Latest creation...

After an industrious few weeks, I have another super-cute blanket available in the shop. It's slightly smaller than the others but still makes for super baby snuggles.

It measures 73cm x 54cm and is available now in the shop.

Etsy shop is go!

So, seeing as I've been going a bit blanket mad recently, I've decided to channel my efforts into my Etsy shop. Take a look here, if you like. I have 3 beauties waiting for new homes :)

Crazy blanket lady

...Strikes again.

I fed my ongoing blanket obsession today after a visit to my local fabric shop (which, if you live in Bristol and you sew you should go to by the way, it's a gem). I picked up some of this gorgeous Kumari Gardens fabric by Dena Designs. I have previously used this for a patchwork quilt and love love love it.

I've been wanting to make a fleece baby blanket fo a while so I got some lovely soft fleece and put it to good use, all finished off lovely with a turquoise satin ribbon trim.

What do you think? I love it, I just need a baby now to wrap in it (I'll borrow one).

A little crochet inspiration

My creative juices have been somewhat repressed recently. Probably a combination of illness, having loads on at work and having no money making sure no inspiration makes its way to the forefront of my mind.

I read a great post by Charlotte last week about creativity and finding your mojo. It seems I'm not the only one finding this recently but, taking Charlotte's advice I clicked through to a few blogs. Current favourites are Attic24, Something I Made (as recommended by Charlotte), Oyster & Pearl , Tales from a Happy House and ohdeardrea.

And so I feel my mojo slowly returning. I have a huge stash of yarn left over from a granny blanket (unfinished, of course) I started months ago. I have always loved this knitted blanket from Mamas & Papas and now my babies are growing (sniff!) I've taken my inspiration from here and I'm making me a Mama-sized edition.

And so it starts. A simple treble-crochet stripe (after an enormous 200-strong foundation chain) interspersed with double crochet lines. I'm using my favourite colours from the stash and am fast running out but as the yarn I'm using is a bargainous £1.50 for 100g I shan't feel too guilty if I need a few more.

Lord knows how long this is going to take. I'm hoping to get it finished by the time I go away in July (don't know why, it's not like I'll need it in Spain at the height of summer. Hopefully).

It's very simple to do so I'll post a tutorial once I'm done. Hopefully this promise will also encourage me to actually finish a project for once.

Thanks for the memories

Last night we said goodbye to 2011. In style of course, with champagne flowing and bellies filled to bursting. Today has been much about reviewing, reminiscing and enjoying the memories created over the past 12 months...

January

A month of discovery, learning self-feeding and what tactile fun can be had with lumpy porridge

February

Signalled the end of a tiring journey to my first half marathon. Completed in a respectable 2 hours and 15 minutes. An achievement indeed, one to hopefully build on in 2012

March

A third birthday this month. Enjoyed so much that he finally gave in to slumber still clutching his celebratory balloon

April

Royal history was made and enjoyed complete with patriotic face paint and little flags waved furiously at the beautiful princess on screen

May

Was a month spent enjoying the good (and not so good) British weather. Trips to the seaside made for much merriment with seaweed

June

Saw the first harvest of our veggies. Patience not being my strongest attribute (something of a weakness when trying to grow-your-own) I couldn't resist pulling one of the babies up to see how they were coming along. Did this little guy a favour as it happened. His brothers and sisters sadly perished thanks to the dreaded root fly

July

Another birthday, this time for an excited 2 year old and the start of months of gorilla spotting around Bristol to celebrate Bristol Zoo's 175th birthday

August

Provides one of the biggest events in the Bristol calendar, the international balloon fiesta. Sadly, I didn't get any snaps of the festival itself but the wind was in our favour and I did capture the salt-and-pepper sky as the balloons came over our house

September

Provided us with a last opportunity to soak up the Indian summer sun. We took a trip to Slimbridge and made the most of the water park in the late summer heat

October

I picked up this little chap from a farm shop and as well as a (probably not so) spooky Halloween lantern, he provided pumpkin bread, muffins and a delicious soup, all for about £1.50. Who says you can't eat well on a budget?

November

Chicken pox x2. A tough month

December

My absolute favourite time of the year. Christmas craft, cake, Baileys and sparkly things more than made up for a crappy November

So here's to a happy and healthy 2012. Happy new year everyone x