Kazza's Stuff

Kazza's Crafty Week: Day 3

2009-10-07T13:35:00.001-07:00

Today has been one of those days. I seemed to have been busy all day, but not actually achieved that much. Bah!

I did a favour for a friend this morning, but was finished with that around 10.30am, so still had loads of day left. Had visitors, but they didnt stop that long, so I cant blame them either. I did get distracted for an hour and half or so when I found Greys Anatomy Season 6 online, but I was knitting whilst I was watching it so that doesnt count.

Where did my day go? Ive been robbed!

I did have a go at cardmaking for a couple of hours this afternoon, and I was hoping to be able to post pics of lovely cards this evening but alas, my cardmaking mojo has disappeared totally. I made 5 cards in total, and they are all crap. There is no way Im showing them! I was only playing around with embellishments and stuff today, perhaps if I get my stamps and paint out etc out I might get a bit more inspiration, Im going to give it a go on Saturday (hangover depending).

Guess what though? The Heather Hoodie Vest is off the needles! Finally! I was starting to think it was a neverending project. Just got to weave in ends and put buttons on, buttons that I'll be buying on Friday so hopefully pics Saturday (hangover depending).

More sewing tomorrow (after ironing collecting and parent visiting) so hopefully more successful than cardmaking. Tell you tomorrow.

Kazza's Crafty Week: Day 2

2009-10-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Check out the rather fab Day 2 achievement:

This is the dress pattern I mentioned in yesterday's post. I bought the material on last week's trip to Birmingham Rag Market. I reckon this has cost me about £6 to make altogether, including the pattern. Is that cool or what? Ive tried it on and it fits perfectly.

Im a novice dressmaker, and this dress took me all day to make, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ive got a couple more items cut out and ready to go, so hopefully I will have something else to show you before the week is out. I start my new job in a couple of weeks, and I really need new clothes for that. Ive bought a couple of items and plan to add bits Ive made here and there. A good start eh! Pleased as punch.

I didnt get to Hobbycraft today, I couldnt wait to get started on the dress! So might do that later in the week. Not sure what tomorrow's crafty events will be yet, Im helping out a friend in the morning so I'll see what time I get finished there first.

Day 2 isnt over yet though! Ive just taken a pit stop to make dinner and blog, after which I shall be continuing with the Heather Hoodie Vest. Nearly finished!!

Kazza's Crafty Week: Day 1

2009-10-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Its Day 1 and I am pleased to report that craftyness has begun!

Unfortunately though, the craft kick off didnt happen until approximately 1pm, so not really a "day" but Im still going so will get a couple of hours in tonight to make up for it. I do have to admit to having an ickle sleep in, mainly because I was still pooped from the weekend. Then I had to go to Sainsburys, pop to the ironing fairy and then go see my parents, and I had a visitor this afternoon too. So all that taken into account I havent done too badly.

So what have I been up to on Day 1? Ive been knitting!

The Heather Hoodie Vest is very near completion. The seams are sewn, the armhole edging is done and Im about halfway through the hood. Tonight Im hoping to get the hood finished which will just leave the button band edging for next time. I need to get buttons too. No pic tonight though, you will have to wait until its finished.

Tomorrow's prediction is dressmaking, probably this dress which is all cut out and ready to go, and maybe a trip to the newly opened local Hobbycraft store in Solihull. Knitting will also be featured, with work continuing (and hopefully finishing) on the Heather Hoodie Vest.

See you same time tomorrow (hopefully with pics!)

Kazza's Crafty Week: The Countdown Has Begun

2009-10-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

If there is actually anyone out there reading this blog, please accept my apologies for being rubbish in posting lately. To say its been manic over the last 2 weeks is an understatement, crazy madness. I havent even done any knitting in that time either! That shows you how busy its been. I could write a long post about the schizzle thats gone down over the last fortnight, but we'll skip that and head straight to the good part.

To make up for being a crap blogger, I am bringing you Kazza's Crafty Week. A whole week full of lovely crafty delights. I have this week off work, and I am making the most of it. Everyday shall be full of bootiful creativeness, and at the end of every day I shall post and share the day's events with you. Of course I will still have to fit in parent visiting, shopping, cooking and general dossing around on Facebook, but the majority of the week will be filled with making stuff.

