in pursuit of organised-ness

And so we reach the end of another month and my second monthly challenge . October's challenge was to knit a pair of socks. Unfortunately I didn't get as much done as I hoped. I guess I thought that being on maternity leave would give me plenty of time for knitting, but the days go by so quickly and I have so many things on the go it's difficult to fit it all in. I did nearly finish one sock. This is my progress: I really don't have much left to do and I am disappointed I didn't finish at least one. But I did enjoy knitting it and (depending on how the finished item fits) I can see the appeal of sock knitting. It is quick, is something I would wear and has plenty of sock for experiementing. I do still want to finish the pair and hope to do so before Christmas. Keep an eye out for future FO Friday posts.

I finally got some time today to start my scrapbook for Evie. I'll try to blog my progress - partly as a record for myself, partly for anyone else interested in scrapbooking - a bit of a getting started guide I suppose. I'll share links and resources, my mistakes and triumphs as I create my photo album. As much as I am keen to get started, I am a bit of a perfectionist and it will get on my nerves if it's not done properly. As I have a few weeks to catch up on I am taking the time to plan my pages. My first job was to paint the wooden letters I want to put on the cover of my book. Painted letters I want this to be more than just a photo album. Including notes, artefacts (for want of a better word) and any other little mementos such as, song lyrics, swatches from clothes, labels, cards, even tweets & facebook comments. My second job was to decide on mini stories or pages to start my book. The first page will be mainly text with Evie's name, date and time of birth and...

I love photos. I would happily look through anyones photos, whether I know the people in them or not but it really isn't the same looking at pictures on the computer. You really can't beat opening a photo album or leafing through a pile of photos, and as technology advances so quickly I wonder what Evie will think of my photographs. How will she capture her memories in 15 years time? Will she look back at our digital photos and think 'ah, how did they manage?' in the same way as I look back and wonder how we coped with having 35 shots on a film and not being able to see the photo until it was developed. In the 'old days' when we did still print photos I would put them into albums with notes and any little trinkets that added something. The date from a calendar, a ticket stub, whatever. And I still enjoy looking through them now. My early dabbling in scrapbooking, I guess. For some reason this stopped around the time me and my husband got together nearly 8 years ...

Pattern : Debbie Bliss' Classic Cardigan, size 0-3 months Yarn : DK yarn from stash (don't tell Debbie!) Started : Sometime while I was pregnant Finished : 12th October 2011 This should have been posted last week, but better late than never, right? I was also hoping to have another FO to show off but baby & life have got in the way of knitting/crafting stuff.  I'm pretty happy with the cardigan, it was a lovely pattern to knit and I got to practice my making up skills, which I think are improving. I just wish I had made it with a better wool. (Sorry, Debbie, I definitely won't do it again!)  I'm now heading off to Tami's Blog to see what everyone else has done.

Kids Clothes Week Challenge Fall 2011 Well, I didn't do as well as I'd hoped. What with visitors and having to sort out my spare room so they had somewhere to stay and looking after Evie I didn't have a chance for much making. So the only thing I did get round to 'making' was the cardigan - which was practically done anyway! I do plan to sign up for the Spring 2012 one though, which gives me some time to practice and Evie will be around 6 months old. On the plus side, my craft room is a lot tidier and I have space to make stuff! October Challenge: Socktoberfest I have nearly finished my first sock. It's looking good, though not quite sure how I'm going to get the second one to match colours. Still not quite sure how I feel about sock knitting - I can already feel 'second sock syndrome' setting in! And I chose some pretty expensive yarn. I am looking forward to wearing the socks, have found some lovely patterns and they (so far) haven't been as co...

One thing I didn't factor in to this challenge is the fact that my 'craft' room is in need of a sort out & with a little one I don't really have the time to be searching through everything to find what I need. So yesterday (Day 2) was a planning rather than a doing day. Today (Day 3) started out as a buying day, but I did manage to find some time to do some making too. Today I went to Knitters & Sewers World to see knitting designer and maker of beautiful yarn, Debbie Bliss. Who is also the author of one of my favourite knitting books - The Ultimate Book of Baby Knits . I spent yesterday going over and over the book trying to decide which patterns to knit next & what yarn I needed to purchase today. I decided on the Duffle Coat, which I plan to do in red for a bit of a 'Red Riding Hood' thing. As far as my making goes for today I did sew on the buttons to my cardigan - actually completing it! I'll take photos tomorrow.

So today is Day One of Elsie Marley's Kids Clothes Week Challenge Fall 2011 , and I am pleased to say that I did spend over an hour working on a cardigan for Evie. It's one that I knitted while I was pregnant and was meant to sew up as part of my September challenge . It has now been sewn together I now need to add buttons and was wondering about some decoration - maybe beads or embroidery. What do you think? I plan to finish it by Friday ready for a great FO Friday post.

Tomorrow sees the start of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge Fall 2011, where the aim is to spend 1 hour a day for a week making clothes for kids. My sewing and clothes making skills are definitely at the beginner end of the spectrum, so I am hoping to spend this time learning and trying new things. In preparation for this challenge I wanted plan what I would do rather than waste time during the week looking for something to do and ending up with nothing to show for it. Evie is only 6 weeks old, so I'm not planning any outfits for her yet, and if you have any suggestions for newborn makes I'd love to here them. Anyway, here are some of my ideas. 1. Finish making up the cardigan I knitted for Evie. 2. Sew a bib & add some embroidery. 3. Make a hairband - either sewn, knitted or crochet. 4. Wraparound skirt - to go over babygro & leggings (maybe). 5. Trousers 6. Little dress 7. Poncho And here are somelinks I want to remember: http://nested.typepad.com/ http://homemadebyji...

Alright so this FO is a bit of a cheat, but this week we finally finished re-decorating our living room. We started it nearly 2 years ago and on Wednesday put our new carpet down & sorted all of the cupboards out. (It's taken all week to sort, move everything around & clean, so there hasn't been much crafting going on - hence the cheating post!) It's lovely, so clean & tidy & cosy....I just wonder how long it will stay that way. Check out some other (proper) FOs on Tami's blog .

I've only been a Mum for 5 weeks, but have really had my eyes opened to the ways of parenting. There are so much choices, and everyone has their own opinion on what is 'right' and how it 'should' be done. Three examples that seem to have very split opinions are: Breast V Bottle Feeding Co-Sleeping Babywearing Apparently you should breast feed as long as you can to enhance the bond and closeness between mum and child, but then you shouldn't co-sleep or babywear too much as they'll get used to being held or close to you. I know I am new to this but if my baby is happy then so am I! If this means she wants to sleep in bed with me (and will sleep well rather than being restless in her moses basket) then that's fine with me. I have tried breastfeeding and we couldn't get on with it, so I am expressing and bottle feeding and looking for ways to get our closeness somewhere else. For me, babywearing is great. Our pram is lovely, but it is bulky and...

I can't believe October is here. September went so quickly & little Evie is over a month old. Though as everyone told me I can't imagine life without her, nor remember what I used to do with my time. September's Challenge was to finish off some UFOS. I managed 2 of them - the sleeping bag & green booties , and have made my excuses for the blanket . I have no excuses for the cardigan - but I do plan to finish it. Maybe this weekend.... So, on to the challenge for October. I have 2. The first is to knit a pair of socks - or at least have one complete by the end of the month - as part of Socktoberfest . I have attempted socks before but didn't get very far and would like to see what all the fuss is about! I have bought my yarn ready & just need to find a pattern. Pretty sock yarn The second challenge takes place between the 10th & 17th October - the Kids Clothes Week Challenge . The aim being to spend 1 hour a day for a week making clothes for kids. There...