Here's what I've been up to.......

Hi all,

thought I'd check in with a quick update and let you know what I've been up to.

It's a girl!

So, after finding out that my sister's imminent arrival is going to be a girl I've been on a mission to find beautiful girlie wool and some lovely vintage inspired patterns. 

Here's what I've been making so far.........

I'm using a pattern that I used for the cardigan I made my best friend's baby a few months ago. I managed to find this peach wool which I think really suits the project. 

Making gifts for my little nephew

My youngest nephew is going to be two in just under two weeks. He loves his cuddly toys and I love making home made gifts for him. Thanks to the array of wonderful patterns to be found online, I came across a pattern for a Herdwick sheep. 

Here are all the parts knitted.....

Cable knit body, four legs, two part head, two ears and a cable knit tail

.....You'll be able to find pictures of the finished Herdy (once he's been filled with some toddler friendly toy stuffing) over on my Facebook page.

Old rope for a new rug

Thanks to some inspiration from a fellow maker on Kollabora, I've got big plans for this old climbing rope. I don't like waste and I certainly don't like letting my climbing ropes end up in the bin. 

Stay tuned to see what I do to this little beauty :)

.........and last but not least - Shaker peg rails

Whilst I'm talking climbing rope I thought I'd tell you about my plans for creating a Shaker style peg rail for my other climbing ropes - my husband and I have many!

I love the shaker style pegs - simple and elegant. I'm planning to make one of my own, sourcing pegs the right size and weight to hold several heavy ropes. I'm also going to source a piece of wood for the rail that will add some character to the display. A friend of mine (who turns out to be a bit of an amateur carpenter) has offered me the use of his wood work tools. Along with my GCSE in Resistant materials (woodwork to me), I'm hoping to create something extra special for my much loved climbing gear. 

I'd love to hear what you're all up to this weekend and if you've got any crafty projects on the go. Feel free to leave your comments below.

Best wishes,

KnittyNora xx

Psst.......did you know that my psychedelic sweater was selected for a Kollabora collection. Find it here 

Looking on the bright side.

The last year has been a rather busy and testing time for me. Due to ill health, I am currently unable to go to work and have been making regular trips to see my GP and consultant at the hospital. Being a person who is normally running around in the mountains and climbing things, I've found this rather difficult. However, I'd like to think of myself as an optimistic person and therefore have pledged to use this time, whilst taking it easy at home, to consider those things that are most important to me and to look forward to the many new adventures this year has to offer.

Home improvements

After watching the Great Interior Design Challenge on BBC2 I have been inspired to start adding some personality to my home. I'm planning to start simple - cushions, throws, etc, but would love to do a bit of decorating and inject a bit of colour to the place (once I'm well enough). My home is jam packed with outdoor gear and I would love to make more of a feature of this rather than just trying to hide it away in cupboards. My husband and I are both musicians too. His guitars have finally made it onto the walls but now I want more :)

Babies, babies, babies........

This year my sister will have her second baby. Her next scan is due on Valentine's day. She's planning to find out the sex of the baby this time which means I will get the chance to go out and buy some girl or boy specific yarn. Last time round I opted for safe white and lemon. This little hat (above) was one of the first gifts I gave my new little nephew. He's now nearly two and has a lot of handmade gifts from his favourite auntie :)

My best friend will also be planning her baby's christening for this summer which means finding a lovely outfit for me.....I may even try and make one if I'm feeling really brave! And of course, I'll have to make the little one something special to mark the occasion.

Developing All you need is craft

Whilst I have this time on my hands, I'd like to develop the range of things I create. A few people have asked me whether I sell the things I make. The answer - no. I would love to but with a full-time job I've had little time to focus on creating my own little business. I would love to increase my audience and know that there are people out there wearing something I have made.

If any of you have any experience of making and selling/setting up a small business I would love to hear your thoughts. I'm sure my other readers would also enjoy some of your words of wisdom.

A treat for you

If you pop over to my Facebook page you'll find a great little offer, especially for my followers/likers, from Pepper Ink. They make a fabulous range of temporary tattoos, including some new, craft inspired ones. 

You can find the offer here: All you need is craft

Wishing you all a good week,

KnittyNora xx

Hello and goodbye to Scotland, lovely new purchases and back to the real world........

Well, half-term has been and gone. In a flash my week in Scotland was over.....but what a fantastic time we had!

I absolutely adore Scotland. The beauty, isolation and peacefulness of the west coast is like something from Lord of the Rings (minus the nasty monsters). I love wrapping up in my winter kit and heading out into the mountains. During this trip I managed to find some time to walk alone. I love walking with my other half but this was quite a rare and welcome change. Walking alone down into the valley (that I'd earlier walked/climbed up with my husband and a friend) was something quite special. In the silence I could clearly hear the running water of the half melted falls and the sound of the ice and snow cracking and crunching underfoot. It was one of those moments when you just have to stop and and take in the beauty around you. In that moment I felt very lucky to be able to enjoy such an experience.

