Comment from Eleanor
Time: October 10, 2006, 8:59 pm

This is my favourite new fact so I’m going to share it with you, although it in no way links in to your post at all! Except for your random baking, I suppose! Jaffa cakes are defined as cakes, rather than biscuits. Why? Because as ‘essential foodstuffs’ cakes are exempt from VAT where as biscuits (that is, biscits covered in chocolate) are luxuries and thus incur the 17.5% Vat. :)

Comment from Jacqueline
Time: October 10, 2006, 9:56 pm

I think this is a really cool way to display photos and other similarly shaped objects: http://www.photojojo.com/content/buy-this/magnetic-photo-rope/

Have fun settling into your new place :).

Comment from Heather Cameron
Time: October 10, 2006, 10:44 pm

I still think Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries are the best. I also like Mary Thomas’s Book of Knitting Patterns for the quaint illustrations and thorough details. I am almost (at last!) finished Arisaig, and Vancouver weather is cooperating perfectly -sunny and cool, just right for such a lovely design.
And as far as home decorating goes, I highly recommend “new” old things, don’t know if it’s your style, but some of my most prized possessions were found at thrift stores or even on the street - a little loving restoration can go a long way!

Comment from Roo
Time: October 10, 2006, 11:22 pm

Scott Matthews is my new tip for people wanting interesting chilled out music… his album is fab. You might have heard his single, Elusive, as it has been played on the radio a fair bit.
(I went to school with him too - I do think Wolverhampton needs to be famous for more than Slade and Beverley Knight (who also went to my school), however I actually heard the song and really liked it before I knew it was him)
Can’t wait for my purchases to arrive :0)

Comment from Cookie
Time: October 10, 2006, 11:38 pm

I just ordered this stitch pattern book. Most other stitch books I’ve found don’t chart (including 3 of the Barbara Walker ones) which is FRUSTRATING.

I’ve been thinking of ways to prettify my place too. So far no spectacular thoughts. I’d love to see what others have to say.

Comment from jordi
Time: October 11, 2006, 12:05 am

music: Andrew Bird and also Micah P. Hinson are recurring favorites for sitting at home with a cup of tea on a rainy day- would be great for being stuck inside and unpacking.

Comment from Meg West
Time: October 11, 2006, 12:41 am

I’m a new reader, I stumbled over here somehow…
Anyway, I’ve found that I love buying books… but hardly have any time to read anything but books for my research projects. Another love of mine is learning to cook and bake.
So, I buy cook books. They’re really useful, you don’t have to read them too much unless they’re trying to teach a technique. They’re probably the best thing to invest in when you’re moving into a new place. I can’t reccomend any, because it’s all about the personal taste of the owner that makes a good cookbook.

And one thing that really makes a place personal for me is a chair or sofa that once you sit in it, you’re relaxed. I found my comfy chair at one of those bedroom stores that was having a sale for things that students would need for their dorms.

Comment from lupinbunny
Time: October 11, 2006, 3:51 am

i think you need one of those old-school rainbow crocheted afghans with the black borders. my mum is making me one in anticipation of my new place (december/ january). they make a place feel cosy. and i SUCK at crochet and could still make those squares.

books (since i work in a bookstore and have a lit major) that i have LOVED: David mitchell’s ghostwritten; number9dream; or cloud atlas. all booker prize listed. marisha pessl’s Special Topics in Calamity Physics and The Memory-Keeper’s Daughter by i can’t remember who are the best novels i’ve read this year.

music: i am listening to free live dresden dolls mp3 downloads and jason webley, whose cds i think are only sold through his website. his stuff is very nice, if folksy northen european accordian crossed with tom waits is what you like.

Comment from Shannon
Time: October 11, 2006, 6:51 am

I found a nice length of chinese silk brocade once and, not wanting to cut into it, hemmed the selvedges and wrapped the top around a length of 1″ dowel to which I attached picture wire. Dowel on the bottom and presto! a beautiful wall hanging that cost next to nothing. The best part is, nobody else has anything like it. The brocade is only about 36″ wide, and about 2m in length. You can also do a similar thing, but stretching the fabric over an artist’s canvas and stapling it into the back. Then just hang it like a painting. Iridescent taffeta or dupioni looks great like that.

Comment from Catherine
Time: October 11, 2006, 10:26 am

My favourite auther right now is Alice Hoffman. I’m currently reading The Probable Future - fantastic! I’m enjoying her writing while the weather is cold and damp, curled up on the sofa. x

Comment from kate
Time: October 11, 2006, 4:44 pm

I totally love Barbara Walker as well…but alas no charts. There is a photo of every pattern though, so you can tell very early on if you are on the right track or not. I was just in a “post finished sweater blank” and went to bed reading her 1st treasury and now have 1 sweater ides and two scarves on the brain. Very inspirational. We just moved into a house and I fully believe plants make it a home….especially with winter coming!!

Comment from Victoria
Time: October 12, 2006, 4:07 pm

Well, I am wearing some lovely new socks that I knitted from the hand-dyed I bought from you at the Miso Funky market! For your flat you could try making some cushions by felting old jumpers- very cosy.
Good luck moving x

Comment from clementine
Time: October 13, 2006, 9:12 am

ooh, it’s so hard to know what to suggest, cos i don’t know what you like (how’s your ‘about’ page coming along? hee hee).

music-wise… I like Pony Up (hooray for Canadian chicks!), and the magic numbers, the shins (yes, getting old now, I know) and I second LupinBinny’s Dresden Dolls recommendation.

Books-wise… House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski. But that’s probably not the best book to read on moving into a new house. AND you’ve probably read it. Oh well.

Flat-related stuff… I find the things that make me feel the most at home, for the minimum outlay, are cushions and potplants. Yes, I am a grandma!! haha.

Also good: new tea towels, towels & bed linen, arrangements of flowers/feathers, and just displaying some of the cool stuff you’ve never been able/wanted to put out before because you lived in share housing!!

I’m all about fabrics, so I use a lot of beautiful (but cheap, usually!) fabrics to cover the less-beautiful elements of my home? ugly furniture, and that wall with all the footprints on it… don’t ask!!

but seriously, i’m all about the cushions. you can never have too many cushions.

I could ramble about this all day… i’m a bit *too* Cancerian, methinks.
have fun moving in!!!!

Comment from Meg
Time: October 22, 2006, 7:52 am

You can mix the book (well actually magazine) with making projects for new flat. Ther is a mag that I read called Ready Made which has great, inexpensive project to make for home or where ever.