Anyone for Thickers?

If I had to choose my favourite 'bit' of scrapbooking stash, it would have to be letters. You name it: rub-ons, die-cuts, stickers - any kind of alphabet and it has to be mine! And my particular favourite has to be the Thickers ranges from American Crafts. Unfortunately, they are not exactly cheap.....

So, imagine my delight when I found a seller on eBay who was selling off her stash of Thickers - there were all kinds and even though some of them were part-used, at £4 for a set of 8-10 sheets, they were an amazing bargain. I had to fight off some fairly stiff competition, but nothing much was going to stop me!

This morning, I went to the Post Office, and picked up a HUGE box which contained this gorgeous lot of scrummyness:


Yep, 42 sheets of Thickers! Guess who's a happy girl today?

Even better, I've already made use of some of them:

Happy Days

So, I am not making much progress on the job front....but, instead of moping around, I have been filling my days with (for me) the most amazing creativity. Each morning, after spending the obligatory hour or so looking at job sites, I top up my coffee mug and head off to 'my room'. I open up the doors to let in the wonderful sunshine (it's lasted all week - how blissful?) and set to work.

This week has been super varied. I have made good progress on the Mystery Socks and my Monkeys are looking just far too pretty - sugar coated yumminess. And they are sooo snuggly - the sun might be shining during the day, but it's still a bit chilly at night, so will definitely be wearing these.

Knitting these has also confirmed that I am much more comfortable with toe-up socks - so that's all I will be doing from now on!

Then there is the 'Knitting for Joy' project - the amazing Knitting Goddess (aka Joy) asked for some volunteers to knit up samples of her wools so she could display them at the various events she's doing this summer. I chose to knit a skein of her Lavender Fields into a Ground Flower Hat I'm really liking how this is coming out so far - might have to add it to my wish list for future purchase.

However, the absolute best bit about this project is that the volunteers are being paid in wool! I chose a skein of Joy's Heather Trio
- I just can't find the right superlative for this, it is sooo gorgeous. Desperately looking for suggestions for the right pattern that will do justice to the colours.


I've also made some more stitch markers for the shop(s) - really enjoying making these, especially now I have found a good, mini-sized wire cutter!!

















And now for the really big news - in fact, it needs a proper, official announcement: Look Ma, I Can Sew!!!! Now, what you might not know is that, historically, me and sewing machines have been sworn enemies (I have bad memories of the summer Mum decided I was going to learn to sew and I ended up in tears more days than not.....). My darling Mr A bought me a mini Janome for my birthday last year, but that (initially) was only for adding embellishments to my cards and layouts......and then I started to think - "well, why don't I give it a try and see?" A few months back I made a roll for my double-pointed knitting needles and crochet hooks - it came out all right, but my stitching was definitely not straight 100% of the time.

With my recent discovery of sock knitting, I found myself wanting something pretty in which to store / transport my current projects. Thanks to this great tutorial from Happy Things (she's also got some really good quilt tutorials, which I intend to explore at a later date), I dug out some bits of fabric I had lying around - and I made this! I cannot express strongly enough the sense of totally thrilling achievement I am feeling about this - I have made a proper, sturdy, drawstring bag, that has straight (!!) seams and which looks cute on top of it all!

Yes, those are the Monkeys hiding inside.....

















So, what's on for next week? More bags - this time with a flat bottom and inside pocket. Then I really have to make a start on the famous wedding album - I've got the materials assembled, just have to start working on it. I have also been commissioned to make a baby memory box for a friend - I've started on it and should have it finished by mid-week. Will post pictures when it's done......

Have a lovely weekend everyone - enjoy the sunshine (no, I don't believe the forecast!)

Sock crazy!

It's official - for someone who had never even contemplated knitting a pair of socks (let alone knitting on dpns) before the beginning of the year, I am now officially sock crazy! Not only do I now have a ludicrously large pile of sock yarn in my stash, but the projects are coming thick and fast.

Today, I actually finished my very first pair - for my dearly beloved! Toe-up, with short row heels, so custom fit - and he likes them! :-)

Pattern: Express Lane by Diane Mulholland
Yarn: 'Donna's Favourite' from Claudia Handpainted (I LOVE this yarn - so soft and squishy)
Needles: 2.75mm and 3.25mm for cast-off

Next up, I have finished the first sock of the March 2009 Mystery Sock Pattern - I'm doing these in Cygnet DK and they are coming out super comfy so far. They will be gifted to the daughter of a very good friend of mine who suffers from Juvenile Arthritis. She's having a major operation in a few weeks' time and will need something to cheer her up / keep her feet warm while she recovers.














So, you know I mentioned my ever-growing pile of sock yarn? Here are the latest additions - some absolutely gorgeous squishiness from The Knitting Goddess - all are from her 4ply BFL Sock Wool range:

From top to bottom we have:

Meadow (destined for Saimaa)

Copper Desert (will be turned into Sprung Socks)

Bollywood (for some Falling Leaves)

Then a skein of Sensational Sock 2 Merino in 'Chocolate Covered Cherry' from the lovely Knitted to a T - there's 500 whole yards of this yummy stuff, so they will be perfect for some extra long Shur'tagals


And (finally!), 3 skeins of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in 'Sage' - I think these will be just perfect for some knee-length Marlenes by the amazing Cookie A

Swatch heaven?

I'm taking a break from the crochet granny squares in order to prepare for the next raft of projects (well, thanks to being made redundant, I have LOTS of time on my hands - so might as well be productive!). I've been busy knitting up gauge swatches (I'm erring on the side of caution!).

So, what is on the cards I hear you ask?

First, some easy/quick knits (to balance the more complicated ones below):

I have finally settled on a pattern for the lovely Rose Garden Merino from Babylonglegs - it's going to be transformed into a Seed Stitch Cardigan for Little Miss A.

The gorgeous Atlantis Aran (yes, also from Babylonglegs) will be knitted up as a Spiral Cowl - yes, I know Spring is now well on it's way, but it's still a bit chilly in the mornings!

Then, I have a few more long-term projects planned - the newly arrived Bergere de France Sport




will be turned into a Dr. G's Memory Vest for my Dad's Xmas pressie

My 10 balls of Patons Caressa DK will make a lovely fluffy Stardust - don't you just love the colour? It's got a really nice feel to it and the lace pattern comes out really nicely (provided I remember to knit into the back of the yarn forwards on the following row!)



And then, last but not least, I need to start making a serious dent in my stash of sock yarn!

I'm holding back on choosing a pattern for the lovely Claudia's Blue Fields (soooo scrummy & squishy!)









but my two skeins of Angels & Elephants have volunteered to go to the head of pile:

Seaspray (I just adore all those pale greens and lilac/blues!) will be used for some Spring Forward socks


and the Pentillie (reminds me of a wintery sunrise) will be used for Spring Pools socks














All this should keep me busy for a while, don't you think?

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

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.........