Patchwork yearnings

Do you know what I've not done for a while? Patchwork. I feel the inclination welling deep within, I really do. I feel it bubbling and sizzling and welling up. I shall casually flick through my Kaffe Fassett books tonight and see if I feel inspired by any shapes. Mooncalf left me a link ages ago to this blanket by the Purl Bee (I mean, don't anyone feel nervous or anything, but I never forget a comment) and I'm wondering if I want to do some kind of grey + BRIGHT! modern geometric patchwork thing. I've got some grey Liberty print hanging about, actually. And I'm sure I could find a couple of bright contrast colours. Hmm, off to think. In the meantime, what comes to your mind immediately when you think patchwork? Quilts? Cushions? Lovely hippy clothes? Of course not.

If you can't hide it, make it a feature

Dustbins. Here in Cambridge we have a thriving subculture of dustbin art. It's because our houses are very, very small, and our Council's recycling ambitions are very, very large, so we all have three enormous dustbins which we have to fit in somewhere in our tiny gardens. Someone down our street has painted a very realistic cat on theirs an I often see stripes and flowers and things like that. I sometimes look at those stickers with flowers on you can buy online but then I look at the prices and decide they are not my top priority.

Sadly the contrast means you can't see next door's attractive drainpipe

And the sunset looked pretty earlier. This is the view from what we laughingly call the study. One day I want to make some setting sun mittens. In the meantime I'm trying to get better at my stranding and learn intarsia (have you seen these intarsia designs? I love them. Look for the sheepy mittens) and researching sunset colours. It may take a while.