The Guilt....

Ok, so the guilt was just too much for me!

I still havent been inspired to stitch anything and it was bugging me and in the last 7 days I havent even felt like knitting.  So I decided to be proactive and yesterday evening I looked through my WIPs and my to be started's to see if anything inspired me.....



I chose a small stitch that I was given a while ago and thought that at least that was a reasonable project to start and hopefully finish in the week.

Here is a pic of what the end result should be:

and here is a pic of where I am up to:

So I have finally stitched something! Party time..now I just have to finish it...which is perfectly feasible and as my healthy lifestyle begins today, I will need something to keep my hands busy :)

I hope you all had a great weekend, I am off to check out what everyone has been up to :)

Idle hands strike again!

Ok, I got caught up in all the holiday excitement and I had time on my hands - a lull at work - and I have only booked a trip!!

Will FINALLY be visiting NYC from 12th April till 17th April!!!!!!!!!!

Nervous and excited as will be on my own, but more in shock at the moment that I finally made a decision and booked something.

Please please please let me know of any travel tips you have and places not to miss :) :) 

Only 7 weeks to go!

Browsing inspiration?

I have to mention the following blog: Bett Illustrations, the designs are always so gorgeous and the use of colour is always perfect. If like me, you have a dreamy side you may like the following pic: Embrace of the Moon not to mention the countless others :)

I would also like to recommend a book too! Look at me, little miss recommendation today - :)


I came across the book when I joined a reading challenge, it was reading books from the year of your birth and  I decided to take my books from the New York Best Seller list. The book that was number one the week that i was born was Trinity by Leon Uris.  When it arrived I was slightly sceptical as I am not really into historical epic saga-esque novels. I could not for the life of me read Ken Follett. My mother loves these types of books and I thought that it would be another one that I hand over to her.

I have only read the first 100 pages (there are about 900) but already I am in love with it - the style of writing is so good, even though it is about Irish history it is more of a look at the social history and how the people involved were affected, their personal histories and it captures moments with humour and emotion. I am reading this when I get a chance to at work on my lunch break and I am sure it will last me many more weeks. If it continues as well as it has started then it will be great and hence my need to recommend it :)  Have you read it? What did you think? Am I misguided?

Anyone on pinterest? If so....another recommendation...Sarah Lisle (kiwigetscrafty) who has a board dedicated to free cross stitch patterns that she has found available on the web, there is a good mix of things for you to ogle.

I am totally aware that this is my second post of the week and its only Wednesday! Idle hands and all that.

Have a good evening and thanks for visiting :)

Happy dance!

Ok, so I said I didn't do anything and on Sunday I hadn't. But I don't know if it was guilt or what, but Sunday night I started knitting myself a scarf and finished it last night.

Some of you may remember that I made two for friends at Christmas (purple and grey cabled chunky knits).  Since I made them, I have really wanted one for myself! They were so warm and snuggly.


So, I decided that I would keep the pattern simple for mine so that I could knit whilst watching the boxset of Supernatural Season 3 that a friend lent me.  It was really simple, just garter stitch and stocking stitch. The most difficult part was when I changed stitches :) but not that difficult. I don't think that the basic pattern detracts that much from the overall design as I used cream wool purposely to contrast with my red coat - I am so discreet :) - and I wore it this morning and YES! it was warm and snuggly :)

So lets have a happy dance disco!

Here are some pic of the finished scarf hanging up in my office..whaddya think?

DOH!

It was the first IHSW of the year, I duly signed up with such good intentions....have you guessed yet? I never picked up a needle (*sigh*)

I didn't even knit! I figured that I didn't need to wait till Wednesday to announce that I did nowt ;)

Consolation prize...

Its great to see that so many other people did pick up their needles and produce some beautiful work and here's to them!

Kate

Weekly Update #3

Hello!

Time for my weekly round-up.....sadly I have not really been feeling crafty this week. I spent one day knitting and that's pretty much it! I haven't even read anything either! What have I been doing....


STITCHING update ...


Nothing!!! I have done nothing! Not even picked up a sewing needle or a hank of floss :( With the first IHSW looming this weekend, I am preparing to get in the mood for it and had planned to stitch (as mentioned last week) a Margaret sherry calendar...well, yesterday I looked at my Mira and thought, hmmm - I think I feel like stitching some more of you soon...so that might be it. It will have to be a surprise :) for me too.

KNITTING update...

I didn't knit the fairy wings or finish her face and hair but instead decided to knit some more of the monkey that the other niece wanted, so that they would both be finished around the same time.  Here's a pic....

All I have left are the arms and the feet and tail.

SEWING update ...

Last week I said watch this space....yep, nowt has happened...don't give up hop, keep watching. Its like one of those pictures that if you stare at for long enough you will see something.....honest ;)

READING update ...

I have read a bit more of Reckless, but it hasn't got anymore thrilling, I will read it to the end.
I have a Buffy omnibus graphic novel to read and I am going to start Trinity by Leon Uris tonight - number one seller the week I was born.

Kate
**update**

I almost forgot (actually I did!) but here is a pic of the Camellia's in my garden (they shouldn't even be flowering this early - but the winter has been so mild)...

..and a rose..just cause we always have so many and they have been flowering continuously throughout the year!

