Summer Holiday Narrowboating

When one of my sisters invited the entire family on a narrowboating trip this summer I was the first to say yes. I've always marvelled at canals and canal boats, but a week before, fear set in. We've never been on an extended family holiday and 11 of us were about to live in eachother's pockets in the most squashed conditions imaginable and hey this is Britain, rain was inevitable. All of a sudden I wanted to abandon ship before I'd even boarded - was this going to be the worst holiday ever?

With scenes this stunning...NEVER!

The week we picked was one of those magical summer weeks where England really is a green and pleasant land (unlike the conditions under which I am writing this - grey skies and it's tipping it down!)  

I felt at home straight away. Ok it was a bit rustic (we ran out of water twice, electricity also had a tendency to reduce in the evenings and the bed reserved for me was the kitchen table (which converted rather impressively)...but that stuff was minor when the rest of the experience was so much fun.

For a start I never knew cows drank canal water.....something you'd only know if you were living the canal life.

Other than having to moor up frequently as locks approached,

and having to open and close locks,

....there was nothing much to do other than relax.

Here's what we got up to whilst doing just that ...

Country walks

Lots and lots of geocaching

(Finding treasures like this)

Picking blackberries directly off the the canal route - (our version of foraging)

Which we turned into yummy dessert (ok, one of my sisters did - not me, I just ate it!)

I thought I'd knit more but actually the views were so incredible I was occupied just looking out and taking it all in.

We went on duck watch and duck count...

...make that dog watch too - there are so many dogs aboard canal boats.

On one of our stop off day trips we met a mini pig. 

Charlie our family monkey felt at home too and we  encountering quite a few of his relatives on route - turns out monkeys love canal holidays.

We also saw a few knitted Rosie & Jims - the ultimate canal mascot.

Played board games aplenty.

Found a secret garden,

and managed some outdoor fitness.

 I also lay on top of the boat one midnight and watched meteor showers - a seriously cosmic experience and something I'd never be able to do in London.

By the end of the week no one has killed eachother - (obviously there was the odd bits of annoyance but no major arguments.) It wasn't exactly 'family bonding' but it was nice to spend time together and not just the few hours at birthday parties, which we normally manage. I had a chance to talk to everyone - nieces, nephews, brother-in-laws, sisters....that in itself made the experience one to treasure.

As for how I feel about canals and narrowboating now...I love them even more. Not sure if I'll have the opportunity again (apart from holidaying in Kerala's backwaters which is on my bucket list), but it truly was a worthwhile experience and a fun summer holiday. 

We picked up the boat (from a company called Anglo Welsh) from Great Harwood and spent a week exploring the East Midlands, a part of the UK I've not been to before. We did the 'Out & Back' route, which meant we travelled a certain distance and then travelled back on ourselves, this was recommended for beginners (no one had driven a narrow boat before). It was a learning experience; the first thing you learn is that you won't get as far as you think you will - canal life is slow but that's something to embrace rather than stress about.

There were several bedrooms on board, two toilets, a shower, fully equipped kitchen, two areas that converted into beds, a TV, DVD and CD player, even towels so it's easy to feel at home. We cooked on board every evening and took picnics out at lunch . 

It was a holiday of simple pleasures but then simple things are usually the best.

Fancy trying a narrow boat holiday? I'm happy to answer any questions, leave me a comment or check out the company -we got our boat from here.

Happy August Bank Holiday everyone!

Help Me Fund My Next Craft Book!

I recently started a Crowd Funding Campaign on website Kickstarter to publish my next craft book and now have just until the end of the month to raise £3.5k to help me do this project.

Buy why do I need to ask people to donate money? Well, I'm going to try and explain more...

Back in 2012 my book 101+ Things To Do With Glitter was published by Vivays. After I handed it in and was awaiting for it to be printed I started on the follow up, a title about ribbon. But sadly the publishing company went into liquidation which promptly stopped production and distribution of the glitter book and stopped my ribbon book (which by that time has been all written and the projects made), from progressing. 

