Morning all!
Hope you’ve had a lovely week!
It’s definitely starting to feel like autumn is on its way - the cooler weather is definitely coming in - although I’m trying to wear shorts for just a little bit longer!
Today, I’ll be chatting about a wonderful surprise that came through the post, a brilliant book about Essex Girls and some big migrators!
But first, let’s grab a cuppa and take 5 minutes to focus on the little things! ☕
The mysterious package
We receive a mysterious package through the post. We wait patiently for our call before we open, intrigued by what is inside, something extra as a small birthday celebration.
Finally, the time comes, and we open the boxes. It’s time to craft.
We are working on slightly different animals, all made of socks, following the instructions as we go. When we can, we help each other, whether it’s working out how to sew up a gap after the stuffing has been added, or even chatting about how much stuffing we are putting in. I’m creating a sloth, and I want him to gangle while someone else creates a unicorn where no stuffing is too much.
Overtime, a flat stripy sock turns into a head, body and legs. I then add the arms separately, careful to stitch them tight enough to the body, finding the perfect place for them to sit and dangle. I then add the face after made of felt, and he comes to life.
While we work, we chat and it feels like all being in the same room, crafting together even though we are actually spread across the country. It’s a quiet calmness of an evening, something which feels special and beautiful.
We finish our beautiful sock creatures in a couple of evenings, fun little guys to keep us company on crafting adventures to come.
What little things are you enjoying?
I want to hear from you!
It could be anything, from something you saw on a walk, to that great cake you had, to that amazing book you need to tell everyone about!
If you’d like to share yours, then comment below or send me a message!
Can’t wait to see what you all are enjoying!
What I’ve been reading
Essex Girls: For Profane and Opinionated Women Everywhere by Sarah Perry
This book has been on my shelf for a while but I recently took it on a journey to London, and then consumed it within an afternoon.
This feminist defence of the Essex Girl stereotype, Perry discusses her own relationship with the ‘Essex Girl’ as someone from the county, before then summoning the spirits of the strong and powerful Essex women like Abolitionist Anne Knight who went before her, providing fascinating accounts of their lives and work.
This eye opening and fascinating read presents the idea that the Essex Girl is not bound by geography – but instead by a defiance that should be celebrated - I dare you to read this book and not think similarly.
A must read.
Perfect for fans of:
📚 Feminist histories
📚 Short non-fiction that can be read in one sitting
📚 Blends of personal and historical
And finally….a weird animal fact!
Did you know that arctic terns have the longest migration of any creature?
There are some truly incredible migrations in nature, from cuckoos to monarch butterflies and even the life cycle of an eel!
However, arctic terns have the longest migration – while they breed in the Arctic in summer, they winter all the way down in Antarctica!
This means their annual journey is between 44,000 and 59,000 miles per year!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed-let me know what you think, and what you’d like to see in future editions. If you know someone else who would like it, please share and let’s grow the newsletter!
Can’t wait to hear from you, and have a great day! ☀️
Hooray for debunking Essex girl myths and for Sarah Perry who was a couple of years below me at the same school 🙂. As it happens I'm currently reading her first novel.
Sock sloth 😍 They look so sweet!