In which my seahorse is famous!

Hi blog.  Sorry it's been over a month since I've posted anything.  Here's a thing - you can look over when I post here (and when I don't) and get a fair idea of my mental health.  The old black dog's been hanging around for a bit - British winters aren't conducive to the happy.

 Anyway!  The seahorse that I made for the last Phat Quarter is up on Mr X's site here.  Woo!  Also, how lovely is brodwaith's bumblebee?!

In which I conquer some socks

I taught myself to knit last year.  I've done baby blankies and cardies do far, but I really wanted to knit socks.  Hand knit socks look so cool, and socky friends tell me they are really warm and comfier than shop bought.

But all my attempts so far have been a disaster.  With one pair I got as far as the toe before realising I'd got my calculations wrong and knitted a sock for a clown.  Or Bigfoot.

BUT BUT BUT this time I got it right!  Followed a simple pattern from my big DK Knitting Book and got it all right!  They are lovely and comfy and I am so proud.

In which I embroider a hand

My cousin moved into a new flat recently, so I embroidered her a little Hand of Fatima as a housewarming pressie.  It was also a chance to work a piece entirely in split stitch, which I've not done before.  It's a lovely effect! 

In which I write to my MP

I wrote to my MP today, and posted his #imapiece jigsaw piece.  Here's what I said to him:

I’m one of your constituents, and I’m contacting you in the hope you can help be a part of solving world hunger. 

Along with hundreds of craft-lovers across the UK, I’ve got involved with Save the Children’s Race Against Hunger campaign. We want to use our hobbies to make the world a better place.

The world has enough food for everyone, yet every hour of every day 260 children die as a result of malnutrition.  Race Against Hunger is asking David Cameron to use the G8 hunger summit in June to invest in life-saving interventions to prevent malnutrition in children.

So, we’ve been making jigsaw pieces which will be added to form part of an art installation – ‘I’m a Piece’ - for Save the Children, and raise awareness about  Race Against Hunger.  The idea behind the jigsaw is that we are all part of each others’ lives, and actions that we take in the UK can change people’s lives across the world.  The ‘I’m A Piece’ installation will open at the People’s History Museum in Manchester on 1st March, and travel across the country in 2013.

We’re also writing to our MPs and sending them a fabric jigsaw piece (please find yours enclosed) to encourage them to become part of the solution to world hunger.

I’d like to encourage you to write to David Cameron and ask him to use the G8 Summit in Britain to push for ambitious plans to end the global hunger crisis.   You can read more about the campaign at www.savethechildren.org.uk/rah, and see the jigsaw pieces that other crafters have made at www.imapiece.craftivist-collective.com.

In which there is a pug

I've been keeping up with my New Year's resolution to draw something every day.  Yesterday I drew a pug.  Whil I was drawing it I thought it looked a bit cartoony, a bit like a paranoid gargoyle, and then I looked back at the pug and remembered that's just how they look.

In which I petition my MP

As part of the #imapiece project, I've created a jigsaw piece for my MP.  I want to send this with a letter explaining what the project is, and how he can make a difference.

Thing is - should I send it now, or when the I'm a piece jigsaw artwork is complete?  I want this to have the biggest impact it can, and it would be cool to be able to show that this jigsaw piece is part of a much bigger project.  What do you think?

In which there is knitting

My best friend from school has just had her first baby - yay!  I wanted to make her some goodies, and decided to test out my new-found knitting skillz.  I taught myself aboutt his time last year - so far I've made a baby cardi, lots of swatches, and I've started knitting lots of socks.  And screamed at the socks.  And then unravelled the socks.  I have problems with socks.  So for this bebe, I knitted a blanky in a forest green, easy care wool.  I think this is basket stich?  With a crochet trim.

I also sewed some baby booties, and painted a card showing the stork bringing a baby who's holding a Reading FC flag - mum and dad are big Reading fans!