Still messing about...

Yesterday I ended up changing the name of this blog.  Today I have been messing around with the header photo.  The new photos have come out much better than I thought and I might even do a post about my stash in a few days time.  I have some lovely yarn photos now!

Anyway, I am finally getting there.  I changed the name of the blog because the old one just didn't sound right to me.  I wish I was clever enough to think of some play on words but I'm not.  I like Passing the Time because it sounds sort of laid back and relaxed, a bit like how crafting is really - so long as there isn't a deadline to meet of course!  I am trying not to overthink it though and make spurious connections between the blog title and the real world.  I just kinda like it.

Of course I should be doing my tax return.  It is a definite downside of running my little shop that I have to do a return again after a few years break.  I wouldn't mind but I don't even owe any money, I am still working on building up the business.  Actually that is the other thing that is keeping me busy this week - I have lots of new Anchor kits in and some lovely Patons Dreamtime 4 ply yarn that I have not had before.  I have had the DK and the colours and the feel of the yarn are lovely.  It is 100% wool and very soft.  It isn't in the slightest bit scratchy as you would expect for a baby yarn.   Anyway, it is always exciting getting different things in and loading them up to see if there is any interest.  I am still hoping to expand the yarn part of my shop further to incorporate some Rowan as well.  I am looking forward offering more choice and having more lovely yarn to squidge.  I'm not entirely sure where I am going to keep it all at this rate but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Thanks for dropping by.  Dx

Already falling behind

I have been meaning to do this post for over a week.  Oh the shame.  Only just started and already I am not keeping up. I have it on my To Do list for this week to do two posts at least so that is what I am aiming for.

Anyway, to get down to the point of this post, last weekend I went to the annual quilt show at the Farnham Maltings, run by the Farnham Quilters.  They show off their lovely quilts and also provide some opportunity for  a bit of stash building and retail therapy.  I took my mother as she is a bigger quilter than me these days. I do take full credit for introducing her to the craft as I used to take her to craft shows and shops after doing my first patchwork and quilting course almost 15 years ago but she has thrown herself into making gorgeous things since she retired and now belongs to the North Hampshire Quilters.  I find patchwork and quilting quite time consuming and difficult to do for short periods of time, unlike knitting and crochet so I haven't done much myself recently.  However, I have become inspired by the show to think again and maybe, now I am free of studying, get on with making something myself.  Well you never know - it is on the list of Things I Want to Do this year. 

I took a few photos to give a feel.  It is worth a visit if you are close enough but you'll have to wait until next year as it is just one day in January.  Shame. Anyway, I was much impressed by this piano cover that the ladies of the group made for the venue.  Such gorgeous colours!  And I have to say that I was quite impressed with the shape too.

These miniture quilts, below, were lovely.  Just my sort of size - I could manage a project like that!  I went so far as to try and buy a pattern but they had run out.  Shame.  I do have the lady's card though and if I ever get round to it she said I could email and arrange one mail order.  It would be a great project to take on holidy I think.  Very compact.  I like the seaside scenes but the Christmas ones make good decorations although, it being January, I am not really thinking that far ahead at the moment!!

There is a technical name for a quilt such as the amazing one below but it escapes me a the moment.  Anyway, you have to appreciate the work that goes into something like that.  I am not sure that I will ever manage it.

And this stand below, was also a little inspirational. It was set up to promote the City and Guilds level 2 and 3 Patchwork and Quilting courses which are being run locally next September.  It runs during the day which would be ideal for me as I don't have to disrupt anybody in the family to do it.  Plus, I have done evening classes but would much prefer not to have to go out on dark winter's evenings, if I can help it!  Wouldn't it be great if this time next year, I could be making quilts like this one? 

I loved the graduation of colour on the next quilt. It was a large quilt and it is quite something to keep in mind what you are trying to achieve when you are working on the little components.  I also like the simplicity.  The red/pink on a plain white background.  Sometimes less is more!

On the other hand, where would we be without a splash of colour to brighten our days?  I do have some lovely colourful batiqs just ripe for turning into a quilt such as these.  Not to everybody's taste I know but I love em.

Anyway, my mother and I had a great morning.  What is even greater is that I didn't spend any money.  The fabric sales were good but it was so busy I ended up getting fed up of being jostled by everybody.  Besides, there was a bit of a January sale vibe about the place where everything was cut price and meant to be a bargain but there wasn't anything that really grabbed me.  I came home empty handed much to Mr P's relief.

Coming home without purchases is unlikely to be the case for my next proposed visit to Farnham Maltings, the last weekend in February.  They are staging Unravelled which is a knitting show.  Lots of knitting and crochet loveliness plus lots of the smaller yarn producers and shops selling beautiful unusual (and expensive!) yarns that you just want to spend all day squishing and stroking. Sigh.  I am saving my pennies for that one.



Breaking more new ground

Well, I have worked out how to set this blog up, I have tinkered with it and tried to make it look pretty but now I think it is time for some photos.  Lets see how they work.

This blog is meant to be about my favourite crafts.  At the moment that is anything woolly - knitting or crochet.  Last Friday I finished a short sleeved cardie and was very proud of myself as it only took a week and wasn't half bad even if I do say so myself.

