L is for... Lauren

Apologies for the lack of posts. I've just started a new job, and I don't know if it's just me, but the change of routine always really affects what I do during the day. I don't have time to even knit at the moment! But I'm settling in, so I'll soon be catching up

Anyway Lauren is my cousin and soon to be God-daughter (August 7th!) and she's gorgeous. She's 1 1/2 and is the intended recipient of the hoodie I'm currently knitting

Only problem was, she wouldn't stay still long enough for photos!

We visited her and her big brother Daniel on Sunday. He's 3

We took them to the park, did some painting, played mini golf (my first time playing golf and I got 2 hole in ones!) and played on the trampoline.

Indulge in cute photos of babies! =P

For more ABCs look here

ETA: I fogot to add that I got her christening present!

 It's a charm bracelet. I've only got one charm so far

I thought this was baby themed whilst also being something she could wear when she's older. I'm planning to get her a charm for every birthday so by the time she's 18, she has 18 charms. They're on clips, so she can change them as much as she wants.

K is for... Knitting

Well it couldn't really be anything else could it?

I thought I'd do the story of how I got started knitting, and show you my amazing first creations.

My gran used to knit, although I never remember her knitting. There are, however, lots of pictures of knitted jumpers which I am assured she knit for me, and she did teach me to knit when I was about 6

This is the amazing garter stitch scarf I created between the ages of 6 and 7. I was really impressed when I fished it out at how even my gauge is, and that there are no yarn overs or holes anywhere!

And here is the grateful recipient (yes I still have him) Bongo the monkey, and one of my favourite toys when I was little.

And after successfully finishing that wonderfully loud piece of knitting, I put it aside for the next 9 years. At 15, our GCSE textiles group took a trip to the Harrogate knitting and stitch show, which had a section teaching people how to knit. We got a free set of needles, a free ball of yarn, and a few minutes of teaching, then we just sat around and chatted and knit for about an hour. It was great fun and so I finished up my ball of yarn, then ran out. I wasn't given the ball band, so the knitting went into a bag at the back of my wardrobe, and there it stayed.

Until I discovered MochiMochi Land. I have talked about it before, and I have no idea how I stumbled upon it, but the toys there really took my fancy, and I discovered amigurumi. After a lot of amigurumi pattern trawling (and I didn't even know about Ravelry at this point), I decided that I really had to make one of my own! So I headed up to a local yarn store I had spotted up the road from where I was living, to buy some lovely cheap acrylic yarn to make the toys. Then I spotted something on one of the dark shelves behind the counter. It was my yarn! I could finish my scarf!

And knowing nothing about dye lots or anything, I bought 2 ball of the lovely James C. Brett Rio and started knitting. But the indeterminable stockinette stitch got so dull, and I put it down again to make my cute toys (which also never got finished)...

Then, I picked it up again recently. It's hideous! It's so bright, far too wide, holey and gets wider as it goes on. Also, it suffers horribly from the stockinette stitch curl, as well as being pretty darn itchy and uncomfortable. I'm trying to force myself to frog it and soften up the yarn, so I can actually enjoy it.

I'm thinking I might make it into either Honka or one of these because I think if it's paired with black it'll tone down the colour somewhat, and make it into something I will wear.

As soon as my gran found out I was knitting again, she gave me all her old yarn and needles, as well as some needles that belonged to her grandmother. There wasn't much yarn left, but it's all very appreciated!

And that is how I got started knitting. I always like to know how people got started so share your stories!

For more K posts, check out here

J is for... Job

This is very short post this week

I had my sort of induction for my job today (I have my real induction later this week). It's exactly what I expected, going round stores at lunchtime and restocking coca-cola products (which actually are a lot more things that I realised 'til I started researching.) I did get a bit of a baptism of fire, because the woman I was shadowing came to one store to find two of her bosses, who wanted to do an entire stock check, as the store had said that they were consistently running out of stock. Anyway, I did my best to be helpful, and didn't get lost once, which is a a big plus for me! It doesn't look hard and I'm looking forward to starting. My start date was put back to a week on Wednesday, so I've got a bit of time to sit round the house and knit before then.

