A few minutes of 'Me' time!

This afternoon, this happened (this would be a photo of Arthur sleeping in the buggy, just in case it isn't obvious!)...

...and amazingly, this is what was happening at the same time! It doesn't happen very often that they are sleeping simultaneously in the day. A treat for Mummy to have a few minutes of peace and quiet!

I managed to knit a few rows of Rose's 'Sunday Sweater'... I LOVE this pattern by Ginny from Small Things, it's written So clearly and it's such a pretty pattern. I already think I may be knitting this in another colour!

It's the first time I've knit with Cascade 220 and so far... I'm impressed! This pale pink colour from the Heathers range looks beautiful when knitted up and it's lovely and soft, not to mention excellent value!

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Granny's favourite.

We managed to take some photo's of Rose wearing her new cardigan this afternoon. I had the cardigan blocking on the floor just outside of the back door and she kept going to check if it was dry yet or not, she'd been desperate to have it on to wear ever since she saw me pinning it out early this morning.

 

In the end she actually only wore in for 10 minutes before saying "Mummy, too hot!" I did warn her it was too warm today to be wearing a cardigan but she wouldn't listen.. she is a very stubborn little girl!

The pattern is available to buy here on Ravelry and the yarn I used was Rooster almerino dk in colour 213 (cherry). I bought the yarn when I was back in Dorset from Bridport Yarn which is a gorgeous shop. I originally planned to knit a jumper for Arthur with the yarn but then I realised the colour was much more suited to Rose and I had other idea's for items I wanted to knit for him anyway. It was Amazing to knit with, glided over my needles and is so super soft now it's knitted up.

 

I've really got my knitting mojo back now...  I can't believe that there were Months when I was pregnant with Arthur that I didn't knit a single stitch! All of that time that I wasted where I could have gotten lovely things made.. ahh well, I must have felt Really tired if it meant that I couldn't face my knitting needles!

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Yarn and a summer salad

I've been hurrying along on a couple of my current knitting WIP's, as I desperately want to join in with Sarah's knitalong over at craftsfromthecwtch but I cannot have So many things on the go. I find I actually start to feel stressed over the amount of unfinished projects I have half-knitted, which is silly really as it's supposed to just be a very enjoyable hobby!

I've chosen and printed out the pattern for the Cloud Illusions shawl which looks so beautiful... hopefully I can manage all of that lace! The yarn that I've chosen to use is a 100g skein from The Yarn Gallery which I hope will look good with that pattern. 

I finished Rose's cardigan this morning before 7am, as all of the little people in the house decided to be awake nice and early! It was good to get it washed and and blocked out at that time though because it meant it has dried very quickly in the sunshine today! I will take some photo's and put them in a post soon for you to see.

I'm still trying hard with the healthy eating... it's been hard on a couple of days when we have been visiting family and things. It's always easier for me to eat the right things when I'm at home and have the option of something healthy. 

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I actually knitted something for myself!

A little while ago I started knitting myself a Honey cowl from this beautiful yarn from The Yarn Gallery. It got pushed to the side for a little while as I wanted to finish Arthur's blanket but as I've now finished that, I got knitting this again and finished it off yesterday morning. I'm thrilled to bits with it as it is So soft but it's a pretty dense fabric knitted up and so will have to look forward to wearing it once Autumn and Winter are here again... not that I'm hurrying that along at all! 

The yarn is made up of the most beautiful colours and would look amazing knitted in plain stocking stitch too I think. I seem to have a real love for hand dyed yarn these day's, it's just so pretty!

You can wear it either in one long length or wrapped around your neck twice, that is how I think I will wear it mostly as it's just so soft against my skin! I'm trying Really hard to resist buying any more yarn from that website as it all looks so wonderful but I have So much in my stash to get through and I'd really like to get some projects knitted up that I have in my mind to go with yarn that I already own. Plus I just can't afford it!

I really love the stitch that the honey cowl uses, it looks really interesting but was super simple to knit. The perfect type of knitting to be working on whilst keeping one eye on my two children at all times!

I now need to finish knitting my pair of Veyla that I started Ages ago and I would have knitted two (well three really..) items for myself! I find that I always have a huge list of lovely patterns that I'd love to knit for myself but I just never get around to because of knitting presents for other people. I Love knitting presents for my family and friends but I also wish I had just a little more free time so I could simultaneously makes things for myself too!

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Arthur's blanket is finally finished!

Well, I've finally finished it!

It's taken quite a while for me to get this blanket done... about 3 months longer than I had planned to take but the time that I have free to knit these day's is a bit more limited to what I had before!

I'm completely chuffed with it, I love the look of the garter stitch in the ripple pattern and it's got a lovely texture to it.

It's knit with Rowan Pure wool DK and the pattern is one of Suzie's at The Wool Sanctuary and you get get it here on Ravelry.

I decided to pick the colours out in a random order instead of following a strict pattern with the stripes and I'm really happy with the final look of the blanket, I'm so pleased to be able to finally use it when Arthur's out and about in the buggy!

