Spring cleaning my craft room

Oh, I do love a good spring clean.

Making the most of some help from my husband, I've been reorganising of my little house. After some much needed storage was added to our livingroom, we began making our way through the clutter in our spare room (also known as my craft room). We moved into our house 5 years ago and, during this time, a lot has happened. What remains are boxes full of teaching resources, books we no longer read and a collection of random odds and ends that we have no use for. Cue a major declutter of shelves and cupboards, a trip to the tip and a rather generous donation to our local charity shops.

Whilst I had to leave the heavy lifting to P, I was able to dust and clean the shelves before putting back a much reduced and reorganised book collection. I'm finally able to put my boxes full of yarn on the shelves and love how clear and organised everything is.

We still have a few bits to organise and spare furniture to dismantle before putting in the loft, but it feels like we're on our way to having the room finished.....finally!

My ever growing collection of Mollie Makes magazine
(in numerical order... obviously ! 😃)

Just a couple of crochet books so far

A few of my knitting books.....yet to be put into some kind of order 😃

I'm currently trying to make up my mind about a very important purchase......a new sewing machine! I've narrowed it down to the Singer Confidence range (after seeing some good reviews and because I'm going to use my Tesco vouchers to purchase it). I was originally looking at the 7465 but since this is currently out of stock, I've been looking at the 7470. It comes with some great features but I'm still not sure which to get. Do I wait for the more basic version or go for the upgrade which should then last me a very long time as I develop my sewing repertoire....?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Have any of you ever used or owned either of the Singer Confidence models? Any tips?

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday and hoping that, wherever you may be, you get to enjoy a little sunshine.

Best wishes

KnittyNora xx

Adventures of the crafty kind.

Hello, it's me again! 

So, by now you'll probably be used to the fact that my posts have become rather...... well, sporadic. Due, in most part, to my complete lack of energy. This can be very frustrating at times. Most recently, I've been thinking about my blog and the content that I post. For a long time I have be wary of posting too much about my health issues because I'm not someone who likes to share for sharing's sake. I'm also not very good with sympathy... :/

Some months ago I met and made friends with the loveliest lady. She has become something of an inspiration to me and is always so encouraging of my crafty plans and projects. We regularly meet for a natter, a chai tea and to share pattern ideas and inspirations. I always leave feeling uplifted and full of confidence that the things I make are 'good enough' and well made. More about this in future posts...

For the past couple of months I have had to rest and take extra special care of myself. During this time I have been making and creating when I can. My crochet skills have continued to develop and I am really pleased with my new found skills. I have become something of a convert to crocheting. I still love a bit of knitting but have to admit that crocheting is a lot quicker and easier to transport around (very important when you're travelling to and from hospital appointments).

Below are some pictures of my most recent makes. As you will see, most are crochet projects and home furnishings.

Mossa stitch cushion cover against our new charcoal sofa

Mossa stitch in the great outdoors

My very own granny square cushion design
(This will sit alongside the Mossa cushion on the sofa)

An extra special gift for a very special lady

Here, at KnittyNora HQ, we are in the middle of some redecorating/re-imagining of our home. We have lived in our little house for 5 1/2 years now and the signs of wear and tear are becoming very obvious. Cue lots of online research for design ideas and the purchase of a few litres of paint. Thankfully, my husband has been on hand to help out and has been busy putting together shelving units (got to love IKEA!) and has made a start on the painting. It gets very frustrating that I'm unable to help with much of this work but for now I am focusing on the positives and keeping my hands busy with some crochet accessories to finish off the final look.

I shall sign off with a photo of my beautiful pooch, Buster (seen here showing off a crochet bandana I made for him). This gorgeous boy never fails to put a smile on my face 😘

Until next time, much love and best wishes,

KnittyNora xx

The return of KnittyNora

Well, hello there :)

Yes, yes, I know it's been a while but I promise that I have a good excuse...

