Welcome to 2011… a New Year and new start. All those possible resolutions, easily made and just as easily broken! Going to make it easy on myself this year. My only resolution for 2011 is to attempt to be more creative than before.

Heart Collage, Playing With New Free Software.

My latest crochet project is growing slowly, need to spin some more yarn today to add more colour.

African Flower Hexagons.

I have also completed a colourful painting to hang on my wall. I have made tiny ones before, but this is my first larger work.

Acrylic Painting 'Patchwork'.

Been using my camera again too, after too long consigned to the drawer. Must capture more images to inspire future projects.

Frost Pattern on Window.

Wonderful Fossils Collected on Morning Beach Walks.

My Little Xmas Tree.

Happy New Year to you all.

After being so inspired by the colourful blankets on Attic 24 , I have launched on not one but two new crochet projects. My first is a blanket formed of African Flower crochet hexagons. Love this design that I found after googling Afghans. Many thanks to Heidi Bear for her tutorial.

I am busy spinning on my beloved Ashford spinning wheel, colourful merino roving in blues, pinks, purples, greens and natural colours. Only six hexagons crocheted so far, but looking forward to all the wonderful colour combinations to come.

 

African Flowers Handspun Crochet Hexagons.

 

The second project in contrast, is to be a much simpler blanket in a striped pattern, made from ready-made acrylic yarn. Sometimes I like projects that can be worked on with little thought, this one should achieve this for even more relaxed crochet days.

I am awaiting delivery of the yarn, and will post pictures when this blanket is started too.

Cold, grey days and icy pavements; have led to much internet browsing in my cozy home. Have had a cold and cough that has lasted ages, leading me to flop about and make plans rather than stuff! I am always happiest when following a new creative idea, tricky for me to continue all the existing ones though. But, I have been trying to finish existing projects before really starting new ones (can always dream and get the materials though.)

Finishing a waistcoat from existing wool stash that started life as a top that I half knitted and hated. Unpicked it a week ago, and now almost finished as a comfy waistcoat.

But I am itching to start on a colourful crochet blanket. Got very inspired after reading these two blogs attic 24 and Do you mind if I knit. Love both of these blogs, not just for the wonderful ideas, but also for the positive and happy approach to life shown by the authors. Such an inspirational read, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

They also had the effect on me of desiring to create another afghan. This time not in natural colour handspun, but in a riot of colour.  As I am not convinced that my hand dyed yarns are completely colourfast, I have decided to use commercially dyed roving. I have purchased loads of multicolour merino from Wingham Wool Work, and now look forward to many happy hours spinning and crocheting a wonderful blanket (maybe some cushions too!)

Handspun

Purples, Pinks, Blues and Greens.

I will also be making and adding on my etsy shop, a few more Ziggles. I have loads of new ideas for these. I have been addictively playing Dragon Quest 9, that I got as a present recently, and some of the wonderful monsters will make interesting future Ziggles.

I love gadgets, as anyone who knows me will tell you. I kept watching the Kinect adverts and trying to convince myself that I didn’t need or want it, but…at the weekend I succumbed to it’s lure.
It is bundled with Kinect Adventures which is fun, and I bought Kinect Sport too to play with my friends. Then I want out later this week, and got Dance Central just for me.

I have to agree with all those reviewers that bitched about space issues. I was worried by the many semi-negative reviews of the controller too. But, my verdict is that this is so much fun! I used to be an avid gamer on a range of consoles, mainly of rpgs and puzzle games, but of late I just got rather bored with them. I even tried a Wii with fitness board, but that is now gathering dust due to limited continued fun factor.

Dance Central with Kinect is my new daily exercise and gaming fix, all in one. It is really excellent as a game and as a challenge for the couch potato I have become of late. I don’t really like much of the music-not really what a 65daysofstatic fan would choose to jump around too, but it is damn good fun and pretty good exercise too.

Just have to find a way to keep the dog and cats out from under my feet. I hope too that there will be some songs to download in future that are more to my taste (the Lady Sovereign one is good though.)
All in all, a good new gadget for me that has also got me to try and finish of the epic game Blue Dragon that I stopped half way through when my old 360 died from the red ring of death.

Had to buy a new 360s with the Kinect, but what else should I spend my limited money on but fun? I can always spend a few months eating beans on toast to afford it, may also help with my weight loss plan!

I have been busy the last few days, designing and starting to create Ziggles. With an ever-growing stash of wool, roving and fleeces, plus a love of designing and creating new items. Putting all this together, with long Autumn nights for knitting, and my Ziggles have been the result.

As yet none are completely finished, but 8 are in progress. Once completed, I plan to try them on my newly created etsy shop.

Once ready, I shall post pictures here of my latest creations.

Now my first Ziggles are completed. Each has been designed and then knitted on double pointed needles.  They are then felted with features and final details added once dry. Each takes many hours to complete, but I am very pleased with the results.

My Ziggles are pretty cute, I think you will agree.

Latest Ziggles

Autumn and the colder weather it brings, seems the ideal time to sit and knit. I have been enjoying myself with plans, projects and stash busting. I have also been adding to my wool stash, always a pleasure.

I have finished two projects recently, and started many more! A cardigan and a backpack have been finished, but my blanket and scarf are just started.

I also have been having new ideas and old ideas with a new twist for my new  folksy shop.

Started a new course on Friday, at the Meridian Centre Peacehaven. A first for me-belly dancing.
I was not sure what to expect, but it was such good fun. Wearing jingly belts and swirling Chiffon veils, and laughing lots.
Going to take me a while to get the moves and improve my coordination. But, I am really looking forward to the next session. Certainly the most fun to be had in Peacehaven so far.

Just found out there is a Stitch and Bitch group in Brighton. Planning to go along to a meeting soon, and hopefully will be meeting up with some fellow yarn addicts.
The colder weather has got me dreaming of wooly projects again.  I have finished a pair of socks from last year, and started a white merino blanket for my bed. Ordered some merino tops from ebay, to spin enough to finish my lovely soft crochet blanket soon I hope.

I have also decided to make serious inroads into my yarn stash. Selected and bagged up a whole collection of brown and orangy shades of handspun and commercial yarns. I have bought some russet coloured mohair from ebay, and will combine the lot into an afghan for the spare bed.

I must also finish the knitted jacket for a friend. I hate the pattern I started last winter, and will need to chose another to be able to complete it. The wool is rather coarse to, so not a project I have relished. But, I have promised to have it finished this year…might happen!

Just checking what a band I have seen live a few times were up to, when I had a nice surprise. Found that one of my photos of Queen Adreena, was top of the images list for this group. Good to see that my effort taken at a very enjoyable gig is appreciated. That was a good night.

Very much looking forward to my first live music event for a very long time. Since moving away from London, I have not been to one gig! That is being redressed in style with an event in October featuring my favourite band-65daysofstatic. I enjoy a wide range of music, but these guys are really stunning. If you don’t know them then do check them out.
 
 I have lost count of the number of times I have seen them live, and it is always electric. A quick glance at my lastfm page will also show how often I listen to their music on my ipod and pc.

I shall post a review and photos of the gig after the event.