I was trying to take a photo of Arthur with the finished blanket but Rose had to obviously get in on a bit of the action!

It's all very civilized around here.....! Arthur seems to giggle at a Lot these day's, it's such a lovely sound when he's laughing. Rose and him are interacting with one another so much more now and she loves to give him kisses... even if she is a little Too enthusiastic with them!

He's such a cheeky chappie...

I'm shocked at how grown-up Rose looks in this photo. She's definitely a big two year old now! We've been potty training today (hence the lack of bottoms!) and she's done brilliantly. Let's keep everything crossed that it all goes smoothly again tomorrow! It's such a big step in my mind, no more nappies means she's really not a baby anymore... it's all going so quickly!!

Sorry for the photo-heavy post but I'm just So pleased with his blanket. :-) Now I can try and finish all of my other half finished projects that I have on the go!

xxxxx

The beginning's of Arthur's blanket.

A couple of months ago I purchased quite a few balls of Rowan Pure Wool DK from Suzie at The Wool Sanctuary with the intention of knitting Arthur a baby blanket. I've crocheted a few blankets now but really lovely the look of knitted blankets and even though they do take a bit longer to make, I wanted to give it a shot for Arthur's blanket.

I meant to get going on it right away but I had other projects that really needed finishing, so I decided to get them out of the way so I could concentrate on this. I chose to knit one of Suzie's own patterns, the Rocky blanket. I had a tricky start with it and just couldn't get the number of stitches to work right but after a lovely conversation with her on the phone she advised me to do a smaller sample knit of the blanket. It worked! I got to grips with the counting of stitches and figured out the pattern. I think it's a great pattern... I was just looking at it in a more complicated way than was actually necessary.

I'm trying to get one or two colour sections done a day but with a two year old and 4 month old to look after at the moment, it's not always that easy finding a moment to sit down and knit! 

Hopefully I'll be back soon to show you some photo's of the progress I'm making...

xxx

Lots of knitting going on around here...

I've been doing a whole lot of knitting recently. Mainly due to the fact we went away for a week and I had time to knit! Well, more time that I usually get anyway... I went through a few months near the end of my pregnancy with Arthur where I just didn't have the motivation to craft very much. I felt a lotttt more tired than I ever did when pregnant with Rose but that's probably because I was having to look after a Very lively toddler this time round!

This was a slouchy beany hat I was knitting for my Mum for Mothers day. I've finished it now but only took a rushed photo on my phone as I just wanted to get it off in the post to her.. The yarn is Noro Silk garden which I got from this lovely lady in the craft swap shop at the Instagrannies meet-up that was organised by my good friend Sarah. Aren't the colours just gorgeous!?

Isn't it horribly bitterly cold outside at the moment!? It's supposed to be Spring for goodness sake! So anyway, I'm attempting to make the inside of the house seem spring-like by having pretty flowers indoors. 

I just cannot believe the difference between the weather this time last year and now. Come on sunshine, please shine!

I knit a sweet little maroon pebble vest for a lovely lady on Instagram who asked for a vest for her little boy, she's received it now and is happy so that's a relief!

I thought I would quickly show you the granny square cushion cover I finished a few weeks back. I only realised today that I hadn't actually taken any proper photo's of it, so I've done that now and it's gone onto my Ravelry page. I really need to update my projects on there... will have to do it when I get a spare minute!

Rose is currently napping and Arthur is pretty content at the moment so think I will carry on 

knitting a little more of the teeny cardigan that I'm making for my friends baby due in May. I don't have the right size DPN's needed for the arms so I've had to learn the magic loop method through youtube today. I have to say I'm finding it a little fiddly but then I suppose I found double pointed needles fiddly in the beginning too, I just need to get used to them.

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I almost forgot to show you...

This is my slightly late Mother's Day bouquet of flowers, we were away on Mother's Day so I only got a card on the actual day. The card is always the most important bit but a little pressie is always nice isn't it! Especially after all the sleepless nights I've had recently...!

But Ray came home the other day with this gorgeous bunch, didn't he choose well!?

Look at the size of the carnations, amazing!!

So, if your reading this (he does tune in occasionally!) then thank you very much my lovely xXx

I went on my first bike ride of the year today with Rose whilst Daddy was at work and was shocked at how much more difficult it has got to ride with little miss heavy lump on the front! The last time I rode with Rose was around October time I think and Oh my! She has definitely grown! 

I've given myself the target of going for a ride at least once a day if possible, I Need to get fit! I do walk a lot but I felt sooo un-fit trying to peddle up those couple of hills today. We live very close to the city centre so there's no reason why I can't run some errands with Rose on the bike with me, as long it's not when she's due a nap... napping on the front of a bike isn't that easy, so I've heard..!?

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Granny square blocks & some Etsy bits.

The other night when I was browsing through my Twitter on my phone I came across a link to this tutorial, it's been a while since I've come across a tutorial and just though 'I Have to make this!' but the blocks are so pretty and apparently quite simple, so I thought why not!? I might as well give it a shot!