I dedicated over a year to the book, unpaid, so couldn't bear to see the work remain just as a file on my computer. I then waited a further two years for legal decisions to be made and for the old publishing company to be bought by  a new one - this eventually happened but they no longer wanted my book. 

I looked into various options as to how I could publish it myself and eventually digital publishing made the most sense. My plan is to create a digital craft book for Ipad and tablet but one that's also available to purchase as downloadable pdf.

The most important part of the book is that is showcases the work of independent UK Maker/Designers, who have designed the projects that feature in the book. This isn't a vanity project to help me publish another book with my name on...I have long been a supporter of creative talent in the UK. I used to edit a Craftzine as I strongly believe in giving people platforms to showcase their work, especially as otherwise they wouldn't get a chance. This is my way to help them.

Papercrafts section: Notebook by Carole King

The projects in the book fit into four categories: fashion, interiors, gifts and papercrafts and here are some examples of the types of projects in the book...

Fashion section: Ballet socks by Nadia Kamil

Woven cushion by Agnis Smallwood

The £3.5k I am trying to raise will go towards design and photography and turning the book into a digital format to make it available, as well as extras like sending projects back to the designers, photoshoot travel etc. 

Crowd funding is a method that allows you to raise money for your own projects but it's an all or nothing approach so if I raise £3.5k it means I can make the book, if I raise less than that then I won't get any of the money that has been pledged..

Currently I am spreading the word through social media and emailing friends but at the moment still feeling nervous about whether or not I will reach the target (current count is £726).

I have joined up with graphic designer Kara-Jessica Mallet to help me on this project and together we are trying to do as much as we can to raise awareness and get the book made.

All the details about our campaign are on our Kickstarter page which you can see here. 

If you're reading my blog and like what I do, I hope you can spare a few pounds to help me on this mission of mine, every penny can make a difference in reaching our target. 

Thanks so much!

Momtaz

Sunset In Brighton

When I was at sixth form college I (like most 17 year olds) used to cover my folders with pictures of my favourite bands but there was one girl in my year who stuck photos of sunsets on hers. She liked carrying sunset around with her. At the time I didn't think much of it, sunset was sunset - the time my parents would pray and so my sisters and I had to turn the telly off.

As I got older things changed: I am now obsessed with sunsets - I've even had various shades of sunset coloured hair; but nothing beats the real thing. Last Saturday when I was doing my Christmas shopping in Brighton I looked up at the sky and this is what I saw....

The most beautiful sunset I've ever seen in the UK. It spread across the horizon without anything obscuring the view. I found a chair, sat down and watched it for 30 minutes as it went through a palette of pinks, purples and oranges. Utterly Amazing. 

Sometimes It's OK To Do Nothing

Holwell, the quietest place I've ever been

'I can't. I'm busy.' I find myself saying this on a daily basis whether it's true or not. Nine times out of 10 it's true but if I tried I could reschedule, de-prioritise and end up not doing it if I really didn't want to; trouble is I am the kind of person who is always doing something - never nothing. On this blog I only record a 1/4 of what I get up to. I have countless posts piled up waiting to be published but most will never see the light of day - like weekends in Sweden, Malta and France and even a last minute seven day trip to Kenya (though hopefully that one will surface at some point), as well as craft workshops, social events, life experiences, dos and celebrations, even recipes...

There's so many things I do that I then want to write about but these days I can barely keep up with the writing I need to do for my day job, let alone get a chance to write for pleasure. So the idea of doing nothing just doesn't apply, I mean how can I do nothing when I have so much to do?

The only sound I heard other than crow cries was the squeak of this sign in the breeze

This weekend an opportunity struck and I decided to give in and give it a go: Do Nothing. I checked into Middle Piccadilly a Rural Spa Retreat in Dorset where 'doing nothing' is the preferred way of life. There are no distractions (wi-fi or internet - even my 3G was down), no TV, no radio - not even any newspapers to remind you of the stresses of the world.)

Accommodation is in a restored 17th century cottage and food is served fresh, vegetarian and healthy. The only souls you'll speak to are your therapists - massages, wraps, spa treatments are all part of the pampering, nurturing and relaxing experience. Other than turning up to the kitchen at mealtimes or being ready for your spa sessions there is nothing else to do.

