An Aladdins cave of loveliness.

About a year ago while searching the internet for nearby cake supplies shops I stumbled upon a shop in a nearby village that sells cake cases and icing gadgets. 

Later in the year when discussing the fabness that is cupcakes a friend of mine had mentioned the shop and said she'd done a cupcake decorating class there.

I didnt make it there until last summer when we were driving thro the village to a pub we like for lunch. It had intrigued me and I just fancied a nose.

Little did I know what awaited me. Words can't really express the lovely, mainly pink, amazingness that you find in this shop. I can't do it justice so have a look at their facebook page and the photos that have recently been put up. It's full of handcrafted, well everything really, jewellery, soap, bags, cakes and more. And locally produced veg. There's just so much to look at I dont ever know where to start. I just love it in there.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Stanleys-store-bovingdon/182599068475886

It's called Stanley's Store and it's in the village of Bovingdon. Well worth a visit.

The BEST bit has to be the fairy garden out the back.

Just amazing.

But on this chance visit in the summer I saw that they made cupcakes to order for parties.

And what was I planning last summer? A wedding. So I ordered 70 of the beauties there and then. We chose pink and cream icing with bright pink heart sprinkles and glitter (they looked much nicer than they sounded!)

Sorry the photo is rubbish. A friend has better ones. I'll post them when I get them.

This is my sister and me stuffing our faces like the ladies we are. They were YUMMY!

Sarah who owns the shop is just lovely. One of those people who will talk to anyone and make them feel at home. She greets everyone as they come in.

While I was there she commented on the button earrings and bracelet I was wearing and when I told her I made them, said she thought she'd be able to sell some in her shop.

So today, months later, I finally got up there with some of the bracelets and earrings I'd made. (I needed to leave the house, cabin fever was KILLING me!) I also took what was left of the scarves I had from last winter that mum and I had made and 2 of the traphilo bags. She's going to see if they sell.

So fingers crossed. I'll let you know how I get on.

(Those photos are quite good arent they, should try that more often)

Speaking of photos, mum took some of the blanket before she left it at my Grandpa's. Again they're phone photos so I apologise but you get the idea.

The beady eyed amongst you will notice that it is the same as Baby Blanket version 1 in this post but this time it's blue. It came from this pattern:

It makes a LOVELY blanket but it got more than a little boring after a while.

I've also been making a little Christmas pressie for my beautiful Goddaughter. But I'll post that another day.

That's the most active I've been all week and am absolutely exhausted now. :( Might have a lie down. Happy weekend everyone.

FO Friday

I'm SOOO annoyed.
I blocked the baby blanket then bundled it up for my mum to take to my Grandpa's house today so that my cousin can pick it up tomorrow and guess what....... I forgot to take any photos :(

So disappointed.

So you will just have to imagine it in all it's baby blue soft loveliness. :(

And the cardigan that I finished, well the pictures of that were just taken on my phone so they're a bit rubbish too. :(

But here they are:

The rubbish light doesnt really do justice to the colour.
And here's one of her wearing it. I chopped off her gorgeous little face because I havent checked with her mum and dad but you can see the cardigan. It only just fits so i'm kind of hoping it will stretch a little. You might remember that I was really disappointed with the wool so it's not huge loss if she doesnt wear it much. I'm just glad it's finished.

I'm quite pleased with it as its my first item of clothing. But I've learnt to buy the wool from a shop where I can feel it before I but it next time I make anything for a baby.

You can't see in this picture but the top and bottom buttons are red. Very M & S dont you think?? I reckon it's almost designer. ;)

So those are my FOs for the last few months. I wish my course work was an FO. :( I'm sure this specialist dyslexia course will be worth it in the end but it is SUCH hard work trying to get it done. The worst bit is definitely the guilt I get for not working on it when I'm doing something else- like knitting :(

Anyway, pop over to Tamis amis for more FOs and some creative loveliness.

Have a lovely weekend and I'll try to give you a WIP post next week on the new Baby blanket. Am really enjoying being back in the land of Blog (can you tell?)



Still ill. :(

I'm still off work, I dont seem to be feeling any better. Maybe it's all the day-time tv I'm watching or the lack of fresh air but my throat still hurts, my sinuses are still throbbing and, despite at least 12 hours sleep last night, I'm still tired. Eugh!

