Anyone for Crochet?

So, having recently spent a few days at my parents I had challenged my mum to teach me how to crochet.  I absolutely love the vintage crochet blankets. I own one that my nan made for my brother when he was born (30 odd years ago!) and The Monster was given one made by my nan when she was a year old.  However, I really want to make a great big one that I can snuggle up under and keep in my living room.  Nan is unfortunately suffering from dementia and therefore is no longer able to make such beautiful creations and mum struggles to stay awake whilst crocheting so it's a DIY job then.

The first challenge was finding a spare hour to have a lesson as The Monster kept us occupied during the day and The Bruiser keeps having marathon feeding sessions every evening.  We finally managed to grab a broken hour the last night of our stay (which consisted of The Bruiser being propped up on a pillow with a boob dangling in his mouth so that I had both hands free!).

I managed to pick up the basic stitches and how to read the pattern I am following and managed to produce this.........

I don't think it's bad to say how many interruptions we had and the wool is the wrong sort for crochet!

Since my visit to my mum's I have made a start on my own blanket and have produced this.........

I know it's not perfect and is also not finished but I am so proud of myself!

Oh well, I suppose I'd better go do something constructive (like the shopping) instead of this blogging lark but I will leave you with some little gems that mum pulled out of the cupboard whilst looking for the crochet stuff.  How beautiful are these?

Ready For Christmas?

I know, I know, it's only January and hubby tells me I shouldn't start thinking about Christmas until at least April but I disagree.  Truth is I have a 6 week old baby, a 4 year old daughter, a 12 year old stepdaughter (not counting all the friends and family) and very little cash to spare! This Christmas just gone I did try to make as many presents as possible (broaches, soap, earrings) but starting in November doesn't give you much time to spare (and having a baby inbetween doesn't help). I also found that loads of people on Twitter were posting some fantastic ideas as they were making them but I just didn't have the time to recreate their brilliant crafts. 

So, this year I am starting now!

I aim to start small.  A Christmas list first of all because if you don't know who you're making for how do you know what to make?

Then I plan on making a list of all the things I could make, which I will add to as the year goes on and other people put fantastic crafty ideas on Twitter etc.  By now you have probably guessed that I like list making........

Then I will assign certain gifts to certain people. 

There, now the tricky part.............actually making the crafts/gifts!  This is my downfall.  Ordinarily it would be because I procrastinate but this year it is because I have Bruiser and at the moment he takes up most of my time in the evenings.  This is why I feel that if I start now, I may have a fighting chance of actually having some presents ready for Christmas and maybe saving some money.

I am making a special little folder in my favourites list and putting links of brilliant ideas in there as I find I often look at some great blogs, think "I could make one of them" and then can never find the link again when it comes to making them.

I also Sky + loads of Christmas cooking programs and Kirsty's Homemade Christmas programs from this year so I plan on watching them throughout the many mammoth feeding sessions Bruiser has to give me ideas and inspiration.

I will blog about the great craft ideas I have come across and any presents I have managed to make as the year goes on.

So there,  the only thing I have to do is follow through with my amazing plan!  (Maybe I shouldn't have committed it to blog!)

Wish me luck!

First Day of a New Routine!

So, it's 11.30am on a Tuesday and I am sat writing my second blog post.  Today is the start of our new family routine because it was the first day back at nursery for the Monster.  My OH has been back at work for a week now after the festive period and paternity leave (he used holidays because paternity pay is rubbish).

I admit I was very worried about how this morning was going to go down.  Firstly I didn't think I'd be able to drag myself out of bed as Bruiser is doing mammoth feeding sessions every night (feeding from 8pm-11pm non stop most nights).  Secondly I didn't think we'd make it out the house in sufficient time and thirdly I thought the Monster would kick off big style when it came to me leaving her at nursery.

I can confirm that I woke up with OH's alarm, fed Bruiser and put him back in the cot, woke up the Monster and whilst she was having breakfast with OH I had a wash and got dressed, got the Monster dressed, packed up the bags, packed up Bruiser and was out the house only 10 mins later than what I'd intended.  The Monster was quite happy being left at nursery (I think she'd missed her friends and mum's company just wasn't cutting it anymore) and I had a nice stroll home whilst chatting to a girlfriend about the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding.

I'm now sat watching This Morning (love Hollie Willoughby and the Silver Fox), having just fed Bruiser (and had him puke down my cleavage) and typing this blog.  You'll discover that I normally do 3 things at once, this being a skill I picked up when the Monster was a baby.  I'm also waiting for my mum to arrive as she's visiting for the day having not seen us since Christmas.  We then plan on taking advantage of Bruiser being little and we're going out for lunch and I plan on raiding every charity shop in Harrogate as I haven't been in them for ages.

Ok, so I'm going to sign off as mother has just arrived and is about to start crying at how much Bruiser has changed since she last saw him..............I will post and let you know of any purchases made!