Hello Twenty Thirteen

Happy New Year my lovelies :D It's good to be back but I can't tell you how much I wish it were still the holidays, even though I know it wouldn't be as special if it lasted forever. We spent a very long week down at my folks in London, although a week didn't seem long enough in the end!

Christmas Day was very chilled out and merry. I was up early to see my brother before he had to work (!!) which meant opening presents, followed by more presents when J got up (fair-isle slippers!), followed by party food for lunch, mulled wine, dinner making, a nap, plying my parents with alcohol while they were being busy, my brother coming home still in good spirits, more presents, Christmas Dinner, Christmas Crackers, Trivial Pursuit (my Dad lost) Christmas Pudding and then bed.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, or if that's not your thing a peaceful end to the year :)

I can't quite believe where the year has gone but looking back at my projects for the year sort of puts things into an order I can make sense of! I really enjoyed making little mosaics at the beginning of last year so I've done the same now, only this time I've discovered Pic Monkey which is a brilliant website for making collages, mosaics and editing photos - a huge time saver.

There are four projects from last year that I've finished which was one of my 2012 resolutions, but I've also started this year with more unfinished WIPs. Oh well!

1. Hexagon blanket - completed :)
2. A stockinette stitch cushion cover. I've cast on too many stitches for the cushion inner I have so I may start this again...
3. Spring Garden Granny Squares. These haven't worked out so well when joined, I'm wondering whether to make more squares in different colours and make a small lap blanket...!

4. Nanny throw. I don't think this is a project I've blogged about yet so more about this later!
5. Bubble Gum Ripple Blanket
6. Pomegrante snood.

7. Little Woolie Inspired Cushion. I should finish this soon, I've only got a few more rows to do!
8. Ribbed Phone Cover
9. Stripy Snood


1. Crochet hook handle, made from Fimo
2. Moss Stitch Scarf
3. Crochet owl

4. Crochet Father Christmas
5. Knitted bunting
6. Knitted cable hat

7. Bunting
8. Knitted cat mouse hat
9. Polka dot skirt


1. First pomegranate snood
2. Turquoise cable hat
3. Lingonberry biscuits :)

4. Winter striped scarf
5. Snowflake Christmas card
6. Chunky mustard snood

7. Pink fluffy scarf
8. Grass cable snood
9. Giveaway cactus

I've got loadssss of other things to show you that I started over the holidays too, lets cross our fingers for some good weather this weekend and I'll try to get some half decent photos to share :)

x x x x

Quarterly round up :-)

Back in January I decided not to set myself any ridiculous New Years Resolutions; there would be no joining the gym, no expectations to do things I know that realistically I am never going to achieve! Instead I opted for a couple of goals, simple things I wanted to do and thought "that might be possible!"

So climbing was part of it, I wanted to do some outdoor routes and lead a 6a - both completed! I wanted to eat more healthily and have less meat in my diet the latter of which I've managed really well (I made a veggie lasagne a couple of weeks ago!) but I still have to admit to the odd KFC... THE SHAME!

I was really keen to finish all my 2011 projects and apart from my hexagon blanket and a few other little things I think I've done really well! Here's a quick round up;


Stripy snood, one of my favourite things to wear because it's so cosy!


My mums crazy fluffy caterpillar!


I haven't done much sewing in 2012 but this is one of my proudest productions


Ahhhh finally! This scarf took ages because moss stitch calls for a little more attention but I'm so happy it's finally completed


My favourite project of the year, I think it will take something really special to top this



Admittedly I've started a few other projects too but mostly they've also been finished :-)


Baby hats for little heads


I've started some mini bunting; I'm not sure what to do with it yet!


And this will eventually be my new laptops cover :-)


I'm also knitting up a snood for my friends birthday and that lovely pink bunting. I'm starting to think my 2012 unfinished projects are getting ahead of me again!

x x x x

Ripple blanket: Finished!

Who'd have thought so many of you had already tried Rumchocolate?! I'm really loving this :-) If you haven't then give it a go.

I've had another busy weekend down in London visiting J. I'm not sure if I ever said that he's been living there since January, if not then now you know! It means seeing a lot more of my family and 'home friends' and that is no bad thing.

It also gives me plenty of time on the train to knit and crochet although admittedly I get quite travel sick so I can't always manage it. When I do, I ignore the funny looks, stick my headphones on and away I go!

Something I have enjoyed finishing on the train is this...

