Time keeps on Slippin'

I never intended to stay away for so long......and now it's marching on towards Christmas.  I've been in my job now for 6 months, where has the time gone?

Once again this blog post sees me with no news, or progression on pattern writing.  Full time work is really just that.....full time, with what always seems as no let up.  Trying to always catch up on sleep before catching up with anything, anyone or anybody!

I have made one decision that has turned out to be a good one.....a cleaner.  This has freed up a little bit of time for me and for the first time in what seems like months, I have started to finish some long overdue knitting as well as just knitting items, because I can.  Also a large stash of white Fuzzy Wuzzy came my way via Canada, so I spent a few nights knitting up little Kitty Kat hats....some of which are still available in my Etsy store.....there will be some more to come as I have a lot of this yarn to knit down.

I also spent a considerable amount of what little time I had throwing, donating, gifting and selling off furniture, clothes, books and crockery, as well as throwing years of long held sentimental items.....I just felt it was time to let all of these things go.  I've refreshed some of these items.....new sofa,  bed, chairs, storage for my stuff as well as wool and some new bed linen(s), with a few more things to come, but it is true what they say, you do feel lighter when you're not smothered in stuff and clutter......well I do anyway, and it was a good decision in the end.  Even though it sort of didn't feel totally right at the time.

The only other thing I've done is to put up the Christmas tree......a new 3ft white tree, that sits of the side table filled with beautiful vintage ornaments that I've been buying and stashing over the last few years.....these ornaments weren't cheap but they are so lovely so I figured I needed to get a few extra weeks out of the tree.

Well that's all my news, I promise I won't stay away for too long next time.....fingers crossed the next post will be all about 2 new hat patterns....Purdey bonnet and Purdey earflap......which leads me to say as well how overwhelmed I've been with current pattern purchases.....Clover seems still to be the pattern of the moment, and I just marvel at the beauty of them all when I look at Instagram.....there is literally 100's of them using the tag #cloverearflaphat......so thank you to all who have purchased a pattern or two and I hope you'll all get just as much joy out of Purdey when it's out just before Christmas.

Thanks again


Vicki x

Spring Forward......Fall Back

I always use the American analogy of the seasonal change of clocks going forward and back....Spring Forward, Fall back......The clocks are finally going back this week, so Autumn is officially here....the leaves are changing, the late afternoon sun has that hazy softness about it....the air has got a little bit of a chill in it.....yeah!!

I don't have much news, I just thought I'd pop in to say hi and let you know I'm still officially unemployed....well unemployed in the sense that the job I referred to a few weeks ago, is still buzzing about.....it's a long process.  I had my second interview, which I passed and then this morning I've had a uniform fitting......and a complete medical and drug testing......there is something about weeing  in a cup with a witness watching that I'm never going to get used to!!  I guess if that all comes back ok, then hopefully I will get offered a job, but it still could be a number of months away.  We'll see, but I'm loving my time at home, even if I'm a little bit poorer financially, but a lot fuller in so many other ways.

I've managed to clean my little apartment from top to bottom, it's so ship shape and shiny, which just makes working at home soooooooo much easier.  I've sorted out my yarn stash, I've culled a huge amount of my wardrobe in anticipation of uniform wearing......I've replanted some little annuals for Winter.....the possums came and attacked the herbs again!!  I've got a weekend of knitting orders to finish, and then for the first time in 5 years......yes 5 years I will not have one single order on my books......and I'm half way through writing up my next pattern and I've mended a relationship with a family member, which meant a lot to me.  It's been a busy time.....oh yeah and dealing with a not very happy car, such bad timing, although I'm not driving off to work, so it hasn't been all that painful.....just forking over cash for repairs, has been the more painful part!!

So there you have it......I've been home for 5 weeks now, and I really don't know how I ever fitted work in......but I will say I am looking forward to getting out and about in the working world real soon.....I'll keep you updated.

Anyway I'm going to park my self on the sofa.....I've just had to replace the DVD player, I think it finally got worn out, so I have a few DVD series to commence and looking forward to a quiet weekend.  I hope yours is the same, if that's what you choose.

Vicki x

New Year, New Quilt........