The next evening I began cutting my 2.5inch square's... I'm rubbish at using a rotary cutter and it took me a longgg time and I managed to slice into the side of my wrist which also slowed down the process! *Ouch!*

I really liked the look of the green and red together, as they could be for either a girl or boy but now I'm looking at the photo's, they look far too Christmassy! This was not the look I was going for.. but I put So much effort into making them that I'm going to finish what I started. My plan is to make a baby quilt for my Etsy shop, even though no one might want to buy it until December!!

I've sewn two sets of fabric coasters also for my Etsy shop, hopefully I'll get them in the shop this evening if all goes well. I'm feeling all motivated now that I have 1 item actually for sale!

We've had a busy day so far today, we've been to the NCT nearly new sale and got a big load of bargains for Rose. She's over the moon with her new toys, she grows bored of toys so quickly but if we bought all of her toy's brand new it would cost a fortune! Why are toy's So expensive!? 

We've got quite a few new pieces of clothing for her as well. I found a gorgeous rose print Cath Kids dress age 2-3yrs and it was only £4! It's a few months before she can wear it but it's definitely a bargain!

*Just a reminder that my Giveaway finishes tomorrow evening at 8pm, so if you haven't already entered follow this link and have your chance at winning some goodies! :-)*

Right, off to carry on with my knitting. I've knitted the main body of one tea cosy, now onto the next one!

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Happy Valentines Day everyone.. xxx

This is what was sat waiting for me when I arrived back at the house from a stressful shopping trip in Sainsburys... Ray had given me a card this morning but this beautiful red rose was a really lovely surprise. :-)

I love Valentines Day now that I know I'll have someone to spend it with every year... I used to dread it slightly before Ray and I were together!

 

He was up baking yesterday morning at 7am to bake me this cake. It's very multi-coloured! Hundreds and thousands anyone!? The sponge is delicious though, much better than my Victoria sandwich!

I've spent the last couple of evenings organising all of my embroidery threads. They were all stuffed into various containers and so I couldn't actually see what I had to work with!

I bought this organiser box months and months ago but never actually go around to sorting them out. It's taken bl**dy hours though! Strangely it's quite therapeutic though...

A pair of pink booties finished and ready to go in my shop, I just need to get on and finish the other things that I have half done at the moment...

I nearly forgot to take a photo before but I thought I would show you what my lovely friend made for Rose's birthday present. Isn't this little felt gnome gorgeous!? (I don't know what I should be calling it...)

She lives a couple of doors away and we now have a regular cup of tea and a catch-up but she's just told me they're having to more which is realllyy annoying! Not too far which is a relief but it was so lovely to have a really good friend that only lived two doors away... :-(

Rose is having a rather late afternoon nap at the moment, so I'm going to make the most of it and get on with  Mum's birthday present.

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Patchwork, fabric and venturing outdoors.

This is the progress I've made on my dresden plate potholder today. It's all sewn together now, I just need to decide on how I'm going to hand quilt it.

It's going to be Ray's mum's 60th birthday present, I was planning on sewing her a tea cosy but that never materialised! I was instead inspired by Amy's dresden trivet's over at nanacompany and thought that something similar would be perfect for her to either use to place her teapot on or she could use it just for decoration or on a little table or something.

I now realised I should probably have hand quilted it before I sewed the back on as now the stitches will show all the way through, I'm really kicking myself as there's no way I'm going to un-pick it all as that would mean un-picking the centre circle as well.. What should I do!? Silly me...

My hyacinth bulbs are coming along nicely in the kitchen, it frustrates me the way they droop over every time though. I know they were just reaching out towards the sunlight, but now they look all lop-sided... well anyway they're now tied together with a little ribbon.

A little camera time today when Rose had just woken from her morning nap... I think it's my favourite part of the day to spend with her as she always wakes up from that nap incredibly bright, happy and with a big grin on her face. The mid-to-late afternoon nap is a wholeee other story though!

A little treat was popped through my letterbox this morning, a few pretty fat quarters from myfabrichouse. It's such a lovely website to have a browse through and the brilliant thing about it is, postage is completely free! :-)

See... so so pretty. Gorgeous!

Rose and I took a walk to the local swing park this afternoon and there was still a scattering of snow around, she was fascinated by it all. I let her have a little walk in the snow as she was desperate to see what it all was when we got into the little park area but it wasn't long before she was too chilly. We managed a good session on the swings before we were straight in M&S buying her a snowsuit! Hopefully we'll have a little more snow tonight and she can be all snug tomorrow when exploring the white stuff!

Here are a couple of photo's from yesterday outdoor adventures. I met up with a friend with a little girl who's a week older than Rose and we went for a lovely walk all around Bosham. 

It's such a pretty scenic area and how amazing would it be to have that view out of your kitchen but it must become really busy in the summer... We were walking along the water's edge next to countless gigantic houses, they all had their curtains shut so I think they were all second homes. Lucky people! 

Okay, I'm off to carry on with my baby bootie knitting now. I'm trying to get some thing's made so I can get my Etsy shop up and running...

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