Busy Week

This week has been productive we have finally found a house to move to which is big enough for both myself and my partner to work from home, It also has enough room for 2 8 year old boys and a silly dog with no spacial awareness and a curious growing bunny. We will also have enough room for visitors to stay and enough space downstairs to entertain, which will really help us get used to our new town. I am getting very excited for January when fingers crossed we will be fully settled.

We have decorated our tree in our very small lounge and sent our letters to santa.

I have set up my little unit in Chic & Shabby selling little knitted bits if you are in the Gainsborough area pop over and have a look. I have also almost rest up my Etsy shop and my Facebook page.

Here is a small selection of the scarves I have on sale.

We have both been derailed from our productivity by a hideous cold which has knocked us both off our feet this week. to remedy this I have made lots of wholesome soups full of vegetables and chicken stock. This has definitely been our favourite:

 https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/236861261630227603/ 

It is fantastic.  Warm and soothing  just like a good soup should be. I did kick it up a notch and added birdseye chilli  to help us shift our colds.

new starts again

So many things have changed since I last blogged. I have separated from my husband, started new relationship and become an almost step parent to 8 year old twins. I also have given up my job and moved to Gainsborough within the last couple of weeks. Moving out of my home of 14 years and moving all my pretty things and accumulated belongings has been one of the toughest things I have ever done but it will all be worth it in the end.

My plan is to get back to crafting on a more productive basis now I have time to concentrate on new products and ideas. So stay in touch and I will keep you updated.

So I have been very poorly with my back a bit down and lost my get up and go. Now it is back partly due to me being off the painkillers and partly due to my new nephew, I say new but he is two next month and he is adorable but I can say that as his only Aunt. I have also become addicted to pinterest where at this exact moment I have 4993 pins pinned to my folders. Pop over have a look: http://gb.pinterest.com/lupincottage/
I have been trying to get more organised with my pinning checking links work and only pinning recipes I am going to use currently this is my most popular pin  http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261625993344/

I have also just had a birthday myself  which has also helped get my crafting mojo back.It was time I had my closest friends round for cake and Prosecco.  http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626864653/
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626880379/
http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626949238/
and one Prosecco Cocktail http://gb.pinterest.com/pin/236861261626872229/

Next time I post I will have pictures.

Christmas is coming

Yet again I have been lax in blogging. My back is still poorly but is getting better slowly. I'm still off work so have spent lots of time crafting when not doing my physio. Both my best work friend and my brothers wife are expecting so I've been knitting lots of baby clothes and as everyone wants a surprise so far I've been knitting lots of white things as requested but  leaving the buttons until the new people have arrived.

I'm also trying desperately to stop smoking which has also improved my crafting speed by making Christmas trees from unwanted books. It is quite time consuming but its keeping my hands busy.

Last Christmas I was in hospital so this Christmas we are going all out. This tree was taken last December in the period between my disectomy and getting my infection. It doesn't look like we stand much chance of white Christmas this year if today's temperature is anything to go by but I can hope.

  

And here's Tiff all dressed up for Christmas two years ago.

Keeping busy

hanging cupcakes for sale at http://www.hackwoodfarm.com/

This week has been a thinking and designing week.I've been knitting up samples and checking I've all I need in my stash without having to buy any new yarn. Which I have but if I do see some wool I like in the next few weeks at a reasonable price locally I wouldn't say no, as I'm short of wool that felts up nicely.

I've moved back home after almost 3 weeks as a guest at my parents, as Mr LCD is back from seeing his mum with about three kilos of peppers from his mums garden. I may slow roast see this recipe, http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-make-roasted-peppers.htm or  http://www.squidoo.com/RoastedRedPeppers I'll have ago this week in between new physio exercises classes, catching up with the news from work, the dentist, counselling, starting Tai chi from my new DVD from amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Element-Tai-Chi-Beginners-DVD/dp/B002AFPZLW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313359195&sr=8-2  , which has been recommended by the pain clinic as it gently brings back muscle strength in your core and finally knitting projects. 

It's good to have him back as he can take me to my appointments rather than my Dad  who I'm sure was getting fed up with ferrying me around, I'm still not driving. As I do nest all over the house I think Mum was ready for me to go, but I have left my knitting machine and a box full of yarn there as I will be going back for the night one day next week.

