And this makes it all worthwhile

At the risk of sounding like an old git, when I was a child, people appreciated handmade goods - you were made to! Growing up involved being regularly forced into scratchy jumpers, embarrassing hats and garish cardigans so that the maker could see them in use. It's an etiquette which sadly no longer seems to exist. I may be glad that the ritual child humiliation has died out, but unfortunately it has taken a lovely ethos with it. Handmade clothes, usually made by a family member who belonged to a prior generation, don't tend to be at the cutting edge of fashion, but we were taught that there is love, time and thought in every single stitch. That's something you can't buy, even at Cath Kidston ;-)


All that we were expected to provide in return for all this love and doting, was the pleasure for the maker of seeing a beloved child wearing something they had taken the time to make. It's a disappointment waiting at the end of many a craft project that this tradition hasn't survived.


All this said, you can imagine what a delight it was to receive these photos along with a commission to make another hat in size 3-6 months. A huge thank you to our tiny model and her Mum. Prepare for cuteness overload!

Mixed feelings over a baby cloche

It's always nice to hold with tradition and give something handmade when a friend has a baby, but I must admit that each time I work on a piece for a little one, I have begun to wonder when I will get the chance to make stuff for a child of my own. In the meantime, at least I'm getting lots of practise! 


It is an unexpected side effect that playing the domestic goddess plays such havoc with my hormones, but I feel it illustrates how much emotion I invest into everything I make, and by the time I've finished the project I am always refocussed and looking forward to meeting the new arrival.  I wonder whether other crafters occasionally encounter such bitter-sweetness in producing their labours of love?


This little cloche took a bit of trial and error but I learnt lots doing it and I'm pleased with the scalloped edging. I hope it is a fitting way to say "welcome to the world " to a tiny young lady.

I don't have a special person in my life . . . .

. . . . I have a number of them! But don't groan - I'm not going to turn HAMH into one of those gloaty smug blogs on what is potentially one of the loneliest nights of the year! On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to appreciate what you have, so I planned an alternative valentine's message and some little gifts for friends to make a positive of the day!  

Footprints in the Sand

The more I think about my crafty heritage, the more I realise how much I owe to my maternal Grandma, Doris. I thought perhaps you might like to meet her! This is a photo of us together during a walk on the beach just after Christmas this year, and another of my Grandma and Mum arm in arm. 

Doris's 90th Christmas was the first time she finally allowed us to convince her to take a rest and not to insist on cooking for the entire family, and we had great fun spoiling her for once! The photos captured such a lovely day I decided to incorporate them into framed gifts for Mum and Grandma, inspired by the poem Footprints in the Sand"  which is one of Doris's favourites.

Thanks Fran - you're one in a million

When times were hard last year my friend Fran was amazingly kind and for a time I lived with her in her tiny "microflat." It could have been stressful to live in such close proximity, but actually we had a lovely time which we both look back on with nostalgia. Shortly after I moved in, Fran got a job in her native Cambridge and moved away, so I took over the flat.I really cannot imagine how things would have been if Fran hadn't stepped in to share her little haven in Hotwells. Such kindness deserved a gift which was straight from the heart.and which told her that she will always have a home with me in Bristol any time she wants to visit. I made this little bag, filled it with home comforts, and embroidered it with "Fran's home from home" so she can take it with her wherever she goes and know she will have the essentials.

Here's the result:

Vintage crochet/knitting patterns No. 1

Whilst I didn't feel that these vintage patterns ever qualified for the Museum, they are testament to Grandma's crafty longevity, and I've had a whole lot of fun rummaging through them, or "rooting" as Doris would say (in her Lancashire dialect!).


Here's the first of many I'll be sharing. I wonder if she made (and wore!) this one? I'm quite tempted to have a go!

Party invitations in the style of old skool vinyl records

One of the reasons that I am so happy to craft is because it means that I can create really personal gifts for special friends and family members. That's especially helpful when cash isn't flowing in the right direction. Okay, handmade items can look a bit "wonky" sometimes no matter hard you try. But the people that "get" crafting understand that it takes a lot of love to spend the amount of time it takes to produce something handmade. And that's something money can't buy!


So when my loyal friend Heather mentioned that she was planning a party for her 50th birthday, I really wanted to make a contribution. I have to admit, paper crafts are not my usual choice so this was a bit of a challenge for me. . . .so here they are . . . .

I'm pretty pleased with them, and I think you can tell they are records, but if anyone has any advice for the future, please do comment!


Happy 50th Heather! Now I just have to worry about my outfit . . . . . .