one good apple

or two school days well spent…

I bought this at the weekend,

After all that talk of saving money and stuff I just decided I wanted it.  And despite the fact my sister could have bought it for less from Japan for me, that would have taken to long and I wanted it, like now.  So I bought a Gocco.  I have big plans for this little beauty and have been totally inspired by the Gocco group over at flickr who have some amazing examples of prints.

I’ve also finished my embroidered hankies, they’re in the wash cleaning the pen ink out of them but I’ll post pictures of them as soon as they’re done.  I love the way they’ve turned out.  In fact, I think I’m going to start a bigger embroidery project over the next week or so.  A friend of mine is getting married in August and I thought I might make something as a wedding present for her and her new husband.  I’ll have to have a play around and see what I come up with.

I’m also in the middle of making Urchin and should have that finished by the end of the day.  Again, pictures will follow, for now, I’m off to enjoy the first day if half term.

You know when there’s something you have to do?  I mean really have to, very important, no excuses?  Only, the thing is, because you have to, you don’t want to any more?  By the end of today I have to finish my nephew’s scarf because by the end of today I have to block it, let it dry and wrap it ready for Christmas.  I don’t even have till Christmas eve to do it because I’m going home to see my mum tomorrow and won’t see this side of the family until the 27th.  Consequently, I have made Quant from the new issue of Knitty,

using some of the yarn gifted to me by my secret pal, have finished the body on the Best Friend Cardigan - the only reason it isn’t finished is because I’m waiting for the rest of the yarn - and done various other silly little things that I don’t really need to do like make hot chocolate,

and play on Guitar Hero demos on the xbox.  I mean, that shows the height of my determination to avoid this stupid scarf as I hate the xbox and get bored even thinking about it. 

We also went to get Donald a wife yesterday after much thought and advise seeking.  She’s a brown lop, very clam, very sociable and hopefully a suitable wife to Donny’s husband.  We don’t pick her up till after Christmas what with flitting about from one place to the other but we played with her a little yesterday and so far, so good.  In fact, I think Donald must have smelt her on us when we got home as he was the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time - bunny jumps all over the place, constant grooming of us and himself, demands of the boy for piggy back rides and almost no attempts to chew at the wallpaper, a regular Christmas miracle…

So tomorrow I will be back in Yorkshire reading the Night Before Christmas and drinking Bucks Fizz until the bubbles go to my head.  So all that’s left to say for now is - in the words of a famous man -  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night x

I’ve had two days off school to go on courses this week and it has been heaven.  Not that I don’t like my job, I love it, but you underestimate how tired it makes you.  In other jobs I’ve had the best parts were where you get to play around a bit, slack off a little and do something creative instead of the usual.  In this job the best parts are the hardest parts so you’re having loads of fun but tiring yourself out at the same time.  Very odd situation indeed.  Anyway, it’s been nice to be taught for a couple of days rather than doing the teaching so I am a happy little bunny.

Speaking of (not so) happy bunnies, I’ve been playing around here making pictures for Christmas cards for this year.  This is my favourite so far,

My very own Scrooge.  I’m going to couple more different ones I think and then order a batch.

This weekend will be filled with baking, knitting and making some Christmas decorations - it is the first tomorrow after all - as well as sorting out a last little package for my secret pal.  I have two parcels waiting for me at the post office that I’m going to pick up in the morning, I have a feeling that one might be my SP sender reveal - can’t wait!

There’s been a lot going on around here lately.  Finally finished my advent calender for my sister.  I can’t remember if I said or not but she has no room in her house for a Christmas tree and I didn’t like the thought of her having one so I made her this,

The tree was knitted in some old yarn I bought on impulse and finished with single crochet around the edges to neaten it up.  I found some great little star buttons that liven up the tree on those first few days of Christmas when it will be pretty bare.  And to top it off, 25 little ornaments to put on for each day leading up to Christmas.  I made these with some Fimo clay that I painted with acrylic and varnished to finish it off.  Varnish makes everything look ten times better.

My favourite part of this is the fact that it can all be folded up into a neat little triangle to be put away safe for next year,

I also made some stitch markers from the modelling clay, a sort of family portrait that includes Rebus, our new addition.  The photo of them isn’t the best in the world but they’re on my flickr in crafty things if you want to see them.

We also got a new pad for Donald as an early Christmas present.  He loves it.  Normally he’s barrelling up and down his cage to be let out on a morning but he’s very happy in his new gaff as you can see,

The house has also served to soften the blow of the fact that he is now on a diet after bing told that despite being a handsome chap he is a pound overweight.  No more bran flakes for this ape!  Luckily the carrot biscuits my secret pal sent me are helping him through this tough time.

My Christmas knitting is coming along nicely.  I’ve just started working on Muir from this month’s Knitty and I’m enjoying a lace project for the first time.  It’s so satisfying seeing it grow quickly and the yarn I’m using is a beautiful light grey and very soft and cosy.  For my mum, I think.

