Gifted






It feels like a long time since I've been here now.  Well, there was my 2012 review post, but a lot of that was ready to go, so it's been nearly two weeks.  It's nice to be back though.

I hope you all had a wonderful, exciting, relaxing and joyous holiday season, if you do that kind of thing.  I enjoyed mine very much although I must confess, I'm eager for tomorrow's return to school, routine and the mundane normality of life.  

I'm so very behind in all getting back to all the wonderful comments and questions that I've been getting from you that a bit of mundane normality is just what I need.  I really do have to thank you all so very much for your lovely compliments, kind words and generosity of spirit.  You all do such wonders for me and I shall be doing my best to get back to you soon.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few of my presents, purchases and bargins from the past weeks.


It's the time of sales, which for me means a trip to John Lewis haberdashery department.  There's nearly always a feast of temptation there and as you can see from the top pictures, I made productive use of my time there.

Santa and his various helpers were kind enough to bestow on me some of the very best kind of vouchers.  The ones that can exchanged at any store, or cold hard cash as it's better known.  So I treated myself to some very cute spoons, an adorable stitchy book and very treaty treat, a new lens for my camera.  Very excited about that one.


Of course, it wouldn't be a proper indulgent treat without some fabric, so I had some of that too.  Three barginous sale finds on the right there and the others, maybe not so bargious, but equally scrummy.

It also wouldn't be Christmas without some knitting.  As I mentioned last year, I find the call of the knitting needles especially seductive around yule time and as it is a time for indulgence, I tend to indulge.  In 2011 my knitting palette tended towards wintery blue (with one obvious exception), but this year, soft pinks are the prominent feature.


I dashed off a wintery themed hat for my ever adorable and ever growing baby niece.  The pattern was my own, so I was happy that the fit was good and the snowflakes even looked reasonably like snowflakes.

She couldn't keep wearing her Christmas Pudding hat during January, so now she's ready to meet the New Year in appropriate attire!


The cold snap before Christmas left me with an urge for something to keep my toes nice and cozy, and I've had my eye on the pattern for these socks for ages, so it didn't take long to put two and two together.  



The pattern is 'Komet' by Stephanie van der Linden, it's a very pretty one I think.

I used my brand new lens to take these photos too.  I'm loving the great 'depth of field' blurred background effect I'm getting with it.  And I can't wait to play with it some more.




That's it for now, but there's more Christmas knits to show you next time and I want to tell you all about my new plan for this year.  But that's all to come....

S x


Comments

  1. Another lovely post,I love the baby pink hat and like you I have already ventured into the hypnotic world of the John Lewis Haberdashery department x

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow such gorgeous wool you got yourself there... love the hat and those socks are scrummy :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Woohooo you got the 50mm 1.8 lens! It's the first lens I bought for my DSLR. Still love it! Great for a very shallow depth of field and a lot of background blurring! Have fun playing with it! It takes great shots!

    And also loving the pretty socks! I'm not a sock knitter, not because I don't think they're pretty, but because I'm a guy of very little patience, and I can't put myself through knitting something twice. My fingerless mitts were already a big challenge! Why do we have two feet and two hands??? :-P

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just gorgeous. Enjoy your gentle January time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. As usual a splendid blog with gorgeous photos and I'm loving the mosaics! My baby is very jealous of your nieces bobble hat, I just not very good at knitting boo hoo. Glad you got your new lens - well worth it! Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. ooh I love the socks - which yarn did you use to knit them?

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh yes, love John lewis, great for a treat! and the customers always right there you know!! Heather x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your knitted things are gorgeous! The baby hat is so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my goodness - that yarn in the first photo is so delicious! And all those others goodies - just lovely!
    I love your blog, it is so pretty!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. the hat is adorable and the socks are to die for!
    I don't know which is better? Fun pressies under the tree or all the wonderful sales after Christmas? *grin* I've scored some yarn for a ripple afghan and some more vintage fabric (MUST get busy quilting!)

    I'm having a very lazy Sunday afternoon, so I've begun a new afghan with some yarn I received for my bday (last Oct).

    Life is good!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those socks look so comfy! Lovely pattern. I am having to tie myself to the chair to keep me away from John Lewis Haberdashery. I am in danger of bankrupting the household and there is no room in my sewing cupboard any more!

    ReplyDelete
  12. So much pinky prettiness! And don't you just LOVE the JL Sale? I happily spend ages in the Habi department, ooh-ing & aah-ing contently!
    Happy new year,
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love that yarn and fabric. Fabulous!! Happy 2013!!
    Esther.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The socks and baby beanie are gorgeous. The beanie your own pattern?! WOW, you are so clever.
    Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely photos! The hat and socks are just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such beautiful gifts! much to be thankful for ;-)
    the baby hat is so cute. I am curious...Did you make the snowflakes by changing yarn, or stitched them afterwards? I have been using the stitches, and it is very cool technique, which gives a kniotted effect.
    Have a happy and blessed new year!!!
    Hope to see you in my new blog: Lanas de Ana
    ♥ Ana BC

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy New Year to you. I am loving all the pink. Your niece's hat is just adorable and I love your socks.

    ReplyDelete
  18. That'a a good haul of gifts and bargains! And the socks are so pretty ... very feminine, and they look so comfy.

    You'll have a lot of fun with a 50mm lens ... I have one for the Canon too, although not for the Nikon. Do you know Ginny Sheller's blog, Small Things? Her photographs are really, really good and are mostly taken with a 50mm lens.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds exciting around here, I look forward to reading your plans. Love all your knitting, Wendy x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful as always :)
    I've just bought the same lens (and a camera so there's a bit of a learning curve going on here!) I love how the photos turn out, just how I was imagining they would.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am in love with those socks. The pink is perfect. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely to be able to spend your money on what you really want after Christmas and probably get better deals - I'm doing the same with mine and really enjoying myself. Love those socks - they look so warm and cozy.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy New Year Sandra!! Love all your sweet gifts and fabrics!! Those socks are so pretty and look cozy! Have a lovely week! xo Heather

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy New Year to you! Your niece's hat is fabulous and I love the socks! Enjoy your new lens x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Just stumbled across your blog via Blue is Bleu. You do beautiful work!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love your handknits! They are so pretty!! And you picked out some wonderful gifts for yourself too =D

    ReplyDelete
  27. super cute knitting, I especially love the gorgeous socks. Makes me want to make a pair!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Gorgeous photos and goodies and a gorgeous start to the new year!

    ReplyDelete