Stash In The Attic

Cards and bits!

So here are some of the cards I've been making - most of the ideas were stolen from online youtube videos demoing things to do with the cricut cartridges so I can't accept any of the credit!!!

 
So these two are really cute - I love the little skunk which was an idea from Robynstamps and I am desperate to get hold of her punny - licious set. As you can probably tell from the photo I had to write my own greeting - not great but hey, it adds to the home-made feel!

I have knitted my first ever hat for a friend at work to take on his skiing trip. He seemed to like it, but it still hasn't stopped people in the office taking the mick out of my hobby (two others have asked for one though)

It was a bit tense as I did think I was going to run out of yarn but luckily I had just enough and the bobble & tassles can be added later!

Other things I have been knitting are socks and a cowl (which I wear all the time - much better than a scraf - no ends to contend with). so my challenge this year is to finish quite a few things off - 3 pairs of socks, one wrap, long cardigan and a shawl. I still have a list as long as my arm of other things I want to start but shall resist the temptation and only start something new when one thing is finished!

This christmas I finally finished the wall hanging I had started the year before. AND I actually managed to get it on the wall before christmas was over - well it is the season of miracles!

 
 
It is a work in progress and I will add more embellishments over the next few years till it is bling-tastic! For now there are a few beads and buttons here and there and a bell or two!

Here are a few other cards.

 
 

Have a good weekend!!!!

New knitting stuff

So I've been AWOL again - but working hard, meeting up with friends & family and enjoying the nice weather by doing some gardening.

Heres some pictures of what I've been knitting

My first shawl from the Easyknits ltd edition Sushi roll shawl-alongs is finished and blocked and ready to wear. It has turned out surprisingly well despite my lack of knitting experience

I've also been working on the next one - the winter berry shawl and I just cast on the Woodland shawl (which is a free pattern from Ravelry) using some yummy Manos Lace which I bought at iKnit a few weekends ago.

I also did manage to get my iPhone 4 on the release date. I was up at 5.40am, on the bus and into town an hour later and at 8.30am I was the proud owner of the little beauty. I must say despite all the bad press it has received I have had no problems with mine and I love it even more than I thought I would (if thats possible) I am sad that people are having problems with theirs but I think the media have gone a bit overboard with slating Apple the way they have.   So heres something for them

 

 

The clothes arrived!!!!!!!

And they're so cute. I have worn a few bits already. Martin has just ordered me some of the Melon beads as a pressie!!!

I'm very lucky - I think they are forming part of my valentines present which also consists of 2 DVD's,

And the Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD. I have also been making progress on my Sushi roll shawl KAL by easyknits. I am trying to get this one finished before the next kit arrives (which I can't wait for!!!) I have enjoyed knitting this so much. I have learned so many new techniques, cables and lace work.

This picture really doesn't do the yarn justice and you can't see the stitches very well, but I guess it will be clearer when its blocked and I take more time to photograph it in natural light.

I have also been scrapping an 8x8 album of my hen weekend. Here is the opening page - using up some scrummy thickers letters and other bits from my stash.

Well I'm now home from work for the day & looking forward to spag bol & a nice glass of wine!   
  

 
 

Yummy new yarn!!

Well, as you already know I am a great fan of collecting Easyknits yarn. I know I have to actaully start knitting with it - hopefully once I complete 1 more unfinished thing I will start. The thing is it looks so lovely as it is, I don't want to knit anything with it and ruin it. When I saw the march colours, I fell in love with the New Earth Roving. Its pinks, greens browns and it just looked so beautiful. I HAD TO HAVE SOME - but I don't spin (yet). Jon from easyknits had been so friendly when I'd ordered stuff before so I contacted him & he agreed to spin it up for me!!!! He is a very nice bloke :) I just recieved it this week in the post and I have to share it with you. It's 100% Blue Faced Leicester which I haven't knit with before, It is totally soft & I can't wait to make something with it. I think I might have to try another shawl with a different lace pattern than the one I'm doing now. I can't wait to see what it looks like when I knit it up. Also my ATG gun arrived - too late for scrap fever but I wouldn't have used it anyway seeing as I did NOTHING outside of the class stuff. I had to have one after seeing Nats, don't invite her to your house or you will spend a LOT of money once she's gone. I will share on more thing with you today - These lovely magnets that I got from Donna Downey. They are so cute and colourful and inspire me to be a bit more arty. I have stuck them to my only uncovered lunch tin which holds odds & ends at the mo. She had some stuff for sale that she hadd brought with her from the US. I also bought a fabric book which she kindly signed for me, and also a fabric kit. I have primed my fabric with gesso so hopefully I can get messy on Friday. Thankfully Easter is here. 4 days off to play with my stuff - the Easter eggs arrived with my shopping this morning. The kids are coming to stay Saturday & sunday and then I think on Monday I will have a very restful day, making stuff. Then it's back to nights till the following monday. I love nights as I can get up, feeling well rested (hopefully) and do stuff before I have to leave for work. If I'm knackered at work, I don't have a choice about it - I have to work. But when I get home knackered, I can't motivate myself to come up here and do something. Anyway, that's all for now.

I can't wait

For my new kntting chair to arrive. Me & Martin went to DFS a couple of weekends ago and ordered a couple of things. It was actaully Martins idea which will probably suprise you all!!! He ordered a sofa for his room and I ordered this baby for my attic. When I sat in it, I just knew it was the one. The cushions either side of you are perfect for resting your arms on when you're knitting - yes I did sit there pretending to knit to test it out. It feels Soooooo comfy and I can imagine me sitting in it for hours, knitting or looking at magazines. It reclines so negates the need for a footstool so in fact I saved money - although Martin wasn't totally convinced on that one. It is supposed to take 7- 8 weeks for delivery, and that was about 2 weeks ago - so I will keep you posted.