Below are some pics to give you a taste of what I got up to.......

Beautiful day for a walk in Scotland

Scrambling up some very icy rocks

Reaching the plateau - taking in the view of the climb ahead

and what better way of testing my makes............????
 

Checking out the lower falls of Falls of Steall in multi-colour, multi-purpose snood

Of course, we had to have at least one rest day :) Off to Oban we went...........and I found not one but TWO lovely wool stores to mooch around. Purchases were made...... some new 10mm knitting needles, a beautiful hat for me (it even has bells!) and some knitted wrist warmers for an impatient husband :)

Back to work today for me......which means less time on the fells. Thankfully the nights are getting lighter which allows some cheeky trips out after school to make the most of the lovely weather we appear to be having here this week.

Love to hear from some of you soon....... 

KnittyNora xx

Mince pies and the snuffles

After a four week break from climbing (thanks to my silly sprained ankle) I was happy to be making the most of getting out and about in the great outdoors this weekend.

A Friday night climb and a day on the fells yesterday was all I could manage thanks to a stinking cold :(
Working with kids is always going to bring the risk of coughs and colds and this week it's my turn to suffer.
So today I'm mostly sleeping, watching movies and drinking tea.

After a little snooze I was feeling up to a bit of washing up and some simple pastry making. Let's just say my need for a gluten free mince pie managed to out weigh my aches and pains. Feed a cold is definitely my motto :)

I also thought I might give you a sneak peek of my new jumper since I haven't quite got the energy for finishing it today. I cannot wait to wear this....looking very cosy already.

Speak soon,

KnittyNora xxx

KnittyNora returns!

Well hello there everyone!

It sure has been a while since my last post. I won't bore you with the details but let's just say I've been BUSY! Back to climbing yesterday after four weeks off thanks to a sprained ankle, I'm starting to feel a bit like my old self :)

I'm glad to say that I managed to fit in some knitting during the last few weeks. The beautiful green cable knit number I was planning is nearly complete and is looking fab. Cannot wait to wear it, especially since the weather is growing more wintry by the day.

I'm off on another winter outing today....here's a little taster of what I've got to look forward to.

See you when I get back :)

KnittyNora xx

Hello....remember me?

Well hello there, my lovely followers....

.....I am back! :)


With the beginning of a new half-term and various outings to the climbing wall, I've been super busy. I have some not so good news.......I badly sprained my ankle on Saturday. I fell from a climbing wall and spent my Saturday evening in casualty. I was so relieved when they told me it wasn't broken. That would not have been good.


So, this gives me a good excuse to rest my poor ankle when I'm not at work. Perfect for making and creating!

I made (with the help of my lovely friend 'S') a beautiful bag last week. I've been meaning to sort out the sewing machine I was given by my mum-in-law for ages. I thought that I was just being silly but after comparing it with with friend's machine I realised that a) I can sew(!) and b) older machines can be a bit fiddly.

Thanks to S I managed to finish a project I'd had in mind for a while. It was lovely to sit and natter with a glass of wine and a tasty bowl of spicy bacon and lentil soup (homemade by S) whilst dreaming up lots of lovely projects.

Here is a photo of my bag.......

and also the necklace I managed to complete whilst resting my foot and watching my friends climb.........

Nice little close up :)

I'm still busy making my lovely jumper. Not quite finished the front panel yet but hoping to make some progress with that this week whilst the husband is out playing mountain goat.

Stay tuned for some more of my creations and some beautiful outdoor pics :)

KnittyNora xxx

p.s. here's a little peek at the tasty gluten free flapjack I made last week.....nom!

A new project.....or two!

HELLO LOVELY FOLLOWERS!

Sorry, felt I had to shout then :) I have to apologise for being so quiet recently. I've been struggling to find quality time to spend on my blog whilst participating in a photo shoot of my creations, climbing big rocks, being an awesome wife (bear with me!) and trying to keep on top of marking and lesson planning.....oh, and not forgetting sleep!

The 'photo shoot' (trying to make it sound sooooo glamourous) consisted of me posing with my many makes out and about in the fells. My friend (who is an brilliant photographer) has had lots of fun making me pose and look longingly into the distance whilst sporting my chunky knits and jewellery. Lots of fun but a little strange for someone like me who's used to jumping around and wearing outdoor clothes covered in climbing chalk. It was fun none the less.....photos to follow as soon as I've got them all! :)


Now.....my latest project.......

