Baby Knits

Everyone seems to be having babies recently. One of my childhood friends has just had a baby girl, who was born last week. I didn't have time to make her anything so I boughter her a baby bottle steamer. I did buy this knitting pattern book from John Lewis a long time ago, but haven't got around learning the patterns.



I may have to ask for help. Also my daughter has made me promise to make her something before I make anything for the baby. Yes, she can get a bit jealous sometimes, but we have been trying to teach her to be more generous. The patterns in the book are for new born babies to 5 year olds, so I may attempt to knit her a cardigan, but with my track record, she is lucky if I finish it by next year.

Kind gifts and hubby's green scarf

We have an Audit Senior from China here in our firm. She is on a 9 months placement to gain her ICAEW qualification. I have been teaching her some English and she has been teaching me Mandarin over lunch. Yesterday, she gave me some Chinese Tea, so I thought I'd use this as an excuse to show off my tea pot. I love tea, any tea, English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Chai...etc.

My Mother in Law made these slippers for my daughter which matches her bedroom curtains I made earlier. She makes a lot of things, and knitted a lot of my daughter's cardigans when she was a baby (I will blog about this later). She is a very keen crafter and apparently she has bottles of buttons, which she has been hiding from me....

I'm knitting again, but very slowly, it is a 'green' scarf for my husband. I think I should be able to finish it by this winter.

Wemake Fair

I went to the Wemake Fair today. I now understand why my friends (who have kids) always plan ahead for outings with Children and Grandparents. I was so disorganised. Well first of all, I forgot the map, so I couldn't find the craft fair. I planned to get there in the morning and then have dim sum later on. Oh dear, by the time we got there, it was lunch time, so I had to quickly wizz around a (few times) and didn't have much time to really look at what was being sold and buy things.

It all got a bit embarassing, as my daughter forgot her shyness very quickly and decided to take photos of people's shoes instead of their stands (as originally instructed). Yes, she was the rascal with the loud laugh. Then my Dad almost fell as sleep outside as he has a tendancy to fall asleep in warm temparture. So I thought I'd better make a quick exit. I was suppose to meet up with a few fellow bloggers, but my timing was so awful that I missed them. Nevermind, we will meet up for coffee (and knitting) another time. I think I need to be a bit more organised next time.

I did get to meet Helen and other Etsy Sellers. My rascal also received a free goodie.

Where did the rain go??

I thought it was going to rain this weekend, so I arranged for most of the activities to be indoors. On Saturday, I left my husband and daughter with my in-laws and went to the Cockpit Arts in Holborn. It was actually located off John Street which is very close to where I use to work in Doughty Street. It was extremely busy this time and much more jewlery and ceramics. It wasn't as good as last time because I didn't have my photographer (my daugther) and then my camera ran out of batteries. So no photos this time. I still had a good day there, so much inspiration.

Then on Sunday we went to Ikea to buy a few things and these fabrics:

Thanks Lisa for letting me know that Ikea sell Linen. I might make some bags with these fabrics.

Cockpit Art Weekend and Coutts London Jewlery week

Its the Cockpit Art Open Studio again this weekend. This time it will be in their Holborn studio and it will coincide with Coutts London Jewlery week . I'm hoping to go and have a look. I've never made jewlery before, but there may be some demonstrations.

Since I messed up my Mum's beret, I haven't really done much sewing and knitting. I need a kick up the bum to start again. Hmmm....instead I've been doing some pilates, going to the gym and also enjoying this lovely view and weather.

I love this view, it is London and yet so peaceful. There is also so woodland nearby. I will make to the most of this as it is going to rain tomorrow....maybe I shall start knitting again....

Oh Dear....

We went to watch Gone with the Wind at the Theatre last night. It will be closing in a fortnights time due to bad reviews which I think is such a shame because I thought the performance was very good. It's not just because I find Darius (who plays Rhett Butler) very handsome (don't tell my husband...Hee! Hee!), but the lady who plays Scarlett O'Hara put on a very strong performance. It is a bit long (over three hours), and I can understand that for some people who did not like the film would complain. But for someone who loves the movie and Vivian Leigh, over three hours is just right. Oh well....nevermind. I only bought a T Shirt and a guide at shop.

Apart from going to the theatre, I finished knitting my Mums beret (not whilst watching the play though). Oh dear........it has turned out so small. It was very silly of me to use a different yarn as instructed and also not paying attention to the gauge/tension. Here is a picture of the very sorry looking beret modelled by Pingu. Oh well....I will try again next time.

Finished pouch and fabric shopping

I've finished the pouch from The Last Minute Knitted Gift book. Its for my daughter and the self pattern yarn has actually turned out quite nice. My Mum didn't believe that I made it as she thought that as a new knitter I wouldn't have mastered the skill of changing the colours and making patterns so soon. She asked my husband, who just laughed, whether I made it and then asked me which Etsy shop I bought it from. I had to tell her that I cheated with the self pattern yarn. Hee! Hee! I love my Mum, she is so cute and fun to tease.

I went to Lewisham to go a fabric shop there with my Mum and daughter on Saturday to see whether they sell the fabrics I need to make the tissue box cover and sewing basket from the 80s sewing tutorials. I have to say that it is not a place to take a 4 year old. There were sharp edges sticking out on the shelves and several huge gaps in the floor. It was very crowded.

The fabric there are not bad and the the prices are very reasonable. However, I still prefer the Wimsew Craft store in Tooting/Balham. The staff are friendlier and I could take the rascal there without worrying that she might hurt herself. I left the shop empty handed and was very disappointed. I will go to Tooting next time.