-kejuo8QQkrfZBhoJpo7Cg8s1hcZkz8ZYK7T5D3nTxqsxsN-F2wznHMYHtmVbjtjN3bJ86tIoFuc33mH92vsH8Jd/s1600/DSCF3696.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBuecFbSQyIM__QsT0-7UrV0XD1dHLpuTSW0kNTlItP9xI1-anQH46LHdGxXQTSNYU2LMEk2G_QDTUxwQMGsqUK0taSPiBDQKTWgA_D_3eH3xixSzB79hMJG1B9R9X0zcArwhQAAMYlaL/s1600/DSCF3702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBuecFbSQyIM__QsT0-7UrV0XD1dHLpuTSW0kNTlItP9xI1-anQH46LHdGxXQTSNYU2LMEk2G_QDTUxwQMGsqUK0taSPiBDQKTWgA_D_3eH3xixSzB79hMJG1B9R9X0zcArwhQAAMYlaL/s1600/DSCF3702.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdl0DP0pPevGhzc4NqDruby5Kij9hpkyE4ooEobYGrZH0T77GrH1NwGZWZrhTgdI4G3wirkJYatgnNzx6dAjin_TTD0YefDkUqsRwGXYr5mqC22FM89QbTTwKJtSuxHyCHuYD77LFqZny/s1600/DSCF3699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdl0DP0pPevGhzc4NqDruby5Kij9hpkyE4ooEobYGrZH0T77GrH1NwGZWZrhTgdI4G3wirkJYatgnNzx6dAjin_TTD0YefDkUqsRwGXYr5mqC22FM89QbTTwKJtSuxHyCHuYD77LFqZny/s1600/DSCF3699.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">... Sorry I forgot to post your Mothers' Day card on time. Ooops. Well, just in case you have a gander at my blog before tomorrow morning, you saw it here first! Actually, I had a rather good excuse for posting it on Friday morning, namely, that the glue hadn't dried. Daughter uselessness justified!</span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, it's a lazy Sunday here in now sunny (previously extremely wet) Brum and I am still a-musing over who to nominate for my Stylish Blogger Awards. Watch this space because I'll probably do it on Monday or Tuesday now, while I'm in the library "writing" a paper. In the meantime I hope you find my pentagonal granny squares as fantabulously satisfying as I do. I'm off to town tomorrow to grab some big wool and a fat crochet thread to make a centre circle to attach them all to; it will most probably end up as a cushion. I have another 8000 words due for the beginning of May but hey, you know, they can wait...</span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-58509155421674440212011-04-01T20:39:00.005+01:002011-04-25T19:58:44.850+01:00Brain Crush. Yum.<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHXkS0mkMx8qtQHkDuHHdNAZsbBcQZ2ny9Py7g354OmukXGju8lqxP8l_PB8X8bYhWt_Bg665S8Wgz5NddTFQPpPkB3MonVP0WvvRrTqag0qA-C_dByaCRg0MGgKZtv1nPQVDnfsoW7UT/s1600/DSCF3656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHXkS0mkMx8qtQHkDuHHdNAZsbBcQZ2ny9Py7g354OmukXGju8lqxP8l_PB8X8bYhWt_Bg665S8Wgz5NddTFQPpPkB3MonVP0WvvRrTqag0qA-C_dByaCRg0MGgKZtv1nPQVDnfsoW7UT/s1600/DSCF3656.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wiy0fxhKfI5I_nUZhj_wgEPLqX5WV8FTUz41XLa4nJ8PtKpVF4hau27A4GWom4M5gvhioGYG5PXbkQPFz2K-GiZGh0SuCg-A2Sy_G2vh7W_oZwts-Fp2DhBuaVgZUaemuYlbsg-W-TVk/s1600/DSCF3661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wiy0fxhKfI5I_nUZhj_wgEPLqX5WV8FTUz41XLa4nJ8PtKpVF4hau27A4GWom4M5gvhioGYG5PXbkQPFz2K-GiZGh0SuCg-A2Sy_G2vh7W_oZwts-Fp2DhBuaVgZUaemuYlbsg-W-TVk/s1600/DSCF3661.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Phew what a week! One essay and two boxes of Tunnocks Tea Cakes down, two to go... (essays, that is, and at least three boxes of Tunnocks for each of them)</span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I can't wait to blog lots of lovely things this week, but it will have to wait until the end of the weekend when I've done sufficient reading to merit a couple of hours of procrastination time. </span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Most wonderspiffely I have been 'Stylish Blogger'-ed by the marvellous Alex at <a href="http://ofmiceandminutiae.blogspot.com/">Of Mice and Minutiae</a>, whose blog I've been a-gandering for a couple of weeks and whose hair and tomboy style I quite frankly WANT. I'm looking forward to choosing my own nominations and I shall do so on Sunday morning after my weekly house-wifery has been seen to and I've got a massive brunch spread out in front of me and my computer..