Chutney Labels

I love homemade chutney, and it is a necessity when eating cheese. We are having three different chutneys to go with our cheese at the upcoming do. I really enjoy making the labels for these, it doesn't take too long... the longest part is coming up with a design!

So... a little bit of drawing and colouring in...


...scan it into the computer...

...duplicate in PowerPoint, print out...

...a bit of cutting and sticking...

...and, hey presto! Lovely labels... Hurrah and bring on the cheese!!

Brothers are ace

I missed a parcel at the end of last week, and this morning I went round the corner with my slip to collect it from the post office... a mysterious parcel! Inside, all gift-wrapped up belated for my birthday (which was in March and I am sure I got something then too) was this really yummy tin of goodies from my brother.

Aren't brothers ace?!

Holiday Weekend

We visited London on Saturday. It was a great day, reminding us of why we love the big city and also why we are glad we got out - so many people! It was a dual purpose visit, firstly we needed to order cheese for the wedding, and so whilst Brendan and I spent some heavenly time in Neals Yard Dairy at Borough Market ordering 8kg of cheese, Mil got to go to the park with his Oddpop (Mil has Oddparents instead of Godparents) and be spoilt with ice creams.


And then we headed up North to visit the new baby cousin, deliver our gifts, and go to park number two and be spoilt by Oddma! The baby is a real cutie, and all seems to be well there.

On Sunday before running in our local fun run (which was not fun at all - 10k in the sweltering heat saw some casualties) I managed to whip up these drawstring bags which are to hold the pens for our kiddy party bags at the wedding.

So, slowly but surely getting through the list of wedding jobs, and looking forward to being able to relax on honeymoon! I hope everyone had a good sunny weekend.

Baktus Scarf

First off, thank you for your words of encouragement on Sunday's triathlon. The weather was absolutely ghastly and I really didn't want to go. I sat knitting in bed that morning and I could hear the wind and rain lashing at the windows. Everyone else was asleep and I did wonder what the hell I was doing. But, I did do it, and in a time I was fairly pleased with. The swim went well, the run went really well, it was just the cycling and transitions in between that were totally rubbish! Ah well, I've entered another two this year, so I shall have to get out training on that bike a bit more.

And that knitting... a baktus scarf. Pattern here from Strikkelise. And considering this weather we've got at the moment, it seems a scarf in May is not such a mad idea after all.

The yarn is really lovely Jaeger Baby Merino in shades 203 and 189.

Wish me luck!

I know this is supposed to be a blog about crafting, but there is another pursuit that has been taking up quite a bit of my time and effort this year.

Tomorrow I am racing in the Taunton Deane Triathlon. That is 400m swim, 23km bike, and 5km run. And the weather forecast? Heavy rain and 20mph winds... fun.

And, the latest baby in our family, and recipient of these gifts, was born at 5.30 this morning, 8lbs and all present and correct. Whoopee!

Easter Tortoiseshell Cardigan

Last night I finished my Easter cardigan, my first proper knitted garment (I don't count the tiny hand warmers) and the first time I have followed a pattern. I am very glad to have it finished... here it is blocking this morning.


The cardigan is riddled with mistakes, mainly made during the making up... how annoying is this stage? I can totally appreciate now why people have a love for seamless knitting, and knitting in the round. However, even with all it's mistakes, I think it is quite cute... just about passable! The size is 3-6 months and I don't think the style is right for such a little one. In hindsight I would have looked harder for a pattern that was looser - more of a bed jacket. I don't think a tiny baby really wants to be in something with ribbed cuffs or waistband.

I did find the making up of this was very difficult, there were a lot of pieces and it felt very fiddly... it being my first pattern, I'm not sure if this is the norm or not? I have learnt a huge amount, through my successes and errors on this. Hopefully it will get some wear from the next baby in the family (due any day), and I think that only then will I be able to judge the success of this cardigan.

Yesterday I also finished another quilt. Another baby one, just like the first. Again, as a gift for the next new cousin. Here is a picture of it all folded nicely on top of... what's that?


...on top of my brand new spanking sewing machine... hurrah! I LOVE it. It is a Janome Memory Craft 4800 and is a dream. My little Elna got me going on sewing, but it was time for something a bit more serious.


One of the marvelous things about the new machine is how quiet it is. My last one was so noisy it sounded like a jump jet taking off and so when I woke up early, and the boy was still sleeping I never wanted to sew as the vibrations would shake Mil awake in the next room, but no more!

Yesterday morning I got up early and pulled out my Millie Moon quilt which has been sitting untouched since September. Time to get this one finished now I have a sewing machine that can cope with it.


I would also like to say a big thank you to Fieldy who posted me her latest edition of Sew Hip. Fieldy operates a 'pass it on' system with her Sew Hip subscription, picking one commenter a month at random to post her latest issue to, once she has read it. It feels like I never get picked for anything (but we probably all feel like that, no?), and I try not to splurge on magazines too often, so what a treat, thank you Fieldy!

Cluck Cluck

It was my hen do this weekend just gone... Friday to Monday full of hilarity and joy with 12 of my best girl buddies. I had an absolute ball. I returned a shell of my former self having been the last to bed and the first up each day, desperate not to miss any of it. We ate like kings, drank like fish, dressed up for our own amusement and I wept like a baby at the love, kindness and generosity of my friends.

Most of the pictures are not for public consumption, but of those that are, it shows that there was also some serious girl fun in the way of...


...long walks (not forgetting the pub lunch half way)...

...sea swims (not forgetting a quick vodka to see off the cold)...

...and bank holiday car booty.

The only thing missing were my boys, and boy, distance sure makes the heart grow fonder.

Bring on the wedding.