Trains of thought

I've taken a lot of trains this week, and have been up to Town three times!  (I'm not sure why I called this post Trains of Thought, because it's mostly been Train Journeys spent reading Metro and the Evening Standard...)

On Monday, I had a (routine) appointment at Guys Hospital and thought I would go early and do a bit of exploring.  So I ventured off into completely new territory aka Shoreditch High Street, and was terribly pleased with myself for finding this vintage fabric shop!  It's just called The Shop and is soooper lovely, so lovely that I just didn't know what to buy.  In the end I bought two little silk scarves (will I ever be brave enough to chop them up?) and a pair of black leather "detective" gloves for the Girl...

Then on Tuesday for my second trip, me and Mr Gonecycling went to this exhibition at the British Library.  If you haven't been, you love books, and you are able to get into London - go!  And plan to spend several hours there....we spent three hours looking at it all.  If you have an iphone or ipad, there's an app available, and I think there's also lots of pics on the website....

We finally emerged blinking into the sunlight at around 3pm, and went off to Soho in search of lunch, and another of my favourite shops:

Look at all that deliciousness!  And what did I buy?  4 metres of cotton tape, and 25cm of block printed cotton...oh well!

Then on Thursday, the Girl and I went a-visiting a certain nephew/cousin, and wanted to take a present.  So at 5pm on Wednesday, we sat down and put together this little book:

He didn't try to eat it, but it's only a matter of time...

And then all these train journeys made me realise that I only have really boring bags.  And so I dug out this tote bag, made for a competition a few years ago (came 2nd, again!) and started to de-and re-construct it:

It was originally way too big, and made my shoulders ache, so it's now a lot smaller and will only have handles not straps.  I've got as far as pinching the handles from an old National Trust bag, dyeing them indigo, and pinning them in place.  And discovered that I should have used the pelmet vilene to stiffen it before sewing it all up.  Oh well.  Onwards and upwards! 

We interrupt this post...

the post about bauble-making

bracelet-making

(beads found and leapt upon by me and the Girl in Hobbycraft last night - we had to kill time before picking up Mr Gonecycling, who seemed surprised that we were able to spend a happy hour in a craft shop - hello??)

mystery present stitching and constructing

mega-baking'n'decorating sessions

and snowglobe making'n'shakin'

 (I knew I hoarded those mini jars for a reason.  The first one looks like he's jogging around the jar, and the second one has come unstuck and just drifts around....know the feeling)

and box decorating and chocolate stitching'n'stuffing

 (thanks Gina!  And decoupage paper found in Hobbycraft, just along from the beads...the Girl and I have discovered a new craft.  The chocolates just need some tissue paper and their label: "Stuffed - the chocolates are, so you won't be" or some such, which I shall leave to the Girl to compose.)

.........

to stitch a very special name onto a very special someone's very first Christmas stocking:

Born late this evening, but not a moment too soon!

I've no idea how much he weighs as I forgot to ask, no doubt my sister will fill me in with all the details tomorrow - we just know he's finally here - only 13 days late! 

I think Christmas can start now.

Have a happy time, everyone - see you in the New Year if not before!