There was a choice of a Detox liquid diet, raw food or vegetarian but I went for  a mix of all three

So what does one do when faced with the ultimate in Me Time? Being in the countryside and with two days of gorgeous, bright, crisp, winter weather led me to embark on three walks around what can only be described as the quietest place I have been to in my whole life (admittedly the route was called Peaceful Lane.) Even the wildlife (aka sheep) barely made a sound. I encountered few humans, few dogs and hardly any cars just endless trees, greenery and farmland.

Peaceful Lane is an understatement - it really was the calmest place I've ever walked

The retreat is popular with stressed out female Londoners - it is literally the opposite in every aspect of what goes on in the capital city. Yet faced with such peace and serenity doesn't necessarily make it easy to switch off. Initially I struggled I just wasn't sure how to fill 'nothing'. Many people come here simply to sleep; at first this seemed wrong, but the truth is I rarely get enough sleep.

In an ideal world there wouldn't be a need to escape to the country in desperate need of rest and re-cooperation but the truth is very few of us would put aside a weekend, detach from technology and mod-cons and make 'Me Time' at home.

Ok...I didn't go as far as playing Solitaire but I drink lots of detox teas

Yet here in the middle of no where it makes more sense. I didn't escape modernity completely (I took photos on my phone for a start!) but I did sit down, look at nature, attempt to meditate and take time doing things. Where normally I wash my face really quickly on autopilot I took time to massage my face wash into my skin and instead of gulping down a cuppa while moving between three rooms, packing for working and doing my make-up, I sat down held my tea until it cooled and drunk it until the mug was finished.

There are so few people around that all the sheep were staring at me!

How do I feel after living in slow-mo for two days? I wouldn't say I felt different or like a new person, maybe two days isn't enough for such as transformation but I did realise that it is OK to do nothing and not feel guilty about it. Whether or not I can 'afford' to give myself another weekend off is another matter but I do think that in an ideal world once a moth switching off from life, tech, stress, and just focussing on the moment - eating, breathing, living has health benefits that are priceless.

When you don't need to rush you really do spot the beauty in nature

Whether you check into a retreat like Middle Piccadilly for few days or are able to recreate a similar experience at home: 'doing nothing' is underrated and should be indulged in every now and again by everyone. With the Xmas holidays and new year around the corner, I dare you to give it a go.

I spent two day at Middle Piccadilly, checking in Friday at 4pm and stayed until Sunday 2pm. All meals were included and the retreat is located a 15min taxi ride from Sherbourne station, which is accessible from London Waterloo. Prices vary according to packages, mine was booked through Wellbeing Escapes and included three treatments - two massages and a mud wrap.

(I wrote this blog on the train back - I imagined myself writing in the evenings but my laptop remained in my suitcase! Two hours to kill on the train home however isn't that interesting so I decided to do something!)

I've Got Pansy Coloured Hair

I'm calling my new hair shade Pansy as it has hints of blue, lilac and purple and reminds me of pansy flowers which we had a lot of in our back garden when I was growing up.

Here's the birds eye view...I love the early stages of freshly dyed hair, no roots to deal with.

And here's the the sides...

The back is blue and it also reveals the drasticness of my new cut, it's the shortest I've ever had it.
 
I've now had my do for a week and I'm still shocked whenever I look in the mirror.
On the plus side my new hair has sparked many conversations with strangers, mainly people at shop tills commenting how nice it is.

But the bizarrest one was that I was outside Selfridges in Oxford Street looking at my mobile when a guy came up to me and told me it was really apt I was standing where I was. 
I turned around and saw I was camouflaged so I asked him to take a photo of me!

My new look marks an all round feeling of newness, I feel refreshed and life seems different. Having cropped hair exposes your actual face, there's nothing to hide behind, it's scary at first but very liberating.

Thank you Fabritz & Jason from Toni & Guy Academy for doing such a top job on my hair again! And all for FREE! 

