Tom of Holland - what a dude

Not to be muddled up with Tom of Finland, Tom of Holland is a superbly talented and technical knitter and mender, currently spearheading the Make Do and Mend trend with his Visible mending programme.

His work is finely finished and incredibly detailed.  This is what just got me jumping off my sofa in excitement this morning.  The man is a darning genius.

Shanell Papp - textile artist

You've got to love textile art with a sense of humour

 

Xmas stockings

Just made these for a colleague's family - dead chuffed with the result :)

Shark socks

I haven't blogged for such a long time due to being pathetically busy and training for ridiculous races BUT a friend sent me this and I just had to share:

Sadly there isn't a pattern available, but it's had such positive responses I think it's only a matter of time...

Lake swimming

I went for a swim in the lovely Layborough Lake yesterday - it's a 1.3km perimeter circuit and full of geese, swans, moorhens and other wildlife which are quite unfazed by random swimmers.

As it was the first real day of sunshine for a while and I forgot about sunscreen, this is what I managed to do to myself.  Note the attractive Max Wall forehead and reverse panda goggle eyes.  Nice.

I just swam a mile in the Thames

In 42mins 47secs, which I'm really chuffed with - especially given that I thought 1500m was a mile, but its actually 1600m (oops). I was aiming for 45mins but would've been happy with under 50.

Here's a pic of me looking very chuffed with my medal (I love a nice medal), if a bit disheveled, and with some new friends I bumped into on the way home - as if my day wasn't already pretty superb.

First place finished in 19:16 so that's something to aim at for next year...

Motoi Yamamoto

Motoi Yamamoto's Incredible Salt Installations