This is me:

Scrapbooking has become a very new creative adventure for me, and something I thought was definitely 'not for me'. However, with the help of many amazing blogs and designers I have become completely engrossed and obsessed in stamps, stickers, patterned paper and photos.

 

Being so new to all this I thought it would be a fun to join an e-course or something similar to see how everyone else is doing it and get some inspiration. And that's exactly what I found when I signed up to Lexi Bridges' "This is me" class over at Studio Calico. The idea is to create a mini album all about me. I first discovered Lexi from her process video on project life at Two Peas in a Bucket and I loved her design sense and style. It has been so amazing to see everyone's progress.

 

 

I'm taking this as an opportunity to develop my own scrapbooking style and learn a bit more about myself, what I love and what my wildest dreams are! Sounds like fun, right? This is my title page for my mini album and I decided to do two 4x6 layouts rather than a bigger 6x8 as I'm not quite comfortable with doing a layout that big - yet.

 

I chose two photos that I thought were really representative of me and what I like about myself, the first is quite literally a 'mug-shot' of me sitting with a messy craft shelf behind me and a Cath Kidston mug in hand, this is usually how I can be found. The second is a photo of me out and about, I was with people I love and having a great time and smiling fully, which is rare!

 

The top layout is very 'me' and the colours I love, the bottom one is more of what I am currently liking, pink and brown are not particularly my favourite colours but I have recently been very drawn to them so that's why included them on the title page.

Supplies:

From Studio Calico: Sundrifter 6x6 pad, and some of their accent stickers, Tiny Alpha Stickers pink, Page Protector 4x6, Classic Calico Kraft & Vellum Polaroid Frames

Stamps by Elle's Studio, Elle's studio: You and Me - Cutouts, Simple Stories Sn@p sticker labels, October Afternoon Farm Girl Label Stickers, Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm - Bits Perforated Book, Bella Blvd Sophisticates 12x12 High Five Alphabet Black/White and Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go Roller Stamp

Feeding creativity

Knitting is such a joy. But nothing beats completely finishing a project, ends woven in, final check for last minute disasters, they fit, phew! Taking photos of finished projects is so much fun and completely necessary! And yes I always take lots of photos, I wanted to make sure I capture everything about these socks.

 One of my knitting goals this year is to successfully knit-a-long with the Stockinette Zombies Self-Striping KAL. The idea is to knit 12 skeins of self-striping yarn. As it happens I had 11 skeins in my stash and one pair already on the needles. Perfect.

I have chosen to knit only socks out of my self-striping stash because I love knitting socks and quite frankly wouldn't want to do anything else. The other exciting part is at the start of 2014 (hopefully!) I will have no self-striping stash. This year in particular I am trying to simplify all my crafts and creative projects and this is a great start.

These were knit for my Mum, who gets most of my hand-knits  Although they are a hard pair to part with, I am so in love with how they turned out. But a significant part of the enjoyment of knitting is giving the project away to someone I know who is completely knit worthy.

I loved this project, for so many reasons. Knitting socks is so totally me, free pattern, mindless knitting never hurt no-one, and have you seen the yarn! Between you and me I have already chosen the yarn for self-striping sock #2.

Project details: Pattern: My Knitted Heart Vanilla Socks by Elizabeth Suarez//Where: Free on Ravelry//Needles: 2.5mm/US 1.5//Yarn: Regia Design Line Random Stripe by Kaffe Fassett - 2900//Size: X-Large - 80sts, then decreased to 76sts for the foot (but my gauge is very tight)//{Project link}// The KAL is being hosted by Megan and Amy from the Stockinette Zombies a video podcast about knitting.

New Beginnings

This is me.

And this is going to be somewhere I can be honest. In 12 days time I will be 22 years old. I want to be the best 22 year old me I can be. And this is where it starts, the prequel.

I have 12 days to decide what is going to make me truly great. While I'm thinking here's a few thoughts from today:

I miss my Mum and home every day.

Surprising someone you love is important.

When I'm being creative I'm often being unproductive in every other aspect of my life.

Taking photos is just an aspect of daily life.

The snow is still here.

That's probably a good start.