As ever, my health has gotten in the way of my blogging. I've tried to post on my Facebook page when I can but I'm guilty of letting things slip a little. I won't try and promise that I won't do it again because I just don't know how I'm going to feel from day to day. What I can promise is that I will try my very best to post updates here whenever I can. Deal...? 

I've posted previously about my health issues but have always felt that I didn't want to bore you all with my moans and concerns or turn this into a blog about my silly body. Instead, I'd like this blog to be about my crafting adventures and, more recently, my adventures with my gorgeous puppy, Buster. 

Buster being gorgeous

I'm not embarrassed about talking about my health issues (I have Endometriosis and severe IBS) and am happy to share my experiences with people should that wish to hear about it. In short, I don't want to inundate you lovely people with information you might not want to know.  I can say, however, that my crafting and baking have been a huge help to me when I've been feeling at my worst. There are some days when I don't have the energy to do much at all but sometimes I just pick up some wool and some knitting needles and just start making and creating. Focusing my mind on something other than medicine and hospital appointments offers a much needed sense of relief and the sense of achievement when I finish a project (no matter how small or simple) is wonderful.

Just over 5 weeks ago I had to go into hospital for an operation. Coming home to my knitting and my lovely pup (and not forgetting my husband!) made my recovery a lot more bearable.

Here are a few pictures of my most recent creations so that you can see what I've been up to whilst I've been away......

The 'shell' necklace

Knitted shell design necklace - just need to add the fastening

The pattern for this lovely necklace was a random find thanks to a fellow crafty lady that I follow online. She had posted a link to some patterns that created from small amounts of yarn (think - patterns to use up your leftovers from larger projects). I loved this necklace and started making one right away. I decided to choose the soft green colour as I thought it would look a little more grown up and would work nicely with lots of different outfits, whether it be for daytime or night time.

The Nordic cafetiere cosy

The Nordic design cafetiere cosy I made for my husband. He loves it.

 I've been promising to make something for my husband for some time now. I haven't made anything for him since the beanie hats I made for him a few years ago, when I'd first started knitting (not counting the abandoned cable knit jumper I started a few winters ago). He loves his coffee and is a big fan of Nordic and Fairisle designs. After finding some lovely Nordic pattern books in my local library, I was really happy when my husband picked out this design. He chose the red and the white (which I already had tucked away in my stash - very handy) and that was that. I'm really pleased with the results and so is he - a win all round.

Vintage inspired baby blanket in pastel shades

The vintage inspired baby blanket I've been making for a special friend

This is a quick picture taken just before I finished the blanket so that I could post about it's progress on my Facebook page. When I say 'finished' what I really mean is that I've done the knitting and now I just need to sit and weave in the ends.... for now though, I've been distracted with some new patterns. Thankfully it doesn't have to be finished for a couple of months. Plenty of time :)

Nordic inspired, knitted bunting

The pattern for this bunting came from another library find. The book, called 'fair isle and nordic knits', is full of lovely designs that are bursting with colour and perfect for practising your fair isle knitting skills. I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it and knew it would be perfect for me to work on after my operation since I could do a little bit at a time and could quickly knit up a flag when I felt up to it. I've now knit the number of flags I need and just need to decide how I'm going to join them - do I knit a cord or sew them onto a nice length of ribbon? 

Looking forward to decorating my spare room come craft room with these beauties :)

Knitted sampler 

A great project for perfecting your multi strand knitting skills

The pattern for this sampler came from the same book as the knitted bunting/flags. I love the idea of making small designs that I can hang around the house. Again, this pattern is perfect for when I'm in the mood for a short project that keeps my mind busy and is ready in no time. I've yet to decide where to hang this..... I'm thinking the hallway so that my visitors can admire it as they walk into my cosy little home.

And on the recipe front........

Besides the knitting, I've also been busy trying to create recipes for the new diet I've been put on by my IBS specialist. Basically, all my ideas of healthy, home cooked food have gone out of the window, My diet is now restricted to meat, fish, eggs, milk, butter, rice, carrots, potatoes and sugar. All I can add is salt, not even pepper! Gone are the spices and herbs and in are simple and plain dishes that many would find uninspiring. Me being me, I have to have a go at making and adapting recipes so that I can brighten up meal times. So far, I've adapted a macaroon recipe and found a fudge recipe that should satisfy my sweet cravings.