</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;">.</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-76642586861056066582011-03-29T14:28:00.006+01:002011-04-25T20:07:57.855+01:00A Scholar's Reward<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pLu9CPsH3Z9Y8A2H1uG-fix8UPYtagyfcgPb0r3EaJPqGF7R0fn7x4DDhTMna-lGTuzSAiF_hyHcFiAOV2Q0FpMi2G8s8VAv9InwhZkVtdAwBf_ih47hm7rCrAoqDcabXmXChrgbrSFU/s1600/DSCF3668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pLu9CPsH3Z9Y8A2H1uG-fix8UPYtagyfcgPb0r3EaJPqGF7R0fn7x4DDhTMna-lGTuzSAiF_hyHcFiAOV2Q0FpMi2G8s8VAv9InwhZkVtdAwBf_ih47hm7rCrAoqDcabXmXChrgbrSFU/s1600/DSCF3668.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMDvYuCLqnTDQ92-K_59G8ralfrOKj4g2U1njO6VxxBSYDZzdqTOqd4hlZmm8YemyJlU0JPI6kfEx3kX1_0Mb00v2grqY_J0mpqqhN2Fd-pqPzlSQzoLhGmBNH94ZjC-kkcs8vmvboIyb/s1600/DSCF3673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMDvYuCLqnTDQ92-K_59G8ralfrOKj4g2U1njO6VxxBSYDZzdqTOqd4hlZmm8YemyJlU0JPI6kfEx3kX1_0Mb00v2grqY_J0mpqqhN2Fd-pqPzlSQzoLhGmBNH94ZjC-kkcs8vmvboIyb/s1600/DSCF3673.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYubbintq6rlcAtcUhy1Tv_646Q61-fmh3S6arS5Sf-TDHxLnYxqWLEyWDBKfKVmKJEEL2G2UwgqFK_XLtOuC3v2wvj5hJop9bGy44JN02cWW-eSnitzZoWs_5XNxx1l4_qqRvDOnNYUE/s1600/DSCF3677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYubbintq6rlcAtcUhy1Tv_646Q61-fmh3S6arS5Sf-TDHxLnYxqWLEyWDBKfKVmKJEEL2G2UwgqFK_XLtOuC3v2wvj5hJop9bGy44JN02cWW-eSnitzZoWs_5XNxx1l4_qqRvDOnNYUE/s1600/DSCF3677.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19_hP6qqXH03FZ5CuWV14nKkxLaPs1e4yldHRk9CahQYwhD-dEb976lYcuihLVCgFWi4MZx4cRlJpZ9fKJZxV5UdB6bhZzuT1xG7AaRBRYJT2itNOSbwH829Eq6pO9rvqxsdk9GRAtgvG/s1600/DSCF3679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19_hP6qqXH03FZ5CuWV14nKkxLaPs1e4yldHRk9CahQYwhD-dEb976lYcuihLVCgFWi4MZx4cRlJpZ9fKJZxV5UdB6bhZzuT1xG7AaRBRYJT2itNOSbwH829Eq6pO9rvqxsdk9GRAtgvG/s1600/DSCF3679.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhLuEx7gqgMBMZSDJo69U94EQxDAtPkR3qxSqlftwSmxZ0Ponc7TObN1nWxasTJBinvfkC9F0JFNrUztdfvusp20ag6NxJPk8oyLf3XnQaD2KNefRDmJ9tedSHqVLPwETZxaukGtHLCjP/s1600/DSCF3680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhLuEx7gqgMBMZSDJo69U94EQxDAtPkR3qxSqlftwSmxZ0Ponc7TObN1nWxasTJBinvfkC9F0JFNrUztdfvusp20ag6NxJPk8oyLf3XnQaD2KNefRDmJ9tedSHqVLPwETZxaukGtHLCjP/s1600/DSCF3680.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_Ca8OpyfujhHQjLJ8n1MhpK6n7oWwu3FUapFpqLWUA8PpFOqiYFFkgBCrzahLVifhC3rlOru3nNNpcqzi2pCtffSm7QY9Gq0GEx7voUO0jxxrRt1qeFwp7QXzPAZqVkGawc-ZCDzOBZ2/s1600/DSCF3681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_Ca8OpyfujhHQjLJ8n1MhpK6n7oWwu3FUapFpqLWUA8PpFOqiYFFkgBCrzahLVifhC3rlOru3nNNpcqzi2pCtffSm7QY9Gq0GEx7voUO0jxxrRt1qeFwp7QXzPAZqVkGawc-ZCDzOBZ2/s1600/DSCF3681.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When one has successfully completed a twenty-page appendix, one is entitled to a little Her Time... </span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Et voila, some little drawings and whimsical potential badge designs. Alas I wish I could claim the 1940s inspired ladies as my own creations, but they are not, they are taken from the opening credits of the very marvellous film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413015/">Mrs. Henderson Presents</a>. I tried to make a Tweedle Dum-Tweedle Dee felt badge but as of yet I haven't quite cracked it. My little coiffured madam in the first picture too, failed to make the transition to badge form as I just cannot render that eccentric facial expression again. Don't you just hate/love the moments where you draw something to such perfection that it can only exist once in this world?