Just popping in briefly to wish you all a happy and healthy start to the New Year and share some of my favourite moments from 2016 in what has become a little tradition (previous year round-ups are here).
I hope it's a good year for us all and that your New Year's day is full of joyful anticipation, thoughtful planning and the company of those you love x
Well, I'm not doing well with my plan to pop in here more frequently am I? There has been productivity to my days since I was last here though; I'm scribbling notes and testing ideas for a new pattern and have been knitting lots of new animals from the existing patterns too. Having made two recent batches of finished animals has really brought home to me how much I love making them and how I'd like to make more next year, probably seasonal batches with a little theme, so I'll keep you posted here about progress.
There's been so much knitting in my December days, it's the perfect antidote to all of the planning, shopping, preparing and general business that comes with the time of year. The little bunny at the top there was made as a gift for a friend and I'm making a few more as stocking fillers (pattern is my free teeny tiny toys pattern)
I've finished and am wearing the scarf above, knitted in the beautiful Blend No. 1 from Ysolda. I do love the softness of this yarn and it is wonderfully warm and soft next to the skin. The pattern is the Flora Cowl by Carrie Bostick Hoge but I've made it into a long scarf instead of joining the ends to make a cowl.
Also in my WIPs basket under plenty of bunny bits are lots of personal projects, a pair of mittens, 2 pairs of wristwarmers, a shawl, a scarf, a crochet blanket and 3 pairs of socks - I seem to have finally succumbed to the charm of sock knitting. Goodness knows when any of these will get finished but I'm not in any hurry.
As well as finding peace and contentment in knitting I've also been seeking out silence and solitude in the woods. It's such a perfect place to find calmness and I always come away feeling refreshed. The pictures below are from walks over the last few weeks in Cowheath wood, a mixture of pines and birches bordered by ancient oaks and hornbeams.
Well, I'm off to knit a little before the chaos of the weekend descends. Next week will be all about the build up to Christmas, so I expect it will be a busy one for us all. Here's wishing you some peace and calm amongst the chaos and success in ticking off most of your to-do list! See you soon x
Time seems to be whizzing past faster than ever at the moment and I can't be the only one who feels a sense of panic every time there's an advert break on TV, full of Christmas urgency as they are. But I'm not feeling remotely Christmassy yet so I'm thinking I'll just stick my head in the sand and listen to the radio instead. In my mind it's still early autumn, a notion helped by the fact that many of the trees here are still in green leaf but it is a little wishful thinking I suppose. Last posting dates for Christmas really aren't that far away so I'm doing my best to finish off a batch of animals. I am getting there but progress is slower than planned. This is Albie and he's all ready to travel but his brothers and sisters are still in need of tails and buttons. I hope to have them ready in the next few days and will be sending out emails to my mailing list shortly with details of when they'll be available to buy.
As mentioned lots of the trees here are hanging on to their green, although there's a definite shift in the colour spectrum and some are already resplendent in autumn bright colours. It was recently half term break here and wood walks are always a good way to keep Toby busy (happily he's back to enjoying them again). Being close to ancient broadleaf woods with a network of well trodden pathways is something that I am extremely grateful for and they never disappoint whatever the season but autumn is really the time when they are at their best.
There is something so very peaceful about walking quietly in a wood and it always does me the power of good not least because it's a truly sensory experience...Your nose is delighted by an earthy blend of growth and decay. In the heart of the wood you can stand completely still and loose yourself in the gentle sounds; the sigh of the breeze moving the leaves; the chatter of small birds; the drilling of a woodpecker somewhere off to the right; the sudden, startled scamper of a squirrel as it looks up from burying acorns and realises you are there. With a kindly wind direction you may even be able to creep up on a muntjac, underfoot moss masking the sound of your approach until you are close enough to see individual hairs on his coat as he browses his way through the undergrowth on tippytoe pointed hooves.
Sadly I cannot capture the sounds or smells here for you but I can share some of the beauty that the woods near us provide...
