six and a half stitches

FRENZY

There's something brewing in the coffee cup of the crafting world...something pretty hot, frothy, definately tasty, and probably quite addictive in all it's polystyrene cup fullness. A range of people, a delectable selection of topics, and a pretty neat site to add to your daily list.

Whip Up. Launches Feb 1.

35 THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME

I enjoyed Lisa's list of things about her you don't know for her recent birthday, and thought I would steal her idea for my birthday.

1. I have citizenship in 3 countries.
2. I take chinese herbs everyday (ok, most days)
3. I cannot stand the taste of chinese herbs.
4. When I was a child I desperately wanted to be Laura on Little House On The Prairie. Desperately. Either that or Holly Hobby. Something about the bonnets and running down hill through dry grass....
5. I have a brother (!!). Really, I do. I realised on my trip last year, that I never mention my brother, and people had thought I was an only child. I'm not. He's younger than me by 2 years, is a landscape architect, works in Shanghai, and is getting married in October to a chinese lady.
6. I have a mother and a father, and I never mention them either.
7. We will hopefully go to Shanghai for his wedding.
8. I once spilled an entire packet of tomato sauce in my hair in primary school, and stank of tomato sauce for the rest of the day. I can still smell it...Please don't ask how tomato sauce got squeezed on top of my head.
9. I have just signed a book contract for a lovely book which will be published in October - Hooray!
10. I failed my driving test twice before passing.
11. I am terrible at crosswords.
12. I love japanese food.
13. My favourite colours are red, grey, black, and white
14. I don't own my own sewing machine, but I hope to finally buy my own one this year. I have a fantastic MIL who owns 4 of everything...
15. I am a night person, not a morning person.
16. I have never been in trouble with the law, although I was questioned numerous times by Police over a high profile murder many years ago.
17. My favourite program on tv at the moment is the UK Top Gear. It makes me terribly homesick for the UK.
18. My favourite city is Strasbourg in France - there is the best chocolate shop there.
19. When I die I want to be cremated, but the thought of being burned scares the hell out of me.
20. I get frustrated that I'm not doing stuff, or achieving stuff, but most people can't believe I do everything I do manage to do.
21. I sold shoes for 10 years through high school and University.
22. I love shoes.
23. I love newness.
24. I always wanted to learn to fly a plane.
25. Personalised stationery is a must. Thankyou Mav.
26. Coffee. Anytime. Anywhere.
27. I have a growing collection of Tiny Showcase prints which I never blog about.
28. I wish I lived in Liberty's. I used to go there at least once a week when I lived in London
29. I have had one major operation in my life - the first time I have ever spent time in hospital other than A+E
30. I was born at home.
31. I wanted to have Max at home as well, but decided the small flight of stairs up to the flat, and the size of the flat wouldn't be so good if anything did go wrong.
32. I would be a happier person if spiders and snakes did not exist.
33. I am constantly amazed at the freindship and generosity, talent and creativity of people in this lovely blog community.
34. I always say please and thankyou.
35. If I wasn't an architect, I would have liked to have been an archeologist.

INTERIM DESIGN MEETING NO. 2

Present:

Six And A Half Stitches     - 6.5st

Blogland                           - BLG

Meeting held at 6.5st Headquartes on Jan 26th 2006 at 10.00am. NIL Absent.

CJ.01 - 6.5st reports extensive sampling process of J+S product has been undertaken and has now achieved sign off.

CJ.02 - Successful tenderer has been notified, and product procurement was undertaken last week.

CJ.03 - Site work has commenced, and work appears to be progressing well.

CJ.04 - 6.5st noted concern over sub contractors lack of shop drawings for details to neck opening, but was assured by SC that details would follow shortly. 17cm deadline - ALL NOTE.

CJ.05 - 6.5st tabled Progress Report No. 1, see attached. Apologies noted for absence of photographic progress, but all agreed hand drawn sketch indicative of actual progress.