I'm so sad to have finished but also so pleased with the result! I really hope little EP will be cosy in it!

Not the most amazing photo in the world but here goes for my 'ta-dah'!

:-D

The yarn I've used is Stylecraft Special DK, the same as my forgotten about Hexagon Blanket and finished Granny Stripe.

I'll list the colours from bottom to top as some are in the "Lucy Pack" and some aren't!

Lipstick 1246
Pomegranate 1083
Shrimp 1132
Sunshine 1114
Saffron 1081
Lemon 1020
Spring Green 1316
Aspen 1422
Turquoise 1068
Cloud Blue 1019
Lavender 1188
Wisteria 1432
Magenta 1084
Plum 1061
Cream 1005

The cream stripes have really made a difference to this blanket compared to the Granny Stripe which was solid blocks and I love it! It's a single row of trebles instead of two. I get my Stylecraft from Deramores and quite often they have a sale on so keep your eyes peeled...

I've been busy with new projects since completing my Bubble Gum Ripple (no this isn't another ripple)

And I finally got out onto the balcony to do some planting. I'll leave you with the fruits of my labour! Good night x

Going to try not to kill my herbs quite so quickly this year

x x x x

Why is the rum gone?

There is nothing quite like a hot chocolate to send you off to sleep but even better - try hot rumchocolate! I'm quite partial to a bit of Captain Morgans....

Last week J's sister had her baby, all 9lb 8 of him! I can't wait to meet him but in the meantime I've been furiously crocheting... On the train... At work... At my mums.... And here's where I was upto on Sunday!

I've done a lot more since then but as usual I haven't taken any photos since! I can't wait to show you the finished thing soon :-D

x x x x

Red, Yellow, Pink, Green, Orange, Purple, Blue

Thank you all so much for your encouraging comments on my last post :-) I've finally made my giveaway prize!! Unfortunately I haven't taken any nice photos so you'll just have to wait until I do :-)

In the meantime how about a ripple update?


It's going well! I'm actually back on the red now so I've come full circle and I just need to keep going until it's big enough for baby bump!

I've got a busy week coming up, on Friday I'll be off to the Lake District for a 5 day climbing trip - eeek! We're going to be camping (in MARCH!) and I've never done an outdoor climb before so it should be interesting. I'm going to have to put a LOT of faith in my friends.

If I don't blog before then... Wish me luck!!!

x x x x

Decisions decisions!

It might be a bit late in the evening to be blogging but I really felt like saying hello and I'm definitely one of those bloggers who has to be in 'the right mood'. Which is now!

This is first weekend this year where I've actually been home and it's been nice to get stuff done, take photos of the things I've been making and just enjoy not travelling! I've been to London lots lately (don't get my wrong, I love it!) but it's been quite nice to have a weekend off. That said I've been very busy and I'd quite like to just sleep!

I think I've already admitted that I broke one of my resolutions about not starting a new project but this is kinda a replacement so that's ok right?



This is ripple number two! I decided (about 7 stripes in actually!) that I really wasn't liking my first ripple at all. My colour order was all wrong, who knows others might like it but I don't and that means I really don't want to give it to my new niece or nephew in a few months when they're born so I started this new one and I LOVE it! I'm basically more or less copying the same colours I used in my granny stripe


Having said all that I might give ripple number one to another friend also having a baby because I figure this is better than binning it (which she can do if she wants!!) or unravelling it for the sake of a little bit of yarn.

Or not! I'm very undecided. I do have a good friend who loves my crocheting, even the fugly stuff but unfortunately her kids are 4 and 6 now so I'm not sure what she'd do with it! Decisions decisions :-)

In other news the snood is onto it's last ball of yarn! I need to start taking proper lunch breaks as this is about the only time I seem to work on it now!

The last of the Christmas presents

I've just noticed I have ninety-two followers :D and I've decided that 100 will be a great opportunity to have my first giveaway... A lot of other bloggers do it and it's quite exciting! I just haven't decided what I might giveaway yet so I'm hoping the next 8 followers don't come all at once :)


So! I've been having a very educational evening watching Stargazing Live (on the BBC) while I crochet away with tea and cake. On Monday I went past Jodrell Bank on the train and I always get a little bit excited! I've wanted to be an astronaut for forever but maths just let me down :p

I've completely forgotten to show you the last Christmas present I made for my mum! I don't mean the pink fluff no ;)


These cute little cactii are from a pattern by Elf Luvs Dwarf who unfortunately seems to have stopped blogging so if you want the pattern I'd recommend saving them just incase!