The boy is working for my mum, painting the outside of the house since we now have new windows. Her logic was that she would have to pay someone else if he wasn't there, and she knows he'll do a good job. He also has work experience with a lawyers office sometime soon. I just wish that the University would sort out his resits, as what they are currently asking him to do isn't fair. He ended up doing resits as he was mugged and stabbed last Christmas, so he was taking a lot of painkillers during the January exams. He explained this to them at the time, but they've been so awful at sorting out that he didn't get what he was entitled to for his resits. I wouldn't usually do this, but if people can hope and pray that they sort this out he and I would be so grateful, or he won't manage to graduate next year, and he can't afford to do another year.

I really hope they get this sorted.

I is for... Imagination

We all need a bit of imagination in our life, otherwise it would be far too mundane and boring. Even if it's just imagining yourself on that holiday you've been planning for years during a boring day at work. Imagination makes what we do worthwhile, as without imagination there would be no ambition. If we could not imagine what it would be like to have that degree, or get that promotion, there would be no point trying to achieve it.

Of course, we must have imagination to read a book and visualise the characters and events, or it would take all enjoyment out of it. All it would be is simply words on a page, there would be no story.

In crafting, imagination pervades everything that we do, from the mind of the designer, imagining the object they wish to create, down to the person making the design, imagining what it will look like made up in their particular yarn or fabric.

We all need a bit of imagination in our lives, and we don't nurture it enough. Instead of watching TV, read a book, or even better, imagine yourself in the world of your favourite book, interacting with the characters. What would happen? Write your own story in your head and enjoy living in your imagination for a while.

Imagination is the source of everything we have, for without imagination we would still be living in caves. We should give it the credit it deserves.

For more ABC posts, check out here

G is for...

Today, G was going to be for Going home, but unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstance, we're staying in this house until Friday. I cannot wait to move out, and I'm then going back to my parents house for 2 months before me and the boy move into our new house! We have almost no stuff left, since my dad came and took it away on Sunday, so there's only enough things that we can carry on the train. It feels so empty

So G is for Got my results! I got a 67% average, which I'm really pleased with, though I did want to get over 70. I only have one year left for my first degree, and to get a first I need over a 70% average. But next year is worth 60% of my marks for my degree, so I should be able to do it. Just more work and less knitting! The boy got a 64% average, and he's really pleased too.

G is also for Giving geeks, a Nerdwars challenge.  I'm still knitting preemie hats, and I've now made 8, 4 for boys and 4 for girls. I've started my 9th, then I'm going to make some ventilator bonnets, which I've just found out our NICU is in desperate need of! It's a good job I have a lot of baby yarn.

G is for Good food. The boy made the most AMAZING roast pork lunch today with roast potatoes and gravy. I take responsibility for the vegetables though, carot and swede mash with pepper., and broccolli It was so good, and it made a good going away meal for our best friend, who's off back to London today. I cannot cook to save my life, so I'm blessed that my boy has such amazing cooking talents.

Finally G is for Going on holiday. My parents have invited the boy and me to a cottage they're renting at Sands End near Whitby next week, from Saturday to Tuesday, so my post week will be a bit late. I haven't been on holiday in over 2 years now, so I'm so excited to go, knit and relax, before the serious job hunting starts.

So that's my G post, sorry for the lack of pictures. To see more, check out here.

F is for... Freedom

Freedom means a lot of things to a lot of different people. Although it's defined as "The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint" I think that most people would agree that when thinking about it, they would say that to them, certain things make them think of freedom.

For me it is:

The time when the housework is done, the uni work is done and there is nothing hanging over your head that you HAVE to do.

The feeling when you are upside down on a trampoline, and it feels like you're flying

Wearing whatever you want and not caring what other people think about it (purple zebra trousers and a very studded plastic jacket anyone?)

A time to sit and knit, for as long as you want, knowing there is nothing else you should be doing

Cuddling up in bed with the one you love, knowing you don't have to get up for a long time

The moment when you are standing at the top of a mountain, knowing the only way from here is down, and the climb was so worth it (if you're interested, the picture is of Mount Mulangi in Malawi)

Jumping  into the sea from big height (here it's off the top deck of a boat, and technically it's a very large lake)

Being in that crowd, enjoying the music and moving as one

Sitting round a campfire at a music festival, drinking cider with your friends, surrounded by 200,000 people

Dancing with your friends, completely sober, just because you can and they won't judge you

Having the time and money to just get in your car and drive, and see where it takes you

Going to the beach on the only hot day of the summer, and doing nothing all day

Watching a beautiful sunset, and feeling peaceful and happy.

