So long summer

Thanks for the comments on my trip to Lewes which were lovely to read!

The last week of my holiday has flown past and I've now returned to work and as usual some new challenges.  It's amazing how quickly you get out of your work routines and into new ones which involve tea in bed, lots of crafting and other self-indulgences.  Still I'm very lucky to have the job I have and to work for a great organization so I'm sure I'll be back in the swing fairly quickly.

The weather has been so bad that it's been difficult to get any decent photos but inbetween showers I've managed to snatch a few.

There have been a few colourful dishes from my new Rose Eliot cookbook 30 minute vegetarian meals. 

I actually timed how long it took me .... definitely more than 30 minutes.  First time I have ever cooked beetroot from scratch ... delicious!

I finished my new green bolero shown a few blogs ago.  As I also mentioned I snapped a bit of a bargain dress at the Manchester Cath Kidson shop and when I got it home and looked at the colours I immediately thought how great the lime green Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmero wool would look with it.  So I trawled Ravelry and found a bolero pattern (available here bonnie bolero).  I really enjoyed this knit.  Its actually knitted in one piece (although you cast on from the middle and then pick up and knit from the cast on and knit in the opposite direction).  It's not perfect and I probably should have knitted the next size but I do really like it and if it washes OK this is one pattern I will knit again.

... and just enjoying a rare cuppa and cake in the garden  (my favourite lemon meringue cake) ... and thankfully Rosie's coat has grown a little!

Rosie and Tess will do anything for cake (or any food come to that).

While in the garden I'll just show you the vintage cup tea-lighters bought in Lewes which are now in the garden, although too wet to light.

I also made a little cross-stitch project which came free with Cross-stitcher magazine for a "Diary of an Ewardian Lady" bookmark which is quite sweet.

After my bright green bolero I've started an even brighter coloured jumper with the raspberry baby cashmero I picked up cheap on Ebay.

More details soon.  Well all for now - hope you are getting some sunny times wherever you are.

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.

Spring Giveaway

So I have bravely decided to have a giveaway, for no better reason than to celebrate spring coming and how much I am enjoying blogging!  I only started crafting just over a year ago - I had had some pretty difficult years and I can't tell you what a difference both crafting and feeling part of a community has made.  I have got so much out of cross-stitching, knitting, crocheting and sewing.  I love buying the materials, deciding what to do next and reading others' blogs.  In fact I feel that I can once again look forward to something.  I've been blogging since January and it's great, infact I would say it is now urging me to do more ...just so that I have something interesting to write about in my blog!  Can only be good.  Anyway to the giveaway ...

.. to include Zakka Style book, some fat quarter, ribbon, buttons and because I thought there should be something I made (and this is the bit which is nerve-wracking, please remember I am new to the game and definitely not up to the standard of the lovely things many of you produce) - a needlecase and pin-cushion from the lovely Helen Phillip's Simple Sewn gifts book.  There may also be a surprise.  To enter leave a comment and if you are a follower (or join) you will get 2 entries.  Obviously you have a very good chance of winning and I am happy to post anywhere in the world (as I am very excited to see from the data that I have had some hits from over the globe).  I will draw the winner on Sunday 22nd April.

On the making front I made an Easter rabbit ... liking the little fluffy jumper ...

... and bought some more lovely baby cashmero wool (think I'm obsessed with this wool) to have another try at a baby jacket (photos in next post) - this is photographed on a vintage hand embroidered table cloth bought on Sunday at Arnside Vintage Fayre (for £8 a bargain).

Finally just a few photos from a wonderful walk we had in Silverdale (yes as beautiful as it sounds) ...

... and this is what Rosie thought ... it's such a joy to watch her when she is out ... she is so fast for a little dog and so joyous ...

Well back to work tomorrow.  Hope you had a lovely break.