Here’s a doodle I did for my friends Birthday earlier this month. I hope she doesn’t mind me sharing it on here!

Hello!

How was your Christmas and New year?? So much has happened since my last post. It’s been a busy house here in Nottingham with Christmas, birthdays, visitors, doodle sessions – all sorts! My dress section of the wardrobe grew a little thanks to the January sales, which is always a nice way to start the new year I think. I’ve set about scribbling down some “new year” themed lists – Mainly book reading lists, I’ll keep you posted!

ps – I ate waaaaaaay too many biscuits during December… oops!

Been ages since I did a makeover update. The other month all of my black jeans decided to expire – as you can imagine that made me very grumpy since I’d just cleared out most of my clothes. It meant jean shopping… what I find the most intimidating of shopping adventures.

I was against buying the same cheap black trousers because I figured a couple of months down the line I’d be writing a pretty much identical post to this. I decided to use it as an opportunity to add a little bit of colour into my wardrobe and went for these coppery coloured trousers instead. I’m really chuffed with them. They’re comfortable, easy to look after and they’re different.

I’m making an effort to add a few new colours and patterns to my daily outfits, accessorizing a little differently too. I braved some stripey hand made legwarmers the other week and I’ve started bringing out the odd pair of shoes I tend to overlook in the mornings. It’s becoming fun finding new ways to wear old things. It’s cheaper too.

Sorry I’ve been quiet! It’s been a busy but very fun weekend. Tom’s 30th, parties, cowboys, visiting friends, being visited by friends, drinking weird beer, late night fires, working at the cinema and then tidying and eating expensive ham and chocolate biscuits (not together)! mmmmm….

A little D.I.Y project for the house. I’ve got enough fabric for a couple of chairs – I just need the chairs now.

Another little project I finished this morning is my mouse (it’s quite big so possibly a rat) tea cosy. I found the pattern for free here- there are some amazing patterns on that blog. I saw one during my last visit up to Orkney in someones window and wanted it. So it was a bit of a surprise when I came across a pattern so quickly – I didn’t even own a teapot when I started making it. Funny what knitting will make you do… I’m going to alter the eyes a little – bigger beads are needed I think.

I made one of these yesterday! It’s probably the first time I’ve made it my mission to hunt down the yarn recommended in a pattern. Same colour, same everything. And I’m so pleased with the result. The pattern is in the Simple Knitting book I mentioned in this post (about the cushion cover I was working on – which I also just finished, pictured below).

Sorry for the grainy picture – it’s quite a dark room.

I seem to be prepping for a winter that feels like it’ll never come – The suns shining and we’ve been forecast a warm start to October… sigh… I’m really not a big fan of summer – I’m in my comfort zone when it’s cold and fresh. I went out and bought a new winter coat yesterday too hoping in some way that might influence a sudden and dramatic change in the seasons. Nothing so far.

I’m also having a bit of a wardrobe crisis. It’s full… and I don’t like any of it anymore… . Nothing fits properly and there are very few things I can wear and say honestly that I feel comfortable and like me wearing them. Other than take the offending items to the charity shops I can’t really see how to get out of the rut. I think I need a bit of a makeover but I don’t know where to start. I’ve never found it easy replacing bad clothes with good ones. A lot of the time fashion and current trends are against me and my body shape – this is a battle I’m very familiar with. I’m going to make it my mission to introduce some changes and it’ll probably help to document and blog about what these changes are and how the makeover’s going… So fingers crossed this works and I keep my camera on me at all times…

I’ll keep you posted!

I’ve been gathering knitting projects like they’re sweets. And now there is now a huge pile of wool in the corner of the living room… sigh. Fortunately they’re pretty colours – so it’s not all bad. This is a cushion cover I’ve been working on – it’s very loosely based on a pattern from Simple Knitting by Erika Knight. This is probably one of the most inspiring books I own at the moment. It’s full of beautiful colours and simple/stylish projects. I had high hopes I would use some of the projects for this years Christmas presents but in truth I can’t seem to stop making things for myself :) OH well… still got a couple of months to go, right?

Colourful etsy finds I’m in love with at the moment. 1. Blue Coffee pot from Luncheonettevintage. 2. Feather Garland by kayeblegvad. 3. Striped messenger bag by ikabags. 4. Wooden necklace by Snugstudio.

I got some beautiful slippers from my Ma while I was adventuring up in Orkney. The patterns and bright colours are beautiful and I can feel some projects brewing as a result. Also I’ve dug out some inspirational etsy finds as a result…

5. Folk Peacock from GinghamLife 6. Table cloth from VintageKeepsakes 7. Cross Stitch throw from Lunaparkfoundry. (All pictures credits go to the sellers)

I’m back from a little adventuring! I went up to Orkney for a few days to visit mum. We had beautiful weather, which was pretty lucky as I hear the winds have set in over the last couple of days. I love that place, the colours there are beautiful and I’ve come away armed with some fresh colour schemes to play with. We arrived at the same time all of the tall ships came to visit. Every day there were events going on in the harbour – little sailing trips, meals and music on boats. Stromness was full of fellow adventurers lapping up the oddities accompanying the Stromness Shopping Week (click the link for answers). We went for a 2 hour trip on the dutch Tall ship called the Wylde Swan. There were musicians on the boat playing sea shanties – mainly about doom, gloom and seasickness. LOVED IT!

On the down side I was lumped with a wisdom tooth nightmare – just what you need on a mini holiday! And ended up being given loads of antibiotics to calm it all down (it looked like I’d been “thwacked” on the jaw by day 8). I’m completely dreading the day I have to have this tooth removed and I’m sorry if I get a bit repetitive on this subject up until that day. Anyway, I hope that explanation helps you to understand why I’ve not been blogging lately – I was a seriously grumpy Amy. I hope I make up for it with this cluster of holiday snaps. Have a lovely day!

Three NEW cotton spools are now in the shop!* Lovely little ornaments ready to hang, each priced at £8. Hope you like!

* They went so quickly! I’ll have some more available soon.