</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-47166907084333462482011-03-27T14:27:00.003+01:002011-04-25T20:15:15.786+01:00Black Swan meets Disco Queen... I think<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9ngPQjG6Xa3TDUpUrYFiZii1HcuvPhgGpaM1HabYZRjLyCzX2tBEiQ0fUf6LwilCvrTTJDYg2dbuwkCz5KX4lStERSriNuPHyStemBGTOvlYxk3kueXDjhITU3oXrIHa2cUNpclXUuIa/s1600/DSCF3524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9ngPQjG6Xa3TDUpUrYFiZii1HcuvPhgGpaM1HabYZRjLyCzX2tBEiQ0fUf6LwilCvrTTJDYg2dbuwkCz5KX4lStERSriNuPHyStemBGTOvlYxk3kueXDjhITU3oXrIHa2cUNpclXUuIa/s1600/DSCF3524.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT4YRdLAZnEukKgGBxmAHVA0ZM-g9vcsfK5qVDzeViVvyzaxkxCoyyb7U7FqSrNpcn1OaeLjDRMTeL7mWPBnpTW9zzb512Uxo494VbBA0PZTuh8f5vSMGqvIu1m-V5So75RhUiD5aJ00o/s1600/DSCF3543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT4YRdLAZnEukKgGBxmAHVA0ZM-g9vcsfK5qVDzeViVvyzaxkxCoyyb7U7FqSrNpcn1OaeLjDRMTeL7mWPBnpTW9zzb512Uxo494VbBA0PZTuh8f5vSMGqvIu1m-V5So75RhUiD5aJ00o/s1600/DSCF3543.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPl_2e130MGlH5pJVhKtadST8uIK9-FCE6dToKYQFIeZM5mIbwVTrWGggF47CyrAY8a9D6a836-JY-_zF9p6IyqDuMEP9E0DQwLOIlTSiKz6WPfmRtkkkUzz5sLUcG8IrtTLYTUJmnG2x/s1600/DSCF3557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPl_2e130MGlH5pJVhKtadST8uIK9-FCE6dToKYQFIeZM5mIbwVTrWGggF47CyrAY8a9D6a836-JY-_zF9p6IyqDuMEP9E0DQwLOIlTSiKz6WPfmRtkkkUzz5sLUcG8IrtTLYTUJmnG2x/s1600/DSCF3557.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I used to show so much face painting on my old slightynoodles blog, but I just don't seem to have to time to indulge in it as much as I used to. I still love it though, even if the land-lady did happen to wander into my room when I was ghost white and eyebrowless.. I'd never met my land-lady before - she must think I'm a bit strange. </span> </div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-15308503944353125442011-03-24T17:56:00.004+00:002011-04-25T20:20:39.153+01:00There she goes again<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82DWutJiWHoik5HA3isDnmFUV2rALaPY-w6q51wFS_j_Fem_TVP00Jcz8BIqR6qln3J1pphjNF1YOQ5zejq8UbcW7iRlUXevRBtz41rwzIEsSo5lr2lyPK_d8KkZ8qhRVAU4PZpOUDA26/s1600/DSCF3599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82DWutJiWHoik5HA3isDnmFUV2rALaPY-w6q51wFS_j_Fem_TVP00Jcz8BIqR6qln3J1pphjNF1YOQ5zejq8UbcW7iRlUXevRBtz41rwzIEsSo5lr2lyPK_d8KkZ8qhRVAU4PZpOUDA26/s1600/DSCF3599.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gt9RlGdB7ZrB2VCxLNVsLp7y3ByqWbKUduxEh1Iwy-e_MRiEke95EUVOelTTig24Se0LynpnpWeffZO3rnb3XfpJ0mgkgBrkNMBDCXjoStcUldQo810xanpBCxLGXjCMbUjdL2x2kngr/s1600/DSCF3601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gt9RlGdB7ZrB2VCxLNVsLp7y3ByqWbKUduxEh1Iwy-e_MRiEke95EUVOelTTig24Se0LynpnpWeffZO3rnb3XfpJ0mgkgBrkNMBDCXjoStcUldQo810xanpBCxLGXjCMbUjdL2x2kngr/s1600/DSCF3601.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It seems that as soon as I master one granny square pattern, I discover another and start a whole new project. Well, maybe not <i>project </i>but certainly procrastination activity. I can't remember the name of the wool but it's cotton and crochets like a dream; it has a fresh, heavy, solid weight and intensity of colour to it that wool rarely provides, and I shall be returning to the shop to buy more as soon as my essay deadline has been met.</span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">The pattern is called 'snowflake' and was thought up by the fantabulous textile designer, <a href="http://www.rosesharpjones.co.uk/">Rose Sharp</a>. It was featured in my favourite crafty magazine, <a href="http://www.clothmagazine.co.uk/"><i>Cloth</i></a>, which wonderfully manages to be completely hip and non-fuddyduddy. <i></i></span> </div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-82503510689612180002011-03-22T12:38:00.006+00:002011-04-25T20:30:54.790+01:00Did YOU steal my tarts?