Happy Easter

I know I'm a bit late but I was whisked off for a long weekend in London by Mr LCD.

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and received lots of Easter Eggs. I received 3, a malteser one from work. From my husband I received a butterscotch green and blacks egg (yum, just what I'd been nagging for) and a little princess egg, which was in the sale when he popped to sainsburys on Monday morning.

You may gather that this weekend wasn't a diet weekend.

I did complete lots of knitting this weekend. I finished one front of my Mum's mothers day preset but had left the rest of my yarn at home, so I've still not finished it. I started knitting a pair of socks and made myself a beanie out of the lovely yarn I purchased from Loop. I also read a book called Divas don't Knit which was a fun easy read.

The reason I got so much reading and knitting done was because we were visiting Mr LCD friends and family. They are kind and make me feel very welcome but they do talk in Albanian for the most part and watch lots of Albanian t.v which consists of lots of Albanian singing and not that funny comedy sketches. Every time we visit I take little projects to do after I spent one very long weekend feeling very bored and neglected.

We stayed with Mr LCD's cousin and his family who live behind this very fancy door;

I have fallen in love with his 5 year old daughter. She wore the bunny ears we got her all weekend and cried on Friday night when she had to get changed out of the outfit we'd got her into her pajama's. She is the sweetest child I've ever met and if I could guarantee my child would be like her I'd have 3 now. Her English is also fantastic since her Mum and Dad only spoke Albanian at home I did worry that when she started school she'd be behind the other children in her class but she's clever and funny and has fitted straight in at school with no problems.

We did have a day by ourselves on Monday where I got to go shopping and visit Liberty's and Covent Garden. Then I managed to leave my Debit Card in House of Frazer so that stopped my shopping in its tracks much to Mr LCD's relief..

It also snowed pretty much all weekend but it didn't settle unfortunately.

I also managed to drag my husband into loop on Friday, he was very surprised at how busy and lovely it was. I bought 2 new sets of needles and some lovely wool, which I'll share in the next blog as what I made is in the washing machine.I think I may be changing his mind about me opening a little shop selling wool and bits and bobs. There is nothing in Derby/Derbyshire that would compare to loop. The shop in town sells lots of acrylics but isn't the kind of place you'd go to look for beautiful yarn.

New Camera New Shop

Nothing says spring to me like primroses, I like a pretty display on my dining room window sill. For some reason last year I didn't get round to creating a spring display. This year I've managed it. I just need some more small pots and it'll all be finished off. I have got more small pots but for some reason I couldn't find them at the weekend when I was potting up.

I've a new camera which has enabled me to take much better pictures. That would also be down to the fantastic weather we're having today, the sun has come out after what seems like a week of rain. According to the BBC website the rain will be back tomorrow. I'm celebrating the sunshine on my day off by photo shopping my pictures and listing items on the new online shop I found by way of flickr.

You can see my shop at http://www.pinkdoodle.com/ I'm listed as lupincottagedesigns(surprisingly). I've listed some cakes, bags, jewellery and scarves. It's all in UK pounds so hopefully that won't put as many shoppers off buying, like I think etsy does. I accept pay pal but if you've any questions send me a mail. The photos are of some of the things I've listed today;

Well I'm off now to finish my cupcake tea cosy which I am going to get finished by this afternoon and I promise I won't be missing as long next time.

March is here

I've no pictures to share but I've found two great give aways on line.

The first is on Sara's all about Eden blog where if you leave a comment you can win lots of pretty things. To leave a comment go to http://all-about-eden-saraeden.blogspot.com/ and then if you're lucky your name will be picked out a hat.

The second is a give away to celebrate the opening of there new shop oliverandolivia have arranged a little give away to enter follow this link http://www.oliverandolivia.com/index.html

I managed to almost get my quilt finished for mothers day but then completely messed it up so it's not square. Luckily mum was very understanding especially after I made lunch and is happy to wait till Easter for her quilt and half finished jumper.

tea cosy or is that cosie?

I've finished finishing my tea cosy. It's taken a while but its all done now ready for it's long trip to France. It was hard work modifying a pattern I found so I could get just the look my client wanted. It was worth it as I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.

Now I've just got to get my mums quilt and jumper finished by mothers day and I can start knitting for my self. Here's the quilt so far. It may be that I give it to her for her birthday in June... we'll see.

Where does the time go?