I've decided to spoil myself. Yes, that's right....ME! :) I love making and creating things for other people, especially when making gifts for loved ones, however, this time round I'm going to focus on something for me. Inspired by my new favourite blog Hot pockets of delight (http://www.hotpocketofdelight.com) I'm goign to make myself a gorgeous jumper for the winter months. I'm thinking cable knit, chunky and blue (I bought some beautiful aran yarn some months back and haven't used it yet).

If you've got any ideas or tips, please feel free to leave comments below. I shall be deciding on a pattern in the next week and posting the design as well as regular updates on my chosen project.




Hope you're keeping well...? I'm just on my lunch break so best log off and get ready for this afternoon.


Much love and craftiness,

KnittyNora xxxx

A weekend of sunshine (and back to rain)

I'm very excited.....yes, the sun is shining.....actually SHINING! (calm down) :)

Making the most of the good weather has meant lots of scrambling, climbing and spending quality time with friends in the great outdoors.

I'm just on my way out to do some climbing.....stayed tuned for pictures!

Here's a cute little picture to cheer you all on a Sunday morning......

A very cute hen came to say hello :)

As you will see.....this post was written yesterday. Alas, the weather has taken a dramatic turn (again) and it's been pouring down all day. To top things off I've got a very sore throat and am not feeling my best :(
There appears to be a bit of a bug going around.....I hope you're all keeping well.

I'm enjoying an evening in on my own, catching up with the latest episode of 'Parade's end' and listening to some of my favourite music (currently Pale blue eyes by The Velvet Underground).

I'll be back again soon to tell you all about my latest crafty projects.

KnittyNora xx

A taste of Summer

Well, yesterday that lovely yellow orb in the sky decided to shine....all day long!

Making the most of the sun and heat is very important, especially when you enjoy climbing. And so, with the sun in the sky, we packed up our climbing kit and snacks and headed for the hills.

Here are a few pics of my lovely day out........

Off to celebrate the Husband's birthday. Have a good day folks! xxxxx

Still searching for treasure....

Hi all! Just a quick update......


I've been busy climbing, crafting and attending a wedding over the past week....keep posted for photographic evidence!

My little craft room is full of fabric, yarn and buttons. So many ideas for creations but just never enough hours in the day :) I'm busy creating some more jewellery for my Etsy store at the moment. Knitted jewellery has become a bit of an obsession of late. It's so cosy and comfy to wear and has gained many admirers (always nice).


The sun is shining (at the mo) so I'm getting ready to do some more climbing..... pics of which will follow.

Here's where I went scrambling on Tuesday....anyone know where this is?! :)

KnittyNora xxx

Making the most of a beautiful weekend

Wowee.... what a weekend! I have been utterly spoiled by beautiful weather and trips out on the fells with my husband. A long weekend is the perfect excuse to make the most of time off work together and to make the most of the beautiful countryside that I find myself surrounded by.

I have to admit that not much crafting has happened this weekend because my hands have been busy climbing rock faces. After a guided walk on Saturday and some indoor climbing on Sunday, we decided to go on a scrambling adventure on Great Gable yesterday. If anyone reading this knows much about scrambling you'll know that it's a fair mission just to get the actual scrambles. We set ourselves the mission of scrambling Threading the Needle, the Sphinx Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge and up onto the summit of Great Gable. We did it....and what fun we had in the process! :) I have discovered a renewed passion for climbing recently and have been pushing myself to do more outdoor climbs. Yesterday's grade 2 (and at times, grade 3) scrambles were both fun and exhilarating. Although I wouldn't recommend it if you're scared of heights :)

Here are some pics, just for you.....

The prize....

The view back to Threading the Needle from the Dress Circle

Making my way to meet the Sphinx and Sphinx Ridge

Today is a rest day ...of sorts. An early lunch of Venison sausages purchased from a local Farmer's market followed by a trip to the book shop for some climbing books. And later, meeting friends on the lake for some windsurfing. May have to take along my crotchet needle and some wool and see what I can dream up.
Here is a picture of my oh so random brooch design....must find a pin so that I can wear it!

Not the best picture.... aiming for abstract rose design :) 

Hope you've all had a lovely long weekend. Please pop by and say 'Hello!'.

KnittyNora xxxxxxxxx

I LOVE the sunshine!

Well, if you hadn't guessed....I'm a little excited that the sun is shining. It never fails to put a smile on my face.

After finishing work yesterday I headed over to a local climbing spot. We were the only people there (apart from one man doing some bouldering for an hour or so). It was fantastic. Me, the husband and lots of lovely routes to climb. We were able to watch the sunset over the Isle of Man (it was that clear!) as we finished our last climb - bliss!

