Sunday 28 April 2013

Just over a year of blogging and crafting.

I know I have already blogged today but it has just dawned on me that about this time last year I picked up some knitting needles for the first time in years.  Since then I have become quite a good little knitter and crocheterererer and my blog has had over 5500 views!

Remember The scarf that became a snood?  That was finished on the 14th of April 2012 when all I could do was the knit stitch!

What an amazing year it has been.  I am sat typing this in a hand knitted Aran with the beginnings of a crochet blanket on my lap.  Brill!

Thankyou to everyone who has supported this journey and especially to Eleanor at Knit Nottingham for her help over the last year.  Her classes have been amazing but her help has gone way beyond anything you would expect from most shop owners.  

Let's see what the next year brings.


It's Hooky Time!

The time has come to start the wonderful granny stripe blanket inspired by the wonderful Lucy at Attic 24.

 The plasterer is booked so project lounge is not far away at all now and we are so very very excited.  It's a bit of a mess at the moment, for some reason the previous owners thought pink and lilac was a beautiful colour scheme (including a lilac ceiling) so when Tom moved in it was a quick slap of magnolia over the top.  There are holes in the walls and bits of skirting board missing so to finally make it nice is someone we are both incredibly excited about.

Tom is taking charge with the stereotypical "man" projects and I am in charge of paint and soft furnishings.  I got a huge quantity of yarn in the Knit Nottingham sale to go with some lovely turquoise I won last summer and I am now ready to hook away.

I started lastnight and today couldn't resist a little hooky time in the garden, blankets looking lovely already don't you think.

Saturday 27 April 2013

Elise...done!

I am so happy with how my Elise shawl has turned out, it was admittedly a pain in the proverbial because I used such a small hook but it really is gorgeous.

It will look fabulous with the dress I have made it to go with.

I am now working on a larger crochet project which I have mentioned before. We have been planning on getting the lounge re-plastered, floored etc etc for some time now and finally the time has come. It's currently in a bit of a sorry state so this is very exciting news. I am therefore making time to get the first accessory done for its completion.







Wednesday 24 April 2013

Sweet cous-cous

As some of you may be aware I am attempting to lose weight at the moment.  I am going to slimming world and getting on quite well, apart from the last week after a trip to my parents.  Anyway, I was sat here earlier with no sins left and not a lot in my cupboard.  I racked my brains and looked online and realised I could cook cous-cous in milk.  Cous-cous being free and the milk being the remainder of my daily allowance.

Next step was look for something to flavour the cous-cous with.  I decided to boil the milk in a pan with some rose water, sweetener, mixed spice, a cardamom pod and some orange zest.  Once it was hot I poured in the cous-cous and let it thicken.

I didn't know what to expect but it was delicious which is why I am sharing this little story.


Tuesday 16 April 2013

My beautiful birthday present.

Tom's parents have come to visit for a few days and with them they have brought my birthday present. It's amazing! It's an old printers tray and it has been adjusted to hang on the wall.

It was filled with beautiful items, too many to list and photograph individually but a few of my faves are an antique crochet hook holder with hooks in (its the long wooden tube), a lace tatting tool that belonged to Sue's Grandmother (the bone or ivory eye shaped piece), a tiny little pen knife which is in with the lace tatting tool, a baby picture of Tom and an array or beautifully coloured cotton.

I have added a few little bits and pieces including a pocket watch, two thimbles to go with the two already there and a few brooches.

It really is absolutely wonderful and looks perfect hanging to the side of my craft desk.

Monday 15 April 2013

A little Lucy Cat

A while ago I was asked to knit a little Lucy Cat for Tom's Mum.  I searched for a pattern as the one I knitted before was very simple.

I found this lovely pattern and got fab silver, grey and white yarn and got knitting.

As she could be handed over in person rather than in the post I put her in a paper box with holes in to make it appear as though I had returned home from work with a stray cat.  Sue loved it!