Wallpaper

Knitting still isn't really happening right now, but I'm going home on Saturday and I know I'll crack on when I'm back with Miffy.

In the mean time I still have other things to blog about!

I am now half way through my Masters

One of the modules in my Masters is a work placement module, which gives me the opportunity to see what it is like in the 'real world' of translation. I have applied for a company that has a link with the University, and it also happens to be the company that I really want to work for when the Masters is finished! Fingers crossed I get in for the June/July internship, then I will wow them with my allure (...) and they will BEG for my return in September..... Well that's the plan anyway, but I am well aware that these things rarely happen so smoothly, so I am ready for new applications too.

The dream job is based in Bristol - they have offices all over the world, but the Bristol office is the one I want. I can't help but get a tiny bit excited about the future now that my application is out there. I have started looking at interior designs and mad wallpapers on Pinterest, inspiring me for the first apartment that I will rent...

Ignoring the trainers, this wallpaper is quite Alice in Wonderland..

Obviously my first apartment will be reasonably priced and look just like this..... yeahhhhhh

I really like this mad wallpaper, especially the doggy and the duck... maybe I'll just create my own and it'll have Ruby all over it?

I think this is a notebook cover, but I still love it. Definitely going for the idea of one mad wall and the rest nice and simple.

So! There's another blog post of ramblings, hopes and dreams... I really hope I get the internship for June/ July, but if I don't I will keep trying.

Laterz.

A Very Special Day!

This is Miffy's shop, Marc2 Exclusive Shoes. It is a successful business that sells footwear for men and women.

Friday was a very special day because...

... She opened a second shop called Amélie!

There's Ems looking excited about the new shop.

She sells a wide range of gifts and accessories, from jewellery to soap, handbags to scarves, rain macs, wellies, throws, vintage things and much more. 

Miffy ordered a custom-made stamp off Not On The High Street to say 'something pretty from Amélie x' and it's on the labels and bags. She also bought a load of scrabble racks and tiles off eBay to enhance her displays.

I think Amélie is going to be a great success!

Knitspiration

Introducing another one of my regular features 'Knitspiration', a feature that will appear randomly throughout my blog history and which will give an insight into the sorts of things I aspire to create, things that inspire me, or simply things I admire. 

Beautiful Blankets 

I've never had the patience, or enough wool, to make a blanket - that's more Miffy's area of expertise - but these two are stunning. If I ever managed to master the art of fair isle then this will be the first project on my list. I absolutely love that Swedish style and the colour combinations.

I love the delicate knitted section of this simple blanket contrasted with the chunky, funky crochet edging. Once I learn to crochet I may try this technique.

Black & White

I love this knitted head band and this girl. Her hair has the sort of volume I can only dream of achieving, and this retro style is one of my favourites. If I make this headband I will probably try and replicate this photo (!)

Bette Davis looking fabulous here.

Check out Russel Crowe! (He totes came to Jersey for the Superman premier).

Jumpers

I have a small obsession with knitted jumpers (preferably baggy, 1990s ones). I have knitted myself one and worn it to death, it is now safely folded in a drawer because if I wear it too much it may fall apart.

I love this arty photo, this stitch looks lovely along with the colour of the wool.

Christmas present please.

Woops she forgot to put on trousers... I realllllly love this jumper, this will probably be my first project after my wool-athon.

There are so many more knitspirations that I want to post today but I think I should spread them out a bit (even though the list will have doubled before my next post) otherwise this post will go on forever.

Just Another Miffy Monday

As promised here is one of my new regular features "Just Another Miffy Monday" staring my mum Michelle O'Connell, known to many as 'Miffy' because of a nickname from one of her many Godchildren.

Miffy is a knitter and Crochet Queen and constantly has at least one project on the go. She will often make a homemade gift for friends and relatives and is known island-wide - slight exaggeration - for her crochet bunnies (which will feature in next week's post) which she sells in her shoe shop for charity.

As this is the first "Just Another Miffy Monday" here is a quick random-fact-file:

• Crochet Queen
• Loves Emma Bridgewater
• Jersey girl
• Mum of three (amazing) children
• Owner of Ruby, the world's best labrador and Binkie, Springer Spaniel extraodinaire
• Domestic goddess
• Business woman
• Shoe lover
• Multi-tasker
• Style guru
• Eye for interiors
• Ex-conveyancing clark
• Wonderful wife
• Wool-aholic

Her current project:

A blanket for someone, most probably for our Landrover Defender...

She's using up some wool that she's had for ages and it's now discontinued. She says that the wool stretches quite a lot which might be the reason it has been discontinued, but as this blanket is probably just going to be in the back of the Landy, it doesn't really matter. I think the colours are really good together.

What's in her knitting bag?

Miffy's knitting bag

Her current project.

And of course: her iPhone and her nail cream.

The plan...

      I was chatting to my best friend the other day and told her that I was planning a mega-sort out of my wool in order to:

a) be more organised

b) be more creative

c) save money

      The idea is to sort out all of my left overs from years of my own projects and also my mum's (she is a great sorter-outer and I often benefit from this). I said that on the weekend I was going to sort it all out and assign a project to every last scrap so that I could:

a) tidy up

b) have lots and lots of knitting to do for the near future

c) not need to buy any wool for quite a while

      If I can get through all of that wool then I will really enjoy the next time I go to my favourite wool shop and buy something new. 

      I intend to make lots of Christmas presents (I'm particularly good at hats, and who doesn't love a good pom pom?) which will also save me money, and little accessories such as hearts and flowers.

      I am definitely a knitter, however I have always wanted to try crochet but have never plucked up the courage. I think another one of my projects will be to learn (thank you, YouTube) to crochet.

      So, the plan for this blog (among other things) is to record my progress with this wool-athon. 

      I have to add a thank you to One Sheepish Girl for completely inspiring me to be more creative and to start a blog. Thank you!