My personal fitness goals- an update

Apologies for the photo of my smelly old trainers but I thought it was time to post an update on how I had been getting on with getting fit. Back in May I was generally unfit, and starting to seriously feel the effects of sitting on my bum crocheting away- so I decided to do something about it. I joined the gym and the rest is history as you say.....In this post back in June I made two fitness goals:

1- Go on at least one Park Run before August. 

Achieved? YES YES YES! It was great! I have since joined a running club and am now running regularly and have signed up for a half marathon in March (eeeek!!!)

2- Cycle the Manchester 100km in August.

Acheived? Sadly no. I have a pretty good excuse.....the race was on the day I moved so Wales. I have been going to a spin class though so better than nothing!

I guess I'm in need of some new goals then. Mmmmmmm......

1- Run the whole 13.2 miles in March

2- Go on a cycling holiday next year.

So, lets see how I get on.....

Have a fab week,

SSxx

Introducing the new crochet range by Libby Summers......

.......designed by yours truly!

In the summer Libby of Libby Summers Ltd put out an email for crochet submissions. The brief was to design a hot water bottle cover and matching tea cosy with a vintage feel (possibly using granny squares) using three or more colours from the new Libby Summer Fine Aran collection. I was thrilled when my design was chosen. I swiftly got to work and here is the result..... 

What do you think? I hope you like them as much as I do! This patterns can be purchased on Ravelry here, and a hard copy can be purchased from Libby's website here for the hot water bottle cover and here for the tea cosy.

Have a great weekend!

SSxx

Thank you!

Thank you! It was so lovely to log on this evening (and with a renewed passion for blogging!) to find that you are still reading and that I even have some new followers. So hello, welcome, and thank you! 

I was so excited to post today that I didn't even sew in my ends before taking this photograph! I'm slowly coming round to getting on top of my Christmas makes so thought I would break myself in gently, by making a set of my retro coasters in Christmassy colour. Not too overtly Christmassy, but definitely getting into the spirit of things! These will be heading to the shop at the weekend.

Now for something totally different....I'm going to my first scientific conference in over 2 years tomorrow. I'm also writing a report of the meeting so need to be alert and pay attention. Early night I think, those ends can wait til the morning!

SSxx

Hello? Anybody still out there....?

SO, maybe I should start with a bit of an apology.....I haven't been around much on this blog recently. So, sorry. I would like to thank all of my new followers for joining me, especially those who have joined me on Bloglovin' recently. I wholeheartedly promise that I will try to get back into the swing of things blog-wise.

I have been wanting to post for ages, but with little time for making, zero daylight hours for taking photos, what to write?!? Before I started this new job (scrolling down to find this post I went past all my lovely sunny August photos- they have made me very nostalgic for summer...)I had a list the long as my arm of tutorials I wanted to write, patterns I needed to finish, interviews I wanted to do, but well life got a bit in the way......the weekends have been fantastic whirlwinds of seeing friends and staying out late......coupled with loads of long-distance driving.....making for very little blogging (and crochet) time. 

However, I have been getting on with a few bits. Do you remember this from a work in progress post in August?

Well scroll back up to the top you can see it in all its completed glory. This is a present for a friend but until I see her it is looking very lovely on the back of our sofa! What do you think? It was from a pattern in Simply Crochet. It was so incredibly nice to be able to work from a pattern and not worry about taking notes and the meticulous counting required when I'm designing. Talking of designing I have some very exciting news but I will leave that for a post all of its own (and I promise I will actually write it.....maybe even this week if you're lucky :-p )

Do any of you follow me on Facebook?? If so you may have heard about the Chorlton Art Market Hub. This is a Pop-Up shop in central Chorlton, Manchester organised by Alice of Patchwork Papillion . I cannot get across how AMAZING this shop is. Fifty artists and makers are selling their work in this shop and the quality and range of stock is absolutely mind-blowing. Here are a couple of pictures. They were taken during set-up and the shop is looking even better now, with new stock every day! Really, do pop in if you are in the area. 

Here is my little shelf, but the stock has been changed over now so you will just have to pop in and see what is in store! (or wait a few weeks til I'm back in Manchester and can take some proper photos- you can see the dodgy phone ones over on my Facebook page).

Phew, I'm so glad I finally sat down to post. Will be back soon. In the meanwhile take care and have a great week,

SSxx