October...ing

Starting - A new crochet project to bust some more stash while making a gift.

Making - A notice board and a lampshade for Little M's new bedroom.

Baking - A game pie for a birthday treat meal.

Building - The last phase of the inglenook fireplace. This is the TV shelf which I have just waxed. We can choose to stare at the fire, watch TV or ogle the view from the picture window all from the sofa.

Buying - Bathroom tiles for the new house. Plain white; my brain and wallet are fried!

Disliking - Taking the dog to the vets for induced vomiting after he ate 28 ibuprofen. He is fine. I still have back ache. The following week he ate two raw pheasant breasts from the chopping board while I made the pie. Something needs to be done. 

Loving - Autumn sunsets from our middle floor windows.

Knitting - Trying to get my new sweater started but I need my mum. I have cast on four, make that five, six times! GRRRRR

Going - To the park then to Bella Italia for Megan's 10th birthday.

Wearing - Boots and tights for the new season.

Sewing - The last three blocks of my postage stamp quilt.



Cutting - New pieces for a New House quilted bed runner.

Avoiding - Doing stuff for other people who can do it perfectly well for themselves.

Deciding - On some fun things to start making for December gifts (you know the C word)

Thinking - I love October, the clear skies, family birthdays and warm casseroles.

Feeling - Hunkered down for Autumn.

Have a Good week. Jo xxx

February...ing

Making - A cosy cowl for my friend's 40th Birthday made from Colinette Iona yarn which is 70% wool, 15% kid mohair and 15% silk - so so soft. 

Learning - How to work short rows using a wrap and turn technique for this pattern from purl soho which is free here

Baking - A delicious but strange crumble using the last of our allotment frozen fruit.

Watching - Snowdrops pop up.

Building - Our new kitchen floor; cleaning those tiles from out of the hedge in the field was definitely worth it.

Buying - Kitchen wall tiles : cream metro ones.

Thinking - Our dog is cute but needs training.

Enjoying - A little sprinkling of snow which was pretty but not the sort that ruins your day, more the kind that enhances it.

Loving - My new clogs which Bloke bought me for my Birthday in January. They are from Lotta.

Wondering - Whether to try a toile of a swimsuit pattern so I can be sure to cut the right size.

Getting - In a mess but having a great time sewing. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. I am so lucky to have a spare room to leave this all spread out in.

Watching - Someone try really hard with spelling. Little M labelled my freezer cook up boxes for me on Saturday.

Disliking - Politics at the moment.

Wearing - My new Linden Sweatshirt for this months Minerva blogger network.

 Deciding - Which wool to use and which wool to leave out of my spice for life blanket. 

Feeling - Happy :) but chilly.

PS. If you visit here through google+ I would love you to continue following in some way when Google+ stops comments from 19th February. You can do this by following me on Bloglovin'. You get the same alerts and there are some great blogs to follow on Bloglovin' in the crafts and DIY section. You can use the link on the left if you are already signed up.

Jo xxxx

ing...May

Making - More of my WATG crochet dress

Eating -  Chicken turmeric and ginger kebabs with Salad

Cooking - A whole duck for the first time for friends eaten with cucumber strips and rice pancakes.

Wanting - A safe journey to France later in the month

Deciding - What to pack for our holidays. Bloke packs one bag, I pack three. Sound familiar?

Fixing - My favourite bracelet

Considering - How many more blocks to make on my crazy scraps quilt

Wearing - Sandals even if a little chilly. 

Enjoying - Our garden coming to life

Loving - returning to outdoor play and adventure

Disliking - World news events

Getting -  Really into quilt making, the possibilities are endless.

Buying - Some great things from the charity shop.

Wondering - What was happening in my local yarn shop at 8:20 at night? I am assuming it was a stock take and that they were not choosy yarn burglars.

Watching - All the sheep and lambs safely delivered on the farm

Thinking - About my dad

Feeling - Happy with our chosen life.

Yarn Musings

Being able to knit and crochet is a skill which I didn't used to hold in very high esteem. I thought everyone did it or could do it. If you are a female in my family, then someone has taught and shared with you these skills. I thought that happened in every family. It has yet to have filtered to the males in my family!  

Running towards the end of my 2017 stash diet however, I am also finding it to be a bit of a curse. It runs so deep in my personality to make something out of nothing that I am finding it hard to let go of the poor stash and treat myself to using the great yarn I have been lovingly gifted by true friends or have chosen myself.

I think it comes from putting others first. I often do all the housework, jobs, post, girl's tasks and home chores thinking that when that is all over I will have some craft time but very often I end up with the scraggy end of the day. I do the same with yarn. 'lets just use this up', 'when this has gone I will use the nice wool', 'I will just make way for something better later' There is no one to blame but myself you understand.

Take this yarn for example it was all given to me in an unwanted carrier bag of wool. I have felt so compelled to use it. 

I have tried a colour work cardigan for myself. Frogged.

I tried to knit a stripy jumper for myself. Frogged. Therefore, all in all, I have come to the conclusion that really I would not like to wear this wool as a garment.This little lot will one day be destined for a crochet picnic blanket but for now it needs to hibernate in the drawer under the spare room bed to make way for the stars of the show

I have nice yarn, soft yarn, yarn in beautiful colours all waiting in my cupboard upstairs. ...here are my top favourites:

For a rare moment all knitting and crochet receptacles are empty. My needles are all back in their cosy beds. Nothing is on the go, nothing needs my attention or fixing and I am living the exciting moment that is the anticipation of choosing to knit or crochet something amazing with wonderful yarn. 

Snow is predicted so I can really enjoy choosing my next yarny project over the next few days.

I am living in the moment folks and it feels fantastic!

Any thoughts. Do you do the same?
Jo xxx

...ing May

Cooking - Less and sharing more: that's warmer weather.

Making - A sun hat

Drinking - Kids squash - its a comfort thing!

Wanting - A safe flight to France

Deciding - What to pack for holidays. I was too tight to buy more baggage allowance.

Considering - Giving away some clutter that has been around for a while

Wearing - Summer clothes: blouses, vests, skirts and bare legs.

Enjoying - How much our girls love having a dog - he chews everything!

Wondering - If any of my GCSE English group will get pass grades

Watching - Our girls gain new skills

Disliking - Having to leave the garden when so much good stuff is flowering

Buying - A new cooker. The glass lid exploded on the old one...

Loving - Being able to fix things (but not the cooker!)

Thinking - About all the good stuff in our lives

Getting - A better shoulder with the help of an osteopath

Eating - Fresh chives

Feeling - Holiday excited

Jo xx

...ing in April

Making - A Cosmic sweater in soft cotton

Reading - At Knits End. A meditation for people who knit too much

Cooking - Cous cous with lamb and roasted peppers 

Drinking - Fruit tea and laying off so much coffee

Wanting - People to put things back where they belong

Deciding - Which bit of the garden I am happy for the dog to trash

Enjoying - Blossom at the farm

Wondering - Why my stash is not going down even though I have not spent a penny!

Considering - What we need or what we want

Buying - New White school socks for the girls

Loving - Dancing with the Severn Sisters

Disliking - The gap between rich and poor

Watching - How many biscuits I am eating!

Wearing - Summer trousers

Getting - A bad back a lot

Thinking - About Easter

Eating - Poached egg on toast every Monday

Feeling - Happy

If you do - Happy Easter.
Jo xx