But I've been tucked up on the sofa with my laptop (my new best friend) catching up on blog world and it's cheered me up no end. There are such beautiful blogs out there with such bright and cheery photos. I really need to start making my photos clearer and brighter and not taking them with the items lying on the brown sofa :(

I've started a new project. It's a Christmas present and as the baby blanket isnt needed for a good few months yet (clearly, or it wouldnt have been a surprise!) I've put it on hold.
I wont post any photos incase the recipient is reading. but it shouldnt take too long.

Thank you all for brightening my sinussy life.

xxx

Here are some of my favourites:
http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/my_weblog/
http://doyoumindifiknit.typepad.com/do_you_mind_if_i_knit/
http://crochethealingandraymond.wordpress.com/
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/
http://knitandseek.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftsfromthecwtch.co.uk/

Have a look at their lovely yarny colourfulness.

WIP Wednesday #9

I'm still here!!!

Life is still mentally busy but I'm off work this week with sinusitis so am lying on the sofa knitting and catching up on Glee!

AND..... I've finished the baby blanket and the cardigan.

I finished the cardigan a few weeks ago but havent managed to post about it yet and I finished the blanket yesterday. The baby is 4 weeks old now but hey... I'll post about them on Friday (mainly because I cant find the photos)

But here's my new WIP.

It's ANOTHER baby blanket. Good friends just told us they're expecting so I got carried away and started another baby blanket.

It's a pretty simple pattern (which means I can do it in front of the telly) and in oatmeal because they dont know what flavour the baby will be. But I like it.


Dont forget to have a look at all the other WIPs. I'm SO out of the Blog loop :( I really have so much to catch up on.

I'm still here.

Hi, just in case any of you were missing me I thought I'd check in.

Life has been a little crazy recently, term is well under way and my Specialist Dyslexia course has become completely overwhelming.  I'm not a quitter but I'm seriously tempted and not entirely sure what i'm doing.

I constantly feel guilty if I'm not doing school or couse work and have therefore not even seen my knitting needles for weeks. Those babies will have completely outgrown their presents before they even receive them :(

So I'm feeling a little overwhemled at the moment and the weekends are just too short.

I'll be back when and if it all calms down again.

Take care
Nicky
xxx

WIP Wednesday #8

School started again on Monday so I dont think I've touched my knitting needles since the weekend.

But all my projects are going really well but I've just realised I dont have any photos and as it's dark now I cant guarantee they'll come out very well.

Here goes:

This is the first sleeve for the baby cardigan.

But it was the second Sew Do It on Saturday and if you scroll down a bit you'll see my excitement about the event.

I went along with my lovely material and brought it home half finished. I forgot to take photos until now so here they are:

You might be able to see that the ends of the thread are all still loose and I havent finished the seam where i turned it inside out. But you get the idea.....

I sewed the seams to separate the sections in different stitches. My new sewing machine has 49 different stitches programmed into it. You just type in the number and off you go.....

Here it is open......

And here it is full of my lovely needles. Dont they look all snug?

All tucked in......

 And all wrapped up. It needs a tie.

I LOVE it. And there is loads of space left for all the needles I'm using at the moment too.

So that's this weeks WIP. It needs all the loose ends tied off but they will take me ages so it wont be a FO this week.

I need a holiday to finish all my projects. Oh, and somehow 13 balls of Cherry red Sirdar big softie and a pattern for a knee length cardigan arrived today. Cant possibly imagine how I managed to order them but now I've got them I'd better make the cardigan :)

Dont forget to check out the other WIPs at Tamis Amis.

Have a good week.

x

Sew Do It

This Saturday is the second Sew Do It run by Clem Short and Ellie.
I've decided to make myself a knitting needle roll so have been to lady sew and sew in Marlow to get some fabric to make it from. 

This is the fabric goodness I found. I'm thinking cupcakes on the outside and blue lining.

YUM!!!

I'm really excited about it.

These are just some of the needles I inherited from my grandma (and therefore also my Great Grandma). Her alzheimers is so bad she hasnt noticed they're gone but I'm sure she'd be glad they're being used and loved. There are a load of crochet hooks too but I think they're at my mums.

These are the ones we could pair up minus the ones I'm currently using - about 6 pairs. I  LOVE them and love wondering what they've made over the years - probably some baby clothes that I wore. Some of them must pre date WW2 and maybe even WW1 (but I think that's probably the tatty old steel ones that aren't in the photo).

So I'm going to make them one of those lovely rolls to keep them nice and cozy. :)

It's my last day of holidays tomorrow. I've got a fun filled day of cleaning the house followed off by some indulgent knitting. :)

(am not thinking about my course or any other negative influences in my life!)

Have a good weekend. xxx