The Leopard Anchor

Photo finds: September

Eep, just finishing up the second month of my Crafty Photo Scavenger Hunt, I left this all 'til the last minute a bit, oops.

Inspiration

I'm really in to fonts at the moment, I love the title font on this vintage magazine.

Something I made

The bunting of course, September has been fairy holiday-heavy and making-light.

Motifs: Florals

Peeling floral wallpaper and old-fashioned light fittings, I love staying at the farm.

Crafts on the go

Embroidery and Timbits in the car.

Vintage

Half a rotting MG hiding at the farm.

Hope you all had a lovely September, looking forward to seeing everyone's photos!

xo Kirsty.

A to Z of me

I saw this on Moorea Seal's blog (which is great, by the way, she's very talented). And thought it'd be fun to fill some of the gaps on this here blog while I'm on the opposite side of the Atlantic.

A. Age: 26

B. Bed size: Double, for just me and a 3kg dog, perfect!

C. Chore that you hate: Just one? Seriously I can't pick one, I hate them all

D. Dogs: I have a little monster call Milo, he's super cute

E. Essential start to your day: I check Instagram and Twitter with one eye open

F. Favorite color: I don't really have a favourite colour anymore, I can't get enough of duck egg blue though

G. Gold or Silver: Silver, no question

H. Height: 5’6"

I. Instruments you play: None :-( I'm not very musical, I didn't even learn the recorder at school

J. Job title: Office monkey

K. Kids: I'm a little scared of kids, I like my nephews though

L. Live: Dorset, England

M. Mother’s name: Angie (Angela, but she hated being called that)

N. Nicknames: K, Kirst, Krusty, Krust, Kitsch, Kit, Kiki, Kitty, Smith, Smithers, Smythe, the list is ENDLESS

O. Overnight hospital stays: Never *touch wood*

P. Pet peeves: People being indecisive, which is ridiculous because I suffer that particular affliction

Q. Quote from a movie: 'Don't dream it, be it' - Rocky Horror AKA best film in the whole world

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 3 older half-brothers, my extreme love of florals is rebellion against the He-man and Transformers or my childhood

T. Time you get up: I leave my house at 8:30am for work, I can roll out of bed at 8 and *just* about be on time, I do this often even though my alarm goes off at 6:45, I need lots of snoozing

U. Underwear: Um, yes I have some

V. Vegetable you hate: I don't know if there is one

W. What makes you run late: I always think I have more time than I do, or that I need less time than I have

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth, boring!

Y. Yummy food that you make: I make a mean peanut butter & jam sandwich

Z. Zoo animal: This is too hard, I love 'em all, but lets say giraffe.

Now you go!

xo Kirst.

Guest post: Things to Make and Doodle

I'm delighted to welcome Polly of Things to Make and Doodle to this here blog. I knew I wouldn't be organised enough to keep my blog busy while I'm being a farm girl in Canada. Polly is such a sweetheart!

It's about that time of year where I'm noticing a chill in the air in the morning, feeling the wind whipping through my light summer jacket (and in my willows) and turning my thoughts to snuggly, comforting clothes. One of the best things about learning a craft is being able to make something personal and practical for when you need it. Since Autumn is coming on apace I've not been able to stop thinking about scarves and hats and gloves (in the spare moments I have when I'm not thinking about digging out my big woolly cardis and my heavy boots!) and for the first time I am having a bash at making some warm accessories for the colder months.

I am the type of person who still feels cold in Summer when everyone else is sweating and removing the layers, so you won't be surprised to hear that I like a chunky scarf. Very long, capable of minimum two wraps around the neck with plenty left to play with, and nice and thick. I found a gorgeous one in Topshop last year, but I wanted to have a go at making my own. In search of a pattern I turned, as usual, to Google, and it didn't disappoint. I found a fantastic free pattern for a crocheted scarf here. I loved this pattern because the texture of the slanted V stitch was just what I was looking for - not a solid block of stitches, but not too open either. There's an option to make it super long (although I could have just extended it myself it was handy to have the numbers included in the pattern so I didn't have to think about it). I also thought it would lend itself to a nice chunky yarn. That's all the boxes ticked!

I used Stylecraft Life Chunky (purchased from good old Boyes), and an 8mm hook. And here's how it's looking!

It's working up really nicely. I am carrying on and making more rows (repeating the pattern just to make the scarf wider) and will stop when I think it's wide enough!

 

Obviously I couldn't just stop at a scarf. Crocheted Panda had a fab pattern for arm warmers (here) and I couldn't resist a go. I just made them with some cream DK yarn I had handy to test out the pattern (I couldn't wait to go yarn shopping because I'm impatient!) and I think they turned out beautifully!

 

I'm really happy with them and am using them already. In the depths of winter I'll want a mitten, but to keep away the autumn chill these are perfect. I will probably make more in other colours - they're so easy, comfortable and warm. Exactly what I was looking for.

I think what I love most about both the scarf and the arm warmers is that they're personal to me, and also the fact I didn't have to pay £10-20 for them.  Granted I'm making the scarf so big that the equivalent cost in yarn is probably fast approaching the £10-20 mark (I've already been through 3 skeins - I just can't stop!) but I think it's worth it. They are made with love.

It's so enjoyable curling up on the sofa and making winter woollies, I suspect by December I will be eyeball-deep in scarves, hats and armwarmers in various colours. The only question is, what shall I make next?

FIN.

Holiday to do list

I'm not one for planning fun, but for every holiday I like to write an absolute essentials list, I hate to get home and remember that one thing I really wanted to do.

Here is my to do list for this trip:

You might notice that it is all food and shopping, I don't know what to tell you!

xo K

I'm off, in my Vogue V1179

I'm actually already here, I got up early yesterday, got ready, finished packing, got my tripod, took photos, edited photos, wrote the post and then my internet crapped out when I was uploading the photos to the post. And I wasn't willing to pay £10 for airport wi-fi (what a cheek).

Finally it's holiday day, I have a coach journey, some duty free shopping and about 8 hours on an airplane ahead. 

I finished my Vogue V1179 (that I discovered thanks to Karen of Did You Make That's lovely turquoise version) and it is truly a perfect travelling garment, it's comfy but it's not quite as couldn't-be-bothered as yoga pants. 

I made it out of this...something, I have no idea what kind of fabric it is, it's a heavy knit with a kind of horizontal ribbed texture.

To make it in to a bit of an outfit post, here you go:

1* H & M striped top

2* V1179 self-stitched

3* Topshop black leggings

4* Jo Totes camera bag 

5* Red Velvet/Darlingtonia fox moccasins 

Excuse my socks poking out, last time I took a flight I wasn't wearing socks and they wanted to scan my shoes, being barefoot in an airport is not my idea of fun. I love these shoes SO much, they're incredibly comfortable and cute, of course. I have two pairs from the Red Velvet/Darlingtonia collaboration and I will definitely buy some more Darlingtonia moccasins, I think they're great.

Also, new hair colour, yay!

By around midnight GMT I shall be here:

See you on the other side!

xo Kirsty