So it is April and I am spending most of my free time sowing, and planting, when I can. I suppose I haven't been doing that much, as the weather has been atrocious, but a few things are getting done. The aparagus bed was dug, then filled in and redug when we decided it would be a more efficient use of space to dig the trenches perpendicular to our original plans. :-) This means we probably have room for a strawberry bed in the perennial plot. Terribly exciting, eh?!
On the wool front, I am trying to make things, and just getting tired. Working on The Babe's blanket, and doing some hearts and starfish and cute things as well. I was completely disappointed by my last craft fair, so am taking some time off from that and then I don't have to worry about making things for that. Just making things for people. Real people in my life.
Which probably means I shall be getting back to knitting soon. But I have not had my fill of crochet yet. I shall continue to work on some things for the Ravelry group, Crochet Shoulder Wrappers, and continue to work on things for the Babe's room, if she ever gets one.
Monday, 23 April 2012
Sunday, 25 March 2012
IntNatCroMo
So over in America it is National Crochet Month. On Ravelry, they have declated International Crochet Month, which makes me happy. I have been crocheting my little heart out. Well, when I am not digging and weeding my little heart out. And lactating my little heart out.
These are some things I have made. In addition to these.
We have also been planting and sowing seeds. Look, the Rocket (Arugula) is sprouting.
And the Babe and I are planting and digging and have been out loads on our new bike.
She has a little seat on the back, and off we go. We pootle along. That is my new favourite word...pootle. It is also my new favourite activity! Although I was out last night to see the Meister and the Boy perform in the Music Service Easter Extravaganza, and I ZOOMED home. So Zoom is a good word too. :-)
So let's see, knitting and crochet, planting and gardening, pootling and zooming. Occasional reading and cooking. That is life at moment. It has been a pretty good, IntNatCroMo.
We have also been planting and sowing seeds. Look, the Rocket (Arugula) is sprouting.
So let's see, knitting and crochet, planting and gardening, pootling and zooming. Occasional reading and cooking. That is life at moment. It has been a pretty good, IntNatCroMo.
Friday, 16 March 2012
This makes me happy!
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Distraction
So the weather is nicer, there are green shoots appearing, and I am being distracted by the garden and the allotment, and not getting a lot of crocheting done. I started all of these things for Crochet Month, and now I just want to dig and sow seeds. :-)
Today saw me get into the garden to dig over last years potato and courgette patches. Since we have an allotment of our own now, that is going to be given over to fruit bushes and herbs, maybe some garlic and leeks later in the season.
Our garden is small, but I have planted in an L shape - up the left hand side is raspberries which are established. Then a goosberry, to the right is another gooseberry, a blueberry and my new baby bay bush. I have planted a couple of other blueberries in bigger pots there as well.
So far we haven't sown much, basil and courgettes and rocket, but I will get some more things sown soon and transplant a couple of other gooseberries down at the allotment. We are developing a perennial strip which will have an asparagus bed, maybe a strawberry bed, and some gooseberries and eventually some redcurrants, as well as some herbs.
That is the plan. Sorry no photos, but it does mean I have actually been busy in the real world!
PS, I am also reading a book. Never Let Me Go by by Kazuo Ishiguro which Martine has lent me.
Today saw me get into the garden to dig over last years potato and courgette patches. Since we have an allotment of our own now, that is going to be given over to fruit bushes and herbs, maybe some garlic and leeks later in the season.
Our garden is small, but I have planted in an L shape - up the left hand side is raspberries which are established. Then a goosberry, to the right is another gooseberry, a blueberry and my new baby bay bush. I have planted a couple of other blueberries in bigger pots there as well.
So far we haven't sown much, basil and courgettes and rocket, but I will get some more things sown soon and transplant a couple of other gooseberries down at the allotment. We are developing a perennial strip which will have an asparagus bed, maybe a strawberry bed, and some gooseberries and eventually some redcurrants, as well as some herbs.
