Crafty Corner

About once a week my boyfriend plays XBox online with his friends for an evening, this gives me an evening of crafting time for myself. Often I will spend it in front of a sewing machine as it's the one type of crafting I find difficult to do of an evening whilst we are together watching tv or listeing to music! However last time the XBox session occured my sewing table was otherwise engaged supporting our Xmas jigsaw (we do all the coolest stuff!) so I decided to do some sofa based crafting in the lounge.

This was my spot for the evening and my crafty project of choice was my new cross stitch (found out that the lighting in this room isn't great for stitching on linen...but that's by the by).

When I stood up for a break I couldnt resist taking the photo above as my space was ready for almost any crafty eventuality...

Circled in red, pattern weights ready for cutting out fabric.

Just visible in the orange circle, crochet books under the sofa.

The yellow circle is two full sets of interchangeable knitting needles.

Circled in green is my knitting bag with various bits and bobs of yarn and knitting notions.

In the blue circle is the cross stitch kit I was actually working on and, hiding at the back, in the purple circle is my sewing table (and jigsaw).

Plenty of crafting options in arm's length on this evening!

Snaps From The Weekend (13/14 Aug)

 

Ultimate long term project

It's probably evident that I take a fair while to finish projects. The RBTL is in its 7th month (although hopefully I'll have some news about that soon), Sparkle Punch quilt and the Mystery Blanket were started in 2012, as yet my cross stitch projects haven't surfaced (usually a sister adopts them).  But there is one project that has outlasted them all.

This is the result of 31 years of French knitting, with significant input from my sister's, but I do the odd bit too now and again and I try and keep the yarn supply going.

I was given the cotton reel and my first yarn leftover when I was six, and due to deciding it should be a rug, it's still going. Every now and again there's nervous and optimistic talk about how it becomes a rug but so far no more than that. 

At this rate this project is going to become an heirloom without being finished!

Work In Progress stops Work In Progress

We're having our kitchen re-done, it's looking great but in the mean time we've had to set up a temporary kitchen. That's working well for us but maybe not so well for my sewing projects...

Our temporary kitchen was previously known (and will be again in the future) as my sewing space.

Think I'll have to dig out one of my other craft projects for a while!

Review of 2012 goals

Well, a little late, but I've been looking back on last years goals to see how I did...

1.  Finish the hand sewn quilt for my brother (if we could find it I'd also like to finish my sister's one too it only needs backing and quilting. Absolutely no where near on these ones!

2.  Have less WIPs at the end of 2012 than I have at the start (I'll have a count up later). I never did count up, but I've definitely not added to the list and I'm being stricter on finishing before I start anything else.

3.  Run the Great South Run in less than 2hrs (this should be possible but I seem to get worse each year). Just a minute off on this one - on the plus side that was about 15 mins faster than I managed the year before - looks like I'll be.

4.  Loose weight (ideally 28lbs - its amazing how quickly I gained that amount). Although I didn't actually start until May I have surpassed this one - 35lbs lost at last count and still going.

5.  Keep up with the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket.  Nope.

6.  Have less unread 'real' books than I have now (I'll have a count up later its somewhere in the region of 20!)  I'm a hopeless bibliophile what can I say!

Well not a particularly good effort on meeting my goals.  I think I may set some more this year (they may be very similar to last year's though) but maybe review them more often to keep myself on track.

New shoes!

This past week I seem to have turned into a shoeaholic! And before anyone asks I also have the matching pair for each shoe.

Colours

Double headed daffs

A (rather dark) friendship bracelet destined to be a camera wrist strap one day

Running gear (from which I need to select something to wear for a 1/2 marathon on Sun)

A new lace knitting project (with a lot of stitch markers)

More Winter

I had to leave home before 8am this morning to attend an Open University tutorial (the tutorial was actually at a reasonable hour it was just the bus to get there that wasn't).  I wasn't up as early as I'd planned to be and so didn't get time to dry my hair after my shower.  Normally this isn't really an issue, but we've had snow again here and the temperatures have dropped so after about 3 minutes outside my hair had begun to freeze!


