FO: Montego Bay Scarf

Pattern: Montego Bay Scarf from Interweaves Knits 2007

Yarn: Rowan Damask 3 x 50g

Needles: I am sitting her at work doing this and i cant remember. I think they were a US6 but will check tonight.
Notes: This was a very easy pattern once you got the hang of it I ended up using place markers to help me to remember if i had to do 3 or 4 but from what i have heard most people manage this just fine without them...lol. Other than that, this knitted up very quickly and i have had so many compliments on it already.

And as promised here is a photo of the curtains that my mom made me last weekend for our bathroom. This is not the best photo that i could have taken but it will do.

A work in progress

I miss my printer. It is still broken and it is still sitting in a hundred pieces. I am not sure when or if it will get fixed. I miss my printer!
Why is it that when something breaks we then decide we need it urgently. Since my printer has broken all i have wanted to do is scrap. But no photos mean no layouts. I have even tried going round to my parents place to print my photos but my mom does not have a photo programme on her computer and my dad does not have the printer attached to his. It is just not meant to be....at least not at the moment.

So last night, after i spent an hour or so studying *wohoo as she pats herself on the back* i sat down and tried my hand at the above canvas. It is not what i had imagined before i started and i am still not sure if i really like it or not. It feels very raw to me. But it is a work in progress and that is OK by me. If you want to see a lady who has a lot of talent with canvas's make sure to check out her blog. She does such great work!

Weekend Projects

This is part of what i spent my time on this long weekend. Saturday afternoon was devoted to sewing this little bag. I am so pleased with how it has turned out as it is the first time that i have ever done anything like this before. The inner pocket looks good, the lining looks professional and the handles feel secure. I will definitely be making another one of these but in a bigger size, and i might try adding a zip to it along with more interfacing to make it a little sturdier.

I also finished my Montego Bay scarf, pictures and review to follow later in the week and started Deep Desire from Simply Knitting Magazine.

Sunday afternoon my mom made some curtains for us for out bathroom window. We have been renting our house for ages now but i have never had any curtains in the bathroom because it is a horrible canary yellow and i just couldn't imagine what to put up. While going through my moms fabric stash we found some fabric that would work perfectly. A few hours later my curtains were made and hanging in our bathroom. Thank you mom.

Monday morning we got up early and went to Pontsworth Flea Market with my mom and dad. We spent a good four hours walking around this huge field filled with stall after stall of all sorts of different items. We left with two new pillows, socks for Stu, a tool of some sort and a teddy bear plate for my gran. All in all a very good morning.

Today I am hoping to find some time tonight to do some studying. I have so much work to get through and i find that i just keep putting it off.

Hope everyone is doing well. My camera's battery died on me and i haven't had time to charge it yet so more photos of the new curtains to follow later this week.

God Bless

~Lynne

Things about me right now

African - I was born and raised in South Africa. My heritage is South African. My roots are South African. I love Africa. I found this quilt here. I am hoping to make an African quilt at some point.Budgeting - I am trying to get my head around budgeting and have been doing this for 3 months now. I think that i have finally found a system that works and that we can stick to. Now i just have to get the spending to stop.

Cats - I love cats and always have. We currently have 3 and i wouldn't change them for the world.

Dreaming of a holiday - It has been so long since we have been on holiday. Its been 2 years and that was only for a weekend away. Argghh, how i wish we could get away for a week or two.

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of my brother - My brother arrives in 9 days from South Africa. I haven't seen him in 4 years and i am looking forward to getting to know him again.

Finishing things - My dad has brought it to my attention that i tend to begin a lot more projects than what i actually finish. This is not true. I finish my projects......eventually. *I am working on this one now dad*

Georgiamudfudge - Just the thought of this word brings so many happy memories flooding back to me. Dairy Queen. The beach. Rayola. America. Good times.

Honesty - This is something that i am working on. I am learning to be more honest with those around me about how i feel. I am so concerned about other peoples feelings that often i tell them more what they want to hear rather than how i feel. I have started to realise that by doing this I am not being true to myself and that is no good.

Incredibly blessed - For all that i have.

Jelly and custard - Even at the ripe old age of 25 i still enjoy Jelly and Custard for pudding. Granted, now its sugar free jelly and low fat custard but hey, it still counts right?

Knitting mad - As i am sure is the case with most knitters and artists out there.....too many projects and not enough time! So many things that i want to knit.

Laughing a lot - I love spending time with my family and having them closer to me has made me very happier. My family are so funny and we always have such a good laugh when we get together.

Magnolia flowers - These are one of my very favourite flowers at the moment.

