2023 - The Year To Get Stuff Done!

Again, I have been away for AGES - why does this always happen?!

I have started a new job and it is keeping me very busy. After being a SAHM for 25 years, it is taking a little getting used to juggling all the housework, kids' stuff and work.

But I still want 2023 to be the year of getting stuff done. All those languishing WIPs, project plans that I really want to make but never quite got to, books I have been meaning to read for ages, organising the spare (aka junk) room, all the things! 

So let's roll up our sleeves and get to it! 

Knitting

I will be continuing on with my 35c earned per 10g knitted rule. Believe me, there is no way in this world that I need any more yarn, so I may allow my 'earnings' in different categories to be spent across any of the categories. 
It is 38 degrees C here today (100F) so knitting is not really on my mind today! But autumn/winter will be on us soon, thank goodness, and then the real knitting can begin.
And I will continue, slowly, slowly, with my vintage knitting, in particular from Stitchcraft magazines. 

Quilting

While I do not have any specific earning goals for quilting, I certainly have projects that I would like to finish and fabric stash that needs to be used up. Some of this fabric will sneak on over to the cross stitch category to use as finishes. And I really want to make some project bags using Elizabethanncanstitch's Youtube tutorial.

Cross Stitch

Again, I will be continuing on with previous earnings projects for cross stitch, using the guidelines from the Stitch From Stash Facebook group. 
I will also be participating in WIPGO, hosted by Jessie Marie Does Stuff  (this link will take you to the How To WIPGO video).

I do not have enough WIPs (in cross stitch, anyway!) to fill all the squares on the board once, so have chosen to add projects multiple times. Hopefully this will lead to at least a few finishes in 2023.

I will be working on each project for 14 hours in the month it is called.
So January's calls were squares 6 and 10 - the 2020 Pandemic Sampler by Sarcygurl and Ice Angel by Lavender and Lace. 
Ice Angel is one of my oldest WIPs. I couldn't say exactly how long I have been working on this. Let's just say, the last time I remember stitching on it was when I was in hospital for the birth of my oldest son and he turned 18 last year! It needs to be finished! 

This is my progress as at the beginning of January on the 2020 Pandemic Sampler.

And for Ice Angel.

Let's see how far 14 hours of stitching on each can get me! 

I picked up these planners from Amazon (using Christmas gift money) to help keep me on track. 

Reading

I have a ridiculously high Goodreads goal this year - feel free to friend me over there. 

I would like to focus on more Australian authors and nonfiction this year as well as continuing with my reading from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall. 

I participate in a number of reading challenge groups as I always like a list or prompt to follow! 

Walking

Not a crafty goal but I am finding this to be a lot of fun and quite motivating. I found this free app (or you can use it on your computer) called World Walking. It links to the health app on my iPhone so I can add my steps for the day to my chosen walk. 
And always one to take on the biggest challenge, I have of course chosen to 'walk' from London to Lapland! 
It is fun as you can look at a street view of where you are currently (except for when you are crossing an ocean!) as well as follow on the map. 

As you can see, this will take a while! My movement is hardly registering on the map but I am almost at Canterbury. Looking forward to reaching Dover and heading across to the Dunkirk Ferry Terminal. 

You can also set up walking groups, so you can walk with friends.

I may walk Transylvania next - after I make it to Lapland! 

So that is some of what I have planned for 2023 - I will expand on each section soon. I am attempting to publish two blog posts a week - fingers crossed! 

Happy crafting, reading, walking, or whatever you have planned! 

Monday's Make A List

So how did last week's list go?


Gardening and Homestead

• Pot up lettuce, kale and pak choy seedlings
• Dead head roses - I did half of the roses so will have to finish them this week.
• This week's moon planting is root crops so plant out garlic and sow radishes - also planted some beetroot and swedes
• Weeding - a never ending cycle!  I did four hours this week. I aim for three to four at the moment until I have things under control. 

Knitting, sewing and crafting

• Finish front of Prelude jumper - free pattern available here from Subversive Femme. 
• Sand back wooden dollhouse for granddaughter's birthday present

When my girls had this dollhouse, they painted it and the furniture themselves. My daughter asked me to revamp it for her daughter (as we are only doing secondhand or handmade gifts), so I thought I should update the paint job! I mixed up a blue for the lounge suite that is the colour I would love to have for my own lounge suite. I think it would fit in my 1940s themed house - one day! 