Welcome 2014, the year of happy I've named it......I think with 2013 having the number 13 in it, made that year a bit ho hum.  I think this year more than any other that I've seen, many people are saying good riddance to 2013 and looking forward to 2014.   It seems last year has not been a great year for many of us.....well in my circle anyway!

Quilt has been made....it's very bright, and with time, like my one I made last year here , it will mellow down, squish and soften up......I was looking at last years quilt this morning when I took it off the bed, it really is like an old vintage find now.  It is so unbelievably soft and mellow, and very well used and loved.

I have a few more quilts to make and or finish off....ran out of fabric for one, a bit of tidying up on another and one that doesn't have to be ready to mid year or so.....but one of my NY resolutions is to not leave things to the last minute.

I'm not normally a resolution maker, but this year I did decide to make a couple....well a few more than a couple, I just wanted to look back at the end of the year and see how far I got.  Not major things, but achievable I guess would be a good way to look at them.

1. No more Not so many yarn purchases.
2. Pilates twice a week.
3. Buy that damn bicycle I've been wanting to buy before Summer finishes.
4. Lose that last 10 or so kilos.....I managed to get 6.5 off before Christmas, so I'd like to have the remaining 10 off by December....slow and steady.
5. Finally learn to run and enjoy it.....Couch to 5K, here I come.
6. Finish all the woolly works in progress before I start any more.
7. Have at least 4 more knitted patterns completed before end of year.
8. Save more money.
9. Don't waste so much food.
10. Comment more on other peoples blogs, facebook pages and the like....I know it makes me so happy when someone leaves me a comment, so I'm going to make sure I do it more to others this year.
11. Smile randomly at someone in the street everyday.
12. Be HAPPY!

What do you think.....Achievable?


Anyway it's time to go, dinner to make, warmest wishes to all of you for 2014.  See you soon.


Vicki x


ps.  Softie comes from here. 

Time.....

I never had the intention of being away for so long, but time has just gotten away.  So to condense down what could be a long post, here's a little of what I've been up to since I've been away.....Knitting orders (nothing new there!!), lost 4.7 kilos in weight, celebrated my 46th birthday, got a small promotion at work, successfully grown chives, mint and parsley whilst still avoiding those pesky possums.  Purchased all the goodies to start a balcony vegetable garden.  Saw a few movies, About time...worst movie I've ever seen, Diana, second worst movie I've ever seen, Captain Phillips and Prisoner, two of the better movies I've seen. Also went to Gold Class cinema for the first time. Internet shopping from The Fat Quarter Shop, buying pre-cut squares for Christmas break quilting time.   Planning another blanket even though I haven't finished the one I'm crocheting now and just spending some time reacquainting myself with the outdoors and embracing the beautiful Melbourne sunshine.

Hope you're all well,

Two Rows in Two Months.

I finally finished my second row of my block coloured hexie yesterday.   We had the most horrendous winds blowing last night that damaged a lot of houses, saw the power go out to over 50,000 homes, closed the airport etc etc.....I can't knit when it's stormy for some reason, I find crochet more of a comfort.   So with the TV on loud to block out the noise of the rattling windows and the crashing waves of the bay, I crocheted lots of hexies.

I'm setting myself a Christmas target for this blanket, so 20 more rows in 12 weeks.  Achievable, what do you think?

Cheers,

Slow Days

Autumn has set in, and so have the slow days.....fast on the knitting, but slow on everything else.  It turns out I've had a low grade virus for a few weeks, which may explain a few things....sleeping a lot and not feeling much enthusiasm for anything else....so I've just tucked myself away, knitting like mad and watching re-runs of favourite DVD's.

I've been cooking up a storm, the big pots and slow cooker have been given a workout....stews, soups and casseroles, and hopefully all this good hearty food may have me ship, shape and shiny before I know it.

I've taken a few slow walks around the hood, a few blocks to the mail box, dropped off a hat parcel or two....and then ambled my way home with crunchy leaves under my feet.

I've been re-visiting some planned colour palettes I had stashed some time ago for a new blanket..... once the current WIP's are completed.  The end of May should see me finish up with the remainder of my hat orders, and then hopefully some "ready to ship" stock should happen in my Etsy store.....then I'll take a break to get those patterns written up....yes they are coming.

No other news around these parts...I think I like Slow Days....

