fantastic mr fox

i was very lucky to be given this super cute clothkits bag kit from a lovely friend for my birthday, (they have lots of other great kits to check out too).
it made for a very quick evening sewing project!at first i had thought it would make a good little tote to take along to the library with the small people in tow, but i think for now it will make a very good home for (another) knitting project!

birthday bandit

finally finished & i love it,didn't have much luck with using the 4 year old as my model, although he did rather like the shawl, as i caught him with it on at bedtime!pattern found here on ravelry, knitted up in colinette banyan, shade 'velvet leaf'

catch up

what a busy week, my little O turned One! & we spent the week with family, & what a week. we managed to pack in so much, swimming, farm trip (including getting lost in a maize maze), rock pooling, castle visit, birthday teas & so much more i can't remember it all right now.i hoping for a quite one this week, & maybe finding some time to complete some knitting projects & a quilt top i'm making, which will be a Christmas present (don't be fooled by this apparent organisation - i guarantee i won't be able to keep it up for long!)

i also wanted to share a couple (from the many) beautiful gifts my little ones were given this year. they were lucky enough to both be given some great artwork for their bedrooms. first up big G was given this great 'stinky whizzers' alphabet print (the hiding hedgehogs are my favourite), check out Phil's website for some better shots & some of his other great art work.
& little O was given this very sweet print, from this etsy seller

birthday bag

quick little projects like this make me happy,i have made many similar bags to this one, as birthday gifts (normally filled with a knitted or crocheted soft toy)i have always made the pattern up as i go along, changing things slightly every time.
this one was made using up some of my Amy Butler scraps & will be for little O's first birthday next week.
but for today the sun is shining - so we're off to the beach

crafty treats

i have just finished off a neck snug pattern (found here on ravelry) this was my trial run, as i'm thinking about knitting some of these up as Christmas presents & i'm trying to be ever so organised this year.i'm really pleased with it & can't wait to chose some wool to knit the next one up in. i used one skein of Colinette 'one zero' in dusk to make this one (with a small amount left over). Knitted up on 6mm needles. (i will add my pattern changes to the ravelry notes asap)
this is my work space today - i doubt i'll find time to make little O her birthday crown in time for next week, but i will make her a little birthday bag, as she's at that age where she loves nothing more than to put things in & then take them out, then do it again & again.

i also (accidentally you understand) ordered some more fabric, only a few FQ's, most of which were on special over at 'gone to earth', but just look how lovely they are,

four

well, we survived the party & the sun shone all afternoon,big G spent the day wearing his birthday crown,which i had very quickly put together the day before, using the instructions from 'the creative family' by amanda blake soule, i used some felt i had made a while ago, but this really was too thick for this project, so when i make the next one (& there will be a next one, no doubt the night before little O's first birthday) i will have to either make some thinner felt or find something else to use.

all in all it has been an exhausting few days, i have found some time to start cutting for my next patchwork project (pic's to follow soon) although i did manage to cut my finger with my new rotary cutter, i have been slowly getting on with knitting some of my birthday wool& started this pattern, using Banyan yarn in velvet leaf from colinette

preparation

i'm trying very hard to be organized, as it's big G's fourth birthday tomorrow (4 years - how did that happen so fast) this will be the first year he's had a proper party (which hasn't just involved family members) now not only does this involve feeding the delightful little dears (biscuit dough is chilling in the fridge as i write & nana's help has been enlisted to make the cake) but it also involves party bags!

now being that big G (who is in fact not really that big!) is the youngest in his pre-school year, he has been to quite a few parties already, i've never really been all that impressed with the party bags they get given, mostly filled with plastic bits that get lost or broken (bar one friend who gave all the kids a book at the end of the party - great idea which i'm saving for another year)

well, me being me wanted to make something to go into ours, so these little nuggets seemed perfect!all finished & ready to go to their new homes, they will also contain the usual penny type sweets, but the girls are getting some hairbands & the boys a small toy car each! none of which cost too much & will hopefully all get used.aren't they cuteon another note, i did manage to finish the pond play mat in time for camping, i gave up trying to hand tie it & just used the machine, didn't bind it & backed it with an old duvet cover, but it is perfect (in my eyes) & very fit for purpose
& of course no sooner than i spread it out to take a photo, a little one finds her way over