I knit so I don't kill people.

Monday 31 December 2012

Well reflecting on 2012 I didn't do very well with my blog did I.  Note to self  "Must try harder".  Well I'm still crafting and still doing my Yoga (now that is an achievement for me !)
I had to be creative for Christmas as I was asked to make a Darth Vader helmet for my 6 month old niece, Martha, now affectionately referred to as Marth Vader.  I will post pictures when I get a nice one.
My knitting is getting known around friends and colleagues and orders are starting to come my way, I could have a thriving business if I knuckle down to it.  This may be a good thing as my job is under threat of redundancy, but hey ho every cloud has a silver lining.



It may be the opportunity for me to change my life to something I dream to do, something in the arts and crafts.

New Year resolutions are being made, the first one is to use up my wool stash, and how am I going to do this? By joining this group on Ravelry  www.ravelry.com/groups/12-months-of-christmas-2013, I vow to create at least one gift a month to give to my friends and family next Christmas.  I'm halfway through my first Owl wrist warmer, a brilliant easy pattern from December's issue of Mollie Makes



I love love love this magazine it is truly inspirational, it also has a fantastic website www.molliemakes.com if you love crafts you will not be disappointed.

I have no excuse not to maintain my blog as I now have a proper phone which will make it easier for me to update and add photos etc.  Another resolution get blogging !

I'm off now to rest my achy fluey body, curl up on the couch with my ginger tea and my knitting.  A quiet but happy new year I hope.

Happy New Year to you all xx

Tuesday 27 March 2012

As predicted I'm useless at Blogging.  I'm always too busy, but I have had a couple of days of work and therefore have been crafting again.  Here is a Lavender Mimi Mouse.  I purchased the very first kit of this design to be sold to the public from "Cool crafting" when I visited her stall at the Vintage fare at Liverpool St George's Hall recently.  It took me a couple of hours and was lovely to do.  I want to make a large one and use it as a doorstop, I'm even considering doing it in some denim off cuts I have to make it more hardwearing.  Here is the website for you to visit, she also had a lovely owl design and birds of paradise 
 www.coolcrafting.co.uk


Tuesday 14 February 2012

Well I've got a few days off work, half term with the boys.  What to do on a cold grey " don't know what to do today" sort of day ?  Well we batten down the hatches and have cookfest, so far Banana, Cherry and white chocolate muffins, Banana bread, Broccoli & Stilton Soup and home made Cornish Pasties www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7776/cornish-pasties 

While all that is cooking I'm off to put my feet up with my knitting and an old movie on the TV.   I've also got my eye on my sewing machine and my unfinished patchwork quilt.  When do I find the time to go to work, I'd never be bored ?

Sunday 12 February 2012

Today I went on one of my favourite walks here in Wirral.  Thurstaston country park which is on part of the Wirral Way http://www.thurstaston.wherewideweb.com/wirralway.html.  I donned my flower power wellies and was at one stage paddling in the sea like a big daft kid !!  Love it

It was misty today so we couldn't even see across the Dee estuary to North Wales and the river was still with no tide.  We skimmed stones, himself was the champion with a total of ten bounces from one pebble, I just can't master this art !!
The steps down to the beach





What I love about this circular route we take is that we travel in one direction along the beach and head back using the path along the cliff tops through the country park.  I'm always on the lookout for anything that might interest me or inspire my next craft project.
This made me laugh,  a rogue industrial glove had somehow got lodged in this sculpture, like a dismembered hand !

I found these lovely little toadstools growing on a a log aren't they a fantastic colour?

I swear that this cheeky little robin was posing for my camera, he sat watching us for ages not shy at all  
  I was thinking today that this year I may actually commit myself to complete the Wirral coast walk the full 15 miles http://www.visitwirral.com/whats-on/wirral-coastal-charity-walk-p44258.  I've been wanting to do it for years but always forget to register, I'll have to start hassling my friends to see who will be my walking partner, I also need to think what charity I will collect my sponsor money for. Watch this space.....

Well today I might be able to share some of my recently finished projects if my camera behaves itself.  Firstly the Cath Kidston scarf, this was passed over to me by a friend who had received it as a christmas gift,  yes she can knit but is a novice and was not confident enough to tackle this project alone.  Secondly it's a sideways knit and it would have been an impossible task to cast on 180 plus stitches on the tiny needles provided in the kit.  Therefore it was passed to me to knit it up for her.
Rather than a plain stripe I opted for the slip stitch stripe to make it a bit more interesting.  It's a key hole scarf but it's a bit short I feel.  I also lined it with fleece fabric for extra warmth.  I hope my friend enjoys it especially as it was snowing down her end of the country last week.

My next project, inspired by Attic 24 fabulous christmas bunting  http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2012/01/jolly-festive-bunting-ta-dah.html  I decided to do something different instead of the usual bootties or hat for a new grandson borne to a work colleague of mine, so I crocheted a name bunting instead (yes with bells on)





She will of course be getting the compulsory umbilical cord hat from my Stitch'n'bitch handbook http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0761128182/ref=asc_df_07611281826520663?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=hydra0b-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=0761128182
 I love this quick knit and finished one off last night in gorgeous Debbie Bliss Baby cashmerino http://www.debbieblissonline.com/Yarn.asp?yid=12.  Well that's all for today however I have much more to blog so will be back tomorrow.  Still getting use to this so please bear with me x