Needing to sort out my South African Passport - My passport expires in two months and i really need to find some time to sit down and fill out all the paperwork that is needed.

Orange - This colour seems to be growing on me more and more each day. I love the combination of orange and brown. It has such character!

Puppy dog - At the moment i am trying my hardest to persuade Stu that we are indeed in need of a cute little chocolate Labrador puppy. He keeps saying no but if i keep at it long enough i can get him to break!!

Quilting - I would like to start trying some quilting. I bought some fabric off of eBay last week and am just waiting for it to arrive. I love trying to new things.

Reading - Always reading. Be it books, magazines or articles on the net. I always have more than one thing on the go as far as books go and that is how i like it.

Sewing - After many months of having my sewing machine sitting upstairs being unused, i have pulled it out and done some sewing. I am loving it! So much better than sewing clothes. I have just finished an apron and am about to start on a handbag.

Tigger pj's - My tigger pj's are falling apart. The seam is coming undone. It has several holes in it from who knows where but i just don't have the heart to throw it out.

Under the throw-over - I have a very special throw over that Jenny gave me for my birthday a few years ago. This sits on the back of our suite and whenever i am in relaxing knitting or reading a book i always have this draped over my legs. It reminds me of her.

Vegetables - I have always loved vegetables and to this day i still do!

Weight watchers - tonight i start at weight watchers. I am committed and i know that i am going to do it. Taking one day at a time.

Xtremely concious of my smelly feet - So today i am wearing some shoes that i have not worn in a very long time....now i remember why i have not worn them. They are smelly!!

Yarn - This is my latest craze! I love stroking yarns and even better buying them and taking them home. I have made a promise to myself that i will not be buying any more yarn until i have used up all that i have at home.Z z z z z z - I am definitely in need of some more sleep in my life. Don't ask me how or when but i just know that i need it.

Sewing Tutorial: Apron

This is my first apron that i have sewn and i am a very new sewer but thought that someone else out there might find it useful to see how i made this little cutie. I finished it last night and am so pleased with how it turned out.

I searched loads of places for a pattern and although there are loads out there i couldn't find one that i liked or that i could figure out - so i made my own. Now i know its not exactly rocket science or anything but i took each step one at a time.

Step 1: Choose the fabrics that you want to use as well as get together all your supplies.
Step 2 : I drew my own pattern onto brown paper, cut it out and pinned it to my fabric. Once i was happy with it i cut out the fabric.
Step 3: I decided that i wanted to have three pockets on my apron and my mom suggested, to make them a little stronger, that i added some sort of bias to them. I didn't have any at home so decided to use ribbon instead. I pinned the ribbon down and then sewed my seams on the front pouch. My seams are 3/4 inches wide.

Step 4: Place the front pouch on the backing fabric and pin this down. Once you are happy with the positioning sew on both side of the ribbon or bias.

Step 5: Sew the front pouch onto the back fabric, remembering to leave the top part of the pouch loose. Pin and sew the seam on the larger backing fabric.
Step 6: Cut out your ties that you are going to use according to your preference. I didn't measure mine so not able to give you any of those details.
Step 7: Pin and sew your seam on the ties and then attach to the sides of the apron. The first tie that i put on i attached to the top of the apron and then had to unpick it and resew it so just double check! lol

Once both ties are done your apron is basically finished. Once i had this i decided to add the felted birdie to it. I hand drew the bird, cut it out and then sewed it on by hand.

I should have ironed my apron before photographing it but i was just so pleased with it i couldn't wait.
I hope that this has been helpful to someone.

And the winner of the RAK is TCake! Please email me your address!

Finished Project: Beanie

I finally finished my second knitting project. This was and is for Stu but after i put it on i thought it looked really good on me so i had Stu take a photo of me wearing it as well.I could not believe those eyebrows!! Don't worry - damage control is underway. Those monsters will be removed tonight after work.
Pattern: Beanie from Kisknit's blog.
Yarn: Paton DK Black.
Needles: Size 7 US.
Notes: The pattern says for this to be knitted on the round, which is why i picked it in the first place, but when it came to getting my knitting needles i realised that they would be too long. So i pulled out my straight needles and just altered the pattern as best i could. The pattern was easy and quick and considering this is my first beanie i am very pleased. I will definitely be making this again.

This weekend was a good weekend. I got a lot done - both house wise and me wise. I did the normal weekend cleaning while madame curled up under the curtain and slept.
Sometimes i really wish that i were the cat in our house!