• Choose design for knitted cardigan for granddaughter's birthday present - I nearly have this sorted out. Now to choose colours.
• Sort out craft trunk - this may have to drop off the list if the boys' school is cancelled. Too much stuff to get out and spread everywhere!
• Dye and add to shop two lots of sock yarn sets  actually added three sets of sock yarn

• Plan project from Stitchcraft October 1932

Household

• Continue working on book inventory  I try to add at least twenty books a week to my catalogue online.
• Sort out boys' clothes for winter
• Tinned foods inventory

And now for this week. Who knows where we will be by the end of this week? It is still very much a matter of wait and see. 

Gardening and Homestead

• Finish deadheading roses
• Cut back rhubarb and mulch with compost and sheep poo
• Weeding!

Knitting, sewing and crafting

• Finish back of Prelude jumper
• Continue painting of dollhouse and furniture
• Finalise design for knitted cardigan for granddaughter's birthday present
• Sort out craft trunk
• Finalise and start project for Stitchcraft October 1932

Household

• Sort out boys' clothes for winter
• Tinned foods inventory

I hope you are all keeping safe and well. We just need to take this one day at a time. 

What Will I Do This Week?

Gardening and Homestead

• Pot up lettuce, kale and pak choy seedlings
• Dead head roses
• This week's moon planting is root crops so plant out garlic and sow beetroot
• Weeding - a never ending cycle!

Knitting, sewing and crafting

• Finish front of Prelude jumper - free pattern available here from Subversive Femme. 

• Sand back wooden dollhouse for granddaughter's birthday present
• Choose design for knitted cardigan for granddaughter's birthday present - it will be based on this design from Vintage Gifts To Knit by Susan Crawford, but the colours will be more forest based and I may look through my colourwork charts to find something other than the bunnies. The pattern is also on Ravelry here.

• Sort out craft trunk - which projects to keep working on
• Dye and add to shop two lots of sock yarn sets
• Plan project from Stitchcraft October 1932

Household

• Continue working on book inventory
• Sort out boys' clothes for winter
• Tinned foods inventory

Hope you have some happy plans for this week and that they all work out! 

Hello!

Once again, I seem to have unintentionally dropped off the blogging wagon! And for so long too!

The time has just flown by since my last post.

Nothing much has been happening though - just life. 

I have another grandchild on the way, due 26th April 2019. Little granddaughter is super excited about the arrival of a new brother or sister. Her dolls are getting lots of use as she practices!

This was their baby announcement - cute, huh?!

We have a cute new kitty, Flash. He is a sweetie, even though he likes to sleep on my head at 5am!

We have had some birthdays, been to LOTS of basketball games and tournaments and just lived life.

I have dyed lots of yarn and my Etsy shop is doing well.

I have been immersing myself more and more in vintage 1940s. I dream of having a home furnished from that era and dressing 1940s. Slowly adding more clothing pieces to my wardrobe. For some reason, I adore vintage gloves and there are SO many at op shops, and for only $1 or $2 a pair. I may not have the body to fit true vintage clothing (their waists, so tiny!), but luckily I have small hands!

I hope you have all been well - and haven't forgotten me completely! I apologise for not keeping up with all your blogs, but I will try to do better in the future. 
Sorry!

Knitted Birthday Gift

It was my little granddaughter's 2nd birthday yesterday and of course, some knitted gifts were in order!

I recently borrowed Mini Knitted Woodland by Sachiyo Ishii from the library. Oh, the cuteness!

I am totally in love with this toadstool cottage - obviously! And will definitely need to knit one for my desk.

I added a pebble to the base of the stalk so it would stand up (which my son kindly painted red to match, even though it wouldn't be seen).

And a gnome to match. My daughter pointed out that the scale doesn't seem to be quite right, if this is meant to be the gnome's home! Oh well, still cute.

I am working on the forest floor still. So many green squares to knit! I'll share that next week hopefully.

I also knitted some cupcakes to go with the teaset she was being given, using the No Calorie Knitted Cupcake pattern, a free pattern on Ravelry.

I really love knitting toys and fun things like these, so it is great to have someone to gift them to.

I have also been working on an Ode To Doris, another free pattern on Ravelry. I have knitted this one a few times as it makes a great newborn baby gift.

I love my DPNs when working in the round, although I have just started using circulars as well. Maybe it is my old-fashioned streak that makes me want to stick with DPNs. Although one of my knitting goals for this year is to give magic loop a try. 
Which do you prefer?

Another of my knitting goals for this year is to make a dent in my sock yarn and sock yarn minis collection. I subscribed to Knitcrate a while ago and have collected my own crates of yarn.