<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-ZgzUofryIlPaNzKrqoR5V_UnY1mWOHaprQDCMFOREumnekYtaYM4mG0yUbIWMBqL95S9R_pNcIic-up05BO4oMBFh55EP2I0Lks8Xl9AtD2vRyqYXg70ZL6s5tTWhFEdGMkttJWCOrZ/s1600/DSCF3240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-ZgzUofryIlPaNzKrqoR5V_UnY1mWOHaprQDCMFOREumnekYtaYM4mG0yUbIWMBqL95S9R_pNcIic-up05BO4oMBFh55EP2I0Lks8Xl9AtD2vRyqYXg70ZL6s5tTWhFEdGMkttJWCOrZ/s1600/DSCF3240.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnSROfI50HgCpPaIdq_JsnVFzT3_i91_X_PLftgYeBq2lRwNffOomrxY03lDS92cwTil6-JY0DkMwRgcGMZJj4yKZkTEkNzJHq7H5GCxMsKS8pATIORyitlmp8CNJEqFcGftIJI_Y4vFL/s1600/DSCF3246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnSROfI50HgCpPaIdq_JsnVFzT3_i91_X_PLftgYeBq2lRwNffOomrxY03lDS92cwTil6-JY0DkMwRgcGMZJj4yKZkTEkNzJHq7H5GCxMsKS8pATIORyitlmp8CNJEqFcGftIJI_Y4vFL/s1600/DSCF3246.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc5TQ35DIbEL0LM3DPhd7A4VIW4-IqOf8-_IqiQ4yJu8UYNQykh3PquVFOgBjGRHVC8fDF0lCj45r2n-l8pyhQ2kNv9FPudpPFFJqZLtK7IS_19All0LBIl2-LjFo4xJ7A1T9wYF_BbWO/s1600/DSCF3285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc5TQ35DIbEL0LM3DPhd7A4VIW4-IqOf8-_IqiQ4yJu8UYNQykh3PquVFOgBjGRHVC8fDF0lCj45r2n-l8pyhQ2kNv9FPudpPFFJqZLtK7IS_19All0LBIl2-LjFo4xJ7A1T9wYF_BbWO/s1600/DSCF3285.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU8FT69rzZT2Lhh0MYnpEzZfLZl88v9NcoPAxb-aj44xPgmyj8EyeGrRfFMzJvxuDgy6UfdMM5ybV0IYiRVGP4Q3JozHnmodkbts-OsJvMzxuoFRSsEDJPaK45_RzkzoizDLB0o9u6mfN/s1600/DSCF3263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU8FT69rzZT2Lhh0MYnpEzZfLZl88v9NcoPAxb-aj44xPgmyj8EyeGrRfFMzJvxuDgy6UfdMM5ybV0IYiRVGP4Q3JozHnmodkbts-OsJvMzxuoFRSsEDJPaK45_RzkzoizDLB0o9u6mfN/s1600/DSCF3263.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3Qv9eCW8ydkYqF5pt_PvNb3riFFm069N9uGkREZk74pFKNSbFNGG7KaNWub5LXwmyzTv5e_wkTkvAsmDt6zb9RkE4pNl9VkyXV1S13_AS7Ai6ehyphenhyphen1Z1ceypUU3vL_7xfl_rcrupLqr0b/s1600/DSCF3282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3Qv9eCW8ydkYqF5pt_PvNb3riFFm069N9uGkREZk74pFKNSbFNGG7KaNWub5LXwmyzTv5e_wkTkvAsmDt6zb9RkE4pNl9VkyXV1S13_AS7Ai6ehyphenhyphen1Z1ceypUU3vL_7xfl_rcrupLqr0b/s1600/DSCF3282.jpg" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've always been a bit Alice-in-Wonderland-y. Well, that's the excuse I use for my slight eccentricism anyway. I don't even know if that is a word but it sounds intelligent, and, well... Alice-in-Wonderland - y. As my dearest darling chum Miss Winnie over at <a href="http://www.diamondcanopywinn.blogspot.com/">diamondcanopywinn.blogspot</a> has dedicated a whole lovely post to me and my crafty creations, I thought I would elaborate a bit and tell you more about my current felt-badge-making obsession...<br />
</span></div></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometimes I have moments of crafty genius, such as randomly deciding to rip off Tim Burton's Red Queen design and make a badge out of it. I got a bit felt-happy a while ago and went on a brooch-making rampage, from which my poor dear friends are still suffering. It all started with <a href="http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/">meetmeatmikes' </a>fabulous crafty book that I got for my birthday last year; it has to be the perfect procrastination companion and nobody could ever accuse me of being unproductive... </span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Of late I have rather enjoyed rendering facial expressions in embroidery, and I think the Red Queen came out particularly well. The original design included her crown but when it was all sewn together I thought it poorly executed and chopped it off. How very Lewis Carroll of me. I have also been making other designs such as owls and kokeshi dolls, and I have plans in mind for a white rabbit, toadstools and characters from <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i> and <i>Spirited Away</i>, both <a href="http://www.onlineghibli.com/">Studio Ghibli</a> masterpieces that I admire and adore.