(Yay I uploaded a photo!)  This was made from Sirdar Squiggle which is knitted on a 10mm needle - hence the speed of creation!  It is part wool, part acrylic but lovely and thick, and I hope, warm.  The picture doesn't really show it but there is just the one button at the top.  I am pretty pleased with it although have yet to wear it on account of short sleeves.  It has been too cold for that.  However, the milder spell we are having might be the cue to wear it.  It is made up of lots of my favourite colours - red, purple, green and pink with a smattering of brown and cream too. A melange of colours!!

My next project is to finish a jumper for my elder son, the lovely C.  I am going to push the boundaries of technology and put in another photo of a UFO (unfinished object - not the spaceship kind - that really would be pushing the boundaries).

Quite a plain pattern apart from the ribbing in Sirdar Denim Chunky which is lovely and soft but inclined to split a bit.  I am using my 6mm rosewood needles which are really nice.  I have recently got into wooden needles and who would have thought that they made knitting that bit more enjoyable!?  I used to think needles were needles.  I don't know why they make a difference but they do!


I have done the back and have started doing the 2 sleeves at the same time.  It is knitting up quite quickly but I did start this in December 2009 with a view to having it done for a residential trip for C which started on 4th January 2010.  I didn't make it obviously, not by a long way, so I just put the whole thing aside and forgot about it for a bit.  I am trying to clear some UFOs before I go on another yarn buying spree otherwise the whole house may well disappear under a pile of yarn so I thought I would get on with this one before he grows out of it without ever having worn it!  Thankfully at 10 years old, the lovely C doesn't grown quite as quickly as he used to (although far to quickly for my liking - it was only yesterday he was a baby surely) and I was making it big so he might get a bit of wear out of it before having to pass it on to the gorgeous J who is 7 and catching up fast.


One more picture of the UFO, just because I can!!

And finally just for completeness sake, this is what I was working on last night.

This is my granny stripes blanket which I have been crocheting for a few months.  This photo is quite old now - I am just starting the 5th repeat and this photo was taken as I just started the 2nd.  I intend it to be at least twice as big as it is now.  It is a lovely project to pick up and put down.  Like so many people I got my inspiration from the Attic 24 blog -  a link here http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/granny-stripe.html


I hope this is alright.  I am not entirely sure of the etiquette of linking and tagging and loads of other bloggy stuff but if somebody wants to tell me off and show me the way, feel free but be gentle with me.


Thats it for today.  New skills learnt and woolly news shared.  Have a nice day!

What is in a name?

I'm still struggling with what to call this blog.  I have already changed the name several times only to find either I didn't like it when I saw it on the screen or somebody else had something similar.


I have been thinking about why I like the things I like, be it needlecrafts or gardening or cook books or whatever and it boils down to the fact that I love colour!  I would be miserable if I was forced to wear black and white all day.  I have to wear something with  bit of colour in it or I look ill.  Our house is full of colour although we try to keep the walls toned down to avoid clashing too much but I could never live in a minimalist house - far to bleak for me.


So I have been trying to incorporate the idea of colour into the title of this blog and not doing particularly well!  In the end I have settled for 'It's All About Colour' because that is it in a nutshell.  Not only does it fit my interests but it works as a metaphor for life really - not leading a dull existence and trying to find something enjoyable in your day, no matter how small.  I will leave the title as it is for now and ponder it some more.  Can't promise it won't change just yet but for the time being I am quite happy.


Hope you are having a good Tuesday.
P.S.  In case any body is interested I have put a link up to my online store over on the right hand side.  Feel free to have a look if you have a moment.

I hope this works!!!

Hello, I am new to all this and just trying to find my way so bear with me, won't you? 

I have been thinking about doing a blog for a while now so, new year, new start and here we go!

I am still working on how it would look so if you happen to stumble upon this blog in the early stages of development, don't be surprised if nothing works and it looks completely different if you can bear to come back to it another day.  I will probably even change the name as I did have an idea and now whatever it was has completely deserted me.  Not to worry, I'll get it right in the end.... hopefully.

The reason I am writing a blog is so that I can share all my craft making thoughts and creations and probably a bit about day to day life as well.  Another thing I am not sure about - where to make the balance.  I suppose it depends on how much crafty stuff I actually make - I have just finished knitting a cardie which took me a week and I am still reeling from the shock since the cardie before that took 5 yrs!!  So you see it is all a bit erratic to say the least! 

I also have a little Internet shop which sells needlework materials so I that is an important part of my day and something I am sure to mention in passing if only to say that I have seen some lovely yarn or fabric to lust over and want to sell it in my shop!

The final reason for writing a blog is because they do say that everybody has a book in them, don't they?  Not that real writers would necessarily agree with that of course - it sort of makes their craft sound a lot easier than it is!  Truth to tell I don't actually think I have got a whole book in me - no imagination for plot and frankly, writing about what I know for 300+ pages might be a bit dull.  However, I quite like writing so this can be my outlet since it is one ambition I am sure I will never get to pursue any other  way!

But that is enough for now!  You will probably realise very soon that I could witter on for ages so I will draw this first post to a close and get back to fiddling with my settings.  Hope to see you again soon. x