I came across a great website, Sarah London, thanks to twitter! and they are doing a mystery CAL, and I thought, what great fun, so I am doing it!

Here is what I have done so far :-

I need to do 13 squares, so have a few more to go!  Which hopefully will be done today!

First weekend of November I attended a hand quilting course.  Whilst the knowledge I gained was awesome, I was a little disappointed in that the shop that held it never stocked any quilting hoops, even after checking before the course that they did, and being told YES!  So I was a bit frustrated, as I could not practice with a hoop during the course, and had to wait for my mine to arrive, which I ordered when I got home!

So here is my new quilting hoop : -

I have posted both pictures, because whilst it looks like a normal embroidery hoop, the thickness is actually deeper in order to cope with the thickness of the quilt!

So I have done a bit of hand quilting, without the hoop, after all that I might add!  It is very subtle, but here it is :-

I decided to do this quilting with an invisible thread, as there are just so many colours I need to go across, and thought with the invisible it would look better!  It is very subtle, but that is almost the effect I wanted, so I am happy!

In October I decided to take part in a Knewbie Knit Swap on Ravelry.  It was great fun, and this what I received from Hannah in Sweden, a truly wonderful parcel!

The package on arrival, the anticipation to see what was inside, was thrilling!

How well packaged is this parcel!  Very good Hannah!

The contents!

Wonderful pattern for a shawl that is on my Ravelry todo list, yarn, tea, chocolates, sweets and fabric!

What more could a girl wish for!

Thank you!

Today I drove out to Diss to see the Quilt Show.  I was not sure what to expect, but I can honestly say I was certainly NOT disappointed!!  I never shopped except for a christmas stocking kit I bought for Luke, which I need to make up!  Yes another christmas project!

The quilts on display were absolutely gorgeous, and I now realised, that whilst I think everyone was lovely in its own way, there is certainly a style I prefer!  Here are some pictures of what I took today!

These are just a few!  I came back totally inspired to create!  The knowledge that was available was awesome.  A very kind lady explained hexagons to me, how to cut and sew and the secretary of the club spent a good amount of time talking to me, for which I am totally grateful!

Thaank you for the wonderful day!

Next weekend, I am hoping to attend the Quilt Festival in Linton!

Treated myself to a new knitting bag today! I decided I need a pretty one to use to knitting group, so here it is :-

I LOVE IT!!!!!

Patchwork and Quilting!!!

After many years of toying with the idea of learning patchwork and quilting, and what I would use it for, I got that chance to attend a beginners course, close to home, at a lovely shop called East Coast Quilting,

http://www.eastcoastquilting.co.uk/

I absolutely loved the course, and whilst I never got to actually finish the quilt, I only have the quilting and binding to do and it is done!  So here is my work so far :

My fabric selection, the floral squares is my main theme, the pink and green are for the 3.5″ squares, the teal checked is for the borders and the solid teal is for the backing!

My 6.5″ and 3.5″ squares all cut and ready to be assembled!

All the squares from another angle!

3.5″ squares assembled into 6″ squares!

The quilt so far!  I am thrilled how it has all come together!  I have just the quilting and binding to do and it is done!

I am sure this will not be the last and rather the first of many!

Sunday 11th October 2009 and I completed a 2.5kms Fun Run today and am thrilled!  I had set myself the goal of finishing it in 25mins and it did it in…………………

23mins 45secs and I am thrilled!

 Arriving at the race venue, nervous, anxious and hoping I don’t muck it up!

 End of the race, tired but thrilled and so proud of myself!

  My number and my medal, so thrilled!

Next goal, I may try a 3km run in Dec, however that race needs to be run in a Santa’s Outfit, hmmm maybe not, watch this space!

Wow, my needles have been smoking! LOL!

I finally finished my Bainbridge Scarf, which I am thrilled about, here is the finished item :-

  The next photo is not great, but here is what it looks like on :-

  This was made with Louisa Harding Wool Silk, and is really silky smooth and lovely to knit with!  Only used 1.5 balls, so a good stash buster!

Glace by Rowan, is finally finished, and is currently being blocked, waiting to be sewn up!!  I am thrilled it is finished in terms of knitting, hoping to get it sewn up this week!

 Made with Jaegar extra fine merino aran, this was a great yarn to knit with. 

My mom finished the cardigan she was knitting for Luke, and it is just lovely.  She did not like the yarn, as she said it kept splitting it was Sirdar Calico, and here is the finished item :-

      And the little man modelling it!  Thanks Mum!!!

It is wonderful to actually be back crafting a bit more and best of all actually getting some projects finished!

I am attending a Beginners Patchworking course on the 17th and 24th Oct and I am really looking forward to it.  I have always wanted to try patchwork but never knew what I would use the quilt for?!?!  So I thought rather than make a quilt, why not go for a table runner and placemats for Christmas!  So that is my goal!

 I bought this advent calendar to make for Luke for Christmas this year.  I was hoping to cross stitch one, but to be honest I just don’t have the time to cross stitch, so I thought this would be the next best thing!  Looking forward to getting started on it!

  Here are the granny squares I have crocheted so far for a blanket I am making.  It is based on the Babette layout, but with granny squares instead.  It is probably going to take me a quite a while to do but I am enjoying it.  Can only really work on it when Luke is sleeping, as tends to pull all the yarn out of the box otherwise!

  My Fuzzy Feet are finally knitted up!  Can’t believe that when I put my mind to it, I got each one done in a little under 6 days each!  Amazing!  I know need to put them in the washing machine to felt and then they are totally done!

      This crochet bag is inspired by the pattern found on Attic24’s blog.  It is made from Patons Sorbet, and once done, I am hoping to line it with the following fabric :-

Right I think that is all my updates so far?  I have managed to finish a few projects recently, I completed my Bainbridge Scarf at last, and I am almost finished my tank top, Glace by Rowan as well!

Once I have done the Glace I want to cast on an easy peesee shawl and a jumper for Luke!  So watch this space!

I can not believe my son is now 16mths 15days already!  He is slowly starting to try and say more and more, and the odd word slips out, which is great!  He is developing his own little personality now, which is just lovely, although he does seem to sometimes be experiencing the terrible twos early!

Here are a couple of pictures, taken over the last few weeks!

Luke, realising that whilst Mummy is on the phone it is quicker to use one’s hands to eat that a fork!

Riding a crocodile in Rendlesham Forest :-

Man in training, just missing the TV remote!