Get Creative

I've often written here how much I enjoy getting creative, using it to relax and recharge but also to give a great sense of achievement, even to ensure I have a present to give someone without having to go shopping. I also think there is something wonderful about the hand made and the one-off, especially when we are surrounded by so much that is mass-produced.

Many may say that they are not creative but I beg to differ and am delighted to see that the BBC launched a new year-long campaign this week called Get Creative. It's all about highlighting the creativity that happens throughout the UK on a daily basis and celebrates art in all forms.

If you are feeling in need of inspiration then do check it out - from watching Johnny Vegas make a tea pot in 60 seconds to the VanGoYourself campaign which challenges you to recreate a famous painting, or the more practical info on finding local courses where you can learn new skills or perfect your creative talent. And don't say you don't have any creative talent because you do - you are human!

My week has been seen me complete yet another appliqué blanket, this time for a friend who saw the first cot blanket I made and declared that she was tempted to have another baby so that she could have it. I thought that a little extreme so have made her a blanket in her signature colours of red, white and blue so she can cosy up under it on the sofa.

I'm also knitting a scarf for a colleague but ran out of wool. Today has, therefore, seen me out on a shopping expedition, not only for more wool but for materials for three more blankets - yes, it's almost becoming a production line! Anyway, the shopping was pretty successful and I'm itching to get started. Mind you, the knitting ought to be my priority or it will be soon be too warm for this scarf to be worn!

Lighter Nights and Night Lights

I have been rather obsessively monitoring the times of sunrise and sunset since returning to work after the Christmas and New Year break. It's almost as if I believe that the closer attention I pay, the earlier sunrise will get and the later sunset will be. However, I'm pleased to see that the longer days have become so noticeable that I have almost given up checking the times. I've even managed to cycle home from work on a couple of occasions without the need for lights and that's brilliant news from my perspective.

It therefore seems a bit ironic that I'm about to showcase a couple of night lights that I've made. Mind you, however light the morning and evenings get, the night is always dark - at least in my bit of the UK - so perhaps there is always a call for night lights after all?

I'd always rather liked the idea of a solar-powered night light and really liked the Sun Jar that appeared on the high street a few years ago. When it first appeared the cost was around £40, which was a bit steep for me, so I set about trying to see if it would be possible to make one myself. Well, how hard could it be? A clip-top jar and a solar light, right?

Please may I present what it's possible to do with an Ikea jar (£1.25), can of Plastikote glass etching spray (£6), a Wilkinsons' solar garden light (£1.25), and a small bit of clear silicone sealant. Oh, and a circle of kitchen foil to really maximise the light!

OK, so it doesn't quite have the warm, bright glow of an authentic Sun Jar, which is why I called it a Moon Jar. Fortunately my godson is fascinated with the moon and so it went down a storm as his birthday present last year. The only catch is that his parents have to remember to switch off the light (a handy switch inside the lid) and put it on the windowsill of his bedroom every morning to ensure it's fully charged to be turned back on again when it gets to bedtime.

I'm also not convinced that it has the staying power of a Sun Jar - it certainly won't stay on all night - but I have to say, I was pretty pleased with my attempt.

Last weekend I set about making a completely different sort of night light. This one uses a kit along the lines of the lampshade kit that I have already featured. The kit contains materials to make three lanterns, designed to be used with battery-powered tea lights (the real deal with naked flames are an absolute no-no!). My friend had spotted them when ordering her own lampshade and I was tempted to buy a kit for myself, without really thinking through where, what or for whom I may make them. However, it wasn't long before inspiration struck. I could make one into a night light for my godson's little brother who is about to turn two. 

When he first arrived home I presented him with a string of bunting spelling out his name. I had some of the fabric I used left over so thought I'd use this. It took a matter of moments to assemble, possibly helped by the fact that I had already made a few lampshades and this was much smaller and easier to handle. Again, I have to admit to being pleased with the results. Let's just hope it is equally well received as a present next month.

I'm planning on turning the remaining materials in the kit into DIY lantern gifts for a couple of eleven-year-old girls I know, so that they can make their own.

An Antidote to Modern Life

A few weeks ago I realised why I find making appliqué blankets so satisfying. I came across an article in The Guardian by neuroscientist, Daniel J Levitin titled Why the modern world is bad for your brain. I'll let you read the article yourself but to recap very briefly, modern technology has enabled us to multitask to such an extent that we have become addicted to it. And this is bad!

What is good for our brains is to spend a decent amount of time concentrating on one task. This is exactly what I do when making a blanket. It involves just enough concentration to keep me focused, but not so much that it is taxing.

Firstly, there is the need to cut out all the fabric shapes that are to be sewn onto the blanket. This is probably the bit that uses the most brain power. Which fabric to use for each shape and making sure you iron the Bondaweb onto the correct side of the fabric.

Next is to decide on the size of the blanket and cut the fleece accordingly - a bit of concentration and accuracy required there.

Once done, you get to use a bit of artistic flair as you decide on your design. Since I was making a blanket featuring my 'birds on a wire' design I had to mark out the lines and sew them in place first before positioning each bird and ironing it in place.

The process of sewing the birds in place can be a bit mind numbing - a couple of hours of guiding the sewing machine around the edge of each bird - but since my normal working day involves a ridiculous amount of multitasking, I'd say taking my brain to this place is probably a healthy move. Once in my stride I can pretty much zone out and this is where I may have actually done a bit of multitasking. That is if sitting at a sewing machine and listening to the radio can be considered multitasking?

That done, the final step was to pin a hem around the edges and blanket stitch it in place - a quiet few hours on the sofa. Bliss!

After all that, not only did my brain feel restored but I had created something from scratch. Supremely satisfying. Not least because that's my niece's birthday present sorted without having to spend hours traipsing around the shops!

Knitting on the radio

There are many things in life that I enjoy but two of them are BBC Radio 4 and knitting. So imagine my amazement when I stumbled across a section of the BBC website dedicated to knitting and Radio 4!

Not only does it feature a list of ten reasons why knitting is good for you, but it showcases some amazing knits from listeners. Apparently, a call went out for people to knit the Radio 4 schedule. And, oh my goodness, they did! From Farming Today through to the Shipping Forecast I urge you to take a look.

There are also links to radio programmes that celebrate knitting and even some free patterns: the official Woman's Hour tea cosy; and a Today Programme jumper.

What's not to love. Thank you BBC!

Meanwhile, I'm knitting a scarf for a colleague as I watch the Australian Open Men's Tennis Final. What a good way to spend a Sunday when it is bitterly cold outside!