myfeetwontstopmoving-blog

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Hey folks!

I’m always working on a load of zines at a time, at the moment I’m working on these:

-Hit the Real World: About leaving uni and entering the harsh realities of the real world, where it’s most likely that your degree is worthless, you have to work shite jobs, your friends move away and...

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This mornings bus reading!

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I recently lost my young persons rail card, and it was running out soon so I didn't bother getting another, and wow trains are pricey. I resisted learning to drive for environmental reasons so now I'm gonna have to learn, because apparently there's a big price hike coming! So no thanks, I'd rather have a much longer commute to work on bus that saves me £14 a day and has views like this!

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I recently lost my young persons rail card, and it was running out soon so I didn't bother getting another, and wow trains are pricey. I resisted learning to drive for environmental reasons so now I'm gonna have to learn, because apparently there's a big price hike coming! So no thanks, I'd rather have a much longer commute to work on bus that saves me £14 a day and has views like this!

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Been working on done mega twee things lately!

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I have an allotment now and it has bees! Very excited. I've dug up potatoes and made stews, made blackcurrent gin and berry banana pancakes already using crops from it!

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ARGH I LOVE YOUR BLOG, keep posting your diy/art!

Thanks so much!!!  That's lovely!

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We got loads of new fabric at work and omg I could spend all my wages ahhh.

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What I did last weekend!

Last weekend I went to Wenlock Poetry Festival with the fab Julie and the Craftevan!

Craftevan’s a travelling craft shop and workshop space.  We make crafts related to travel and nostalgia (and in this case a specially made range of poetry jewellery!) and go to festivals, car shows, steam rallies and vintage fairs!  This year we’ll be at Sedbergh Gala, Woore Vintage, Farm Feast in the Wirral, Llangollen 1960’s weekend, Country Fest in Kendal, Vintage on the Prom in Arnside, the IMM (International Mini Meet) in Kent, Beacons and hopefully lots more! (If you have any ideas please inbox me!)

At events we also run workshops based on up-cycling, at the poetry festival we used old poetry books to make garlands, bunting, origami and flowers.  We run lots on making up-cycled jewellery, rag rugging and lots more!

See more pictures on our facebook page here!

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My thoughts exactly! You're not Gwen, Avril! And this whole thing is a bit...sad.

Why the fuck is Avril trying to be Gwen circa 2004?

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Yes yes yes to all of this.  Sometimes I get really homesick for Finland, and now is one of those times.  I was only there for about 6 months, but I loved it.

I want Finland I want Finland I want Finland I want a metre of snow I want friends who have my nose and my round face and who eat liquorice I want to roll in the snow I want people to get drunk with I want the summer I want the lake I want the jumping into the lake after +80°C I want mosquitoes I...

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More reasons my WI is awesome.

I joined my local WI well over a year ago now when people were repeatedly telling me how great the Tea & Tarts are, I heard from various different people about how modern, how open minded and how much fun the group is.  It was a really great decision, it's a brilliant group of creative, energetic and brilliant women and we have a lot of fun.  Plus, it got me out of the house and meeting new people without feeling overwhelmed which as a socially anxious person is always a worry!

A few months ago I joined the T&T committee as Mistress of the Crafts and have really enjoyed it so far.  The only thing that has worried me so far is that a few times in committee meetings I've wanted to open up a discussion about trans* inclusion.  I think as a modern WI it is really important that we make it a safe space for trans women and that we should have a policy that states this.  However I've not brought it up yet out of the incredibly selfish worry that not everyone would agree and that I didn't want to tarnish my view of this progressive group of people I respect and like a lot.  (This has been an issue in the past with so called progressive groups that I've been a part of and have promptly left). Also because committee meetings are always tightly scheduled with a lot of talk about and if I got into a gender politics discussion, it may run on for hours! But I will be bringing this up.

Last night we had our monthly meeting and for International Women's Day and had three inspiring speakers and it gave me more reasons to believe my WI is really the best!  

Firstly we had Julie Tweedale from Freedom Personal Safety.  Julie is part of a two person team teaching adults and children how to keep themselves safe.  As a survivor of sexual violence she took a drastic career choice to help prevent other people experiencing what she went through as a teenager.  Approximately 1 in 5 women will have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their life, and someone talking about keeping safe to a room full of women, many of who will have experienced this, is just something I think is really valuable.  

The second guest was Carol Robson, a fabulous poet based in Rotherham.  Carol writes poems on various different themes but mostly focuses on gender and sexuality and her experiences of finding herself and her gender identity.  As well as poetry she spoke about LGBT issues and her experiences of transitioning in an honest an to the point way.  Even as a progressive and modern WI, we are still, by majority, a group of cis straight women and I think having someone talk about these issues, which some in the group may not be so aware of, is completely invaluable.  As a non-straight person currently with a boyfriend I have sometimes felt a bit uncomfortable in talking about these issues with the group.

The third speaker was Angela Towers from No More Page 3.  She spoke to us about the campaign, what they've achieved and how they campaign along with the issues behind page 3 and the effect it has on us as a society.  When you think about it, page 3 really is a ridiculous misogynist dinosaur and it is shocking that it still exists.  It was really inspiring and following it I think a few of us who agree will be doing some campaigning.  It was also the most swears we've ever had in a meeting, which I'm never adverse to!

Don't really know where I was going with all of this.  Just that it was a really empowering and inspiring evening.

And then I went and got drunk in my friends art space and talked about queer culture.  Good night!

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On Saturday I ran a wet felting workshop as part of my Mistress of the Crafts duties! It went pretty well and everyone who came along was super lovely and left with unique finished pieces. I got the wool tops from World of Wool just outside of Huddersfield, which is an amazing place! There's so many different ways to wet felt, but this us how I do it: -But down a thin layer of felt tops lying vertical on a sheet of bubble wrap. -Put down a layer of horizontal felt tops. -Repeat until it looks evenly covered, maybe about 5 layers. -Spray with a soapy hot water mixture. -Put a sheet of bubble wrap on top. -Press down to encourage the water into the felt tops (felt is water resistant so it can take some persuading!) and gently massage. -Turn felt over and wet some more, massage. -After a while of soft massaging you can put more oomf in! If it dries up, put more water down. -Once it's started to matt together roll up the whole thing (like rolling sushi! Keep it tight) and roll back and forth. -It should start to shrink. If you pinch it and fibres come off you need to massage and roll some more. If it's well felted together, rinse out and turn it into something lovely!

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Day 46: Today I put my first fee bits in Multicraft Cabin, made some bow ties and started a REALLY stupid zine. It's so daft.

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Day 45: Happy Bridget Jones and Alabama slammer day!

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Day 44: pretty fabrics at work :) also did some life modelling, but no photos of that!

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Day 43: Charlotte gave me an amazing bunny covered jumper!!!!