Given the day I’ve had (swimming costume shopping with a poorly toddler was only part of it), I’m going to let Wikipedia explain it to you if you haven’t already groaned or clapped to show your approval or dread.

As students, we had a series of truly amazing Eurovision parties. There was flag-making, fancy dress, ballots, international buffets, soundtracks and an exhaustively detailed drinking game. We even had a party where people bid for (or against) the opportunity to host the next party (there was Powerpoint)!

I’m secretly hoping to one day resurrect the tradition, but in the meantime, or if you need a helping hand with your party, you can order a complete kit. From decorations to recipes, cocktail ideas to bingo, it all comes ready to print. Click the photo to see all the goodies you can get!

It might be a little late for this year, but be sure to get it in ready for next year!

I got a surprise when I consulted my diary and discovered that I had a craft fair booked for this weekend. But it didn’t take long for the shock to wear off and the excitement to kick in, and now I’m raring to go.

You might remember that I was at Trafford’s Taste of Christmas Market in December and Trafford’s Taste of Spring in April. This will be my third outing at the lovely covered market from 11am-4pm on Sunday.

Altrincham Market

I’d love to see you there, I’ve got some new things I think you’ll like…

It comes courtesy of my dad, who saw it in New York (I think).

The Clock – 2010

The concept is simple to explain, but fiendishly difficult to execute.

The artist (and helpers), Christian Marclay has edited together 24 hours of film clips in which clocks and watches or mentions of time appear, in real time. The film is then synchronised with the time at the venue where it is being shown. For instance, in February 2011 the film was shown in New York and London at the same time and so when New Yorkers were watching at 10am Eastern on the screen and their watches, Londoners were similarly co-ordinated at 3pm.

Pfew, it makes my head hurt just trying to explain it, let alone make it! Go have a look and tell me what you think!

Stop motion animation, history, fonts and papercutting!

The History of Typography – Animated Short from Ben Barrett-Forrest on Vimeo.

1. It was a Bank Holiday and the sun shone
2. I hung an exhibition of my work in a building not owned by a parent of mine
3. I took a 2 and a half year old with me and…
4. The entire process was completed in only 2 hours 20 minutes, including an ice cream break (see 1.)

Trove is a lovely little cafe in Levenshulme which is directly across from my other favourite place in Levy, the antiques centre. It’s welcoming and lovely and minimal  in that way that you only thought possible on Pinterest, and I’m thrilled to have a chance to put my work up for the month of May.

I made a few series of food-themed work, which I’ll show you in more details later.

This is just a quick tour to make you realise that your life won’t be complete without a coffee and gorgeous handmade pastry (or proper sourdough bread and scrambled eggs) and a look for yourself and maybe leave a bon mot on the hashtag notice board.

How can you resist?

I had a lot of fun tucking pieces of work here and there, a bit like a treasure hunt!

Get it? Treasure…Trove?

I found myself a lovely frock for a friend’s wedding (to be worn with my rocket ship fascinator found on a previous Friday Find)

Emma Dress by happie loves it

and a bag for Dragon now that we’re only carrying around four emergency changes of pants and trousers instead of nappies!

Orangutan Satchel by Paw Prints London

You have to click through and see the other lovely animals, I couldn’t choose so I made Dragon decide!

Despite the helpful attentions of a curious toddler, I think it came out rather well.

There was a lot of cutting out of petal shapes and leaves.

Then, there was curling with the edges of scissors and hot glue, lots of hot glue!

The pattern I used (link below) gave options of printing the flowers in colours, so I went with a very pale pink and cream.

They looked quite ethereal against a white wall.

Getting it into a bouquet was a bit more difficult, but with the help of a toilet roll tube (that’s always the answer to a craft conundrum), it came together quite nicely.

I used this template and instructions to make the bouquet (combined with whatever I remember from disassembling my wedding bouquets). If you try it, I’d love to see how you get on!

The course is on Saturday 6th May and runs from 11.00 am – 4.00 pm (with a generous lunch break!).

For more information, please see Purl City’s site.

Typography Print by Empire Silkscreen on Folksy

The funny thing, is I have had need for this more often in my Pilates teaching than in my embroidery.

…that I’d finished it on the 24th of February and entirely failed to notice!

…and I kept going!

Not with a bang but a whimper, as they say.

All in all, it’s been a good year of clearing out, it doesn’t feel like I’ve got rid of much (or maybe it’s just not a project one can finish) but I’ve made a few large changes (double edged razor, Mooncup, a low-’poo odyssey and oil cleansing) which I’m not sure if I would have made if I hadn’t had reduction on my mind.

My plan for this year was to get through the 6-ish quilts I have on the go, but a rash of particularly fecund friends means that I’m not getting much closer to that goal!

I’ll keep you posted on my progress, does anyone fancy taking on the 365 Simplicity mantle?