A blanket for my neice/nephew to be....

My brother and his wife are expecting their firstborn in December.. exciting stuff!!! I decided to make a blanket (easy?). I had been told that they are decorating the room in 'Gingerbread' so off I went on a yarn hunt. I found the most delicious chunky wool that I thought would be perfect colourwise and really snuggly. I don't tend to do 'baby baby' stuff so it was perfect. I couldn't quite decide on which of the colours would be best so what to do? Buy all 3 and do a stripey blanket (increasing the make time, but hey ho). So here it is in it's 50% finished glory. I need to edge it as the knitting in stripes makes for messy edges (well it does when I do it!!). I asked my oh so wise crafting buddies on the best way to go on this and got loads of great advice. Which I have chosen to ignore for a hundred and 1 reasons!!! On looking at the mamas and papas website I have discovered that the 'gingerbread' design has quite a lot of turqoise and red in it so i need to add those in to tie it all together. I'm not going to find any binding in those 2 colours so I need to buy a piece of fabric. The thought of making binding fills me with horror. All those thin straight lines to sew!!!! So I'm going to make a bigger sized backing blanket and back it and fold the edges over like a sandwich (and use my husbands protracter thingy from work to mitre in the corners!!!) It will also make the blanket a little larger. So for now a half finished project . . . .

My talented baby

My (just turned) 3 year old presented me with this yesterday. I think she's come a long way from squiggles and kisses that she did only last week. Obviously I asked her who it was. "mommy" she proudly announces. Oh dear time to put down the pringles . . . .

It may not be a flattering angle, but it is my favourite picture I have ever seen. (until daughter number two does one...)

Shoes shoes shoes.

No I didn't make them, but GingerMonkey was asking people to share shoe lovlieness with her and I felt obliged!!!!

The red ones are my latest purchase and I just want to wear them all the time. In fact I was most put out that on our recent trip to The Big Smoke. The Lovely (but sensible) Husband told me in no uncertain terms was I traipsing round London in them. I hate to admit he was quite possibly correct.

The smashing silver ones were my wedding shoes. They were very nearly as expensive as my dress!!! But I had to have them as I told myself. They're terribly practical I'll wear them all the time after the wedding. They will look great with evening wear or skinny jeans for pubbing/clubbing. Hmmm two toddlers later. Distinct lack of evening wear, pubbing/clubbing!!

The brown ones were a Christmas Present off The Lovely Husband. We had agreed to save funds and not buy each other presents and save the money for the children. Sadly (not) he saw me pining for these. Little face pressed up against the shop window. So my not so secret Santa saved me. Luckily I had also seen a pair of sunglasses that I knew he'd love so he got spoiled too.

The other half of the Toadstool Swap

I received my toadstool from my swap partner, Wendy. It's gorgeous. My favourite colours and the little beaded butterfly is just so clever. I just wish I could wear it as jewellery!! I may look a little funny with a toadstool dangling from my neck so I'll just have to admire it sitting on my bedside table.

Thanks Wendy, it was a pleasure having you as my first ever swap partner. Oh and I pinched your photo as mine was pants!!!

The Toadstool Swap

At last it is finished and posted. Wendy if you're looking - turn away!!

I joined a Toadstool Swap organised by LucyKateCrafts. I didn't follow the tutorial exactly, but the general idea is there. I also didn't learn how to do blanket stitch until after I'd finished . . . .

The little mouse was a flash of inspiration. I thought to myself I wonder if the basic premise of a finger puppet - but stuffed - would work? I'm really quite chuffed with him.

And off it goes to the U S of A!! I hope you like it Wendy.

It's In The Bag . . .

Finally!!! I have finished my knitted bag. It didn't take long to knit it, I didn't take that long to sew it together. What did take ages was the interim period where I just kept looking at it thinking "hmm I really should finish that".

That is probably my biggest fault. I start so many things and never quite finish them. See I have these flashes of inspiration or see a pretty little doo-dah that I just have to get and start something else.

This was my first attempt at knitting (well second if you count the matching little purse I did initially - but we won't count that!!!)

I've been tagged

23 Beech Hill has tagged me :-

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? 1998....?Probably something naughty. . . I didn’t settle down until I met DH. I was temping in offices etc in the mornings, college in the afternoon, Bar work 1 night a week and working in a Chinese on a Saturday night. The rest of the time I was staying out, riding motorbikes, drinking too much, pulling unsuitable men!!

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)

1 – Taking the girls to nanny and granddads for the afternoon
2 – Watching some tv I’ve recorded
3 – Eating see below whilst doing above
4 - Catching up on a bit of zzzzzzz (I work nights)
5 – Possibly a little crafting (unlikely though today)

3) Snacks I enjoy:

All of the snacks I like are cholesterol nightmares –
Cheese
Mini scotch eggs
Ham (quite disgusting, but I dive in the fridge and munch on ham while I look for something healthy – but then funnily enough not hungry any more!!!)
Crisps – my biggest downfall. Especially like sweet chilli ones. I used to like Pringles, but they hurt the corners of my mouth!!!

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:Stop working bloody nights!!!
Build/sponsor refuges for abused women
Be involved with a children’s charity
Open a hotel.
Buy a Subaru Impreza and a Lotus Elise and a Aston Martin DBS and a Mini Cooper S wrx. And a motorbike
Build my dream house.
Buy a ham factory!!!

5) Places I have lived:Staffordshire
Derbyshire
Northamptonshire
West Midlands
Essex

6) 6 peeps I wanna know more about ...

Sorry if you've been tagged already or don't want to be now, but your on my favourites list for a reason!! (flattery gets one everywhere!!)

http://theblackapple.typepad.com/inside_a_black_apple/
http://www.overmilkwood.blogspot.com/
http://thepigeonloftuk.blogspot.com/
http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/
http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/
http://chickadeecards.blogspot.com/