I had the best weekend

This weekend has just been great. Two of my pals came to visit, Debbie and Nat. We hadn't seen eachother since my wedding so we had a lot of catching up to do. Luckily Martin was away working so we could slob out and take over the whole house. We ate junk food, sang on the singstar, did a bit of cardmaking, went shopping to the cheap shop in Tiptree which is just the most amazing place on earth as far as I'm concerned at the moment. It has yarn, scrapping stuff, stamping stuff, fabric - all under one roof. And it's near the Tiptree Jam place with it's tea rooms. Needless to say we stopped by before the shopping to refuel. On Sunday we attended the knitting workshop that Vicki had organised. It was at the pub and Kerry Allman from Yarn Forward magazine was teaching. We did a class on knitting lace shawls. I picked a skein of beautiful salmony pink yarn. Some girls from the group helped me to wind it into a ball. We knitted it from the top down but only started with 7 stitches. I must admit to it taking me longer than most to get the hang of even the simple increases but seeing as it was my first attempt at Lace knitting I won't beat myself up too much - I'd never even done a yarn over before!!!!! The lace pattern I decided to try was the Ridged Feather stitch from my friends book. Jen suggested that I carry the pattern across the shawl in stripes so that it what I am attempting to do. I must say I am really enjoying it, and would try lace knitting again. Some of the patterns the others were knitting were totally amazing. They are truly talented. Maybe one day - with lots of practice - I will be able to produce things like they do. Oooh I also used my knitpicks / knitpro interchangable circs for the class and I must say I am very happy with them. I am already looking forward to the next workshop :) I am so glad I have this week off work - Scrap Fever on Friday so I must get sorted out for that tomorrow. In the mean time I think I'll make a few more cards and get some knitting done.

Some finished Stuff!!!!

Just to prove I have finished some items here they are. First up are my socks. Now there is one major mistake which happend during my decreasing after the heel so don't look too close. Also I have finally sewn in ends, felted and made up the booga bag. I have no need whatsoever for another knitted bag but may line this one and use it for my current sock knitting or maybe give it as a gift to one of my friends. ANNDDD here is the cushion cover for Aunty Doreen. I used a pattern to pick the type of yarn and number of stitches I'd need for the 12 inch cushion pad. But the colours, stripe pattern and bit at the back was my own design. I am really pleased with how it turned out. I am sure Doreen will love it. I will blog tomorrow about the knitting workshop at the weekend. Nat has just set off about an hour ago on her journey home. We had such a great time, I love having friends to stay but its sad when they have to leave :( Still, I managed to get a few card making tips from Nat and the ONLY thing she made all weekend, even though she brought A LOT of stuff, was a card for me :) I will let nat post a photo of it on her blog first. It has joined my collection of other handmade cards my friends have sent me. I am planning on updating my Ravelry site with my finished projects and some new stash and books, a bit more knitting and maybe some papercrafting for the rest of the day. OOOhhhh and I totally need to order some of the new prima papers - mommy and me after seeing Nats stash of them - they are seriously scrummy and cute!!!!!

News from the attic

 

Day 3 of the "scrapping" weekend and so far us girls have bought knitting stash, done some knitting (or in Nat's case ripped  back her half finished knitted bag and lace shawl)... so not much scrapping! Harry Potter wool proved too tempting to Debbie to resist and the trip to the Cheap Shop ended up being a three hour browsing session, good job we'd filled up on our cream teas at Tiptree first!

There has even been an evening of singing on singstar - abba was by far the most successful! At least we knew the tunes... Shame about the words. 

Waiting for pizza now then back to the knitting!

The Knitting Frenzy

Ok so I’ve started knitting AGAIN! I learned to knit when I was VERY young as my mum was an avid knitter. She was always at it. I had many a homemade jumper and cardigan. Anyway I dipped in and out whilst growing up but after Mum died there was no one to correct all my mistakes (and there were many!) Then Martins grandma Doreen taught me again when we took a trip up to

Blackpool

for a week a few years back. I knitted myself a gorgeous scarf, very easy, just stocking stitch the whole way! I started on a jumper and that’s where everything ground to a halt again. My good friend Debbie had helped me choose the pattern and wool and even started me off but I didn’t get very far, it’s still in a plastic bag with the extra balls of wool, waiting to be finished off.  It has sat and festered in that plastic bag for about 2 years now. Not good. 

Anyway, getting to the point, for Christmas Aunty Doreen sent me a knitting needle case with a pair of needles inside, and just after Christmas, I saw a new weekly magazine that has been launched called ‘The Art of Knitting’.  Each week you get the mag and some wool to make up a patchwork blanket so you knit a square a week.  I think I might be able to manage that much.  Well I’ve subscribed and am eagerly awaiting my first parcel with the first 2 issues in and a few free gifts (for subbing).  Yesterday I found my old knitting book and some needles and balls of wool and decided to get ahead of the game and polish up those knitting skills.   As soon as my parcel arrives I am sure you will be seeing a few pictures of my little squares and other knitting projects.  At least I can knit in front of the TV and not feel like I have abandoned Martin by disappearing up to my stash in the attic! I may even sit through the footie – how about that!