a post about post

This is long overdue, but I just wanted to say a big thank you to Thereza for the lovely package she sent me as part of her giveaway (there are better photos on her blog).

Magnets & booklets & illustrations galore. It's all so lovely, and a physical reminder of why I love to follow her blog.

Thanks once again Thereza!

a christmas lamb

on the needles

I'm trying something new.
I think I like knitting in the round.

bobble

I hit a wall with my planned sock making over the weekend - partly due to me buying the wrong weight of yarn, and partly because all the shops in Brighton seemed to be 'closed due to adverse weather conditions'.

I took this opportunity to make something to keep my head warm. My first bobble hat! You can find the pattern over at Ravelry. It only took me a day, and it has ear flaps for extra warmth.

I also think this was the first time I've ever made a bobble that hasn't fallen apart...

...yet.

wrap up warm

A cosy winter knit. My best so far.

snow & ice

I do like to be outside in the snow!
Although I slipped on the ice yesterday and landed on my bottom. Bad times.

advent

It's the first day of advent today (I had a Santa-shaped chocolate for breakfast) and it definitely feels a lot like Christmas - much snow! It's a shame I don't work far enough away to get a day off for sledging but I'm looking forward to my walk to work tomorrow...it'll give me time to finalise my playlist for this month's mixtape.

I've been finding it really hard to do anything other than huddle under a blanket in the evenings this week. It's tough having a fridge for a house. It has given me time to finish off my cardigan though. Now all that is left is to find and sew on some buttons and it'll be ready to go. I need all the warm winter knits I can get at the moment.

Next task: Very warm socks (& possibly more scarves for cats).

glass

Tonight I made some stained glass biscuits for Rosie (a birthday treat). It wasn't my most successful baking venture - only about 50% of them made it off the baking tray in one piece and the recipe was lacking in flavour (not enough ginger, not enough orange, not enough sugar), but they look pretty. Nicely coloured windows.

I also got the glass piece back that I assembled on White night. Not bad at all for a bit of late night crafting. I like the shapes.

In other news, thanks to Lyzi & Deborah for their kind posts about my blog.

results

A successful biscuit batch to mark many occasions.
Let's hope the result today is just as favourable.
I have a bet to win.

baking with mouse

Friday baking and blog updating. I'm going to try and illustrate the shopping lists more regularly from now on.

Also on the internet, Hannah and Alan have a lovely new blog on the go (A year in Eggs) & Yumi has finally gone public with her toilet rating scheme.

one month

One month later, and with 28 days worth of knitting, my diary is complete.
As you can see, some days were big knitting days and some days not so much. But it was a nice easy project to do, with not too much to think about, and now my neck is very warm.
Snug.

mouse

I ate a lot of cheese this weekend, and made some very pink rose flavoured ice cream. It was a bit overpowering.

I also got this nice little mouse from the market. He's handy for holding things.

fireworks

I really wanted to cycle to Lewes tonight for the fireworks, but instead I fear I'm going to have to stay in with my handkerchief and a blanket.

under the weather

Cream of tomato soup to warm my insides.
This blog is 4 years old today. A long time...

bed rest

My laptop is getting some time off as I have a new computer to play with in the office.
This means I get to walk to work and back with a spring in my step.
I could even skip.

red

I got a new bag from the flea market.
It has 7 different pockets.
It's been taking me a very long time to find my keys.

november

I can't believe it's November already. I'm not at all ready to be walking home from work in what feels like the middle of the night.

Last year I think this month was one of the worst in history so I'm hoping for a big improvement this time. Today started well when I spied a couple of pigeons perched in the sun outside my window.

The weekend was also a winner. We hosted another pumpkin carving evening and spent saturday exploring the events at White Night.

Let's keep this up please!

saturday lost, sunday finds

This weekend I spent almost all of Saturday in recovery after a rather splendid, gin-cocktail fuelled, 1920s party on Friday. To make amends, I got up at 6am on Sunday to watch the grand prix and then busied myself around town:

• Wooden parrot from the market.
• Embroidered sweater from Frock me!
• Cardigan in progress.

(These dark evenings are not brilliant for photography).

red orange yellow green blue indigo violet

I made another mixtape!
Colour themed this time.
I like this game.

hello winter coat

My toes are frozen and my little finger has gone numb, but luckily the sun is still shining.

diary

I've been inspired by Sandra Juto and have taken up a neck worm style project so I can have a break from knitting complex patterns.

I've given myself the rule that I have to change colour every day so the finished piece will end up being a bit like a knitting diary. The sequence above shows a week's work. I expect my progress to slow a bit from now on.

...especially now I have a proper job. Career woman.

Cheval

Yesterday I went to see A Town Called Panic (Panique au village). Tres bon!
I'd like to watch the TV series now.

mixtape for me

I received a mixtape in the post from Joe this week and it's nothing short of amazing. Cut paper, dancing illustrations and 2 discs of music - GREAT! This definitely makes up for not receiving one last month.

Joe has posted a video to the flickr group which shows all the moving parts in their full glory. I think I'm going to have to up my effort with next month's attempt.

knit

I've just finished knitting my first jumper. I'm not sure about the sleeves on this one yet (although I'm sure they'll grow on me) but I think the lacy pattern looks pretty grand.

Next on the cards (or the needles): some warmer winter projects and treats for christmas.

I'm going to try and have both a crochet and a knitting project on the go from now on so I can pick and choose. I also need to do more reading. This is a must.

in the Ardèche

Three weeks ago I skipped the country for a few days and travelled to rural France for a long weekend away.

It was such a perfect end to the summer - we swam in the river, ate our weight in cheese, attempted a bike ride, played sunset featherball and spent the evenings eating, playing games and doing some stargazing. The only thing I wasn't so keen on were the house visitors.

And now it's October...gosh.

i'm trying

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." Bob Dylan

two's a pair

My contribution to a giant game of memory that is being held at the V&A this Friday. Come along for some fun and games! I hope to make a fleeting visit.

Victor & Raul

A nice weekend spent celebrating l'anniversaire de mon pere.
Card games, double puddings, water features and too much Tom Petty.

If I had a zoo...

It's mixtape time again.

This month I went with the theme of animals and for the cover I allowed myself the length of each song to cut and paste the animals out of paper. I wonder if you can guess what all of them are? OR better still, the song?

Note: Animals may not be anatomically correct.

de nouvelles choses

• A housewarming present for some friends.
• Almost half a jumper.
• Holiday time!!!

I'm off to France on Friday for a long weekend away.  Unfortunately we're not cycling there as first planned, but there are some bikes awaiting us so hopefully we'll be able to go for a quick pedal.

Bring on the camembert!

isolation & ice lollies

What a grand extended weekend it has been!

Dinner & scrabble with old housemates, cuddles with cats, cliff top hiking, a ride on the volks railway (but no ride back...), markets and tea and swimming in the sea. And yesterday a day trip to Arundel which included some picnicking, strolling and boating.

The book told us we would feel isolated as we walked further from the lake but actually it just felt like we were in Jurassic Park (the scenic bit, not the deadly bit). A lot of fresh air!

And we came 3rd in the pub quiz last night. What luck! Banana skids all round.

Now back to work...

treats and treasures

Treasures from the Sunday market: a thimble shelf, embroidery & free cookie cutter.
Treats from Malta: A miniature tea set from Dan.
PERFECT!