This weekend will be a lazy one.  Work has been far to much like, well, work this week and I’m exhausted with still four weeks to go.  I’m in the Christmas nativity (another story to tell) and I’m co-directing the House panto for the last day of term so it’s rehearsals a-go-go.  So tonight we’re watching Zodiac on the telly and eating our body weight in comfort food.  Tomorrow is a birthday lunch for the boy’s mother and then I plan to do some serious knitting and maybe make a little something to go in my last secret pal parcel.  Oh and go to the post Office to pick up some goodies that have been left there.  Relaxing weekend ahoy!

It came!  It came!  Another parcel from the best Secret Pal that ever existed *gush gush*  And, oh my, were there treats in store,

For me, some gorgeous roving to card and spin and make into something soft and amazing,

The Dyer’s Garden by Rita Buchanan

that has meant I spent the weekend in the boy’s father’s garden seeing what I can gather and take home, a cute little bunny bookmark, some Thorntons chocolates that lasted about an hour, sparklers, Haribo and, most exciting for Donald, Flumps and rabbit biscuits. 

Thank you so much Secret Pal, I can’t wait to get started with the fleece and dyes.  I hadn’t realised what a positive experience this swap was going to be but I’m totally sold on it and will definitely be coming back for more *^_^*

In other news, the will was strong but my laptop’s desire to pack in was stronger last week as it gave up the ghost and refused to let me use it in order to blog every day as I’d planned.  Typical isn’t it?  Luckily she has been pushed aside and replaced by the boy’s PC that we’d left in his mum’s when we moved last.  He is a very happy bunny and I am now able to type words with the letter ‘d’ in and make spaces without pounding at the keyboard.

I’ve also started work on this,

which is going to be a present for my sister who doesn’t have enough room for a Christmas tree.  I’m nearly done and will post pictures as soon as I have.  It’s turned cold here today so I’m off to put some woolly socks on and bed down for the night in front of the (rubbish) telly.  Happy snuggles.

I’ve been absolutely exhausted this week.  It’s started getting darker in the mornings and its made such a huge difference to how I feel when I get up in the morning.  I’ve only got one more week of term left too and that’s a sure fire recipe for feeling tired.  At least the end is in sight!

I’ve been doing a lot of painting lately after John bought me a canvas and some acrylics a couple of weeks ago.  Hardly DaVinci but they make me smile,

My secret pal socks are coming along nicely, I’m going to Manchester later on today to see my best friend so I’ll work on them on the train.  I love getting the train as I’m always the driver at home and driving means that you can’t stare at scenery or people, just the road and the road and the road…  Plus when I get there I’m going to the beer festival which is another great reason to not have to drive home *^_^*

We also got a new addition this week - John’s niece’s hamster.  He’s called Rubus and very skittish at the moment but he and Donald are getting on like a house on fire so I think he’ll be happy here.  We nearly ended up getting another bunny this week too but eventually decided against - there’s not enough wallpaper in the house to cope with two of them!

I have plans to spend all day tomorrow knitting and crocheting so I will hopefully have something to show for it tomorrow evening.  Happy Saturday…!

We’ve had Activity Week at school this week so I’ve done everything from visit the zoo to beadwork.  The best bit was spending two days with the kids making children’s pop up books and reading them to nursery school kids.  Managed to sneakily make one of my own called The Dastardly Deeds of Donald O’Dowd about all the trouble my house rabbit gets up to

Unfortunately, I think the book might have given him some ideas as the little rat angel decided to redecorate the bedroom this morning.  Wallpaper all over the floor, my landlord will be pleased!

I’ve also picked up crochet hooks for the first time this week.  Made this doll from a pattern at http://stitch.hellooperator.net/free-patterns/amigurumi-doll/ and was very happy about how easy it was to make //(’;')\\  The hardest part was the hair, that I was still threading in at 2am on Thursday night.  Not very rock and roll!

I also got my new camera this week (hence the lovely photos…!) and made a cute little carry case to go with it.  Not the best fit in the world as I cobbled the pattern together myself but I’m hoping that the fact it looks so sweet means I’ll be nice and gentle with it!

In other news, I’m off to Berlin in two weeks time!  Got a warning phonecall from my sister yesterday which began, ‘You’re not staying in a hostel are you?’  to which I replied in the affirmative.  ‘Have you not seen Hostel?’ she asked in a slightly panicked voice.  Spent some time explaining it was a made up film rather than a documentary which seemed to reassure her although now I’m worrying…!

My local wool shop has got a sale on at the moment where I got some gorgeous Debbie Bliss Cotton DK for half price.  This is the only time I can afford it and I am unfeasibly happy about yarn right now!  I’ve started making some granny squares that I’ll turn into an afghan for when we go camping in Cornwall at the end of August.  With the weather the way it is at the moment, we’re going to need it…