Danemead wood, Ermine Street and Broxbourne Common, late October 2016
With the autumn equinox yesterday the balance of the year has tipped and now we're heading towards shorter days, from warmth to cold and from light to dark but for now it still feels like summer is hanging on here. I've been trying to get out a little more often while the good weather lingers. We have such great countryside around us and I always feel relaxed and peaceful after a walk but it seems hard to fit one regularly into my days, there's always something that needs doing isn't there.
Still, I've been making good progress on knitting projects. The first prize in my 10th anniversary giveaway competition has been sent off and has safely arrived in her new home. I really enjoyed making her and putting together all of the little bits and pieces (I always loved dolls houses when I was little and that's obviously still with me). The little suitcase and tea-set are from Maileg who have retailers all over the world and I made the little iced bun from my teeny tiny bear pattern (scroll down to the bottom for the bun).
Towards the end of summer I'm always tempted by patterns for scarves and shawls and mittens so I'm also working on a couple of cosy projects for myself and my family. This one is from a pattern from 'Flora' the first Issue of Making (which I believe has now sold out). It's the Flora cowl but I'm making it into a long rectangular scarf which will wrap round and round and be snuggly. The yarn is the very beautiful Blend No 1 from Ysolda which happily is back in stock (probably not for very long as it's rather in demand due to it's softness, lovely marled grey tones and it's excellent provenance). I bought 2 skeins and am just coming to the end of the first one so I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish this in time for the arrival of colder weather.
I don't know if it's the time of year but I feel like I'm struggling to fit everything into my days at the moment. Nothing has really changed here, so I think it's me more than anything else, but I just can't seem to settle or get myself properly organised. I'm good at making lists but the power to get on with tasks seems to have deserted me at the moment. Maybe it is the time of year and hopefully I'll feel more settled once autumn has got going. How about you, are you faffing about or organised and together at the moment? If you are organised do you have any tips to share?
Well, I'm rambling so it's time to go and add some things to my list of to do's and then promptly ignore them by making a cup of tea and picking up my knitting! 'Til next time I'll leave you with some pictures from my equinox walk up Widbury Hill yesterday. Thanks for dropping in x
Firstly I want to say a huge Thank You for all of the kind, funny, thoughtful and heartwarming comments on the giveaway post. I have read them all and I really appreciate the time everyone took to comment. As usual I've used a random number generator to pick the winners and in view of the amount of comments I decided to giveaway an extra animal so I've picked three winners. They've each been notified and are in the process of choosing their prizes (you can see who they are in the previous post).
As I've been merrily knitting away for months, making exactly what I want when I've wanted to I've ended up with lots of clothes, heads and feet. Now I have to jigsaw all the pieces together, work out which head goes best with which outfit and make all the missing parts. It's going to take me a little while but I am hoping to have a little batch of animals ready to sell this autumn and all being well another one in the run up to Christmas. That's the plan anyway!
We're starting to get back into term-time routines here. It always takes a while for Toby to settle in, especially as he has a new classroom and new teaching staff. He's also in the biggest class he's ever had with 11 classmates instead of 6 or 7 so this is challenging for him as he thrives a calm and quiet environment. And he's adapting to the after school clubs that I've signed him up for. As he's almost 15 it seemed like a good idea to expand his horizons, so he now goes to Rock club where they explore lots of contemporary music and Health and well-being club where he experiences relaxation techniques and yoga. On club afternoons I collect him with a handful of custard creams as a little treat and to try a lessen the anxiety he experiences at not coming home on the bus as usual. It also helps me feel a little less guilty for tipping him out of his comfort zone!
Anyway, I must get on with some work so I'm off to get knitting arms and sew seams. Until next time I thought I'd leave you with some of the pictures taken over the school summer break where we celebrated Amy's brilliant GCSE results (3 x A*, 7 x A, 1 X B), tried to get out and about as much as possible and made lots of plum jam :)
See you soon x