knitting!

Yes, that's right, I've started to knit. Or really I've started to learn how to do it. And I have to say, I totaly fell in love with it! When I was last in Poland, my dad gave me this folder with the "Learning to Knit" series. Basically, every week, you get a magazine which includes a particular stitch to learn, some nice project to do, FAQ and some other things. There is also a blanket to be made, using different stitches and motifs. So every week there is one square to do and that way you can create your own knitted blanket. So I've started :) Oh, I forgot to mention that you also get a little 25g skein of acrylic yarn with each magazine. And so I've started my *Knitting Adventure*. And suddenly, all magazines, folders, yarns and needles were out and scattered around the flat. I had to get some order in this madness, and coincidentally when I went for my weekly charity shop run (poping around to all charity shops in Cambridge looking for little treasures within piles of junk) I found this little beauty:

 

Oh yes, this sweet wicker basket, ideal for my knitting stuff. Beautiful. And it sits so comfortably in my living room, as if it belongs there. Gorgeous.

You're probably wondering how did I get on with my first knitting attempts. Difficult at first, I've noticed that I tend to operate only with my right needle, so much I'm used to crochet, which I suppose isn't really a problem.  BTW, I rest the left needle on my tummy or a sofa's armrest. Quite comfortable really. Some of the stitches I made are quite loose and some very tight - it's difficult to keep the same tension all the time. But honestly I think my first square for the Blanket looks OK-ish. I might redo it later, but for now I'm concentrating on the second one.  

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I'm feeling quite creative recently, and a bad weather (oh, the British summer..) helps with it, by restricting my movements and banning me from enjoying the sun. And so I caught the brushes and some paints and created this little painting. I was inspired by my recent visit to Hampton Court Flower Show, which was truly amazing.

  

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I'd love to do some outdoor painting, I know that's a great experience. I used to paint outside during my art course at uni. It was such a different thing and so liberating. Maybe I'll manage to do at least one outdoor painting session this summer..

And as for now, have to go, so much to do, so little time!

Enjoy your week :)

xoxo