Current Craftings

Thanks all for your lovely and thought-provoking comments on my last post, I really appreciate you all taking the time to say something. Loving the new 'reply-to-comment' feature but not sure if it alerts the commenter so you might have to pop back and check.

Anyway. 30 years and two days old and still here, I haven't become an old biddy overnight or anything. But I am about to write a post solely on wool crafts so I guess I'm on a slippery slope where that's concerned.

It's over a year now since I first mastered basic crochet stitches and I seem to have had something on the go constantly, but am yet to make anything for myself (OK apart from the wonky scarf) - isn't that a travesty? I think it is. I resolved after making my last baby cushion that 2012 would be the year I crocheted myself a blanket, just for fun and with no deadlines. I've had this one in my mind's eye since long before I ever picked up a crochet hook actually and in December I bought a lot of brightly coloured yarn and started some experimental hooking:

Oh yes, it's a Rainbow Blanket all right. In fact that was going to be its name until The Girl christened it the Selfish Granny and I liked the imagery of that better. I settled on the shades I'd use for Richard-Of-York-Gave-Battle-In-Vain and tried them both ways and there was a clear winner - I think you'll agree! I can't believe they're so different - one so dark and the other so vibrant. The squares are about 6" and I'm aiming for 100. I've only made three so far but already I think this blanket is going to be something special!

Part of the reason I've only managed three squares is because my Grandma has been teaching me to knit! I acquired some rather giant needles and decided straight away that I wanted a long colourful Dr Who scarf, so went out and spent £30 on chunky soft yarn (that's far more than I'd ever spend on an actual scarf might I add!) and Grandma taught me stocking stitch that afternoon. I've only got this far with it and you can see a couple of little holes where I think I've missed part of the stitch but I've only picked up one extra stitch so it could be worse:

Not a bad effort for (and I quote my Grandma here) "a giant crab having a fight with a pair of pokers"!

While we're on the subject of knitting, I want to show you one of my birthday presents from my best friend - just look at this amazing pair of gloves!

And they fit and everything! I'm so impressed and love them so much that it doesn't even bother me that they make my scarf look rather amateur (that's the vibe I was going for, OK?)

Birthday Reflections

Me, 28 years ago

I am 30 years old today (I know, I don't look it). It's a big milestone birthday, much more of a big deal in a lot of ways than 18 or 21. At those ages you're just setting out in life, the world is at your feet. By 30 you're expected to have something to show for your advancing years.

So it's safe to say that since the man I thought I'd marry dumped me out of the blue a year ago forcing to move back in with my Dad and his constant indigestion gripes, I've been dreading this milestone birthday given that I have barely anything to show for my 30 years on the planet.

At an age where all my friends and peers are not only getting promoted and married and buying houses, but having children, I have to admit I've felt sorry for myself on more than one occasion - the girl seemingly destined to be alone forevermore. A supporting character in the background of other people's stories: the bridesmaid, the 'Aunty', the friend you meet for coffee every once in a while when you can find a free window in your hectic schedule.

Then something happened that changed my perspective dramatically. My Dad came home from a hospital appointment to tell me that it's not indigestion after all but pancreatic cancer. In that moment everything else fell away as I realised just what I do have to be grateful for and how much I now stand to lose.

At my cousin's wedding, December 2011

I've always been a bit of a Daddy's Girl and it hasn't really changed in adulthood. I'm an only child so Dad and I are particularly close and get on so well, we share interests and have the same sense of humour and laidback attitude - partly why I've remained living at home so long rather than get a house share with strangers, I can't imagine many people I'd find it easier to live with. And he's done so much for me - taught me to drive, helped in job hunts, given his opinion on that funny looking mole on my back, been on taxi duty, taken me in when I was heartbroken and withdrawn and never once told me to snap out of myself.... I literally don't know what I'd do without him.

A week after his diagnosis, his sister was also diagnosed with a brain tumour and lung cancer (you think real life people don't have the same sort of bad luck as soap opera characters don't you?). It's been a very anxious few weeks waiting while both go for tests and biopsies and see specialist oncologists but we finally seem to be moving forward, albeit agonisingly slowly. My Aunty can't be operated on but they think she may respond to chemotherapy. My Dad has been diagnosed with diabetes and put on medication for that, so already some of his more debilitating symptoms are improving and he should hopefully put back on some of the weight he's lost. They're unable operate on him either but he's due to start chemo too in the next few weeks. We haven't really been given a prognosis for either of them at this stage so we're all just doing our best to remain positive and support each other as a family.

Six months ago I would have been so depressed at the thought of celebrating my 30th birthday at a cheesy Valentine's party with my running peeps followed by Sunday Dinner with Dad and Grandma, while my friends are all being whisked away on romantic breaks by their significant other for their 30th, but it's actually been brilliant. A night of silly dancing with the sort of people who'll congratulate you on staggering 5k in 45 minutes even though they themselves do it in 20, quality time with my nearest and dearest and letters and parcels containing handmade gifts from good friends - this is the good stuff. It's just sad that it sometimes takes the really horrible stuff happening to make us realise it.

Recent Rummagings

I haven't been charity shopping for a long time. There had been quite a few charity shops in Middlesbrough where I work, but the majority are of the "tired-looking-Primark-dress-more-expensive-than-it-would-have-been-brand-new" ilk and of the two local hospice stores I loved, one recently closed and the other became a dedicated baby-stuff and toy shop. I was most affronted, and turned to ASOS for my retail therapy.

Then a couple of weeks ago I was in my smaller, hometown centre and noticed that one of the charity shops had moved a few doors down so I popped in for a peek. It had been quite a tired old shop but somehow between one premises and the other it has become a little trove of secondhand treasures. JUST the sort of place I love: choc-a-block and rummagy, full of random old crockery, odd pieces of furniture, balls of wool and Care Bears. I've been in a few times in the last couple of weeks and have picked up some real bargains...

Two Topshop shirts on the BOGOF rail, £3.50

Thought I'd get in on the checked shirt craze, even though I do feel a bit masculine in it.

Primark blouse: £2.50

Okay okay, it's Primark, I know! But look how pretty it is! Look at those little buttons! That trim! And it's a size 8 and it fits so I couldn't not buy it!

Mrs Beeton: £1.50, Jamie: £3, Photoshop £3

Some non-fiction. I doubt I'll use Mrs Beeton's Book of Needlework much but I just had to have it as an Objet d'Art, and I thought the Jamie one was a steal considering it still sells for £13 new.

Fiction: £1 and 70p

I've seen a good review of A Room Swept White somewhere around blogland I'm sure and Lady Chatterley's Lover is one of those really (in)famous books that I don't actually know much about. I know enough to have felt sheepish taking it up to the old dear at the counter though I can tell you!!

Earrings: £1

Love the 80s-ness of these and was pleasantly surprised that they weren't clip-ons. They're a lovely plum colour if you can use your imagination!

Glass jug: £1.50

This reminds me of the 50s glasswear I often covet on other people's blogs, though I have no idea when this dates from. There's no Made in China stamp which is a good thing, yes? One of the items on my Day Zero list is to have a go at making lemonade and I think this jug will make that all the more exciting!

I also finally found a set of 6 Babycham glasses which I've been on the lookout for for years ... but some eagle-eyed worker who knows their onions had placed them in the Special Cabinet at £5 a pop so I left them behind. I can't bring myself to pay eBay prices in charity shops - I definitely like the thrill of the chase!

Is price a factor for you when you find something you really love, or would you have snapped them up?

Do you have a Holy Grail of secondhand shopping and have you ever come close to finding it?