Spring swap!

I'm taking part in this swap, hosted by the Dutch sisters - why don't you sign up and join in too?

Yes, I know it was six weeks ago, but...

.. in the madness of trips abroad and Christmas, I completely forgot to post about it! (So so sorry Karlyn..)

On the day before we left for Holland on out house finding trip (did I mention we found a great house, but need the seller to reduce the price?)
this wonderful package from Australia arrived on my doorstep:

It was sent by my Polka Dot Christmas swap partner and was full of lovely spotty goodness!

There was a decoration for my tree

bunting for our living room

goodies for the girls

goodies for me

and a really sweet shopping bag disgused as a strawberry!

Thank you Karlyn for your wonderful package, I loved everything in there!

This is what I sent to Karlyn - see here to find out more!

Drum roll please.....

I've had a lovely day today, with lots of pampering and presents!

I've also spent a wee bit of time writing lots of names onto bits of paper...

...placing them into a handy bucket...

...and getting Pickle to draw out a pink one.....

....and an orange one!

Well done to Jennyflower and Nadine (The Cookie Cutter)! If you could send me your addresses, I'll pop your goodies into the post.

A big thank you to all of those who entered and left lovely comments. I have visited each and every one of you this past ten days and have discovered a lot of wonderful new blogs to add to my Bloglines feed!! For those of you who didn't get the goodies this time - hang around for a while - there'll be another give-away soon for my 100th post!

A Granny a Day!

Nope, I'm not referring to a New Year's resolution to daily assist ladies if more 'mature years'!!

I've joined the 2010 crochet along over here at Meet me at Mikes . My poor blanket has languished abandoned for far too long in its basket, and I'm hoping this will be just the thing to inspire me to finish it!


Why don't you join in too?

Scroll lace scarf

Yay! I finished my first project of twentyten - the Scroll Lace scarf mentioned in my last-but-two post.

It was such a quick and easy knit, and looks so lovely, that I know I'll be making a lot more of these. It does have a tendency to roll along the top edge, but having read comments on Ravelry, I know this is a common problem.

I'll try a few rows of garter stitch before I do the Picot cast off next time...

(Modelled by one of my Christmas presents from my lovely husband! I am a very lucky lady..)

I have now cast on this: Verity - (again by Ysolda) using the same wool.

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't done so already. I'm really enjoying discovering all these new blogs!

One Year 'blog-versary' Give away!

Well, I've had a little rummage and I've come up with two give-aways. The first one is for the knitters amongst you:

two balls each of Noro Silk Garden shades 282

and 236.

....should be enough to make this

- or anything else you may prefer! I've also included a pair of KnitPro wooden needles

as they are my all time favourites. I love these needles! they are wonderful to knit with, and I am slowly replacing all my older needles with pairs of these. I love their interchangeable circular needles too, and their DPN's......!! Lastly, the lucky winner will also receive a skein of 'Celebration' superwash merino sock yarn (thought it was apt!)

from the wonderful Abstract Cat Crafts on Folksy.

For the fabric junkies amongst you, I've put together a pile of Japanese Fat Quarters.

Most of these are of a pale linen background with wonderfully cute designs on. I'm not sure exactly which fabrics I'll be sending as I'm expecting a delivery any day soon....

and may swap some,

but you'll get at least six fat quarters and some of the lovely ribbon that I picked up on my last visit to Holland.

So, please leave a comment letting me know which package you'd like and I'll put all your names into a hat. Feel free to post about it on your blog and I'll put your name in again - I love to meet new people! Just let me know when you do, so I can give you another entry. I'll draw the names on the 19th January, so you have 10 days to enter. That's my birthday and I quite like the idea of giving presents away on my birthday!!

A good day.

Now I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but nothing, absolutely nothing makes me happier in the morning than when I open up my curtains to see this:

Today is definitely a good day!

Ahhhh...

Peace and tranquillity abound as normal routine returns to our home. Time to treat myself to a spot of this , I think....


Pattern: Scroll Lace Scarf, from Whimsical Little Knits 2, knitted in Artesano 100% Alpaca

Twelve months on...

Well, it's exactly twelve months ago that I started this blog, and what a year it's been! I've really enjoyed getting to 'meet' so many people that I never would have done ordinarily. It's great to have a record of (nearly) all the things I've made, though I am slightly ashamed about all the WIP's that remain unfinished! I would love to mark this one year anniversary with a give-away to all my lovely bloggy friends out there. I'm thinking of doing two - one for the knitters and one for all you fabric lovers! Pop back later to see what I can put together.....

Wishing you all a really happy and fulfilling 2010, and thanks for sticking with me this past year!