Saturday 26 November 2011

Remind me: have I told you about my failing memory?

Now, I always thought that my inability to remember things from one room to the next was a fault of my advancing age, but apparently not!  A professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame, says that "Entering or exiting through a doorway serves as an ‘event boundary' in the mind, which separates episodes of activity and files them away" and that  "Recalling the decision or activity that was made in a different room is difficult because it has been compartmentalized."  Phew! What a relief!

But this leave me a little puzzled.  As most caves do not have doors, does this mean that cave men never forgot anything?  Did we only become forgetful when we built houses and nailed some planks together to keep out the wind, rain and travelling salesmen?

But I do remember that some weeks ago I said I would show you some of my Christmas knitting projects.  So here we go ....

... plush chenille knitted birds with fluffy tails and wings ...
... and sparkly Christmas tree decoration birds knitted in jewel colours. 

Sunday 13 November 2011

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!

Last weekend the girls came home for a few days so I didn't make any plans - no buying or selling expeditions, walks, drinks, meals or coffees.  On Saturday morning we went to Westfield (with my credit card) and then?  Well, I scarcely saw them because it was very important that they catch up with friends - the friends they speak to every day on Facebook, Skype, BBM and all the other methods of social networking now available to anyone who doesn't find a peddle bin a bit of a technological challenge.

So, having no plans I could get up on Sunday morning and do a little bit of much over-due painting.  These little vintage boxes are destined for Shepton Flea on 11th December.












Now they need a coat of polish.

Also, to show you a few things I found at the back of the garage when I had a turn out ...


Painted wood...




... and more painted wood.  Don't know what this handsome couple were for.  They look as though they ought to be handles for something but the bottoms are solid.

Remember these?

Tuesday 8 November 2011

To Farnham and beyond .....

First of all a belated welcome to my latest follower, Lynne.  Welcome!

Now, last Saturday I went back to Farnham Maltings to do the monthly market.  There I met a very clever lady called Sarah Dodd who creates the most beautiful cards.  When I return to the market next year (there's a frightening thought) I shall stock up for all the birthdays that come along from March onwards in our family calendar.  Sarah is at a market at the Guildhall in Winchester this Saturday so do see for yourself if you are in the area.

Here are some of the things I took to Farnham ....





Some painted bentwood boxes which have gone off to be Christmas presents and ...


these pretty things.  I didn't paint these;  I bought them from a Japanese lady at Chiswick car boot sale who had a stall raising money for the tsunami victims.  She painted these herself and I thought they were beautiful.  Here are some more pictures ....






When I have a chance to take some photos in daylight (big 'aaaaahhhh' please) I will be back with a post about my new adventures with knitted birds ideas - sparkly ones, rich jewel coloured chenille ones and angora ones all done with Christmas in mind.