March/April update

It's been February since I last posted here, it's been a busy few months which is my ropey excuse.  This pregnancy lark isn't all it's cracked up to be and fair takes it out of me but I have managed some crafty things so it's not all bad.

My previous to do was :

Knit a baby hat - I had given up on this as I have bought sooooo many baby clothes, including hats. So it's no longer top priority but something I might try when I'm on maternity leave in July.

Knit item from my stash, keen to knit some hearts (pattern in a mag somewhere) using the undyed yarn I have. These could decorate baby's room - Yeah no I haven't done that :-/

Listen to Gone Girl for the book group - Done, and I enjoyed it although it got a bit of a luke warm reception from the rest of the group.  I haven't written a review for it but take my word it was ok.

Read Dolly by Susan Hill - done and I posted a review here.

and Tuesday Yoga, Thursday Davina DVD - between work, super tired and PGP (pelvic girdle pain) I am in no way up for this however I know I need to get fit in the last trimester (to prepare for labour) and the yoga might actually help me.

I also tried sewing a baby hat from an old t shirt which did not work out so was quickly scrapped, but did successfully manage to remove the header tape from old curtains to sew onto the new curtains for the nursery....and they look great!  I also cut up and re-sewed an old bed sheet of ours into 6 flat sheets for the Moses basket/cot bed. Some look better than others but when I am covered in baby fluids at 4am I doubt neither me, Mr C or baby will care.

Most excitingly is an exciting thing I can not talk about or reveal until after Wonderwool as I have a surprise for a friend, you will just need to take my word it's a cool thing and I will be able to reveal all in a few weeks.

So onto Aprils to do (April is busier than March so don't expect much):

Finish surprise cool thing by Wonderwool 27th April

Read 'The Host' by Stephanie Meyer for book group

Read 'Sane new world' by Ruby Wax (I'm going to see her in May at the Hay Festival!)

Read 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' 

This month is full of fun exciting things, a trip to Scotland (including Imax and Edinburgh castle), a wedding in Carmarthen, Wonderwool, and a night in Cardiff to see Derren Brown! Busy little bees we are :)

One week left...

...and I still have much to do!

What I have done is listened to 'Gone Girl' (review below) and read 'Dolly' but haven't reviewed it yet.  It's been a very busy month with lots of travel for work (poor excuse I know) but I have managed one Yoga session which is better than none Yoga session.

Last night I started watching the Great British Sewing Bee, I knows 'citing innit, which has made me want to sew something again...so lets add 'sew a something' to the list.  I have several ideas in the mill, 1. Using material from an old tshirt sew a baby hat (as per a pattern I have somewhere) 2. Sew some fabric boxes using fat quarters to keep my make-up and 'stuff' in 3. Sew a drawstring laundry bag for the nursery.  

I've also bought myself a ticket for Wonderwool for the Sunday (can't go the whole weekend because of a friends wedding) which has given me the inspiration I need to knit something but also I refuse to meet up with my knitty friends and when quizzed upon what I have made with last years purchases I'll have to dive and hide in the nearest yarn pile.  So before April I have to knit something from last years Wonderwool buys.  Ideally a pair of pink fingerless mitts the pattern for which a friend gave me and reassures me it couldn't be easier.

This to do list is getting even bigger, time to actually 'to do' I feel!

January progress and February plans

Well let's have a wee recap shall we, my January plans were:

• Knit a square for the knitted blanket - I actually knitted two, finishing with a cabled square which I thoroughly enjoyed knitting, which makes me half way through the blanket.  Just need to finish off some embellishments, block the squares then sew them together and we have the first half of the blanket done.
• Give away or knit an item from my stash - I gave odd balls and freebies from magazines to the charity shop knowing that I was never really going to use them.  I haven't knitted anything from my stash this month but I did get rid of a bag full of oddments so it's a start.
• Paint a watercolour for January - done and blogged about
• Sew some napkins - again I've blogged already about this, I bought some cheapies from Tesco and was going to sew some embellishments (haven't got around to that yet)
• Read Stephen Kings' 11.22.63; Listen to Kate Atkinson Life After Life - I haven't started11.22.63 yet but I did listen to Life After Life and have blogged my review. I also read our book groups read and blogged about that too so I'm still on my reading track.
• Write book reviews for the above - Kind of done, just need to read Stephen King and review then we're all set.
• Do 4 Yoga sessions, 4 swimming sessions and get out walking (1 walk and 1 swim done) - Well now...

...this involves a whole explanation. You see I couldn't say, but now I can, and that at time of writing this I am 17 weeks pregnant with our first child. We are super excited and already life style changes are taking place! I was going. Swimming every Friday but the past month have been struggling with pelvic girdle pain and Dr Google advised against any activities which opened up my hips more than necessary, this means things like swimming and Yoga. Never minding some days I can barely walk the length of myself. But a few changes has meant things are better but i do need a regular exercise regime and cleaner diet.  

So based on this exciting news, February plans are:

Knit a baby hat. Possibly this could be my learn to knit in the round opportunity!?

Knit item from my stash, keen to knit some hearts (pattern in a mag somewhere) using the undyed yarn I have. These could decorate baby's room :)

Listen to Gone Girl for the book group 

Read Dolly, it's a short book like 'The Small Hand' so won't take too long

Write reviews for above

and Tuesday Yoga, Thursday Davina DVD 

I realise I'm writing this a week in and I haven't done any of the above, apart from start on Dolly, and can see some of these carrying over into March!

Oh and I know I still have some bits and pieces to finish from January (the blanket, the napkins yet another book) but I think I'll leave them to later months.

Until then...:)