Happy New Year...???

2010, on reflection has been a pretty rollercoaster of a year, it saw the end of my maternity leave and a re-start at work. Whilst I have seen no major life changes this year and nothing particularly drastic has happened, there has been a hell of a lot of little things that happened which have really shaped my year, some things that still remain unresolved and will carry into 2011.

There have been some positives, with my crafting really coming into the fore in the past two months and resulting in me being very busy churning out handmade Christmas goodies and selling to friends and family, which has given my confidence a massive boost. So much so that I fully intend to jump on this bandwagon in 2011 and see where my crafting takes me...

I don't usually make resolutions because like most people I never stick to them, and likwise that fitness DVD ends up shelved and gathering dust and the cross-trainer becomes another spot to hang clothes from, I never quite stick to what I say I will! However, I am going to make a resolution, one that I have started in these past few days... to keep faithful to this blog, capturing my year each day at a time. Recording the highlights, the lowlights and everything in between.

I hope you will join me on that journey and here's to 2011!

x

Lantern Flight - Part 1

Today is a date in the calendar which is approached with mixed emotion. As year end approaches, it marks a significant memorium. 33 years ago today, we lost my sister, Linda, aged 4 to meningitis.

For my Mum especially at this time of year it is especially diffcult trying to enjoy the festivities with us as a family, but then tinged with sadness as year end approaches. We don't usually 'do' anything to mark the occasion; it is noted and words are spoken and a visit is paid to the cemetery, but that's all. However after I spotted a friend had released lanterns in memory of parents they lost earlier in the year, I thought it would be really nice gesture and something to physically 'do' to mark the occasion and for my Mum to experience a bit of a release.

I purchased some lanterns quite cheaply and tonight, as a family (well, minus one of my brothers) we headed for the dips at New Brighton.

Our hopes of releasing the lanterns were quickly dashed when it was only the breeze that was inflating them and we knew that they would not float as intended, so we aborted mission. That said, it was a good giggle trying and we are all now looking forward to Lantern Flight - Part 2...

Snowman Poop

The days are getting shorter, the kids have gone back to school, the shops are showing the first signs of... wait for it... Christmas!

I have taken a few orders through work recently, people that saw the photos of my Snowman Poop jars I made last Christmas, and they are getting their orders in now, ready for this Christmas which is great. I am hoping to get a few made up and take them into work, and hopefully that will generate some more orders.

So, Valentine's Day is here again, although this year being the first with a baby I am not feeling so loved up...

I made my card last night, I hate doing this, but I had so many ideas of what to do, I ended up having a bit of a crafter's block.

Snow Bear

Please say hello to Snow Bear!

He's been aptly named Snow Bear given that he is white, but also because he was created during this snowy weather which has kept many of us indoors; but for us crafty people it's a perfect excuse to indulge in a spot of craft!



He sits 11cm tall (seated) and was knitted up using Stylecraft Fantasia wool, which I got at my local craft shop and is just gorgeous and soft. I might get a ball of the muti-coloured wool and do a variation in that next.

I think he's adorable... x

Knit 1, Purl 1

I seem to be suffering from inspiration overload at the moment gathering tonnes of ideas for various things. Plus with this snow and ice keeping me housebound I thought I'd make the most of my time and kick things off with this cute little bear which I found totally by accident:



The pattern is available here: http://www.allaboutyou.com/craft/Knitting-pattern-teddy/v1 and is a free download.

I'm in the process of knitting him (albeit very different to how he is pictured!) and will post up pics as soon as he's finished. so watch this space...