Finally!

My little boy can finally tie his shoe laces! He is 8 and has been practising for 2 years. Funny how I feel both glad and a bit sad at the same time.
Glad, that I don't have to be doing up his shoes as I am running out if the door holding the little one and trying not to mess up my work clothes by kneeling down on the pavement.
Sad, that it feels like the end of an era, like when he was finally potty trained and doesn't need me to help any more :( He is growing up too fast!

Cross stitch Whale

Here is a little bit of stitching I have been doing recently. I have found it very therapeutic just criss crossing away in the evening not having to concentrate much, leaving me time to gather my thoughts.

Spur of the moment!

We decided, no, found ourselves, at Chester zoo during the last weekend of the holidays. The weather had been off and on for days and despite what I said in my last post to go out what ever the weather, when my husband is on holiday with us that never quite happens. He likes things to be planned perfectly before we go anywhere. And while that seems to be the best thing to do when you have little ones, and probably is, waiting for perfect weather before attempting a day trip could mean you don't end up going!

The boys had a wonderful time and little bear was very impressed with meeting 'Simba' in real life. He is going through a Lion King stage at the minute! We couldn't believe how good the boys behaved during our visit.

Usually day trips that we have not pre-planned can turn into a bit of a nightmare. But considering this trip was just a spur of the moment thing it went really well!
Truth - I actually shouted at hubby that if we don't go today I will take the boys on my own as I was not staying in the house with him a minute longer. Thankfully our argument was soon forgotten as soon as we got there. Even more thankful that the weather held out so I didn't have to hear those words "I told you so!". Phew

Down at the farm!

Despite the weather during these holidays I am determined not to stay in with the boys. I must keep remembering that " there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing"! That's what they say when the boys do Forest Schools anyway. So off we went all wrapped up in our woollies, raincoats and welly boots! With full length rain suits in the car just in case!

We went to the Ford Hall Farm and had a great time on the trail. Then picnic in the shelter.



































Will definitely doing it again this week. I have never known them to be so quiet and sensible. It was because we had to walk through fields with cows in it and Oliver noticed that both of them had red pieces of clothing on. Apparently if you wear red, cows will chase you! ;)

Stitching Away!

I have recently taken up embroidery and cross stitching.  I have found it a nice easy way to fill that creative outlet without taking up too much energy.  After having a period of illness at the end of last year, plus creating for the holidays I found stitching to be a really good way of relaxing in the evening.  So I have been busy with my new found hobby and cannot wait to show you what I have made!

Firstly, I wanted to show you the piece I created for the Wild Olive Stitch Swap.  The amazingly talented and inspiring Mollie set up an around the World swap!  You had to produce a 4inch hooped embroidery piece and send it off to your partner.  Here's what I came up with:

My swap partner wanted something colourful and fun, so it just had to be a rainbow!  I have used the fill stitches tutorial by mollie that you can find here.  It was nice to practice doing the different fill techniques.

I finished the piece with felt and a cute label!

Hopefully my swap partner likes it!  I also sent a sweet little robot zipped purse that I had made too!  These are both on there way to the USA!
I can't wait to show you what arrives in the post for me!


Thank you so much Mollie for all the time and effort that you put in to organising the swap.  It gave me a much needed boost of confidence :)

Work in Progress! Yuk!

Why is it when you have lots of ideas about a project, just because you have set yourself a deadline or put it out there that you will achieve something, it just doesn't plan out like it should?  I posted that I would be joining in with the KAL with shannon from luvinthemommyhood on monday, and since then the cowl that I have been crocheting has been pulled apart 4 times as it's just not what I wanted!  Prior to monday I had just finished 2 cowls and felt like I was on a roll and that making my own design would be a breeze!  Now, believe me I am not a designer, by any means. I am learning and will have the confidence to get there one day.  I find free patterns or buy them from various sources.  I may adapt them to fit the yarn or if I need a different size, but I will always give credit where it is due.  But for this project I wanted it to be just mine, my idea, my design.  Well I am just not ready!

I wanted a large, squishy, cuddly cowl that drapes well and could also go over your head.  I wanted it to have some colour woven into it to show off the grey Rowan cocoon yarn that I had in the house.  I wanted it to be a little feminine, but not too frilly. I think I wanted too much.  The picture above shows my dreaded WIP.  It has been pulled apart and restarted 4 times in my desperate attempt to finish it this week.  I hate it! It looks too masculine.  I am afraid its never going to be finished,  I certainly don't want to waste the wool on something I will never use.  My husband suggested that I give it as a gift.  No way!  If I don't like it, I'm certainly not giving it to someone else, who would politely tell me they love it!  I have to love the outcome of very project, that's the point of making things yourself.  He didn't get it!

So here are the 2 other cowls that I finished last weekend.  I love them, but they are not for me!

This is a thick chunky cowl using Rowan big wool, beautiful colour. The pictures where taken in evening so are not the best. Sorry.  I followed this pattern found on ravelry.  I think I may enter this for Octobers Celebrate color.

This one I love.  I want it for myself, but twice the width.  It wraps around twice and is so snuggly.  It uses 2 skeins of Rowan cocoon and hangs beautifully.  I used this pattern here and just loved making it!

I think I may have realised my problem.  When I make gifts, lots of time and effort goes into making the choices about the style, yarn, and colours that I think that person may like.  Time goes in to making the item and the thought and anticipation of if they will enjoy it spurs me on.  But when making things for me, I must just think, "that will do", "its only for me". Perhaps that's why its not coming out as I would like.  Less love is going in.

Join shannon and all the other knitters in the KAL.  The ravelry thread has lots of good inspiration if, like me, you feel lost!

KAL with luvinthemommyhood!

I am really excited to take part in the current KAL with the lovely shannon from luvinthemommyhood.  I followed the summer sweater KAL with some envy, wishing I could knit a sweater too.  The inspiration boards that shannon put together were gorgeous!  Sign up to take part here!
                                                             
I have tried knitting but get bored when using thin wool as it seems to take forever to see results.  I am far too impatient!  Big chunky wool is fine, but crocheting is even better.  That's the beauty of this KAL it can be crocheted too and its a cozy cowl so it will work up fast!  I have signed up and am busy thinking of what to do.  I am going to design my own cowl and its going to be big!  These last few weeks I have made two cowls, one for my shop and the other for a family members gift. can't say too much.  I also made a red one for the September Celebrate colour entry with matching mits!  I think I love cowls more than scarfs as they can just dangle round your neck and not drag on the floor and get covered in mud when your playing with your kids in the park!

                                                               Source: peoplewebs.blogspot.com via Lucy on Pinterest

                                                                              Source: etsy.com via Lucy on Pinterest

                                                                               Source: colorful-stitches.com via Lucy on Pinterest

The nights are getting dark now, I have a craving for hot chocolate with cinnamon mmmmmm! So its time to get comfy and cozy on the sofa and crochet the night away!  (ummm, isn't it supposed to be dancing!) ;)

                                                                                  Source: bhg.com via Lucy on Pinterest

P.S. I have made a promise to myself to try out some recipes again soon, just busy figuring out how to make my brother's wedding cake! it's in less than two weeks! eeeek! Don't panic it's just a sponge one! But i'm sure whatever can go wrong , will go wrong!