My mom and dad came round on Sunday for dinner and while the boys worked on the car, the girls did some sewing. My mom was working on some pillow cases for some friends and i was busy on my apron.I was getting along so well with this until i put the first tie on - upside down! After that i gave up for the evening and will unpick it tonight and carry on.

Hope everyone had a good evening. I will be drawing the name tonight for the RAK mentioned last week so be sure to come back tomorrow. ~Lynne

Growing

I seem to be on a journey of sorts at the moment. You know how while you are going through the growth you don't really understand it or realise it until you have the come out the other side? Well, I am definitely not out the other side yet but i just have this stirring in my heart that something good is going on, that i am being stretched and that at the end of it, i will be a better person for it.

I am currently reading Joyce Meyers book called How to succeed at being yourself. I started it a little while ago to be honest but got side tracked by life. A few days ago i was listening to her podcast on her site and i remembered that i actually had this book of hers. I dug it out of my bookcase and picked up where i left off.

This is part of what i read on Tuesday night: Insecure people say "yes" when they really mean "no". Those who succeed at being themselves don't allow others to control them. They are led by their heart, not by the fear of displeasing others or being rejected by them.

We can not get angry at people because they place demands on us. It is our responsibility to order our lives. We need to know our identity, our direction and our calling - Gods will for us. We must make the decision that will keep us pressing toward our goals. We must be focused individuals with purpose.

Hmmm, I'm feeling a bit of a prodding going on here. These two paragraphs have been playing over and over in my mind. I have been chewing on them, playing them over, thinking about them, pulling them apart - meditating on them.

I don't have anything in particular to say about the above but i just thought that perhaps someone else might need to read it. Might need to let it sit on their heart. Thank you Heavenly Father for teaching me.

I'm off to go in search of some fabric at lunch time. I am hoping to make some curtains for my kitchen as well as my bathroom. My brother is arriving from South Africa in 14 days and i am so excited!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

~Lynne

Thursday update

Last night, while watching the catch up episode of Greys Anatomy, i ran out of yarn for my scarf. I thought that one ball of yarn would be enough for this scarf but i think it is going to need more like 3 balls of yarn. This is where i have had to stop - at least until Saturday when i get some more yarn.
Even though the pattern is very simple i have had to frog it three times. I decided to use stitch markers to help me and now i seem to have gotten the hang of it. Once it is complete i will give you a bit more of a review on the pattern.

I have also made a fab find. We have a fabric warehouse just round the corner from work. It is only open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays but i think it will have to become my regular lunch hour "thing" on a Friday. This is what i picked up from them last Friday.

The first five fabrics, from the left, are all 100% cotton and two of them i have started using for my latest sewing project. The end fabric i am going to be using to make a tote of some sort but i still have to try to find or create some sort of pattern for it so i will hold off on that project for now.

Last night i started on my first apron. I have made my own pattern, using brown paper. Once completed i will be doing a step by step tutorial if anyone is interested. It is really looking good so far, fingers crossed it still looks good once i have finished it as i am a very newbie sewer and have not actually done any sewing with it yet - just cutting it out and positioning it all.

Early hours of Monday morning i found myself laying in bed, wide awake and getting angrier with every minute that my mind was going round and round over something that had been brewing over the past few days. Eventually, at about 4am i got out of bed and did an entry in my art journal. It was the best thing that i could have done. I have opened up a flickr account and you can see my art journal on there if you wish.

My plans for the rest of the day include finishing work, doing some vacuuming, working on my apron and then knitting while watching this weeks Greys Anatomy.

Peace.

Secret Pal 11

My first secret pal! I can not wait. Here are my answers the questions posted on the blog.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
At the moment i am loving Rowan Damask yarn but i am not very picky. The only yarn that i don't like is mohair yarn as it makes me itch.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
All my needles are currently sitting in an empty glass mayonnaise jar. I keep meaning to find a better place for them but just want find anything that actually works well.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have only been knitting for about four or five months now. I downloaded a book off of Lion brands and taught myself the basics and just worked my way up from there. I am definitely a beginner but always love a challenge so i never really look at the skill level of a pattern before i start it.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a wish list on the left hand side of my blog.