I've currently got a batch of said fudge cooling in it's tray........time for me to say goodbye and go and have a cheeky taste.


More recipes and stories of my knitting adventures to follow soon.......


KnittyNora xxxxx

It's been a while....

Hi all,

yes, it certainly has been a while since I last blogged, sorry. As I logged in for the first time, in a VERY long time I discovered a post I had started in October of last year (posted, incomplete, below). 

Being poorly really can get in the way of my making and blogging :( As far as my health is concerned, I am back and forth to the hospital as usual but now have a new gastro team in Manchester. Yes, a bit of a trek for me (minimum of 2 1/2 hour each way) but I am hopeful that they can help.

On the crafting front - I've continued to make and design things since I last spoke to you all. I managed to keep my promise to make all of the birthday gifts for my nieces and nephews last year and am continuing to make gifts for my youngest nieces and nephews this year.

Here's a pic of just a couple of things I've made: 

In other news...

Say hello to Buster 

Here is a picture of my lovely puppy, Buster, on the day we brought him home. He was just 9 weeks old when we got him from the rescue shelter. He has filled my life with so much happiness and fun over the past 6 months. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this little man. 

You'll notice that he has grown some what since we got him.................

Buster and I posing in the sun 

'It's very tiring being this cute' 

Be prepared for lots more news on Buster and his adventures :)

For now I shall head back to my knitting bag and continue with a baby blanket I'm currently making (see below). My husband is in bed at the moment after a night shift so I'm going to take Buster for a little walk soon and then make myself a well earned brew. 

Speak to you all very soon xx

Post from last October.........

Hello from me 

Hi everyone!

Yes, I know I've not been very chatty recently, but I have good reason..... as you will all be aware, I've been a poorly sick lady and, unfortunately, this has prevented me from keeping up to date with my blog. All of that aside, I wanted to stop by and say hello and let you know what I've been up to recently.....

Crafty projects.......

At the beginning of the year I made a promise to myself that I would make all of this year's presents for my nephews and nieces. I have six in total, with one niece (Nancy) being born just a few months ago. Their ages vary from newborn to 11 so I've had to plan gifts that suit their age range and, for a soon to be teenager, their lifestyle.

The younger ones were pretty easy to plan for - soft toys, clothes, bunting, etc. My eldest nephew, George, will be 12 at the end of the month. I want to make him something that he'll not only like but be proud to wear in front of his friends. This year's must have accessory for the teenage boy appears to be the slouchy hat. I found a great pattern online (cocoknits) and have just made a start on it. 

Here's a sneaky peek......

A blog milestone and a new knitting project.

A bit of a milestone....

As I logged into my blogger page I realised that I'm almost at 5000 blog views.....yes, 5000! I'm so pleased that people are reading my little blog and I hope you're enjoying it. I often wonder who reads my blog? I'd love to hear from you and get some feedback. What do you like most about my blog? Is there anything else you would encourage me to add?

Come on, don't be shy :)

What I've been up to....

Over the last few weeks I've continued to wait for my next hospital appointment to come through and have been trying to find ways of distracting myself from ill health and treatment (or lack thereof). I'm really lucky to have some fab people around me who are constantly introducing me to new things and trying to keep my spirits up. I've been introduced to some interesting alternative therapies and have even tried a few of them out. One of my most favourite ways to relax though is by listening to music and, if I have the energy, with a bit of knitting.

My latest knitting project is one especially for me. I love to knit for others but thought I would treat myself to something new for the summer. I was lucky enough to be sent some complimentary knitting goodies from the awesome people over at Kollabora. With the grey cotton yarn and 5mm circular needles I had everything I needed to make this gorgeous vest - perfect for warm, sunny days or even layered over a t-shirt/long sleeved top when it gets a bit chilly.


