Christmas gift ideas 2010

last year I posted my first Christmas ideas list on 5th September.  And my to do list on 28th September.

I'm late!

sewing - writing case

I've had an idea to make a crayon roll up for Four Year Old but haven't gotten around to it.  I've found some good tutorials at Skip to My Lou  here and here.

Four Year Old hasn't shown any interest in having one, and got quite stubborn about it when I suggested it....

Looking through my saved links for ideas (because I need more!) I found this one, which got me thinking of combining Four Year Old's current fascination with letter and writing and fancy stationery (and my need to hand sew something).
 

Top diagram based on original design, bottom diagram show some of my changes....

More changes by me, bottom diagram is 'final' design using original sizes

I'll need pretty fabric, sparkles and amazing stationery to sell it to Four Year Old...

Knitting - Rosie's Wardrobe (so far)

Rosie is still hairless and now faceless but at least she has a cute skirt and sleeveless top and (very green) hooded jacket (which Four Year Old doesn't like now, despite watching me knit it!)

Knitting - to do

1. snow shoe scarf
2. not mobius cowl
3. finish my handwarmers
4. pink hat for Four Year Old
5. I would like to do something with this yarn and this pattern book OR
6. Knit this for Four Year Old with this yarn.
7. AND what could be this my new obsession... Balustrade
8. vest, dress, cardigan, socks and shoes for Rosie
9. hair and new face for Rosie too!

food glorious food - part 2

an early Christmas present.

a bit early...

 

for my Mum.  Love you lots.  Miss you. x

we have lift off

We have a stall at the St Monans Art Festival on 18th September.

We are me (ta-da!) and Karen (professional artist and business partner).

We'll have a small display of yarns and needles as well as a yarn tasting.  We hope to show how varied and accesible knitting can be.

To encourage new and experienced knitters we're offering two kits. One to knit, felt and embellish a bag and another for a garter stitch scarf.  We're also having a Start Knitting class in October.

Our goal is to have our own shop but whilst we search for the 'perfect' bricks and mortar we're going to do other stuff - design and sell kits, promote our stitching group and offer classes. 

It has been a lot of work!  But once we get the first 'event' out the way it'll get easier... won't it?


(Not sure how I'll balance this blog and The Woolly Brew site - I'm keen not to duplicate entries.)

Knitting - Snow Shoe Scarf

I want to knit myself a scarf.

I have the yarn (99p bargain bin) and I thought I had the pattern.

However I have now discovered a really lovely stitch pattern called Snow Shoe in Lace & Eyelet Stitches

I've knitted up a sample and I think I'll need to cast on 44 stitches to get a good width.

Doodles

 

St Monans Art Festival

Framed and ready to be hung on Tuesday for the St Monans Arts Festival 17th-19th September.

2 new pieces of stitching, 1 framed differently and 1 from a previous exhibition.

No Pom Pom or stones...

I also need to produce ANOTHER piece for the Fife Art Exhibition.  This needs to be finished by Friday... 

I have no specific design work to show... its all in my head... 

eek...

moleskine hacks

I've been researching ideas on how to use my new Moleskine.

• Start a 'work' to do list at the top of the page and work your way down.  Start a personal to do list at the bottom and work your way up.  As seen here.
• There is a fuller explanation here.  I need a master to do list!  I especially like how things get moved forward to each day to do list.  So even if you don't actually do everything that day you do get to put a mark in the box...
• There is a big hack list here.
• I quite like this reminder on mind maps...
• I think I should end each day or week with an I Did It list.
• Some paper inspiration can be seen here on Ahhh-Design.  I especially like the layout for blog post planning here and also here at 74 Lime Lane.
• There is also this layout for projects along the lines of Getting Things Done (GTD) which looks interesting.  Its inspired by this.
• This is also a good idea - doodle and explore on the left hand page, formal list on the main part of right hand page with actions broken out in separate column.

I have learnt from my previous 'lets get organised!' phases that the simpler the better... hence why these are all quite simple hacks... (if I were to go completely GTD my head would explode).

I think its more about how to use a blank page of paper to efficiently capture random ideas, to do lists and calendar...and if it looks nice all the better!

This is a nice post about how different people use their Moleskine notebooks.  I like it because it shows them rough and ready - so many photos of Moleskines in action are quite intimidating or is that just my insecurity?

Anyway in my searches I was reminded of Cornell note taking.  And then I remembered I'm supposed to be doing a AS Level in English Literature and Language...

How did that drop of my to do list?

new year

I took advantage of an Amazon order to buy my new diary for 2011...

I'm currently using a Molekine weekly diary/notebook. Its an 18 month diary, it started in July 2009.

I really like the format, a diary down one side and lined page down the left. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to get another one for just 2011. I don't like the 18 month commitment!

I found an extra large format (19cm x 25cm).

I took the cellophane off but haven't written in it. Is it bad luck?

To stem my excitement I looked at what others have done with their Moleskine... especially given that 2011 will be a busy year here - Four Year Old starts school, my self employment and ongoing involvement here.

I found this list here - 100 Moleskine Hacks - which obviously leads to lot more - sometimes useful but mostly a bit obsessive compulsive...

 

I am still alive

I haven't posted much the past week.  I've been busy with this and this, and there is much more to come!

My Nearly 4 Year Old is now 4!  The exclamation mark is important.  The rainbow birthday cake was surprisingly easy to make (especially as I bought the icing precoloured!)  Although I have to confess I'm not keen on brightly coloured cakes... not very appetising...

She is now at Nursery too, so I'm no longer involved at the local Playgroup although I am still trying to get a garden built...


I also need to get organised for this.   Lantern is finished.  Current works in progress include more stones, Miller Terrace, Pom Pom,

oh dear

I also need to register my interest in the Fife Art Exhibition which is on during October.  This will be my 4th year (2009, 2008, 2007).  I would love to do something HUGE and bright but it'll likely be small and black and white.

I need to hand the work into the Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery on the weekend 18-19th September.  The same weekend as the Arts Festival...

oh dear