</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hope to see you again soon new readers! Leave me a message and I'll visit your blogs in return - it'll be nice to make some new blog friends after such a long break x</span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-55090685446325045002011-03-18T10:44:00.007+00:002011-04-24T15:01:31.184+01:00Procrastination is my middle name...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My granny-squaring habit is getting a little out of hand as the end of term deadlines hurtle ever closer. I had my last Masters class yesterday and after wandering around the neighbouring botanical gardens for a while, gathering my thoughts, I returned home, made tea and biscuits and spent the rest of the day watching films. I crocheted over 20 squares in the space of 133 minutes - the precise running time of <i>Eat Love Pray</i>, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">which was a very good film actually. I probably could have made more but whenever James Franco is on screen my ability to multitask takes a rather dramatic nose dive. Understandably.</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've also been working hard on my playsuit, and have spent most of the week pinning a mile of hemline. Rayon is an easy fabric to sew, but I'm having to blanket-stitch all the raw edges because it frays like mad. What joy. </span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-89491929699744112552011-03-15T08:21:00.009+00:002011-04-24T14:57:39.181+01:00Grannies, Packages and Pancakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #999999; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For the life of me I don't know why I get up so early in the mornings, but when there are scotch pancakes with golden syrup on the menu it doesn't seem quite so hard to emerge from hibernation.</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I spent most of Sunday teaching myself how to crochet granny squares, having finally found the most fantabulous and instructive how-to series over at <a href="http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/p/granny-squares-101.html">meetmeatmikes</a>. If there's one thing that's tricky to get the hang of with crochet it's making good square corners; this tutorial will transform you into a corner queen in no time at all.</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've also been putting a package together for my dear friend Toni, who teaches English at a university in China. We spent a whole year living there together in 2008-09, working at a school in Guangdong. When we returned to England and she went straight off to university to do an MA, I flitted about for a year not knowing quite what I wanted or who I was. When Toni went back to China I started uni again doing the same Masters in English teaching. Now I'm getting ready to up-and-off again to East Asian waters as soon I have finished my MA, and I am sure our paths will cross again. Watch out China!</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I crocheted the string, used the tissue paper my Doctor Martins came in to wrap two cotton dresses for her, and as she is so obsessed with rabbits I gave her one of my favourite <a href="http://www.belleandboo.com/">Belle & Boo</a> postcards that I got from <a href="http://www.paperchase.co.uk/">Paperchase</a> a while ago. My vintage copy of <i>I Capture the Castle</i>, one of my favourite books in the whole wide world, adds the finishing touch of whimsy.