tiny happy

Well I'm still out here, making things and taking photos. But I've not updated this blog in months – my apologies if you check back from time to time. Truthfully, I've been having problems with the platform I use for this journal – my photos haven't been loading properly and so I tend to give up mid-post! I'm looking for a solution to that, and will let you know once I find an alternative way to blog. Please do tell me if you have any tips or advice for me in that regard!

Since my last post, I've been on an overseas adventure – a month in Europe including time in Italy, Scotland (including the Shetland Isles) and Germany. It was a wonderful trip and I'm so grateful to have had that much time off work, hanging out with Tom and enjoying some new and familiar places. I might share some pictures here soon. You can also have a look at my Instagram account to see a few posts from each place.

It's felt like a dark, rainy, long winter since we got home. I've not had tons of energy and time to work on my usual projects. I have made a few scarves as gifts (including the famous 'Sophie scarf' by Petite Knit – you can see my green one, knitted in Rome!), a pair of fingerless mitts (using this pattern of my own), and some hot water bottle covers too – our old ones needed an upgrade! Above I've included a photo of a bobbly one I made for Arlo. I used a free pattern called 'Hot water bobble' and you can find the link and more info here on my Ravelry page.

It's difficult to remember all the projects I've worked on since my last post, but I've included photos of a couple of sewn items – a gingham linen dress (I just self-drafted the pattern for this), and a wrap jacket made from a pattern in the new Lotta Jansdotter sewing book I mentioned in my last post. I love that book and if you're into making clothes, I think you will too!

I've continued to practice my watercolour painting and have dipped into some embroidery too – when it's light enough around here for me to thread the needle, that is. I'm lucky enough to be teaching some wool embroidery classes at the upcoming Craft Camp in Te Awakairangi – can't wait for that inspiring weekend to roll around.

Looking forward to some lighter spring days arriving soon, too. I'd love to know what you're working on, and how you are doing these days?

Favourite songs this season:
To Me, Caoilfhion Rose
A Calf Born in Winter, Khruangbin
All the new songs on the new Hannah Cohen album, Earthstar Mountain
Troy Kingi, Golden Ladder album
Saya Gray (Lie Down) but also this Tiny Desk concert is great

Favourite foods:
+ Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into slices (yes really!)
+ Fresh mandarins picked from our baby tree.
+ I have been all about soup this winter. Mostly because I'm too lazy to cook much more than something in one pot! This is my new favourite recipe: 
Thai pumpkin soup, Nadia Lim. I add some fresh chilli and coriander (at the end) to mine.

So grateful to you for visiting me here despite how rarely I write.

M XX