Necklace

So I knitted a necklace!  I found inspiration from here via Pinterest

I'm not chuffed with my colour joins and has me debating whether it is good enough to give away or not.

Do people wear knitted jewellery?  Do you?

I haven't worn jewellery for almost 10 years.  I just find things hanging off me irritating.  But I like the look of this coloured cord.  It feels like a scarf on.  I used 100% wool.  The coloured wool is Bendigo Woollen Mills and the white is Moda Vera.  I am thinking of trying Bendigo Woollen Mills' cotton next to see how that looks.  It may also be a bit cooler to wear in the warmer weather.

I took a bunch of pics wearing it but then deleted almost all of them because it kinda looked like I was taking pics of my boobs.

And clickety-clacking an i-cord on my DPNs had me wishing I owned a french knitting thingy.

xxx

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Spoil

Hello

Firstly, I need to say a big sorry to you each of you who have left comments for me these past few months.  I am sorry for not replying.  I can't blame it on a large volume of comments, as I don't get many.  But I have been under the weather for a few months now and have neglected you.  I have really appreciated every comment.  I have been thrilled to read your encouragements and advice.  Sorry for the silence in return!

So today's post is titled Spoil.

 These are the first fruits of our tiny crop of butter beans. I think we have a delightful and surprising early spoil.  They were going to be eaten last night, but we were invited to a lovely Thanksgiving lunch which filled us up nicely.  But tonight, their fate is consumption!

And at the risk of spoiling the surprise of a christmas gift, here are the slippers I have knitted for my beautiful step-daughter.  I am worried they are going to be too small, but they are easy enough to knit up so I can always whip up another pair.

I used the pattern from this book and then ravelled it.

And for my step-daughter's step-daughter, (my step-step-granddaughter?!), I knitted up a smaller pair topped with a crocheted flower.  Poor Liam is modelling them for me, but I have saved him the shame of photographing his face in the pic! Ravelled here.

I seem to be starting more projects than finishing!  I really am not one to like having too many WIPs/UFOs, but right now I do.

This blankie
This dress
This jumper 
This jumper

Then add to that a knitted necklace, more pj's and another baby's jumpsuit.  Oh yeah, and christmas decorations.  Star garlands!  I'm also seeking inspiration for an advent calender.

And I have a head spinning with plans for more quilts, sewing tops for me and zippered bags.  When I review my boards on Pinterest, I am giddy with excitement at all the crafty plans waiting to be hatched.  But where is the time for it all?  I'm starting to think that these so-called Nanna-crafts are done by Nanna's because they are retired and have more time on their hands.  Pah!

As I type my boys are quietly watching a spot of telly.  I think I will seize this opportunity to finish some projects!

xxx

December Baby Quilt

Seeing that this whole hand-making thing is new to me, I am now finding out just how good-planning is necessary for a predominately handmade Christmas.  There are 6 and a bit weeks to Christmas and I have not made any decorations.

I have made one gift. . . with another 4 to go.  That does not include my yearly batching of lemon butter and my hopefully new tradition of shortbreads.  Then packaging them and the trimmings.  I. should. have. planned.  Oh well.

Another slightly annoying thing is I can't show you what I am making as to not spoil the surprise.

But I can show you this little quilt, now that it has been gifted.

I made it for a friend from church who is expecting her second baby early December.  She has opted not to find out the gender which I think is great from my perspective.  Making something for a girl immediately has my brain heading for pink and blue for a boy and I mayn't have ventured into this happy bright combo!

I chose bright colours that I think can go for either type of baby and besides, I made it for what I think my friend would like, not her offspring.

I used some fat quarters from my local quilting shop, leftovers from another quilt and a vintage sheet from my ever increasing stash.  There are 6 x 7, 6" squares and quilting along either side of seams.  Basic.  But I am loving basic as this type of quilting helps me improve my accuracy without getting overwhelmed by bigger challenges.  I will get there one day.  I forgot to measure the quilt but I think that would make it 33" x 38.5".

This is my fifth quilt in little over a year and I am quite pleased with my progression on the binding with particular effort put into the mitres using this tutorial.  Still a ways to go but happy nonetheless.

I'm always at a loss when it comes to wrapping.  So being inspired by all the bloggy, instagrammy, internetpurchasey pictures I see out there everyday, I did my own take on the brown paper, string and doily thing.  The blue part of the gift-tag is one of Dean's paintings that I paper-chain-style cut.  Then I did the same with plain paper in order to have a clear backing for my uninspired message!

Do you get more creative by being creative?  I hope so.  I hope also to get a bit quicker and more enthused.  Perhaps it is just the silly-season pressure.  On a brighter note, I have finished all my christmas shopping already unless of course, I miss my hand-making deadline!!

How is your Christmas planning tracking?  Got any tips?

xx

BTW I'm jumping in here for the first time in aaaaaaaages! Hi creative spacers!! xx  And sorry for the doubling-up in your google reader as I forgot to add the link before publishing.