debbie hill

out with the old

2009-11-16T12:17:00.003Z

For some reason I seem to hold onto all kinds of odd items because "I'm sure I'll put them to good use one day".
These old pyjama bottoms are a prime example - nice fabric, but ripped and pretty useless. I'm sure I'll probably never use the fabric for anything else so why are they taking up storage space which I don't really have?

I must change my ways before I end up like Mr. Trebus.

Everything I own is slowly being ruined by the dampness of my flat anyway...which is top of my fix list at the moment. I've even booked in a house viewing for tomorrow - though I'm secretly hoping it is worse than my flat so that I feel better about my situation.

basket case

2009-11-12T12:52:00.005Z

Sometimes people deposit things in my bicycle basket when I leave it parked in the street.

Most of the time the gifts are crisp packets or empty cans of special brew (what a treat!) but occasionally there is a more interesting item awaiting me...

I think a whole cucumber was the oddest of the bunch, but this picture I found on Monday comes a close second!

Yesterday I discovered it was a gift dropped in by my friend Vicky when she parked up next to me, so it is less of a mystery now. But still a rather nice find.

as good as a rest?

2009-11-10T08:37:00.004Z

Things need to change, and improvements need to be made.
I've written a list of things I need to sort out, but all attempts to fix things have been thwarted.
Yesterday I posted a letter which may help with one problem (when I say one problem I actually mean MANY problems).
But my hopes are not high!
Today maybe I'll work on something lower down the list...

Or failing that I might just move here:

eyes down

2009-11-08T16:46:00.006Z

I played bingo last night.
They didn't do the traditional bingo calls though. A disappointment indeed.
Though someone did wolf whistle when number 11 was called out.

whoosh BANG

2009-11-05T18:40:00.002Z

Hooray for fireworks!
And hooray for Jane Asher.

still here

2009-11-04T21:52:00.001Z

I also just noticed that I first posted on this blog 3 years ago today.
That's a lot of geeky activity for one person...

pros and cons

2009-11-04T21:24:00.008Z

good things
• new kittens (unfortunately not mine)
• peppermint tea with honey
• bingo
• planning a window display

bad things
• damp flat
• stomach pains
• leaking boots
• slugs and mould (a by-product of a damp flat)

It's not all that good.
But it's bonfire night tomorrow so that'll be a treat!

more pumpkins

2009-11-02T21:25:00.004Z

A selection of other pumpkins from our pumpkin carving evening:

Good skills!

venus fly trap

2009-11-02T20:43:00.012Z

I think I find the costume making to be the best bit:

Credit to Rosie for the pictures.
And credit to me for finally figuring out how to make animated gifs. Expect a lot more in the future...

12 pumpkins and an acorn squash

2009-11-01T21:23:00.003Z

Happy halloween!
On Friday we hosted a pumpkin carving evening at our flat.
It was a grand old time. I carved a Tom Selleck pumpkin.

I hope you all had a ghostly good time!

one for sorrow

2009-10-19T20:16:00.000+01:00

and GO!!!

2009-10-15T18:34:00.002+01:00

I've got 12 animations to do in 16 days.
The race is on.

what happened?

2009-10-13T20:50:00.005+01:00

I'm sure I used to have more fun than I'm having right now.

At least I'm getting a lot done.

hello alan

2009-09-30T22:39:00.003+01:00

Kindly created & donated by Tyler.
I am most pleased.

cook-alikes

2009-09-28T17:57:00.005+01:00

At the weekend Rosie and I (but mainly Rosie) made these face cakes for our friends joint birthday celebration. Derek's was especially easy as we based it on his Wii character.

Our dream is to one day get paid to prepare for parties. So if anyone out there is in need of a party planner we have the following skills:
• Cake-baking
• Decorating
• Costume-making
...and many more.

Party themes are our dream!

happy hands

2009-09-28T12:13:00.002+01:00

...because I knitted some winter mittens.

happy feet

2009-09-27T23:47:00.001+01:00

...because I finally found some shoes that fit.

baking & making

2009-09-23T11:32:00.005+01:00

For the first time in ages I've got some free time without the worry that I should be doing MA work. Unfortunately time rich = money poor so I'm trying to be as productive as possible with minimal spending money.

