It's almost Halloween....

Part of me really loves Halloween, I think because as a kid my mum always used to make all kinds of treats and decorations for us, as trick or treating was never really a thing where we grew up. I do quite enjoy it still, even if I don't really dress up or 

I did, however, win a half-day at work today by winning at a Halloween themed quiz - I think it's mainly to do with my love of Witches...

A few years ago, I shared a trilogy of posts regarding my favourite Halloween posts, and thought I'd re-link these here incase any is looking for some festive film inspiration last minute..

Part one: Witch edition

Part two: the cheesy feel-good Halloween films edition 

Part three: the actual Scary movies, may or may not come with a warning!

What are you up to this Halloween? 

I hope you have a fun and safe one whatever the case!

I'm on a definite mission to carve a pumpkin later today...

Follow clare's board wild wood women on Pinterest.

(Images taken from Pinterest, photo credits where possible are provided on Pinterest.)

Off my needles: the super late Lopi sweater

I want to talk more about my knitting projects that I've completed, as I love to talk about my knitting, and thought it might be a good idea to show you a recent project I finished...

This was a Christmas gift for my brother. I've realised I don't really like knitting big things for other people, as I'm pretty much selfish in my knitting desires.. I just like to knit things that I can wear! And even though I'm modelling this in the picture, this was actually for my brother, although I have sneaking suspicions that his partner will end up wearing it more than him!

The yarn was Drops Andes, a really lovely, soft and chunky yarn with some alapca in (35%, the rest is wool) which comes in 100g balls which I think are about £3 each? It makes a very affordable sweater, as that is generally the problem I find when making sweaters - a nice yarn is too expensive to knit a whole sweater in...

The pattern is one that I've made previously for myself, from Ístex Álafoss Lopi No. 12 (patterns 19/20). I have all the details over on my Ravelry of exact colours and what have you, even a picture of my brother modelling this, but I didn't think he'd want that on my blog... It's a really nice sweater, proper winter weather sweater, I kind of wish I didn't have to give away in the end!

And whilst my dad was taking these photos for me, he managed to get one mid-wind, with me squinting at him, and he thought I looked like something from a Scandinavian crime drama... So here you go, haha.

Follow

Getting organised: a Diary

If 2014 was the year I organised my health, 2015 was the year I organised my life. Well, that was the plan, anyway. I feel like a lot has happened this year, and nothing at the same time, and it's all gone so quickly (I can't believe we're at the end of October already?!).

My good friend Gemma will tell you just how horribly organised I am. Well, most of my friends probably will - but I think Gemma gets the brunt of it most of the time! haha. I've just got a memory like a sieve, an aversion to writing things down, and my head in the clouds most of the time. I can be reminded 10 times and still forget things.

So it's a bit of a surprise that I've actually managed to keep this thing updated most weeks? It's also a nice record of just how much I've done this year - which I guess is why people like those Erin Condren planners, etc. I got this diary just in the new year from a website similar to Sticker Stack. 

Anyway, I really have no tips, but I think these new kids of diaries or planners, have done a trick on me - you fill in the dates and months yourself, so if you miss a week, it doesn't really matter in a way? I don't fill in the weeks too far ahead, as I can't really think more than a week in advance. The other thing I've found really useful, is to jazz it up a bit. The pages have fluorescent orange highlights, which I think are great paired with coloured pens and black text. I've also taken to adding the odd bit of washi tape that I had lying around, to block out weekends or highlight evenings. 

I've also tried to make it more than just an event tracker, of work shifts and days out - and use it to track some goals. I've kept a few lists at the back with my 2015 goals for the year, and the books that I've read in the months (as I'm trying to read more this year) - it's also useful for tracking what gym classes I go to and how often I manage to get down to the gym when I'm trying to get back into my fitness. 

Maybe these tips aren't useful to anyone, and maybe I'm just growing up, but I thought I would share them just incase.. :) 

Are you any good at keeping a diary or are you just as hopeless at me?

Follow

weekend wanderings #75

(images from Uncia and Tigris, thesaltyseablog.blogspot.co.uk and slugsontherefrigerator.com)

• This week I shared with you a recent favourite fragrance: Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber cologne and also shared what I'm currently knitting.
• Sarah wrote a letter to September, but it looks more like summer in these pictures! 
• It might be too late in the year for lemonades, but the way this year has sped through, I'll be wanting to make these lemonade recipes before I know it... 
• And a long overdue congratulations to Rosie; her wedding photos are absolutely gorgeous!
• October is the month for flavoured coffees, gradually warming us into the dark winter months, so here's a recipe for a gingerbread latte and a pumpkin spice syrup to put into your coffees! 
• As ever, my head is in another country, so heres 5 days in Copenhagen and 2 days in Rome. 
• Some sweet pictures of the beginning of autumn over at Slugs on the Refrigerator.
• I just thought these fish illustrations were really cute.. 
• Ancient woodland is rare these days, but it does feel very special when you find it. 
• Isn't this an amazing idea for redesigning a plug? So simple but such a good idea.
• A brilliant neon hat pattern from Purl Soho - everything they do is amazing. 
• I've got my first long flight coming up next month so these tips on dealing with a fear of flying is a good read for me! 
• Kate's trip around Sweden looks beautiful, I really want to visit soon, along with Charlotte's visit to the Golden Circle in Iceland.
• I want all of Cat's home whenever I see it, her bedroom included. And maybe her kitty. 
• Whilst this boozy Irish wedding cake sounds and looks incredible, I don't know how anyone can make their wedding cake; the pressure!
• This kitchen is literal perfection: those green tiles are everything I need in life. 
• Richmond Park is not that far from me, and I keep seeing photos of all the lovely deer there - I really should make an effort to visit at some point 
• Blackberry peach cobbler with buttermilk whipped cream: you're welcome. :) 
• I've followed Jacquina on Twitter for ages but never realised she had a blog; her tastes are so similar to mine, her candle is my favourite and I munch those little crackers from Aldi like theres no tomorrow!
• I've got such a sweet tooth and keep buying the little Pots & Co salted caramel ones and I've ended up with way too many of the ramekins, so maybe I can make some of Lizzie's salted caramel dessert to go in them.
• Rosie's Parisian adventures look so perfect and so pretty, I really want to visit again.

Follow

What's on my needles...

I love these kind of posts - probably because I'm thoroughly nosey, and I love to find new patterns, new yarns, and see how quickly people can put something together....

I took these photos mid-august, so a little while ago now, and I've progressed pretty well since then - you can see the pattern a bit better over on the project page, but I just really liked these pictures so thought I would show you them anyway.

I bought this big pack of linen yarn to make a sweater - but it really wasn't happening. I tried several patterns several times and it really just didn't turn out. So I threw in the towel, and came up with a new plan: a blanket. I've wanted to knit one for some time; however the idea of making one from a lightweight yarn filled me with dread, and the thought of buying a lot of bulky yarn made my wallet shiver in fear. 

I've decided that I'll put together 3 panels of this Sunshine Chevron Blanket, with garter stitch edging, as I've got enough of the yarn to do this. The more I knit with it, the softer the yarn gets, and it's such an easy thing to whip up. I'm about 2/3 of the way through my first panel, and it's pretty enjoyable to knit (at the moment... I'm keeping other project around too, to keep me motivated!). I love the natural colour of this yarn, so I'm hoping that it'll be a great throw for a sofa or a bed when it's all finished...

Are you making anything at the moment?

Follow