Some quick crafting 'wins'

I've kind of committed myself to doing several larger projects over the next couple of months so I wanted to get some quick wins out of the way.  I'm also this close to finishing a pair of socks but sincw I've been working on them since earlish 2011 I've decided they deserve a post of their own.

First off the block is a small apple.  I have no idea why I decided that I needed one but it cannot be denied  'tis cute!

Then I made a cucumber (the colour's not good on the below, it looks like something else... or maybe that's just me)

Then I made a little owl (to put in  pocket)

All of the above will likely end up in my 'take up to Sydney when next you go' bag so my nieces can lucky dip what they want from it.  Then I'll put anything left over into a charity collection.

And then today I finished off a washer with a fish on it (I haven't decided if this will be mine or not, I'm overdue for one but I know my nieces love them.  My sister's told me that they refuse to use anything other than my washers.  Hence me being overdue to keep rather then gift one)

I also finished off a scarf that I'm honestly not that happy with.  I started it a fair while ago and I just don't like it.  It's pretty enough but it's not something that I'll find useful.  I'll likely end up frogging this and reusing the yarn in someting else.  I'll have to see how I feel after a month or so.  For now it's been put aside.

That's it for now (and back to the socks... except that it's HOT today ( 37^oC now atm, down from 41^oC an hour or so ago).  I'm not really that motivated to drape wool over my lap unless I absolutely need to.

Time to get organised (or at least think about it)

My study has become just a tad cluttered over the last couple of years

So I went to play in IKEA yesterday and I now have 2 more sets of shelves

It will likely take a week or so (as I want to catalogue my books as I go) but a step in the right direction has been made!

First project in

First project of the year is done.

A nice red beret.  I didn't really need another beret in red as I've already got 3 at that end of the colour spectrum.  I really need a green one or a black one.  Possibly even a white.  It'll happen sooner or later.  I've got a few months until winter hits so there's time.

I indulged myself by choosing one covered in cables rather than lace.  It'll mean less utility but I have missed my cables.

 

I've also picked up a shawl I last worked on 20 months ago.  It turned out to be a bit of a 'nothing' day for it as I put it down for a reason so there's been a lot of working out where I was up to (not as far as I first thought) and what I'd done wrong.  I think I've worked it out but time will tell.

The pattern in question is Urdr (really pretty) and if I can do it successfully it'll hopefully give me impetus to complete some other shawls I've stalled on.  (Ravelry pattern page)

This evening I've watching a quite 'unique' show: Bare-faced cheek in which two Frenchmen are dropped naked on one side of France and need to make their way across to take a balloon ride.  No money, just what they can obtain through the kindness of strangers. 

Here I go again

My sole 'not-resolution' (i.e. I don't do them) is to reactivaate this.  I'll probably be less topic focused so maybe it'll balance and result in more regular posting.

It's officially the first now and I'm home from family celebrations. All the rest of my immediate family live interstate and during one meandering discussion over the last week I mentioned that it'd be great if I didn't have to be the one to travel next year and offered to host instead.  How this works in with my proto-plan to take my annual holiday around the same time I'm not certain. I suppose time will tell.

I was responsible for the supply of biscuits and the below really went down well. I think they'll be a repeat.

Smitten kitchen: fig and walnut biscotti