Undersea knitted and crocheted tunnel for RNLI

I've been meaning to share these pictures for awhile.
This amazing creation is the collaborative work of woollen art called Above and Below the Waves, made by knitters and crocheters from around the world to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. I saw it a few weeks ago at the Stitch and Craft show in Manchester. It truly is amazing; so detailed and interesting, full of quirky features. I could write more about it but I think the pictures really speak for themselves. If you possibly can I would recommend getting to see this in person, there's so much more than my pictures
I'd accidentally turned my camera into Av mode when I was taking these pictures and hadn't realised so they're not all as good as I'd hoped and needed some editing

This is probably the most pictures I've ever put into one post before, I couldn't help it, there are so many amazing details. That large mermaid with all the hair was human sized and absolutely fantastic, I loved her eyelashes. The yellow submarine was super and so like the Beatles. The little mermaid and diver together were so clever, the diver had all sorts of details like oxygen written on the tanks and snorkel and flippers, I wish I'd been able to take a clearer picture. Really, really go and see it.

Wednesday remembering

This is a regular post featuring an old picture of mine, usually from former travels, with a short description of the story behind the photo.

In the summer of 2006 I spent two months in the state of Tamil Nadu in south India. Most of this time was spent with these ladies here. They lived in Arulagam, a women's refuge on the outskirts of Madurai. The women had come there for many reasons, some had left abusive husbands, others had been abandoned and no way of securing income. Whatever the reason, what sticks in my memory, and the reason I chose this picture is that this was a happy place, the women here were friends with each other, they wanted to have fun and wanted me to have fun while I was there.

Things from the internet

It's been ages since I did one of these posts, here's loads of stuff from the internet

I've been reading Nothing But Bonfires for awhile and this lovely post made me slightly teary eyed. I want to write like Holly when I grow up

I'm pretty much in love with this slightly trippy mixed media piece by Sarah Eisenlohr, she makes them with glue and old magazines

 
These pictures are from the ridiculous and hilarious tumblr Cats that looks like pin up girls! (not entirely work safe!)

This Oxford Union debate on whether we're all now feminists sounds pretty interesting. (Also, it's where I met Hanson!)


I've nearly finished making my own ripple blanket using this pattern, I love Lucy's tiny blanket for the red nose day dolls on top of her full size blanket.


True story, I used to do synchronised swimming. I love these synchro inspired patterns by Elizabeth Olwen

In a previous things from the internet post I wrote about how a group of protesters had shut down a power station. EDF energy company who own the gas powered West Burton plant are now seeking damages of £5million. I feel this is unjust. Civil disobedience has been necessary to effect change in so many different political causes from women's suffrage to civil rights, it is part of a healthy democracy and should not be taxed by big business. If you'd like to sign this here petition, about it, that'd be grand.

Wednesday remembering

This is a regular post featuring an old picture of mine, usually from former travels, with a short description of the story behind the photo.

In February 2009 I went with two friend to Dublin for a few days holiday. We'd had a long, dark winter with regular snow but the weather in Dublin was beautiful. We were able to walk around comfortably without coats and there was bright sunshine. We all wanted to see the sea. On our second day there we took the train to Dun Laoghaire (after getting all confused over the pronunciation, and amusing the ticket seller). Unfortunately this day was not as warm or as bright but as we'd come all the way out to the sea front we were determined to paddle. Although it was too cold to take our coats off, we all pulled off our shoes and stripped off our socks to put our feet in the Irish Sea. It was cold!
I love this image of my best friend Rachel leaping across the boulders in her thick wool coat and bare feet, we definitely like to have an adventure.

Sheepish heart yarnbombing

Yesterday I joined in with Meredith's sheepish yarn bombing.
I crocheted three hearts from some orange acrylic yarn that I'd had hanging about, left over from a previous project. I used two patterns one was Attic24's teeny tiny hearts and the other Cherry heart's small heart pattern. I was a bit vague with them both though so some of the hearts are a little wonky.

 I put one of the hearts on some park railings near a school. I hope this one stays for a while and is seen by all the children going in to school. I tried to be a bit surreptitious putting these up and then photographing them but people kept on walking past while I had my big camera out.

 I put this heart, the biggest one on the gate to a local doctors. What better place for people to see a little love than when they're not feeling their best and on the way to the doctors. I was a little nervous about this as it's on private property and the others are both on publicly owned parks. I'll see how long it lasts there!

 This last little heart was placed on railings of a bridge going over a footpath in another park. I'm not sure how easily this one will be seen, it's pretty little and quite low down.
I'm quite excited to go back and check on them in a few weeks time. I'd also like to make some more hearts and keep putting them up. I think it'd be nice to leave a trail of crocheted hearts behind me.

Outfit Post; Purple and Butterflies

 

Do forgive the odd arms here, I think I was trying to rearrange my jumper

 Unusually for me this outfit contained two new items of clothing. I'm not totally convinced by either of them yet. The purpley jumper is made by Boden but I bought it on ebay. I'm not entirely sure about it. I think it may have been washed at slightly too high a temperature as it felt both bulky and a bit tight, I'm not used to wearing things that are as high necked as this either.

 The skirt came from Monsoon at the end of their winter sales, I really like the butterfly and buddlia print and the colours but I don't know how I feel about the mullety hemline. Although it's not very obvious here, the back of the skirt is a lot longer than the front, I think this makes the skirt a bit fancy and I'd wear it every day.

 I tried to do a sort of victory roll type thing with my hair but it's not quite there. I really love my glasses. The arms are zebra print which is pretty fantastic.

I'm also wearing a silk blouse that was my Granny's. I don't know how old it is, the label is in Chinese. From the embroidery on the collar it could be 40's but I think it's probably more recent. I tend to wear this necklace everyday, it's silver with a single pearl and was a present from my friend when I was her bridesmaid.

Jumper, Boden;Silk blouse, inherited from my Granny; Butterfly skirt, Monsoon; Glasses; Versace; Necklace, gift; Boots, vintage.

Celebrating Chinese New Year

I feel like this post could be alternately called "Here are a lot of pictures of fireworks"

Last Sunday, my friend Kathleen and I met up in Manchester's China Town for Chinese New Year Celebrations.We weren't able to get there for the big parade but we had fun watching the fireworks and wondering around the stalls.
Snow  had been forecast, none actually fell in Manchester but it was bitterly cold, we had to keep popping in to cafés to have a drink and warm up. All the restaurants around China Town were really full so we ended up eating Korean food which was quite exciting.

 

 

Fire Safety workers

 

 It was a really fun celebration, very, very cold and busy but really nice to be with so many people celebrating and having a good time.