My Queen

 I have been quiet, I guess being in lockdown can do that too you. Life just feels like it is on hold and I haven't been working since 18th December and won't be allowed back until at least 12th April which is 5 weeks away and just two days after Thing 2 turns 21. At least we should be able to have a BBQ out in the back garden to celebrate....just need the weather to warm up a little bit.

So keeping me sane....or at least partially sane and very warm is my big Queen blanket by Tinna. 

It has now got pride of place on my kingsize bed and is keeping me very snuggly, especially as i like the windows open throughout the winter. It also matches my ottoman really well. A little second hand bargain off a carboot from a few years back. 

Hope everyone is well and have kept their sanity while staying safe. Roll on 21st June when hopefully the whole country will be celebrating, along with Thing 1 who turns 24 on the same day. A midsummer baby.

Take care

Roz

Lockdowns, birthdays and Christmas is a coming

 Hello everyone!

How is life treating you at the moment? If you are in England then its lockdown time again. Although it does feel different this time. Probably because its not a full lockdown like the first one. 

I've stopped working again which is annoying bearing in mind how much effort, time and money my industry has gone to, to make everything as safe as possible. Hopefully will be back on the 3rd. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. 

It does mean that I have had time to do my tax returns... two months earlier than i normally do which is a big achievement for me.

This month has also given me time to crochet. I have made this scarf for my aunt who will be 80 in January.

A dragonfly scarf in apple green. Hopefully she will like it. One of my best friends was 50 a couple of days ago and another will be 60 this week. So many big birthdays. 

I have also started my Queen blanket by Tinna. This is an amazing pattern and i have decided to do the more complicated of the three patterns, The Adventurous Queen. I'm blending purples greens and blues with white as the main pattern colour. 

Anyway, this month has also allowed me time to write all my christmas cards, wrap all the presents and I will hopefully get the tree up on the 1st December ... just before I start back to work. That's if BoJo lets me back to work and if he lets us have christmas. Although i think he has realised that we will all break the rules and have christmas anyway. I think it is up to us to be as safe as possible for our families. 

Anyway, we only have a month to get through and it will be here. I think we all need something to smile about. I know a lot of people have had a tough year. Tougher than most people. Whether it has been losing someone or financially tough. I am thankful that i have been luckier than most. But it has still been a year i won't forget. 

So i am thankful to have my own little business, for my clients to think enough of me to keep coming back, for thing 1 to be doing well and enjoying his teacher training and for thing 2 to be doing well at his marketing placement. 

So for anyone who is American with thanksgiving this week. Thats what i have to be thankful for as well as the health of my family and friends. 

So happy thanks giving and chat to you all soon

Roz

Cancelled

 Oh my goodness... when I last wrote on here I was wishing spring was on its way... no way did I realise it would bring with it Covid 19 and the feeling of cancellation of the year. I went into lockdown on 23rd March and wasn't allowed back to work until 13th July. Nearly 4 months off work. To be fair, after the initial worry of not having any money (uk government wasn't very quick off the mark to reassure the self employed of help) I relaxed and really enjoyed having the extended break. I sort of had permission not to worry about everything and everyone for the first time in a long while.

I had picked up my youngest from uni 9 days before lockdown and with the eldest already at home we just came to a stop. I took on my parents shopping to keep them safe, and am still doing it. 

The PPE and cleaning regs that have to be followed on returning to work have been ridiculous but at least people feel safe and I am getting enough, although not all, people back to get by. 

And another positive from lockdown is that I finished the kaleidscope blanket and relatively on time as well. 

I also, a couple of weeks ago, finished the fiesta (which i am gifting to thing 2 girlfriend for christmas) and apart from the backing the Hyyge shawl is also done. 

 Fiesta!

So I have now started Tinna's Queen shawl and going for the hardest adventurous queen version. I am going to do it in purples blues greens with white as the diamond pattern colour.

Well I hope you are all surviving this pandemic and haven't lost anyone precious. My thoughts go out to all of you. Sending wishes for peoples jobs, families, health and happiness. 

Roz x

Mad March

Hello, sorry it has just been so long. Christmas went well with all the mad panic that it usually does. My dad liked his Santa hat in the same colours as his crochet blanket i made him last winter.. the only thing is that this year we have had a relatively mild winter so he hasn't had to use it much. 
I made my mum an infinity scarf which she has used throughout the winter so that has been lovely. 
And my clients all received crocheted baskets with candles in... and a message not to light candles whilst in the baskets lol.. i don't want to be responsible for any fire damage. Eek.

I eventually sewed my Lily Pond blanket up and gave it to a client who had been having a bit of a tough year. She really loved and appreciated it which made it very worthwhile and being very interested in art... commented on how much it looked like a Monet piece. Awww.

Anyway... christmas and new year are now a distant memory and we are just a week into March. I started the Kaleidoscope Cal beginning of January.... and it has taken such a lot of time but I am up to date. I have also been trying to keep my Fiesta blanket going... I am so loving this one. Just got to decide on border colours. 

And if life wasn't busy enough I have enrolled on to a Diet and Nutrition Advisor course which will take at least 150 hours of study. 

So I hope you have got through the last couple months unscathed. In the east of England we have been very lucky.. a lot of our Midlands area has been underwater, which is tragic and so sad.

Today I took a morning to wander round Cromer ( a quintessential English Seaside town with a Pier and beach huts), a lovely walk along the seafront to clear my head and a pot of tea at a little community cafe that helps disadvantaged people. 

Have just had a lovely meal that i conncocted myself... very healthy and very tasty... definitely one for to do again. 

And now I've finished typing a little blog and will say good bye for now. 
Hope Spring comes early for everyone
Bye for now x

Hygge Time

Hello again.. and so soon. Unusual for me eh!

Well  I thought I would share my latest creation or rather its ongoing progress. This is my Hygge Shawl (pronounced Hoogah). It is a Scheepje Internation Cal and is gorgeous. I am using their rainbow colourway but have chosen to put it on a graphite grey back ground.

This photo is in the middle of week 4, there is a long way to go!... It is a mixture of crochet and cross stitch so is something a little bit different. 

If you don't know what Hygge is, it is a Danish concept. Imagine a perfect room of coziness. Lets pretend there is a blazing log fire with a rug in front. Snuggly sofa with plump cushions and hot chocolate ready to drink. Bookcases full of books and jigsaws, with the lighting dimmed just a little, and all your friends round enjoying some nibbles of food. Imagine the feeling that would evoke of cozy happiness. That is Hygge. Its a feeling rather than an actual thing. I love hyggeness. 

So this is my feel good hygge shawl and I am loving it. Just a bit scared because I will eventually have to back it with material and that is not my forte.... eek. 

Hope you are enjoying your weekend wherever you are. I hope if you are in Australia you are safe from the bush fires, and if in England you are coping with the floods and... the general election. What a time for us all!

Till next time

Roz