John Peel famously plays The Undertones 'Teenage Kicks' twice in a row

Dog walks and blackberry picking

Whilst out on our walk today, I found the bush where I collect my annual blackberry supply from, ladened with fruit. Although I only had my trusty little plastic bags (doggy poo bags - clean may I add), I made quite a little collection.
So home I trotted, to make some jam.

I picked some apples from one of the trees in the garden, to add for extra pectin (setting agent).

These were peeled, sliced and cored.

The blackberries were put in a pan of water for 30 mins to boil. This was then pushed through a metal sieve into a preserving pan, pushing out as much of the juice as possible. The seeds and other bits were discarded.

The apples were then added to this juice and brought to the boil. When soft enough the apples were crushed using a potato masher.

When the consistency was smooth, the sugar was added. Always lots of sugar.

The jam was gradually brought to a rolling boil, and then tested for its setting point.

The jam was then poured into jars. Ready for breakfast tomorrow!

Planes, trains and automobiles... Well, just planes actually.

I love making Airfix models, so you can imagine how excited I was to find some cotton fabric with an aeroplane print on it. At the time I bought it, I hadn't started making clothes, so just bought enough for patchwork or something small I could whip up like a pencil case.

However, I have recently become hooked on dressmaking after attending a 10 week course. It's quite nice to play around with smaller projects, as it allows me to try out new techniques such as applying bias-binding, sleeves, working with stretch fabrics and elastic etc.

So, back to the aeroplane fabric.
I ummed and arred and finally decided to make a simple 60's style top. I found and downloaded the pattern here http://www.coletterie.com/colette-patterns-news/free-pattern-to-download-the-sorbetto-top

However, disaster struck when I discovered that both pieces needed to be placed on the fold, which meant I was about 25cm short of a front & back. So after much deliberation I plummeted for a light-weight linen fabric for the back. I wasn't sure if this would look ok, but thought I'd give it a try.

I think I'm quite happy with it, although I might try adding some darts in the back (to give it a more fitted look), if I make another.

The front has a box pleat down the centre, I added three vintage buttons.

I can always wear it when making my next Airfix model.

Widecombe Fair - Uncle Tom Cobley folk song - a Devon yarn.wmv

Agar Man

I've always enjoyed playing with anagrams. Whilst trying to come up with a name for my Etsy shop, thought I'd have a go with seeing what I could come up with by creating anagrams from certain words.
My favourite was from the word nostalgia of which I got again lost

quite beautiful

Image taken from a 1950's scrapbook I found at a car boot sale

When I discover objects and ephemera at car-boot sales, charity shops and house clearance sales. I often wonder where those objects used to be. What stories could they tell? Who did they belong to? Did they do a job, or serve a purpose. Where they hand made, such as the image above, which is a collection of hand cut out images taken from magazines, birthday, christening and wedding cards, tokens from birthday cakes such as silver keys and candles, or just oddities of found ephemera.

Sometimes I feel sad when I discover boxes, which could essentially be someone's life in a cardboard box. A little piece of nostalgia evoking images of the past. These objects are again lost, lost in a box, on a collapsable table top just waiting for someone to come and find them. Someone who they can tell their story to.

This reminds me of The Foundling Museum in London, UK. http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/collections/the-foundling-hospital-collection/

I will continue this blog post later...

Setting up shop

So, after 2 years since I first registered my name on Etsy, I have finally managed to get my act together and start actually doing something about it. It's not as simple as it sounds either, especially when you're as indecisive as me.

It's taken me days to even get as far as deciding on the all illusive name for starters. This proved to be an extremely painful process which ended up with me going round in circles and literally driving myself mad. Finally I have it though and here it is in all its glory....

What? I hear you say. Who is Uncle Tom and why is he Cobley? And who's the lady in the picture?

All will be revealed...

Now the name is sorted, I have to think about other things too, such as very important things like how people pay me and how I get it to them and not forgetting 'what am I actually going to sell in my new shop'?

Here's a few things which I've got planned:

• vintage plate cake stands
• hand felted baby booties
• collaged pendants from found photographs
• paintings, illustrations and collages
• handmade children's clothing, with a twist
• homemade candles and soaps
• sock creatures AKA Mutants
• handmade collaged badges
• screen printed T-shirts, bags and tea towels
• handmade knickers and clothing accessories
• crocheted and knitted things, but not sure what as yet...
• whatever else may take my fancy along the way

A lot of the things which I sell will have their own story to tell, so keep watching this space for more updates.