Creations

Lily and RosieHere I am wearing one of my creations, holding my sister’s beautiful creation. If I had known I was being papped I would have smiled. I’m having a very bad photo day: there’s not much more ignominious than getting your photo taken in the chemist. I don’t know why I do it: always appalling results.

This top is the first piece of clothing I’ve crocheted for myself. It was not difficult but some aspects of the pattern were a little difficult to follow. I didn’t get much assistance from Rowan Yarn when I asked them, so the edges turned out quite wonky hence the belt. You can get all the details from my project on Ravelry. including yarn and links to where you can buy the pattern. You can also see how it turned out for other hookers.

In this picture we’re in the cafĂ© of the Royal Hibernian Academy. We were there to check out VUE, the annual art fair. It was amazing to be able to see the work of so many different artists curated by so many different gallery owners. I understand that this exhibition previously took place in the RDS but the RHA strikes me as a much more pleasant venue. We were there to support my common law brother John O’Reilly and my actual brother Blaise Smith of course but I have to say I was totally smitten as usual by Patrick Redmond’s work.

VUE is finished up but I would recommend a visit to the RHA just off Stephen’s Green where there is always someting inspirational to see in a beautiful space.

Wednesday WIP

Work in progress. It’s a great phrase. It’s all action and forward motion. I like to think of my life as one big work in progress. That’s why I called this blog One of these days… One of these days the work in progress will be finished.

But you know what? Other work will always be there to take its place. A while back Keith Bohanna recommended a book called “Getting Things Done” (not directly to me, mind!) and as I was always impressed with his modus operandi when working with him I thought I’d give it a look. I picked up a copy before my leave between finishing with the IIA and starting with Prosperity. I got a fair bit done on my holiers. I didn’t actually get the book read! It’s a work in progress.

I also look on my body as a work in progress and thanks to my childbearing of recent years it’s definitely been a work in progress. A friend recommended Couch to 10K and I’m on week 4 so far. It’s going well but a new pair of runners has destroyed my heels with blisters which makes it very difficult to get going in the morning.

Finally I’ve had a few crochet projects on the go. I created decorations for a farewell plant for my colleagues. I also gave them and my mother iPhone cosies. I’m also just about finished a little cardigan for my gorgeous new niece – another fabulous work in progress. You can see the beginning of the first row below. I had planned a beautiful blanket for her. You can see that I started it below. I had to frog the whole lot as they seem to say online. Rip every last stitch. It just wasn’t right. So that’s another work in progress.

I’ve also had to rethink the wedding present I’m working on as it was also not turning out as I expected. So all in all lots of work in progress!

And I haven’t even mentioned the garden this time round! What works in progress have you on the go at the moment? Anything you are especially excited about? Go on, tell all!

Buy Night Time Walking all over the place!

My sister Abigail Smith‘s debut album, Night Time Walking, is now available to purchase online on CD Baby, Amazon.co.uk and iTunes (this last link will open your iTunes if you have it installed).

If you are in Dublin and wish to support a local record store you can pick it up in Road Records on Fade St. It is also available from Dublin’s Tower Records.

Here’s Abigail about a fortnight ago. She called in to see her new niece AGAIN and sang this beautiful new song that she wrote for us. (Recorded live in me kitchen using the Qik live app for iPhone) She first sang it for me on my birthday at her gig in Odessa in February. I love it. She has written beautiful songs for all three of the nippers.

This second video was recorded live at that gig and uploaded using to Facebook using my Qik Video Camera App for iPhone. Nifty eh?

Vote, vote, vote!

My sister Abigail Smith has been nominated in Most Promising New Artist 2010 in the Meteor Music Awards. It would mean a LOT to her to do well in this competition so please take 10 seconds to vote for her.

You can find out more about Abigail on her MySpace including news of her upcoming gig as part of the Odessa Sessions on 18th February 2010. I hope to be there to celebrate my birthday but it all depends on whether Nipper 3.0 (Beta) decides to celebrates its birthday around that date too!

Over to Abigail singing Oh Sam in a video created by Adena Rice as part of the Hot Press/ Tisch School of Film award last year. Abigail told me that Sam represents inspiration in this song.