Pink - me?

Well yes, actually! Anyone who knows me knows that I will always pick a pink jumper or cardigan to cheer myself up - it's definitely the most popular colour in my wardrobe!

Your rainbow is shaded pink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a grateful person. You appreciate everyone around you. You are a good listener and your friends are glad to have you around in difficult times.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Catching up

Scrapbooking and I have been rather distant friends this year - when I think how many layouts I completed last year, I am waaaay behind this year. I'm not too sure why this is, but my mojo went missing for quite a while and other crafts have also taken the lead recently.

Last week I decided to have a proper tidy-up / clear-out of my study. As a result, I came across a whole load of bits and pieces that I had been saving for various projects, as well as a whole pile of page kits that I had made up late last year. So, this week, I decided to put these kits to use, as well as try and catch up with the Scrap Like You Mean It challenges

Week 15 - Living on the Edge

This challenge was to enhance the edges of your layout, either by inking them, using die-cut papers, punches - you name it. I used various bits and pieces from a Chatterbox mini album kit. These papers are from the Villa range - all soft peaches, pinks and olive greens. I inked all the bits of paper and mounted a picture of my parents on their honeymoon. Nice and simple - but I like it!

Week 26 - Scrap with Stickers

I actually did this last week - but didn't get the chance to post it. Daisy D and Basic Grey papers, using a picture and stickers from the Barnados Big Toddle that Little Miss A recently took part in through her nursery. I used green felt Thickers for the title, so this also counts as the layout for Week 24 (Scrap with Felt). This was the picture we used on her fund-raising web page - would you believe she raised £250 all on her own - and got a special mention in the newsletter! Very proud parents (we've got great friends haven't we??!!)

Week 27 - Scrap a Happy Story

One Monday back in early June, I re-discovered this little outfit in Little Miss A's wardrobe. I had actually bought it last year, but it was too big. It now fits perfectly, but makes her look sooo grown up.....she's definitely not a baby any more! I actually bought new stash for the first time in ages, specially for this - the new Doodlebug papers and cherry Braddies were just crying out to go with these photos. I added a strip of Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper and a piece of random green gingham paper that I had in my stash. I'm really pleased with this layout - the Glitter Queen is back!

Week 28 - Scrap with a Needle & Thread

I can't believe I've actually done the current week's challenge on time! I combined this challenge with the one from Week 22 (which was a sketch) as I thought it all went perfectly with this photo - how time flies, the photos in this and the last layout were almost exactly a year apart! Used the same Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper as before, plus some green cross stitch on the edges, and some white Thickers for the title. Again, nice and simple - but I think it works really well....

Ooops!

I have been a naughty blogger, haven't I? No real excuse, apart from running around after Little Miss A, trying to keep the house (and Mr A!) in order, re-writing my CV so as to tailor it to specific jobs, the annual madness that is Wimbledon (c'mon Murray!!!) and LOTS of crafty stuff!

On the knitting front, I've managed to complete three pairs of socks:


Peppermint Kiilas for the SKA June Mystery challenge on Ravelry

Yarn: Knitting Goddess 4 ply Merino / Tencel in Peppermint
Needles: 2.5mm dpns



One pair of Baudelaires (on the left) and one pair of Monkeys (at last!)

Baudelaires

Yarn used: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Incredible Shrinking Violet
Needles: 2.75mm

Monkeys

Yarn used: Artyarns Supermernio
Needles: 2.75mm
The Baudelaires are going to my sister - the colours are perfect for her. The Monkeys were going to be for me, but they have come out just a bit too short, so they are going to my mad friend Claire, who is doing three sponsored swims for various cancer charities over the summer - including one in the Docklands - brrr!


I have also started my first pair of socks from Wendy Johnson's fabulous book - these are Diagonal Lace, using the amazing LuxeSock from Crazy4Dyeing - this has a mix of merino and nylon, with just a touch of cashmere - oh my lord, sooo soft! And this particular colourway (Tickle) is just stunning - these socks aren't going on anyone's feet but mine!

I have actually finished the first sock, and started on the second, where I am making a 'design decision' and mirroring the pattern so that when both socks are on the eyelets will go in different directions.


I'm also making good progress on Little Miss A's tunic dress - yes, I am finally making use of the Babylonglegs Merino that I bought so long ago (it's only taken me 4 patterns to find the right one!).

And last but not least, I have also started my first lace project, using some amazing handspun in greens, blues and purples from the lovely Otiva -


I won't be showing you any more than this, as it's actually supposed to be a 'secret' (i.e. Christmas!) project.........yes, I'm starting early this year, partly because I have a long list of people to make things for, and I'm determined that every single one of them will get something handmade - am I certifiably insane?

