Inkaid, monoprints, security blankets and Christmas cake.

are what I've done today. [Sorry to mention the C word.]

These are closeups of the latest Inkaid experiments - the ones where I sponged the Inkaid on fabric. I am a little disappointed by the black one - it is the same image as the one here but has come out duller, but without the anticipated improvement in handle - hand stitch would still be difficult.

The orange one is better - the orange fabric compensates for the loss of colour in places. Orange isn't my favourite colour but there is some in the image and this piece of hand dye was sitting in my stash waiting for an opportunity to emerge into the spotlight. [That's the trouble with dyeing colour wheels - you get orange as one of the steps!]

I have also continued to obliterate my monoprints. One of these you have already seen [still waiting for a Klimtian swirl], but the other two I finished today. The one with the squashed spider [a.k.a. a tassel] has foil on the appliqued vase shape and sloppy beading around the edge. I used a little bag of very mixed beads - what my grandfather would have called 'factory sweepings' - and just sewed them on as they came. 'Could do better.'

The third one I am quite pleased with. There are actually three monoprints - the original black paint on brown paper, some blobby gold paint on Bondaweb, and a final layer of black paint on scrim. A will know where the idea came from - an oldie but goodie.

I also started work on IgglePiggle's blanket - thanks to those who gave me advice on using fleece. I decided to make a single hem, to give some bulk for the blanket stitching - and machined it first for security. If there is anything worth listening to on TV tonight I will get started on the blanket stitch - I want get it finished for a VIBP [very important birthday party] next month. If you don't know, IgglePiggle is a character in a children's TV programme which Babybel enjoyed while she was with us - although I think her granddad enjoyed it more. Mmmm - I do have another piece of fleece and he has a birthday coming up too ...

And we made our Christmas cake today.I used to make it in half-term week while I was working and the tradition has continued now I'm not - although Wensleydale did most of it while I supervised. It is a Dan Lepard recipe called 'Black Christmas Cake', although it doesn't look much darker than normal. It has Guinness in it. Contrary to rumour, I do not put Guinness in all my cakes - just most of them. I don't make many cakes, and this is my default birthday cake recipe.