trying to finish one thing before starting another – as usual

I’ve managed to work a whole two rows of the Spring Fling since last week. At this rate, it’ll be ready to wear when I’m 72.

And this is what I’m really really itching to start on today.

It’s Sarah Jane’s Seafoam Fantasy Shawl, and I bought the pattern from her new shop on etsy.  I also have this pattern of her’s (which I won last year – I always think I never win anything but actually I do!):

which will be so absolutely perfect for the winter we have on our horizon. It’s already bitterly cold in the mornings now (Alex has been eyeing my converted leg-warmers but I’m a very selfish mother most of the time and she ain’t gettin’ nuthin’ hahaha) . I love the idea that it can be a cowl or a hat, depending on one’s mood (and the wind chill factor).

Back soon x

Getting the look

Every day I check out Mimi G’s posts on how to Get the Look.

Isn’t she gorgeous? Here is more of today’s look: Mimi on Friday.

Why do I torture myself like this?  Mimi is under 30, petite, sexy, confident and stylish.  She can walk in those heels.  I am none of those things, and fall over if I’m not in flipflops.  I am the aardvark to her meerkat, the manatee to her minnow.

Here is the Jill G look today:

AWESOME!!!!!! hahahaha

To be continued….

Bead me up, Scottie

Remember when the beading craze hit, about 10 – 15 years ago? I was running a needlework shop at the time, and twice a week the wonderful Caroline Smith used to come in and give beading workshops. I went a bit bead crazy myself, and still have a trillion beads stashed in various places. Even if I’m not making something with them, they are SO PRETTY to look at…

So, I made a couple of beaded sugar bowl covers. They can also be used to cover milk jugs, you know – when you’re serving tea to your friends in the garden in summer and you don’t want flies to go in? The beads around the net circle hold it down so it won’t blow off.  It’s a bit Victorian, I suppose, but that whole style made a big come-back.

I don’t know where mine are now, but here are some that a friend of Nicola’s made (so you get the idea):

And here is another one, now put into use as a decoration for a paper lantern light fitting:

All it needed was a bit of glue, some fray-stoppa and a pair of very sharp herb scissors!

To be continued…