helenjanei

I'm an English teacher at a secondary school (ages 11-18) in south london. Originally from Yorkshire and slightly missing green open spaces!

I love my job and work with some very challenging/disadvantaged young people, which is hard work but very rewarding!

I have a boyfriend and a pet parakeet (he was rescued from friends who bought kittens - they didn't get on!)

Living in london I get really frustrated by how un friendly people can be (I know none of my neighbours!) so love meeting new friendly people through swapping!

The West Wing, Fraiser, Agatha Cristie mysteries, Brothers and Sisters, The Gilmore Girls, The Aprentice

Where to start?! Quilting - very excited as I think I've finally managed to crack this one. After a lot of effort I finally get the fine art of quilting, now I just need to get better at it. patchwork - I could spend days looking at fabric and dreaming up projects. My happiest is in a fabric shop picking them up and comparing them, normally whilst getting funny looks as I mutter to myself knitting - I'm not a great/fast knitter but I can do it, just! crochet - especially amagurami! Love it. My ideal craft as it is quick and cute and I can do it whilst watching TV (as long as I keep count) sewing - by hand or machine. baking - sweet things a must, but only when I have an excuse to take them in to work, my boyfriend has banned my making huge batches for the two of us due to the expense it costs him in buying new, bigger, clothes!

Basically anything I can get my hands on!

Likes Modern fabric (as in not naff, it is so hard to explain what makes a great fabric, but anything by Moda has my vote!) Retro - fabric, clothes, music sweet things, chocolate, cakes etc Pink/purple Black and white photos Thoughtfulness

Dislikes Savoury things Abstract art Poor grammar/punctuation People who walk around in a bubble (i.e. into other people etc!)