When the sun is shining it makes you feel that little lighter and just a little more hopeful. Now that the warm weather has arrived my knitting is focused on jewellery....and lots of it! After many positive comments about my knitted rings and torque necklace, I feel inspired to create some more of my own patterns and continue to develop my range of quirky jewellery and accessories.  Watch this space!


Now...I've seen another blog that lists the songs stuck in their head or on their hi-fi (ipod, cd player, vinyl...etc, etc). I think it's a fab idea. So, here is mine:

Hollow talk by Choir of young believers. Beautiful song. I discovered this thanks to the Scandinavian series 'Bron | Broen' (or 'The Bridge').

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy7yuj-UrNI

Have a lovely day!

KnittyNora xxxx

Making the most of the sunshine

The sun is shining! Well, it is where I live :)

I always like to make the most of the good weather when I can, especially when I work inside all day. This weekend was no exception. After being busy all day Saturday with music making and attending a village celebration, I wanted to make the most of my Sunday. I was feeling rather tired yesterday but a phonecall from a friend helped me and the husband decide what to do - go climbing!

We packed up our climbing kit and lunch and were taken to a really beautiful climbing spot that we'd not discovered yet (I love it when that happens). The area was perfect for relaxing with a picnic and had a great range of climbing routes for me to try out. Shortly after arriving I soon forgot about being tired and grumpy and had a really good climb (if I do say so myself) :) Days like yesterday make me realise how lucky I am to live where I live, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, mountains and an array of wildlife.


I hope you've all been doing something equally enjoyable. I'm looking forward to finishing work and going outside in the sun. I'm thinking cold coffee in the garden as an after work treat :) (yes, I'm really spoiling myself!)

Please let me know how you'll be making the most of the nice weather.

Much love and craftiness,

KnittyNora xxxxxx

Rain, rain go away....

What a miserable day?! After a week of glorious sunshine I have awoken to lots of rain this morning. Although this means no BBQ for me today, I'm sure my garden is very grateful for the drink.

My husband and I have been busy planting lots of lovely things in our garden. It has been a blank canvas for a year and a half as we settled into our new home and were busy out and about, exploring the beautiful countryside. This year we have decided to give our little patch of green some much deserved TLC and have started with some beautiful young trees and Rhododendrons. I've also purchased some fruit bushes to plant - blueberry and raspberry! Perfect for making jam and for decorating homemade cakes. Hidden under the compost are some herbs I planted a week or so ago and some sunflower seeds (left over from my Wedding a year and a half ago). I really hope they grow! I'll be sure to post some photos of our progress soon.

On a crafty note, I'm currently making some soft toys for my new nephew, George. He was born two and a half weeks ago and he is just beautiful. Both baby and mummy are doing well and this auntie is delighted to be able to shower little George with lots of homemade gifts. He has already received his first little knitted cardie and booties (see pics below - left: baby elephant teddy and right: George's first hand knitted Cardie and booties)

This half-term (once the planning and marking is done) I plan to spend lots of time outside enjoying the beautiful countryside and mountains that surround me. I've been out this weekend and feel so lucky to have such beauty on my doorstep. Climbing, walking and crafting.......what a way to spend a half-term :)

Lots of love and crafty hugs,

Knittynora xxx


P.s. All photos are my own. Please ask for permission before using these elsewhere. xx

(Outdoor pics - top left: climbing Red Pike, bottom left: some scrambling on Middle Fell - Iron Crag)

Thank goodness for the sunshine!

After a busy and stressful couple of weeks I am glad to see the sun shining. It manages to lift your mood and make you feel just that bit lighter.

I haven't 'blogged' in a week or so. I've had the flu, which still seems to be hanging around, and lots of things going on at work. With the Easter holidays approaching, I am looking forward to some well deserved me time and the opportunity to get out in the hills and enjoy some walking and rock climbing. 

With the sun shining I'm turning to lighter weight wools and beginning to think about the presents I can make for people with birthdays in the colder months and, yes,........ Christmas! It's a way off yet, thank goodness, but I like to be organised and hate to put down my knitting needles just because it's warm outside. The weather has got me thinking about knitting in the great outdoors. I do a lot of outdoor activities and can think of nothing better than sitting upon a hill, with magnificent views, indulging in my favourite hobbies - knitting and walking. I'd love to hear about your favourite places to knit/craft.....?! :)

Best wishes to you all. Enjoy the weather, whilst it lasts :)

Knittynora xxx

P.s. I am pleased to report that my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy just over a week and a half ago. His name is George, and he is just gorgeous! I'm so happy to be wrapping the little treats I knitted for him during my sister's pregnancy and cannot wait to see him wearing his funky little booties and hand knitted cardigan.