Hooking again

It's been a while since the crochet hook has been out. I'm itching to start a big crochet project to make a throw or blanket but I'm determined to finish the crochet projects that I started last year before starting anything else.  I have a half finished scarf and some blocks that were originally going to be a throw but  my idea didn't pan out so are now going to be a cushion.

I'm still such a beginner when it comes to crochet, although my confidence is building I still have to refer to instructions every step of the way......

... but slowly I'm getting there and the pile of blocks is growing.  I'm almost half way through, I'm making 16 blocks altogether 7 are made and the pile is getting bigger every day.

My Town

If you pop by regularly you'll know that a few months ago I moved towns in to a lovely little flat all of my own. I've shared with you some snaps of my home but I don't think I've put up many pictures of my town yet.  Here are a few random ones from my wanderings getting to know the area these last couple of months.

There is a lovely big park attached to Corsham Court, that is open access to the public, I love taking a wander there, there are usually sheep around and a few weeks ago this year's gorgeous little lambs were playing in the snow.

There is a huge lake at the park, and for the first time in the years that I've been visiting it was totally frozen over.

It was absolutely beautiful with the snow and ice, though I thought maybe not so nice for the waterbirds when I saw this little moorhen scampering across the frozen surface of the lake.

Near my flat is another smaller park, and this one houses a skate ramp.  I absolutely love it there at night when all of the skaters have gone home.  All lit up in the dark I just think it's urban wonderful (I'm slightly odd I know)

I really liked these photos that I took there in the rain one night a few weeks ago.

The high street is full of lovely old buildings.......

..... with plenty of character.

Another shot of the park on a snowy day, this one give you the sense of the wide open spaces.

This last picture is of what could be the ugliest building in town, but is also the place that I spend the most time at.

This is the sports centre where I go to use the gym, pool and take classes.  I'm there at least 5 times a week, best of all it's only 5 minutes walk from where I love so no driving :)

I hope that you've enjoyed my random, in no particular order look at my town.  My rental agreement on the flat comes to an end soon, so I'm not sure exactly what the future holds at the moment, I can't believe the months have flown by so quickly.  I hope I can stay because despite the financial hardships I really love being here but if not I've no doubt that wherever I end up I'll make it feel like home.

How Am I doing?

Is anyone else shocked that we've flown well in to March already? Seriously where does time disappear to? Is there a time eating monster out there whose only job is to eat minutes out of my days so they disappear before I realise they've gone?

As two months of 2012 have already disappeared I thought I might just indulge myself with a little update post all about me. Do you remember this little post back here, where I talked about all the promises that I'd made to myself for 2012?

I'm happy to say I've been doing pretty well so far.  I've been looking after myself well, regular visits to the gym and eating better, 17 llbs lost so far, not earth shattering but its going at a nice slow steady pace which is good and on target for my goal of losing 4 stone this year.

It's nice to buy local too, going to the high street and the local green grocers, coming back with just what you need, and no extra unnecessary packaging that you tend to get lumbered with at the supermarket :)

I've been spending lots of time with friends and family, and plenty of time outdoors too.  The weather has been pretty mild this winter and so far I've done lots of walking and made a couple of weekend trips away which has been great.  There is nothing quite like the fresh air for blowing out the cobwebs!

I don't have a huge amount of disposable cash these days but I have managed to stretch the budget (in aid of supporting the handmade community of course) and have treated myself to a couple of handmade treasures.

I have my eye on a set of glass coasters at the local gallery too, if they are still there when pay day gets here they will be my handmade treat to myself for March.

I'm struggling with my promise not to let the things I can't change worry me, I think worrying is just in my genes, but I'm working on it. 

Not a bad start I think, let's hope I can keep it up.

Bad Blogger

Well I can't believe that it's been almost a week since I last posted what a bad blogger I am.  I need to meet a rich man who wants to marry me and take me away from the world of earning my living, that way I'll have so much more time for the fun things in life like stitching, cooking, walking, going on holiday and blogging about all of the above :)

Apart from a couple of hours working on city and guilds I haven't had much time for stitching, though my latest patchwork/embroidery is winging it's way to its new home as we speak after I finally made it to the post office today.  Hopefully I'll be able to report soon that it's arrived safely and can show you the whole thing, but for now here is another little peek.