This somewhat odd experience was overridden by the gorgeous views at that time in the morning with mist hovering over the remaining icy snow as the sun rose.

 My hair defrosted okay too.

Ramblings

- Its finally snowed here and has appeared to stuck.

Although I am quite pleased by the sound of dripping indicating some sort of melt as I need to drive south to work tonight, but it would give me an excuse for a day off.


- Found another two fairly local to me quilt shops, that makes four within a fairly close distance and they seem to all stock different ranges.  Considering I'd never even seen a quilt fabric shop until two years ago I'm impressed (my wallet isn't!). I was restrained and didn't buy any fabric, but one of the shops had an amazing range of books on sale and I couldn't resist a copy of Tonya Ricucci's Word Play Quilts.  Having to stay down south for a tutorial next weekend and am planning to visit another two quilt shops.


- Just seen an advert on TV for frozen ready to cook baked potatoes - apparently oven baked potatoes in just 5 minutes.  Think I'll stick to the fresh ones.


- And now I can no longer avoid the mega seam pressing session - 190 seams need to be pressed before I can get any further with my sister's quilt. 

2012 Goals

So its the traditional timeof year for resolution setting.  I don't tend to do this as breaking them by the 10th is a huge disappointment.  But Iwould like to set myself some goals for 2012, nothing too impossible but something to look back on at the end of the year.  They're not all craft related but here they are...

1.  Finish the hand sewn quilt for my brother (if we could find it I'd also like to finish my sister's one too it only needs backing and quilting.

2.  Have less WIPs at the end of 2012 than I have at the start (I'll have a count up later).

3.  Run the Great South Run in less than 2hrs (this should be possible but I seem to get worse each year).

4.  Loose weight (ideally 28lbs - its amazing how quickly I gained that amount).

5.  Keep up with the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket.

6.  Have less unread 'real' books than I have now (I'll have a count up later its somewhere in the region of 20!)

I think that's a reasonable amount I was toying with including develop a 'proper' study routine (I have always been fairly bad at that) and don't start new projects until the last one is complete but I'd like my goals to be realistic and achievable!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Sorry I've been so quiet - I've not been busy working away on secret Xmas projects, I'm on a two month work course which is sapping all my spare time.  On a positive note this has coincided with a sudden increase in weekend social engagements.  All in all I've gotten next to no craft work done (not even the shawl that is supposed to be complete by Xmas!).  I have managed to teach my mum to knit with beads and do basic fairisle so my hands have not been completely idle.  I may manage a post at the weekend to detail a recent trip to the big smoke but otherwise don't expect much from here till mid December, when, considering the fabric I've been hoarding and the season, there should be a sudden spate of posts.

Oh Heck!

Why the title? Well...

...firstly, I have just entered myself in a half marathon - I am not the world's keenest or most dedicated runner - but it's not until March.  Maybe I will be better behaved than when I have previously entered (shorter races) and actually do some training!  Did 3 miles this evening in the drizzle - see how long that motivation lasts!

...secondly, my chilli plant is going mad, the six chillies I originally had have gone red and there is at least half a dozen more baby chillies evident.  I have no idea when they are ready for picking and I don't think I've ever used fresh chilli before.  Looks like I'm going to have to frequently in the not so distant future! I'm loving how nice the plant looks with its white flowers and red chillies.

...thirdly, after deciding that I simply had to make the Farmer's Wife Quilt (courtesy of some wonderful tutorials from Lori at Bee in My Bonnet) I decided to work out whether I already had too much on the go (craft wise) to actually go and buy some fabric.  Well it turns out I have (insert embarassed cough here) 9 crafty projects (knitting, sewing, cross-stitch) in progress, 1 project on hold but definitely in progress.  And the materials and patterns ready to go for another five projects.  This does not include any fabric or yarn I've bought just in case!  I definitely need to get some finishes under my belt before I even consider doing anything about the other half dozen or so projects that have attracted my attention.  And before my sister points it out, I almost definitely shouldn't have started all those projects until some of the others were done!

