Merry-Go-Round

Each month, a group of craftswomen from around the world join together and give their responses to the same question...this month, our little poser is:

'What's Your Next Chapter...?'

I've been clearing out kitchen cupboards today - they really needed it - and much as it is a dull and tedious job, sometimes, it simply has to be done, doesn't it? All that stuff...clutter...dust...disorganisation...it can all get a bit too much, I think. The time has arrived for me to take stock, clear out and clear up. And I feel better for it.

This is a perfect way to describe my life at the moment, as it happens. So much is going on around me; lots of jobs keep calling to me; new skills need to be learned and I just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. But it is hard sometimes to make changes...necessary changes.


De-cluttering: throwing out the old and making way for the new.


So what does the future hold for me? What will be new, and what will be cast out? Well, the woodcutter's empire is growing. That's a good thing! A really, really good thing. Our future's looking eco-friendly, rustic and wooden.
The Log Basket is exceeding all expectations and our energies have to be channelled. I need to develop a sanders' hands and lumberjacks' muscles. I also have to don a secretary's head and get stuck-in to that lurking headache called paperwork. What do they say? A cluttered house is a cluttered mind? I'm taking steps already...

As for de-cluttering, I think really I mean 'paring down'. Stitchery is very important to me - it is something that is truly 'mine'. Stitchery gives me time to think; it provides that creative outlet that I love; it really becomes an extension of 'me'. I hope that I won't have to leave it behind. I hope that there is room in my life for logs, paperwork, taking pictures and textile explorations. I think a work timetable will evolve and some things will give whilst others take my time. And it will be okay....

Thank you for reading! Please take a few minutes now to read about what the future may hold for my fellow merry-go-rounders - just click on their links in the sidebar, but do remember that we are all in different time zones so posts will appear at differing times.

This may not be stitchery....

...but it keeps me busy!

These are our decorative logs, installed in an alcove of a gorgeous, beautifully converted barn. I love the contrast of the wood against the chalky white walls, and the gentle colouring of the naturally occuring shaded rings at the ends of the logs (they are not stained or treated in any way) add just that little bit of rustic texture.

Today, a big batch of logs are making their way to their new home - a Zizzi's restaurant. Lucky things....

So, I'm sanding log upon log upon log....

images from my flora flickr set; mosaic created via picnik.

...and I have a slight tendency to get a little...bored.

I've found a solution. Have my camera to hand, take a few minutes' break with some fresh air that isn't filled with sawdust, wander about a bit, snap snap - ready to start sanding again. Works every time. Logs, anyone???

Not much stitching going on in these parts.....

A Snapshot for Sunday

(image enhanced using picnik)

Well, you hear me talk about logs more these days than you do about my textile work! I just thought I'd show you what we're all about. This is a photo taken of our logs being used as part of a 'log wall installation' in Zizzi's restaurant, London. Yum.

That's all for today...hope you're having a lovely, lazy Sunday.

Something New...

Just a quickie to show you the new Edwardiana Cowl collar that has been popped into my shop during the early hours of this morning.

Talking of which, I read a forum discussion once about when exactly was the right time to post new items. I read about people staying up all hours to post at the optimum time. But when is the optimum time....worldwide?! Etsy is, of course, an American site - but the USA doesn't have just one time zone...I tend to do mine at about midnight. Why am I not tucked up in bed??

*created with flickr toys

Perhaps you'd also like a sneaky peek at the woodcutter's new shop?? Currently, gift boxed candle sets are available - but they'll be added to, and you'll also be able to fill up your empty alcoves with clean, stripped decorative logs. Yum.

Busy Bees

Log City. The new name for our abode. Log City.
Phew! Logs coming out of...well, everywhere!
The Log Basket is currently fulfilling an order for a major restaurant chain (revised: for display purposes - walls of logs). The woodcutter has built a huge kiln to dry the logettes out - there are a couple of thousand of them in need of a jolly good baking. The fire is stoked every hour...it feels very primitive, squatting down at the Alice in Wonderland sized mini doorway, feeding yet more logs and twigs into the embers. The woodsmoke has a fabulous aroma, that fills the air around our workshop. It's hard work, and we are indebted to my father-in-law for all his help over the past few days. xxx

What else has been occuring? Well, more textile jewels are underway, but the light was far too poor to take any decent photos. Another job for tomorrow....

Logs, Logs, Glorious Logs...

Second post of the day! I must be keen...
Need any decorative logs around your home?? An alcove to fill, maybe? Okay, less of the sales spiel.. If you're in a curious mood, why not check out the woodcutter's brand spanking new website that launched today? It is new, like mine, so any comments are more than welcome - especially if you find a glitch or two (but hopefully not).

A Quick Catch Up For You...

This is what I've been up to whilst I've been away...not very much sewing going on, is there? Actually, that was really the point. I had the last two weeks of the girls' summer holidays off, so that we could spend time together properly. It was lovely!

We didn't 'do' a huge amount, really. We had some rather slow mornings...which often crept into the afternoon ...that almost turned into complete 'pyjama days'!! No harm in that, is there? It's just what holidays are about in my book.

We saw some old friends, we read a lot, we drew a lot, we sat round watching a few films with the biscuit barrel nearby (naughty!), and we felt sorry for the woodcutter. Yes, that's him in the pic, third row down on the left. Carpal tunnel surgery. Not uncommon, I know, but as florcita commented (on flickr), ouch...ouchouchouch! The picture of the spider's web is there because the first of September dawned, and despite the gentle glow of sunshine (for an hour or so, anyway) at 8.30 a.m, there was certainly the feel of autumn creeping up on us. Crisply clear, heavy with dew and a weeny nip in the air.

Those gorgeous flowers were sent to me by a fabulous friend...who doesn't love the feeling of opening the front door to receive a bouquet...especially when it is a complete surprise!!? Afternoon tea in the Pump Rooms, Bath (glorious!) was enjoyed by all of us - both girls have since been heard playing 'teatime at the Pump Rooms' (eldest always has to be Daddy), so I think they enjoyed the experience!!

So what of the wooden sculpture? That's a huge boar, which was built in the grounds of Taurus Crafts, Lydney...and then burned, in a pagan-esque ceremony at dusk. Youngest made a lantern, of which she was very pleased, and we joined the throngs on the sidelines, lantern alight, to watch it burn. Something quite intoxicating about a jolly good bonfire, isn't there?

Finally, we're rather proud of our decorative logs - for sale on ebay - and this is a pic taken for use on our upcoming (though not yet live) website, The Log Basket. Exciting!!

Hope you all had a good summer, despite the awful weather. Just think, Christmas is just around the corner!!!