Reasons to love January #1

I've always loved January and can never understand why people say it's such a miserable month. The feeling of entering a new year is an exciting one and then there are the ever so well meant resolutions many of us make. I generally find myself in a positive frame of mind, full of hopes for the new year and promises that I WILL KEEP!



It's also my birthday which helps.



It was my birthday on Friday and despite having to go to work, I had a good day. I had some lovely presents and we also took a trip to the cinema - something of a rarity since we had children. We saw Charlie Wilson's War. I enjoyed it but wouldn't say it was the best film I've ever seen. Philip Seymour Hoffman was excellent - as ever.

Birthday Treats:

Knit a bag a month update

I have found some recruits for the project which is great. It's always nice to have support. I have a very kind person designing me a badge so I can set up a new group on Ravelry. If you're interested it's going to be called Knit a bag a month (funnily enough!)

As far as knitting any bags goes, I haven't got very far with that! I have thought about lots of things though. Bags I intend to make are:
1. Clementine by Emma King (have had my eye on this for ages and have plenty of kid classic to use for it). It's the one on the cover of the book.
2. Percy by Cheryl Niamath (see earlier post).
3. Finish my pink and red bag in Rowan cotton rope.
4. Felted bag from Debbie Bliss soho which I bought in the sale in John Lewis.

Lots of other ideas floating around in my head but feel I really need to sit down and start knitting instead of thinking up new ideas.

Reading (I have done some)

I had On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan for Christmas and finished it on Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and thought it was very well written. The author showed great understanding of how both sexes think and he also brilliantly illustrated social attitudes of the early 1960's. The story was poignant yet funny at times and the ending was not at all as I expected. It was quite a shock and not how I thought many people would have behaved then.

Well, that's my attempt at a review anyway! Reading has unfortunately taken a back seat due to my knitting addiction. I must learn to combine the two one day.

Present pics

Just realised I haven't posted the pics of my Christmas presents.

Am very pleased to be the owner of luxury knitting needles rather than old crooked metal ones! As you can see one pair were already in use when I took the photo. They were beautiful to use - really light. The book is fantastic too. Some great patterns and one or two I may use for my knit a bag a month project.

Happy 2008

Happy New Year! A little late I know but there we go.

Anyway, my knitting project for 2008? Well, I've decided to knit a bag a month. Basically it's an excuse to have something to knit each month and another excuse to make more bags. There are going to be a few rules (just a few, I promise otherwise it'll never get completed).

1. At least one bag must be completed in each calendar month.
2. At least one bag must be felted.
3. At least one bag must incorporate beads (my newly acquired skill).
4. At least one bag must be of your own design.
5. At least one bag must be cabled.

That's it.

If anyone would like to join the project, contact me or just knit a bag a month for fun! I will be posting on Ravelry about this and might even set up a separate blog dedicated to the project. I'm off to get knitting before January is over!

Christmas goodies!

A fantastic Christmas was had by all at our house and I was lucky enough to receive some knitting related presents! 3 gorgeous pairs of knitting needles, some stitch markers, a book and a pattern with wool. Will post pictures soon. Also picked up some yarn at the sales today.

My knitted gifts for others were all completed and well received! I'm thinking about next year's already!

Been thinking lots about resolutions for the New Year (knitting ones of course!) and also my project for 2008 - more about those next time!

Christmas cupcakes

Just an excuse to post a picture of Nigella's Christmas cupcakes I made last week. I thought they looked very appealing. They tasted okay but I have had a cold and can't taste that much!