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humanitarian hugger

2009-06-18T06:48:00.001-07:00

so, unbelieveably we have news of green hat hugger who has been spreading the love in darfur on a un mission. very glad he had that hat on.

he spent some time with the local wildlife, obviously...

and, my favourite picture of all, tried to stay upright and lend a loop...

amazingly he reached us safely, for which (and much more)we have you to thank Nick Nick. x

what I HAVE been up to

2009-04-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

so.... not many new huggermuggers around are there? my flickr sets are looking pretty much as they did after christmas, no? two main reasons for this..... the first is that i keep coming across things i want to make. a patchwork blanket for my mum's birthday - photos to follow another day which took me from December to this week and now....

well, we finally got a new car - in fact, it's a bit too new for me and needed the edges softened. hence the decoration above. so pleased with it. i've even been asked to make Radha one....

more importantly i've been spending most of my time in the fresh (sometimes very fresh) air with my third child (see below). tosca only has to look at me and i'm there, lead in hand, trying to avoid dog-guilt (like child-guilt but quieter)and keep her happy.

there may be more huggers one day - i think i need to get a few creations out of my system first. and tire the dog out.

back soon. x

winter sun boy

2009-03-05T03:26:00.000-08:00

what do we think - a skiier or a boarder? answers on a postcard to huggermugger central office please. at least his head was warm - just like those people with 'comedy' hats you see in the chair lift queue.

bobbin along in kyoto

2009-03-05T03:19:00.000-08:00

crikey, look where the little bob got to - all the way to kyoto. it's a bit of a pilgrimage for him, visiting his ancestral home (google amigurumi for more details).

looks very happy in his new home - sayonara little pink eared bob and thank you to Vlad and family for getting him safely home.

looking ravishing at lake naivasha

2009-03-05T03:03:00.000-08:00

looks quite pleased with herself doesn't she? and so she should, little long-stocking has made it to kenya and is now having a rest.

probably doesn't need her socks on, but glad to see she is being well looked after, Tanya honey.

well done - well travelled everyone.

Homeworks Workout

2008-10-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

for anyone actually reading this blog (still not convinced you exist) and interested, the huggermuggers will be on display for two days next month.

we homeworks crew (can we really be a 'crew?', proabably not) are setting up shop in the twentieth century theatre on westbourne grove (that is deepest, darkest west london)from 12 - 9pm (blimey) on 14th November and 10-5 on 15th.

there will be many beautiful things that I personally would like for christmas available for sale, so if any of my family are reading this, please go.

for more details see http://www.thisishomeworks.blogspot.com/

a bientot

He's at the rodeo, actually.

2008-10-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

big news from the other side of the pond. little go go huggermugger has been royally entertained by the good people of Kansas (mostly Tamala).

he has been taken to the rodeo where I'm told he was completely transfixed and didn't drink too much root beer. good. well done everyone, and isn't the kansas countryside lush? I blame that wizard of oz film, I was sure it was all sepia and full of tumbleweed - sorry Tamala, that must be so annoying.

there's no place like home.... there's no .... ok, I've stopped.

thank you armstrongs/ yakubus x

iKnit, youKnit, weKnit

2008-09-07T01:25:00.000-07:00

another trip out for the huggers, along with the old lady (strangely re-branded as Smith and Coates these days), her egg cosies and new range of childrens' clothes. all made from felted (ie. shrunk in a hot wash) adult jumpers with embellishments lovingly hand crocheted and stitched.

our trip was made possible by the 'knitting guru' Fiona Bailey (in green above - yes, it's really her) she of knit and caboodle and the beautifully produced book 'Simply Knit....Hats', who kindly invited us to join her.

lots of lovely knitting on display - as the term iknit might suggest, we especially loved seeing so much british wool in evidence - John Arvon and Herdy being our particular favourites. Herdy are championing the much neglected Herdwick sheep and making modern, beautifully designed textiles, mugs and cards. what a relief. have a look - herdy.co.uk.

next up Queen's Park Day - sunday 14th september.....come on sunshine.

not just jumpers in arran

2008-09-05T13:40:00.001-07:00

let's face it, british holidays aren't really about the sun, and if you're made of wool they are of course perfect - no danger of overheating.

these two made it up to the beautiful isle of arran for a bit of a relax and had a lovely time with Bea and Mrs Booth. they seem to be getting on quite well, no?

a study in purple - and just look how he travelled....

thank you Booths, for really getting it.

she's going to Miami

2008-06-16T11:47:00.001-07:00

lucky little hugger. only the second one ever made. she spent the first two years of her life languishing on the dresser waiting for me to send her to little eva (for whom she was made). within months of meeting the nutters she send me this; a snap of her lounging around, blinged up on palm beach.....

just what we expect from you, amigos. feeling the love.

