Ok. So firstly I should wear necklaces more often. Generally I should probably accessorise more, because it tends to make you look more put together, and, theoretically it’s fun. Only problem is that i can’t find accessories that i like.

However…

Inspired by Craftlog’s post I clicked over to Art School Dropout’s site.  Her necklaces are incredible! You should stop reading this and go check them out.

Back? Ok. So long story short, I made one of my own, using wire i bought about 4 years ago, and beads and buttons I’ve been thrifting from the crafty-hospice shop for the last few months. There is also a bead from my Gifty3 stash, and wooden beads my sister gave me, as well as plastic beads from japanese pokemon jewelry, and a shell button I got at Liberty when I started knitting kids stuff for friends.  Oh and oval beads from a braclet I bought about six months before I finished my degree.  Also the chain is from the necklace my sister bought me for graduating. I’m intending to share it between this and the pendant she got me. :)

Point being, the final piece is full of lots of little memories - which is a very cool side of the Use What You Have challenge that I hadn’t considered before.

(Talking of memories - the tee is an old David Devant and His Spirit Wife teeshirt that I cut into a V-neck, and wore on my wedding day until I put on my dress. :)

Inspired by Simple Sparrow’s idea, I have signed up for the Use What You Have Month. Things have started to pile up in the workroom (now that it exists), and anyways my funds are limited until I get another job, so this seems like a good plan for the next few weeks.

I’m including all craft in this - knitting, sewing, and making in general.

I keep saving things for best or for later, and then months pass and there they still are. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. :)

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In other news, I have started a pair of argyle socks, based on the ones See Eunny Knit designed. As with most of my socks, I took the main pattern design (minus the seam up the back - though that may come back and bite me in the arse) and used my own choice of heel and toe (or rather I will when I get to them.)

I have been promising to myself that I will get more experience of colour work, (last year it was lace, this year it’s colour).  This project is a perfect way to start.

Later in the year I’m planning to knit the Deep Argyle Vest, and the argyle jumper in Handknit Holidays.  Mind you there will also be shawls (maybe in May once my stash-fast is over) and lace socks.

Africankelli suggested more pictures from my garden and who am I to deny her?

The bathroom fern has gone from this:

to this:

which makes me very happy.

Now if the other bulges could turn into more healthy stems… *fingers crossed* but either way, it is still alive and the two new stems have fully unfurled, and are thick and strong. Yay!

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Last weekend W and I did our first lot of allotment planting.
Everything is planted in trays which are laid out in front of our
balcony windows, because there isn’t room for a green house.

Last week I was at my mum’s, helping out because she had her second knee replacement (hence not posting here - though i did finish some socks, which i will post about later…)

When I got back, these are the plants that had started to properly sprout.

These are beetroot:

These are Rubine Brussel Sprouts:

and these are Gillia Twilight (flowers to go on the balcony.)

In other news W’s mum and D popped round this morning and brought Helibor from her back garden.

Aren’t they lovely?

Right - I’ll be back soon with sock pictures, and generally making a bit more noise, now that i’m back home. :)