My Month In Numbers - February

Hi I'm back with my next installment of My Month In Numbers. Throughout February I've been busy counting and keeping note.

10 - the number of minutes before I was due to leave for the ICHF show at Bluewater to find out I wasn't going

46 - the amount paid for two tickets to see The Black Keys at Alexandra Palace

-10 - the temperature on the drive home and
34 - the number of icicles hanging by the front door

5 - the cost ($) of the Lucky Days embroidery pattern I bought

The pink hexagon hides some journalling about having to say a sad farewell to one of our much loved cats.

I had been pondering just how to record my numbers this month and when I found this notebook hexagon shape in the Silhouette online shop it seemed ideal especially when used with some really old notebook printed patterned paper I found stashed away. It even had some doodling printed on it that ended up in just the right place.

Have you been keeping numbers too? I received the comment 'Why are you counting icicles, do you not have anything better to do?' And if you want to find out why I've been counting visit Julie at Notes on Paper to learn more about My Month In Numbers.

The Knitty Gritty

Hi today I have a bit of knitting to share. When I saw the cowl pattern in the latest Mollie Makes I wanted to start knitting right away. However reading through the pattern I saw that it used a provisional cast on and a three needle cast off. What? I am in no way an expert knitter and I hadn't attempted either of those things before.

But I was willing to give it a try and after a bit of investigation on You Tube it all became a bit clearer. Using super chunky yarn it knitted up quickly and didn't require much concentration and in no time at all I found I'd finished.

It's typical that I finish it just as the weather seems to have got milder but I can see that it might be good draped around the shoulders for cool summer evenings sitting outside.

I found some fairly inexpensive yarn to knit my cowl, Serenity by Wendy which is around £3.00-£3.50 a ball and I used 3. Of course if you don't want to double wrap your cowl you could use less. Serenity is a super chunky yarn and is made up of 10% wool, 20% alpaca and 70% acrylic and knitted on 10mm needles. Knitted up in this double seed stitch it gives a lovely texture, I may just knit another because as my friend Sonja says you can't have too many cowls :-)

The baby quilt finished, sweet dreams

Hi, yep I finished the baby quilt and I can't help but feel pretty pleased.

When I rashly said I would make a quilt for a new arrival I didn't really have any ideas about how I was going to set about doing it. Then I remembered that Jenna at SewHappyGeek had posted a tutorial for a sweet baby quilt.

I had decided on a bright mix of colours with white for the quilt front and for the backing I chose some spotty fabric to tie in with some of the other fabrics I used. Stippling the whole quilt was a bit tricky and I think I should have made my pattern more open but it was all a learning experience.

I'm sure the new baby won't notice the imperfections snuggled up having a nap.

I'm linking up to Manic Monday Linky Party - Thanks for the tutorial Jenna

Lucky Me

Hi have you discovered Lucky Jackson and her 365 Lucky Days project? Today is day 148 so I apologise right now for not mentioning it sooner. But today I have a good reason to because I have admired these amazing pieces of stitching for 148 days and just recently Lucky has made some of her embroidery patterns available to buy. My finger hit that 'buy' button straightaway, well once I'd dithered over which one.

In the end I went for Vintage Dress Love.

Do you remember the Skirt I recycled? That's what made up my mind in the end as I thought I'd make something for my Mum as it was her skirt from the 70s that I cut up. To colour the shoes I carefully coloured them with promarkers.

I may well be visting the shop again to buy Polaroid Love and Boot Love

Before I go I thought I'd share a couple of my favourite pieces from the Lucky 365 days project.

Source: 365luckydays.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Blondie from Bombshell Week



Source: 365luckydays.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Batboy

Aren't you impressed that one of these masterpieces appears every single day?

I am.

I Heart.......

Hi I'm not sure if it's because Valentines Day is nearly upon us but hearts seem to feature in quite alot of my recent sewing.

Like this heart block. Another common feature seems to be a red and pink combination, I just love it. Then the heart block led on to a mini (really mini) quilt for a project I've had on my mind for ages but more on that another time.

 It measures just 8" square and I added some circular free motion quilting in addition to the stippling.

And finally............ this is going to be a cushion cover. I hand stamped the Roxy Music song track with some Versacraft ink and used handstitching to quilt and look, that red and pink combination again. Told you I loved it!

There is sunshine in my heart

Hi. Today I'm feeling a little hard done by. I should by here at Bluewater at the Creative Stitches and Hobby Crafts show oohing and ahhing at pretty fabrics and lusting after scrapbook supplies. Instead I'm not, I'm at home in the snow.

So, I'm trying to look on the bright side and joining Julie in her Month of Sunrays and created my own bit of sunshine.

You see I already have pretty fabrics and scrapbook supplies.....

......some more would have been nice though!

Cheerio - That's all for today from this little ray of sunshine.

My Month In Numbers - January

Hi are you taking part in Julie's My Month In Numbers? Squeezing just into February here are my January numbers.

2 - In January my blog celebrated it's 2 year birthday

7.99 - The extortionate amount I was charged for the delivery of my new phone that I ended up collecting myself.

2000 - The number of nectar points exchanged to spend at Amazon. Tilda's Winter Ideas already here and Zakka Style on it's way (hopefully).

-0.50 - The amount my eyesight has improved since my last eye test. Apparently if you are short sighted as you get older your eyesight can improve. Not all is lost then!

9088 - The pattern number of the Simplicity retro 70's dress pattern I bought. Coming along nicely.

If you would like to take part or want to know or get some tips on how to collect your numbers visit Julie at Notes on Paper I'm sure she'd love to see you and your numbers.