Sunday 18 April 2010

A blog-driven life

Saturday: I go to the Post Office to collect The Handmade Marketplace, to make sure I've covered everything relevant for my first blogging workshop (fully booked, how exciting!)

My friend Malini and I scour the Asian groceries in Tooting for interesting tins to arrange flowers in (the below selection are printed directly onto the tin.) I go to a pricey florist to look for ranunculus, a flower I'd never heard of before I started reading blogs, for no good reason other than wanting to style my tins and practise this hand-tied bouquet method.


I buy muslin at the local sewing machine shop to diffuse strong window light (a photography tip I learned at last week's Etsy meet-up) - and to use the rest to make Rachel's homemade paneer (already made once, very successfully.) I buy a postcard for next month's Benevolent Postcard Society recipient.

I look at the contrail-free sky and consider taking a photo for Amelia's magazine's clear sky photo challenge. I make roasted rhubarb for dinner using this recipe.


Sunday: I go to the garden centre to look for tiny terracotta pots so I can make this potted chocolate pudding for my new job's baking rota (the most stressful part of the job - on day one I found out a colleague had brought a blow torch into work for his creme brulee contribution.)

I arrange my ABC cups (just stocked) with an apt blog phrase, tidy my kitchen and take photographs for a bloggers' interview I'm taking part in. I look online for a still life photography course (clearly much needed.)

I write this post while listening to this song I heard about on Twitter (love the illustrated video too), and implement an HTML tip I learned from Muesli Lover.

Believe me, I could go on...but yet I don't have any clean clothes ready for work on Monday.

Can anyone identify with this? In an attempt to work on some kind of online/offline and creative/practical balance (especially when the sun is shining) I'm going to have a little time off from blogging. There are lots of non blog-related things I need to catch up on in the immediate future, such as engaging in the political debate - lots of good resources for the election suggested here. I still have lots of blog post ideas in my head, plus a few car boot sale outings planned, so I'll be back in full swing in a week or two!

(On noticeboard (frame bought at a car boot sale) mini bunting, French flea market cards, dried glitter rose, Polaroid from Melanie, print by Cassie.)

30 comments:

Rebecca said...

wowser that is a list and a half, and i can totally identify with it, the internet is a wonderful resource these days, and bloggers are so friendly!

HannahB said...

Yes i can totally identify with that! enjoy your break. O think its important to have a break from the blog world sometimes. And thanks for the election link too!

CG Digital + Strategy + Branding said...

I love the photos! The letters and the mantle are to die for....so cute!
-Chiara (mylittletiara.blogspot.com) visit me! =)

alessandra said...

wow you're a volcano!
thank you for all the great links...have a nice break!

Anonymous said...

hah, yes, i can most definitely identify.

good for you for seeking balance. do what you need to do, girl.

Sarah said...

Busy, busy!! Love your pics, and your ideas and your musings. Totally get the work/life/blog balance conundrum and how sometimes you just need to go off and get things done. Will miss you though. x

that kate said...

Those tins are a great idea!

Polly Rowan said...

My life is way too blog-driven! I need to take a break too...
Wow you are so organised. I always remember my BPS postcard on the 1st of the month and have to stay up until midnight making it!
Sounds like a lovely, busy weekend you had :) xx

Alex said...

Busy busy - I don't balme you for needing a breather! I once worked somewhere that did Cake Mondays... I also worked somewhere else that did White Wine Fridays, but that's another story...

Lynne said...

Thanks for the comments! Alex - white wine Friday sounds interesting! Polly I am not at all organised, which is why I need to take a break. I always(oops)send my cards out late, and I never hand-make them - I just buy them.

Unknown said...

I know how you feel, Weekend gone in a flash and dilema to sew those orders or take a walk in the sunshine! KIx

Rose said...

enjoy a bit of time off- you come back with a renewed zest for it I find- and I want that rose petal spread!!

Ellie said...

Lynne you make me laugh!! :)

I love those chocolate puddings - but I would never attempt to make them for the whole office! You're superwoman! Nigella is nothing compared to you!

I LOVE your Tooting tins, particularly the Rose Puree one.

Rob thought I was mad when I bought a load of Lychee tins recently in China Town for 'styling purposes'...I'm so glad you understand!!
Remember:
Sunshine = off line! x

Lynne said...

Ellie - my friend Gemma (who knows me well)has advised me that if I do those little chocolate puddings I will totally stress myself out. She advises me to make chocolate fridge cake instead. She may be right - although it's only for 5 other people. I may try it at my next craft evening instead.

Cassie said...

Can completely identify and am in admiration at you for taking a break. I never seem to have the courage to keep the lid closed for long enough or click 'mark all as read'.
xx

Rachel said...

Ha! I love your little summary. I definitely have a similar experience. I get the best recommendations/recipes/ideas from blogs.

Sally said...

Hello Lynne, am recently new to your blog, love it, love tea and love your ideas - I love tea so much I hire vintage crockery as well as many other things, therefore I completely understand your time dilema, it's the old problem of balance whilst trying to do everything! I suffer from it big time :) I would love to attend your blogging for design course, do I take it you are not doing any during May? Perhaps we should do a swap when we are not so busy and help fellow bloggers out when they are struggling with writing entries?! Have a great break - rest and come back restored :)

Anonymous said...

You can always take a break. You sounds so busy! I wish I was as busy as you. Lots of cooking and planning to do! Have a nice week!

Lynne said...

Cutlex - not that busy, just easily distracted!

Lisa-Marie said...

I can indeed! for the next two weeks, everything I've planned to cook is from blog recipes, i have 3 craft projects for swaps, i take photos daily for my own blog, and I write relatively frequently.

You are a busy lady, and a wee break is rarely a bad thing!

Anna @ IHOD said...

ha ha oh my gosh I totally relate! I felt like this the other day....
That photo is really wonderful!!

dee said...

I can definitely relate to this. I tried so hard to fight the Twitter craze and now I'm addicted. Every morning after getting my daughter fed and settled, I log on to write my two blogs and check my iphone app. Then I update my FB status. It's crazy! But it's also a wonderful community we're involved in, and it's truly changed my life. I'm very thankful for it. Enjoy your much-needed break:)

PS: I don't know what you need a class for...your photos are beautiful!

TIG said...

can completely and absolutely relate! and adore you how you so cleverly worked in all the links into the story -- a much-needed blogging break sounds wonderful and hopefully you come back newly inspired and refreshed; in fact, am quite over-due for a break as well :)

xo

cake and cider said...

how was the rose petal spread??

Marija said...

Good for you! I can absolutely relate and while I try to post and read my favorite blogs regularly, life often takes over. Enjoy and bring us back some goodies ;)

Marija

Anonymous said...

Love the ABC cups... I'm actually not too surprised by how much work/life goes into your blog... mine seems to take me an age and it's not a patch on yours! Hope the blogging workshop goes well... and yes the voting too! Hope you get to enjoy life too xx

Anonymous said...

I cannot believe that you did not credit me. "Flowers on floor, Emma"

Heidi Adnum said...

Lynne, sounds like you really deserve the rest! Your idea to buy ranunculus is a good one: I raised some in pots but they died in the hot weather. Turns out they need quite bit of watering *tears*. So glad the photography tip came in handy. :)

Anonymous said...

Love these tins! Am planning trip to Tooting ASAP...look forward to your return after you've caught up, you are indeed a busy lady.

Unknown said...

hah i just discovered this post and yes and i can completely relate. Its very hard to keep up some times but i do find that everything revolves around things,tips,music and info ive read from blogs or twitter!