Spring has sprung

It has been too long but if I tell you that I have been up to all sorts of exciting things you will forgive me I think.
So the time has flown by with...

Cake - and lots of it, birthday cakes, bought cakes, whoopie pies, cakes I shouldn't have eaten and cakes I am most definitely glad I did. I also discovered the cake hangover. Who knew it was possible?

Knitting - so much knitting and being seduced by Ravelry type reading. I've finished two shrugs in the lovely Rowan Linen Lenpur (which I got in the sale so even better), halfway through a stashbusting wool cardigan for when it gets cooler (and it just did, please don't tell me the English summer is over already) and that leads me to crocheting.

Crocheting - I've been improving my skills which let's face it were basic at best and so far so good. The crocheting has also distracted me from finishing one of the above mentioned shrugs (sewing up seams) and not yet finishing the cardigan which needs a neck. But I love granny squares.

Visiting - my new favourite hangout, where all the cool kids go when the real kids are at school is Jumble Jelly. A fantastic and oh so friendly purveyor of wool, yarn, fabric and if you are really good they give you cake!

Gardening - the garden has burst forth with all the fantastic weather we've had and so I've been pootling about there and also dismantling the poor excuse for a side garden that the builders of our house left us with thereby transforming it into the veg garden (this brilliant idea was thanks to a passing comment by my friend Red). So the beanpoles are in and the blackberry and raspberry canes seem to have survived the transplanting. There's a bit more to do and any pictures would be slightly disappointing so we'll have to wait. My biggest battle is trying not to turn into a volcano when I have to clean someone else's dog poo off my garden path! And breathe. Let me just say, my dog doesn't poo in your garden, don't let your dog poo in mine. Enough said on that topic. But looking forward to some courgettes the size of marrows - which some will be because they always grow faster than we can eat them. Which leads me to Chocolate Courgette Cake. The best. Which also means we've come full circle back to cake.

Today's cake selection is a cheeky little lemon and lime coconut cake, once I've finished squeezing the limes!

We've got a winner!

My free postage offer was a success because someone snapped up the offer very quickly and is walking away with this lovely necklace.

Image makeover

There's been lots of changes going on lately around here and over in the new Folksy shop. The latest one is a bit of an image makeover courtesy of Aleximo Croissant over at Folksy who has been patient and genius at taking bits from my brain and turning them into something I didn't even know I wanted! The result though is that I am thrilled.
So to celebrate the new look I am offering free postage to the next person who orders from my Folksy shop! Go on have a look.

Pretty little sugar skulls

Thought I would diverge from shop talk today, but things in the new Folksy shop are going very well thank you for asking. I have done a happy dance and the first sold items are in the post and winging their way towards their new owners who I hope will love them.

Just wanted to share the back of my new jacket, it was a second hand shop find but I had to give it a little lift with this sugar skull. I do like sugar skulls and love the idea of making something just a little bit prettier. So will my tattoo type embroidery be as addictive as really getting inked? I hope so, less pain involved too. Only problem is that I have to wait for warmer weather to reveal my new skull.....

Facebook Link Update

Finally have organised a Facebook fanpage with links to the blog here and to the Folksy shop, which I can tell you (with all fingers crossed) will have the first items going through the "doors" this week. Cannot wait for it and want to say a big thank you to all for the questions and support I've had so far. The sun even peaked out from the behind the clouds today so I think we are off to a great week.

Sneak peek

 

Here's a peak at a selection of Rowan's Cotton Glace that I am using in a project for the new shop, it will be a blend of these lovely colours and my new crochet skills. I decided last week that my brain needed a kick start and the best way I know of to expand my brain and come up with all sorts of new ideas is to learn a new skill. What new skill is your brain crying out for?

It's been a long time coming...

Never were truer words spoken but it's true and I've thrown myself into the creation of my shop! It's home will be on the UK based Folksy website. Which is a haven for people who love to create and for those who appreciate the art, time and effort that goes into these creations. It's not quite ready to take the wraps off yet but it will be soon. I want to make sure that when I do open the "doors" officially that it will be something that I am proud of and that will truly reflect me in all my eclectic-ness. So keep your fingers crossed for me and here's a sneaky peek in the meantime.