Down with Resolutions!

See - so soon into the New Year and my plans to blog on time go straight out of the window! Still - not quite all my fault - I'll have to shift some of the blame onto work - and not complain as it pays the bills!

I've been back and forth to Wales a bit since the beginning of the year so it has eaten into my more craft-y and blogging time....

Anyway, enough of the excuses and on with the show..

First I decided to finish up part of a cone of wool I had hanging around - there wasn't really enough for a decent length of scarf so I joined the ends into a cowl...

 

 

Next it was time to examine the stash that I'm trying to whittle down... I sorted out a basket full to live within eyesight to spur me on. All of this lot is handspun that's been washed and is ready to use - everything from sari silk to alpaca all waiting for inspiration. Actually, our Guild has an exhibition at Killerton House in September and I did think that I might make up some items for that. They also sell some examples of Guild members' work so I might even find new homes for some of it too...

 



Then, looking at some odds and ends I realise that I have NEVER made a blanket - something to do with all that sewing up of squares.. so I thought I'd use up what I'd got, but do long strips to cut down on the sewing up.. now I'm beginning to collect mixtures of knitted pieces on stitch holders until I can put them together. (I thought I'd leave them on stitch holders and then knit all the way along the top to start the border - it should work as long as I don't run out of stitch holders!)

 

 

Finally I took a long hard look at some of the alpaca I'd got (and I've still got loads in the loft waiting to be spun). I've decided to go for a throw/blanket knitted on giant needles, well 25mm anyway, using 4 strands at once. I started it on my last trip to Cardiff that included an overnight hotel stay. Something to take back and forth I thought - as long as it doesn't get so big and heavy that it needs an overnight bag of its own!

So now I can award myself a short break and pop over to Handmade Monday - the centenary edition - well done Wendy! That way I can try and catch up on that other promise to read and comment on more of the great blogs featured there...

Who knows, perhaps next week I'll get back on track....



Happy New Year!

Well, that's another year done and dusted... and what a year!

After all that 2012 brought it was nice to draw breath on Christmas Day with a walk along the beach - once the excitement of the swim and Gordon Ramsey's filming was over!

We packed up the Christmas tree on New Year's Day and rather perversely I enjoy it almost as much as putting it up in the first place. It's that feeling of getting ready for the next excitements and looking forwards once the old year is put to bed. It's also part of my 'thrift' regime - so tip number 5 is - pack up Christmas carefully. I start with all the hanging bits and pieces which live in an old box that a pair of boots came in. This gives me the chance to check out anything broken and to make sure anything fragile is carefully cushioned. This year it was my stained glass angel that had suffered..

Happily her head fixed back on quite neatly so she went back in the box ready for next time.

Then the lametta comes off and gets stored so I don't have to buy any more, followed by the tinsel. Then the lights are wrapped round a piece of cardboard and put into a large food storage box. The tree then gets well and truly pruned so that it's neat and tidy for its trip to recycling. We don't have many otherdecorations, but these are also packed with care and it all goes into a large plastic storage box and straight into the loft safely for next year. The cards get another look and I make a note of all those we've received so I don't miss anyone next year, then we date any precious ones and file them. At this point we quite often remove cards from previous years and replace them with these more up to date ones. Then I take any apart that have good ideas or bits I can use for another card making session and cut up the rest for shoping lists!

The house still looks suitably festive thought - thanks to two lovely pointsettias that my mum gave us. Here's just one..

I've even managed to finish those socks that my sister didn't get in time for Christmas - they're in the post as I type. I still haven't sorted the issue of how much wool I need - I finished one pair in time having bought two balls of wool and then found I had enough left over for these wristwarmers and a mobile sock. 

So I decided that for the other pair I'd try just one ball, but it wasn't quite enough so the heels are a different mix! One day I'll gauge it right!

While on the subject of Christmas and saving - you might like this one (number 6). Over the years it's become a bit of a tradition. It started when I wanted to give my nieces a surprise present so bought a couple of cheap money boxes and in the weeks going up to Christmas put all my copper change into them. Then on Christmas day they could open them and play 'count the pennies'! Over the years the money boxes have become a bit smaller and the change has changed colour into silver, but I'm still doing it....

Looking back over 2012 so much has happened that I won't put you to sleep listing it all, but there's been plenty of highlights.. There were our two trips to the Olympics, my mum's 80th birthday when all the family came down to Devon for a week..

 

Work suddenly took off with new schools and new writing, craft fairs provided some helpful and encouraging comments, there was a short break in Majorca with some ex-work colleagues, I started this blog joining Handmade Monday along the way and then two days before Christmas my stepson got married.

So what's around the corner for 2013? Even more excitement I'm sure....

Firstly I've still got plenty of writing on the joblist and next week I'm back off to Wales to deliver some training in one of my new schools. Then I'm resolving to get to Handmade Monday more regularly AND earlier in the day so that I can get reading and commenting on everyone else's blogs more often. My sister has booked the same flat in Sidmouth for a week in the summer so that she and my mum and possibly my nieces and other halves can come down again. My two friends who supported me all those years ago when I was on teaching practice are coming to visit for a couple of days too - I haven't seen them for years! Then there'll be spinning and running and crafting and all those other things that we moved here to give ourselves time to enjoy. Oh yes, and this year I'm going to knuckle down and get an e-book published. I've done all the research and have the plot and introduction so all I've got to do is stop prevaricating!!

So, happy new year - hope it brings lots to enjoy for you too......



Nearly there.......

Another week of getting ready and finishing off.. I think I've just about done all the cards..

And wrapped the presents - as we're off to Surrey for a present drop at my mum's and sister's. We're also having a brithday lunch for my husband - can't show you his card - just in case he peeks, but I'm quite happy with the idea - hope he will be!

There's one present that won't make it into those we're dropping off - it's still at this stage

 

so it'll have to be a nice New Year gift..

 

Then it's back to work - I've still got a bit of writing to get done next week - and then get ready for  the festivities. The tree is up with the lights on, but it's waiting its full trim up for when we return.

 

This week also saw the end of the washing machine, but luckily a new one was available, delivered and is now installed and working its way through the last of the laundry pile.

 

Then it's action stations for next Saturday when my stepson gets married - Graeham picked up his posh gear yesterday (quite surreal going from the local derby football match on the terraces and then into the calm that is Moss Bros!).

 

 

Phew - roll on Christmas when we can just walk down for the swim (no, I'm spectating only!!) and then put our feet up with a glass of something!

 

 

My trip over to Handmade Monday may be delayed until we return! But to everyone there - many thanks for the lovely comments each week - I get a real kick out of receiving and reading them... I guess my New Year's Resolution muct be about commenting more on all of yours!

 

Have a lovely Christmas.....

On the road..

No blog last week - I was doing a lot, but didn't have anything to show! Work saw me travelling a bit - to Bristol and then twice to Wales with overnight stays.. It seems like there's lots of work happening so I'll be back and forth to Wales quite a bit over the next few months! The school staff I'm supporting there are lovely so I'm looking forward to it, although the winter driving will be a bit tiring...

Anyway, I haven't been idle, but can't show you everything in case the recipients are peeking! So here's a sneak preview...

 

Then I had a craft fair which went reasonably well and my tree decs seemed to attract some nice comments. Here's one final one for home that just needs neatening up - it's a wooden curtain ring that I found lurking.

I also decided on some festive knitted bunting!

And I've been playing with beads again - here's a bag charm I made 'cos I felt like it!

Then I found some of the clay shapes I made and popped some magnets on the back for some simple fridge magnets..

This week is all about catching up with some writing - no nice picture books this time - I'm mapping out the links between the Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and English curriculum and the mateials provided by the organisation that I write for... Just a little bit of work before we start on the festivities..

Anyway that's a brief run down - I'm off to Handmade Monday - task avoidance tactics before I get started

Soakings, Soaps and a Submarine..

What a week it's been down here in the West Country.. not that I was around in the middle of the week, but we've still experienced some wild weather!

We drove up to Kent on Tuesday in torrential rain to stay with my other brother-in-law and his wife - and to take in the Gillingham v Exeter City game. It was so riveting that the soaking we got was bearable especially as we won... and even though Graeham's brother was undercover with the home fans and wasn't as drenched as us!

On Wednesday we went to Chatham Historic Dockyard - us, a school party and about 6 others I think! It was fascinating and we went on this submarine...

Quite a feat for me as I get very claustrophobic - I even enjoyed the experience - although I was only on board for about half an hour  with a handful of others - not quite a full tour of duty with 69 submariners for weeks/months on end.

We finally left for home with some samples of my sister-in-law's bath melts and shea butter moisturiser -

she runs a handcrafted soap and other bath product business and I'm always happy to explore her workshop and wares! You can see more at Fentons of Kent.