And on that note I'm off to attack one of my WIPs and watch Torchwood - whilst ignoring the ironing pile!

Unexpectedly Green Fingers

I enjoy having a plant or two around the house, usually one I've managed to pick up cheaply as I seem to have an ability to kill them easily.


For a change I thought I'd try growing a chilli pepper plant as I have a warm and relatively sunny room for it to live in and so one got lugged back from town in my tote bag and dumped in a mug on my window sill.


It quickly became apparent that it needed repotting, even though flowering happily, so a trip in the car to a friend's house to get necessary supplies saw it repotted and in a tiny bucket on my window sill. What has surprised me after my somewhat neglectful care (and several trips in the car to be plant sat whilst I was on holiday) is that not only has the plant grown and still got all its leaves, but it is also flowering away merrily and producing several chillies.

Unfortunately I have finally got round to reading the care label you can see in the phot which advises a 10 inch diameter pot for this plant at initial repotting (I though you had to increase pot size gradually but not in this case it seems). So another trip in the car is planned for the plant to get it more soil and a significantly larger pot. Fingers crossed its still doing as well after the journey.

Now all I have to do is to figure out how to tell when the chillies are ready!

New Toy!

Big excitement this weekend is the purchase of a new car.  A lot of debating went on beforehand but in the end I went for a red mini.

Brilliant fun to drive and the weather and roads have been kind so the roof has been down.  Couple of lessons learnt - a hat or hairband is a must and suncream would be a good idea too!

Normal Service Will Be Resumed...

...with a vengeance once I find the cable for my camera.  It's annoying as I have at least two so one is always where my camera is, or at least that's the plan.

I have also been pretty busy changing jobs and doing all the peripheral stuff that comes with that.

So busy that I had totally failed to notice the upcoming FNSI and now, as I've made other totally pleasant plans, I won't be able to participate for the second month in a row.  But if you're interested in finding out what it's all about then click this link

Hopefully that worked and hopefully I'll remember the simple way of doing it.

Anyways whilst remembering (and being too chicken to post another button linky thing) if you're a UK quilter then you may want to look in on Lily's Quilts Brit Quilt group (button over there -----> somewhere, the cool union flag one...that's it you know you want to find out more) designed to give us British quilters somewhere to virtually meet up and chat. <Looks embarassed> I have signed up quite early on but due to earlier excuses I haven't got round to having a good nosey and joining the fun but I keep reading good things about it so will be making regular visits in future.

Right enough apologetic blogging, watch out for the re-emergence of posts over the weekend I have plenty to share. 

I'm Back

I'm back from what I think is my laziest and most relaxing holiday ever. Mornings were spent in the local markets or towns, afternoons on the beach or by the pool (too cold to go in!) and then we played card games or rummikub in the evenings after dinner.  Wonderful and exactly the type of holiday I had in mind.  Got plenty of reading done but didn't take any crafts with me; also forgot to take any pictures.

And this week my sister has been visiting and we spent a day going round some London museums.  The Museum of London was fascinating; the Science Museum had its good bits but was somewhat too warm (maybe due to the unseasonal heat wave but still unpleasantly airless and sticky) and a surprising number of exhibits were run down or not working (those that were hands on).

Whilst in London we came across what we thought was a novel way of window cleaning...

Maybe a little tricky to see on the original, here's a blow up of the bottom of the picture...



Still not great but hopefully you can see the two guys abseiling whilst window cleaning; they picked a nice day for it.

No Crafting Here

For the first time in ages I'm having a totally craft free weekend, not even a row or two of knitting has been completed.  Am trying to enjoy the glorious weather in between shopping and packing for a week's holiday, packing to move accomodation and writing an essay.  Not quite sure I'm getting the balance of my todo list right, my bed has disappeared under what seems like way too much clothing for a week...

...and it will not surprise those that know me that the rest of my room looks a heck of a lot worse!

Ah well better stop procrastinating and get on with it!

Wildlife Weekend

Well inbetween sewing like a woman on a mission (at least on Saturday seemed to get all slowed down on Sunday) I managed to do a little wildlife spotting.