Here's a sneak peek of where I'm up to...........

Not the best picture but gives you an idea of where I'm at so far :)

This evening, I shall mostly be spending some quality time with my knitting whilst my husband enjoys an evening out with his work colleagues.

I'm off to pop the kettle on, put my feet up and watch exactly what I want on the TV.......bliss!

Happy weekend everyone,

KnittyNora xx

Making, baking and taking it easy

As I sit writing this post the rain is pouring outside. This is a day for hibernating at home with some crafty bits and bobs and tasty treats to accompany many cups of tea.

Baking some tasty treats

As many of you know, I've been a rather poorly chick over the past year and a bit. Whilst I wait for my next lots of tests at the hospital I'm keeping myself sane with my love of craft and, when I can, baking. Today, given that I had a large pot of natural yoghurt to use, I decided to make some gluten free scones - here's the recipe. I do love a good scone. Finding gluten free ones is impossible and I much prefer homemade than shop bought :)

I've also got a bowl of pears to use up soon. I'm sure my husband will be voting for a crumble when I come to use those :)

Making

I managed to find myself some new little crafty bits and bobs online during the week, including some iron on webbing and some double sided tape. May sound random but I have some ideas in my little head that require both. You'll have to wait and see what I use them for......... :)

I can reveal, however, one of my new projects - reusing old plastic bags to create new and usable items. I hate waste so why should plastic bags be any different? After finding inspiration in one of my knitting books I've decided to go crazy and just knit until I decide what I want to make. The original pattern is for a bag but I'm wondering whether I can make something a little more adventurous.

Here's what I've got so far .....................

..........and time to relax

After all the excitement of baking and blogging, I'm ready for a little rest. Time to settle down and catch up on some of the programmes I've missed recently. I discovered Inspector De Luca (BBC4) at the weekend and have to say I'm quite intrigued and MUST watch more to really decide whether I like it or not ;)

Happy crafting, people :)

KnittyNora xx

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

Birds of prey, visiting friends, a 40th birthday and a hospital visit.

It's been a busy week or so for me......a hospital visit to see my consultant, a lovely visit from some friends and my husband's 40th birthday.

As I'm sure you can imagine, this left me feeling more than a bit tired :) Here's a little sneak peek at what I got up to...........

A gentle stroll around Ennerdale water

A ride on L'al Ratty

Delicious and homemade (gluten free) birthday cake 

A visit to the Penrith birds of prey centre..........

Very beautiful Harris Hawk.....

..........and very well behaved too 

Otto the owl enjoying a tasty chicken bone

Beautiful close up of Otto the owl

And some new makes...........

Bow detail for my new jumper

My new chunky knit jumper

I love oversized jumpers......getting ready for the colder months already :)

Love,
KnittyNora xx

As time goes by..........

And so......another month has gone by since my last post. Unfortunately this is because of poor health rather my being too busy to post :(

Another trip to the specialist resulted with me spending another week in hospital...... I think I may need to start another blog for just my hospital visits! :) Thankfully, it seems that they may be closer to solving my health issues since the new team I've seen seem to know what's wrong......somewhat of a relief!

With feeling poorly much of the time I haven't had much energy for making. I have, however, done my very best to fit in some making when I can. This has mainly taken the shape of some baby bits and bobs for my friends who have recently had their first child. He is so sweet. I really love making things for other people.


Here is a little snap of one of the items:

Super cute little baby hat

With the weather changing here and there I've been making the most of sunny days by sitting in the garden and getting some help from my husband to plant some seeds and new plants. He is great at carrying pots and compost and I have the patience to sit and watch the plants grow....perfect combo :)
(I posted some pics of my plants in my last post....)

Unfortunately, some very naughty slugs and snails have decided that my little plants are so tasty they have decided to eat most of them :(

Anyone got any tips for keeping my veggies safe??!!



Speaking of projects....

Here's what I did with an old pair of cord trousers that were too big......

Cutting off the legs.........

