half term

I had a couple of glorious days off with F+T. We didn't get up to much, just enjoyed our free time with no boundary's.

We have made ghoulish fairy cakes and jam tarts and decorated the hall with spiders! Had long walks in Wanstead Park, built dens and ate biscuits in them.

We did try to visit the science museum but the queues were wrapping the building. Seeing as F+T have another week off AND an inset day the Monday after - we have decided to go then.

Ghoulish tart or Elvis?

I got on with some more knitting too this week, T's socks are nearly done and F's quilt has finally moved on. I'm also trying out some wrist warmers but because I've gone off tangent with the choice of yarn used, I'm not sure they will pan out!

The back of the quilt has been put together and all I need to do is put it all together and quilt it. I've taken the idea for this quilt from a book Material Obsession with a few changes. I'm not sure what sort of pattern to quilt on it. One of the pictures in the book seems to show a sort of sunburst in each panel but I'm not sure. Instead I was thinking of quilting around each branch and bird so that the back had the shapes of the front with some random leaf shapes in the big blank areas.

We are only half way through ours, some are coming to an end but hope you are enjoying your half term.

time slipping

I'm not sure what is happening at the moment but I seem to be losing time here and there. It is slipping by and we are already in the middle of October.

Who remembers the summer holidays?

They were a few weeks ago, Yes?The scary thought is that Christmas will be upon us very quickly. Thoughts of gifts and card making already in my head.

F+T are in Year 5 now and the year is feeling really heavy already. They get homework every day. Monday, Wednesday and Friday is Maths with Tuesday and Thursday, English. There is always a random, Geography, History, French,

Spelling thrown in.

I don't agree with so much homework. My children are no longer children but drones. We have had some corker nights trying to get it all done, with fighting and me ending up shouting. I hate it.

I believe children should be children and allowed to play not spend so much time working!

Hey, there's plenty of time for that!

I feel I need some better management of my time. Complaining to a friend, over a spur of the moment coffee chat, that I must try to escape to my sewing machine for an hour a day. I'm aiming high I know!

By the end of the day I'm afraid I slob out but I do knit! My hands are busy at least, whereas my mind is still attempting to think of all the different irrigation ways or how to get F+T to remember paragraphs!

I bought a few balls of sock wool. I'm a bit hooked on socks at the moment. I finished this pair for F and have started a pair for T.

Oh and I almost forgot!

There's piano practise - not only for F+T but for me too. Let me tell you - it's hard. I'm ok doing each hand separate but together is another matter. More practise is needed = more time.

How can I make more time?

Sorry about the bad light in the photos!

saying goodbye

I've been found out.

Yes, I am the tooth fairy! If you are still a believer - I'm sorry to break it to you this way.

F+T no longer believe in her as F has been snooping in my newly decorated bedroom and found their baby teeth. Much whispering has been done.

This week T. lost a molar and the truth with it.

Even though he still put his tooth in the tooth pillow and left it for her - of course the money is still wanted!

I went to bed that night and found a note on my pillow. It read - 'We know it's you! Don't forget my tooth or else'

What could a good fairy do? I left the money!

Sigh. F+T have said goodbye to the childhood.

Father Christmas' head is also on the block as they don't believe in him either - well, a little as there is a risk of them not getting any presents!

Not bad though, I mean they are 9 years old!

Another goodbye was to a friend who is leaving us and moving 'up north' to be with her man. I wish her all the best in her new life and hope she keeps in touch.

This past week I have been making more owl doorstops to sell and knitting some socks using Noro wool. It's lovely to knit with, a little coarse but still nice. I have just put an order in for some self pattern sock wool.

These bright clear, slightly chilly days have been lovely haven't they?

Picking F+T up at school and dawdling along the green collecting conkers.

Knitting outside - in front of the fire! Notice the pimms? Hmm, I know a very poor effort. Flat lemonade and no fruit!

Retreating inside to knit (you can't knit properly when you are suffering from hypothermia!)

weekends

I guess those weekends of lounging in the garden doing this are over.

The weather has definitely turned and there is a chill in the air. We've had some good weekends pottering about, having friends over for lunch and BBQ's.

The children have had to start wearing proper shoes and uniform and slowly had the feral of summer knocked out of them!

I shall miss the crazy days of weird random play in the garden. Above took longer to attach the pegs than actually play as Peg Boy.

Below was The Circus. It actually got better as it went on, although that could have been the wine! I'm still not sure who thought of wearing all their underpants at once - I can only guess!

Never mind. The evenings of watching Strictly Come Dancing with dinner on ours knees is about to start. I'm the only one in the house to think 'yippee' to this - but that's because I'm the only girl!

a crazy make

When our summer girl Alison said she was going as a hobbit, to her sisters fancy dress birthday party, I asked if she had hobbit feet. To me hobbits have to have the feet!

So in between customers we set to.

We covered her shoes in clingfilm and started layering them with papermache (torn newsprint and watery pva). Drying in between with a fan heater and even in the kiln as it cooled down!

We moulded the toes with pva sodden kitchen towel and as it dried I scored toenail shapes into them.

They were tricky for her to walk in as they didn't flex but I said it gave her a more 'hobbit look'!

We also made a map which we burnt the edges and tea stained, as well as a draw string pouch.

I loved it. Took me back to my old job... how I miss it.

chickerdee

This is crazy chicken tea cosy I made for a friends Birthday. She was hard to give away as I love her!

Although she was the cause of my broken beloved crochet hook!

Weird loopy yarn and DK Rowan in a dark red was moss stitched for the body and the tail is crocheted just with the loopy yarn. Her eyes are vintage buttons.

Hope she keeps the teapots warm!

boo...

hoo...

I broke my very favourite crochet hook, it's the one I learnt on.