I went to record a podcast this morning, but found myself dragging my heels. I'm tired, so very tired and so instead, armed with a lovely cuppa, I decided to revisit my blog and show it some long overdue love!
Bertie Tea from All About Tea, and a mug from a dear friend = bliss!
Life has changed a lot since I last posted here. We have bought a house and are now in the process of giving it the TLC that it is most definitely in need of. Luckily it's all cosmetic, but we're trying hard to get this lovely, old house back to feeling elegant and beautiful, not just functional. I now have a craft room (yay!!!) that I'm in the process of decorating and kitting out. I have painted 3/4 of it, and the last wall will get done by the end of the year. I need to move my piano in order to finish things, hence the hold up as my piano is heavy! I don't want to be moving it more than I have to. There are some tiles to come off the wall too, and the process on the other wall showed that they will take dents out of the plaster when they come off. However, once the final wall is done, my husband is very kindly going to build me some custom shelves so that I can store all my happy things away nicely! I'm also planning on getting a small comfy chair so that my crafty corner can also double as a cosy reading nook.
The hobby wall! The one wall left to do!
Today I have been trying my best to clear ivy from the old brick wall that runs along one side of our garden. The ivy can have a negative impact on the mortar so getting it off will help preserve the wall. All the old brick is just gorgeous! One of the perks of living in a house that is 117 years old! We are trying to be sensitive to the age of the house.
It may look untidy, but this is an improvement!
The interior aesthetic will be up to date but reflective of of the era when the house was built. We don't want uber-modernist, nor do we want Victorian, but we're aiming for a happy middle ground. Keeping the original features, and updating the areas that are feeling tired and unloved. It's so nice to finally live in a house that is all ours, and that we can truly settle into.
Moving house isn't the only change around here though...I have recently changed jobs too! I am a registered veterinary nurse, and I have moved from 1st opinion veterinary practice to a specialist referral practice. So far I am loving it! But this is also why I am extremely tired. Learning so much, so quickly is melting my brain, and the anxiety of being in an unfamiliar environment/situation has had an impact on my sleep. However, I wouldn't change it for anything. After just 2 weeks I have learned so much, and I am enjoying my new role. As time goes on there is a lot of scope for progression, and I'm looking forward to the future.
In between changing jobs I had some time off and managed to get my knitting mojo well and truly back. I finished a pair of socks in 6 days!! Whew!!
The 6 day Hogwarts socks! (Yarn: Norah George Yarns and Felt Fusion, Pattern: my own plain sock recipe)
I've also got a jump start on Christmas knitting, finishing a pair of socks for my mother-in-law. And both of these projects qualify for the year-long knit-along I'm hosting in the Ravelry group: Stashfest 2017! Come and join in the fun!
Mother-in-law socks (Yarn: Bergere de France Goomy 50, Pattern: my own plain sock recipe)
It's nice to have my knitting mojo back, and with it came my designing mojo too. So keep your eyes peeled. 2017 may be the year where you see some Mrs B patterns floating around...
Happy New Year!! I hope you all had a wonderful time over the Christmas holidays.
Show Notes
Finished Objects -
Baby Vertebrae in Sirdar SuperSoft Aran (Scrummy Plum)
Christmas Eve Cast On socks in SW Merino/Bamboo (Hattie May from Felt Fusion)
Works in Progress -
Simple House Slippers by Simone A. in Blacker Yarns Pure Zwartbles DK Socks for my best friend in SW Merino/Nylon/Stellina (Blink from Truly Hooked)
Threshold by Melanie Berg in Stylecraft Life 4-ply Lady Sunnyside Cardigan by Tanis Lavallee in Sirdar SuperSoft Aran (Scrummy Plum)
Lovely things - I am not going to list all the needles here, or the ball winder as they are widely available. I will only list the books, yarns, and spindle kits. One Skein Wonders for Babies edited by Judith Durant Sock Architecture by Lara Neel Boho Corchet edited by Marinke Slump
It's a short episode this week. I talk about plans for 2016 and new explorations in fibre. I'm really enjoying making these little videos and sharing them with the world. Thanks so much for popping by!
Show notes
Works in Progress
Socks for my father-in-law: my own vanilla pattern, yarn is Socks Yeah! by Coop Knits and The Bear went over the Mountain by British Bea Knits
Baby cardigan: Baby Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker, yarn is Sirdar Supersoft Aran in Scrummy Plum Planned Projects Birthday socks in Blink from Truly Hooked
An as yet undecided project for the god-daughters in Faerie by Hand Dyed by Kate
Birthday socks for the Father-in-Law in Vincent and the Doctor by The Yarn Tree
Pretty socks following the Scandi Socks pattern by Erica Knight, featured in The Knitter, Issue 92 using Deep Space and Shot Through the Heart by Felt Fusion
So today I was brave, or silly, I can't decide which, and I recorded my first ever podcast! It is something I have been considering for a while and today I decided to just do it.
Show notes
Works In Progress:
Socks for my father-in-law: my own vanilla pattern, yarn is Socks Yeah! by Coop Knits and The Bear went over the Mountain by British Bea Knits
Socks for me: Petty Harbour pattern by Rayna Curtis Fagan, yarn is Mirasol Sulka Legato
Baby cardigan: Baby Vertebrae by Kelly Brooker, yarn is Sirdar Supersoft Aran in Scrummy Plum
Mystery Knit Along hoodie: Twisted Trails by Lisa K. Ross, yarn is Wendy Aran with wool
Cardigan for Mum: Lady Sunnyside by Tanis Lavallee, yarn is Sirdar Supersoft Aran in Scrummy Plum
Snowflake jumper in Sirdar Snuggly DK and James C. Brett Marble DK
Both patterns are by Tin Can Knits and will be knit as birthday presents rather than Christmas presents. Both patterns are easy to follow. I have simply run out of time!
Mother-in-law socks - Petty Harbour pattern (see details above), yarn is Schachenmayr Regia Springtime Color 4933 (now discontinued) and my own vanilla pattern, yarn is Alize Superwash in colour 4656
Hats - Boyfriend Beanie (see details above), yarn is Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed DK, and Everyday Brew by Clare Devine, yarn is James C. Brett Marble Chunky
Smock jumper - Smocked by Jenny Wiebe, yarn is James C. Brett Marble DK
It has been ages since I blogged. Life has been crazy! And I have been casting on like mad, and I've been casting off a few things as well...
A finished pair of orange socks, which my mother-in-law seems to like so they will be in her stocking this Christmas.
My finished SummerTide MKAL shawl on my new blocking mat. I've never properly blocked things before so the mats are changing things a lot for me! Knit with 4-ply yarn from Wrap and Turn in Glow and Rust colourways.
Two hats from the Tea Collection by Clare Devine. The top one is Lapsang and is for me, and the bottom is Everyday Brew for my sister-in-law for Christmas. Both done with James C. Brett marble chunky in MC52.
Another pair of socks for the mother-in-law, knit with Alize Superwash sock yarn in colourway 4656. This time with a properly calculated toe as I signed up for the Craftsy class 'Socks my way' with Lara Neel.
And finally, it's not finished but I had to mention it, my Exploration Station shawl knit with Blacker Yarns 10th Anniversary Cornish Tin 4-ply which is a special project for myself. Currently being housed in a lovely project bag from Knit Stitch and Bits.
There are several other WIPs, but I'll save them for another time.
