Blog candy!

Three extremely talented women are giving away some seriously scrummy blog candy at the moment - even if the candy is not to your taste, I strongly encourage you to take a look at their creations as they are amazing and very inspiring:

First, Ingvild is giving away some lovely whimsical and romantic stuff (a lot of Prima in there!)

Next, Ewonne is giving away these gorgeous goodies












And last, but definitely not least, Kim is giving away loads of Basic Grey goodies (I'm particularly taken with the Ambrosia collection, but I'm managing to resist - for now!!)

Exciting times.....

Yes, very exciting times over here!


1. I have finally got my hands on my custom-dye wool from Babylonglegs - and it's absolutely gorgeous! Almost started on it straight away when I collected it from the PO this morning, but I just about stopped myself, as I really must finish the crochet market tote bag (for felting) - it's just sooo boring right now!


2. I have cast on my very first ever project on double-pointed needles - seems to be going ok so far....

3. I have started Mum's birthday present in the most gorgeous GGH Cumba - can't post pictures though, just in case she pops over her for a nosey!

4. I have volunteered to teach a crochet class at the next meeting of SnB London - so if you're reading this, live in London, are free on 22nd January, and fancy a quick lesson in crochet basics, then check out the SnB thread on Ravelry for details!


I'll leave you with some recently finished projects that are blocking as we speak - the red beret is the previously mentioned 'Sister of Amanda beret' which I realised needed stretching after wearing it a few times; then there is the 'Lavender Fountain' beret which I have crocheted with fake cables as a thank-you pressie for Alison, and then there is the cute little baby beret which I made with some mystery wool I was gifted before Christmas

Scrap Like You Mean It!

There's a brilliant new weekly challenge over on UKS, by the fabby Shimelle. I'm playing catch-up on this a bit, as I was so out of action last week.

Anyway, in the first week, we had to scrap our favourite colour. Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I just adore all shades of pink (can't help it, and of course, having a little girl doesn't give me much choice really!). I decided to combine it with brown, which is my favourite combination, using a picture of Little Miss A having a wonderful time in the park on the first weekend of 2009 (and what was probably the coldest day of the year so far!)

















I've also managed this week's challenge on UKS, which was to use 'fruity colours', circles and new beginnings - I figured that Little Miss A and my new hats were a worthy start to 2009!

Festive Fun & Frolics

No, I haven't gone AWOL.....! Christmas was fun and relaxed, with Little Miss A being totally spoiled by Father Christmas and family & friends. Top pressies were a dolly pushchair and 'learn to dress' dolly for the little one, a Nintendo DS for me (with the Brain Training cartridge - ha ha ha!) and the Top Gear book for Mr A.
Of course, it was also a little exhausting with a very inquisitive and energetic toddler to look after.....boy, were Mr A and I glad when the nursery opened again on 2nd January! I've also been laid low by the dreaded lurgy - Mum had it on Christmas Day (poor thing), and then Mr A and I came down with it for New Year's Eve. We thought we were better, and were planning to go back to work as planned on Monday - but when the time came, Mr A couldn't even lift his head off the pillow. I did make it into work, but felt so dreadful, I ended up coming home at lunchtime and spent the next two days in bed. I am thankfully starting to feel more human now, and have even managed some scrapping!
So, I have come up with some 'Scrapolutions' for 2009. These are:

- do one Layout per week (I pretty much managed this last year, so should be able to do it comfortably!)

- abandon all efforts on Scrap Your Day (I haven't done anything on this since September, and have completely lost interest.....!)

- use up at least HALF of my current stash before I buy anything new (it's ok - I got a couple of treats just before Christmas, which should keep me going)

- make more of an effort to use up my scraps on cards - and if they are smaller than 5x5cm - chuck them!

I also have some knitting resolutions - check my other blog for that bit of madness.

I will leave you with my last LO for 2008


















and my first one for 2009:



















this was for the UKS Weekly challenge - we had to include a celebration, twelve of something, and buttons. I went for a patchwork-inspired layout, using up the bits and pieces of Christmassy paper I still had lying around........!

Knitalutions 2009

The only resolutions I am making for 2009 are craft-related:
- do one scrapbooking layout a week (see my other blog for all that nonsense)
- knit or crochet one hat / beret a month
- knit my first pair of socks
- not have more than 3 projects on the go at one time

and last but not least, use up at least HALF of my stash for both hobbies before I'm allowed to buy more!!!

I went through my pile of wool the other day, assigning projects to each of them - and came up with over 25.....I'm going to be busy!

One of the ones I'm looking forward to the most, will be using this gorgeous wool from Babylonglegs on folksy.com
She calls it 'Rose Garden' and it is just the most gorgeous mix of greens, pinks, apricots and strawberry reds. I'm planning on making this with it for the little one's 2nd birthday - it's being dyed and spun as we speak, and I can't wait to get my hands on it........!

In the meantime, I shall be starting some crochet wristwarmers with this equally gorgeous stuff from Knot Another Knitter - it's her Damask Rose BFL sock yarn - even more beautiful in real life!

I've also finished another couple of felted bags in the last few days - will take pictures when the light is better!

Mes resolutions pour 2009 sont toutes d'ordre creatifs - faire une page de scrapbooking par semaine (voir mon autre blog pour les folies de ce genre), tricoter / crocheter un chapeau / beret par mois, apprendre a tricoter des chaussettes, ne jamais avoir plus de trois projets en cours a la fois....Et dernierement, utiliser LA MOITIE de mon stock actuel pour les deux hobbies avant d'en acheter du nouveau! J'ai sortie toutes mes laines l'autres jours, et j'ai assignee chacune a un projet - y'en avait plus de 25, j'en ai du boulot! Une d'ont j'ai hate d'entammer sera fait avec cette laine delicieuse de Babylonglegs sur folksy.com - elle l'appelle 'Jardin de Rose' et les couleurs sont sublimes. J'en ferai un cardigan au crochet pour le 2eme anniversaire de la petite.......Entre temps, je vais faire des mitaines crochetes avec la belle 'Damasque Rose' de Knot Another Knitter. J'ai aussi terminee quelques sacs crochetes et feutrees - mais le soleil manque pour faire de belles photos.........