Dirt under the fingernails

Today was the first day in ages that I wasn't trying to get into the garden and only succeeding in dodging raindrops. We've had lots of wind and quite a bit of rain down here in the southwest and my roses are flattened and everything looks a little bit downtrodden. So it meant that I was destined to be pottering (ok, actually lots of digging and weeding and cutting) around the garden when the weather co-operated.
The lavender hedge got a big haircut and I have armfuls of lavender stuck into every vase and jug I can find, dotted around the house. If we aren't completely chilled out with the scent of lavender everywhere we never will be.
So slightly wind worn and with pink cheeks and nose from the sun I am sitting here looking forward to an evening of quiet, working on the crochet ripple blanket for one of my little minions. I'm a novice at crochet but have quickly picked up the necessary stitches to complete the ripple pattern, probably thanks to the excellent instructions I found over at Attic24, there are lots of little instructions and lovely ideas to be found there. My problem is that I want to make everything now and end up with lots of projects on the go at once. I could have worse problems I know, so I shall count my blessings.

The Twitter has landed!

I know it may seem completely illogical to some that I haven't jumped into Twitter before now and are thinking  - come on catch up with the rest of us and I'm sure there are a fair few who are shouting - no, don't do it. Either way, the plunge has been taken. I will attempt my very best to wrap my brain around it all, not making any promises that this will happen today I might add. In the meantime, I would love to hear who you follow on Twitter that you couldn't do without and if you feel so inclined you can join me too. Hope to see you @alexa_gibson.

Oh happy day

I'm having one of those great days where I am trying out all sorts of new stuff, podcasts for a start- yes I am behind the times I know. I've also been asked to make a cover for a recorder, this one was a new one for me but I love a challenge.

 You can't just have any old cover you have to make it snazzy! My youngest minion laughs when I say this word so I am dropping it into conversation whenever I can this week. If only to make myself giggle. So back to the case, just some lovely pink linen, lined in purple cotton and with a ribbon drawstring and some simple embroidery to make it personal. Things should always be personal. I'm pleased with the results so let's hope the musician it's intended for likes it too.

So while I've been stitching this week and last I've been digging through my music library and have been having a good ol' listen to the eclecticness that is my music taste. The top ones for this week are the Dixie Chicks, Julian Fauth and Imelda May. If you don't know them check them out you'll thank me for it. The sun is shining here so I'm out to the garden, hope it's shining on you too. See you soon.

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.....