</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-91451496411211998412011-03-13T09:15:00.009+00:002011-04-24T14:55:05.603+01:00Re-working vintage<div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I blogged about this vintage jumpsuit last Spring in the old slightlynoodles, and I have to admit that although I am still in love with it, I have never worn it. The trouser legs have always been slightly more ankle-flappy than is generally acceptable in respected fashion society, and until now I have been loath to try and adjust them as I am without a sewing machine.</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Loath No More! In one of my recent poor-as-a-poor-person forays into Primark [yes, I know, sorry], I picked up a pretty daisy print playsuit that, despite being appallingly cut around the bust, is a really good shape on my lower half. It gave me an idea for re-working my jumpsuit and I have set about pinning and cutting up the legs, the off-cuts of which I plan to use to layer the shorts so I can flounce about in the finished piece pretending I have hips and a waist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Recently I have loved following the second-hand adventures of Marisa at <a href="http://www.newdressaday.com/">newdressaday</a>. She has got the art of re-working down to a T and, despite the fact that I will have to hand-sew everything I do, she has inspired me to give it a go.</span></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786416317229151635.post-36932123249840784312011-03-09T18:54:00.012+00:002011-04-24T14:52:23.456+01:00A tyrant spell has bound me<div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Not so long ago upon a time</span><span class="Apple-style-span">, I became rather enamoured with the pretty, mod-con ease of Tumblr and in a mad moment I deleted my blog, slightlynoodles. A few months down the line and my fingers are itching to write again, and properly this time. For a person who goes a bit weak at the knees for fancy font palettes and techy floaty backgrounds, resistance has proved futile and I have ended up running back to the motherly Blogger bosom after all. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Direction was sorely needed</span><span class="Apple-style-span">, therefore I have conspired with my anti-Masters-studying alter ego to write a blog about my favourite procrastination activity, </span><span class="Apple-style-span">crafting</span><span class="Apple-style-span">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;">In my crafting I worship my nancy, my needles and my n-n... other sewy things that begin with 'n'. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;">Needless to say, this has galloped as far as the Etsy bandwagon, and I have started to set up a shop there that I hope to get up and running by Easter. In the meantime I hope to fill this blog as often as I can with interesting tidbits of crafty fantabulousness, and I hope readers will leave me lots of comments and suggestions that will wash me a-glow with smiles when my alter ego is poised considering life and the view from the edge of the department roof.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;">So dear Blogger fellows, until we meet again, with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;">the wishiest of wishes from a slightly damp and chilly Birmingham,</span><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Noodles </span><span class="Apple-style-span">x</span></span><br />
</div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div style="color: white; text-align: justify;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">[Alas I have not been able to retain the exact URL, so now I am slightly </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">dash </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">noodles, but I think I can control my anti-dash twitch sufficiently enough...]</span></span></div><br />
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</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438455076295993708noreply@blogger.com0