For the second time recently I spotted a Muntjac deer, this time actually in our front garden last time one nervously dashed out from the vicinity of the garden to the farmland over the road (thanks to the snow there was next to no traffic).  Unfortunately I didn't have my camera to hand but do google them they're very timid looking creatures.

On the way into town to pick up some red thread I also spotted a white owl, on further research I have found out that this was a barn owl.  Yet again no photo as I was driving at the time, it flew very low across the road at about 3.30pm - quite amazing.

In order to make up for these missed wildlife photo opportunities I'll try and post a couple of the daft, fat pheasant which wanders round our garden (although don't expect one anytime soon!).

What I have managed to get a photo of is the back of Ganny's quilt now fully quilted and just waiting for me to hand sew on 7 metres of binding and a label.

 You'll have to look very closely as the thread is an almost perfect colour match to the backing.  I'm really pleased with the back - just a couple of minor puckers.  I'm pretty pleased with the front too although I'm a wbbly sticher in the ditch but I'm getting better.  I really got the knack of the squares in the border too, which is good as I have loads to do on the other log cabin.

Barring an epic slip stitching session, this should be all ready to return to Ganny on Saturday, and will be my first ever, totally done on my own, finished quilt.

Oh and to change the theme slightly I am making a real effort with my half marathon training and actually managed a two mile ish run this evening and felt like there was more in my legs except it was going dark.  Will go out again on Wednesday and do 4 miles.

Thank You and My Challenge

Just thought I'd pop in to say thanks for all the encouraging comments on my last two posts and "Hi!" to my new follower. 

I managed to baste the quilt (or at least mini-tag it) and mark it up for quilting the other night and found out that my bedroom floor is not as big as I thought - going to have to find a very large room to baste the neon quilt!  A major session with my walking foot awaits me this weekend as well as some concerted essay writing, I'm sick and tired (not just literally) of working till 3am the night before hand in to get work finished but I seem to thrive on the last minute stress.  Got to stop it though.

Anyway...not working till 3am is not my challenge.  I have recently found myself spending a lot of money on non essential items, as treats, on a whim or purely because they are a bargain (altho one of the dresses I bought because it was cheap and gorgeous will now see service as a wedding outfit so that was a good investment).  So what I have decided is this month I will not buy something just because, just things that are needed - which will include a haircut, car service and MOT.  I'm not going to do myself out of nights out either (already have three planned this month plus a weekend at my sister's and a weekend in Edinburgh), I'm just aiming to curb my spending on stuff.  There's no external pressing need for this challenge, although I would like to have more money to put towards my house deposit savings and at the moment I am seriously considering purchasing a Kindle at the start of March, its just to try and get out  of the habit of accumulating things.  I have plenty of things already and not a lot of space for them!  Anyway going to see how it goes - I can be good when I want to be!

Mostly Random!

I don't have anything more to show for this weekend's work but I did spend Sunday cutting (it takes ages) so hopefully I can get more achieved next weekend.  I reckon finishing Ganny's quilt top is on the cards and I'd like to get my log cabin one quilted.  If I'm feeling rich I may go and get the wadding for my 'love it, hate it' neon quilt and some suitable quilting thread (if there is such a thing) as I have a plan as to how I want to quilt it finally. 

I feel the quilt will be the final touch in making my room really homely and me-ey.  The penultimate step being the purchase of a second hand chair to make a cosy corner.

I have a really good feeling that this chair is going to be a really big help in keeping me away from my laptop of an evening - it it amazingly comfy.

I must keep myself away from yarn shops online or otherwise.  I have a major desire to knit another Baltic Sea Stole (and happened to find some gorgeous yarn options) but I have a huge drawer of yarn to make a dent in and five (sorry make that six) quilts to finish (not to mention the rather gorgeous sock yarn I happened to come across).  It's a nightmare!

I have started running again, just under two miles and a bit of paddling today.  I have two, four and five mile routes worked out which should be fine for building up to the half marathon in March.

The wrong Bourne movie is on TV and I've cut my finger on the foil from the top of a peanut butter jar.