I class a lot of things as defining freedom to me, even though they don't all fit into that definition at the top. What would you class as defining freedom to you? I'm genuinely interested in what t means to different people.

Check out other peoples' ABC posts here

E is for... Emma!

I thought I might do my post this week on... well... me! Especially since I turn 20 tomorrow, so I think I'm allowed to be self absorbed for a couple of days.

This is me:

 

Or at least it was in 1997. Wasn't I a cute child? The most recent comparable picture is the one from when I  left school 2 years ago:

Apart from me, there are 4 other people who appear in both pictures, and I bet you can't tell who they are! Hmm.. I have no idea why I was wearing a suit with trainers that day... Actually I do, it was comfy! But breaking the school dress code is bad...

Having had a browse through my facebook pictures, anybody would think I spend my time in fancy dress, drunk and/or pulling silly faces. Case in point:

But there are a couple of things that are very important to me, apart from knitting of course.

First the boy, Connor. We've been together 2 years, best friends for 5 and have lived together for a year:

And if you're interested. That's the house I grew up in in the background.

Then there are my doggies:

The little black and white one is Siouxsie Sioux (after Siouxsie and the Banshees), and she's 6, and the bigger brown and white one is Jessie (named after Toy Story 2) and she's 11 and going very deaf! They're both Cocker Spaniels.

Then there's trampolining, which I am President of. I don't have any pictures of me on a trampoline, so here's some of my club looking very attractive in unflattering leotards:

Then there's my degree. I wish I had an exciting picture of me in scrubs or a lab coat to show you, but cameras aren't allowed in labs, and I haven't been able to wear scrubs yet! I do love it though. I started the work for my dissertation today and it's amazing. I'm studying Pregnancy, Reproduction and Development, though I haven't decided on my specific research project yet. And I'm already the go to girl for all medical advice among my friends and family.

And finally there's my friends. What actually got me all nostalgic was that some of my school friends made the effort to travel from all over the country to see me this weekend to celebrate my birthday with me. And one of them made me this. It's a wall hanging with pictures of us and things that remind her of me, like some cute but evil things and her old school tie. I was just so touched that she made such an effort and I love it!

Other interesting facts: I have 7 ear piercings and a tattoo. I hate mushrooms and I have most probably seen any band you can name at a festival somewhere =P

 Right that's enough self indulgence for now! And I hope that's a good introduction to me.

D is for... Dread

I am dreading a lot of things at the moment:

I'm dreading my exam on Wednesday.
I'm dreading failing any of my exams
I'm dreading hating my dissertation.
I'm dreading trying to make my housemate pay her bills and move out.
I'm dreading cleaning the house.
I'm dreading our landlords taking all of our deposit.
I'm dreading forgetting to do something and losing our club's stall at Fresher's fair.
I'm dreading being an awful president of said club.
I'm dreading job hunting.
I'm dreading not getting a job.
I'm dreading getting a job.

I just want to go home...

So to cheer myself up, I cast on the snuggly soft simple socks I've been promising myself I won't start 'til I finish my other WIPs:

I love them! They're so soft and snuggly I never want to take them off, and I haven't even finished one yet!

Wish me luck for my exam?

To see more ABCs click here:

C is for... Celtic

Sorry this post is a bit late this week, exams got in the way!

I thought I would make this post about Celtic designs, as I think they're beautiful and really interesting things.

The first Celtic themed design I ever made was this cross stitch of a Celtic horse:

I love the way all parts of the pattern interlock, but you can trace it from start to end. I also like the way that it incorporates parts of a Celtic knot design and yet the purple strands come from the horses mane to represent hair. The only thing I'm not sure about is why it appears to be a seahorse rather than an ordinary horse...

Anyway, I started to look into the meaning of Celtic knots and other Celtic designs. There is a lot of discrepancy in agreement about the meanings, and little documentation, although some meanings are more well accepted than others. In my opinion, there is very little set meaning to the intricately entwined designs, and people can place there own interpretations on what they stand for. There are of course, any different elements to Celtic designs, including knots, animals, crosses, spirals and religious iconography, but the one that really interests me is the Celtic knot.

