Tuesday 1 May 2012

Reasons to be cheerful (part 2)

As previously mentioned another couple of treats came ... some more Debbie Bliss wool  (lousy photo but you get the idea)

More about what I am going to use this for later.  I also bought my first teapot!  Yes, I've always managed with a mug and a bag in the past, but I had this vision of a pot of tea in the garden, a good book and some sunshine.  So the pot arrived ... lovely ... I'm very into the vintage postmark look and love this teapot from Greengate.  It is, perhaps, a little big for one, so I'll just have to drink lots.  On Saturday it was sunny and what better way to christen my pot than move into the garden for a restful cuppa ... OK that was rather optomistic because the wind in Cumbria has been anything but restful



So as I was attempting to take a quick photo my vintage embroidered tablecloth was taking off and the next shot was as it landed in the cup of tea and I had to quickly rescue my pot incase it took off too!


The wind added an additional challenge to the weekend walks and Rosie adopted a wind-swept look ...




Weather aside it has been a good month; what colour!






I've just loved enjoying all these!  I've also had a successful making month.  I have made:


My first quilt
a stuffed rabbit
2 easter hearts
1 needlecase and 3 pincushions
a knitted jacket for me
a knitted baby cardigan
An hyacinth cross-stitch
and almosts finished a baby sampler

Wow ...I'm impressed with the quantity even if the quality wasn't always quite there. 

I've had two lovely weeks with Dan and Gemma and some lovely days out.  So all in all great!!  Hope May turns out as well.

So back to the wool.  I came across a fair-isle jumper pattern and suddenly felt an urge to have a go.  Now this is quite strange as the only fair-isle I have attempted before was a little smaller (and I seem to remember actually thinking I couldn't keep going for a whole adult garment).  This is a pattern from the lovely http://www.maryjanestearoom.com/ (some of the loveliest photos on the internet).




So here I am for some reason very tempted, perhaps a fair-isle jumper is the macaron of the cooking world ... a real challenge.  Anyway the wool would be a big investment ,so I made a deal with myself.  If I enjoyed knitting some handwarmers then I would go ahead.  So here I am almost finished


Generally I have enjoyed it.  My usual lack of attention to the pattern and not enough care in checking the row is right, has resulted in having to pull back quite a lot of rows (this is a lesson I need to learn) and I found making the edges neat difficult, but overall I am pleased and yes I'm going to give the jumper a go (and as you can tell by the opening photo I have actually bought half the wool).

Finally my day has been made by reading the lovely comments made by Gillian (http://www.talesfromahappyhouse.com/) who won the runner's up prize in my give-way.  I felt almost famous reading it and it's increased my confidence no end - I feel able to actually call myself a crafter.  I'm loving this blogging.... it's really brought something to my life (woops sorry to sounds a bit corny). 

Have a happy May.


5 comments:

  1. You are an amazing crafter!! I love the handwarmers - you chose some gorgeous colours. The flowers are so colourful too. Lucky Gillian, your giveaway prize was wonderful and so generous. Have fun with your Debbie bliss wool xx

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  2. Thanks so much. Can't believe the lovely comments what a boost it is. Will definitely have another giveaway soon because I have enjoyed it so much! The handwarmers are from Debbie Bliss Fall/Winter 2011 and pretty straightforward as I've never knitted a thumb before! Enjoy the rest of the week and roll on a long weekend. xx

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  3. Wow, what a busy month of making you have had! The handwarmers are really gorgeous, I like the pattern very much. Attempting something like this would fill me with dread, it is the stuff of accomplished knitters, but you've made it look so easy. You are inspiring me to get out my knitting needles again Maggie! x

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  4. Hello! I'm pleased to discover your lovely blog...thank you so much for visiting me! You have made lots of lovely crafty things. The flower pictures in this post are so bright and cheerful. I hope the weather improves very soon so you can enjoy your tea in the garden properly...I have put that idea on hold too for the moment as it's been so chilly and/or rainy here for the last couple of weeks.
    Have a great weekend.
    Helen x

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    1. Helen, thank you so much for your kind comment. Your blog was the first one I read and so the beginning of my blogging journey. The weather is actually lovely today but gardening jobs put paid to a restful cuppa. x

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