Preparations for this major event have already begun. In fact, they began last weekend. I perused the delights of the internet and purchased some dressmaking patterns. On Thursday I took a trip to Birmingham Rag Market and bought the items needed to make my chosen designs. Three items are all cut out and ready for sewing. I also blocked my Heather Hoodie Vest (Rav Link) ready for finishing, and have gone through my cardmaking stash. Oh yes I mean business.

Every major event has an opening and closing ceremony. I kicked off the start of Kazza's Crafty Week with a kitchen party, attended by my usual kitchen party crew - Gary, Kev and Zoe. The company and food were excellent, and alcohol flowed freely. Fantastic. Kazza's Crafty Week will close on Friday. The closing ceremony will be attended by myself and Georgina, and will be celebrated with a whole day of shopping, eating, and maybe the odd drink or two. The event will remain open until the end of business on Saturday for finishing off any projects, however this is dependent on the level of hangover from the closing ceremony festivies (will probably be quite bad, George drinks like a fish).

So, join me tomorrow evening folks, for an update on Day 1 of this major crafting event!

I handed my notice in today!!!!!

2009-09-22T12:57:00.001-07:00

Just had to share it!!!

A Little Tour

2009-09-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

Its finished!! Prepared to be bored to death with a photofest of my little Craft Room.

Here is my main worksurface...

...my shelves, complete with one or two items saved from my childhood (that puppet is 30 years old, its been everywhere with me)...

...everything is organised and easy to get to...

...here's Dolly, waiting for me to sew up lots of lovely things (I hope)...

... and last but by no means least, my wool stash all tucked away and organised...

I love my little room. Ive spent hours today sorting everything out and loved every minute of it. Going through all of my stuff has really given me inspiration, its great to find things you had forgotten about. I havent done any cardmarking for ages, so I'll definitely be doing some of that very soon. Cant wait to get stuck into sewing too, think I might start of small and have a go at making some project bags. Watch this space for that one!

Andromeda so far

2009-09-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie to show you progress on my Andromeda Shawl...

I reckon Im about 25% of the way through so far. Loving the pattern, takes a lot of concentration though, definitely not TV knitting! The yarn is working out really well, and I think when its finished it will definitely something I get a lot of wear out of.

Back tomorrow with craft room pics, woo hoo!!

A quick hello

2009-09-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Im still here!

Its been a really hectic couple of weeks. I'll give you a quick update.

First of all, my HUGE news is that I went for the interview I mentioned in my last post, and I GOT THE JOB!!! Im so excited, I cant tell you. I wont be starting for another 7 weeks or so, and it cant come soon enough, Im really looking forward to getting my teeth into something new, after five and a half years of working for building surveyors my brain needs a change! I will miss George and Kerrie something terrible, but I know I will keep in touch with them. The lads will be missed too, but Im sure I'll be gatecrashing one or two of their nights out in the future, so I will be able to catch up with all their news.

Secondly, after months of just talking about it, my craft room is actually nearly finished already! The week before last me and Gary had a week off work. We were due to go camping in Wales, but the prospect of spending the week in a wet tent persuaded us to stay at home. We had a brilliant week, we did loads of stuff, one of which was emptying and painting the spare room. We got that done and Ive been buying shelves and storage stuff, and this weekend my dad is coming round to put up a worksurface for me, and thats it, job done! I cant wait to do some sewing, Ive already picked out a couple of patterns, and after discovering the BurdaStyle website Im sure I'll be finding a few more to add to my list.

In knitting news, the main headline is the start of the UK RAK Group's Shawl KAL on Ravelry. Ive been waiting FOREVA for this to start. I couldnt contain myself in the end, I started early. Loving it. I will post a pic of my progress so far next time. Im finding it heavy going on the wrists though, it makes me really achey. Im going to stick with it though, my advice from a fellow Raveller is to do a little each day, which I am, and Ive dug out my old wrist splints from when I had RSI many years ago.

In other knitting news, just one sleeve to go on Dad's Jumper, C'MON!! And Im on the second side of my Heather Hoodie Vest. Better get a move on with these, judging by the weather me and Dad will need them soon!

