Baktus Scarf and a blogging break

Look... I finished my baktus scarf! I can't tell you how pleased I am. I finished it last night and put it straight on - it felt excellent. I LOVE IT. It is the first thing I have knitted for myself, and the first thing I have made for ages that I am not giving away immediately, and I feel really good about that! I am even contemplating only making things for Brendan, Mil and I for the months of July and August... what do you think? Selfish or sensible?!

So, along with showing off my delicious new scarf (I know it is summer, but this is England), I now have to come to terms with revealing myself to you too! Brendan saw these pictures and thought I look really sad (sad as in unhappy, not sad is in uncool I hope). I am not sad, just concentrating on the job in hand. Taking pictures of yourself is difficult, no?!

Tonight we pack, and tomorrow we leave for Cambridge, so I will be AWOL for a while, busy getting married and then busy camping for our honeymoon. We're back in a few weeks... take care and see you on the other side!

And, by the way, have you seen my new scarf?

Weekend Sewing

Last week I treated myself to a copy of Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. What swung it was seeing other peoples Yard-Sale Wrap Skirt. I need to think about buying some fabric for the skirt project, but in the meantime I thought I would try out the Weekend-Away Travel Bag.

The pattern and instructions were easy to follow, and it took me just a few grabbed hours. I am fairly pleased with the result, although I think the inside pockets should be larger, so they come up the insides of the bag further. The first time I have inserted a zipper too!

This is being wrapped up for a good friends birthday... one day I will make something and keep it for myself!

And, I finished the bunting! Yey! It only took me a year! Here it is bundled into a big blue Ikea bag along with other bits for the wedding which is in FIVE days. Goodness. Pictures of the bunting in-situ will follow after the event. Promise.

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!