Number 16- be a more confident driver..

I have let this one lapse slightly.. (what... just this one! I hear you cry/whimper?) but today I think I have more than made up for it. I have driven 173 miles today. I took in a fake motorway, a real motorway, several big roundabouts and have also done several reversing manoeuvres. I parked in a multi-storey car park (well, it had two levels and I went on the top deck) and drove in extreme weather (fog/rain/very poor visibility). I overtook lorries on the real motorway and navigated around an unknown town.
I normally print off Google Maps and follow the instructions religiously and I think this is what stresses me out- counting roundabouts and the like. Yesterday, I printed off the map but made a note of the major roads and places I needed to get to and this worked so much better. 
I have a headache now from concentrating but I feel super. I worked hard at not stressing about this journey and made myself look forward to it and be positive about it. And I did enjoy it. Turns out I do actually like driving.
The full title of number 16 is 'be a more confident driver (reverse on drive/drive on motorway in UK). Although I did not reverse on drive I did reverse into two parking spaces. I am taking that as a win and a big ✔against number 16
Go me.

Mod podge+paint

In the summer (a long time ago...) JGS purchased a wardrobe and 2 chests from a charity shop. This is one of the chests-(the other one is nearly finished) I had great fun with some Mod Podge (the most fun was peeling it off my fingers..).

 I will post photos of the other one when I have finished it. We have to sort out how to take the old knobs off and
put the new (very pretty) ones on. The old knobs seem to have been glued on with the most superest superglue ever..
It is shameful that this post has been sitting in 'drafts' for about 5 months and it was last July when I actually did this !

Remember the list????

The original 40 4 40 list? It can be found here and I have a couple of things that I should have crossed off ages ago......................
Number 40 was 'submit Chartership paperwork'. I am a 'book stamper/sshh-er'by trade and Chartership is a professional qualification. I randomly mentioned it to my manager in my appraisal and it turns out that the suggestion was taken seriously.....That will teach me.
I had a few issues with sorting out a mentor but I took the plunge, changed mentors in November 2012, submitted the document in July 2013 and found I had passed October 2013 - not bad going. So yes, I am now a chartered and uber professional book stamper! I have a certificate and everything....

An orange delight...

Well.... I did some knitting. Inspired by this creation I got cracking. I did really enjoy it but I found it quite difficult to understand the pattern (can you see a pattern forming here??) and I had everything ready for at least 2 months before I just got on with it. The leaving stitches on the needle and turning thing really confused me so I did do a dry run with normal wool and needles and then it all fell into place. It didn't take long to come together either but it was really heavy towards the end and I think some of my stitches are a tad looser than they should be.  I really love it and will probably make a bigger one at some point. I am a teeny tiny bit disappointed with the fact that you can see the rows of turned stitches. But is is being used all the time- which is fabulous- I have finally crafted something useful !!
The lovely orangeness of the yarn is not really sown to the full potential here. It is hoopla yarn in orange but I don't think that picture does the colour justice either. Funnily enough, I have seen the supplier Rachel John at a couple of craft fairs- her knitting is really extreme and fabulous.
Many thanks to Annaboo's House and Drops Design for sharing all this ace stuff.

So, I think I have one finished project left to blog about which is a door curtain I made in October and  I have nearly finished my first ever pair of curtains (started in November). I will blog about the three baby blankets that I have churned out this year as well.
There is some other sewing stuff from 2012 ( bag/purse/glasses case/skirt) that I am just going to forget about and start afresh from here.
At some point I will also update the original 40 4 40 list- still some stuff outstanding. Will 2014 be the year I learn to surf?? Anyways- I am going to try and blog once a week. 
Let's forget that I have said this before...... 

Amigurumi - aka a long time coming

Meet my first ever attempt at amigurumi. It took me a long time. It turns out that I have a very tempestuous relationship with amigurumi. 

Way back in February I was chatting to a little person whilst we made a dolls house out of a box. I hooked up a couple of little rugs (as you do) to furnish said house. Then a conversation was had about could I make them a toy... I said 'of course' (what??) 'what would you like?'. I managed to barter (can you barter with little people?) them down from a robin to a bunny.... in time for Easter. I missed Easter so in time for their birthday... I missed the birthday so in time for Christmas.... I missed Christmas (the official date of 25.12.13) but I knew I was seeing them yesterday so I finished it off (an arm/sewing it together/tutu) yesterday afternoon.

I used this pattern and was inspired by this which has since turned into this! It was weird in that once I got going I did really enjoy it- it was good to stretch my crochet brain and learn new stitches. I churned out 3 baby blankets between April to September - which do warrant a post of their own but I am unsure if I actually took any photos! I just found all the counting a bit strenuous . I took this photograph at a crafty angle as I know full well that there is a foot size discrepancy. Which I have tried to balance out with a bigger arm on one side.... Anyway- the little person I made it for loves it and that is all that matters. Apart from the fact that it turns out that I have purchased this book whilst on an amigurumi high.

Oh dear......

Anyway- this is one of my finished projects of 2013. Back soon with more.x

Whirling dervish

I haven't been here for a while. I have been busy finishing off WIPs as I want to start 2014 with a clean slate. So, over the next few days I will update you with finished delights...... 

Merry Christmas ! X

It must be winter....

As number 2 is back out...

It's not the best photo but I am very excited. Since the blocking , oh the blocking. I will write about my love of blocking soon. Await with bated breath or something like that .