Another Christmas Knit

2009-08-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 Turn A Square (Rav link) beanies made for Devine for Christmas. I only intended to make one, but after finishing I had more than enough yarn left for a second, and the Noro Silk Garden means that Devine has 2 hats that are the same but different, excellent!

They were a very quick knit, I completed both of them last weekend. Whilst Im on the subject of last weekend, apologies for the lack of posting, I really dont know what happened - no sooner than the weekend was here it was gone again. I hate it when that happens. The week seemed to fly by too, with sick kitties (hes better now though) and a drunken team night out (Im better too now).

In knitting news, progress has been made with Dad's Jumper. The back is complete and Im halfway through the front. Once the front is finished I'll feel like Im on the home straight with it. Its actually made really good TV knitting - mostly Big Brother, yes Ive given in after I said I wouldnt watch it this year. What can I say, I feel like Im missing something if I dont tune in. Get Bea out!!

Another knitting project has been started too - the Heather Hoodie Vest (Rav link) from the latest edition of Knitscene.

Ive had some Rowan Little Big Wool in my stash for ages waiting for the right pattern to come along, and when I saw this pattern I knew it was the right one. However, when I worked out yardage, I didnt have enough in my stash! Poo! Luckily Ebay came to the rescue, and I managed to get 2 balls in the same colourway. I didnt hold out any hope of the yarn being the same dyelot as my stash, and so sought advice on how best to use it. Then, the yarn arrived, and lo and behold, its from the same dyelot! Result! Obviously this project is meant to be. Its going well so far and Im enjoying knitting something a little more interesting than Dad's Jumper (sorry Dad, no offence).

Im also ready to go for the UK RAK Group (yep, another RAV link) Shawl KAL starting on 4 September. Ive chosen the Andromeda Shawl (not a Rav link!) and I am cacking myself. Ive never knitted anything like this before, Im starting to think maybe Ive bitten off more than I can chew. Im looking forward to starting though. We'll see what happens!

In non knitting news, I am very very excited - I have a job interview next week!! Im not going to give too much away for fear of jinxing myself, but it sounds like a really good job and its a step up for me, its just what I need. Good job my boss doesnt read this blog isnt it?

Busy Busy

2009-08-02T10:26:00.003-07:00

First of all, my 6th completed Christmas gift...

These are Fiddlehead Mittens (Rav link) knitted in RYC Cashsoft DK. Its my first attempt at some real colourwork, and once Id got the hang of it it wasnt nearly as fiddly as I thought it was going to be. The yarn is lovely, its soooo soft. They are for Wanda, I hope she likes them. 6 pressies have been completed now, and Ive thought of another couple I want to add to my to do list. Fingers crossed I dont run out of time!

Its been a very busy week this week, and I havent had time to do a lot of the things I said I would do, the main thing being spinning, I havent had time to play with the lovely parcel I received last week yet. So, Ive decided to earmark Tuesdays for spinning only, no knitting allowed! I will post weekly progress to prove I have kept to my word :)

One thing I have done this week (which was on list of stuff I said I would do, so thats good) is start another project. Im quite excited about this one because its my first attempt at designing something myself. Ive had an idea in my head for ages and thought it was about time I had a go at knitting it and making it a reality. I started it yesterday, and so far its looking good, so fingers crossed. If I never mention it again its because its gone horribly wrong and I have buried it at the bottom of the craft cupboard never to be seen again!

Cherry Fizz

2009-07-26T04:35:00.001-07:00

This is Cherry Fizz by the very talented Kate Gilbert from the Twist Collective. Im so pleased with it, its turned out really lovely, I just want to wear it all the time! I think Kate is so clever, how anyone comes up with a pattern like this is beyond me. She is a knitting genius!

The yarn however, was not so lovely, well not to knit with anyway. I used Patons Serenity DK in Blossom, its a lovely soft yarn, but it splits LOADS, and for some reason mine became very knotty, knotty beyond unknotting, so I had to keep rejoining new yarn. Luckily though it blocked very well, and the end result is a lovely soft Cherry Fizz! More pics can be found on my Ravelry page.

