A happy wall hanging

There are certain lines from poems and lyrics that really stick in my mind. When that happens, I jot them down in my wee notebook of all things crafty, saving them for a day when they might end up part of a creation of some description.

Robert Browning once wrote quite a lengthy poem called Rabbi ben Ezra which extolls the many benefits which come with age. It starts with this line:
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be.

I've always found it an uplifting thought and decided to make this wall hanging to cheer a drab bit of lounge room.

Good times in London

Last week I journeyed off to London for work and decided to tag on a few day of leisure at the end of the week with my great friend Hilary. Our feet barely touched the ground for four days. We went to the ballet at the Royal Opera House and to the National Theatre in the evenings. During our days we visited the Courtauld Gallery in the beautiful Sommerset House with it's magical skating rink, the Pre Raphaelites exhibition at the Tate Britain and the Hollywood Costume exhibition at the V&A.

We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Spitalfields market where all manner of newly crafted and rediscovered objects could be purchased for the right price. I quite liked this beaut yellow coat stand.

We also trawled Portobello Road market on Saturday which left me with not one but two rugs to haul back north, along with the most fab pair of Doc Martens. London's markets put Scotland to shame but we're making our way ahead and the Edinburgh Drill Hall market this Saturday coming is surely helping to put our craft scene on the map.

Fab shoes on fab new rug

We also made a special trip to Liberty, one of my favourite shops of all time. That however deserves it's own post such was the fantastic nature of the visit. So, in conclusion London left me knackered but smiling and happy.

Those crafty French

Well Paris was fabulous but you'd expect me to say that wouldn't you? One of the great things about the French is their fearlessness I think when it comes to trying something new. A few years ago when I first visited the Palace of Versailles there was an amazing Jeff Koons exhibition in the rooms of the main chateau. It was controversial at the time but it made a big impression on me.

Not to be beaten this time, there was a series of amazing installations by the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Her work is pro feminist and uses many of my favourite techniques such as knitting and crochet, as well as materials I love like old doilies and tray mats. Here's a couple of snaps of some of my favourite pieces- crafty no?

There's a marble lion underneath all that lace!

I spent a good bit of Saturday trawling the flea market at Clignancourt, coming home with a 1937 and 1940 edition of French Marie Claire which I plan to re-craft into something else shortly. Here's a couple of snaps from the markets, well worth a visit if you ever get a chance.

Child's chair covered with Louis Vuitton fabric

Happy Monday everyone!
xx