Wednesday 9 November 2011

Three little mades, and some noble thoughts

Some of us in this world are blessed with tenacity, determination, and an iron will - those people who get on and succeed in getting things done regardless of the hurdles in front of them, or the chaos around them.


Unfortunately, I don't seem to be one of them, however much I aspire to such nobility of purpose. I need the spectre of Old Father Time scything at my heels, or Nurse Matilda wagging her finger in the corner, to counteract my slackness and love of displacement activities.




So I am pleased to say that the Polka Dot Daze Christmas Challenge seems to be offering me the right amount of swish and swipe to keep me on track for a relatively happy Christmas. My weekend disappeared in a maze of furniture moving and rearranging domestic artefacts, and one book project arrived hard on the heels of another - normally this would be excuse enough for Christmas crafting to back up merrily towards Christmas Eve.




But that jolly little email arrived in my inbox reminding me that Tuesday was progress day (I know, I'm late, but better a day late now than in December, and I really do have a Valid Excuse, ready stamped and dated, as I didn't finish until after the gloaming yesterday, and then it was really too gloomy to take pretty pictures). [By the way, if the parenthetical comment becomes longer than the initial sentence, is that a case for reversing the brackets? Hart's Rules is silent on this.]




So here are my three little mades, all in a row (that'll fool you, Mr Google, and no, I didn't mean maids), lined up ready to take their curtseys.




Once again I used Michelle's super-duper Pleated Pouches pattern, (the ones in yesterday's post were the Large size, these are Small (and there is also a Tall which I have not yet tried, but you never know)), and I have to say that I am rather pleased with the result, since they have received the Princess Bunchy Seal of Approval, which is not lightly bestowed. The fabrics are a selection from Annie's Farm Stand by Holly Holderman/Lakehouse Dry Goods, together with some buttons from my Grandma's button box.




And I am also happy to inform you that the passage of twenty-four hours meant all the difference to my relationship with my Ten O'Clock Scarf - we are now quite reconciled, because I took the momentous decision of throwing kilowatts to the wind and knitting with the lights on (low-energy, of course). 




Or it may be because knitting with Skein Queen Plushness in Plumcious is an activity so pleasant that the result cannot help but be pleasing.














23 comments:

Serenata said...

Those purses are lovely Pomona. :-) I think I am going to have to go and look up that pattern.

I can't stand it being dull and so I merrily burn away the kilowatts every day! Naughty I know but I figure it has got to be better for the family if I am in a cheerier mood, rather than a thrifty grump!

Madelief said...

Hi Pomona,

I like the three little bags you made for the Christmas challenge. They look really sweet!

Lieve groet, Madelief x

millefeuilles said...

Beautiful purses Pomona and it is true that the Skein Queen's yarn is totally delicious. The Mincepies of the yarn world I would say.

Elizabethd said...

Oh so pretty. I love the fabrics you have used.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

What pretty little mades all in a row they are too. :)
Don't ask me about brackets, I'm no expert on grammer I'm afraid!!
Vivienne x

Heather said...

Very sweet. Love the fabrics you've used, what wonderful (and useful!) gifts they will make.

Karen L R said...

I did indeed pop over and buy the patterns yesterday! And am determined to make at least one pouch tomorrow morning. Really. Truly.

Love your fabric choices.

xo

Isisjem said...

They look lovely! I LOVE Lakehouse Dry Goods

Grateful4Crochet said...

Both the scarf and the purss look wonderful

Katy Cameron said...

Displacement activities? I'm sure I have no idea what you mean...

Love the wee purses though

Katherine said...

Oh,my! These are just lovely. Such sweet fabrics, Pomona. I'm mad for all of them! lol

Frances said...

Oh Pomona, I can see that you are definitely making good progress on the gift making goal with those three little buttoned up purses. Who would not want one as a gift?

And that sample of your 10 o'clock knitting shows the beginning of a great scarf.

How I am longing for my next day off...I have got so, so much to begin, not to mention finish before Christmas.

Also want to get some narcissus bulb forcing underway.

xo

Mrs. Micawber said...

Have you met my sister? Because you described her perfectly in your first paragraph. She of the Iron Will is how I think of her to myself. I, alas, am more of the Micawber-like disposition (Mr., not Mrs.) which assumes that "something will turn up" - that something being a magical addition of hours to the day which will allow me to complete my tasks on time.

The bags are adorable, and a wonderful credit to your self-discipline. That yarn is absolutely beautiful and even its picture simply radiates softness.

I had never heard of "Hart's Rules". We've got a couple of classic works -
"The Elements of Style" (which I've never read), and the grand "Fowler's Modern English Usage". Now I'll have to see what the estimable and amusing Mr. F says about parenthetical remarks.

Claire said...

Hey Pomona, I certainly don't fall into the category of people in the first paragraph, I'm with you in the second one, lol...........

You've done a brilliant job on those pleated purses, they look fab, great effort.

I'm sure they are going to be much appreciated and used by the recipients.

Claire :}

Claire said...

Hey Pomona, I certainly don't fall into the category of people in the first paragraph, I'm with you in the second one, lol...........

You've done a brilliant job on those pleated purses, they look fab, great effort.

I'm sure they are going to be much appreciated and used by the recipients.

Claire :}

Rowan said...

The purses are so pretty, whoever gets them will be delighted. The Ten O'Clock scarf is lovely too, I really like the pattern but it wouldn't download for me when I tried after your first post about it. Might have another go later on. Well done for keeping up with the Christmans challenge:)

Annie said...

The best kind of parenthetical comment should always be longer than the initial sentence and should preferably have a parenthetical comment or two of it's own ... I do enjoy a well crafted bit of parentheticalness ;D

Loving the little mades, I will definitely have to give that pattern a look.

Helen Philipps said...

Love your three little mades, you choose delightful fabrics, Pomona. I also love the pretty scarf and can feel some inspiration striking! I know just what you mean about displacement activity... (for me it's when I have a big official 'to do' list but just have to bake something first and then start cutting out patches for a new quilt just for fun....)Hope your Christmas creating continues well!
Helen x

andrea creates said...

those are sew sweet(pun intended ;)!
love the prints you've chosen and the buttons of course :)
i've made some of these too, and love how handy they are!

Reading Tea Leaves said...

They are lovely Pomona!

Slack - you? - never! Finding time to renovate your cottage, run a B&B, work on book projects, craft and blog is quite a feat in my book!

I'm off to make a cup of tea and a lay down on the chaise! What was that about displacement activities ...!!

Jeanne
x

Little Blue Mouse said...

The fabrics you've used for little mades are gorgeous!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I think that your secret might well have been knitting with the lights on. I spent a couple of nights last winter trying to knit by candlelight. Total disaster.

Barbara said...

Knitting and sewing - I am impressed.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails