[ zoe ingram ]

had it's day

I've persisted with Typepad for quite sometime now but somehow it always frustrates me.

It's one of the better "off the shelf" blog tools out there don't get me wrong but for my needs it isn't doing it for me anymore. I don't have the time for a start to be writing mega long posts everytime and I somehow feel like it takes me a long time to log in create a new post sort out images write what I want to write....it just takes a long time. Ok, it's not that long but when you're busy it is.

I've decided to start using tumblr for my blog and hopefully my other website info too eventually.

Tumblr is great. I love the ease of posting and the options and possibilities within it. It just seems to be what I need right now. Simple. The best thing about tumblr is that it's free whereas typepad costs a bit every month.

This blog here will remain for a while yet but I won't be updating it from now on so change your bookmarks/links if you want to keep in touch.

Thanks Typepad, you've been great but it's time to move on.

A few more

I still have computer access so I thought I might be able to sqeeeeeze in a few more posts before I sign off for a while.

I  amazingly didn't have too much to do last night so I decided to open my knitting bag to finish off the blanket.

I was very surprised and excited to find that I had actually finished knitting all of the squares without even realising it.

So now all I have to do is sew all the pieces together and then it'll be done.

I couldn't face that last night, I really just wanted to knit so I continued with the little sweater for Poppy. I hope it fits her once it's finished...I did start it a long time ago.

I am feeling better I AM feeling better

I'm gradually recovering after what can only be described as 4 weeks of hell. I have had some kind of virus with an accompanying hacking cough and only now do I feel human again after 4 weeks. It really has taken it out of me and I feel a little fatigued.

I have a bit more time on my hands because M is here to share the load of looking after our babies (which is great!) so I've been toying with the idea of getting my knitting out...again...it's been such a long time since we saw each other and I miss the time I used to have with my bamboo sticks.

I still need to finish this

and this

knit bag

this is what's in it

Dusky Lilac finished

I'm very very very pleased with this one. So soft, so warm, so neat with those little needles.

I started knitting

and it seems I just cannot finish it.

I started this scarf a while back but it was pushed aside in favour of other projects. The fact that it has been cast aside does not surprise me. This happens quite regularly in my life and not just with MY scarves (I've never knitted anything for myself before).

If there's something I would like to do for myself it's usually prioritised to the bottom of the pile. It gets done once everyone/everything else is fine.

It's ok though. I will finish it...in the spring, ready for summer.

Bring in the Ravelry

I'm so excited. I just got my invitation to join Ravelry a couple of days ago. I had a brief meander through the site on Wednesday evening (in between the shortbread making) and it's quite addictive.

I have a few other projects that I need to add to my list but for now I added the lilac scarf.

dusky lilac

A new scarf for Lexie. Like Alison, I went wrong with the pink one and haven't touched it since. I was using cotton which didn't feel very warm for our cold winters and so I felt that a warmer, cosier yarn would be better for this time of year. Cashmere & Merino. Fits the bill nicely. I wish I could describe my colours as well as Charlotte. I probably could if I tried. OK so I'm being lazy. Dusky lilac it is.

Lexie also has plum coloured boots and this lilac goes very well with them.

One thing I'm enjoying about this one is that I'm using much smaller needles. I actually like using small needles. Even though I had it in my head that bigger was better for a beginner like me. Oh well, you live and learn!

7,0 + 8,0 (mm)

It's definitely not a maths equation. Just the sizes of my new needles.

Bamboo on Bamboo

here we are

I can't quite believe it's been, ahem, yes that long since my last post. Here we are almost half way through November and it feels like it was Halloween only the other day. Time is flipping past me with much velocity these days.

We had Mark's parents staying with us for a week during the Halloween festivities and since then I've just been catching up on things, making a couple of Christmas presents and generally trying to relax as much as possible. I obviously can't be showing any Christmas presents right now because that would just give the game away.

I have another little project sizzling away on the backburner at the moment but can't really say anything about that right now either. hmmm.

what else is there to say?

Oh, I know! I only have 18 working days left until my maternity leave begins. Woohoo!!!

My official maternity start date is Christmas day (can you believe that it's only 6 weeks?!) but I have a few days holiday to take before then so I finish up on the 17th December. I can't wait. I mean I love my work but I'm beginning to find it a struggle getting there. Getting the train to work doesn't help but we've been there with the train situation already so I won't go there again. Suffice to say that I ended up sitting in the drivers cabin one morning because the train was so rammed full of people. I thought I was going to faint. Hot, sticky, condensation windows, confined space, motion - you get the picture. I honestly saw the seat and said "I need to sit. I'm going to pass out." I've been leaving early on one of the days I have to take the train to avoid the rush and bustle and sardine effect.

I've been getting a bit hormonal about my maternity wardrobe too. At the beginning I bought a whole load of new stuff and now it seems I'm just getting to big and it can't accomodate me anymore. I had a bit of a meltdown on saturday whilst getting ready and after I calmed down I vowed to find me some clothes that fit properly. Hard job. I looked and looked on saturday and found nothing. Out of around 20 shops I went to only one of those had maternity clothes. And a poor selection at that.

Breakthrough. I think I have found a solution in some new clothes from Isabella Oliver. I'm waiting for them to arrive so I'm not sure how they'll fit but I have high hopes. I will hopefully return with an excited post showing off my new attire as soon as they get here. They were a bit pricey but I kind of figured that you get what you pay for. Hence the reason my current wardrobe hasn't lasted the full pregnancy. I went for cheaper items initially thinking that hey, it's only for 9 months, I don't want to spend a fortune. And actually, I wish I'd found Isabella Oliver sooner than I did. I probably would have bought more than I have.

The good thing about these tops is that I think I'll be able to wear them for a while after the baby is born because of the way they have been designed. The wrap tops for example can be wrapped to suit your bump and the same with the the ruched tops they can be adjusted to sit underneath the bump so that you don't feel like your constantly pulling your top down (something I find myself doing a lot at the moment). I think they're very flattering aswell, fitting beautifully to accentuate the bump in a very elegant way. And not a black item in sight!