Time for a catch-up!!

Well its now November, where has the year gone?!! What have I been up to since my last blog (in May I think!!).  Well where to begin ...  The summer has been and gone, and has seen a lot of activity in the family garden.  As well as all the pots that we have in the garden full of lots of lovely plants and flowers, my eldest daughter and her husband came to stay and installed 3 raised beds in the garden, so that I am now able to grow lots more!!  A big thank you, especially to Martin who did all the hard labour!  So after this we have been able to grow our own lettuce, radishes, broccoli and hopefully some carrots, and there is also parsley, mint and pride of place rhubarb maybe for next year!  I have also had two crops of potatoes which I have grown in buckets.

I have also been knitting quite a bit, and have finished several projects for family and friends, and also for my friend who is involved in the Maternity unit in Africa.


Potatoes



       A Cardi for my friend who is raising money for the unit in Africa



 

Pots in the garden in the summer

Business Cards...

My daughter has just made me some business cards for if I want to sell any of my knitted items!

Hard drive Cosey...

A while ago my daughter Claire was complaining that her computer hard drives were getting a bit battered in her bag and that she needed some sort of a case for them. So I thought how about knitted ones! I used some leftover wool and made the socks above with added flowers and a button on one. They seem to do the job and even made it onto her University blog (see link below!) If anyone's hard drive needs some TLC drop me a line and we'll see if we can make it comfortable again!


University of Cumbria - Must Have Designer Accessory

The baby clothes project

I have also been supporting a friend from Church who works in a hospital in Africa and is raising money for the premature baby unit.  She decided to try selling baby clothes to raise money and asked if I would help, along with some other ladies.  I was happy to help as it gave me a purpose and I love knitting baby things.  Here is my latest offering!

Not quite a Wooly Mammoth!!!

Well I finally managed to work out how to upload a piece of my work!!

As Claire (this was all her idea) has already said, I have been knitting for a very long time, and a while ago I came across some lovely patterns for animals so I decided to have a go and here is Ele, my little grey elephant!

I come from a long line of ladies who have always had either knitting or sewing on the go, so I guess it was only right that I took over.  I can fondly remember my Mum trying to teach me how to knit, which was a hard task for her as I was not a happy pupil and used to throw my needles and wool under the table and shout 'I can't do it'.  Well I guess I have moved on a little over the years, and as Claire so rightly said I properly started knitting for her and her older sister when they were little as money was tight and it was much cheaper then to make your own jumpers and cardigans.  I would make up patterns and use lots of different coloured wools together just to make the wool go further.  Over the years I have made a lot of things - even the family nativity scene which is displayed fondly each year at Christmas. (I was not however tempted to knit the Royal Wedding, including The Queen, Bride and Groom etc., although I think maybe Claire wouldn't have minded).