Crafty Mail

Beautiful birthday tern wool from Quince & Co

Also for my birthday, Knit Picks interchangeable cable needle set

DIY oobee kit from Maze & Vale

I realised something as I looked at these photos. Were it not for blogging none of the above would have arrived in my letter box. There would be no wool for knitting, no new cable needles and no softie kit. Without the friendship and inspiration found through blogging, I may never have taught myself to knit more than a garter stitch scarf, I would have no need of beautiful cable needles, and I wouldn't have been introduced to the wonderful work of Leslie from Maze & Vale. Life would be all the poorer without it.

And I do so love crafty mail.

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Feeling grateful for good friends, days out, library books, magazine subscriptions, craft shopping, a napping toddler and inspiration for new projects. Now, where to start... 

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I'm not sure why it is, but I tend to be rather terrible at actually getting my camera out of my bag at events, like Craft Fairs. 

I have an idea what that is. It's probably because I am too busy taking everything in, chatting to my sister, pushing a pram and trying not to run over the other ladies. (Which I was successful in only some of the time. But I did try.) It leaves me wishing in the aftermath that I had some photos of the Fair to share with you. 

Instead, here are my purchases. It's not everyday I get to trawl through stacks of $2 fat quarters and come away with my first American Jane fabrics. Very, very exciting if you have a love of fabric, let me tell you.

Cohen was quite happy to sit in his pram, up to a point. Then he was much happier to be running around the large expanses of foyer and climbing up onto black leather backless chair type things and encouraging us to sit with him. It was here I met the lovely creative Selina for the first time. 

Have you ever been following a blogger for a long time and then met them in real life? In two years of blogging it is only the second time it has happened. I was a little shy and for once in my life a little stuck for words. I probably came across as being a bit special, but at least I think Cohen made up for my inadequacies. I think. That's why we have children, isn't it?

While pondering the length of time I have been blogging and how many bloggers I've met in that time, I discovered that Wednesday was actually my second blog anniversary. Doesn't take photos, goes shy talking to bloggers, can't remember her own anniversary. Best do something to celebrate that I think.

Wool shopping...

Even when I go craft shopping meaning to buy some wool, it can be quite difficult to walk past the sale fabric and not stop and peruse those on offer.

And maybe one or two other things will catch my eye, so I don't buy as much yarn as I intended because that fabric really needs to be in my stash...

Do you know what I mean?

But eventually I do manage to make it to the yarn section and I browse each isle. I may end up in conversation with an elderly couple who wish to discuss their grandchild. I gaze at all the colours and find that I will still reach for navy, white and grey as I think they look lovely on a boy.

And I will drive home thinking about what it is I am going to make and how soon I will be able to make a start on it and what I will tell my husband if he asks about the fabric...