Giving

I've been knitting but birthday presents and I'm not sure exactly who reads this blog so I can't share pictures until next week.

I've also knitted a hat for my friends daughter with ear flaps and pom poms in beige and pale pink, as I'm incompetent I forgot to take pictures before it was gifted.

I've also been thinking yet again about Christmas with things being tight I've been trying to find reasonably priced things I know friends and family will love.

I will be making lots of bits and pieces gloves, hats, scarfs, tea cosies, throws and jumpers for the children. I'm also going to bake shortbread biscuits and sweet chili sauce will I'm going to start posting recipes weekly as well as knitting patterns.

I thought that today I would share some of my favorite websites for gift sourcing.

• firstly there is etsy at www.etsy.com a great source of hand made goods.
• a new favorite is www.folksy.com a British version of etsy with lots of creative sellers.
• I love www.notonthehighstreet.com which is a collection of individual shops all selling unusual items that you can't find on the high street
• www.amazon.co.uk is a must for diary's, cook books and fab craft books.
• www.play.com is one of the best sources I've found for reasonably priced DVDs.
• www.coxandcox.co.uk is a lovely store selling deluxe craft supplies and home wear. They've just launched their new autumn collection
• www.reddirect.co.uk sells lovely home wear,bags, jewellery and have just launched their new Christmas collection. I'm loving the mistletoe fairy lights. Mr LCD will not appreciate any new fairy lights as the house is already very shiny at Christmas.
• for me if anyone reading this is worrying about what I'd like for Christmas anything form this shop would be appreciated www.loop.gb.com

once a week is an improvement

This week I've been busy thinking of Christmas presents Amazon UK have 50% off cook books at the moment including pre-order for the new Nigella and Jamie books which 'll make great presents for a couple of people I know.I might keep the Nigella for me through.

I've also knitted a cushion cover.

Tip if you've not enough yarn left to do the turn over, tie your cushion shut with a couple of ribbons and then they are easy to remove when washing. Pretty and practical.

I've started knitting a set of wash cloths for my mum's new kitchen. Easy to knit in squares using any double sided pattern in any cotton yarn you have left over a great way to use up odd balls of yarn you have left over. I knit mine on a size 10 needle and cast on about 40 stitches then knit till it's square cast off all but the last 4 stitches then knit those until you have enough to make a loop.

Finally I've been making pincushions as a stocking filler which may turn it's self into a sewing kit for my brothers girlfriend.

I've blog guilt

My blog guilt is not blogging enough. Ideally in my head I would blog twice a week, which should be reasonable but the weeks disappear and it's been 3 weeks since my last post.

I have been busy getting my kitchen fitted and decorating my studio, so it is a studio not a dumping ground getting shelves put up so i can easily find my bits and pieces, sorting my odds and ends of wool the usual.



By the way has anyone any idea what to do with 50 cakes of chenille in miss matched colours, I'm waiting for inspiration I'm looking at it but nothing is arriving.



I've also been knitting tea cosies and cakes but alas my cameras not downloading onto my PC so you've had to wait. I've had to borrow my brothers on a semi permanent loan until Christmas where fingers crosses three months of wining will mean Santa brings me a camera.

The first two are from the same design as found on ravelry but you can get it by following this link http://www.houseofwoolrepute.com/?p=72 .The third was knitted by my mum with yarn from my stash and decorated with pom poms and the fourth is a new design I'm working on and I hope to have the pattern to share soon.

I'm easing myself back in...

I'm easing myself back in slowly to this blogging thing. You may of noticed I'm not currently listing anything in either of my two shops. I've decided to stick for the time being to making bits and pieces for friends or family which I'll be sharing with you. However, if you do ever see any thing you like, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do for you.

I've been thinking about my blog a lot and I've decided to be more structured as well as knitting including fun things I've found online.

I've been knitting but yet again no photos to show I'll be downloading tomorrow so will blog about them by the weekend.

I'm back from as well as a unexpected blogging holiday a very hot two weeks in Turkey. It was a fab holiday and just what I needed, ie lying by the pool everyday and shopping in the evenings only interrupted by power naps in the afternoon when it was too hot to sunbathe.

I thought I'd start my first day back with a little bit about me which i picked up from http://www.ninnynoodlenoo.com/blog

1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE?
The last film I saw in the cinema was Kung Foo Panda to which I had planned a visit with little people instead I went with two grown-ups who loved it.

2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Currently I'm reading Domain by James Herbert but I read really quickly and manage at least 2 books a week.