I have my eye on a few patterns for the minis - possibly Free The Minis by Amy Meeks or Land of Sweets by Helen Stewart. Has anyone knitted either of these or have any other suggestions for minis?

I have also been busily dyeing lots of yarn - it is so much fun and so addictive!

I have so many ideas for colours I would like to try. The shop is getting fuller every week!

Linking today with Rainbow Hare's Wool on Sundays - a woolly link up on the first Sunday of each month.
I would love to hear what woolly things you are all up to this week.

Very Amateur Video and the Shop is Ready!

I posted an extremely amateur video for my Etsy shop update on my page today.
Would you like to take a look?!

Here it is! - Well, this will take you to my Facebook page so don't click if you don't want to access Facebook.
I couldn't upload it directly to here as it was too big. And I have absolutely no clue how to edit video. Hence why it is so unprofessional! 
I need to do some research into making and editing video. Any suggestions for safe, free software would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some random yarn photos - I am so enjoying dyeing!
I was sad that some of the special yarn I ordered did not arrive in time, but hopefully it will be here next week, ready for next Friday's shop update.

That is probably enough for now!

The shop update will be going up very soon. 

My Etsy shop - Tiny Toadstool Cottage

I would love it if you would like to visit and give me some feedback. I know my photography leaves a lot to be desired compared to some people, but all the yarns are true to colour and can be seen well, I think.
Let me know what you think - what works and what could be changed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe The Last of the Hot Weather and Some Exciting News!

Look at yesterday's blue sky! And today is just as sunny.

So I am taking advantage of the warm weather to do some dyeing. 
Lots of soft and fluffy yarn bases arrived in the mail (although I am still waiting on some gorgeous sparkly sock) and they were just dying to be dyed!

I just have so many colours that I want to experiment with - I would need hundreds of skeins!

These are some of yesterday's colours - lots of variations on the same colourway here (which I call Fairy Wings - more info to come), so not all that interesting. But I cannot wait to skein them and see how they look.

I am doing lots of tonals today, most of them brighter than these ones.

I have been getting in some knitting as well, while watching my podcasts. Sleep - who needs it?!

I have made Ode to Doris by Kelly Brooker of PekaPeka Design Studios before. It is a lovely, simple pattern that looks gorgeous. I am making it this time in my new Fairy Wings colourway, which I think is knitting up quite well.

I have called it Doris Has Fairy Wings in my Ravelry projects.

And my favourite of the week!
I have been watching a new podcast (new to me, it has been around for a few years) and I am working my way through all the episodes. That is my OCD nature - I have to watch in order from oldest to newest, not just dip in here and there. It will take a while!

It is called Give Me A Crown by Niina and you can find the Youtube channel here.

But the best thing is Niina has an Etsy shop, where you can find the most gorgeous knitting or crochet project bags. I love them as they have snap fasteners - I find yarn always gets caught in zippers - so you can snap the fasteners shut with the yarn in the bag and it will feed through the gaps. 

And Niina had two toadstool bags in her shop! Did I have to have them?! Of course! 
I am using straight needles for my Doris project and they fit in the bigger bag (which is called a 3 skein project bag). The smaller bag is a sock knitting bag.

And look at the pretty packaging. 

Even a tea bag for a knitting treat.

How did Niina know my taste? 
Peppermint, Liquorice and Lemon Balm - yum!

We went to the ice cream shop in town after dinner a few days ago, as we must be nearing the end of the warm weather, and just because.
The man in front of us ordered two scoops, one Peppermint, one Liquorice. It made me think yum, I'm going to try that. Everyone else in the family made gross faces at each other!

And now for the bags!

They are so beautifully made, the fabric is so soft. And toadstools!

I have some more bags on order from some fabrics that are so divine - cannot wait to show you those too!

I am hoping to order a bag for a special giveaway as well, to celebrate the opening of my Etsy shop.
Yes, I have finally done it! There are only a few items in there at the moment. I needed to open the shop to get the web address so I could print it on my labels and you had to add an item to open it. 
But I am dyeing away and will have an official shop update on Friday 16th March. 

My shop is on Etsy here. I would love it if you had a look! I don't have international shipping on there, but if any of my blogging friends were interested in anything, I would be more than happy to work out a postage quote for you special people!

I have also set up a Facebook page, for anyone who uses that. I will be using this for previews of new stock, competitions, giveaways and the like. And this is a great place to share any items made using my yarn. Like me on Facebook here!

I am very excited to be starting this new venture and just wanted to thank all you lovelies who read my blog and comment - I so appreciate it.