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.

no posts for a while

My husband has broken the computer so I won't be posting for a while.

I don't know when or if we'll be able to get it fixed but I can't post from work as I'm meant to do proper work there. So I might be quiet for a while, but I will still be knitting...

Cake

I am getting a bit disheartened with my diet I've lost 10 lb's which is great. Now all I want is some chocolate or cake or just something really sweet. Banana's have been helping to curb my cravings and I know it's only been 3 weeks but sweet cake and chocolate is all I can think about today. I can't buy any sweet things as they don't sell reduced calorie cakes in portion size, you have to buy six and if I bought six I'd eat six so it's best if I don't buy any.

Instead I've been knitting cakes and lots of them. I've been working on a designs for a chocolate sand which. I'm not completely happy with it but here's the prototype. I've started my second sample today and have tried using moss stitch for the cream I think this ones going to work out better.

I thought I'd also share a picture of my awful kitchen with you. It's being ripped out this weekend and I'm having it replaced with lovely real wood units and new counter tops I even get to have new flooring which'll make my day and I get a wall mounted oven I can't wait. Its practically the last room in the house to be finished well except my studio and the garden which is still half done.

A day to myself

Today I was woken by the papers when they landed on my sleeping tummy and a cup of tea. How lovely you think? Mr lcd sounds like a keeper... Well so did I until I looked at the clock and saw it was half past 5 in the morning. I'd forgotten he was working today.

I still can't decide if it was a lovely gesture or he just wanted me to get up because he had too.

So I sat with my cup of tea in bed, I was wide awake now you understand, reading my favorite morning papers the News of the World for the celebrity d list scandal and the Mail on Sunday for the weekly out rage of how England's deteriorating and the oh so lovely You magazine full of fashion, other peoples lovely houses and very calorific Sunday baking. I'm low brow and shallow but that what Sundays are for especially as I'm not eating chocolate anymore.

In the end I got up about 9.30, after a little doze, had my diet breakfast, Greek yogurt, dried fruit and toast this week and the retired to my studio to take advantage of my me time.

I have no pictures of what I've been up to but I show the finished articles later this week. I managed to knit 3 cashmere cushion covers in pale beige, pink and blue. Which are now in the washing machine felting, ready to be made up on Tuesday or Thursday. I think I'll finish them with the tiny buttons or the wide grey ribbon I got in Matlock.

I don't know why I'm choosing as I've still got enough yarn left to knot about 5 blankets, so I can do both options but what to do first? I'm impatient and want to see the finished article now, as I'm already thinking about ten more projects I want to work on.

I've also put in an order with my brothers girlfriend to pick me up some more cashmere when she's at mason mills this week. I maybe going a bit mad but it's so nice to knit with and washes so well.

I've also knitted six new cupcakes this weekend and completed a sample for cables black chenille cushion covers. I'm thinking either bright pink or slate grey buttons.

Now I'm going to switch off for a bit. I've got on my vitamin replacement face mask and I've run a hot bubbly bath so now I will love you and leave you and contemplate my lovely day.