It was a good thing that we didn't try to come home a day earlier, apparently Exmouth was cut off - and it happened again on Saturday night!

Anyway once we got home and dried off there was another book waiting for me to work on...

I'm trying not to see it as a warning for a much worse spate of weather to come!!!!

Oh, yes and I haven't been idle with some more boxes (told you they were addictive) and bracelets ready for next Sunday's craft fair and these fingerless mitts - an attempt to diminish the stash a bit further. These just need blocking an sewing up - they should be nice and warm as they made from some more of my homespun...

Right, time for Handmade Monday to see what everyone's been up to - hope you'll forgive my lack of comments last week - will try to make up for it a bit today!

See you soon...

Help - Addiction Warning!!

I thought I'd just try one or two boxes as featured on the Craftseller Calendar (another good idea from Wendy Massey!). I dug out some of the craft papers from various Craftseller magazines and started to experiment, but this should carry a health warning as it became a bit addictive and I soon found myself taking other gift wrappings apart and making new templates, then more boxes and then.....

 

 

 

I did actually get something I promised finished... my sister-in-law rather fancied a hand spun hat that I'd made for my husband when we visited recently and I said I'd do her one.  Luckily I had some alpaca that I'd spun a while ago so whipped this up - it's ever so soft and lovely and warm too. I posted it off and she rang to say it fits the bill!

 



The craft fair at Mum's village went really well, despite the grotty weather! I've got another one in a couple of weeks and as I'm back and forth to Wales a bit for work I thought I'd get ahead with some more mini children's bags.. hopefully I'll empty a bit more of my stash!

 

 

No book phots for a while as I'm working on some American materials that are great, but don't have very photogenic covers - they explore a range of reading skills with specially written text - it's easy writing, but lots of repetitive typing!!

 

Right that's it here for today - I'm off to Handmade Monday to catch up with everyone else - see not only a box addict, but task evasion expert too.. I will get down to work soon - promise!!! 

Being Good!

I've been good and knuckled down to some work over the last ten days or so - hence my absence last week!

Firstly I had two more sets of teachers' notes to write.. the first on Cliffhanger

the usual thoughtful and fun read from Jacqueline Wilson and then a great book - The Bog Baby.

It's a really good story about two sisters who find a Bog Baby and take him home to keep in the shed, but he starts to get sick and has to released back into the wild...

Then I had to pop into Wales to go to a school in the Rhondda where I'll be supporting literacy. The drive up was foul with driving rain and horrid conditions, but the following morning driving over the top of the mountain was breathtaking and the staff were lovely. I'm going to enjoy going over there - I'm back again at the end of the month!

Then I got on with some finishing off - the grey scarf I posted about last time and some bracelets that I promised to a friend for her to give as Christmas pressies.. I also found these lovely sparkly bags in the loft for them to go in.

Then there's the purple bag that I spun and then knitted up. It went into the washing machine on a nice hot wash and came out like this...

I've just got to add a button and a length of yarn for fastening - I'll do it later while I'm sitting at a craft fair in my mum's village - my sister and I have a stall there this morning - Mum is on sales pitch!

It's really nice to do this fair as it means coming up to see my Mum, sister, nieces and 'nephew-in-law' and we can relax and chat aplenty..

Oh - and I really was soooo good on Wednesday as I parted with a Jacob's fleece that was stashed in the attic. I decided to be sensible as I still have two alpaca and two shetland fleeces up there and it could take a while to get to the Jacob. (It'll probably take a while to get to the others too.) So a friend at spinning took it ready for her husband to weave it into a rug. Win-win I say!


Oh, Thrift collection Number 4 - this one occured to me ten minutes ago as I was stitching the hem of my niece's skirt and battling with a hole in one of her favoured cardis... Spend an evening learning how to hem, darn and stitch a button - it'll save you a mint in clothes that might otherwise need professional sorting or (horror) be thrown away before their time. There's plenty of stuff on the internet to show you how to do it and it just needs a bit of practice. I'm not saying I go round darning cheap socks or that sort of thing, but just think of how much you can save when it comes to buying something off the peg or from the charity shop that just needs a bit of mending or button changing or curtains that simply need altering!

Well, that's me done - just off to Handmade Monday to see what everyone's up to - although comments might have to wait till I'm home tomorrow as we need to pack our bits for the fair!

Chat soon.....