Still Life

 

I have always enjoyed still life, as an arrangement of shapes and colours. On a more practical note these colourful mini peppers are great cooked in the oven and served with grilled meats. 

Longest Flowering

 A simple print of the heroic calendulas that kept flowering in my garden for months in all weathers. 

Glasgow Gateway

 

This impressive classical archway is in the Calton in Glasgow where I sometimes go for work meetings. It used to be the entry to a market, then a car sales mart and is now an empty lot awaiting development. 

Distillery Postbox

 

I saw this lovely old postbox in a wall by Glenturret distillery we visited near Crieff. I always enjoy post boxes and other street furniture after doing a history project on them as a kid. 

Nerdy Knitting Update

 I’ve been knitting a lot lately, partly after being inspired by the Perth Yarn Festival and partly as I have covid and am bored staying in.

I’ve been trying some new kit and techniques.

I really like circular needles with interchangeable tips so you can knit in the round using fat needles for things like sleeves. Current project: a pastel 80s inspired jumper.

I made some pink fuzzy fingerless gloves using a strand of sock yarn and two strands of fluffy alpaca all held together. Three strands together is a record for me. So warm. 

I hate doing sock heels am making some simple turquoise tube socks which dont have a heel they are just a tube. Good for bedsocks and around the house.

A Plant Lovers Window

 

I love to look at people’s windows when I walk. I especially love a window display or a window full of lovely plants, as here. 

Autumn Update

 Apparently September heralds Autumn which is my favourite season. Appropriately named Fall for my US readers. This heralds a wardrobe update. 

From the online site Woolovers I have ordered a navy waterproof hooded coat and some colourful socks.

I have ordered pinky beige fabric to make some trousers 

And plan to knit a mustard coloured sweater and a blue chunky cardigan. 

I got out my winter nail polishes, pastels gone, rich reds and browns are in.

And light summer perfumes are stashed away in favour of spicy or woody scents. 

I enjoy the cosy, practical clothes of Autumn. 

Allotment Sheds

 

One of my favourite walks is up through the allotments up the road to the top of the hill. I enjoy seeing all the fruits, veg and flowers and there is a fantastic view down over the city to the south. Sometimes I fantasise about having an allotment. 

Plants Project

 

I have been caring for, buying and researching houseplants a lot lately. It has been very hot and knitting is not a good summer hobby. This is a sansevieria, used to be called mother in laws tongue, now called snake plant (more tactful). A new plant I bought today. Apparently houseplants are massively popular at the moment. 

Projects update

 As I have just enjoyed a week off, my project mojo has been restored.

New projects on the go or revitalised include:

Adding to my wine drinking with some wine book reading so I know more about what to try. 

Sewing summer clothes: trousers, jeans and a trendy floral maxi dress

Houseplant care: ashamed to say the outside ones have been getting more attention but I did a mass indoor plant repotting the other day. I am finding indoor plant youtube videos to follow to stay motivated.

Finding art inspiration: I found a copy of Alice through the Looking Glass in Oxfam, with wonderfully weird illustrations by artist and author Mervyn Peake.

Chunkier knitting: there is a sweet spot between DK and Chunky wool where the needles don't make your hands ache. 

Wonderful windows

 

This beautiful contemporary stained glass window is found at my work at Blairs Museum. The centre panel features children’s designs of birds. 

Trevithick travels

 

Last week I visited the Grampian Transport Museum which is really interesting. I used to work there as Assistant Curator/Events Organiser. Outside is a new exhibit; this replica of an early Trevithick steam carriage, which is completely bonkers. How do you even get into it? 

Hobby update

 

Really enjoying experimenting in oil pastel, especially drawing flowers. Feeds into my gardening obsession. I’m back knitting again and trying new techniques and yarns in socks and sweaters. Cracking out the fiction again, currently glued to ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’. I am also getting into more vegetarian food and am enjoying avocados, fried eggs and mini peppers.

More vintage books

 

Two more lovely vintage book designs from the box of old books at my work….

Tulipomania

 

This year I am experimenting with exotic tulips. This is Apricot Parrot and I am also growing a black tulip, Queen of the Night. If you are interested in the fascinating history of tulips I recommend the book by gardening writer Anna Pavord.

Book Design

 

I found this amazing vintage book in a box at my work! I love this cover! 

Nautical but nice

 

I really love seaside architecture and all the paraphanelia of boats and fishing. This small hut is by the harbour in the lovely Aberdeenshire fishing town of Stonehaven. Picture is in a combo of watercolour and sharpie marker.

Cabling

 

My latest knitting project was a bodywarmer with cables. In a hairy beige wool it has a very retro bloke in a shed vibe and is super warm. 

I do like to be beside the seaside

 

The seafront at Broughty Ferry, the Tay Bridge in the background. Walking to the excellent Ship Inn for lunch, Past the old fisherman’s cottages.

New Year, new wardrobe purge

Yes, another wardrobe clearout. Its good to clear out your wardrobe, especially if like me it tends to grow due to making things and stalking the local charity shops. Also it raises money for charity.

I got rid of a lot including:

Overlarge tshirts (if it doesnt fit, it goes)

Pair of cords I made which continually moult red fluff

Red jacket which always triggers remarks about air hostesses from work colleagues

Purple vintage dress with bleached bits underarms and on front

Acrylic jumper which is very matted (wool is better)

Glitter top which moults glitter

And I added a retro leopard pattern cardi ex M&S and some posh tights, both from my local charity shop.

Sewing and Knitting 2022

 I’m working on sewing and knitting plans for 2022. Assuming we are still going to be having lots of home and crafting time due to the times we live in, but hoping for more opportunities to get out and about too.

I have got or ordered supplies for:

Dark green linen trousers

Mauve floral jersey dress

Pale green jersey cardigan

Mustard yellow knit cardigan

Beige aran cabled knit bodywarmer

Interestingly I knit as a hobby (process knitters enjoy the making) whereas with sewing it is all about the end results. I guess lurking by a noisy sewing machine with a teeny worklight just isn't as soothing. My knitting is experimental, but I tend to sew the same successful patterns over and over in different fabrics.

Plants inside and out

 

I liked this view of winter trees reflected in the window of an office at Robert Gordon University. Through the window you can see a fine collection of indoor plants. This is partly a collage.

Gothick Cottage

 

I spotted this delightful gothick cottage with decorative bargeboarding on Polmuir Road in Aberdeen. Ferryhill has a mix of lovely c19th houses, cottages and villas. The knobbly tree on right may be a Camperdown elm. These were found as a variant at Camperdown Park in Dundee and are the only elm resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. 

Knitting Hats

 

I knitted two hats for Alistair. The same pattern but the black one is in a rough but very warm icelandic wool and the blue/grey one in a luxe soft merino wool. 

Battenburg

I made battenburg cake again. It’s a great cake if you like the colour pink and eating marzipan. The cross section is very pleasing. Make sure you use heat stable food colouring or it will be brown.