Perfect for halloween in may

A few months ago I made up a little song about how I could feel summer coming. It annoyed boyfriend so I kept singing it.

"Summer's coming, I can feel it"

And I can feel it. That is why I knit myself... a scarf. Okay so it basically got cold enough to wear my woollies for two weeks this past winter. It is a mild climate here and I had a physical job in a freakishly heated place. So I didn't really need a scarf but now.

Now it's a baking south west summer. But I camp and summer is the perfect time for that. And midnight is not the perfect time for nipping out for the loo.

So it's helpful to have the gloves and scarfs by the sleeping bag (I sleep in the hat). When I pull my self out of it in middle of the night, desperate to pee it won't feel so bad.

As a bonus this scarf is so bright anyone can see me coming. Yes the idea for this scarf was conceived staring at a wall of brightly coloured acrylic in the 98p shop. And say what you like about it nothing takes up the colour of freakishly bright orange like acrylic.

It's a ball of black and orange dk weight, 100% acrylic a total of £1.96. Knit in a chevron pattern alternating the colour every other row. I continued until it was boyfriend height (6'1" and a bit) And god is it trashy. I love it.

From the Garden...

I'm attempting to keep our laundry sweet smelling with the dried flowers of a rescued lavender. It took me the entire length of an episode of Gilmore Girls to sew this together so it isn't incredibly impressive. Two circles of leftover fat quarter, decorated with spare buttons whip stitched together with the occasional seed bead. It smells lovely, too bad its new home is the linen draw.

Sample Science

Darwin in my boyfriends favourite scientist. He changed the world, he watched nature, he was a nice bloke and they both did badly at Cambridge. This year marks his 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species. A number of things are happing in the UK. The boyfriend has been enjoying the specials on the BBC. I designed this Darwin sampler two nights ago and have been stitching furiously since. Boyfriend is very happy with it and we're going to hang it in the office. I like it too. I was thinking of offering it for sale, possibly as a series. What do you think?

A beginners guide to acting

Often it's hard to feel like you are truly doing something in the world. It's even harder, once you feel inspired, to start.

How is it that you can make a difference? How can you stop the council from removing trees from a park? Where the hell do you find a feminist book club? I don't have a clue. So I turned to books for the answers.

How to Save the World in Your Spare Time is written by environmental activist Elizabeth May. It is based on her Democracy 101 lessons given to Canadian activists. There is an unmistakable Canadian bent but a UK reader will still find it useful.

The tag line on the back 'Got five minutes? You can save the world!' reminds me of an old Guiders joke. An old advertising campaign asked people to volunteer one hour a week. Considering most Guide meetings last longer than that without mentioning planning and residentials most volunteers found that insane. Indeed the last chapter is about the joys of devoting your life (that is, all of it) to activism.

Still it inspires you with ideas, advice and tried and tested techniques. There is guidance on starting a group, writing press releases, creating petitions and even such topics as civil disobedience.

Although this book is written from the perspective of environmental campaigns it can be used by people pursuing other issue. Although I suppose loggers may be put off.

My second book came firmly from a feminist bent. Jennifer Baumgardener and Amy Richards' Grassroots: A Field Guide for Feminist Activism.

It's definitely inspiring but isn't quite as full of practical advice. Some of the same ideas are covered such as how to start a group but the focus is more on how to find activism in your everyday life rather than making activism your life.

It has a narrower audience too. The narrative created by the chapters is very American (and, I'm told, middle class, New York focused). It takes us from activism in high school, college, the workplace. But a scatted, unfocused chapter is also included on activism and art.

Throughout the book pieces of advice are broken up by people who have actually tried them. Sometimes it went well other times groups fizzled out or the person burnt out. This is fantastic to hear for anyone who ever wondered if the activist was super human.

I'm left feeling inspired by both works. Grassroots offers me the advice I need for working on an individual level and How To Save The World... gives me advice for achieving the impossible.

I'm glad Grassroots said there was more to do than write letters, donate money and volunteer. It makes me stop feeling like a bad feminist for not being able to afford £5 a month for the Fawcett society. Although I do wish the more simple, elementary things like how to write to representatives were covered. But if you are looking for ways to get involved both books give plenty of ideas.

And following advice I'm planning something fun for International Women's Day.

Award winning embroidery

I designed and stitched this piece for a festive competition on Creative Torbay. And I won. I don't know if it was because I was the only person that entered or not but I did win.

It's largely inspired by the falsity of celebrating Christmas early, in a hotel in Devon. Not a profound though but I hope it's an amusing picture. I'm especially proud of the pudding. 

A Sunday on the sewing machine

There is something scary about the fact that I moved here without my fabric stash and yet I’ve managed to build up a big enough one to think that I want to make a handbag in bed one morning and have it done without leaving the house.

I made this on Sunday out of the fabric leftover from the ruffles on the reconstructed skirt, the black fabric in the flower is from the trousers cut up to make it as well. That trim I bought on the card at Totnes and the button is from deep in the stash.

The bag fits the book(s) that I carry about with me and the length of the straps means that it dangles above my bum without me having to worry. 

Small Progress

When I found this pattern on vintage transfer finds I had two thoughts in my head. One was oooooh mini quilt and the other was oooooh cute. So I printed it off and picked up some fat quarters in a British seasideish theme. It thought it fitted the boy bears stripy jacket and… well I live at the British seaside.

I’ve finally finished the embroidery. It’s mostly chain stitch with satin stitch for the jacket and seed stitch instead of flowers on girl bears dress. The flower in her hair is a wonky lazy daisy and some French knots. And yes that appalling handwriting is mine.

Now all that needs to be done is washing, ironing, cutting, patching, quilting and hanging. Check back in about… well you know what I’m like.