Inspiration

I hit a big wall with writing last week, so I stayed at home in sunny Wiltshire for a few days at the beginning of this week. Being able to wander around fields for a while each afternoon really cleared my head and now I've very nearly finished! A few hundred words to go, then proof reading and binding, then I can finally get that weight off of my shoulders.

Waiting for me in the enthusiastic arms of James on Friday evening was the Sew! by Cath Kidston book. He's such a clever boy, although I have warned him that it means almost all of the things I make for the house will be floral. I also took the opportunity for a quick wander around Bath, and found some pretty lace and ribbon in the Guildhall Markets.

Spring has almost sprung, the bulbs I planted in winter are finally flowering, bringing some much needed colour to the garden. I hope everybody has been enjoying the beautiful weather, it certainly puts a spring in my step!

A Lovely Thought

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. From Roald Dahl's 'The Twits'. So completely and invariably true.

Mum's The Word

I've finally managed to get hold of a camera (Thank you Becky) and so this will be a fairly picture-heavy post, apologies in advance! I've been knitting away in bed these past few nights, and have nearly finished the mother's day scarf. The pattern is a super easy one that I made up as I went along, this yarn is REALLY springy because of the way it's woven (sort of plaited), so CO 25 sts then the first 5 rows are a k1,p1 rib. Then every even row (starting row 6) is K3, K2tog, (yo, K1)x2, K2tog, k7, k2tog, (yo, K1)x2, K2tog, k3. Every odd row is K3, P19, K3. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Yesterday I managed to write my dissertation word target for today as well, so I went shopping. This was partly for mother's day things and mother's birthday things, but a few other bits and bobs may have jumped in while I wasn't looking! The other part of my Mum's present is a pretty mother-of-pearl photo frame with a picture of me and my sister when we were little.

Knitting the scarf has been taking a backseat over my new found love of English patchwork. There's something very therapeutic about handstitch, and so far I've made these beauties:

I'm not sure what it'll be yet, probably a cushion cover. I don't think I'll have the patience to make anything large like a quilt, but I'm going to try to persuade my Mum to make me one as a housewarming gift! Speaking of which, for anybody who doesn't know my current situation, I live in Southampton and my partner lives in Cornwall. It has certainly been a long time coming for us to live together, and I can't wait for this summer, a new house means so many fantastic opportunities to make and buy new things, curtains, cushions, cakes for visitors, cakes for us, and many other things besides. All the luxuries currently hard to come by as a student! Although I think ours is the only student house with a permanent 'cake table'. (You bake something, put it in a tin, label it, put it on the table, and then it's a free for all. Genius.) My other shopping was almost entirely things for me, and today Primark came up trumps. They had some really pretty underwear and pyjamas:

I also bought a new square cake tin to make the cherry and almond sponge cake from Dolliedaydream's blog, and a massive cooling rack as I never have enough space. Maybe that's a sign that I should make and eat less cake? Well, I'm quite exhausted after all that uploading, so I'm going to go and make a cup of tea and continue with lecture notes. Have a lovely evening one and all.

I went shopping today to cheer myself, bought a lovely throw, it's reversible blue polka dot and CK style candy stripes. Also a rose print bag, a blue polka dot pencil case and two pairs of pretty floral-y lace-y knickers. All for just a shade above 20 pounds. Then I returned home and did some baking, cupcakes with pale green icing to remind me that spring is almost here. However, had a bit of a mishap with the green food colouring, knocked it over whilst trying to get the bowl off of the mixer, and it went everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. I opened the cutlery drawer after I'd thought I'd cleaned it all up, and proved that I hadn't.

On the knitting front, several things on needles, very few actually being finished. Lovely scarf for mother's day in Rowan Lima yarn, with a sort of ladder-lace pattern (photos to follow).

Onwards to the television, weekly dose of Lark Rise to Candleford is calling.

Sunshine At Last

What happened to February I will never know. I do know that it is finally sunny and this makes me smile, it makes dissertation writing so much more pleasant. I have also finally gotten round to beginning the shawl with the lace yarn, it's so soft but very thin so much concentration required. I've just made a batch of delicious oat and sultana cookies (From the Hummingbird Bakery's cookbook), and eaten three (Whoops).

I went to Cornwall last weekend, and went swimming in the sea. Only wearing a summer wetsuit. Once the initial shock had gone it was lovely having the waves crashing in around us, very liberating and good for the soul etc.

Off to the library tomorrow morning, need to keep up my word target for the week. Therefore must go for sleep soon, lovely clean sheets tonight (and ironed) mmmmmm heaven.