3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
Monopoly with my family at Christmas we are not really a board game family as my dad gets bored. I also love playing Scrabble with my Mum in the evening watching soaps as both of us are terrible at it.

4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
Red magazine its the best magazine I have ever bought and I've had a subscription for the last 3 years, its for grown ups with lovely features and things to buy. I also adore the You Magazine in the Mail on Sunday.

5) FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Lemon, the road after it rains in summer and my husband.


6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
The beginning cords of any of my favorite songs

7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Guilt

8 ) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?
Disappointment on a work day and pleasure if its my day off as I can take as long as I want to get up.

9) FAVOURITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
I don't do fast food.

10) FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?

I used to like Giles for a boy but I think now Charles after my Dad and for a girl Eva after my Great Aunt or Sophia or Elizabeth or Saffron or Charlotte.

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—’IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D……Give up work and do what I enjoy every day ooh and move to a house with a big garden and indoor pool.

12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST?
It depends on the road.

13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
No

14) STORMS–COOL OR SCARY?
I love storms so cool

15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?

Fiat Punto it was blue and I loved it until I wrote it off.

16) FAVOURITE DRINK?
Vodka with anything, especially with Tia Maria and coke and cream to make a White Russian lovely.

17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD…
Learn new things.

18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Yes.

19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
I do and I have had it every colour from blue in my student days to blond after I went mad with the sun in while at school to the rich mahogany I have now.

20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN?
Derby, Hinkley and Leicester.

21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I like to watch live football but don't like watching it on television.

22) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED?
Suitcases and things I cannot throw away. We have a guest staying with us and so I've had to tidy out the wardrobe in my second bed room so he could hang his clothes.

24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?
I don't know.

25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Defiantly a morning person after a coffee...

26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
Over easy. I don't like runny yokes they make me feel a bit funny.

27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?
In bed or curled in a corner of the settee.

28) FAVOURITE PIE?
Rhubarb meringue a Nigella Recipe from Domestic Goddess I love it and could eat it every day.

29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Lemon meringue Ice cream fro m a little shop in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, after eating Fish and Chips next to the river.

Well that's all from me and if you want to do this consider yourself tagged.

I've been missing in action

Sorry I've been gone so long.

I've just been feeling a bit quiet.

I've been knitting but unfortunately no photo's to show.

I've been watching Sex and The City and crying every time I watch it.

I've been to see Kung Fu Panda and loving every minute.

I've been reading Jane Brockets new book and feeling nostalgic.

I've been watching Gossip Girl and coveting the outfits.

I've been planning my holiday and deciding if I should take some knitting?

Two weeks no knitting will I be OK?

I've been catching up with friends and realising they are really good fun, I should make more time for them.

I've also been lurking.

I'm having a further break for the next 3 weeks but then I'll be back and sharing again

A new wedding website

This post isn't knitting related but I thought I'd share with you the fantastic new site my brother has just launched.

It's a place to keep all your wedding information together from the venue to table placing, your gift list and more.

Here's the link go and have a look and if you've any feedback let me know and I'll pass it on.

http://www.thisisourwedding.co.uk/index.html

Finished knitted bits

I've managed to get some pictures of some finished knitting at last. This is meant to be a knitting blog after all.

Firstly my new cashmere cushions for my lounge in pink and pale blue with a shot of beige. I did knit these up a while ago but didn't get round to finishing them. Now they are decorated with a grey satin finished ribbon and assorted buttons all sourced from Mason Mills in Matlock Derbyshire. Now all I've got to do is stop Mr LCD using them as trays when he has his dinner...

Next a tea cosy in black and white decorated with white buttons sourced from eBay. It has a pearly king and queen feel to it and made my Dad laugh out loud when he saw it on Saturday.

Finally another Tea Cosy in teal, blue and grey decorated with blue buttons and a blue pom-pom.

I'm feeling quite please with myself this week lots of finished bits and pieces have now been cleared out the way. I'm now ready to start new projects.

I'm going to have to hold off on the cashmere cushions with big turquoise flowers as I've managed to hurt my back again which means I can't use my knitting machine for a while.

I've started knitting myself a scarf using yarn I picked up in Venice a few years ago I was saving it to use on a really special project but I've decided since I love it so much it'd be nice to use it for something I'll wear every day rather than it sitting in my yarn basket for 3 more years.

I've started knitting a black evening bag ready for a wedding I've got in May. I also want to do some more quilting I've got the fabric I just need to find the time...