Sunday 7 November 2010

Artisan Feature: KOALACaddie

I want to give a more detailed review once I have received my new caddie, but here are the pictures to start with. I'm so excited! :)

Friday 21 May 2010

That's my boy!

Just a little personal moment. This is my son, Daniel. He is all of seven months old today. It's amazing how much he has changed from that first moment I saw him until now. He recognizes me. He smiles at me (he smiles, period)! He almost sits up and plays and bounces in his chair and holds his own bottle. Little Daniel, I am so proud of you!

Thursday 20 May 2010

The Beauty of Local - Glandwr Bakery

I'm featuring another local company. This one definitely deserves recognition. I now know that when bread is really good, it needs nothing - not even butter. There's only the normal ingredients in their white bread - flour, yeast, salt, water - and yet they combine these four ingredients to create a bread so light, so crusty, so soft, with a salty buttery goodness of its own - better than other bakeries, and I don't know if it's even right to write the word "supermarket" in the same paragraph. It's a family business, and as is always the case in this town, my husband's parents and grandparents grew up with the family that has owned and run this bakery for eons. (My husband's parents and grandparents grew up with everyone in this town, and know everyone, and because of them, everyone knows me!! Very hard for a city slicker like meself!)


I'm afraid I'm not very good at describing taste, so the next time you're in Llangefni, Wales, you'll just have to go there and try it for yourself so you can see what I mean.
Here's their address:
Glandwr Bakery
26 Church Street, Llangefni, Gwynedd LL77 7DU
p: 01248723172  

Wednesday 19 May 2010

I'm already thinking about Christmas

There. I said it. Christmas.
Well, if it weren't already the middle of May, and I weren't wanting to make gifts, I'd be okay. But I am, so I'm not.

I am at a loss for what to make people this year. My brother has headed back to Alaska, so I know he's always up for cold weather gear. My sister's in Florida, so something light and airy and made of cotton. My parents are in Tennessee, so they're ok with warm things. My husband's family are in cold weather too, but it's so much harder making things for in laws... So much more pressure to impress. Not that any of it matters anyway - even if I'm buying gifts I feel that pressure.

Even with the stress of what to make, one thing is for certain, I love a handmade Christmas. We didn't have one last year for one simple reason - we could actually afford to buy presents. It had been a few Christmases since we'd been able to buy gifts, so this was a nice change, but now - affordable or not - making is much nicer. I've had a couple grand ambitions - learning to make soap (which hasn't happened), and making knitted socks for everyone (oh I'm learning to knit socks, but if you think I'm going to make everyone things that require a magnifying glass and 86 hours each (sock), I've got news for you! )

So it's back to the drawing board. And, since it's baby season, and I've still got two blankets to make for friends, at least I will be accomplishing something while I ponder. But, I'd better not ponder too long....

A Few of My Favorite Things: The Perfect Knitting Bag

I have been drooling over this bag for the longest time. It's beautiful - country but totally stylish. And yes, perfect for knitting or crocheting. Why? The inside drawstring pocket. It's the main center part of the bag, plus there's sections on either side of the drawstring pocket for whatever else you might need. My problem with most bags is, well, zippers, of course, and velcro, and the lack of separating the yarn from the rest of the things you have to carry with you. See, I carry crochet projects with me everywhere. (Who doesn't?) And I don't want my yarn interacting with my keys or my hairbrush for obvious reasons. This bag solves that problem. I hope to get one before long, but I take alot of yarn with me so I'll want one that's a little bigger. Plus, I just love big bags!

This, and other gorgeous bags like it, and lovely baby quilts, are made by WoodenNeedleNook on Etsy. Check out her shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodenNeedleNook

Dreamaid.com

Just want to give a shout out for my new favorite handmade site. This site is special because it promotes handmade artisans of lesser economic countries - including giving them the help and tools they need to sell their wares online just like the rest of us. It's really worth having a look.