I modified the pattern a bit - well I say modified! I stopped short of making the pot and just glued them into some tiny teracotta pots that our fish tank plants came in :) I reckon they're a bit more steady and it was a lot easier too!






And now they all live at my mums in little green houses. I might even get you a photo one day!

I've broken one of my resolutions already and I was doing so well for the last 17 days! I've started something new...


:o

x x x x

The only way is up!

Oh dear. I'm feeling very sorry for myself indeed! Friday at work I felt 100%. Friday evening at home I started to feel a bit off. Saturday morning major meltdown! I've gone into full swing "feverish-cold" (apparantly a 'cold' isn't ill enough but I'm not sure this is the flu!) I'm off work today but hoping (!) to be back tomorrow...

But wait! There's more!

None of this was helped by venturing out on Saturday evening to pick up J from town. Stopped at a set of lights, car shakes and then turns off. I'm out of petrol. This is a TOTAL disaster! I'm sick, I'm tired, in 5 mins I would have been in town, J smiling and driving home to look after me. Instead I'm stuck in the middle of a busy junction!

I had to ask some nice men in a nearby pub to push me into a side street. Horray for chivalry! Boo to the embarassment of being pushed past the large glass windows of said pub with the the chivalrous men's friends cheering them on...

Queue massive breakdown on my part (a lot of tears!) An hour later and one tram ride, one round trip in a taxi to buy a bloody expensive petrol can & petrol, one trip in now working car to get petrol and two promises (from both of us) to never ignore the petrol light again.

Anyway... You didn't come here to hear tales of my woeful automobile filling inadequacy did you! No :-) I'm going to cheer myself up by sharing with you some crochet goodness that I have been working on before feverish-cold struck-me-down.

First up what could be happier than two smiling amigurumi mugs of tea?



Now I know the pattern's called Cafe con Leche (coffee with milk that is!) but when I make it it's tea. Yorkshire to be exact. The pattern is on Ana Paula's blog here and is also in her book Amigurumi World. I've made a few of these before (see my Ravatar!) but I think these are the first two that I've made properly, they're certainly different to #1!

I haven't decided wether to sell these at my friends craft fair tomorrow (if I make it!) keep them (but I can make more) or what else I don't know!

Second up are snowflakes! These are going to help decorate a very special ward where babies and their families will be spending Christmas Day



If you want to get involved please visit the Ravelry topic here - they're very quick & easy to make and would help a lot!

Last but not least I've made some good ripple progress!



I think some sort of magic might be involved, this blanket just seems to work itself out of nowhere! I hardly feel like I've spent any time on it at all. This calls for more baby ripples (two more little ones due next year from friends).

Right, I've just about exhausted myself and I think I need a lie down. I'm serious! Don't mock me ;-) Take care!

z z z z

P.S if you visit Lucy in the Sky's blog here she has a fantastic yarny giveaway!!

Rainbow ripples

I know I shouldn't have... But I've started a new project!




I had all good intentions of finishing my hexagon blanket first (and all the other WIPs!) but Deramores were selling Stylecraft at 10% off and I was running low. I also have a Little Woolie inspired blanket in my mind that was calling out for some Stylecraft so a purchase was very necessary.

I just hadn't planned on starting a ripple on the same day the yarn arrived!

This will be a blanket for my new niece or nephew! J's sister & brother-in-law are having a little one in Spring next year so this will either be an xmas present or a baby shower present. I'm sure I can russle up some other baby goodies if it becomes an xmas present!

Lucy & Heather (Attic 24 & Little Tin Bird) are doing a Ripple Along here so it made sense to join in :-)

My cowl/snood is coming along reeeeally lovely but my camera (ok J's...) needs to be charged so I can't show you. I needed more yarn for it and guess what was opposite the pub I went to on Friday - the yarn shop! This is a total coinsidence I promise, I didn't even pick the pub!

In other news I've recently taken up climbing... I can't honestly tell you why, it never appealed to me before and I'm not a big fan of heights but I thought I'd give it a go - now I'm hooked!

This is where we go:




I've been to the top of the nearside right wall (it's green) and others of a similar height which are about 10m or so. ScArY stuff!

Anywho that's all from me, apart to say (which I totally forgot) my interview went well and I get to keep my job, horray! Hope you're all enjoying your weekends (it's actually sunny here!) and hope you're getting some hooky / knitting time in :-)

x x x x