Tartan special

Before

At the weekend my youngest daughter announced that she would like a tartan skirt to wear to a school ceilidh this week. It wasn't a lot of notice but, since she announced this in a fabric shop, at least I had the chance to get the fabric I needed to make it. She chose a black and white check, which tips its hat to being tartan without being a 'true' tartan. So a plan was formed . . . a wide elastic waistband with the fabric gathered and sewn on. Simple.

After

Snow!

I woke up this morning to a street covered in a thin film of white – not the soft fluffy deep snow of last year but a damp slippery-looking layer of slush. Still, it is white and it is the first of the year. Snow always makes me feel like a kid and the excitement is always there. Same thing with rainbows.

Anyway, the excitement of the snow got to me and I thought I'd make a snowy treasury in Etsy. Here it is . . .

Enjoy!

New listing – at last!

I've not posted anything for a while so thought I'd share the fact that I've finally gotten around to listing the item that left me unable to create anything for ages. Here it is, the neck cosy . . .

It's crocheted in a random arrangement of rows of double and treble crochet (UK versions) and edged in lots and lots (and lots) of trebles to create ruffles. I really enjoyed making this because the flat pattern is so simple, yet, when buttoned and all scrunched up it looks pretty sumptuous and dramatic.

The goose is getting fat . . .

Okay, it is still November but Christmas is creeping up fast!

I'm not so sure I like this time of year – the weather is getting cold and wet without the crispness of a real cold snap and the shops are full of Christmas items while I'm still trying to adjust to the fact it's not summer any more. To top it off this morning I received an e-mail from Caring Christmas Trees encouraging me to order my Christmas tree!


So, why should I buy a tree from them?

"ALL profits made from the tree sales go to support great local charities working with local people."

Every year for the last five or six we have ordered our tree from this organisation. In Edinburgh the money goes to The Bethany Trust which is a Christian organisation which helps the homeless. Regardless of any religious connections I can't help but feel that using the profits to provide a warm bed and food for a homeless person in the middle of the winter is a worthwhile thing to do (especially when so many tree sellers are out for the quick buck). The trees are fantastic quality so there is no compromise there at all. It's a win/win – I get a beautiful tree and make a contribution to charity at the same time.

Okay, tree ordered!

No doubt there are other organisations like this around the world and, let's face it, it's a great way to give a little something to those less fortunate.

P.S. I know I've not posted about projects for a while but something will be coming soon!

Remember, remember . . .

November is upon us and with it have come bonfires and fireworks and the approach of nightfall sometime during the afternoon! The clocks have changed to GMT and by the end of the month it'll be dark when the family leaves in the morning and dark by the time they get back.

The temperature has dropped and it's definitely a month for wrapping up warm.

It's not just November though, it's MOVEMBER!

Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate, with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Ireland. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause right across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.

No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, getting them to act on that knowledge thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. 

In 2010, over 112,000 UK Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising £11.7 million.

Big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to men’s health around the world but there is still much to be done to catch up with the women’s health movement. Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health, by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health each year. 

– uk.movember.com

Last year my daughter and I were in a local shopping centre when two police people strolled past – a woman, attired as you would expect, and a man sporting a fantastically outrageous handlebar moustache. Even Lothian and Borders Police were taking on the Movember challenge!

Normal services (almost) have been resumed

At last the anti-inflammatory drugs have kicked in and I'm able to be a bit more productive.
There are certain things that I'll be wary of for a while but (yippee!!) I can make things again!

Dull, dull, dull . . .

. . . on oh so many levels!

Yes, the met office was right and we're back to rubbish weather but that's not the biggest source of misery.

I have given myself a crochet injury (that's right, crochet!) and am typing with my left hand while waiting for my diclofenac to kick in. So, a week of much pain and almost nothing else. The doctor says rest – easy for him to say when I know that, at the very least, I have to cook and keep the kids in clean school clothes (try lifting a full pot with your weak arm or hanging a washing with only one hand).

Major frustration has set in since my head is full of new projects I should be progressing!

Gloom, gloom, doom and gloom . . .