I've been working on some new packaging for my cupcakes and new tags for everything else so I've a cohesive collection which all works together.Everything seems to take so much time but it is satisfying when things get finished. 

 

Cupcakes not for sale yet

Tidying

I didn't realise how out of touch I've been with the blogespeare I've deleted all the old links that don't work. I'm kind of glad it wasn't just me that had neglected my blog., as 10 weeks in hospital will confirm but I do wonder where everyone else has gone.

I'll have to do some exploring after I've finished knitting up some c trees. Still not saying that word. I have knitted up thirty holly leaves today while watching Trollied which is on sky one on a Thursday nights at nine if you've not yet set your cable or sky recorder do it now it did make me laugh out loud which I don't do very often at the moment (it's the medication).

If you can recommend any sites let me know.

I have also baked today:

Lemon curd cupcakes:

Make a basic sponge recipe, if you normally add milk to your mix don't, as the base needs to be quite firm I doubled Nigella's recipe for cupcakes from the domestic goddess. http://www.nigella.com/books/view/how-to-be-a-domestic-goddess-12 . .Using a desert spoon  use half the mixture to fill 24 muffin tins/silicone molds. Then put a tea spoon of lemon curd either home made or shop bought in the center of each cake then using the remaining mixture cover up the lemon curd. Bake at 200c for 15/20 minutes. Try not to eat straight away as the lemon curd gets quite hot, hence the burn on the roof of my mouth. No pictures yet again as my brother visited.

Egg Tea cosie and egg cosy's available from http://www.hackwoodfarm.com/

What I've been up to during the first week of August

I boxed up some cherry cupcakes for sale.

I helped a elderly neighbour walk her equally elderly King Charles spaniels.

I cuddled my brothers dog while she tried to eat my wool for a new project, mohair hats and mice anyone?

I knitted up lots of red wool to make stockings, not that I'm allowed to say the C word yet, but you have to plan ahead.

Found some baby hats stored away in my bedroom.

Had some physio and I've been given new exercises, now I'm feeling the pain.

Reduced some of my medication.  

Visited Hackwood Farm to reorganise my stall and check sales.

Following on from last week this week I have made an Orange meringue pie using store bought puff pastry, I know its lazy but I still can not stand for long periods. To make one yourself this is what I did, dry bake the pastry for about 20 mins at 180c (I'll let you do your own conversions)in the pie dish of your own choosing,covering the edges with foil and filling the case with baking beans(or dried peas in this case). Then the baking beans were emptied out and I placed it back in the oven for 3-5 more minutes to help dry out the base (no soggy pastry here.) Then using one jar of the orange curd I filled the case and then covered it with half the amount of meringue from the last post. I then sprinkles with icing sugar and put in the oven until the meringue started to go golden. It was served with natural yogurt as my Dad does not like his desserts too sweet. However I would appreciate it if you go mad as cream, fromage frais or ice-cream all blend with the flavours well. Alas I have no pictures as I was not quick enough to take a picture before it all disappeared.

I also knitted this blanket/throw from 100% wool the main panels were sourced from a lovely knitting shop at Breedon on the Hill nurseries. The hand knitted holey panels used up the remainder of the wool from my staithes holiday. I'm trying to talk my husband into visiting during the next bank holiday but he does not love North Yorkshire as much as I do and he won't even do the Dracula experience with me at Whitby which I think is just mean.

I have also sat and watched a few sunsets from Mum and Dad's back garden they really have the most spectacular view.  Especially as the sun goes down and the hares are hoping accross the field and the bats start coming out to play

Making use of the things around me

 I've had a good weekend and been back on my knitting machine after almost 12 months with no obvious side effects(yet).

 I am determined not to buy any new yarn for my stash that isn't 100% wool, and isn't from the Derbyshire/Leicestershire area. So I am making use of what I have, which this weekend is an abundance of wool and citrus fruit.

I am sewing up seams, which I hate as mixing machine knitted wool and hand knitted panels isn't labour intensive but my new pink blanket will be worth it once washed and felted. I'll share pictures soon.

To keep you interested I will share with you pictures of Harriet and Henry my hedgehogs now for sale at http://www.hackwoodfarm.com/

  Both Hedgehogs are made from leftover end of balls of brown wool with a brown boucle yarn added to make very soft prickles.

