three bears

What does one write in a craft blog when one isn’t crafting?

I’m feeling quiet, the January feeling, pondering on the theme for the year ahead - though truth be told I plan seasonally, so right now I’m just waiting to make Spring/Summer plans.

But while I wait for lighter evenings and warmer days I’m all about taking care of myself, being kind to myself - taking it easy.

That means no grand declarations, no sweeping statements and absolutly no resolutions.

I’m the queen of overdoing it, I join a gym and vow to visit every day.  I start a(nother) blog and decide to write everyday.  I buy a new camera and swear to post to Flickr everyday, forever!

So it’s a quiet life for now, I hope to go to my favourite gym class once a week - anything else is bonus.  Maybe I’ll write here once a week too, perhaps I’ll post to Flickr now and then.  Whatever, it’s okay to slow down.

Crafting, ha!  Do curtains count?  Not really but that’s about it since Christmas, some very slow progress on some socks but sooooo slow it’s like I’m knitting backwards.

It’s nice to be quiet, not to have a grand plan or crazy scheme to think about.

(Though I’m seriously thinking about learning to drive this year, I even got a driving licence application form.  I’m a bit scared so I’m only whispering this).

A couple of hours spent playing with fabric and the lovely Ruby Doll pattern from One Red Robin.  It’s a great pattern, very easy to follow and a great way to use up little scraps.

Something’s not quite right though, she definatly needs an extra something, but what?  I’m already planning the next one, what to do differently, how to change the pattern to suit me and my lazy ways and wondering when I’ll get the time for all this.

 A cure for SAD?  Getting ready for Christmas…

First time in ages that I remembered to hunt for the advent hanging before December.  The Christmas fairy dutifully filled each pocket with chocolate treats, one each for the boys and a tin in the kitchen for me!

The winter bunting is waiting to be ironed.

A scan from a vintage book waiting for a frame, a jug full of Christmas card lists and tiny cards for schoolmates.

What I hoped would be the first of many new decorations but may turn out to be the only one.

Not long to go now…

Life’s been quiet round here, winter is settling in and it’s either freezing but bright or warmer but damp and gloomy - all I want to do is hibernate, I need some warmth.

Yesterday I started my Christmas makes. 

Not exactly the pencil roll from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts but near enough.  I didn’t make as many pockets and I didn’t have any batting so left that out.  I’m pleased with it though, and even more pleased to tick something of the list.

Today was such a dreary day again but I was cheered right up when I got home from work and found a wee package lying in the hallway.

I ordered three pendants from Madison Craft Studio on Etsy barely a week ago and they arrived already. They’re made from origami paper and I love them.  Two are supposed to be presents and one for me, but I like them all so I may have to go shopping again.

At least this kind of shopping doesn’t involve getting cold or wet.

Usually I set Wednesday aside for crafty endeavors.  It’s my sacred day, except for Sundays it is the only day of the week I always have off work and I try to alway have Wednesdays completely clear.

Today though there was a more pressing need.  I have a friend I see almost everyday, on the way to school, in the school playground or a quick cup of tea at eachothers houses.  Even so I felt a distance, a lack of connection.

So today I caught her after the school run and asked her to come shopping with me. 

So we mooched around town, window shopped, pointed out outfits we thought each-other would look fabulous in and had a lovely lunch. 

We didn’t get deep, we certainly didn’t hug (we’re British, of course we didn’t!) but even so I feel that we’re connected again.

Despite a million other things I need to finish and about a trillion things I need to start I caved in a bought Gretel from Ysolda’s shop.

A. took these pics this afternoon, can you tell I’m not comfortable in front of a camera.  

Gretel, oh Gretel!  I loved knitting her, such fun watching the cables twist and turn, learning how to cable without a cable needle.  It’s a really well written pattern,  for once I actually felt as though I understood what I was doing instead of blindly following the pattern (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

I used a pretty cheap Aran weight, part wool part acrylic and I think the hat isn’t as nice as it would be with a lovelier wool.  And seeing as it only calls for 230 yards (for the slouchy version) I could have splashed out.

Would I make it again?  Yes, but maybe not the slouchy version.  I caught a glimpse of myself out shopping in it and I do look a little mumsy in it - no fault of the design, just not my style perhaps.

And, even if I do knit another one I’ll wait until I’ve finished all those other projects first…maybe.

This poor little house was started almost a year ago, I made three others that found homes (houses finding homes, ha!) with various little girls around Christmas time.  This one has remained stuffed in a plastic bag ever since. 

It’s shameful and shows me at my procrastinating worst as the only thing that needed doing was stuffing it and attaching a loop to the roof.  It took no time at all.

Look it’s a houseboat!  Ha! 

 Look, it’s a treehouse…oh my, such fun!

After all that excitement I had to sit down for a nice cup of tea and a cake. 

I’ll leave the fruit for another time!

As always I have bitten off more than I can chew - I have officially overdone it, I am the overdoing it queen.

Saturday night I had complete control of the tv as dearheart was out.  I settled in for Strictly Come Dancing (which my boys are forced to watch with me, and are learning to love) followed by the marvellous Cate Blanchett and Dame (never forget the Dame) Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal.  I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night, guess I’m getting old.

Seeing as I had no plans for moving from my spot I added a little finishing off crochet to the mix, deciding to get this little string bag finished once and for all.  Now my wrists are killing me and my forearms ache like nobody’s business.  I’m out of the crafting game for a while…

 Before this marathon (and it was a completely over the top session, three or more hours crocheting) I did make some progress with the hexagon patchwork.  One pink and one yellow ball are waiting for filling, although I did sew up the pink one wrong so it is only a ball in the loosest sense of the word.

 They will look like this, not the pink one but the others will…

and finally will have ribbon attached and will swing merrily from our Christmas tree.

Does a Friday morning get much better?  Kids are playing, husband is sorting out lunch and I have Mike McCready at my feet. 

I got in from a very long day yesterday to find a lovely little package from the equally lovely Ten Club - my new Pearl Jam DVD.  I watched a teensy bit there and then but saved the rest for today.

So with my hexagon patchwork on my lap…

…and extra bits by my side I settled down for a wonderful morning.

I’m both rocking and crafty, yay me!

This is just the tip of the iceberg, these are just unfinished projects from downstairs, actually just one room downstairs - I don’t even want to think about the half done crochet blanket in the front room.

Doesn’t look so bad does it?  There are seventeen, seventeen! items on that table.  These were stuffed in various nooks and crannies in our middle/dining/crafting room.  It’s kind of overwhelming.  And when I’m overwhelmed I procrastinate, or ignore it all and start another more exciting, new project.  Then I get overwhelmed again.

Ever read any SARK?  I love her books, my most recent read is Make Your Creative Dreams REAL, it’s a “A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day” and a marvellous read.

So I’m starting off with a SARK MicroMOVEMent, a tiny step towards my goal of finishing these projects in a fortnight, by laying them on the table and looking at them.  Maybe later I’ll decide which ones are beyond redemption and can be binned - that’s going to be hard.  Perhaps I’ll offer up unwanteds to someone who may love them enough to finish them off, what d’ya think?

Of course, true procrastinator that I am, I spent 20 minutes before taking this picture ironing two tablecloths so there’d be a nice background.  I wonder if there’s any hope for me.