Bust Christmas Craftacular 2012

Blimey! What were so many cool and colourful people doing on a Sunday afternoon in an East London venue normally associated with boxing bouts? Shopping for crafts of course!
This year's Bust Christmas Craftacular was another festive market filled with gorgeous handmade goodies, sold by indie maker/designers offering a refreshing spread of fabulousness.

Bust? It is indeed an event associated with US magazine Bust - they hold one in New York which inspired the London event to start up a few years ago.

As well as filling up your Christmas stockings there were free workshops throughout the day where you could make stuff. Milliner extraordinaire Chloe from Hatastic! (she makes headwear from sweets and recycled things) ran a session on making mini fascinators ready to be worn on Christmas Day.

While Queen of Crafts Jazz Domino Holly added festival flair with her Handmade Hangout where you could make dream catchers (or snowflake catchers, whichever you preferred!)

Recognise this lovely trio? Yay! It's The Make Escape DJs Isabel, Alice and Dan who provided some of the soundtrack to the event.

It wasn't just visitors ears that were satisfied, sights were too thanks to the rather spectacular live entertainment courtesy of a hula girl...yes a girl who performs with a hula hoop. And not just any old girl; one of the happiest and most enthusiastic dancers I've ever come across!

 

 Like every good event there was a raffle. I do love a raffle. Especially one with such brilliant prizes...keeping my fingers, toes and current buns crossed for the giant Craft necklace donated by Tatty Devine. It would look so fabulous on me.

 

Last year I got over excited about meeting my hero Rob Ryan. He was back this year in his own Print Grotto where he was selling jawdroppingly amazing screenprinted wrapping paper.

Amongst the 75+ stalls was a lovely selection by my favourite haberdashery supplies shop All The Fun Of The Fair. You can normally find them in Kingly Court off Carnaby Street, pop by next time you're in that area.

 

 My fave stall was by Crafty Pint - really colourful and welcoming selling fun cushions and bunting made from vintage tea towels and character fabric. Crafty Pint also run regular craft workshops in South London, check out their site to find out more.

 

The youngest stall holder was Chloe from Hatastic's niece who managed the stall while Chloe ran her workshop. Take a good look at this face, she has her sights set on being Prime Minister..,and she loves craft which is a good thing, so expect lots of crafter-friendly policies!

 

 It was also great to see newcomers The Craft Closet selling their 'make it yourself' craft kits. The girls were so committed this was their second stall of the day. They also had one at We Make London where they served a certain Mr Gok Wan who bought one of their 'knit a purse' kits.

 This is why the Craftivists say to make three jigsaw pieces for their I Am A Piece project, one to give to them, one to gift to someone else and one to pop on your tree!

 

That Sarah Corbett, she never takes a break! She was even busy stitching on the Craftivist stand..while stylish sporting some fab jigsaw shaped earrings.

 

It wasn't just crafty goodness for sale, The Merry Bobbins sold homemade chutney and marmalade to raise funds for Age Concern and there were many tempting cakes for sale including Egg Nog cupcakes by Ms Vegan Cupcakes - yum!

I got chatting to the current president of Shoreditch Sisters WI who is about to embark on a new job in The Congo for three years...I'm sure she'll be inspiring them with her crafty presence, I loved this jumper she customised with a felt Christmas tree decked out with sequin baubles.

 I also bumped into the super lovely Rosie Martin aka DIY Couture...who was on the hunt for a Christmas gift for her mum.

I was searching for things I can send in the post and picked up this lovely typewriter brooch by Kayleigh Omara which I am still umming and aahing about keeping for myself...

 

 While these badges by Mary Kilvert are being sent to my friend Janine in Ecuador who collects sausage dog memorabilia.

Another year, another great event. There are so many Xmas craft fairs to choose from in London, all fabulous, but this one is especially a treat to visit. The standard of crafts on sale is really high and it's well priced. If you missed it then try and get along next year, and if you can't wait until Winter, they usually have a Spring fair too.

The Bust Christmas Craftacular took place at York Hall in Bethnal Green east London, on Sunday 16th December 2012.
Keep up to date with them about future events by visiting their Facebook page.