Miss Aine

Finished, and just in time. Not bad going considering I only started Monday afternoon, spent half of yesterday shopping and spent a few hours finishing Smem's dress. After all the Christmas knitting on 4mm and 5mm needles, it was nice to get back to my small 2.75mm needles and my tiny perfect stitches.

Feel like I've been knitting these guys for weeks, but its just 'cause I've been busy and not had a chance to knit a lot. They're going to some pseudo-extended family members as late Christmas presents. They're from the Jean Greenhowe pattern and are super quick and easy to knit - 2 strands of yarn held throughout so they knit up very fast. Crazy busy this week now as it turns out I'm supposed to be knitting the cake toppers for my brother's wedding - which is this Thursday! All fun and games here!

Merry Christmas!

Too snowy to venture out today, once we got home from the hospital. It was a great time to work on Smem's dress for my brother's wedding. Its very simple so maybe I'll do some sort of embellishment on it - will have to see how much time I have. Lets hope the weather is better next week so I can get out and get her some nice shoes and a cardie! Also a little pic of tea pot and cozy I made for Mam and Dad. A Jean Greenhowe pattern, of course.

Its all good, and its a boy. Need to start making some blue things now! (weather is still shocking here. nearly cancelled the appointment as it was snowing so bad here this morning.)

Well, the snow went for nearly a week, but now it is back in full force. I left work at lunch-time yesterday to get home as it had been snowing all morning and didn't even go in today. We managed to get the car out to drive around the corner to Tesco to stock up on a few essential supplies. Not sure what tomorrow will bring. There's no sign of a thaw and I have to try get into Dublin city centre for my scan in the morning.

I spent a lovely afternoon crafty with little Smem today. I started on the Christmas cards, as its nearly half-way through December and I don't have any made - oops! Smem did some serious gluing. These will hopefully be cards for the grandparents. And after her gluing she asked to do painting as well. And all the time we were listening to Christmas FM!

My stall at the market yesterday. Thank God is was pretty successful - I covered the cost of the stall and got a bit more too. Takeaway for dinner last night!!

I'm loving the RTE website and their weather disruption updates. Today their 7.15am post is a wishlist for Santa.

I'll have a stall at the Glenroyal Christmas Craft Fair today. Fingers crossed the weather doesn't put people off getting out and about.

Smem got hold of my camera today and took a few snaps. Most weren't really of anything, or of her fingers, but she got some pretty good photos out.

Today myself and Smem put up the Christmas tree. Kinda' early but its the first year that Smem really gets Christmas. (Plus my sister saw the Kellog's Christmas ad on telly last night which is our family's sign that its officially Christmas - it was kinda' early for Kellog's this year too I think). We also posted her letter to Santa today. Woo hoo!

The weather here in Ireland has been crazy the last few days. It snowed on Saturday and has snowed a little every day since - if we ever do get snow its not normally until March so its very early. I was having a look at the RTE website this morning, catching up on travel news when I spotted something a little bit fun. Enlarge the picture and look at the news update for 7.15am!

From a pattern by Debi Birkin that was in Woman's Weekly during November. It was a very fast pattern to knit up and looks really well. And somebody loves her so that's the biggest compliment!

Of course I am now terrified. Last year was the coldest in Ireland in a very long time, and it stayed cold for a very long time. So much so that the snow and slush froze and made walking conditions treacherous. Last year I fell 3 times so I'm pretty worried now, what with the pregnancy and all. It sucks to not enjoy snow in the same way anymore. Although it should be okay to play in today, before it gets compacted.

I got an email today from one of my Etsy customers. She had bought the Bride and Groom Wedding Toppers pattern . But instead of making the pair, she turned the bride into an angel and gave her gorgeous ribbon wings. I think I may have to make one of these myself.

Yesterday I finished making two sample toys for a magazine submission - hopefully to be issued next July 2011. Proud as punch I was carefully putting the toys away. Then a little voice pipped up: 'Make Peppa now' We had gotten a pattern for Peppa Pig in Woman's Weekly last week. I didn't think she had remembered about it, a week later, but she hadn't. Maybe I should call her Elephant, not Smem, as she seems to have a very good memory - for the stuff she wants to remember!

Another pattern, in another Christmas'y themed treasury on Etsy . Although this time my christmas tree trims are beside Amy Gaines pattern for tree trims. Kinda puts my stuff to shame - I love her stuff!

Another of my designs is featured in a treasury on Etsy . An enchanted theme this time!

One of my patterns on Etsy is included in a CraftyIreland Team Treasury today. Woo hoo!

I was doing a little blog reading and just had to pass on some cool info about two online craft magazines which I read about on Mollie's blog, Wild Olive . I can't figure out how to link to the actual magazines so have a look at Mollie's blog post . Read it and be inspired this Christmas. I know I can't wait to get started making some of the projects.

So the market on Sunday wasn't as busy as I expected. Still did better than any of the markets during the summer, actually managed to cover the cost of the stall. Next market is 5th Dec in the Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth. Its a pretty established Christmas market so hopefully I'll do okay. So Sunday, to pass the time I knit a little mouse. In the round too which is not the norm for me! He now belongs to Smem!

Some little decorations I've been working away on for the market tomorrow. Can't wait for Christmas - my favourite time of the year!!

Of baby no. 2! I only had one scan last time, as a public patient, but will have 3 this time as I'm taking part in a diet survey. Turns out Irish babies are some of the biggest in the world - must be all the potatoes!