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. I don't know where my time has gone.
Mainly I suppose I've been at work, doing overtime so I can go on holiday to Egypt in May. I can't wait for some sun. I didn't get the job I went for but I'm getting feedback today, so I don't feel too bad and there's lots of coaching opportunities coming up so it's not the end of the world.
I have been knitting and quilting but I won't share that with you until the weekend. I've almost finished finishing my tea cosy here's a sneak peak below.



It just needs a few more flowers and a good steam and I can package it off to France.

I was going to do a big valentines post but as you may realize I didn't but here's a picture of the desserts I made for our valentines tea.

Fairy cakes decorated with pink sweeties, I'd almost run out of icing sugar I found out too late to go out shopping and Meringues our favorite with sweetened chestnut puree and double cream, they should of been pink. Needless to say Valentines day wasn't a great diet day as I also received chocolates and some lovely pale purple tulips which I love more than roses.

Lovely things

This is just going to be a quick post before I pop off to work, with my tea cosie which I'll get finished today if it's quiet.

I want to thank Mel at http://www.melissagoodsell.typepad.com/ who did a mini swap with me.

I sent her some cupcakes and bits and peices and she sent me all these little goodies;

You may notice she's sent me the card she's entered into the Daring Card Makers blog this week and some lovely mushroom fabric, pom poms, embroidery threads, beads and a pretty hanky holder in pink and white spots which has already found it's way into my work bag.

She has been incredibly generous and filled me with new ideas for projects.

Pop over and read her lovely crafting blog and the food blog which always makes me feel like baking.

Thankyou again Mel.

I'm back

Well I may of been off line but I've kept myself busy.

I've just completed five years service at work so I've got an extra days holiday this year and I also received a experience day. I can hear the spa calling my name.

I don't know how I feel about staying in the job as long as I have, I've moved departments but have never felt motivated enough to apply for more responsible job.All is set to change next week when I've an interview for a training role which'll involve training new recruits in our banking practices. This is a job I think I'll enjoy if I get through my 15 minute interactive demonstration on delivering great customer service. I think I stand a good chance as I've found out who else has got interviews and I've got my presentation mapped out with with guidance from my team leader and a friend who's already doing the job.

That enough of the work chat because I've been keeping busy knitting too.

I had my first craft fair last weekend, luckily I'd told friends and family what I was up to other wise I may not of covered the cost of the table. It had snowed that morning so there wasn't a big turn out and most of the people who came said 'aren't you clever' or 'I love your cakes' and then moved on. The feed back was great and I'd got lots of bits for under £5.oo but still no new customers. Maybe I should smile more but I did say hello to everyone who'd visited me, maybe it was the weather or the time of year.

So that wasn't the most motivating day of my life I think I need to go to a craft fair that's more touristy. I think I'm going to have a stall at a craft fair in Tissington ( http://www.tissington-hall.com/ ) in April, fingers crossed for no snow.

As I did get myself so organized for my craft fair I was at a loss for knitting projects this week, that all changed when my Mum came for a visit today.

I've been planing a design fora tea cosy, which'll be the next step on from the cup cakes. This is my first side which I completed at the weekend. Not a great picture I know.

I'm constructing it in three parts the two sides which'll be the cup cake base then the cake and icing as a separate piece I'm then going to line it with a pink jersey and decorate with beads and a big red pom-pom. that's my plan now it may change...
My mum has brought with her a commission today for a stripy blue and fusica tea cozy. My designer side has been put away for a few days while I construct it here are the yarns I'm using ;
The fusica looks very red here but be assured it is fuscia and I've started knitting and I'll get finished pictures for you by the weekend. I found the pattern on line but I'm going to get it copied up for you with any amendments I make.

I also have had a few new books arrive form the lovely people at amazon.
'What skirts' for when my clothes no longer fit, 'Loop pretty knits' which technically I received for Christmas but I'm now ready to start knitting from and '101 one skein wonders' from which my mum has ordered this top;
This looks like a quick knit, she's chosen her yarn a beige dk wool and she may get it for mothers day. I've also started putting together a gold and brown quilt for her but that's a surprise, luckily my mums computer illiterate so she won't be reading this.
There are also some really cute knits in here for socks which I'm going to attempt when I get some needles. I may have to wait for payday. There are also some lovely slippers and hats which I might start making for Christmas and birthday presents.