Pusstaphah's Palace

Stuff. Stuff everywhere.  I'm not just a hoarder, I'm a genetic hoarder. Both of my parents come from families where as much as possible was stashed away, "just in case" it was needed. I'm just the same, I see potential in all sorts of random things and so I keep them for projects that I'll "eventually get round to".  I also adore books.  Not just fiction but practical books, books that need a loving home and have knowledge to impart. I often see parallels between a certain magical orangutan, created by the wonderful Sir Terry Pratchett, and myself.  I can lose myself in a library for hours. Some of you, Dear Readers, will be nodding along in experience. Some, like my minimalist step-parents, won't quite understand and that's absolutely fine - in both instances. This week will see a couple of decisions come to fruition.  I am going to charity shop at least 2 larges boxes of stuff and 2 large boxes of books. I've also had some succes...

I observed a couple in Gateshead Interchange this morning, taking their bags along to the bus stop where the holiday coaches leave from.  Being dragged along behind them was a black canvas suitcase on wheels.  Just like any other black canvas suitcase on wheels. Like the other dozen-or-so black canvas suitcases waiting to be loaded onto different coaches.  However, as well as being obviously labelled, this suitcase had a crafty addition.  Around the handles of this case were some luminous orange tube grips, hand knitted in chunky yarn and stitched around each handle.  So with one crafty step this couple have a more comfortable grip while carrying the case and can identify it easily. I don't know which half of the couple is the crafter but they've given me my light-bulb craft moment for the day and I salute them.  I can't help but wonder if they partake in a spot of knitted graffiti and, if not, then I think they should be encouraged. Do you look...

My lovely friend, the lady behind http://justonechaptermore.blogspot.co.uk/, who also has an Instagram account at @Jst1MoreChapter, has recently had a giveaway for reaching 200+ followers!  Well done to her and can I say congratulations to her followers for having excellent Instagram taste! @Jst1MoreChapter has gorgeous Instagram shots of books, coffee and lovely places.  She is also a prolific reader and does reviews on lots of different YAF, paranormal romance, chicklit and lots of nicely dark fiction.  If you have an Instagram account I recommend you pay her page a visit. I was incredibly flattered when she asked me if I could make something book-related for her giveaway.  Not knowing the tastes of potential recipient, I came up with a crystal bookmark and co-ordinating crystal bag charm. The 3 pendants are a Man-in-the-Moon with a sleeping cherub, a silver book entitled "A True Story" and a swirl pendant with the phrase "Follow Your Dreams" written on...

Tonight's potions-class-style experiment has been a big success!  I am a happy crafty bunny.  With just under a pint and a half of eco soy wax flakes I have made one medium sized jar candle and a couple of soy wax melts in cotton musk fragrance. This is the first time I've ever made candles and I did some quick learning tonight, on top of the pre-creative reading I did via the mighty Pinterest.  The amount of wax flakes needs to be nearly double the size of the container you have.  Once they melt down and the air gaps disappear, the volume of wax shrinks considerably.  I started off melting the wax in 20 second bursts in the microwave but very little was happening.  A quick swap of the candle-making jug to a pan of water on the hob and the process was much faster. Perhaps heating the wax in the microwave helped it along but I can highly recommend the bain-marie method. I added about 20 mls of candle fragrance oil after the wax was thoroughly liquid and ...

Good afternoon you lovely, creative people! I owe you a sincere apology for my lack of blogging since March.  Unfortunately, I've suffered a little bit of a set-back with my mental and physical health over the last few months but I am getting back on track one little step at a time. While I am not a religious person I do believe that I am truly blessed to have incredibly supportive family and friends.  And, of course, very supportive cats. Pusstaphah and Horatio have been wonderfully cuddlesome and my two queens have been royally entertaining. As I'm making progress there will be more crafty goodness, more of the low-down on my little North-East corner of the world and observations on creativity and cat-kind.   Thank you so much for your patience.  Let the blogging recommence! 

Tonight will see my knitting being added to my work bag once again. Yarn, needles or hook have been quite a useful tool in my box of coping skills over the last few months.  I have neglected to bring in any textile WIPs over the last couple of weeks and that will change today. My lunch breaks will once again be woolly.  As someone who has depression and anxiety, I find the tactile action of knitting or crochet to be a soothing experience.  I use simple stitches and basic instructions to prevent my work from going awry and it's become a gentle way of reminding myself to find breathing space during the day and calming my occasionally befuddled brain.  Some yarnaholics love the focus that a complex and mathematical pattern requires, others enjoy the repetition of stitch patterns or the use of colour in their work.  More power to their respective elbows I say! I don't see this as a pattern per se  and I certainly hope I'm not stepping on any Ravelr...

This weekend has been greatly anticipated for a while and the wait has been worth every moment! Some of the lovely ladies of the North East Beading Buddies and I enjoyed a copper clay workshop, hosted at Durham's Velvet Elvis by Dawn, Velvet Elvis's lovely proprietor. Based on Framwellgate Bridge in the city centre, Velvet Elvis is a vintage style-haven, cafe retreat and hotbed of creativity all rolled into one very gorgeous and inspiring package. You can find out more about them on their Facebook page at  Velvet Elvis !  It's been a very long time since I worked with clay of any kind and precious metal clay is something very new to me. PMC can be used to make some beautiful, tactile structures for jewellery-making. Copper clay has a very high metal content with the look and feel of terracotta clay; once it's been fired and the clay burned away the resulting pieces can be burnished to a lovely finish. I'm no David Bailey so I apologise for my photogr...

A bit of local craft action with free entry. It should be a good time for those with kids and anyone who fancies supporting their crafty neighbours!  http://www.civichallstanley.co.uk/craft-fayre/ Enjoy! 

My beloved Brother sewing machine has been given a lovely new home this week. A colleague of mine has sewing projects in mind and it makes sense for the Brother to do what it's meant to do rather than sitting idle.  It means that my colleague gets to start home sewing (Yaaaay! Someone else I can talk about seam allowances with!) and I get some much needed space.   In it's place will be the Janome, the two Singers and the overlocker. Having some hoarding issues means that I sometimes have to make some hard craft decisions and pass along some of my stash. It only gets handed over on the proviso that it does get used and doesn't just add to someone else's space problems. My lovely colleague brought in brownies this morning as a "thank you" for the machine.  I'm taking a couple home but the rest of my work-mates have thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of her labour. It really was very kind of her to do this as I wasn't expecting it.  And I can rep...

... to Pusstaphah's Palace.  I am brand new to the blogging world and I can't lie: I'm terrified! This blog has been started as a kind of exploratory mission, to boldly look at crafts and all the good things that can come from them.  The idea of crafting and creativity as a force for good in the universe excites me, especially when used as a healing tool or to soothe the soul. North-East England has a plethora of craft opportunities for all kinds of people and I'll be looking at some of them in much more depth.  My main interests are textile crafts but I also love beads, candles, art journalling, to name a few.  I also love buying beautiful things from crafters and artisans who sell at local craft fairs. Along the journey I'll be looking at a few observational sidelines but I hope you'll join me as I start my creative journey through Blogland!