Opening and restitching the seams around the bottom area

As you can see, I've chopped them up and made a low waisted skirt. Perfect for any season and great with a chunky belt. Just need to finish the hem :)

Not much to do now......

and so........off I go to pin the hem of my new skirt.....

hope you're all enjoying the sunshine :)

KnittyNora xx



P.s. The hat was made using a pattern from Debbie Bliss's 'The knitter's year'. The pattern is called 'Striped baby hat'.

Sunny Sunday - crafting in the great outdoors.

Let me set the scene for you.............

The sun is shining, the husband is out walking up mountains and I'm home alone with my crafting goodies.

Sounds good....?! :)

As some of you will be aware, I have been rather poorly recently and so my ability to go out chasing my husband up mountains is zero. Rather than dwell on my lack of energy for the outdoor activities I love so much I've decided to make the most of today and my brighter mood by doing the following:

1. Writing an update to my much neglected blog
2. Get back to some knitting and finish a top I started a while back
3. Sit in the garden with a glass of cloudy lemonade
4. Eat dinner in the garden

Well......why not combine the lot?! 

Great plan, KnittyNora! :)

And so, I'm off to sit in my garden, finish that knitted top and drink cloudy lemonade. When the husband gets back I'm sure he could rustle up something on the BBQ....... sounds like a great day!

Speaking of my garden.........



.....here is a little pic of my 'developing' wild flower patch in the corner of my garden - my little contribution to encourage wildlife to come and visit my garden.

We've since added some wild and fragrant flower seeds to the patch and just waiting for them to grow

 

....and some pics of my brand new veggie grow bags :)

New veggie grow bags

Tomatoes just starting to pop their heads out

Carrots

I'll be heading south later in the week for another investigative operation.....wish me luck! 

Wishing you all the very sunniest of Sundays,

KnittyNora xxxx



 Some happy stuff:

I recently entered and came first in a competition run  by the lovely folks at 33Hearts (http://www.etsy.com/shop/33hearts) 

Here is just one of the lovely items I won

Please pop over and say hi to them. They are very friendly and make some very cute items :)

A birthday, some new toys and a little inspiration.

Goodness me, it's been over two weeks since my last post.......... Ooops!

As many of you may already know, I have been rather poorly over the last few months and still have to juggle the good days (when pain is low) and the bad days (when all I can do is sleep). Since I'm unable to work at the moment I have been making the most of my time by reading craft blogs and seeking out inspiration from other makers and some beautiful new books I have recently acquired.


Yesterday was my birthday - happy birthday me!

I'm absolutely rubbish at asking for things so this year my husband got me to save weblinks to anything I liked in a special folder on the computer so that he knew what to get and could help friends and family decide what to get me too - GREAT idea! I don't feel awkward for asking and I know that people will be able to get me something that means a lot to me - in my case that's knitting books!

This year I also added a sewing machine to the list and a fantastic sewing book that I came across thanks to Kollabora (I LOVE that site). I didn't want anything too fancy since I am basically a beginner.

My tick list consisted of these main points:

• Cheap
• Suitable for a beginner - easy to use!
• Fairly lightweight so that I can move it on my own. 
• Basic range of stitches covered.

Thanks to my husband and Beldray, we found just that.......................

As a little treat on my birthday my husband took me to a fabric shop so that I could find some delicious fabric for my first official make on the new sewing machine. I found some beautiful material on sale - £5 a metre!

To start though, I thought I'd start with some fabric my husband's great aunt (Auntie Pat) gave me to play with.........so that I could practice my stitches and measuring skills :)

Pinning my seams

Beautiful floral fabric from Auntie Pat

Neat little side seam

Here is a link to the skirt I'm going to make:


http://www.kollabora.com/community/sewing/projects/one-hour-skirt

I'm so glad to have my hobby to keep me company whilst I'm at home. I'd love to hear if any of you have a new projects on the go.....??


I'll be back soon with some updates on the skirt :)

Love and best,
KnittyNora xx