Phew just made it!!

I did it! I finished my January page before the end of the month – just!!  It’s not amazing but I’m pleased I did it.  It’s better than last year as that didn’t happen at all.  I’m determined to take part in the 365 Calendar challenge this year so I’m really happy that I haven’t fallen at the first hurdle, as it were.

And for those of you that are interested I did manage to write the instructions for sewing a cube bag last weekend.  The recipient of the present was extremely pleased with her kit and instructions! After she’s tried them, I will probably post them here for other people to use.  I will need to take more pictures though.

I was given the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary collection of books for Christmas, I never thought I would read a Doctor Who book but I’ve actually really enjoyed them.  I love watching it but wasn’t bothered about the books.  There are 11 in the collection, 1 for each regeneration of the Doctor (excluding John Hurt’s War Doctor) and I’ve read numbers 6 to 11 so far.  I’m reading them in reverse order, working towards the ones that I remember least from the TV programme.  A fair amount of Doctor Who knowledge is assumed, they don’t really explain who he is, or what the TARDIS is but if you have ever watched it, I can recommend them as a light read.

Other crafts

Hey! This is what I’ve been doing this week.  Yesterday I made this necklace and earrings, I bought the green/yellow centre bead from The Bead Shop in London and finally got around to buying some small round beads and green tiger tail to go with them. 

Last Sunday I had a play with my sewing machine and produced this:

I’m not sure what it’s going to be it’s a layer of sheer polyester over some scraps of gold/yellow/orange silks/polyester and then I intend to cut in the squares and triangles to show the underneath scraps through.  I may turn it into a book cover or a small zipped purse or maybe even a needle case.  But at the moment I know how people feel before they cut their steeks when they are knitting norwegian jumpers as I really don’t want to cut something that I spent time on creating.  I keep telling myself if I don’t do it you will never see the lovely oranges/yellows underneath but so far I still haven’t cut it.  Stupid huh?

I haven’t knitted as much as I’d like this week, work’s been too busy to knit at lunch and it’s quite difficult to knit while Coleman the cat is around as he insists on sitting on my lap or leaning on me.  I did manage to wind a skein of Pure Silk into a ball while he was asleep one evening so I can continue with Juno this week.  I’m trying to finish the baby pinafore before my friend’s baby grows too big for it, and it’s quite relaxing just knitting round and round and round…..  

Tote bag

Just a quick post as I’ve not done much on the creative side this week. I’ve spent most of my time having a Jane Austen week. I’ve read Pride & Prejudice and finally managed to read it all the way through. It must be the 4th or 5th attempt by now! I’ve also watched several film/tv adaptions this week. I’m now trying to decide which book to read next. I might go for Mansfield Park but I’m still undecided.
I did have a sewing flurry on Wednesday night and I turned a teatowl that I’d bought because I liked the fabric, into a tote bag. It’s very simple and not lined but it does the job, I tested it yesterday and it held a carton of milk, 6 yoghurts, some crumpets and a jar of honey very well! I will post pictures at the weekend.

I didn’t get the job by the way, so I’m still looking….