Details

When the house is, ahem, a little messy and there seems to be a list of mundane things to do that gets longer rather than shorter I find that focussing on small but pleasing details can help. Displacement activity it may be, but I found it fortifying this morning before I rushed off to strip the beds, load the washing machine and clean the bath before starting commission work.

This is my favourite spot in the house, our mysterious little window. Both the willow wreath and the marmite embroidery are mementoes of very good days.

As my crochet skills develop a little (this is a shawl - too ambitious perhaps?) I've realised that there's a bit of a risk of me becoming a yarn junkie. Specifically I have developed a slight dependency on Manos del Uruguay silk blend. Oh good grief, the colours! The self-marling! This is the Europa colourway. Don't look too closely at the tension. I think there may be a few issues.

There is cheery evidence of a recent birthday and an impending outdoor party at the Cambridge Botanic Gardens. The summery colours bely the dismal weather forecast though. We may have to rearrange and have an indoor den party under the dining room table.

My feverfew has self-seeded throughout the garden and is about to flower. I'll get several months of simple but beautiful daisy-like clusters for popping in a vase, without having spent a penny. Joy.

I've been working on some simple-ish everyday pieces for my etsy shop. Tiny 19th century keys, mid century and handmade silver buttons, collections of gemstones, recycled glass & 1950s beads whose colours echo my shawl and simplest of all, a tiny garland of 1920s pearls from a broken necklace I rescued from a junkshop. I taught myself how to add a pearl to a chain almost sixteen years ago. My hands know the small movements so well and as I add each one and build up the little fringe of pearls I imagine the feeling is similar to that of a knitter who has returned to a familiar stitch, yarn and pattern.  

Edited to add: two places have just become available on my upcoming silver clay workshop, Saturday 22nd June, due to cancellations. We've been impressing sweet cicely and ground ivy leaves from my garden into the clay in my recent sessions - the results have been rather lovely. 
Drop me a line on emma at minniedog dot co dot uk if you'd like to come along.