On Sunday I baked a birthday cake (with the guidance of Rosie, as I was fearful of another biscuit style cake disaster). It turned out delightfully though and got eaten within about 5 minutes of being presented, phew! Maybe I'll experiment with my baking abilities this winter. Yesterday I got my hands on a Jane Asher party cakes book which I'm very excited about!

I've also been doing a spot more knitting and am halfway through mitten no.2 - which I'll hopefully finish off tonight. They look a bit like they are custom-made for Barry Manilow's freakishly long fingers but they seem to fit me ok (maybe because I have man-sized hands...)

Nice things have been dropping through my postbox this week too.

Firstly, a lovely gocco print from Jen which I was very excited to be the recipient of. I've hung it up in the kitchen and it's quite a treat. Thanks once again Jen!

And today I received the most pleasing pigeon photograph from Simon. A very sweet treat indeed (especially as I was fearful of my results arriving today).

On Friday I also received an amazingly BIG bunch of flowers (luckily not posted through the door). No one ever gives me flowers so it was a very nice surprise. They are sitting in the kitchen looking impressive.

I feel spoilt.

Especially as I also now have a wii fit to keep me busy. Defined calf muscles here I come! Today it told me I was a muscle legend for doing some lunges (I don't believe it, but it's a good confidence boost). Though it does mean that we'll probably have to keep the curtains in our lounge drawn most of the time from now on for fear of people in the pub seeing us hula-hooping.

A small sacrifice.

I now have an afternoon of invigilating ahead of me. Do pop down if you're around.

new additions

2009-09-16T19:47:00.006+01:00

I've just updated my website to include a selection of my recent MA work, my shopping list project, and some other new illustrations and photographs.

Have a look here: www.debbie-hill.co.uk

...and a little bit more

2009-09-16T09:41:00.002+01:00

I haven't made it to the pub yet. Instead I made this banana protector yesterday.
I suspect I might be becoming an OAP.
An OAP who watches Rock of Love.

a little bit of knit

2009-09-15T14:41:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I handed in my work & it is currently being marked, with the help of a scary red examining table. Let's hope it all goes smoothly.

After handing in my work I ate 5 BIG chocolate chip cookies (I know!) and got round to doing a bit of knitting and sewing. One of my aims for the winter is to become skilled at knitting in coloured patterns and to create a whole alphabet of knitting.

Here's my first attempt:

Not perfect by any means, but a good start.
Next aim = the pub.

Also, this is my 300th post - that is a lot! Too many? I don't think so.

ready, steady...

2009-09-12T12:11:00.005+01:00

I finished hanging my work yesterday - what a big relief that was! I woke up at the crack of dawn yesterday morning worrying about shelves so I'm glad that madness is done with.
I also received my moo mini cards in the post this morning - they please me greatly!
Most of them have images of my MA work on them (apart from the pigeon, which I couldn't resist adding to the mix!)

Not much left to do now - GOOD TIMES!

ps. Rosie told me the best joke yesterday:

Q. What's the first sign of madness?

A. Suggs walking up your driveway.

It's
so
good.

almost done!

2009-09-08T23:25:00.002+01:00

Still working...but the end is in sight.

This week we're building the exhibition and I'm enjoying doing a spot of painting and sanding. Today was a very nice day away from my desk and I'm looking forward to many more of those over the next few weeks.

Also, I arrived home to a delightful bit of post from Yumi, which included a copy of her studio newsletter (complete with jokes!) and a shopping list for my collection.

A very nice treat!

worker bee

2009-08-21T22:39:00.005+01:00

Yes, I'm still working hard on my MA project - busy times!
Here's a flyer for our exhibition - please do come.

Aside from university work I've been making a list full of plenty of nice things to occupy my time with come October. It's going to be a fun autumn indeed!

Oh, and here are some paper triangles which I used to make bunting for my interactive museum:

You can't go wrong with a bit of bunting!

british racing green

2009-08-17T14:43:00.002+01:00

I picked up this wonderfully clean dream of a typewriter at the Sunday market yesterday.
And I only had to part with £1.
Good times!