January Shop Update

 I have updated my Etsy shop Eva Faith with some fun progress keepers and stitch markers with a Valentine's theme, although these sweet hearts and flowers would look good on a project at any time of year.

This tiny glass bottle filled with hearts is a favourite of mine.  These little hearts tell a story:-

one February 14th I found a special gift and card on the dining-table with these hearts scattered around them, from my Valentine.  Of course it was my husband and to be honest it was a "who are you and what have you done with my husband" moment! :) He later handed the remainder of the packet of sequins to me knowing that I would use them to craft with and I thought they would be perfect in these tiny, lightweight bottles as progress keepers.  I am keeping one of these for myself! 

I also love these dainty cup and saucers.  "You are the cream in my coffee, the sugar in my tea."

 I have put one of these progress keepers to use already!

 This set has a vintage feel that I love.

 I have beaded some progress keepers.

 Hearts and flowers, the language of romance.

 The gunmetal and purple, glass beads give this set a gothic feel and the stitch markers are larger for thicker needles.

 I couldn't put just one sheep on a set for Valentine's, there had to be a couple.  Love is in the air!

Finally some spring flowers to celebrate the snowdrops, crocus and winter aconites that are beginning to bloom.

The antique gold hearts progress keeper on my 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Socks' by Dani of Little Bobbins Knits.

I found these cute, mini tins in Marks and Spencers that are perfect for keeping stitch markers and progress keepers in ... once the chocolates inside them have been eaten! :)

New Year, Looking Forward and Back in Time

Halfway through January already and New Year's Day seems a long time ago!  We went to the cinema on 1st January to see The Last Jedi as we are Star Wars fans and enjoyed the continuation of the story very much.

The Christmas cake has been demolished!  As much as I love it, I am glad that it is all eaten up ... not good for my waistline! :)

I'm not one for the January sales, but I did rescue this Venus Fly Trap for 18p at the garden centre.

It is on our living-room window sill along with my previously rescued orchids that are once again in bloom.

We had a few dull days at the beginning of January, when it was all about being cosy indoors.

I have been working on my 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Socks, a pattern by my lovely friend Dani of Little Bobbins Knits.  The gorgeous yarn is Underneath the Mistletoe by Molly of A Homespun House.  I'm hoping to finish these this month and to begin to get my many WIPs under control! :)

A few years ago I started researching my family tree and knowing that I was interested in family history, my husband gifted an Ancestry DNA kit to me for Christmas.  This past week I have been working on my family tree again.  So far online, I have found back to my 5 x great grandfather on one side of my family and hope to find out more soon.

The sun returned and we took advantage with an afternoon walk around the village.

Our aim was to see if the snowdrops were in bloom yet

and they have just started to appear.

There is so much to see, even in the middle of winter.

I'm hoping to photograph this oak tree each month to see how it changes throughout the year.

We headed home as the sun set.

For me January is the time to start planning the gardening year.  I will sow these sweet peas indoors this month

and chit these potatoes in our garage.

At the weekend I visited a quilters' fair at Farnham Maltings.

Quilting is something that I would like to do more of.  There was a lot of inspiration from various local quilting groups and these are just a few of my favourite quilts that were on display.

Janet Clare had a stand at the fair.  I hope to attend one of her workshops when I have got on top of my many projects.

There were also a couple of ladies demonstrating exquisite, Japanese embroidery with silks and seed beads.

This weekend we also made the decision to book a holiday in Edinburgh, so that I can attend Edinburgh Yarn Festival.  I'm so excited as it is my first visit to the festival and I'm looking forward to meeting up with friends who are going too.