Harriet and Harry the Hedgehogs bet you don't know which is which...

Mr LCD has gone to visit his Mum at home for a couple of weeks so I'm at my parents, which is kinda nice, I may of hit middle age according to Easy Living Magazine but my Dad still thinks I'm 16.

Before Mr LCD went away last week he visited our local Asian area in Derby and bought me so much fruit it would of never of been eaten before it turns. After a look around online I found two very good recipes for using up all the Oranges and Lemons he had bought.

Both recipes for Orange and Lemon curd can be made in the microwave in about 12 minutes, after zesting and juicing all the fruit. The Orange curd recipe can be found at; http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/7057/orange+curd I doubled all the ingredients to make 4 Jars.

The lemon curd recipe was found here: http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/5001/microwave-lemon-curd.aspx. It may of just been my lemons but the lemon curd is very tart and lovely not like the over sweetened shop bought varieties.

The left over egg whites from the orange curd recipe can be used to make a pavlova just big enough for three but will also use up the kiwi and nectarines that are on the verge of turning.

To Four egg whites I added 250g sugar ,1 tsp white wine vinegar and 2 tsp of corn flour, you can also add either half a tsp of vanilla extract, rose water or orange water if you wanted to. Then bake in a 150 degree oven for 40-55 minutes.The one I have baked tonight is about 15 cm in diameter when it went in the oven, the mixture does spread slightly. We will be eating it for tea once it has been decorated, with low fat Greek yogurt with one table spoon of homemade Lemon curd stirred through.Yum.I do love a good dessert.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Green Blanket finished at last

Using the wool I acquired from Saithes and a few odd Rowan cones I had in my stash I have now finished my first completely hand knitted blanket. It is slightly felted and cosy.

We visited Staithes in June and its now almost the end of July, I wouldn't say that I knitted seriously everyday but those last few stitches were a relief.

You may have notice the labels on the finished project. I have now a new stockist. You can now buy Lupin Cottage Designs products at www.hackwoodfarm.com

So if you find yourself in the Radbourne area pop in, the coffee is lovely and I can personally recommend the pork and Stilton pie. All the vegetables and other produce is locally sourced. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable I've now been three times since it opened two weeks ago and trade is brisk. You can drink a mellow coffee in the farm courtyard next to the yard with chickens, a goat and occasional horse.

Relaunch

staithes a view from our cottage

staithes with the tyded out

I am going to relaunch my knitting career.

I have been knitting not been sharing as it's been a tough 18 months with my back operations and infections and the drugs I've been taking affecting my concentration. But it's not all bad I've almost lost four stones which is a bonus.

I've had a week out in a cottage in Staithes North Yorkshire and got my mojo back. After finding a lovely craft shop with hand dyed and spun wool from the local area which I promptly snapped up in all the sea colours I could find I started knitting squares. I mixed the squares in with my gifted rowan cones of yarn and I've finished my blanket and now I need to gently wash it so it slightly felts to make it cosy and soft.I now need a sunny day to photograph it.

So I'm going to start selling again and set up my own website as well.So get ready taking new photos tomorrow and I'll let you know my thoughts.

Still poorly

I cannot believe it's been almost a year since my last post.

Since that post my disk prolapsed again and I spent the year in a painkiller haze.

I am currently in hospital and have been here since the 14 December 2010 and I am going to be here until at least the 20 January 2011. I have had an infection that will not go away. I am allowed to visit home in the afternoons between drips full of antibiotics which has been keeping me sane.

I have not yet had a Christmas, I feel like I have ruined the holiday season for my husband and parents.

However, things will get better and I have read quite a few books and started a few new craft projects.

My new years resolution is to do things I enjoy and to blog more.

I've been a bit poorly

I've not blogged for while due to the fact I've been suffering with my back again.
In January I had an operation to correct my two prolapsed disks. I'm slowly getting my life back and leaving the house occasionally and soon I hope I'll be blogging again.

I'm back

Yet again I've had a huge break. I have been knitting. I've hurt my back again so I've had lots of time lying around reading and knitting under the haze of extremly strong pain killers.

Everybody I know is either pregnant or just had little ones. Due to this I've been knitting lots of baby things here are some of my booties which either have been given or are about to be given.

