Treat Mittens in Autumn Shades

I knitted a pair of my Treat Mittens in a lovely autumnal colourway for my friend Sue for Christmas. I really like knitting this pattern, and I was pleased with how they turned out.

Slug

Another Christmas knit - I made this little slug using cheezombie's pattern for Simon's brother. It was good fun to knit, with an interesting technique for the eye stalks.

Ahead of the game

I'm in a funny place here. I think they call it Organised. I've finished a good friend's birthday present, with over 3 weeks to go till their birthday, and cast on for my new niece/nephew's knitted giraffe I'm making for when they are born in September.

I've got a list with all the people I want to get gifts for this year, and while it contains lots of gaps where I don't have ideas for specific people yet, the next things I am going to make are a couple of Christmas presents. Christmas. An event which is 282 days away!

And I'm not the only one. Spinonehalf has started her Christmas knitting too.

Maybe it took a few years of last minute December cramming to get us to learn that we really should start early. I'm just not sure March was when we'd planned to!

Happy New Year

I've had a bit of a break from blogging, and have been spending lots of time with friends and family, celebrating Christmas, going to the Panto, seeing in the New Year in lovely (albeit poorly) company, and so far 2009 is going well.

I want to spend more of this year creating things, and journalling, both with photos, and getting over my fear of drawing and doing some real journalling.

I took lots of photos today, I think this is my favourite:



Happy New Year, I hope your 2009 is filled with many brilliant things.

Gigs and Markets: Oysterband Weekend

Last weekend, my mum visited and we went to the Oysterband 30th Anniversary gig at Birmingham Town Hall, which we'd been looking forward to since Big Session in June.

The German Christmas market was on in Victoria Square next to the Town Hall, so we went there before the gig for a bite to eat and a look round the stalls

There were many stalls selling all sorts of food and drinks, and I hope to go back a couple of times over the next month to try more of the treats on offer!

As well as the markets, the Christmas lights were up, and the tree had been decorated, producing beautiful reflections in the Floozy's pool. The Town Hall looked very grand lit up at night.

I took lots of photos, and tried to capture some typical fairground shots of the lights blurring, and I think I did well with quite a few of them! We went on the carousel and I went down the helter skelter, which gave great views over the whole square. Mum bought a strawberry hat, and I tried on lots of the wonderfully daft hats available.

More German Christmas Market photos are here

After that, we went over to the Town Hall for the gig. I picked up a copy of their new CD and a tour t-shirt, and we got a good spot right at the front.

The support act were Edward II, who I'd not heard of. This was their 1st gig after a nine year break, and they were fantastic, playing a mix of Reggae & Folk, which really worked. The audience were all dancing and having a great time. More Edward II pics here

Then the main event. Oysterband opened the gig with 'Over The Water', and spent about 2 hours playing wonderful tracks, with an audience who were really enjoying it. At one point, John and Chopper got down and walked around the audience singing. I love Oysterband shows so much, as they enjoy playing, and it is always an amazing evening.

They finished the show with 'Put Out The Lights' acoustic, like they did at Big Session. I was hoping to be able to record all of the song, as it is magical, but my memory card ran out part way through, so I can only share the first minute or so with you:

After the gig I got to chat to the guys in the foyer, and recommended Frank Turner to them for booking at Big Session 2009. They signed my CD and we talked about lots of things. More Oysterband pics here

Saturday dawned bright and early, but chilly, and Mum & I went to Moseley Farmers Market. I was hoping to pick up some Christmas gifts, but the stall I wanted to buy them from wasn't there, so instead we looked at lots of stalls on the Arts Market, and were there for the Bromsgrove Town Crier ringing the official market bell to announce that Moseley is the best UK Farmers Market for 2009:

I also got to take some nice photos of vegetables:

More Farmers Market pics here

St Marys Church was having a little Christmas fair, so I bought some bric a brac and breakfast (2 slices of toast with Marmite and a fairy cake!), before taking some photos of the church & churchyard.

This weekend is far less exciting - haircut and making Christmas gifts.

Christmas Cards

I've made a lot of these simple but beautiful Christmas cards, so it is fitting that this week's collage should be some of them. They are really quick to make, and I've made a tutorial/template, which you can find here.

I've been selling these at work, with all the proceeds going to CHASE Christopher's Hospice, a fantastic charity who have supported my family. If you find the instructions useful, please consider making a donation to them. Thanks!

This Week in Pictures - 6th to 12th October 2008

12-10-08

L-R:
Row 1: My neighbour has painted her front door & the ginnel door, from red to lime green. I snapped this pic when the ginnel door was still red, made me smile. ~ I bought two brushes for my art course, a Cotman 1/2 inch flat and a size 12 round sable, with a handle long enough to be a magic wand! I like using nice tools. ~ It was our second week back at lindy hop. This is our friend Rik, who enjoyed himself. Caught up with many old friends from last year's classes, too. ~ I've been enjoying lots of nice walks on the lawn at work, one of the evergreen bushes has these gorgeous red berries. ~
Row 2: Each week we have a different flower display in Reception at work, and this week was some gorgeous red lilies and blue flowers that kept shedding petals. The contrast of the blue on red was lovely. ~ A sneaky closeup of a top secret Christmas gift, the first one I've finished. ~ Talking of gifts, I'm making a quilt or two, one for Chloe's 4th birthday (in 4 weeks time, eep!) and here's the fabric prewashing in the machine. ~ I liked the swirls of blue paint in the water pot when I was painting.
Row 3: I'm still a very novice quilter, and it took me a while to straighten off the ends of the fabrics I was using, hence this large pile of offcuts. ~ I've had my lovely Clarks winter shoes for a month now, and I love how they show off my socks when I wear nice patterned ones! ~ Another top secret Christmas project, to go with the other one, and for the same person! Lucky lady! ~ Talking of work, with its nice lawn and fresh flowers, this is the building I work in. Makes Monday mornings much nicer.

Fab week in review format nicked from Scrumdillydilly - go read her blog, very cool.