5. What's your favorite scent?
My favorite scent is definitely Jasmin but i also love cinnamon and rose petals - just not together.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I definitely have a sweet tooth. I love milk chocolate but am not very fond of white chocolate or chocolate with fruit or Turkish delight in.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Along with this knitting thing i do i also scrap, paint and sew. I am not very good with sewing clothes but love other sewing projects and i am about to try my hand at quilting.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like contemporary christian bands but i am not able to play MP3's.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love pinks, browns, turquoises and greens. I prefer softer colours but i don't mind any colours.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am currently living with my fiance and our 3 cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear hats and ponchos but not mittens.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting sweaters, tanks and shawls.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Right now i am finishing off a sweater, Tomatoe from Knitting daily. I also have Montego Bay scarf on my needles and a beanie for my other half.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Most definitely!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I definitely prefer circular needles but am not really bothered what they are made out of. Most of mine are aluminium but i do have two bamboo ones. I currently have US sizes 2,5,6,7 and 10 circulare needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I haven't really kept track of when i started it but i would say it is about 6 - 8 weeks old. I only have the ribbing on the neck left to do but my scarf has taken over. I will come back to it though.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas and Thanksgiving and my favourite season is Fall.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I don't collect anything in particular, just scrapbooking stash, 100% cotton fabric for the sewing and then yarn of course!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have any magazine subs yet but have been thinking about it. I would love to get Green Gable pattern, some pretty stitch markers and the Knitscene Fall 2006 magazine(mainly for the Molly Ringwald sweater). I do buy Simply Knitting magazine and Interweaves Knitting mag but would love to try a different knitting magazine.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
This is not really a technique but i am trying to learn to knit socks - i guess its using dpns that is throwing me off.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet but am learning to.

23. When is your birthday?
11 September 1981

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I am still waiting for my invite but i have a lot of people in front of me so might be a while.

That's all the questions answered. I am pretty easy going so don't mind what i get.

Seeking

The current word at OLW is Seeking. This has always been one of my favourite words and when i saw it was the current challenge i knew i had to take part. Seeking God's favour and His blessings on my life have been on my mind and on my heart for the past few weeks. I am so grateful that i am growing in my relationship with Him. I know that this is true because I am starting to understand a little about Grace. With each day that passes i realise that it is not what i do or how i act that will bring God's favour into my life but rather His Grace and Love. This layout has been very good for my soul.

This was the last photo that i was able to print from my printer before it broke. Hopefully, my dad will be able to get me the belt to fix it soon.

Don't forget to go here and leave me a comment to be entered in for a RAK.

I cant believe that another weekend is finished. I cant really tell you what i did with all my time but i do know that i did not have very many moments over the past two days where i was doing nothing.

Stu didnt leave for work until 2:30pm Saturday so the morning was spent cleaning the house and going to pick up our new lawn mower from eBay. In the afternoon my mom came round and we went shopping for fabric together. We havent had girly time in ages so it was nice to be out - just the two of us.

On our travels we both picked up the beautiful 100% cotton fabric which we are going to use in a wall quilt.
We also bought some green fabric but my mom has that for some reason. We dont know what pattern we are going to do but i am keeping my eyes open for something easy and fun. While we were there i also picked up this
Isnt it gorgeous? Part of it i am going to use in a bag that i am going to make and the rest is going to be used in a quilt one day.

Saturday night my mom and dad came round for dinner and my dad took a look at my printer which broke on Friday night. He has had to leave it all in pieces as we need the little yellow ribbon thingy.

I am hoping to get one off of ebay but so far no luck. Fingers crossed we get it sorted soon because would you believe i now seem to have found my inspiration and all i want to do is scrap...lol

Short and sweet today. Make sure to come back tomorrow for my One little word layout - The last photo i managed to print before my babe broke.

God Bless

Have your say

I am trying to find a new way to organize my Recipes and would love to hear how you do it. Please vote on my voting poll to the left and let me know what works for you.

Leave a comment here and I will draw a name next Friday and they will get a little prize.

An overdue update

My camera has been sitting in its bag for a little while now. I keep meaning to set some time aside to catch up on my photos but i just haven't seemed to gotten around to it. That was until this morning. I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep so i decided i may as well just get up. This time of the day seems to be the perfect time to get some washing done, sort out this weeks grocery list and catch up on my photographs.

First, let me share with you a circle journal entry that i did about a week ago.

I seem to have lost my inspiration for scrapbooking. I know this happens to all of us scrappers at some point or another, it just so happens that it is happening to me right now.

I did manage to do a page in my art journal last night about my current job. I am in two minds about staying and have been feeling this way for a while now so thought i would do a page in my journal.
Last night once i had completed my journal i was looking at OLW and this weeks word is a really good one. I have a plan in mind but just need to find the ummmf to get going - perhaps this weekend.
The dreaded exam results came through the door yesterday morning. I was at work and Stu gave me a call to say that he thinks they have arrived. 81% and some minor silly mistakes so all in all not to bad! I got home last night to find this waiting for me...... Wohoo for me!

