Finding inspiration :: dresses/skirts::

I've been looking at a lot of dresses/skirts recently, we're going to a wedding in march and I'm on the hunt for a fabulous new outfit for the occasion. I may even try my hand at making my own, though I'm not sure my skills are really up to it yet. Here are a few pieces I'm particularly taken with ::

Source: tarastarlet.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: marieclaire.co.uk via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: topshop.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

inside crochet 25 ::

After the excitement of my first published pattern, came the even more exciting moment of seeing my very first garment pattern in print!

This was the first time I had written an actual garment pattern, it took a lot of maths and concentrating and maybe a bit of swearing, but I got there in the end and am so proud of it.  And it's awesome to see the garment I made in professional photos, on a beautiful model.

Yesterday I finished my third adult garment pattern, and so far I can't say it's getting much easier, but I'm still loving it!

Finding inspiration :: garden markers ::

With the allotment now coming to life again, with lots of digging and a little planting, it seems necessary to have a few markers revealing to me (reminding me) where exactly it was I buried those bulbs or planted those seeds. Especially so at this time of year where little of it is actually above ground yet and I am plodding around in my boots digging ground up left right and centre. I plan to make some this week, but take a look at this little lot I found in my hunt for inspiration, I think I love them all!

Source: craftjr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: heavypetal.ca via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: jar-of-elixir.tumblr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: witandwhistle.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: mychiclife.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

My first published pattern ::

Back in the summer I sent my first few submissions in to inside crochet, with little hope I'd hear much back, but as it turned out all of the patterns I submitted were commissioned! I was so unbelievably excited, and as I heard back the day before my birthday, this news served as a fabulous per birthday treat.

 

 The first of my patterns to be published was this heart bunting.

 

 It's a fairly simple pattern, but seeing my name in print like that was such a proud moment, and has given me so much encouragement, I'm now brimming with ideas and designs!

Dreaming of spring ::

 

 It's only just January I know, but there's oh so much to plan and dream about in the coming season. The seed catalogues arrived the day we got back from our Christmas holidays, giving me the green light to dive in and start drawing up lists, researching varieties and well, purchasing all those all so promising little packets! I won't lie, I did spend quite a hefty amount, but I have quite a few long lasting items on their way (including 3 currants, some honeyberry plugs and Jerusalem artichoke tubers). With the seed choices I've mostly opted for heritage varieties so that I can save the seed each year. I'm growing lots of things that are new to me and a few of my favourites, but mostly everything is new to me as I've only been doing this gardening business a few years, but this the year I hope to become completely self sufficient in our vegetable consumption, with my fruit monster toddler, I doubt it would ever be possible to do the same with fruit, but with all the berries we'll be growing this year, hopefully we'll be quite well stocked through the summer months at least.

   

 Most of the growing will be taking place at the allotment this year, but I expect we'll keep a few favourites in the garden too. Namely some herbs, a few tomatoes, blueberries and the raspberries we potted up last year before I got the allotment and a few flowers no doubt. I'm really looking forward to this growing season, though I know I have a huge amount of work to do, I'm really hoping I'm more successful than I was last year.

Finding inspiration :: crochet cables ::

I've been working a lot with crochet cables recently, though it's something that is fairly new to me, both a pattern I'm currently writing for inside crochet and a pattern I have in my head for a wintry skirt include cables. So I've been searching out some inspiration, here's a few os the fabulous cable crochet pieces I've found around the internets.

Source: blog.lescomposantes.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: ravelry.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Hello 2012 ::

Ahhhh a new year, it always feels so good, so fresh, a great excuse to make new plans, set new goals and achieve new dreams.

 

 Last year I decided I was ready to start writing and hopefully publishing my own crochet patterns, and it was a pretty good success, I had my first pattern commissioned the day before my birthday back in August, 'inside crochet' have now published two of my patterns, have two more waiting to go and one more due at the end of this month. This has been a great introduction for me, but this year I have more grand crochet pattern ideas, including a book proposal and a plan to write a pattern a month to sell as a downloadable PDF both on etsy and through ravelry. I have lots of other hopes and dreams and improvements to make, but I always think it's better to try and concentrate on one achievable goal at a time rather than going crazy trying to change everything about yourself just because of date change! Wishing you a a very very happy and prosperous 2012.