Last week was a real crap week at work, so when I arrived home on Friday to find a lovely squishy parcel waiting for me, I was sooooo happy. Look at all this lovelyness:

Lots of lovely fibre for me to spin!! I havent done any spinning for a week or so, mainly because as the end of Cherry Fizz came in sight I just wanted to finish it so that I could wear it. There are all sorts of different fibres for me to have a play with here, and after squidging all of them individually it became very obvious to me very quickly that the fibre I had been using to practice with was, well crap really, so hopefully I wil have better results now too. There is some yellowy goldy coloured fibre which in particular is lovely, Im saving it until Im confident of my abilities to turn it into something knittable though. So thank you very much Lucy from the Ravely UK RAK Group, not only are you very generous but made me forget all about my crap week!

Some Finished Stuff

2009-07-05T08:27:00.001-07:00

Pattern: Manly Scarf by Knitting Queen
Yarn: Patons Jet in Charcoal, 4 balls
Made for: My little brother in law, Devine, for Christmas. I just know its going to get left in a pub somewhere in Manchester but hey! Im sure he will like it.

Pattern: Villandry Lace Scarf by Angela Roberge
Yarn: Rowan Tapestry in Whirlpool, 2 balls
Made for: Georgina for Christmas

and finally...

Pattern: Miley tee (Rav link) by Cheri Christian
Yarn: Rowan Damask, 4.5 balls
Made for: Me!

I like this pattern, its really easy to adapt it to fit how you want it to. Think Im going to make another one with three quarter sleeves.

Its been quite a busy weekend, what with spinning, finishing knitting projects, housework (yuk), entertaining, going out for lunch and going to the cinema (Public Enemies - go see it girlies, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in the same film, 2 for 1, what can you say). Im now off to prepare for my Greys Anatomy-athon tonight - thats right, I have the remote control to myself. No more Police Camera Action. No more shark programmes. No more repeats of Ultimate Force. Well for this week at least, could be longer, Gary is doing nights for a little while. Dont get me wrong, I love him to bits, but his taste in tv programmes sucks big time. So the remote control is now mine, ALL MINE!!

Stupid Things People Say and A New Obsession

2009-07-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

I am going to start keeping a note of Stupid Things People Say so that I can publish a book about them and make my fortune. Most of these Stupid Things get said to me whilst Im at work. Today's was a classic:

Caller: Can I speak to Matthew please?

Me: Im sorry, hes on another call, can I take a message?

Caller: Can you see him? Can you tell how long he's going to be?

Eh? If I could answer questions like that I would have predicted lottery numbers a long time ago and wouldnt be doing this poxy job now would I?

One from last week was quite good too:

Caller: Can I speak to Matthew please?

Me: Im sorry, hes on another call, can I take a message?

Caller: Yes please, if you could ask him to call me about such and such, but please tell him that I dont want a conversation with him, I only want him to answer my question.

Cant blame him though really, Matt can talk a glass eye to sleep.

Anyway, my new obsession, check this out:

Thats right, Ive been spinning!

Last year I got a bit cocky and ordered myself a spinning kit, thinking yeh, before the night it out I will have spun all this up and will be planning what Im going to knit with it.

Wrong!

After a couple of failed attempts, where the spindle may have been thrown across the room, I gave it up as a bad job. However, last week a very kind lady called Jess sent me some instructions on how to get started. So I read through them and gave it another go, and I can do it! Ok, the finished product does leave a bit to be desired, its fatter in some places than the rest, but with practice I think I will get there. And lucky for me the beginner kit Im using came with a lot of fibre. Not particularly nice fibre, but fibre nonetheless, and its certainly good enough to practice with. So watch this space for more spinning updates.

Before I go, check out this little fella, hes gettinga bit crazy from the heat at the moment bless him, he's even staying out in thunderstorms to cool off!

Bye for now, and dont forget, stay safe in the sun people!

Hello! Is anyone there?

2009-06-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

I ditched my blog a while ago, various reasons meant I didn't really have much time for blogging. But I do now! If only I hadn't deleted my old blog, oh well never mind, at least my blog name hasn't been taken so thats good.

Im gradually going to get this little old blog looking pretty (and remind myself of how Blogger works!), and update it with some knitting and other bits and bobs. Work is in progress so please bear with me :)