Boring Beige!

 

My mother gave me these buttons to try on my knitted cardigan.  There are 5 different designs here but I like the idea of the buttons not all being the same and it seems to be a bit of trend these days, whether the difference is in the design or the colour.

 

There is only one of this design with a sailing ship design that looks like a coin and it's my favourite of the lot.  Prepare yourself now for the sight of the finished cardigan.  I told you I didn't much like it but I'm willing to reveal all if you're prepared to make allowances for my really bad photography skills.

It's not just the lighting that's poor (although it is quite close to the actual colour) but looking at this pic now I've realised that the cardigan would have looked a lot better if I hadn't put it against a colour that was exactly the same as itself!!  Duh! Maybe if  I'd worn it with something bright it would have been an improvement but, as it's a little on the large side for me, I don't think I'd have been doing myself any favours.  I can't see myself wearing it anytime soon so, as far as I can see, my only options are to ask my mother if she'd like it or to put it away until I'm about 80 years old (when it may suit me and may even fit me!!).

What's this - my newly finished scarf trying it's best to brighten up the cardy?  What a struggle though; it's rather having the opposite effect and making the scarf look more muted than it really is.  Lesson learned!  Put more time and thought into my photographs!

This zipped pouch is actually quite nice in reality but the dullness seems to have spread here too.  Who's idea was it to photograph a yellow pouch against a yellow wall with bananas in the background, for goodness sake?!!  I'm sheepishly raising my index finger in the air in answer.  Actually, it wasn't a conscious decision, which is wherein the problem lies.

Look inside!  There's a surprise stripy lining.  I'm pleased with the way this turned out.  I decided to cover the ends of the zip before making up the pouch and it went together quite well.  I'll try a few more like this to ensure it wasn't a fluke!

A bit of non-stitchy stuff now.  DD is off on holiday to Florida with her boyfriend, and my sister and her family, on Sunday.  As it's her 26th birthday while she's away we're going out for a meal together on Saturday evening.  DS won't be joining us but there's a good reason for this - he'll be cooking the meal as he's covering for the chef's holiday again.  It's become clearer to me since he last stood in there how much trust they are putting in him. The establishment is 2nd in the county for good ratings on Trip Adviser!!

Now for the round up since last time.  I realise I've said it all already but I'll stick to the same format as previous posts as a summary:

Knitted cardigan - buttons added (even though I jumped the gun and said I'd finished it previously)

Knitted purple scarf - finished apart from darning in ends (this was the third incarnation of this scarf)

Yellow zipped pouch - finished, made from recycled materials apart from the checked fabric

Teensy weensy pin-cushion - to be stuffed

In planning stage - 2 more zipped pouches and one tote bag.

Bye for now
Teresa x

Resolved to Sew 2012

I've said before that I don't believe that New Year's Resolutions are a good idea and I stand by that; however, if I did make one it would be to Resolve to Sew in 2012.  I will still strive for it, but not as a measurable goal that could be setting myself up for failure.

Finishing my HST quilt last week has spurred me on.  Recognising that 'procrastination' is my biggest stumbling block could be the key to making more progress this year. 

All this has come to my mind as result of Ali at Very Berry Handmade and her amazing Giveaway launched yesterday, entitled Resolved to Sew 2012.  As a blogger I get an extra entry for writing a post on the subject and with such fabulous prizes on offer (yes there are 11 prizes!) I had to give it a go.  I highly recommend you to pop over and take a look at what's on offer, especially as she will post anywhere.

Although this is a little, extra, mini-in-between-post, just to keep up the momentum, here's my stitching progress since last time:

Knitted ripple scarf - this is no longer a ripple! It was working out  too chunky so it's been unrun (twice) and is now being knitted in a lacy pattern. So, basically, it's at the same stage as last time.

Knitted cardigan - tried out for size some buttons that my mother gave me from her stash but haven't sewn on yet.

Zipped pouches - One almost finished, one hardly started.

Bye for now
Teresa x

Why?

Why did 2011 go so fast?  I've heard it said that the years seem to go faster the older you get, but even children are noticing the years zooming by; yet, when I was a child, I'm sure time went much slower. 

My first finished quilt!!!

