Advent Day 18 (But really only day 4)

Only a week until Christmas! December is zooming past at the speed of light.

I've been occupied knitting my sister's present, a Saroyan (see this post for more details). Since posting those pictures I ripped it out and started again, so the the ends would be more tapered.

This is what the first one looked like: 

This is what the end looks like now (notice how the first leaf now has a stem):

I have done nine repeats of twenty-two, so still have a way to go, but it should definitely be done by Christmas Eve. The garter stitch edging likes to fold over to the back, I think because stockingette naturally curls. It is so soft! I love to hold it against my neck - if I could purr while doing this, I would.

You can see that my tension is a bit wonky in places... but hopefully after a wash it will be looking better. The picture below is of where the increase section finishes and the straight section starts.

So, Christmas knitting is under control at my house... how is it going at your place?

 

Advent Day 14 (But really only day 3)

Well, I have done an awful job posting everyday leading up until Christmas. I'm sure I'm no busier than most other people, yet somehow they find time to post!

Christmas knitting is still happening (extremely slowly - I need to speed up if I'm going to finish in time!), some presents have been bought, and the house has been decorated. No photos to share, however, as since then a hurricane has adversely affected the state of my house :(

I've come across a couple of sweet Christmassy idea, which I've been wanting to share with you, my lovely and deeeply appreciated readers :D

Kootoyoo shared a tutorial for these cute no-sew flower ornaments:

no sew star flower decorations

View more presentations from kootoyoo.

I think this felt ornament is simply adorable, and the tutorial is free over on zakka life. Yay! I might even have time to make some... for next Christmas...

Image belongs to zakka life

And lastly, something to munch on. My friend directed me to this cake recipe: Boiled Chocolate Cake. Apparently it doesn't look like much, but the taste and the moistness are incredible. As soon as the damage from the hurricane is taken care of I plan on making it.

Hope all your Christmas planning is going well!

P.S. Don't worry, there wasn't really a hurricane... my house is just superduper messy.

Raindrops and Wedding Bells

Today it is my fifth wedding anniversary! Already. It goes by so fast.

I'm sure you will all excuse me for having a little break from adventy/Christmassy posts so that I can have a little reminisce.

Today it is raining. Those who were at my wedding will know how appropriate this is: the days before and after my wedding day were warm and sunny. My wedding day, however, was misty and rainy. I don't think it stopped raining all day. My ivory dress looked blue because of the tarps which were put up to keep guests dry. 

There was no back up plan, and looking back, I wouldn't change anything. Here are a couple of photos.

It has been a good five years :)

Advent Day 2: Christmas Knitting

I have already nearly forgotten to post! Not a good start to the month...

So, I'm doing a fair bit of knitting and crocheting for Christmas. My sister is getting a lovely scarf-which-is-also-a-bit-like-a-shawl, called Saroyan.

It has lace leaves running down one side of it.

 

This photo is from the first time I started making it. You can see that I've done two repeats of the pattern. It has four more increase repeats, making it reasonable wide, then ten repeats that neither increase nor decrease, and then six decrease repeats.

Since taking these photos, I frogged all this (knit-speak for 'undid it all') and started again, using some modifications which makes the ends of the scarf more tapered, gives the first leaf a stem, and uses a different increase which is more invisible. So far I've done three repeat. Each repeat takes about an hour, though they're taking longer as the rows grow.

I have not taken any more photos since starting again, but no doubt you'll see some pictures soon enough!

If you want to make this scarf, it is a free pattern (Ravelry link). If you want to see my details, go visit my Ravely page.

Are you doing any handmade presents for Christmas? Please share! I need more ideas.

2010 Advent Blog-A-Long

I have found another challenge thing to join in with! Yay!

The Advent Blog-A-Long is hosted by Carrose Creations, and the challenge is to post everyday up until the 24th of December.

Prepare yourself for lots of Christmassy stuff! (And maybe even join in?)

The End of NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo:
- National Novel Writing Month
- it's actually an international event... not just a national one
- a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November

Liked:
- that I got halfway! 25,337

- the idea behind it
- the support I recieved from friends, new and old, from all over the world: Poland, UK and South Africa, Australia
- how much my husband encouraged me and believed in me
- that this is the longest thing I have ever written; it is over twice the length of my English Honours thesis
- that the story is interesting, and that I still love it
- that three of my five writing buddies reached 50,000 words! WELL DONE!!!!!!!!

Disliked:
- that I only got halfway
- having a sore wrist for several days, which hampered writing
- Getting so far behind that it would have been really hard to catch up, though still possible

Next year?
- I want to try again.
- Now that I've done it once and learnt a bit about it, I think I'm more likely to reach 50,000 if I try again.

At My House...

At my house it is lovely, wonderful, relaxed and peaceful, albeit untidy and in dire need of a vacuum.

I got out of bed uncharacteristically early (before 7:30am!!!!) because the cat vomited again. This is the third time in the last few days (four days I think), but at least now he has energy again, so I'm not worried about him.

Worry is so draining. I choose to believe for a good outcome, and to be glad over every sign of improvement - it is much nicer.

This is my gorgeous, funny cat... making the best of my husband's backpack being on his (as in the cat's) chair.

My brother unexpectedly popped in for a visit, which was lovely. I absolutely love seeing my brother. Later this week we're going to have some sushi together in Hobart. I'll try to remember to tell you about it.

So, at my house... music has been playing, talking has happened, plans have been made, breakfast and an apple have been eaten (and some chocolate... shhhhh).

Plans for the rest of the day: read a book for an hour or so, crochet a pig (finish it!), cook tea, do the dishes, maybe do some Christmas knitting (post on this is in the works) and (double-maybe) vacuum.

Hmmmm... not many photos today so far, sorry! There was a dragonfly outside that I tried to get pictures of, but it flew away too fast.

I'm joining in with Lou Lou again... if you have some spare time, pop over and be inspired to approach your crazy Monday positively. Turn that frown upside-down!

Todays Creative Space...

Writing is STILL happening! Though not feeling particularly creative about it... I'd rather share a picture of some knitting I have been doing:

It is the start of my sister's Christmas present... more details soonish!

And one last creative thing for today, which I am allowed to do if I reach 25,000 words by 5pm, is some colouring. I stumbled across some utterly adorable colouring-in pages, which you can download for free. The birdies are just so cute!

Are you doing anything creative today?