Going Loopy

I've finished my Wensleydale Lace Scarf but not had a chance to do anything about taking any photos yet, hopefully I'll have that to share with you before too long. (Though after going in to hospital to have a couple of wisdom teeth I probably won't be feeling like doing much of anything for a couple of days!)

No sooner had I cast off the scarf I decided to cast on again with the next project on the to do list. Yarn is taking over my life at the moment. I seem to have lost the stitching impetus and am on a one woman knitting and crochet crusade. But I'm sure at some point the stitching bug will return.

This time I'm going all loopy.

I'm making a beard from the book that James bought me for my birthday, slightly random I know but I assure you there is method to my madness. All will be revealed at some point though no doubt it will finally cement your opinion of me as a mad old cow, lol.

Although this is a small project it's worked in double yarn and I'm finding it pretty hard going on my hands. This has given me a new found respect for my lovely Mum who, when I was about 5 years old knitted me a whole jacket and matching hat made in this loopy style. Must have taken her forever, I did love the jacket though. I'll have to go through my Dad's photos next time I see him to see if there are any photos of me wearing it.

Coincidentally the needles I'm working this project on are ones that belonged to my Mum. I bet never in her wildest dreams when she was making my jacket would she have thought 30 years later I'd be knitting loopy too making myself a beard of all things!! :-D I'm sure it'd just have made her laugh.  Miss you Mum xx

My week in snapshots

Wow here I am again putting together another 'week in snapshots' post. Another week has passed in a blissful whirlwind.

Things that have been making me happy this week include sleepy morning kisses, days filled with sunshine and rain showers, a training course at work which actually had me feeling inspired for a change and a lovely box of chocolate orange segments.

 How has your week been?

Saturday afternoon snoozing

Live music from my favourite band

Evading Daleks

Getting cosy with crochet in front of a movie

Autumn sunshine

Pumpkins.... all that orangey goodness yum yum

Hat of the week

My week in snapshots

Another crazy week has flown by, actually its disappeared so fast I didn't manage to get my camera out for half of it which I'm kicking myself for.  Moments not captured include a lovely spontaneous night out with my gorgeous guy at a new Italian place that's opened up down the road and my team 'The Tail-enders' winning at my work's quiz night.

But here are some things that I did remember to capture.

Dinner out with my gorgeous Granny last weekend

 Drinking lots of Elderflower tea

 But have no fear I've been a qualified tea maker for almost 30 years now

 Almost finished

 Wearing hats, I love them and have decided I need to do this far more often than I do

 Cooking with leftovers.  Pitta Pizza

Seriously I can't enthuse enough about how content I am at the moment.  I honestly don't think I've ever been happier. 

I'm back to crafting on a regular basis, I'm cooking more, I'm generally living a much simpler life and finding lots of pleasure in ordinary moments, sounds corny I know.  James and I are making plans for the future which if they all come together will mean we could have the most amazing life together.

I have less disposable income than I've ever had but being thrifty and having a lovely man who treats me to nights out once in a while means that I still get to go out and do lots of cool stuff.  I'm quite literally the luckiest girl in the world at the moment.

Can you tell I've had a good week, lol.  Lets hope the coming one is just the same.  Hope you all out there in blogland are happy too. X

Halfway

Knitting seems to have replaced cross stitch as my Sunday activity for the time being.  I'm working away on my lace scarf still.  I'd like it to be progressing quicker as I want to start wearing it.  But I'm trying to be patient.

In all honesty I could get it done in a few evenings if I really wanted to but I'm trying to reserve evening time for working on the crochet throw that it destined to be a Christmas present and also a few commission projects that friends have recently asked for.

Still it is coming along.  I'm at the half way point, just added the new skein.  One down, one to go, can't wait.  It's going to be a lovely long scarf to wrap up in.

Thrifting

Have picked up a couple of odds and sods on my trips to the thrift stores these last few weeks.

I don't often buy second hand clothes, or really just clothes full stop.  Of course I love hand made accessories but I'm about as far from a fashionista as you can get.

On my to do list for a while has been to make myself a poncho. The other day I spotted one in a charity shop, and it was a really good Per Uno one from M&S for only £3. Knowing that this would have cost tens of pounds new, that my to do list at the moment is a million miles long, and that I'd never be able to buy the yarn to make myself one for that price it just had to come home with me.  Needless to say this has become my new favourite garment now it's getting is chilly and I've been wearing it ever since.

