A year of paying kindness forward comes to an end

My year of paying forward a little of the kindness I received from the woolly community has come to a close. After Mr JK died, I received so many thoughtful gifts from people, some a big group collaboration and others individual gifts from online 'bloggy' friends. It was incredibly touching to be thought of by so many people and the gifts were very generous and heart-warming. Each month of 2017 I had a giveaway on my blog. Here's a little reminder of all those goodies...

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

  

The random number generator picked comment 28 for December's prize so many congratulations to Christi. I'll be getting in touch with you very soon to get your details so I can send your prize to you! Thank you so, so much if you've entered one of my giveaways during 2017. I had a lot of fun finding little treats to give away and I'm sure there will be more in 2018. xxx

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you have a wonderful holiday celebrating with loved ones. Flo was more excited about the tissue paper wrapping up her tin of treats from Santa than the actual present itself and is now celebrating in true cat style! And I've just enjoyed a mince pie and a cuppa for elevenses. xxx

More happy things

An icy morning up at Blickling.

Flo photo-bombing my birthday breakfast photo!

A lovely birthday gift from my dear pal Snoopydog. There are a lot of hooks to fill!

Celebrating my birthday with friends from the gym.

Birthday cake - coffee walnut - for sharing at school.

Flo actually sleeping on her own fleece for a change!

A surprise parcel from a Twitter running friend.

A knitting-themed Christmas card from one of my class.

Carol singing by candlelight with my chamber choir.

Baking gingerbread stars to decorate at school.

Going for a dog walk with Snoopydog and Oscar.

A mug of tea and toast - perfect comfort food.

The mini balls of sock yarn from my Advent calendar.

I hope that there have been plenty of happy things in your life this week. xxx

A winner, the last giveaway of 2017 and the first of lots of little balls of yarn

It's December already! How has that happened? It doesn't seem five minutes since the start of term in September. And pretty soon, people will be counting down to 2018. But the start of December means that it's time to pick a winner for my November Pay it Forward giveaway. If you can remember, the prize was some super-festive jingle bell stitch markers from Fripperies & Bibelots. The random number generator picked post 1, Jo from Through the Keyhole, so I'll be getting in touch with you soon. If you weren't lucky, check out the Christmas shop on the F&B website as Sarah still has a few festive offerings available.

December's giveaway is the final giveaway in my year of paying forward all the kindness I've received from yarny folk far and wide following Mr JK's death and I hope that you'll agree that it's pretty special! There's a notions case made by my own fair hands, two cakes of Freia handpainted sport weight yarn and a very cute Flo stitch marker. These stitch markers were made especially for me by Sarah at Fripperies & Bibelots and I only have a couple left. 

To be in with a chance of winning, you need to leave a comment on my blog telling me what's top of your woolly Christmas list this year. The giveaway will stay open until midnight on December 31st and I'll use the random number generator to pick a winner after that. Please make sure that it's easy for me to get in touch with you by leaving your Ravelry or Instagram name or some other way for me to contact you should you be the winner. If I haven't heard from the winner after a week, I'll pick another one. The giveaway is open world-wide so please do enter.

I have three balls from my Opal Advent calendar (we won't mention the fact that last year's haven't all be used yet, shhhhhhhh!) and it is a bit of fun each morning to see what little treasure lies behind the door. 

This year's calendar is a book. It takes up a bit less space than last year's massive cube!

I've made myself some bunting which is hanging up in the hall and the rustic bunting I sewed last year is festooned across the fireplace. That's about as festive as I've got so far. 

And through all the decorating, Flo remained distinctly unimpressed! Have a great week and do enter the giveaway! Good luck one and all! xxx

Little happy things

Little things that have made me happy this week:

1. Finishing my Squeezebox socks. They are really cushy with the rounds of garter stitch. I haven't written up the pattern but will do so if you'd like it.

2. Sorting through Christmas fabric in preparation for more bunting sewing.

3. Lots of lap time and cuddles with Flo. 

4. A beautiful but freezing cold morning at Parkrun on Saturday.

5. Finishing one half of my Advent calendar Granny square cushion. I still have the ends to sew in. :(

6. Keeping the traditions going by making Christmas puddings, lamb and Guinness soup and soda bread on Stir up Sunday.

7. Making a couple of notions cases as presents. 

8. Casting on a pair of pink stripy socks (I know I'm not supposed to be starting anything new...)

9. Spending a lovely evening with my friend Jules teaching her how to sew some bunting. Christmas music was played and we wore festive hats to be completely daft! But it was so much fun!

What's made you happy this week?