Just Being.....

I picked up the knit sticks for the first time in what seems like weeks today.....Made myself a new little knitting nook.....padded bed box seat moved to the wall, feet up on the bed, all my bits and bobs next to me, windows open, sun streaming in, podcast playing and Audrey the super cat just looking for the best sun spots.

It's nice just being.......


Vic x

Thank You....

Popping by to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Holiday Season........Thank you for stopping by and staying around here, it's been lovely to see my little blog getting busier by the week.

As for 2013, after the tragic events of last week, I'm praying for a happier, kinder and safer year.  I live in hope.

Warmest wishes,

Vicki x

PS.  This picture above was taken in the neighbourhood of West St Kilda where I live.  It was taken very late at night, thus the darkness.  It was using a new camera lens, a 35mm 1.8 lens on a Nikon D3100 camera. There was no flash used on this image....as natural as you see it.

Missing in Action....

Hi All, sorry I've let things slide here for a week or so, I always try and post once a week, but it hasn't been the best couple of weeks.

My dear Aunt Anne died....I won't go into why or how, but suffice to say, I feel like I've been on a roller coaster for the last 12 days or so.....its emotionally thrown me for six and add in a second bout of flu that came on a few days ago, I look and feel like a mess really.  Some good food and a little exercise might just make a bit of sense right about now.

I've been finishing off some bootie orders, don't forget you can make your own, you'll find the pattern here....You can also check out my Ravelry page here and some of the projects I've completed, and feel free to become a friend on Ravelry, I do forget about that part of Raverly all the time.

Some exciting news that I'm going to share with you....I'm going to be selling my knitting patterns....I've decided that it is long overdue, and I do get asked again and again if I would be willing to sell them....so I'm slowly working on the first hat to sell.  I'll be selling them on Etsy and Ravelry, and this blog will probably become more of a tutorial type thing, as I slowly turn away from the knitting side and go to the design side of things.  It's going to be a slow process, but in the end a satisfying one....I'll keep you updated.

So let me know....Would you buy a dover & madden hat pattern and make your own?

Vic x

The Week That Was......

A quiet week....trying to get myself back into the work groove, but something seems to be out of kilter.  I'm pressing on as best I can....but one groove I did manage to bet back is reading....and yes I read that book, and finally finished another one....and now moving on to In The Pleasure Groove by John Taylor.  I have had this sitting at home for a week or so and am itching to read it, but I know once I pick it up I won't put it down, so I'm waiting for a couple of free hours instead of a tired 15 minutes elsewhere.

I've managed to get some orders out, the bigger ones are still pressing for next weekend, made a second ready to ship hat...only 6 of those to go, and was looking at a new 8 ply/DK wool supplier, as much as the colours were great....the texture of the wool didn't sing to me....had a feel and look of an inferior product, and that's not what d&m is about, so scrapped it.

We had a stinking hot day during the week, and got inspired and pulled out some Summer clothes....the next day it went back to freezing and now I have the heater back on!!  I'm sure next week will be better.

Enjoy Vicki x

Lazy Days & Fridays......

I didn't have to work today....or at least go out to work to my main job....so today was a lazy day.  Had a flat inspection this morning.  Having lived in my little abode for 14 years I have this feeling that my landlord may be looking to sell.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to move, but when this little place is so clean and tidy, toasty warm and cosy I really couldn't stand the thought of living anywhere else.

All I did today was eat, unpack new yarn and this afternoon I snuck back to bed for a nana nap....and tonight I've made a huge pot of leek, carrot and lentil soup for supper....because I really can't be bothered with anything more.

Lazy days are the best.

Enjoy

vicki x

Ready To Burst.....

It's been nearly 3 weeks since I posted this particular blog post....my little orchid is just about ready to burst into bloom.  We've had beautiful but very cold sunny days here in Melbourne, so the orchid is getting all the lovely Winter sun which just floods the bedroom of my little apartment.

Talking about bursting, my little creative lull has now ceased, and I have around 4 new dover & madden hat designs just waiting to be tried and tested on the needles....but all good things must wait, a few more orders to get through and then the creativity can really start.

Hope you're all well, and considering there has been a major lack of content here, I am still amazed at the number of readers, so thank you one and all.

Vicki x