On my needles

Poor Flopsy Bunny feels the cold and no more so than on her walk to school in the mornings.  Now we don't live a long way from her school.  She doesn't have to tramp down country lanes and over fields, oh no, we do just live round the corner, a 10 minute walk if Little Roo isn't too preoccupied with examining every leaf and stone on the way.  But when your beloved daughter says she has cold legs, despite thermal tights, then there is really only one thing to do - knit her some leg warmers!!  So I selected some gorgeous Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in her school uniform colours and set to work knitting.  Unfortunately I hadn't even got half way down one leg (she wants full length leg warmers . . .) when I had run out and then I worked out how much I would need, based on what I had used so far and came to the terrible realisation that these were going to be VERY expensive legwarmers.  Now the wool is very gorgeous and is incredibly soft and is the cosiest type of wool there is but I just couldn't justify over £20 on a pair of legwarmers, which she may not even wear once they had been made.  So I decided they would do for a pair of gloves instead and unpicked my knitting.   A quick trip to our local hardware store and some more (cheaper) grey wool was purchased.  It is definately not as soft - even a bit itchy I suspect, but over tights I hope that won't notice and not nearly as gorgeous but definately more cost effective - does that make me a terrible mother??!!!

PS Gorgeous wool on left, hardware store wool on the right!!!!

Now I've just got to get them knitted before spring arrives!

Whoops . . . At it again!

'Snow time' by SpotsandStripes

Its been very frosty today, but we want the snow!

TheLeveretsNes... $18.00	PureRoxInPrint $48.00	whitetulipbout... $1.45	confeltti $16.00
AmazingSticker $13.99	ME2Designs $40.00	Kindredscents $0.20	WeirdAndTwiste... $45.00
zirkulas $29.00	galafilc $16.00	bomobob $30.00	BobkaBaby $55.00
TheFoxandTheTe... $24.00	christianesuth... $12.00	AirthandOlson $15.00	beyondthepoiso... $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Owls

Last year Flopsy Bunny was given a whole lot of crafty presents for her birthday from her friends - I'm not sure where people got the idea that we were a crafty household . . . !!!  Anyway out of all the lovely gifts that she was given, this one was the one I was the most excited about.  I bided my time, not suggesting that she should tackle the one I wanted her to do and then in the summer she bought the box to me and we got started!  I was so impressed with how quickly she picked up the back stitch and how little help she needed - just a bit of needle re-threading and untangling.  So here we have it, the Owls, finished at the weekend and looking lovely don't you think?  I'm so proud of Flopsy Bunny - she's done a great job!  The crafting gene is strong in this one I think!!!

If you are interested the kit comes from the Little Experience Company - and it is great.  It includes everything you would need, scissors, needle, thread, stuffing and good instructions.  Lovely packaging and design, you can also make two pairs of glasses from the box.  Can't recommend it enough! (and no I'm not getting paid for saying that either!!!!)

A quick knit

I had to do a quick bit of knitting at the weekend as a friend's baby arrived a little early . . .

When I first saw these bootees on Ravelry I just wanted to knit them, but alas my babies were both too big so I had to wait . . .  Luckily a friend obliged me and had her baby last week - whoopee an excuse to knit these gorgeous little shoes!  So cute and really easy to make.  I made one bootee in one evening so easily done in a weekend!  The only modification I made to the pattern was to improvise on the long tail cast on, which looked a bit fingers and thumbs for me and too tricky to work out at the time!  Still I managed to cast on and would say I got the same result!  The wool was left over yarn from another project and the buttons came from my button box - I love it when I get to use up some of my leftover yarn!

Ah babies, knitting these almost made me want another one . . . almost!

Late harvest

Somehow the carrots got forgotten.  I'm not sure how, but there it is, they have sat in the ground all Autumn and this weekend I decided to see if I had any that where worth eating!  Well I must admit I was surprised.  I guess it is thanks to the mild winter we have had this year.  But we certainly got a crop and they are tasty too!

We had a lovely weekend in the garden, harvesting(!), chopping wood, collecting kindling, sweeping leaves, you know those kind of winter gardening jobs!  I also planted a pear tree to replace the tree that came down in the snow.  It will soon be surrounded by crocuses that Flopsy Bunny and I planted in the Autumn.  I am really looking forward to seeing where these flowers appear - there are going to be some straight rows I think - not the random effect I was after I fear!!  



Then today my search for a shepherds crook, to hang my gorgeous bird feeder from, was over!  Thank you lovely friend who gave it to me!  This was also the lovely friend who gave me this . . .  Excellent taste this friend has in pretty garden things!

Sale shopping

I don't usually bother with sale shopping, there is never anything I like left in my sizes so I tend to avoid it - that and the usual scrummage that it involves.  But never say never to a spot of sale shopping in the wool department of John Lewis - just went in for a quick look and whoops, came home with this - New Year, new cardigan that's my motto this year!

What's yours?!

2011: A review

So here's to 2011.  I seem to have had a busy time by the look of my collection of things that I've made.  It's always lovely to gather together my photographs into one place, to step back and think 'so that's what I've been up to'!  I hope you have enjoyed my journey and that you will join me again this year.  What will 2012 bring I wonder . . .