The sun is shining here today, I hope its the same where you are.  Have a great weekend.  x

Black and White Garden

Trying to get organised round here. I found these few shots that I took in the garden last year. They are bittersweet, reminding me of what a wonderful time last summer was and how different things in my life are now. I am missing my cats and I am missing working in the garden ..... but who knows what the future holds, I'm hoping that somewhere along the line you'll be able to find me lazing in a garden with my kitties again.

CIty and Guilds

I'm busy working on my City and Guilds machine embroidery again.

It can be really time consuming and definitely means I have less time for other fun kinds of stitching, the stuff I like to do just for me.  BUT I have managed to finish the little patchwork/embroidery picture that I've been working on, it will be winging it's way to it's new home next week and as soon as I know it's arrived safe and sound I'll be able to share.

I'll be working on the blackbird soon, but I think I might get out the cross stitch for a few days first, I haven't done any of that for a while.  The hand stitching will make for a nice break when I get tired of the machine work for c and g.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Last weekend I went to Avalon

Not many words to say today, mostly just pictures. Glastonbury Tor, the Challis Well gardens and Glastonbury Abbey, and lots of memories of a wonderful weekend.

Happy Accidents

I had an amazing weekend in warm sunshine and blue skies at Glastonbury.  Even though it's only really just down the road from me I've never taken the time to visit and explore.  I had such a joy filled weekend exploring the sites and soaking up the atmosphere.  I'll come back one day soon to post some pictures of my visit but for now I just had to share this coincidence with you.

I've been working away on my new patchwork picture, as I said before I don't want to share too much right now, but it features a big hill with a wiggly path running up it.

I was struck by how similar my picture is to this view of Glastonbury tour ....

... one of the many photos I took last Saturday.  I started the picture before my visit, it's based on a doodle that has been in my head for a while.  I've wanted to visit Glastonbury for the longest time and have seen many, many images of the tor over the years, and while my doodle is not exactly the same as the tower on the tor maybe my subconscious had this place in mind when the doodle came to me, and maybe knowing that my visit was imminent is what drew me to finally getting round to creating my image in stitch.

Coincidence?  Serendipity? Happy accident? Maybe my mind is just making connections that aren't really there, who knows? It's something fun to think about nonetheless.

Wot no cuddles?

I love my little castle, but sadly I can't have my cats with me here and I do miss them so.  Luckily they are being looked after by a friend for the time being so I still get to visit for cuddles with them every now and then.  Last week when I popped by to say hello, Pip was way too busy sleeping to be bothered with messy business of cuddles.

Where next?

Having finished my little bison embroidery I've had some time this week to think about what projects I want to be working on next. I have two in mind.

The first is a new little stitchery in the same style as the bison one, I had so much fun with that project I thought I'd try again.   It's going to be based on a image that I've had floating around in my mind for a little while now, of a little house on a big hill.  I'll be raiding the scrap jars for this one again.

I probably won't be sharing too much of the progress on this one though, as I have chosen to make it as a gift for one of the people that responded to my 'self' post earlier this year.  So I'll probably hold off showing the finished piece until I know it has been received.

The second thing I will be working on is this needle felted bird that I made a while back.

It's another of those things that I made then it fell down the back of the desk to be forgotten about for a while ;-)  At some point this poor fellow had candle wax spilled on him, fortunately it's only blobbed on the white background so hopefully I'll still be able to salvage him and create something that's a bit more 'finished'.

There won't be much happening on either of these this weekend though as I'm off for a weekend of wanderings in and around Glastonbury.  Have a great weekend. x

Glorious Graveyard

On Monday I took myself for a mammoth walk around the Gloucestershire countryside, it was mainly mammoth because I took the wrong direction several times and ended up adding at least an extra hour and half walking time to the planned route, navigation was never my strong point :)  Looking at the maps when I got back I reckon that I did 13 miles in all.

The walk took me down wide open canal ways.....

Through a fascinating ship graveyard

 Here I am playing silly buggers among the old ships (you would have laughed at me lying in the grass setting my camera and then trying to run in to position before the self timer went off!!)

 I went past the lovely, but ruined Severn Railway bridge

 This next one of the bridge tower looking out over the river is probably my favourite shot of the day.

 I walked over railway lines ... that always feels a bit naughty, even when it is a permissive path

 And back out to the banks of the Severn, you might just be able to make out the  Severn road bridge in the far distance.

 I also got to do a lot of wading through mud, down bridleways and through farm land :)  The joys of winter walking.

And finally just before I sign off for all of you out there who share my unhealthy obsession with texture, rust and decay (you know who you are) here are a few more shots from the ship graveyard, hope you enjoy. XX