6.5 st noted dissatisfaction of outside sub contractor to break the camera. Outside sub contractor noted camera would not have been broken if camera had not been left on corner of bench in direct line of travel of sub contractors overly large stomach as they attempted to gain 6.5st attention that they needed feeding immediately or they would die. 6.5st refutes claim outside contractor would die if cat food was not administered immediately, but accepts part blame for lack of working camera. All agreed camera would be dully fixed.

These reflect an true and accurate record of this meeting. Signed and dated............................

Further meetings to be held as required - TBA.

NOT SO QUIET CORNER

The opposite corner to last week. A Jasper Morrison Low Pad chair in black leather, the only piece of loose furniture in this corner. The wall behind is built in shelves from the previous owners, which we have crammed full of books, design magazines, food magazines, knitting books, cushions (not sure why cushions, but there are cushions there), bits of motorcycle parts, probably some toys, definately some toys, speakers for the stereo, japanese and chinese ceramics, and loads of clear glass vases and large bowls on display. The windows look out onto the back garden, and a great Lillipilli(?) tree left by the previous owners which we nurtured back to health, a load of fairly tangled bushes which are coming out soon, and all the neighbouring trees which add depth and shade for us without us upkeeping them.

I was going to take a photo of the lamp from last week all lit up to show the full effect, but I broke the camera. Sorry.

NEKO UPDATE

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE::

Sometime early this morning Just A Cat came back over the fence and stayed in the garage until we woke up. It is such a beautiful feeling to be woken by your husband putting little lost cat next to you in bed. She's ok - a little spooked, wary, but physically she seems ok. The relief - enormous.

A number of you wrote about stories of cats coming back after large periods of time, and I've been repeating those stories to myself all weekend - so thankyou everyone. Your thoughts helped bring her back, I'm sure.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I've been checking my email regularly through today, because your comments and wishes have been some of the things getting me through. Neko is still very much lost and missing, and I'm completely distressed and distraught. Yes, I know she's just a cat, but she's not just a cat either, and her going missing has been the last straw for an already very stressed person. I keep feeling I've let her down, myself down and the breeder down by somehow contributing to her going missing because she got outside. But I have to also be realistic and know I have done everything possible to get her back, and make people aware she is missing. I've walked up and down streets and lane ways calling her name over and over this weekend, I've letterbox dropped a leaflet, I've posted posters on poles and telephone boxes and bus shelters, and talked to a smany neighbours as possible. I've searched the house numerous times. I've registered her missing with the main vet and animal hospital which is linked to other close vets. I've called all groups I need to call, and am pissed off some of them aren't answering their phone, but that's unfair, and just me frustrated. I just have to let time do it's thing now, and hope and pray she comes bounding over the fence very soon.

Oh god how I hope she comes bounding over the fence really soon.

LOST

Lost. Very Distressed. Hoping she'll walk back in the door any minute. Need to find her quickly, it's too hot out there for a lost cat. Can't stop crying. Not enjoying this much.

QUIET CORNER

The most uncluttered corner of the house, and has always managed to remain so. This is how I would like to live, as opposed to the chaos of how I actually live. This is quiet, and serene, filled only with one beautiful Michael Sodeau lamp which throws the most amazing light reflections across the room, and one bright circle of light out the top onto the ceiling. A very centred circle of light. The fact it is woven rattan work is not lost on someone who likes to fold and manipulate fiber. I bought this light in London many years ago and it is still one of my favourite pieces of furniture. At the time I wanted to get the entire range of sizes and have them all grouped together like scupltures, but one alone can work just as well. I kind of like the idea that if I look at this long enough, the sparseness of it will permeate into my head and dull the stresses of this week.

You can see more corners here.

INTERIM DESIGN MEETING NO. 1

Job No: 10603 Charlie Jumper. Client - Max

Present:

Six and A hHalf Stitches     6.5st

Blogland                            Bgld

Absent: NIL

Meeting held on 16.01.06 at 8.00pm at 6.5st Headquarters.

