I hope you've all have a good Christmas. Ours was great but John did come down with the lurgy on Boxing Day. He declared himself fit three days ago and I've been snivelling and sneezing since!
I made quite a few bits this year. Olivia received a quilt. Just a Jelly Roll Race but she can take it up into her playhouse and I or her mum won't be too precious about it.
Grandpups Remi and Polly also had their own quilts.
I made 2 more of these as part of a Secret Santa swap as well. There have been moments of joy actually sourcing doggy themed fabrics in fat quarter bundles as they are so hard to come by!!
I crocheted Elsa a Margaret Button Cowl, pattern HERE, which was lovely to make and really comfortable to wear.
While I was at it I did a mini me one for Olivia. I know this is my full size mannequin but it is small enough for a 3 year old.
I also knitted Elsa some mittens, again pattern HERE. Nice and quick once you have reminded your brain to do Garter Stitch and not automatically go into Stocking Stitch as you have been knitting soooo many baby cardies in it!! I was pleased to hear that Gina Ferrari, whom I pinched the pattern from, also had a hiccup or two in that department!
A dog portrait I did for a friend was received and liked, always a relief. The hardest thing with this one was that there were no decent photos to work from AT ALL! We found one we liked the expression of but it was only a tiny snap of about 3 inches, any larger it pixelated. I had to sort of make him up from several other photos too which is always a very dangerous thing to do when you're dealing with someone's beloved pet. Up shot is, go and treat yourself to having some good photos taken if you're not very good at it yourself. You won't regret it!!
Speaking of dogs, I had a lovely walk with Ellie and Willow on Wednesday at Hengistbury Head with 12 German Shorthaired Pointers, 2 Wirehaired Pointers, 2 Dachshunds, a Sighthound and Grandpup Polly the Rottie. Here is a very brief moment of calm before Chris throws the ball again.
Today I started my 31 Days of Yoga with Adriene, thank you for the intro Jayne. I did a 30 days back in the Autumn and loved it. It's a good way to start the day stretching out from the night's sleep and finding that bit of focus and peace. If you want to join in the link is HERE.
Finally my word(s) for last year were Be Me and I think I managed to start that but it took most of the year to do it. I have finished the courses and won't be doing anymore of such intensity. I don't need bits of paper to do what I love doing. I have actually put my big girl pants on a couple of times and even managed to take myself off to Harrogate and will be going to London on my own later this month too. I have also reminded myself that I do actually only do this creating for me, no one else, and that I don't have to put myself in such a panicky place thinking about all that is needed for things like the Open Studios. If I don't feel I have enough to show then I don't have to enter. That's fine. It's not compulsory and there will be other things.
This year I have chosen the word Determination. I can put myself forward if I want to. I can do things I didn't think possible. I can also lay things aside too, my decision. I'm determined to not get het up about things, my views matter just like everyone's so I will state what I think rather than just let things build up inside. I had 40 years of that. I am lucky to have a wonderful husband who supports me in whatever it is I'm doing and is a very good sounding board too!
I'm off the the studio to see what I can tinker with whilst trying not to sneeze over everything. Have a peaceful day.
