January 2014 – Page 2 – polka-dots & sparkles

My weekly music post.

Posted on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014 by bekswhoknits

I’ve done a song of the week post nearly every week for the last two years, and I love it.

There’s a popular idea at the moment of having a jar and writing down the cool shit as it happens and then reading it in the new year. Well this is kind of the same except with music.
At the end of each year I have a playlist which is like a walk down memory lane. It reminds me of all the live gigs I saw, new music that was released, old music that I discovered for the first time, and provides the score to some memorable moments.

2012 it was Passionpop Wednesday, based on a memorable occasion which had to be celebrated with Passion Pop – a cheap, often nasty sparkling wine.
2013 it was Stuck in my Head, based on what happens when a tune becomes stuck and repeated over and over in one’s brain.
2014 I have decided to call it Song of the Week. Mostly because I don’t have to explain it.

Kicking off the year is new Silversun Pickups!
A new song from a band I love is always a good way to start a year.

And if anyone else wants to create a playlist for the year, now’s a good time to start! Shoot me an email (bekswhoknits [at] gmail [dot] com) and I’ll include you in my next post. I may even learn how to do one of those linky things.

My new favourite room

Posted on January 7, 2014January 7, 2014 by bekswhoknits

My crafty room.
I’m pretty pleased with how it looks at the moment. It has just been organised so everything is neat and tidy which won’t last too long, but it’s become my favourite room in the house. (This post is really picture heavy – I tried to cut it down but it didn’t happen)

Continue reading My new favourite room

14 in 2014

Posted on January 6, 2014 by bekswhoknits

Last year I did 13 things. Well I did a lot more than 13 things, but I set out to do 13 specific things.

This year I’m doing 14. I don’t know what I’m going to do when we get to 2025 but I’ll cross that bridge when/if I get to it.

Andi and Jesse have already posted their lists, so it’s time to get my butt into gear and write out my own.

So without any further ado, this is my list of things to do in 2014.
1) Knit 7 pairs of socks
2) Read 20 books
3) Try 3 new crafts
4) Make an artwork for our house
5) Keep making cushions (Related: Find people who want cushions)
6) Sew (and wear) a garment
7) Write a guest post for Marielle’s Spread the Love feature
8) Crochet a granny square blanket
9) Make jam
10) Dye a yarn collection
11) Send snail-mail to friends
12) Spin 100g of yarn
13) Learn 3 new embroidery stitches
14) Actually finish a Knit-A-Long

So these are my goals / tasks / things to do but if I don’t then I’ve probably found something more interesting to do.

May 2014 be my craftiest year yet!

Good bye 2013

Posted on January 2, 2014 by bekswhoknits

2013 was awesome in so many ways.

We bought a house, went to our 6th test match together, saw plenty of live music, holidayed on a houseboat, and I helped out with the Port Adelaide Football Club.

I’ve had green hair, pink hair, purple hair, red hair, and several different combinations.

I participated in the Knitting & Crochet Blog Week. I even made two youtube videos!

And I worked my way through 13 goals.

1. Open my little etsy shop. – Tick!

I opened a shop and closed it just as quickly. I didn’t enjoy knitting for strangers or the etsy fees.

2. Host a giveaway on my blog – Tick!
This was so much fun! And this is where I figured out the I like giving things away more than selling them.
The lesson to be learned is that postage is a killer. In the future small and light will be the way to go.

3. Finish Start the knitting crafting for my Pay It Forward post. – Tick!
Again this was ridiculously fun! And it was the beginning of embroidering fabric to go on a frame.
4. Knit 12 pairs of socks. – 8/12
I completed 8 and I currently have 3 on my needles. I didn’t quite get to 12 but maybe I was being a tad optimistic.

5. Sew 6 cushions.- 10/6 – Tick!

I caught the cushion making bug hard!
I even learnt how to sew an invisible zipper.

6. Write a knitting pattern and post it on Ravelry.
I have started this one yet. I don’t know if I still want to.
Maybe if inspiration strikes I may be able to check this off my list.

7. Post a tutorial or a how-to guide. – Tick!
Seriously making a video was not what I had planned for this. But it turned out to be a really good experience. And now I have youtube subscribers. That’s a weird feeling for someone who only has two knitting videos.

8. Try a new craft, or 2, or 3.
I tried arm knitting, spinning, jewellery making, yarn dyeing. I’m looking forward to seeing what new crafts I can learn next year.

9. Create an artwork for my apartment – Coming Soon!
I never showed you this one. But it did happen.

10. Embroider a whole song (lyrics) onto something.
This is totally my favourite embroidery ever!

11. Sew a garment from a pattern, and wear it.
This is going on next years list.

12. Read a new book every month. (something I haven’t read before) 15/12
I joined goodreads to keep track of it all, so I realised I well and truly met this goal.

13. Crochet a granny square. – Tick!
2013 was the year that crochet and I finally understood each other. I still struggle with patterns and only have one loop on my needles, but the instant gratification is awesome.