That is the plan. Sorry no photos, but it does mean I have actually been busy in the real world!
PS, I am also reading a book. Never Let Me Go by by Kazuo Ishiguro which Martine has lent me.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Plans A and B for March
So I was gonna do the Fairisle mitts for the Changeling, and try one of the toy patterns I have bought (eek! paid for!) as well as the Comfy Slipper pattern (payed for again!) but since the weather is warming up and it is National Crochet month, I thought I would set them aside and concentrate on crocheting.
I am doing lots of squares as I have joined a block a month crochet along on Ravelry. I don't have a single project in mind for this though. I wish I had the money to buy some yarn to actually do something with my squares, but I will just try them out for now, and maybe do an actual project in the future with my favourites.
I have been watching the Bernat mystery CAL as well. I wish again that I had the money to get some of the Bernat Waverly yarn sent over as it looks lovely. Or even to buy some Aran stuff here and take part, but I will try another time. I have never done a Mystery CAL and it looks like fun!
I am doing one of the CALs with Ravelry's Shoulder Wrappers Group. I was on the verge of giving up, as there were too many CALs to choose from, and then I had to find appropriate yarn in my stash. I was looking through my stash and found some packs that I want to use for Shawls later in the year, so it was a bit productive, but I didn't find anything I really wanted to do the Frosty Night Cowl CAL with.
And then I found it! The undyed yarn that Martine got for us a few years ago. We have done a couple of batches, but there was still some left! So I got it out, and managed to dye it and have it hanging to dry before the allotment society AGM on Saturday! I had wanted more orange than yellow, but what I got was more yellow than orange.
It is cheering me up though and I shall start crocheting today!
The Babe is happy as well because she has yet another hat. Ok, so she doesn't like to wear hats often but I still keep making them, and this one she actually puts on her head herself and runs around the house going Toowhit Toowhoo!!
Just as an aside, that cardigan she is wearing was knitted for me when I was her age. So it is about 42 years old and still going. I think it is acrylic, because I just chuck it in the washing machine, but it still looks good, if a bit furry now and then. I hope some of my things will be around in 40 years!
I am working on some craft fair things in crochet as well. Here is the beginnings of a poncho...
And the beginnings of a cowl that I am making for myself in the lovely stuff Martine made for me...(It looks better in real life.) I had tried to do some shell patterned cowls from the Lion Brand website, but in the end they just didn't look right. This is a version of crocheted moss stitch which is making a fine texture and showing of the hand dyed yarn much better. :-)
So here I am at my last craft fair as well. It was the first time I was outside, and it was a bit of a cold day to be outside. Of course, when you are outside there is a lot more foot traffic, but this day was dire. 7 hours sitting in the cold, and I sold one hat, which paid for the stall. It was rather depressing. This is me at the beginning, naiveley smiling away. My display is a bit cluttered because I had left some of my acoutrements at home.
I am doing lots of squares as I have joined a block a month crochet along on Ravelry. I don't have a single project in mind for this though. I wish I had the money to buy some yarn to actually do something with my squares, but I will just try them out for now, and maybe do an actual project in the future with my favourites.
I am doing one of the CALs with Ravelry's Shoulder Wrappers Group. I was on the verge of giving up, as there were too many CALs to choose from, and then I had to find appropriate yarn in my stash. I was looking through my stash and found some packs that I want to use for Shawls later in the year, so it was a bit productive, but I didn't find anything I really wanted to do the Frosty Night Cowl CAL with.
And then I found it! The undyed yarn that Martine got for us a few years ago. We have done a couple of batches, but there was still some left! So I got it out, and managed to dye it and have it hanging to dry before the allotment society AGM on Saturday! I had wanted more orange than yellow, but what I got was more yellow than orange.
It is cheering me up though and I shall start crocheting today!
The Babe is happy as well because she has yet another hat. Ok, so she doesn't like to wear hats often but I still keep making them, and this one she actually puts on her head herself and runs around the house going Toowhit Toowhoo!!