I can think of 2 possible reasons for this.  Firstly, more and more of our time is spent in a virtual or technological reality. Our lives are filled with TV, computers, ipods, ipads and mobile phones etc.  'Friendships' are conducted via text or 'twitface'. Time is literally eaten up with these activities and you can easily find that hours have passed that felt like minutes! The wasted time can never be recovered and as a consequence is lost for ever.

The whole quilt.

My second theory may be a bit more difficult to get your head around.  I've mentioned it to a couple of people with varying reactions from 'surprise that they understood what I meant' to 'looks that suggested that I'd lost my marbles'.

My quilt in situ - don't know if it's going to live here

What occured to me was the thought that time may ACTUALLY be slowing down.  I find, when trying to imagine the extent of the Universe, I have to stop after only a few seconds because it totally overwhelmes me, but one thing I do know is that the Universe is still expanding. And therefore I would suggest time is slowing down as a consequence.  The cycles of the solar system and the workings of clocks etc still seem the same but they all move with the Universe. (Are you still here or have you shut down your computer and run screaming from the mad woman yet?) It would explain why each year seems to go faster than the last, why people look younger than their parents at the same age and why life expectancy is always increasing.

Don't worry, I haven't lost my mind.  I don't really believe this;  it's just an example of the way my mind works sometimes when I let it run amok   :-).

-----

 

Well enough of that rubbish - The other day I saw that the second issue of Crafteroo online magazine was out so, as I found the first issue such good value and full of inspiring articles, I ordered and downloaded it.  I haven't read it yet but am looking forward to doing so.  Imagine my surprise when I got home to find I'd won one of the prizes offered in the first issue.  Namely the pattern above for pyjama pants and a cosmetic bag offered by Sew Me Happy.  I think this will be great made up from a soft brushed-cotton sheet so I'll look out for one in a charity shop. 

Crafting since last time:

Knitted scarf started - from a scarf my DD didn't want, that I unrun to make into a nicer one.

Zipped pouches - one almost finished, another started.

Bye for now

Teresa x

2011 into 2012

Hello friends!  It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks here, as I expect it's also been for many of you. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2012 is off to a good start. One thing I wish for this year is that it goes a little slower than 2011.  I think the trick is to enjoy the moment and focus on each task or event rather than to be always thinking of the next thing you have (or want) to do.

Glasses cases and phone case from Folksy.

Although I didn't have time to make presents for gifts this year, I tried to buy handmade or eco friendly where possible.

Handbag mirrors from Folksy with cases (note the pretty matching crocheted flowers - it's the little touches that make all the difference)

On the day I finished work for the holidays, I arrived home to find that OH had put coloured lights on my shed for the season. 

I've compared my crafting and book reading pages from 2010 and 2011and  it's clear there's little difference in the book reading,which is a bit disappointing. I thought that having the previous year to compete with would give me more impetus to get reading. As for the crafting, I can't believe how little I got done compared with 2010.  Keeping a record is clearly not the way to inspire me to do more. I'll keep the record going out of interest but I'll have to think of some other way of motivating myself.

DD made starry biscuits to contribute to the Christmas Fayre

At least the last 2 weeks have given me the opportunity to complete a couple of long-term projects (details below).

OH & me at a New Year party (and no, it wasn't fancy dress or a masked ball - we, and 3 friends just decided it would be fun!)

I don't think New Year Resolutions are particularly effective at helping to motivate me.  Plans or goals, however, might be the way forward.  I'll think more about how to go about this but any ideas would be welcome.

Crafting since last time: -

Knitted cardigan - finished apart from adding buttons (after a little hiccough during sewing up when I realised I'd made a mistake in the decreasing at the top of each sleeve) The only problem now, and it's a biggie,  is that I don't like it!!  I'll add the buttons to see what difference that makes but I'm not too hopeful. I might show a photo soon if it isn't too horrible!

HST quilt - ALL FINISHED APART FROM SEWING DOWN THE BACK OF THE BINDING (which I will do at my quilting club on Saturday).  Can you tell I'm pleased about this one??  It's my first quilt, albeit a small one, so I'm quite proud of it and will definitely show a pic next time.

Bye for now
Teresa x

P.S. I'm afraid my blog reading has run away from me so I'm not sure when I'll be able to catch up with your lovely blogs.  I will definitely get around to it eventually because I'd hate to miss anything, so please be patient with me.