..and I photographed this rosebud because it looked like it was made from silk.

Weekly Update #2

Its been a week! It has seemed quite long and I don't seem to have done much :) How did that happen?

I thought it might be easier to separate each update by category for those only interested in stitching etc. So here is what I have done in the last 7 days...

STITCHING update ...



I have begun the Mira! Not much of it is done, my stitchy mojo is a bit iffy at the moment but I persevered and started it. It was just for one night only. But I like the greens and am happy with what I have done so far.

I have sorted out the fabric for both calendars ready for IHSW in a fortnight. Geisha hasn't seen 2012 yet. For the observant amongst you, you may have noticed that I said 'both' calendars well this is because in some strange weird psychic twist of fate, Joyce has lured the the pattern gods into retrospection!

Because whilst looking in the garage for a book (which I didn't expect to find), amongst all the boxes and stuff my eye was distracted by what looked to be an unopened calendar. Closer inspection revealed it to be a Margaret sherry astro-cats calendar from 2007.

Joyce had predicted this the other day!So  I will try to stitch these too as they are much smaller designs.

KNITTING update...

I finished the fairy's dress which is huge! And I have stitched it all together all that is left is the face and hair. What do you think?

SEWING update ...

I was very lucky and Santa gave me a sewing machine for christmas. I was wary about using it as I am a complete novice. But last week I had a try and it wasn't so scary. I don't have any fabric to practice with at the moment but watch this space.

READING update ...

The Walking Dead: Volume 1 Days Gone Bye - book 2 read from graphic novel challenge
The fat chance guide to weightloss - chick lit, was disappointing as chick lit and as anything else as not much really happened :( - was just for fun.
Reckless - Andrew Gross Thriller, was a bargain book, a really laboured start as nothing gets going till about page 200, which isnt great for a thriller, I am not interested in the stock exchange and that is mentioned a lot in the book and doesnt help me to remain interested. Still half of it to go - so things could change, but not really 'thrilling'.

OTHER update...

My 2yo niece came to see me the other day, she walked into my room whilst I was on the computer...she said... Auntie Katy, I want to do sewing all by myself. Bless her, i think she may have the crafty genes :)

Today we went for a walk and she informed me that we are the cheeky girls! Haha!

I hope you have all been having a good week! I am about to catch up with the backlog :o

Kate

On the starters blocks!

A new years resolution was to blog every Wednesday only.  So as today is Wednesday....tadaa!

I haven't started stitching yet....I am surprised by this as all the stash I need for 'Lady of the Mist' arrived between Christmas and New Year.  My mother very kindly wound them all onto bobbins for me and it is all in its special bag - Betty Boop! (see below) but my mojo is having a slow start to the new year when it comes to cross stitch. I think I am delaying starting because when I do, all my reading and knitting will be flung by the wayside. Is anyone else stitching this Mirabilia? Maybe we could have a SAL together as extra motivation.


My Mirabilia stash sitting patiently for me to start it...

The lovely bag to home my Mirabilia stash.

All ready to go!

32ct Natural Lugana - it is slightly darker in reality.

Instead I have been reading - one graphic novel (Sense & Sensibility) and today a bit of chick lit (The Fat Chance Guide to Dieting; A Novel by Claudia Pattison) and piling up many more, thrillers etc. AND some knitting...

My eldest niece has requested a Fairy like this...

But I didn't have the wool in my stash - but she nagged me to start it and I have, with a cream body, arms, legs and ears and blue fluffy sock tops. I have sparkly pink for the dress and all the dress ruffles and hair will be in blue. It will be a bit garish but she wont mind :) Here is my progress so far...

My middle niece requested a monkey :) but I didnt have any brown wool - and luckily she was happy to wait. I bought the wool yesterday and will start that once the fairy is done. I am quite happy knitting these days - since my masterclass last year with my mum. I sat down with her and the laptop. I was able to knit but was struggling with holding the needles and it was so very awkward. I wanted to get a better technique and so set a few days aside for practising holding the needles and getting good tension. I looked at Youtube but the ladies on there held the needles similar to how I was. Eventually, my mother interjected and showed me how to hold the needle and wool to make it easier. It worked! and I practised and finally felt better about the technique. The needles were still awkward but I put that down to them being too long. When I knitted Santa I used double ended needles that you use when knitting in the round (which I am not ready for yet!) and they are much shorter. I found it easier and finished Santa in time for Christmas but never posted him in his clothes...here he is....

I also spent some time practising crochet, I started trying to learn last year and have finally managed to do single crochet and have been practising getting it neater - next step is to work on learning how to do doubles, and squares. I am finding it really difficult but am not prepared to give up just yet!

And as its the first Wednesday of 2012, here is a summary of my finishes since I began blogging in September 2011.

Not as bad as I had thought -I am actually quite surprised. 3 medium sized projects, 9 Ornaments, 3 Scarves and a Santa. This year I am hoping for WIP finishes too :)

Who knows what the week will bring but I will undoubtedly update you all next Wednesday -sending you all stitchy wishes for the week ahead!

Kate x

P.S Was thinking of stitching something for the Queens diamond jubilee and the London 2012 ideas so if you spot any patterns suitable - let me know!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!