Tales from the travelling mafia-day 1

Dear Saffy,
Today I have travelled 300 miles south. I still find it weird that zigzagging across the country is quicker but there it is. I'm pretty sure if my satnav was animate it would try to kill me as I ignored it the whole way. I guess it should be honoured I switched it on really as I know where I'm going for the most part. It was running through my head as I drove down that the woman would get angry and just switch off in a huff. Maybe satnavs should do that?
I missed having the Saffy CDs in the car kinda, but I'm glad it's not the backstreet boys despite your desperate attempts to start up a boy band in the office. I assume when I get back you and Conor will have the dancing down and be working on the fashion. Just remember to keep your knees together. It did mean that I got to listen what to you would have been 6 hours of non stop run to the hills although I can assure you it's not!
I waved at Runcorn even though you're not there.
I guess that's all to report for today it's not a very exciting trip the motorway is still there and as usual it was wet and windy all the way down. At least I have a kitteh to entertain me now despite the fact it doesn't have a love of boxes like maru. I'll shall photograph him and put him on this post for you to see later.
Mafia ho!!!

Finished Bra

And so it is done, backstrap and all. The front fastening isn't quite sorted yet but still it's a good first attempt. 

Front view 

Two glorious shots of the backstrap

Jacks gets the wrong idea but at least it's keeping her warm.

Also just to prove that we're not entirely mad here's a baby blanket knitted in the same wool by Becca. (Possibly scarf pictures to appear soon)

Mafia History: Dinosaur Wall

In our office have many spare white boards. One day it was decided to have a dinosaur drawing competition. As such we have recreated our 5 year old selves drawing dinosaurs. It has gotten as such that as a requirement for joining our workgroup you draw a dinosaur.

The dinosaur wall in all its glory. (Closeups to follow )

We found this gem, which could be likened to a Banksy piece, as an offering from our supervising Professor.  Personally I think this is a fantastic piece, comparable with Saffy's current standards.  An artistic vein evidently runs through the Mafia and those associated with us.  The description reads: "World War Dragon" for those who are curious.

(Above) From left to right, top to bottom:  James, Hua, Ken, Fergus 

(Above) Becca, Surge, Marie, Saffy, Joy

(Above) Conor, David, Upu, Morton, Louise, Becca (again)

(Above) Fergus, Jacks, Chalmers

(Above) Kasun, Ken, Lara, Big Mike, Surge, Matt

Today the Mafia was entertained by

Saffy found us a cool writing website.  Now you can write in llamas, much better than comic sans.

We also found a picture in an unexpected place.

Many thanks to Conor for this.  

We plan to make him reach the ceiling next, despite the danger this may incur.

and Becca did some Charity shop shopping.....for Saffy.

Guess what we will be listening to non-stop tomorrow...

Mafia associates - Crystallography

Saffy and Becca start work on their report by associating!

Saffy's fashion Thursday

This week's wannabe item is shiny shoes.  Get some, and you too can be in high fashion with Saffy.  

They're also handy for stamping on things.

I wanted a tartan version, but it was a bit too much, even for me...

One day....

This is my item of choice this week.  I'm going to make a pair, but you can buy your own (http://buyakilt.com/royal-stewart-casual-tartan-trousers)

Suitable for all occasions!

I also plan to purchase/make a cravat.  Purely inpired by the recent announcement that they are no longer welcome at Ascot, in addition to fascinators.  As fascinators are very popular with the Mafia, we are boycotting this announcement.  A quick Google search provides several options.  I like this one:

Last but not least, my recommended desirable but ridiculous items of the week (as those above are evidently not ridiculous) are the:

Handerpants

Mafia History: Mafia Fashions Part I

Becca had a great interest in dress making having been taught it from a young age and having had access to very cheap fabric. As such she started teaching Jacks how to sew, first making a dress for a wedding. (I'll try and dig a picture out at some point). After this came the Halloween costumes. Granted we weren't going for too complicated, just a shirt each but unfortunately after 6 hours of sewing shirts to find your task isn't finished as at 2am someone else decided they wanted a shirt. It was progressing nicely until, we sewed the body panel to the sleeve panel on both sides causing a sort of twisted shirt that you have to kinda contort yourself to get into. (I have to point out that at 2am when you have 4 rectangles to sew together it does get rather confusing.

The mafia and two of the shirts.

Another photos of the lovely shirts

After this adventure alarm bells should probably been ringing about fast bulk production but then the idea came. It should probably be mentioned here that it should never be said the Mafia does things by half.
We have a Christmas dinner at work every year. The previous year everyone had dressed smartly to go, but this year we were due a new group photo. Our previous group photo had been taken ages ago and everyone was wearing a red T-shirt so this got onto the discussion about how to coordinate the picture. The discussion started on what to do when Jacks came up with a brilliant (that might have been the gin talking at this point) that we would make all the girls a dress and all the boys a bow tie/tie in the same colour fabric. So the hunt began for the fabric colour and outfit for everyone. Eventually we decided on purple and so the sewing began.

There are many photos from this point in the adventure which will eventually appear on this once we've dug them out. There were many evenings crawling on the floor cutting out. Many evenings of jamming the poor sewing machine that didn't know what had hit it. (Lace fyi is horrid to sew). Many evenings of fitting dresses to people and taking in. Many people and fingers were stabbed with needles and pins (and feet for that matter). There were rushed hems to get it all finished.

One thing to take away from this is that gin and sewing doesn't mix (certain bits of tie were quite difficult to distinguish after the gin took effect). Also that making 5 dresses, 10 ties and 2 bow ties in 2 months is a vast undertaking. Still at least the result wasn't too terrible.

The lovely conglomerate and their fancy outfits

Brian and the knitting needles

There are a number of reasons why we should stop bringing projects into to work and here's a good one. 

 

This one has to be our favourite it is particularly fascinating we'll have to make sure she doesn't try to attend Ascot like that.

I have to admit as fetching as Jacks looks I can't see it catching on. Although who knows teletubby hair dos might come into fashion and we're just well ahead of the curve. 

Modern Art With Saffy

Can you guess what these pieces of truly modern art represent?  If you can, you should join the 

"Modern Art With Saffy Club"

Other combinations include melon + collie, bed + rock, crystal + graph and many more...

If you need help with your artwork, just turn to wikihow!  They help you to draw all manner of things, from beavers to circles.  So you can be an artist just like Saffy.

Mafia Board 16/01/12

Edit: Project for Saffy: Modern Art as she's the only one not travelling this week.