CJ.01 - All agreed product procurement would be by performance based specification as noted in following. Material :: to conform to image sample held by 6.5st and located in the Charlie and Lola book I Am Not Tired And I Will Not Go To Bed by Lauren Child. Drape:: To be defined as 'consistent with a 2 dimensional cardboard cutout as seen on Charlie'. Colour and Texture:: to conform to red and orange coloured pencil, medium to heavy weight pressure of a slightly blunt Faber Castell, as shown on control image held by 6.5st.

CJ.02 - Manufacturers have been sourced via a strict process undertaken by 6.5st:

• Opal Gems and Slightly Nameless Angorra - Discounted on basis red Opal Gems did not meet performance criteria noted above and ply unravelled numerous times throughout sampling process.
• Tierra Wool - Initially forwarded as a viable substitute through nominated suppliers M-H, but discounted towards the end of an extended sample process due to niggling concerns on behalf of 6.5st.
• Open tenders called for through web based procurement process followed through. See seperate excel spreadsheet. All Note.
• Jamieson and Smith 2 Ply Jumper Wool forwarded by outside tenderer not currently listed on web based EOI register. Sample selection forwarded shows early indications product will meet required performance standard. The chocolate accompanying the sample card and sample wool from 'Yvette' did not sway the designers choice - All Note.

CJ.03 - 6.5st agreed to sample specified colours in bulk over next week and agreed final decision will be made based on results to be tabled at next meeting. Initial view is sampling of Jand S wool will be accepted. All agreed time now imperative for meeting deadline without further Notice Of Delay being issued.

CJ.04 - 6.5st awaiting feedback from relevant consultants regarding sampling equipment sizes and final product dimensions before commencement of construction.

Next meeting scheduled for 26.01.06 at cafe down the road.

These minutes reflect a true and accurate account of the discussions in this meeting. Signed and dated.

CIRCLES AND BUBBLES

A few months ago I wrote a very heart felt piece about a quilt. You can read it here. I started it with much anticipation - Oh the wonderful mother I would be! Oh the love my son would bestow upon me! Oh the sore legs I had on the floor piecing the thing together. I did an update a few weeks after I started, here (and the photos have dissapeared, sorry). And then there was silence. It got pushed aside for more pressing things, paid work, and my real job, and a little trip, Christmas etc etc. But somewhere in the quiet chaos which is the Christmas break, I picked it up again. And the circle stitching was therapeutic. And they grew, and grew, and each time I looked up I seemed closer to the finish.

I'll be honest and say NEVER AGAIN WILL I HAND QUILT ANYTHING LARGER THAN A BABY QUILT because this just goes on forever and ever. But I do conceed that machine quilting this would have looked wrong. And it has been enjoyable to hand quilt, but I wish it would be quicker.

Max loves it - he loves the bubbles and circles and the fact it's for him. He wants it finished. My new deadline? His birthday at the end of February.

Le Yoyo

To those of you who wrote to me, thankyou. I know I closed comments, but I really did appreciate those who wrote privately.

I got through this week. And as a result I feel a little clearer, although the sadness and anxiety which has descended hasn't lifted much, I feel a little more 'even'. In the past I've spoken openly about depression, and particularly Post Natal Depression, but this time, I've just wanted to go away somewhere quiet and have my own space, and not talk to anyone about it. Which is possibly the worst thing you can do - bottle it all up, but it's the only thing I've wanted to do and I'm sorry if I don't elaborate more. I missed writing here. So I'm back. But you'll have to forgive me if some of the posts are jilted and a little lack lustre because the va va va boom isn't all there right now. In the background though, I have been plugging away at a few things, some of which I can show, and others I can't, and some I want to show but the raw materials are somewhere in a postal sorting office. I'll get to them all, soon.

Does anyone want to come and clean my house, and fix the toilet seat which has magically broken in the last 24 hours?