I am working on some craft fair things in crochet as well. Here is the beginnings of a poncho...
And the beginnings of a cowl that I am making for myself in the lovely stuff Martine made for me...(It looks better in real life.) I had tried to do some shell patterned cowls from the Lion Brand website, but in the end they just didn't look right. This is a version of crocheted moss stitch which is making a fine texture and showing of the hand dyed yarn much better. :-)
So here I am at my last craft fair as well. It was the first time I was outside, and it was a bit of a cold day to be outside. Of course, when you are outside there is a lot more foot traffic, but this day was dire. 7 hours sitting in the cold, and I sold one hat, which paid for the stall. It was rather depressing. This is me at the beginning, naiveley smiling away. My display is a bit cluttered because I had left some of my acoutrements at home.
These are some of my children's hats. The weather is changing now so I will try to get some more spring and summer things ready.
In further honour of National Crochet Month, some things that make me happy are here and here. I have ordered some of this yarn so I can attempt to emulate those lovely and talented crocheters. (This is where I find out if my husband reads my blog as I am not supposed to be spending money on yarn!) I want colour and cheer in my life right now and I can't wait to crochet with these colours! I will probably make a couple of baby blankets to sell at the craft fair I have booked at the end of March (after which I think I will give up.)
Another happy thing is that we have an allotment, which means that I will be digging and planting and weeding and watering, while still trying to crochet and knit every minute that I get left alone to do so. (Not so many of those these days.) I am planning an asparagus bed and a strawberry bed and some other fruiting bushes, so not ambitious at all. :-)
And a very sad thing as well. This was my new teapot.
I got it from Oxfam for £4.99 and I loved it. For about a week. As you can see, it got its handle smashed, and we can't really glue it, because the handle is hollow and the glue would be exposed to the boiling water and brewing tea. It was one of the few things I was excited about buying myself, and it is just sitting around reminding me why I don't buy myself nice things. :-(
So I will have to get back to making nice things. Happy Crochet Month everybody!
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Organisation actually works
So focusing on certain things each month actually works. My brain is usually all over the place, capable thing that it is, but choosing some things to work on, and then actually working on them actually gets things done. Who knew?
As I said before, the shorts are done. OK, so they were a Jan focus, but they are done, so let's not quibble.
The hat to go with the January Cigar gloves is also done.
He likes to wear it with the brim turned up, in spite of the fact that he asked for it to be baggy. Also, we don't know what it looks like with the gloves, as he has lost those. Cold hands again, but this time, it isn't my fault. :(
I also managed to do a hat for the Meister, who had asked for a black and sparkly one.
As I said before, the shorts are done. OK, so they were a Jan focus, but they are done, so let's not quibble.
I also managed to do a hat for the Meister, who had asked for a black and sparkly one.
It is made with the lovely Lang Lanulux from Purl City Yarns, which I got on a spontaneous visit. It doesn't photograph well because of the sparkles, I guess, but it looks quite nice, and has a bow. It is helping to make up for the disappearance of the Frog Hat. On Dec 20th, 2011, on the way back from home ed drama, she was harrassed by a group of 4 kids from St Anthony's Catholic College in Trafford. They knicked her hat and ran off with it. :( It was a well loved Frog Hat (called Frank) and we shall have to make another one, but in the mean time, we have glam and sparkle.
I also finished the fingerless mitts that I was doing for the Changeling.
They are actually being sent to The One Who Has Flown The Coop, as she didn't seem to mind them too much, and being hard to impress, I'll give her first refusal. That is fine, as I can then make the ones for the Changeling in the colour that I was going to do originally for her. Or I could do a pair to match the Fairisle gloves I am getting ready to start.
I also have a craft fair this weekend, at the Horse and Jockey in Chorlton, but I haven't really done any extra to prepare as I have a lot of stock. Although I did do this one, which I tried on The Babe for sizing.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
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