I've also been busy on the sewing front. Two (or was it three?) weeks ago, I got a total of five bags out of the two 1.5m lengths of fabric - and they have all gone! I obviously hit the nail on the head by 'going over to the dark side' with these!



















The shop also had a little update last week with a real mixed bag ('scuse the pun!) of colours and sizes













I also finally had a go at doing something I've wanted to try for a while - pretty, beaded charm bracelets - I'm really pleased with how this came out, and can see many more in the future!

A simple life.....

I don't know about you, but I find that life just automatically becomes so much simpler when the sun and warmth finally make their appearance after the gloomy months of winter. First of all, there is the change of wardrobe - and footwear

Everything is simply blooming around me - our garden (after Mr A's tender care and complete reorganisation of a few weeks ago) is looking gorgeous. We have yellow roses in one corner

And our clematis has gone totally crazy

While someone else is just loving her new paddling pool.....

As for me, I have discovered the joys of dyeing my own wool with food colouring and Kool Aid! Great (albeit slightly messy!) fun - I give you Robin Hood and Strawberry Shortcake (apparently it's a rule that you have to name any wool you dye.....)

And the sewing machine is still going great guns - lots of little bags for the shop (and they're going quite fast, which is great!):

Birthday time!

This week, I decided it was time to get back to card-making - my sister had asked me to make some cards for a couple of weddings she is going to this summer, and Mr A's birthday was fast approaching (it's today, which is why I haven't posted these pictures until today).

Here are the results of a rather profitable morning's work:

Finished!

Still brimming over with crafty ideas - my head is just full of them! I've been scribbling them down as fast as they come - really need some new notebooks.....what a pity Woolworths isn't around any more, they were perfect for that sort of thing.

Anyway, here are the results from last week's creativity:

First up, the little memory box I mentioned in the last post was delivered last Thursday - a day before the baby in question actually arrived! Couldn't have timed it better if I tried......the brief wasn't the most obvious: the baby's sex was unknown, and I wasn't allowed to use any faces or eyes (due to the baby being of the Muslim faith), so that meant no pink or blue, and no teddies.....in the end I went with a cream and gold colour scheme and lots of swirls and hearts.

Here's the top of the box

the front side

the left and right sides were done the same

Then I was asked to make one of my drawstring knitting bags in a cupcake and polka dot fabric - came out quite well, although the pictures don't really show how pretty it was due to the poor light........

(whisper) - both of these were 'paid commissions' which means the 'wool kitty' has been replenished! :-) Oh, and the lady who bought the memory has also given me some 4ply wool - yippee!

I also finished my contribution to the 'Knitting for Joy' campaign - even though it is made for an adult-sized head, I think this particular model looks rather fetching in it!

Next up, I have joined three Knit-A-Long (KAL) groups on Ravelry - the first is called Sock Knitters Anonymous (SKA) - appropriate no? They have a Mystery sock pattern as their May 'challenge' - it's called Kiila (Finnish for gusset apparently) and you get a new clue every Friday for four weeks (but we have till the end of June to finish them). It's great fun, although involves cabling without a cable needle, which I am not finding very obvious.... I am doing mine in some lovely merino/tencel mix from the Knitting Goddess in a scrummy semi-solid shade of Peppermint - see the pretty little cables that go up each side of the sock? I have actually done this much on both socks, but I just can't seem to be able to take a piccy of both socks together......

The other two KALs are focused on knitting the patterns from two new books:

Sock Innovation by the amazing Cookie A (see my Monkeys from the last post)

and Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D. Johnson

Now, I don't have my copy of Sock Innovation just yet (Amazon is having major stock problems with this book - it's obviously proven much more popular than they expected!), but you are allowed to substitute a Cookie A pattern that is not in the book - so I have started a pair of Pomatomus in Socks That Rock lightweight

- the colour is Incredible Shrinking Violet which I obtained through a Ravelry trade. I just love how the various shades of lilac and purple are working with the curved stiches..... I'm really having to concentrate on the pattern, so going to have to get my skates on if I'm to finish them for the end of May...Thankfully, the Wendy Johnson KAL doesn't actually start until June...

Oh, and last but not least, in order to help me keep track of all my sock projects (the wool I used, the needle size, who they were for, whether or not I liked the pattern), I quickly whipped up this little 'Sock Log Book':

Phew! It's been a busy week......

Flat Bottomed Girls

Hee hee - couldn't resist that as a title for this post! I had an absolutely brilliant morning yesterday, perfecting my ideas for the drawstring bags. Here, for your delectation, is the larger version, with a flat bottom and inside pockets:













So, now I know how many bags of both sizes I can get out of a certain piece of fabric, how long it takes me to make them - ooooooh, my brain is just buzzing with ideas!