12/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Bit late this week, and another rare shot of them not watching television.  They are in the bath, being monsters.  They are often monsters.

A new hobby

What a busy weekend.  Again.  I went with a friend to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia, and didn't buy any wool at all, much to my own surprise.  I did buy a huge (ish) amount of cross stitch and quilting stuff though, and predictably Simon is delighted.  I've read the big book about quilting, and I think it's relatively straightforward once I get a rotary cutter, so I'm looking forward to having a bash at it tomorrow night.  I've also got a kit for a Shibori Lap Quilt, which is built up round traditional Japanese fabric, and is utterly gorgeous.  As it's squares bordered by white rectangles, it'll be easy enough to make, I'm sure, and I'll post pictures of me cutting it up into wrong sized squares, swearing at it, chucking it in the bin and denying all knowledge of it.

I also made a sweet little cupcake cross-stitch, and now have been bitten by that bug - I bought an elephant and an owl which I will frame and hang in the girls' rooms when they are finished.  Dead easy to do, but I can't watch TV while I do them, so I'll have to do something else while sewing, so I'm busy downloading archive episodes of In Our Time at the moment, slowing up the computer and generally frustrating my somewhat fragile internet connection.  

Maybe all these crafty hobbies will turn into a viable, proper money making thing.  Maybe.

10 and 11/52

I'm not entirely sure where last week went.  I did take some photos of the girls, including one I earmarked for the 10th week of the project, but never got around to posting it.  So, here are two portraits of my children.

A rare picture of my children not watching television.  We had family supper last Friday with pimped up pizzas made by the girls - they are both obsessed with olives and so their pizza is the one that is mostly black spots.  In the end, the little buggers didn't eat their pizza at all.

This photo is from Friday which was Red Nose Day here in the UK.  For those not in the know, Red Nose Day involves spending money which goes to Comic Relief, to be redistributed to various charities across the country.  I bought them an official Red Nose each, but as they are made of foam rubber and smell strange, both girls refused point blank to wear them, so we improvised.  They are shattered in this picture after a week of various illness and high temperatures, tantrums, bad moods and general blahness.  A week to forget, quite frankly.  Let's hope we get some Spring sunshine soon so that all these bugs go away.

WIP Wednesday

What on earth is going on with this blog?  Every time I open the computer, it appears to be Wednesday again, and time to talk about knitting, meaning that both my regular readers (Hi Vicky!  Hi Rosemary!) stop reading, roll their eyes and read something more interesting, like, well, almost anything else.

Last week's WIP is still a WIP, as I got fed up after the first round of stars, and need to get the Nordic knitting vibe going again.  This week's WIP is a pair of socks, started before a trip to see Skyfall, and then shoved in the bag and forgotten.  Because I am arrogant, I thought I could do ribbing in the dark.  I can't.  One pair of socks has the most beautiful, neat 2 by 2 ribbing, the other has what could kindly be called a ribbing/moss stitch hybrid.  The socks are for my husband, and even though they look rather petite, they stretch like mad, and fit perfectly.

The yarn is Regia, Kaffe Fassett dyed, and is lovely to knit with - stretchy but strong.

WIP Wednesday

Golly, is it Wednesday already?  This week has gone so fast, which is a combination of terrifying and relieving, and it's Knit Night again.  Last week, I worked on my Vine Yoke Cardigan, and now it's finished, except for some buttons and a good block, so I can't wear it quite yet.

We got very into The Killing last year, and I, along with the rest of the world, fell in love with Sarah Lund's jumper.  Unlike most of the rest of the world, I can make my own, and started making plans and charts and all sorts for a while, even going so far as to buy the yarn for it, lovely lovely Rowan Cocoon.

This is not a picture of my jumper.  It is the original inspiration, and it is shamelessly taken from the shop at Gudrun Gudrun.  Nice though, isn't it.  The yoke is a bit, well, and this sounds really arrogant given that these people make a living from making knitwear, messy, so I thought I could do a different job on that, and the arms are of gorilla like length, and as my husband loving told me before we were married, I have very short arms.

My jumper is on ravelry here, and this is a photo of me trying to look cold and emotionally distant while wearing the sleeves.

I'm just about to start knitting the first round of the stars on the body, and I'm really pleased with it so far.  Hurrah for WIPs.

Julia's Bespoke Babies, redux

I am attempting to make myself into an entrepreneur as a total change from teaching.  As previously written about at great and tedious length, I make baby gros - in that I applique little designs onto pre-made baby gros, and then sell them to people.  I've sold a whole load via facebook, and also at a Christmas fair.

My website is Julia's Bespoke Babies, and I am busy publicising it by all means fair and foul, which is why I'm going on and on about it now.  My friend Ruth runs a website called More than a Mum, and I have been interviewed by her (get me) about the business, and it should run sometime next week, which will be interesting.  I've also signed up to a couple of websites selling handmade things - both of them specialize in selling things made by mums, so will be my target market.  I'm also considering advertising and running craft parties, so watch this space.  

It's all rather exhausting to think about, but I'm sure the reality will be perfectly manageable and fun.

So, if you have a baby on the way, or if you know someone who has and wants a baby gro, please point them in my direction.  If they're not on facebook, point them at this blog.  I'll be everso grateful.

9/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, during 2013.

My children love to sit.  They are very active, but their favourite thing to do is sit and think, or rather watch Disney Princesses.  I do not like to watch Disney Princesses, so tend to let them get on with it.  This photo was taken in a brief moment of calm in an otherwise extremely busy weekend.  The girls had had a great day out with their dad on Saturday, out for the whole day, eating chips, going to playgroup and meeting a friend.  Then Sunday morning was church, which I ducked out of this week in order to work, how wonderful, then we had a friend round for lunch, then off to a party and then back to the hostess' house for tea and playing, and then total family collapse.  No wonder I've never got any energy.