September 2016

I'm so behind....... it's nearly the end of October & I'm only just posting about September.

At the beginning of the month I received a bomb shell as OH has decided to sell the house for financial reasons. I knew it was coming but hoping it wouldn't. Anyway I had a cut off date of 29th October & I'm still here!! I can't find anywhere that will take cats so OH has left & I'm still looking. We think I can stay here until April so fingers crossed something turns up before then.

So September was a blur really, I've not been able to walk due to the darker mornings & to be honest weight loss & fitness are the last things on my mind. 

I celebrated my volunteers 50th birthday with the team, attended the RSPCA Big Walkies, another trip to the bingo with my sister as a late birthday treat, spent time with the cats, knitting my Home Fires fair isle jumper & celebrating 8 years in Blogland.

I would love to say October was better but that's another story for another post!!

What I Made In 2015

WARNING: Photo overload!

I always enjoy looking back over the year to see what I made..... so here we go!

A gift for Hugo

Berets..... lots of berets!!

My victory jumper in time for VE day 

Land girl to join my service boys 

1940's brooch

Victory brooch for VE day

Land girl jumper knitted from some free wool I was given

Tom Cat & his Mrs!

More berets!

Acorn brooch for autumn 

Christmas cardigan 

Getting ready for my only fair of 2015....... and I think my very last :-(

Bow scarves 

Finally finding the right mustard for my bow scarf 

Wearing my bow scarf in a different way!

Christmas gift for Hugo

Christmas gift for Matthew

And that's it!!

I don't think I made as much as I did in 2014 but I'm still impressed :-)

I re thinking my business in 2016........ it's going to be a tough decision but I think I will be giving up selling my makes!

But what will I make???

I've been selling for about 10 years so it's going to be hard but I don't push it as much as I should & then I don't sell as much so I end up disappointed. Also the fairs are getting more expensive & sometime no one comes so you spend money on tables & with no customers.

I will of course still knit for myself but really there's only so many cardigans a girl can have!!

I need to get my thinking cap on!

Ta-Dah!

I've finished!!!!

Back in March 2009 I started my hexagon blanket....... yep that's right, 7 years ago!!

Like most crafty people in Blogland I was inspired by Lucy over at Attic 24

My plan was to make a small throw to cover my foot stool but it kept going out of shape making it bigger!!!

It's been put on hold so many times but just before Christmas I decided that enough was enough. I stopped making to sell & cracked on.

Popsy has decided it's her blanket, she would come running when ever I got it out.

Bless her!

It's now taking pride & place on my king size bed

Like all my blankets I used the traditional method of using up scraps rather then buying new yarn in contrasting colours

I must say I'm as proud as punch!!!

December 2015

A busy month....... advent candle, visit to Father Christmas, spending time with my children, finding a new way to wear my Miss Marple scarf, enjoying Christmas decorations, finally getting to wear my Christmas jumper. And yes I ate Christmas!!! 

Back soon for a round up of 2015.

August 2015

Another August has come & gone!

It seemed to past in a blur & I didn't do very much!

At the start of the month I went to Lupton 1940's event with my brother & his family. This was the 3rd year we attended & rather then getting bigger it seems to have shrunk! Not much happening unless you like US army vehicles.

Cracking on with my Christmas cardigan & taking photo's of my fair isle berets for the internet.

Spending time with the children, dressing Bobby up!, attending a rally for Jeremy Corbyn & celebrating my birthday at the end of the month.

OH moved back in the middle of the month as his money ran out, I've had a year of being alone but over the last few months he's been spending more time here. I'm pleased but just waiting for the next time!

After a rubbish week off from work in July I was really looking forward to my break at the end of the month....... but stupid me lifted a very heavy 1940's sewing machine in a wooden cabinet on my last day of work so I've spent the last week at home in pain. Not a happy girl!

Hey ho my next week off is the beginning of December so lets hope that's better!

July 2015

I've been away too long! 

July seemed to pass in a blur...... remembering the Somme, the wedding of my nephew, a week off from work,  knitting cats, starting my Christmas cardigan, spending lots of time at home alone, finishing my temporary job as a fundraiser, having one last chance to see the rescue cats & the big blue moon!!!

August feels like a fresh new start...... I'm back in my shop full time & feeling much happier, funny how my eczema has nearly cleared up! OH has moved back, we'll wait & see how long that last!

I hope August slows down a bit!

May 2015

I can't believe May has come & gone.

I started the month getting ready for VE day by making Victory brooches & completing my special window display.

Attended my friends daughter's fundraising event, she swam a mile to raise money for Little Valley Animal Shelter.

Feeling gutted at the election results :-( 

Finding out I have to wear glasses for reading, spending time with my cats, feeling stressed out at work & finishing my land girl jumper (more about that in another post)

When I look back over the month it went by in a flash & I didn't seem to have time to do very much. I'm so focused on our Shelter day at the end of June I think I'm wishing the weeks away. I hope the year slows down after that!

Victory Jumper

Back in March I took the plunge & started making my very own Victory Jumper!

I've had this pattern for a long time but I'd never got around to making it.

After working out how to re size it rather a lot...... they were so small in the 40's or is it we're so big now!!!..... I was on a roll.

I really enjoyed the pattern & found it knitted up quickly. I decided to knit it in DK to help make it larger. The only problem I had was with the sleeves, after increasing I found it was longer then it needed to be. I wanted the sleeves to be shorter & it was a real disappointment when it was finished but I'm happy with it now.

Ta-da!!!

 I love it!!

I can't believe how often I've worn it & have been asked a few time where I brought it...... they couldn't believe I knitted it!

Here it is with my 1940's flower corsage I knitted

And with my victory brooch I made for VE day

I hadn't knitted myself anything to wear for nearly 20 years but I'm cracking on now. In the last year I've made myself a cardigan

a Christmas jumper

& I'm just finishing off my land girl jumper

100g Stylecraft special double knitting

Midnight 3 balls - Claret 2 balls - Cream 1 ball

Total price = £11.34

Hours = 51 

April's Book Review

June 2nd, 1953. The residents of Ruby Street in London's East End are celebrating the new Queen's coronation. It's a day of joy and laughter, a new beginning for a nation still in the grip of rationing, still suffering the aftermath of the Blitz. But for Rose Weaver, the day ends in tragedy when her husband Eddie is arrested on suspicion of theft. It's only the first of several shocks as Rose discovers some unpleasant facts about the man she married eight years before, the man she thought she knew so well. Struggling to provide for herself and her two daughters, Rose realises that she'll need the help of family, friends and the good neighbours of Ruby Street if she's to have any chance of pulling through. And when a handsome salesman knocks at her door, it's hard to resist temptation ..

Only 1 book again this month.

Moving away from WW2 I went for the 1950's instead! 

I did really enjoy this book even though it took a long time to read. Rose, the main character, is a great strong East End women just as you would expect for the time.

9/10

My eyes get so tired when I read & when I went for my eye test last week I found out why..... 

yep I have to wear glasses for reading!

I'm hoping I will find it easier to read now so fingers crossed I'll read more..... don't hold your breath! 

Hopefully they will arrive soon.

February 2015

A busy month of knitting, singing along at the Sound of Music, spending time at the doctors, finding goodies in the shop, visiting Bath Cats & Dogs home, enjoying my new jobs & the perks that go with it. Plus welcoming Hugo to the world.

Spring is just around the corner...... come on March let's see what you bring!