Emma's Blog

Vintage mushroom

emmacarlow — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:18:58 +0000

Do you like my ‘vintage’ mushroom? I made this with my new app that I bought today called Vintage Scene. It only cost me £5.49. It’s easy to use and makes rather low grade photos look a tad more interesting. You can make your past look a lot more romantic. I bought it to use on a project that I am working on with my friends from Ten Stories High which I’ll share with you once it’s finished. Here is a sneak preview:

A Land of Milk and Honey

emmacarlow — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:17:11 +0000

We are moving next week. How am I finding time to write posts on my blog? Two in two days. Well packing is boring and so I have time to think. When we move Finn has asked for (demanded at 4.30am this morning) a new bed. With this in mind I have been browsing the internet to find the best solution. I was looking at the Ikea site for ideas and came across their solutions to a good nights sleep, one of which was to stir a teaspoon of honey into hot milk. Well I tried this out last night and I was amazed. It is quite the most delicious night cap imaginable. In theory the honey balances you blood sugar and the milk stops you feeling hungry in the night ensuring a good nights sleep… until your child wakes you at 4.30am and demands a new bed.

New cards I found in the Tuesday market. No instructions.

Emma vs Friv

emmacarlow — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:34:27 +0000

This is a battle that I am constantly fighting. Until today it was a battle that Friv (a free games website) was winning. I imagine (hope) many parents feel similarly to me. I would rather my boy did not play on the computer. Don’t get me wrong, I love computers. I use one every day. It’s the world of computer games that I struggle with. Yes, I know there are good ones, science ones, maths ones, creative ones and brain teasers. But do Finn and his friends play those ones. No, they enjoy shooting ones or cute animal ones. I have tried playing them myself and they are addictive and strangely mind numbing at the same time. What do they get out of them? I have many theories on this subject which (to your relief) I will spare you. That clopping noise you can hear is the sound of a high horse going away.

This morning I voiced my concerns, theories and opinions to my family and I have to say that a wonderful day ensued. We went to the pub and walked on the downs. Then we went home and we listened to Jarvis’ show and… I taught Finn how to knit! He took to it like a duck to water. After supper we watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and then, instead of a bedtime story Finn and I listened to a story tape and knitted in bed. At his suggestion! I can not tell you how pleased I am.

Here is my proof:

I know, like most parents, that computer games are here to stay and that it’s all about balance, but I am determined that they are not going to be the default activity in an age where we seem to think that being entertained is a human right.

And oi! Friv! I’m his mother.

Happy Christmas!

emmacarlow — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:57:54 +0000

Have a happy Christmas and a peaceful 2012!

Here is a festive film for you.

http://gallery.me.com/grahamcarlow#101220

I’ll be blogging again soon with all the stuff I meant to do leading up to Christmas

With love from Emma, Graham and Finn xxxx

Halloween

emmacarlow — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:51:53 +0000

This was our Halloween!

Thank you Martha Stewart!

Itchy and claustrophobic I was told!

Emmas

emmacarlow — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:56:44 +0000

For the last year I have been working with my school friend, Emma. Strangely, we were introduced to each other by our teacher because we had the same name. This became a strong feature of our long lasting friendship. We were referred to as the Emmas and, both having blond hair, other children often asked us if we were twins. We stared back incredulously. What parent would name their twins, or siblings for that matter, with the same name? We don’t see each other that much, being at different ends of the country, but we did meet up a year or two ago at a flower show where we were asked if we were sisters of… Emma Forbes. Blimey.

Any way. Through Emma I have done lots of work for a farm called Low Sizergh Barn and Emma sent me a picture of my cake packaging in action, and here it is!

Good bye Steve Jobs

emmacarlow — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:05:57 +0000

This morning I got up early and switched on my Apple Mac to learn that Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs has died. And now I am shedding huge tears. Strangely I feel it very personally but I know millions of others must be feeling the same way. I have never cried about the death of anyone famous before but I feel as if my ‘Elvis’ has died. Apart from my parents and my husband I honestly don’t know anyone who has had such a profound effect on my life. I don’t know where I would be without him. Thank you Steve Jobs.

Harlequin

emmacarlow — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:43:11 +0000

I love harlequin patterns. I think it all started with Nathalie Pascaud’s party dress in M.Hulot’s Holiday (I couldn’t find a better picture of it, you’ll have to believe me, it’s wonderful).

I’m not alone, I’m sure. Brian Wildsmith uses the harlequin pattern in most of his books and spectacularly in the one called Puzzles. Any combination of colours seems to work.

On the Make Believe Café web-site I pledged to ‘make’ all my Christmas presents (sorry to those of you who receive presents from me). Looking for inspiration, I came across these fabulous blocks in The World of Interiors magazine and have been inspired to knit a cushion for one of you lucky people.

This is it so far, I’ll report back when it’s finished.

No one in my family needs to worry, this is not for you!

Toast

emmacarlow — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:43:44 +0000

I don’t know what is up in Toastland but they used to be a happy rosie-apple-cheeked bunch who looked as if they liked their clothes/life. I got a little book of their latest offerings through the post today and the folk all look thoroughly upset. May be the new batch is a bit itchy. I think that’s it.

Tate St Ives

emmacarlow — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:05:48 +0000

The school holidays are a difficult time to write a blog. We have seen and done many things and I would hate for some of them to be forgotten and not mentioned here.

We have often celebrated New Year in St Ives. We haven’t been there during the summer season before, but this year we went and had a fantastic time at the Tate. Their Summer Exhibition had a room full of balloons created by Martin Creed called Half the Air in a Given Space, enjoyed by everyone.

Another hit was a room where the height and name of each visitor had been recorded on the walls (I don’t remember who’s work it is and the Tate’s literature doesn’t mention it). I am an average (for a woman) 5.6ft and so lost in a dense forest of names. I envied children and smaller women like my friend Esther and her height companions, Susan, Miranda and Jenny. I have always wanted to have one of those walls with our families heights written on it but have never got round to it and now it would depressingly record me shrinking. At least now I know that we are part of an art piece.

My favourite room contained the work of Margaret Mellis. I couldn’t take any pictures and I can’t find the postcard I bought. But there are lots of good sites about her and her wonderful driftwood sculptures. I had never heard of her before. I would like this book:

All in all, we had a great time. It was lovely to have children with us and see their reactions to the shows. Afterwards we stepped out of the Tate onto the beach and ate our sarnies. Brilliant.