Now knitting i have been doing a lot of, especially Tomatoe and my new project - Montego Bay Scarf. Here is the yarn that i am using for it - Rowan Damask.
It is thin and a little fluffy but it is alright to work with. I am using this for my Montego Bay Scarf. This is now my 4Th attempt at knitting it - not because the pattern is difficult but more because i keep loosing count. I have now found a system that seems to be working which you can see below.
I am very happy with the colour and the tension on it. Its going to be an easy and quick knit i hope.

My weekend is filled with studying, knitting and gardening. Hope everyone has a good weekend.
God Bless

Today

Today I am so grateful for this family that God has given me. You don't realise just how important "family" is until you get a little older and a little wiser. Thank you Lord for my Dad - for his strength, his tenderness, his funny sense of humour. Thank you for his big heart and his supportive nature. Thank you for my Mom who knows me so very well. Who can tell how i am feeling just by looking at me. Thank you for her lovely smile, for all the lessons that she has taught me and carries on teaching me and for always encouraging me in whatever venture i decide to undertake. Thank you Lord for my brother who in a few weeks time i am going to get to know all over again!

How Weird

I have a very busy day ahead so i thought i would leave you with this photo that i took at my local grocery store parking lot. Its a real live Bunny Car!! Do you see the blue?.....Well it really is some sort of furry fabric and it covers the entire car!! I had to sit in a Que to drive past it as so many people were stopping to have a look.
Peace

A busy weekend

Saturday was our 6 year anniversary. It is true - we have been together for that long which means i have been living in the UK for six years. Wow - that is really difficult to get my head around.

We decided to go out to Dovedale for the day and just take in the countryside. Here are some photos that we took along our 5 mile walk.
Sunday we had my mom and dad round for lunch and along with a leg of lamb i made this delicious Lemon pie. I don't normally like lemon pie's but this one was yummy.
We also managed to get some time in at the car boot and i found this lovely little wooden house that i picked up for 50p! What a great price. I have a project in mind already - i just need to set aside some time. Tonight i have to do a circle journal which needs posting out tomorrow so i wont be able to make a start on it tonight.
At about 7:00pm last night out house suddenly got very smokey. We looked out the window upstairs and the neighbours garden was on fire! Don't ask me what they had done but man was it kicking up a lot of smelly smoke!

Looking up and looking forward....

Last night i got to spend some time with my journal. I sat down with a cup of tea and just stared at the page for ages with lots of different thoughts going round my head. No matter how hard i tried to form a proper sentence i just couldn't put anything in words. So, i grabbed a few magazines that i had lying around and i went to it. I cut out all sorts of different words that relate to what i am thinking, how i am feeling.....devastated, attitude, dreams, bride, always tired. It truly was amazing how many words you can find. I then decided to make a collage of them in my journal and by the end of it i was very happy with the result.

Today things are not feeling all that much better BUT i am looking up and looking forward. I have been learning that you don't have to do what your feelings say. Part of growing in your faith is learning that you can choose to be happy despite how you feel so this is my sole goal for today.

This is the next project that i want to cast on, minus the ribbon belt thing. I have the yarn already and the pattern, i just need 10 minutes to read through it and get a general idea of how it all fits together.

My tomato is coming along fantastically. I have another inch or so left to knit before i start the ribbing and once that is done then i need to block it and wear it!! I am so excited. I was hoping to have it finished by the 14th but i am not sure if that is going to happen. We will see.

Do you remember me telling you about the great bargains that i got off of eBay for the needles and the yarn? Well it arrived and i am very pleased.

I have been bitten by the knitting bug and unfortunately scrapping has taken a back seat - but that is alright with me because at the moment i am doing what i enjoy and i will always go back to scrapbooking.

Some eye candy for you:
I found this beanie on Neither Hip nor Funky (this is her photo as well) and then from her blog you can find this link, Beanie pattern. This is on my list of future projects for Stu.

Then, how about this beautiful Butterfly Frame - again this is on my projects to do list.

And how about this cool knitting blog - Knitting your town.

And just look at this lush jewellery from QVC

Are you a Bagaholic? Take a look at these lovely bags. Actually her entire site, Craft Apple, has got some great stuff on it!

Oh, and how about these beautiful quilts. This is definitely something that i want to try my hand at next!

And how about these for wedding invites or baby announcements? In the appropriate colours of course.

Make your own newspapers clippings

And how about this beautiful quilt made by Jenny which can be found here

That is just some of what is keeping me busy at the moment. It looks like we are finally going to have a sunny weekend and we are hoping to head on Saturday as it is our 6 year anniversary. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

God Bless.