My Purple Scarflette

Hey, I've finished my scarf, ahem, I mean scarflette. Well it was suppose to be a scarf but I ran out of yarn and being lazy I thought I bind off and turn it into a scarflette by adding a button I bought from John Lewis.

I got the pattern from a knitting magazine called Let's Knit and it was in the March 08 issue. It said in the instructions that you only need one ball of Rowan Tapestry, but I used Rowan Aran instead. The pattern looks complicated but it said in the magazine that its suppose to be very easy once you get the hang of things. This is a good pattern to show off when you're not an experienced knitter like me and the holes makes it quite flexible as to where you could button it together.

Work, Rest and Play

I've applied to HR to change my working hours from 9-5.30 to 8.30-5. I tend to be more focused and productive in the mornings, also I'll hopefull miss this:

and this:So I can do more of this:

Hee! Hee! This is my workspace (apologies for the dark photo, its the only time that I get to sew sometime) which is my dining table where we eat, write, browse the web, bake cakes and where I do my sewing. Helen wrote on her blog how her dining table is her workspace and as you can see mine is just the same. I'm making some coasters which I got the instruction from the famous 'Bend the Rules Sewing' book which I'm sure all crafters have on their bookshelves. I have also finished my scarve which I will blog later this week, as I'm having difficulties taking decent photos at the moment.

Ball at the Dorchester

On Saturday I attended my office Ball with my husband at the Dorchester in Park Lane. We had a really good time, the decor was lovely, entertainment was fun, the food was good and obviously the drinks were all paid for....so I had a great night. It was fun seeing all my drunk colleagues. I loved the decor inside but had a bit too much to drink to take more photos.

I went to Oxford Street to recover and to buy some treats for my Mum to thank her for looking after my daughter last night. So I made the most of today by going to 'All the Fun at the Fair' at Canarby Street and Liberty. At Liberty I found this display:

How gross...all that plastic. I think that is the reason more people are into buy handmade goods for their children instead of mass produced toys.

Week off and the Design Museum

I took this week off to spend with my darling daughter and my Mum as it is the last week of the Easter Break. Yesterday I took four kids (my daughter, her friends: Twins and their Brother) to the Design Museum at Shad Thames and we all had a really good time. My Mum and the Kid's Mum went as well but spend most of the day in the cafe having tea and cake and enjoying the lovely view.

I love London as there is always lovely hidden places where you least expect.

My darling husband who never appears to be taking much notice about what I say to him about buying things handmade, has surprised me by buying some 'handmade' accessories for my daughter's bedroom. I have to say that I'm very impressed by his efforts.

Lampshade from Aspace:

Custom made (by Bob from Ebay) bedside table to fit in the small space we have:

Ideal Home

I can't resist a blog on the Ideal Home Exhibition. I met my husband at Earls Court and we went to the 1996 Ideal Home Exhibition for our first date. We go there almost every year for sentimental reasons, even though the tickets are SO expensive, but there are always buy one get one free deals. I was looking through the photos we took and thought I'd share them:

Vintage curtains:


1920-1930s:

1950-1960s:

It was the 100th anniversery this year so there were extra goodies and we bought a few things for Vivian's bedroom which I will post later once I get to take some decent photos.

London Marathon and Curtains

It was the London Marathon today and our roads were blocked for most of today as we live on the route. Yep, it was pouring down with rain, typical London weather.

As we were unable to go anywhere and we couldn't be bothered to join the crowd on the tube to Central London, we mostly stayed at home after they passed our area. I took this opportnity to make my daughter's curtains (her bedroom is currently being made over). We got a quote from a North London curtain shop and it was just over £100!!! So I thought I'll have a go.... the fabric was under £20 from a local fabric store and it only took me 2-3 hours (yep this is my first time making curtains). Here are the 'before and after' photos:

I'm really please with the end result. My Mother Inlaw wanted to sew the curtain for us as she didn't think my small Janome was up to the job (she has an Industrial Brother). My Mother didn't think I was up to it. Hee! Hee! However, they were both impress with my attempt. So I'm a happy bunny.

Knitting at work....rainy lunch times

The photo above is my desk at work, homemade lunch and my first attempt to knit a scarf.

I find it so difficult to find time for crafting....I don't know how you gals/guys do it (fellow crafters). I try to squeeze time during my lunch hour for knitting, but only if it is pouring down with rain. If its not raining, I like to go for walks and Fridays are spent socialising with colleagues at lunch times. Then I try to find time after the rascal has fallen asleep, but living in a flat means that I cannot use my sewing machine late at night, so knitting only. Weekends are spent doing housework and spending time with family, but I do try to squeeze some time then.

I'm new to all this!

After many months of contemplating and 'lurking' about I have finally taken the plunge and set up my own Blog. Yah! At last! Well, the truth is that I've just figured out how to upload photos on the laptop from my mobile phone. Also I've finally got my 'own' camera, sewing machine and more importantly my own place (which I share with my lovely husband and darling daughter).

Yep, its true, I've got my own sewing machine and camera at 30. I guess most people own these things quite early (like when they're 18?), but its a long story which I will share later (if people are interested).

I'm SO looking forward to blogging about my 'attempts' at sewing, knitting, making things, while having a full time job in the City (hence the blog name) and being a Mum to a lovely but demanding little madame.

I just have to figure how to use this 'blogging programme' and how to load photos onto Flickr.