Author Archives: Michaela

School Trip

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Last week I attended the FMX Animation and Effects Festival in Stuttgart Germany. I had a surprisingly exciting and inspiring week in the very good company of Matt and Sol from Rewind FX and 30 University of Hertfordshire Digital Animation students. Despite a 14 hour overnight coach ride, which included late night tours of a number of surreal Luxembourg truck stops, the trip was great, there was sunshine, temperatures of 32 degrees, discussions about immersive cinema, screenings of Hollywood blockbusters, late night dancing, cocktails and beer, demonstrations of new technologies, experimental transmedia art by Max Hattler and the crazy adventurers from Movie Sandbox and great conversations about creative process. I came home feeling suitably re-charged. Very pleasing.

New Studio

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The last few weeks have been dedicated to an exciting new diy project in our garden. Richard and I have been renovating our garden shed to turn into an office and art studio. It was never just an average shed, in fact Richard built it as a garden room/studio, it’s about 4 x 3 metres with pleasing views of the garden. We have been using it for storage in the last couple of years, but things are changing and the shed has now been clad with wooden boards and painted with traditional Hertfordshire black barn paint. We installed a gutter and a water-butt just in time to collect all this beautiful rain. I am in the process of painting the inside (one coat to go) and we have also bought a tiny little multi-fuel stove so I can stay warm in there all year. The new flue is being manufactured and will hopefully be ready next week. I am excited and looking forward to moving in…

Spring Clean

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I am a predictable creature, every April the desire for spring cleaning begins and by the third week a juice cleanse begins. No exceptions this year, the green juice detox began yesterday, three days of juicing and minimal eating, I am allowed oat-bran porridge with dates and rice milk and a soup with a home-made veggie stock base. Day Two is always the hardest, I am tired and lethargic today but looking forward to being bright and energetic in a few days time. All the leafy greens are collected fresh from our garden, there is dandelion leaf, sorrel, land cress and two types of kale. They make a very intensive green-ness and both my liver and spleen are very happy about it.

Crafty Fox Market

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French & Godbold at the Crafty Fox Spring Market in Brixton
A delightful day was spent last Saturday at the Crafty Fox Spring Market at the Dogstar Hotel in Brixton. I took the French & Godbold cards collection along in my trusty suitcase and set up shop. It was great day with a good number of sales and very encouraging feedback. Our tiny gift cards proved to be quite a hit. It was also a pleasure to spend my day sharing a stall with Mrs Gumi and her husband Tom, as well as chatting to lovely range of crafty artists. There was tea and cake, great atmosphere and visits from family and friends. A very pleasing day…

French & Godbold's Crafty Fox Shop

Retro Knitting Caddy

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The past week has been a time for the arrival of new things in my world, new felted slippers (on order since December), a newly completed front tooth (2 years in the making or 20 depending on the version of events one chooses) and this beautiful little sewing caddy (recently shipped in from Germany). When I first encountered these retro sewing boxes on ebay it was love at first sight. I watched a few sell for outrageous prices and then managed to to get this very lovely one without going to auction. Opening its little drawers and deciding where my knitting tools should live is very pleasing and an evening of knitting on the sofa has taken on a whole new level of fun. A delightfully stylish and practical addition to our home.

Sitting and Knitting

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Hand-knitted neck snug for sister Louise's birthday
My days have been busy in the last three weeks. A mountain of assessment and preparation for a new semester have dominated my world.  A striking contrast to the silent and gentle beginning of my year. However, I have maintained throughout it, an hour of sitting and meditation in the morning followed by an hour of knitting in the evening. I am loving making time for myself and I certainly feel more able to face the challenges each day presents. In addition, I can only hope my loved ones are delighted to be receiving the products of my endeavours. The lace-knit neck snug above goes out to my sister Louise for her birthday. Happy Birthday Lula….

I Like My Dentist….

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A building and a crane, London afternoon
A trip into central London this morning for the last appointment of a long series of appointments dedicated to installing a new dental implant in my head. I know its not normal and probably not right but I have grown to like my dentist. He does lovely work, he plays great tunes for me from his ipod and apologises sincerely when he sticks the needle in. It would certainly be going to far to to say I’ll miss him but I couldn’t have hoped for a nicer fellow or a better outcome.

Whilst in London I also took photos, enjoyed treats from my favourite bakery, indulged in some delightful chocolate and purchased shitake mushrooms and kelp which are now brewing into a hearty stock for a noodle and vegetable soup. A welcome series of distractions from the ever-present mountain of assessment awaiting completion….back to it now….

A Perfect Afternoon Tea

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Black Sesame Shortbread and Matcha Green Tea

Some days, come mid-afternoon, a girl just needs a pick-me-up. So, as a well deserved break from the challenges of mid-year assessment, I enjoyed a very lovely homemade black sesame shortbread biscuit (send a request if you’d like the recipe) and a glass of the most wonderfully green Japanese matcha tea. It provided all the momentum required to get me to the end of my daily marking target without any tantrums. Oh matcha, what a wonder….

Vintage Fayre

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Saturday 10 December, French & Godbold will be selling their wares at the Hertford Vintage Fayre once again. We are looking forward to another day of good tunes, vintage treasures and tea and cakes. Rumour has it there will also be mulled wine, mince pies and even a little Tijuana Christmas to celebrate the joys of the festive season. The Vintage Fayre takes place at the Corn Exchange, 39 Fore St, Hertford SG14 1AL, 10am-4pm. Please come by and visit us if you’re in the area.