I have also decided to start selling my bits and peices again, as knitting and making a bit of extra money makes me happy. I have just opened a shop on folksy and have listed the tea cosy and egg cups below;

Come and visit me at http://www.folksy.com/shops/lupincottagedesigns

Bits and bobs

I have as promised picture from my walk last weekend this is my favorite place in Derby to go for a walk. Tiff has her new coat on which is apt as it has been in the new that the R.S.P.C.A. have said that putting clothes on your pets is cruel. She does look very cute but she does get very cold and shakes and shivers in cold weather and it does come off once she has had a good run and warmed up.

No walk this weekend as Mr LCD designs has decided the settee and television is much more attractive than a muddy and windy walk round the park and Tiff went football training this morning so was too busy sleeping to visit.

I've had another quiet week knitting wise I wasn't really feeling the inspiration at the beginning of the week. I was going to get one sleeve finished by today but I've not, it's almost there but not quite.

Despite this I have started two new projects this cushion cover in variegated chenille and two pale pink cotton cushion covers. I knitted them up on my machine last night and washed them this morning but I'm not sharing until they are completely finished as they are to be presents.

Well I'm off now to get a chenille cushion cover finished while I think about what to cook for tea and watch 'come dine with me' if you've not seen it it is my favorite program at the moment. The narrator is fab and the people fascinating. However gossip girl series 2 and the new Beverly hills 90210 start this week so I may have new favorites by Friday.

Sunday

Today has been a good day.

Mr LCD, my brother, his fiance, Tiff the dog and I went for a long walk round a local park today. It's not really a park as such as it is the grounds of Elvaston Castle with lake, ruins and lovely gardens which is all maintained by our local council. Having fresh air, playing, walking and running has done me good, I feel fully revitalised. We met the most gorgeous st Bernard puppy who was huge and Tiff found lots of mud and puddles. It was so busy at the park which we were quite surprised about, especially as it has been so cold all week and it started drizzling as we left the house today.

When we came home we warmed up with very chocolaty home made Mocha's and with a sub of the day from Subway. Feeling very full now.

I did have pictures but because there was so many good pictures of Tiff my brother has stolen my camera. I hope to get it back soon as I do have knitting pictures to share.

I still haven't finished the sleeve I started last week I'm beginning to think I should of used bigger needles or maybe not used such a fancy pattern. My aim is to get it finished by next Friday. Mr LCD is on afternoons all week next week so I've lots of time to get it done unless I decide to finish organising the kitchen or put all the washing away properly.

I'm going to leave you with a picture of Tiff asking for treats and looking much cleaner than she did at 2 o'clock this afternoon..

Happy New Year

I am such a bad blogger.

I have excuses like I have had an extremely bad cold for about 3 months which resulted in the flu, then a chest infection, x-rays and too much time off work. I'm over it now except for my cough which I can live with. This however is rubbish I could of still blogged but I just didn't have anything to say.

This year will be different and since I did so well (um) at my resolutions last year it is time to commit to new resolutions this year. I have read that the reason we fail so often at resolutions is because we set our selves big steps rather than little steps. So what I am going to do is make 5 promises of things I am not going to do in the next year.

1 I am not going to put myself down.

2 I am not going to carry on being stuck in a rut.

3 I am not going to give up on the idea of starting my own business.

4 I am not going to over eat this year.

5 I am not going to let the year run away from me.

I am going to keep these resolutions with me at all times but if I cannot follow them all the time it's not the end of world.

I have also been thinking about growing my own vegetables this year so I am going to read up on vegetable growing and have just ordered this book from amazon, The Allotment Handbook Caroline Foley it tells you when and what you should be doing. I'm not quite ready for an allotment yet but I've marked out two beds in my garden ready for what ever it is I'm going to grow.

I have also been knitting I'm going through a bobble stage at the moment. Which I find the easiest way to do this is by knitting and purling into the same stitch 6 times then pass all but the last stitch back off the needle.

I've knitted hats for me, friends and family but now I'm moving on to clothing. Below is going to be a big puffy sleeve for my new cardigan. I've knitted the body on my knitting machine but I'm hand knitting the sleeves and trims in a lacy, bobbly, cabled pattern I've designed myself. Fingers crossed I'll get it finished in time for next winter...

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.