Studio Still lives

46 degrees Celcius- that's how high the sun climbed today. That's 114oF.

Due to this volcanic episode, the majority of my afternoon was spent laying around in the bathtub reading Bleak House. And by 'laying around' I mean crammed into a porcelain bread bin with water almost covering half of me- why are tubs of this century made for midgets?

The cool change came through in the evening though, with much rejoicing- and my brain came back online. I finished a wrist cuff and best of all for you, took some pictures of my new studio space!

It's the corner of my bedroom technically- I haven't found much hampering in going from having a whole room to spread out in down to a corner; it's really amazing the way I can cram my 16 metric tonnes of earthly craft possessions in any size room, tardis-style.

I'm piling everything on view- because I'm the kind of person who forgets she has something if she can't see it all the time. So far I've not finished unpacking everything, there will likely be a lot more stuff; every time I turn around there's an unpacked box grinning at me from the floor. I haven't even hung pictures yet!

All these tins, boxes and containers hold secret things to be incorporated into my craft- Victorian buttons, war-time hook and eye fasteners, shells from African shores, 1930s fur hooks...


Here are a couple of works-in-progress...I'm almost sure 'follow me' is done, there's just something missing. It will sit quietly on my desk until the perfect part presents itself.


And one last thing- in what is perhaps the most inopportune moment for me to suddenly need to spend too much money, I found the most wonderful pair of vintage pumps at the thrift shop last week- in my size! Do you know how hard it is to find nice shoes in my size? It does not happen.

What is even more rare is that I found a pair of 'spice boots' 5 minutes later- two pairs of shoes in the same day! They're a little bit like these but with wide straps instead of laces, and no fur. They make me feel like a Spice girl Jedi, they're utterly ridiculous, very comfortable and I sort of love them. Why do we find wonderful things right at times when we really can't afford them?

I'm saving for England...I'm saving for England...