Octopus Dress

Dear Laura,

I finished my octopodes (thanks Wendy) dress, yipppeee! I am so excited, it feels so extra special because it has both you and Sabrina (Wolves of London) weaved so tightly into it. I was extra careful with everything I was using because I didn't want to waste a single bit of fabric or ribbon. I just about managed to keep the octopuses the right way up and didn't cut too much measuring tape ribbon so I can have enough for a belt. I just realised when I said finished I meant half finished with some small seaming and hemming to correct as well as a belt to make for it. But well, I have no patience so I wanted to show you. I apologise for the wrinkles, I have been wearing it a lot and have been sitting all day, it needs an iron.

There are a ton of things I need to correct but I love it, I even wore it to work (and will continue to do so). There were lots of positive comments but my favourite was "Annie, you aren't just an engineer, you are an artist!" extra marks there, that will be the first sentence on my CV from now on.

Lots of love

Annie

The View From Where I Blog

Dear Laura,

As you know the lovely Sabrina over at Wolves in London has asked us to show her the view from where we blog, your view is utterly gorgeous over on Circle Of Pine Trees. Natalie over at Slate Grey, Lime and Hay has a brilliantly surprising view and so now it is my turn... Unlike you and Sabrina who write so beautifully, I am not a writer, I really mean not a writer, I am a mathematician by training and an engineer by trade. There is a cherry tree that dominates our back garden, I am a little obsessed with its beauty and photograph it all the time, this is what I see when I blog.

As well as barbecues, bees and building works

The red cardinal that sometimes comes to visit

The flowers on my kitchen table bathed in sunlight

When I blog, I blog in the kitchen generally on a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee, happy to see the weekend in and glad of the potential it will bring. You were right Sabrina, there are indeed bees in my blogging view as well as barbecues and building works, and right now there are the luminous new leaves filling the sky. We are gradually gradually building our world around us.

But my favourite view is a view I have no picture of, from the same spot in the evenings were I keep R company as he cooks, and I knit, crochet, hem with a glass of wine as the delicious smells of supper surround us. This is where I am happiest, in these quiet moments of the day.

Lots of love

Annie

Crafty blog tour & giveaway

Over on Circle of Pine Trees, I am taking part in the Crafty Magazine blog tour. Do pop across for the chance to win a copy of Girls Night In, the latest craft book by Hannah Read-Baldrey. You will find my review and the giveaway here.