African nights

2008-04-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

And so, our tale of wandering huggermuggers brings us to Abuja (that's in Nigeria), for a night of al fresco bench living and a trip to the local Sheraton - get her.

Apparently Miss Hippo loved it so much she might return one day(eh, Philly?).....

Dipped in Honey Does Dubai

2008-03-12T07:52:00.001-07:00

dubai - the land of sheiks, shopping and shisha. dipped in honey nipped over for a quick look around, just in case he fancied a move.

the opportunities for coffee and dining al fresco were good, if recently built.

it was especially good to catch up with some old friends, and the sun (who hadn't visited the UK for a while either).

squid, beegu and stripy bunny were all doing well in their new home - squid especially enjoying the pool and his new friends scary shark, big sister starfish

and baby starfish.

it's not a bad life. not quite north london but, hey, you can't have everything.

Huggermuggers in India

2008-02-26T04:28:00.001-08:00

so ... two lucky huggermuggers have made it to India. A quick trip to the Taj Mahal in all its hazy splendour ....

followed by what looks like a nervous preparation for their ride home .... or are they just hugging each other with glee at being where they are?

many many thanks to Radha for showing them such a very good time .....

more travel snaps due soon as the huggers discover the world outside north west london

come back soon

Great times at Great Western

2007-12-03T03:09:00.000-08:00

A grand day out for the huggermuggers and Old Lady Village Fete at the Great Western Studios. We were very well looked after, lots of soup, tea and a gas fire (thank you Adam). Also, lots of people smiling and sometimes laughing out loud at our stall. We're getting used to that.

Said goodbye to most of the huggermuggers (and all of the bobs) which was weird in a way; some of them have been around for nearly a year. Lovely to see so many kids of all ages, especially you, little-Montgomery-girl -whose -name -I've -forgotten who ran off and did this lovely picture of her bob for us.

If you bought a hugger or a bob this weekend, please think about sending us photos (or films) of anything you get up to so we can put them up on Flickr. Jpegs or mpegs most welcome.

Lots of love for the Old Lady's rooster egg cosies - if you'd like to know more about them, and where you can get some in the future - or any other Smith and Coates products (hats, scarves, tops etc.) get in touch with me for now and I'll forward your messages.

So.... what next (other than making some more huggermuggers, quick smart)? First thing, to get the web shop up and running - I just need to get some clear photos done and sort out how postage and packing works, then it's PayPal here we come.

Then (probably after Christmas) we're going to try and get some postcard and greeting card packs done, and think about doing t-shirts and bags.

Please, if you'd like to keep in touch with what we do, subscribe to the mailing list via the first page of the site - I haven't got the time to bombard you with information I promise....

That's it for now

Clare

November and a trip to Paris for Miss Bunny

2007-11-27T05:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog.... in a month when a lucky
huggermugger got folded, packed and whisked off to Paris. It was freezing but being made of wool, cotton and angora she didn't really mind.

We had a delicious lunch at Le Gorge Rouge in Rue St Paul.

Highlight of the trip for her was a visit to the incredible Entree des Fournisseurs in St Germain (entreedesfournisseurs.com) - a haberdashers which makes my trips to John Lewis look ever so pointless. We bought some felt and some buttons for the bobs.

For other adventures see Flickr 'Huggers on Holiday'

The next big news for us is that the Open Studios at Great Western Studios are this weekend. Open from 12pm on Saturday (1st December). See my website for details of how to get there and to see who else is around.

That's it I suppose. Wow, my first blog.

Clare

First Test Post

2007-11-01T08:09:00.001-07:00

This is the first test post on the Huggermuggers website.