Craftstravaganza

I love me some hand-made crafts... spending hours on Etsy, browsing craft fairs, purchasing various Boston Terrier ornaments, etc.  However, I am not crafty myself.  I've never had the patience to learn any skill remotely related to handicrafts.  Photography? I try. Hanging artwork? Yes. Painting interior rooms? Sign me up! But that is about where my interest stops.

Knowing all that about myself, I still decided to buy fabric at my favorite Swedish DIY megastore to create a curtain -of sorts- for the bathroom window, because in all honesty, what else do I do with my time? I wanted something colorful to counterpoint our drab hallway and I really liked the (cheap) fabric I found.  The window has strange proportions and trying to fit an actual curtain into the space seemed too costly or more work than necessary, seeing as this home is only temporary.  

Anyway, thanks to sticky-back tape (eh, I can't sew) that my mom sent over, I did it all myself! Here is the before and after:

before.. blah

and after, yay!

specifically picked to coordinate with the radiohead art...

You would be correct in your assessment of my "curtain" if you thought it was more a fabric swath.  But, let's just pretend it was an ACTUAL window treatment to make me feel as though I've really accomplished something.  I may try to find ribbons to use as tie backs at some point... hmm... baby steps, people. 

Perhaps this post should have been named, "As Crafty As I'll Ever Get."

Morning Meeting

Now I know where Gavin's been getting his corporate management strategy from:

Where I've been...

..is to the deep freeze of Minnesota! Which is why I've been a bit absent from new blog posts (that's what I'm telling myself, anyway.) It was a spur of the moment decision and I was only around for a short time.  I did get to meet this new little guy, Darwin. I think Chewie will also be a big fan.

Museum of London

Last weekend (I know, I'm the slowest blogger ever...) Gavin and I checked out the Museum of London. I've been sort of obsessed with the British archeology program, Time Team so I was really interested to see some of the Roman artifacts that the museum had unearthed around and under modern London.  Coming from a place with a much more recent history, it's totally fascinating to live in a city which can produce proof of human's existence 4,000 years ago.  I guess I wasn't expecting the museum to tell the history of London quite as well as it did, but the collection and exhibitions blew me away.

The galleries start when England was connected to mainland Europe and go through modern day. In between are views of the nearby, still standing Roman wall, numerous Roman, Saxon, Norman, Viking and medieval artifacts, a life-size, walk-through Victorian market, the original Art Deco interior of Selfridge's lift, and a wall hanging explaining the "Great Smog" of 1952 (which I personally think is continuing to plague my lungs in the present day.)

All in all, a great museum to visit.  I'm still not that comfortable taking pictures in museums, but I did get a few quick shots in ;)

part of the Roman Wall (much has been updated over time)

Selfridge's lift doors

I just thought this caption was funny - the picture is of
a WWII soldier and girl in each other's arms.

great views of St. Paul's Cathedral in this part of town...

and from the new mall across the street..

to conclude our outing, we stopped for a warm drink in a cozy pub.
can you see me?  ;)

Sittin' at the top of the stairs

Chewie doing his best Bella impression.

Happy 2011!

Our most sincere wishes to all our friends and family 

for a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year! 

nellie, gavin and chewie 

xoxo

(chews was a bit frightened from the fireworks...)