I also picked up a few knitting magazines for 10p each.  Although in the past I've bought many crafting magazines never really any knitting ones.  These are all issues from early 2013 and have some lovely patterns in.  I've really enjoyed flicking through the Yarnwise ones, Knit hasn't really grabbed me as much but there is at least one throw pattern in those magazines that I'd like to try and for 10p you can't really complain :)

I also picked up this book .... not strictly thrifting but at the bargain price of £1.99 it had to be done and the cover photo made me smile.

Have you made any interesting/exciting purchases recently?

Parliament

You will have spotted this picture above in my snapshot post yesterday.  For the last couple of weeks amongst other things I've been working on a batch of new owls.

After seeing the mobile I made the other week another friend asked me to make her a few for some of her family and friends as little stocking fillers for Christmas.

 She asked if I'd add some initials on to the back of a few.  That turned out to be a bit tricker than I expected but I think they turned out ok in the end.  I also added a button to each hanging ribbon just for fun.

I recently learned that a group of owls is called a Parliament.  I had a lot of fun making my colourful little parliament.  And don't forget if you fancy making your own scroll back through my mobile posts and you'll find the link to the pattern on Ravelry.

My week in snapshots

Foraging

Reading

Signs of Autumn

Hooking

Cooking

Hanging Around

New on the hook

Yet another new project went on the hook this week.  I'm making a super cute owl hat and some booties for Amy's baby.  I splashed out on some really lovely Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester yarn and its so scrummy to work with.

As these baby things are tiny I'm hoping I'll have some finished baby cuteness to show you before long :)

My week in snapshots

Have had one of those weeks that has just flown by before I knew where I was. Can't quite believe it's Sunday again already.  I didn't actually take many photos this week which just goes to show what a whirlwind it was as it's not often you see me without some sort of camera device in hand but here are a few.

Lazy Sunday playing retro video games :)

A day off work exploring Bath (my favourite street Wool and Country Threads are here for all my crafting needs, yippee!)

A nice cup of tea and a naughty indulgence :)

A night out with Tapas, Sangria and the sexiest man on the planet

A beautiful day celebrating with a beautiful couple, my very good friends, Mark and Emma Rumble

This coming week I really must find a few extra hours in the day to get cracking on the list of Christmas Presents I want to make.  I know its maddening talking about Christmas in October but hand made takes time, so need to get cracking, I feel like I'm behind already.  Aside from making I have dinner out with a friend to look forward to and I'm hoping to be able to spend some time with my family next weekend, fingers crossed.

Whatever your week entails I hope you have a good one x

Wensleydale Scarf

So you might recall this picture from the 'week in snap shots' post.

This can only mean there is a new project on the knitting needles.  Back in June I bought some lovely hand spun Wensleydale wool while we were on our holidays in the Yorkshire Dales.

It's my first attempt at a simple lace pattern.  Although I've been knitting since I was a girl I've always kept to really simple patterns and stitches.  It's not perfect I will admit but it is coming along and if I can get it done sometime soon it will be a lovely treat just for me to wear this Autumn :)

London May 2013

I'm still on my quest to put together some catch up posts for the things that I missed telling you about earlier in the year when I was on a bit of a blogging hiatus. April is done so time to move on to May. It was a fairly quiet month all told but with an amazing end... A trip to London. And my first time to see a real life full orchestra, exciting.

Of course we started out with some pre concert refreshments.  Burger and a beer for James, the most delicious avocado and bacon salad and a cider for me.

Then it was off to the Barbican for the main event.

Honestly it was amazing!  Wow I just can't describe how beautiful it is to sit in a room with the sound of an orchestra playing live in front of you ..... well I'm sure there is a good chance you've been to a concert and already know.

The music we were listening to was arranged from the scores of the Final Fantasy computer game series (see I told you the other day I'm a giant nerd!!)  James was super excited to catch a glimpse of the crazy Japanese maestro himself Nubuo Uematsu

Our trip to the capital finished the next day with breakfast sat outside in the sunshine and a wander from Shoreditch to Paddington to catch the train home.

Happy memories.