So the reason I've been a bit absent lately - I am pregnant again. Planned this time I might add! It does mean that I have once again contracted 'pregnancy brain' and am a bit all over the place and not my totally organised self. I also have a lot of things going on at the moment. I have a hen party to attend Saturday night, and a market in the local town on Sunday ( from 11-5, and it'll take me an hour to get back there from where the hen is taking place so that will be an early morning!). I've also been offered my old job back by my former boss. It may turn out to be more trouble than its worth, but I've pretty much accepted to go back part-time (3 days a week). So this week is all about finding somewhere for Smem to go those days, as she can't come with me! I've also signed up for another Christmas market which will be in the nearest big town, Maynooth, at the start of December. So work needs to be done for that. And..... I've also been in co...

My haul from this year's Knitting and Stitching show in Dublin. I was only there for about an hour and managed to spend about 100 euros. We may not have any money left for food at the end of the month! Need to get stitching now. I'm doing a local market this Sunday (after being out at a Hen Party on Saturday night).

Smem learning some contemporary dance moves from her granny on a recent trip to Wexford. Love the arch in her back!

Some new toys I've been working on for my market stall. Quite like the small guy myself.

I'll be at the C rafty Market this Sunday in Sheebeen Chic, Dublin.

I've been working on submissions for a magazine the last week or so, so I can't show any pictures of recent knitting. However, someone has been asking for a princess dress since seeing some in the shops last week. And I did promise her that I would make her one. She also demanded a fairy wand. And of course some twirling! I just made up the pattern. The bodice is just a long rectangle with elastic sewn to the top and bottom to keep it on her, but make it easy to get on and off. Some gathered netting was sewn to the bottom of the bodice and ribbons to the top for shoulder ties. And a big flower sewn to the front. The wand is just made out of felt. The handle of the wand has two drinking straws in it to give it some rigidity. Very simple and quick!

Finally typed up and available for download through my Ravelry store: buy now for just $4 Like my fake snow in the background!

One of my patterns was included in a Treasury on Etsy today. Woo hoo! (Blogger won't upload the picture so you'll have to follow the link to see the treasury)

Okay, so my blogging hasn't gotten any more regular of late (the reason for that to come very soon). So instead here's a preview of my next pattern. Its half-typed up but we're away at a wedding this weekend so it won't be in the shop until next week sometime, maybe Tuesday. Starting the Christmas rush!

Finally typed up and in my Etsy and Ravelry stores for sale - only $4 buy now He's got pose-able limbs which makes him great for playing with. And lovely and cuddly for hugs! Most important for little kids.

Funny how quickly you get out of the habit of blogging. I only have to miss it for 2-3 days and I find it so hard to get back into the routine. Add to that the fact that I've been really tired lately. So tired that even my knitting has slowed down - not good in the run up to Christmas! So to keep you all interested, a taste of what's to come. (As soon as I have the time and energy to type up the pattern!)

I'm quite enjoying making my little cake toppers. This time the request was for the groom to wear a kilt. I was even given a picture of the family tartan to replicate. A challenge, but I got there - using 4ply sock yarn, embroidery thread and 2mm needles. And he's a true Scotsman with no pants on under his quilt. He is even anatomically correct which will give everyone a good giggle at the wedding!

Do you ever make something that just works right? DH is away at a stag for the weekend so dinner was full of veggies! I roasted courgettes, sweet potato, carrots, garlic, red onion, parsnip and cherry tomatoes. Then I cooked chicken in the oven, and some rice and mixed it all up together. Yum yum!

Apologies for the lack of posting over the last week. I headed down to Wexford for the weekend for a hen party. Luckily it was in Wexford Town so I stayed with my parents. I felt a bit funny when I got home on the Friday night, and couldn't blame it on drink as I'd driven, but thought I was just tired. Saturday I kept getting pains in my tummy, like from excessive wind. Then Saturday eve I started doing horrible stuff. I still went out that night but couldn't really eat anything and definitely wasn't drinking! Sunday I was supposed to drive home but ended up staying at my parents as I felt so bad. Was still a bit crappy on Monday but managed the drive, with a few pit-stops. Thank God for the air-con in DH's car! So I only started back to doing a bit of knitting last night (Tuesday). I got a custom order last Thursday for the wedding toppers, this time with the groom in a kilt. The bride has even sent me on a picture of the exact family tartan so it'll b...

A final picture of my little hats before I packed them up yesterday. They went off to the post office this morning. Only 41 made this year. I made loads at the start but kept finding other projects to do over the last month or so. Adieu little hats!

I had a stall at the Crafty Market yesterday. Not as bad as the last one, in that I at least covered the cost of the stall. Holding out for Christmas!

From a Zoe Mellor book. Rav link . To go with a little glittery pink crown and a book full of princess stories. Perfect for a four-year-old!

My ATC for the Etsy Ireland Challenge, as organised by Virginie . Follow the link to see all the participants. Etsy Ireland Blog Inspired by my little painting.

I started making this dress months ago but just don't seem to find time to get to the sewing machine. I didn't have quite enough fabric (an old quilt cover from the charity shop!) so its a little short. And the fabric was really light so I lined the whole dress with a sheet. But it was a bad idea as it just makes the dress too heavy and fat. The bodice is nice though and fits well so I may use that again, and just do a straight or slightly a-line skirt with it.

The wild-flower seeds I planted at the start of the summer are starting to flower. Makes our garden look a bit more like a garden, and not so much of a vegetable patch!