In particular, I like the description of a Celtic knot as symbolising "no beginning, no ending, the continuity of everlasting love and binding together or intertwining of two soul or spirits." as well as "eternity...the eternity of life, the eternity of nature, and the eternity of love." Any Celtic knot which has a continuous or unbroken path is in fact termed an Eternity knot. They seem to show us how we are all part of a never ending cycle of life, but add our own twists and turns individually to that cycle. To me they symbolise the connectedness and continuity of life.

Obviously, there are some knots that have more apparent meanings, such as the triquetra, or Trinity knot, which is made from a single strand to give a three part design. This can be use to symbolized the connection of the mind, body, and spirit, or in a more Christian viewpoint, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The picture here shows it in its simplest form, but it can be much more complicated than this

Another is the Lover's Knot which it shows two continuous, unbroken strands that are intertwined and inseparable from each other. to me, the very definition of true love. The hearts that we see today in Celtic imagery are a modern addition to these beautiful designs, which are ever evolving. The image on the left shows a traditional Lover's knot, whilst the image on the right shows 2 strands travelling separate, intertwined  paths, then merging to become one before splitting again to become intertwined. To me that separation and yet still unity symbolises true love as closely as anything can.

Now where I am going with this, is that I recently heard of the death of a lady I know's husband, and Ravelry has banded together to make her a remembrance blanket. I couldn't think of anything better to symbolise the love she and her husband felt for each other and the fact that they are still connected and will be for eternity then a Celtic knot. So here is my interpretation for her, and I hope that her blanket brings her comfort through this difficult time.

If anyone else is interested in knitting Celtic knots, there is a Ravelry group called Celtic Renegades which is  committed to charting 1001 Celtic Motifs for knitting, and already has about half of those done, with the patterns all up on Ravelry.

B is for... Bluetits

Well, since I have exams, I have nothing crafty to post, so here's a very short post....

We have baby bluetits! I saw one of them come out to take its first flight a few days ago, and they're so cute. If you go into the garden you can hear them chirping away and watch the parents come and feed them.

Since then i've seen the whole family out together in our tree, Mum, Dad and 3 babies.

They're really fluffy and look something like this:

It makes me smile everytime I see them or hear them cheeping!

Edit: I forgot the Mr Linky! See more ABCs here!

A is for... Amigurumi

I love Amigurumi! I think it's the looks on their little faces and the maternal instinct coming in. In fact, it was discovering amigurumi that really got me into knitting regularly in the first place. In particular, discovering one website: Mochimochi Land. I love it. I have 3 of her patterns and preordered her book when it was first announced.

In fact, I only own 2 knitting books, and they are both on amigurumi
  
So why can I not finish anything? My ravelry queue is stuffed with cute amigurumi creatures I want to make. My books are waiting for me. I even have all the wool I need for my next amigurumi project, as well as to finish the ones I've got.

So without further ado, I want to introduce you to my poor, neglected little amigurumi creatures

This is Rainycloud, he likes bubble baths and walks on the beach, and is scared of heights and loud noises like thunder. He likes to hide under the bed in storms, and has an alphabetised CD collection. He really would like to meet some rainydrops someday, to cheer him up and be his lighter side. He needs them to encourage him to have fun and to enjoy giggles, laughter and smiles. He is made of James C. Brett Marble and needs someone who can complement him.

This is Bob, the Monster Blob he comes across all happy and smily, but don't let that fool you. He is made of odds, ends and scraps from a long history of wool (my Gran's old stash) but he's carved a niche for himself on my chest of drawers. His life would be perfect is he could only have the one thing he dreams of, some intelligent company. There is only one girl for Bob, and he waits patiently for the day she will arrive. He has had teasers of her, but she never comes.

This is Betty, from the same background as Bob. She has been waiting to be able to finally see him for as long as she can remember, but unfortunately only has one foot, and no face. But she waits in the darkness, in the hope that one day she will finally be reunited with her childhood sweetheart, whom she has known since they were both wools scraps together on the journey through life.

And finally there is Tubby. He is ashamed to show his face as he is all in bits right now, but some day he hopes that he and his bubbles can come together and live happily every after. He is head of something, but it unfortunately is only the head of my queue on Ravelry, and he has much greater amitions for himself. One day he will make something of himself and find happiness.

A bit of a silly post today, but maybe it'll give me the inspiration to actually finish some of these projects and start on some of the myriad of others I have planned. For more ABCs please check here: