Crafts - what you do while waiting for your hamster to get out of bed 😉

[Maz]

Ooh that looks lovely - very clever

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thank you

 

[Lovelyness]

Doing well with that Lace knitting takes a lot of concentration Are you using a lifeline?

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thank you Yes, some crochet cotton as safety. I'm (very) gradually getting a bit better at reading the knitting but I do spend a lot of time staring at it, muttering ...yarn over, knit, yarn over umm... Still, I'm enjoying it. My instructions are on the YT site of So Woolly who has lots of videos and patterns to follow. I think lace can be a short cut to a nervous breakdown if you try to hurry

 

[Lovelyness]

And never ever watch TV while doing lace knitting…a recipe for total disaster lol

 

[Socks' Mum]

Its strange that once wool was cheap and clothes were expensive. Home made clothes were fashionable.

 

[Maz]

It is strange isn't it. I suppose as more and more man made clothes and imports made things cheaper, wool prices went up. I think it was central heating becoming common that might have made the difference. Even in the 80s not everyone had central heating. It was an "option" on a new build. Once everyone had it (just about) people didn't need such warm clothes. Knitting clothes became a hobby rather than something practical. And everyone's lives got busier ............ Working hours got longer, more stress etc.

My mother used to make our clothes and knit them.

 

[Socks' Mum]

It is strange isn't it. I suppose as more and more man made clothes and imports made things cheaper, wool prices went up. I think it was central heating becoming common that might have made the difference. Even in the 80s not everyone had central heating. It was an "option" on a new build. Once everyone had it (just about) people didn't need such warm clothes. Knitting clothes became a hobby rather than something practical. And everyone's lives got busier ............ Working hours got longer, more stress etc.

My mother used to make our clothes and knit them.

Amazing how things have changed

 

[Socks' Mum]

Very beautiful, they are such graceful birds

 

[Maz]

Wonderful photos of the grey heron - they are quite hard to photograph that close up It probably is the same one - they tend to come back to the same spot every year. There used to be one lived on the river near our previous home and he (assume it was a he) was there every year. I wonder if they have a mate? There only ever seems to be one!

 

[Maz]

Lovely! Oh goodness people unconscious in the park! Have you seen the gardens and wildlife thread? That one is popular for photos of the outdoors etc

Gardens and wildlife

It’s bluebell time 😍

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Socks' Mum]

It's a beautiful park. Perhaps the wildlife is benefitting from the absence of people

 

[Socks' Mum]

Well the book nook is slowly making progress. It is doll house like, but too tiny to use as a dolls' house. It is more like a 3D picture or a puzzle, but very intriguing and addictive. You can't take the plates out to give them a wash or a shine or dust around the interior, but it is lots of fun and quite difficult, not to be underestimated I think. Here I am waiting for the tacky glue to dry and installing the wiring for the lamps (if everything goes OK)

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes Putting the tiny pieces together is really fascinating. You sort of go into a tiny interior world. I look at (real) red brick walls in the sun outside and think, how would I glue those in place?

 

[Maz]

It looks wonderful - so is it like a miniature doll's house?

 

[Eric65]

While I wait for my little hammy to put in an appearance, I'm normally doing something. Either reading, writing, watching a film or playing games. I do hear her during the day in her nest, either eating or doing a bit of decorating

 

[Socks' Mum]

It looks wonderful - so is it like a miniature doll's house?

I think it is rather like a picture mixed with a jigsaw puzzle, but they give you instructions as you need to do everything in sequence. But once it's glued down and the little curtains are drawn and the doors and windows glued in place, you can't take things out and exchange them for other things or play with them like you would with a dolls' house. For instance, putting out the Wedgewood and candles for your Victorian dolls or little Christmas decorations. So you can't play with them, but it is pretty and intricate and fascinating. It is also very good therapy for impatient, clumsy people like myself to slow down and be mindful and escape into me time

 

[Socks' Mum]

I can smell the coffee and hear the bell tinkle as you open the door of the book shop

 

[Socks' Mum]

Would you like a coffee ️ or a cappuccino?

Perhaps a nice coffee, thank you

 

[Socks' Mum]

Perhaps a nice coffee, thank you

Do you mind if I read my book?