Holiday Time.

We are off on a holiday today... 7 weeks of travelling with the boys around the UK, Scotland, America, Switzerland, Germany and Singapore!!! WAHOOOOOO!!! By the way, in re-reading that sentence, I thought I had better make it clear that this is not a normal event in our household, definitely not something we do once a week or anything.... this has taken years of planning.

I will try to blog occasionally but I must apologise in advance as I can't upload photos onto my gadget thingy - would you mind if I wrote letters on the blog for a little while instead? Then when I get back I could load up the matching photos retrospectively.

 At the moment we are doing all of the last minute packing.... Just how many sequinned headbands does one person need? Answer - 3 of course, one in gold, one in silver and one in turquoise. 

The boys are very excited too - constantly examining the different currencies in the new, grown up wallets and making sure I've packed their technology for the plane......

Lots and lots of love to you all,

Kate xxooxx.

Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon - We have a winner!

Congratulations to Louana from nz green buttons, you are the winner of the pre-release copy of the Stanley book. Yay for you.... I hope you like it... and please email me with your details.

Thank you so much to everybody for all of your comments. I feel so supported as it's a little bit scary to come out of your creative shell when you have been making something for such a long time... 

Anyway, I had better finish of dinner but will be back again tomorrow because would you believe that there is even more to talk about.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon; The Book Giveaway!

 I can't believe that I finally have a copy of the book in my hands. It's not due for release until July, however.... I have one copy ready for one lucky reader!

This book has been such a labour of love. I started writing it about 4 years ago and now, well now it's sitting on my kitchen table!!!!!

 It is a children's book but there are patterns included too. I love the thought of children reading (or being read to) while cuddling their very only Stanley. I will show you photos of the projects another day.

 So I hope you like this sneak preview. 

To enter, leave a comment in the section below and I will pick a number (randomly through random.org) on Monday, 5th May. Good luck!

Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.
p.s. This giveaway is available worldwide. The book will be ready for purchase in July and will also be available worldwide via airmail (postage will be a pittance).

Simply Crochet Mag Winner!!!!!

Congratulations, we have a winner. I went to random.org and put the numbers in (I was going to put all of the names in a hat but ran out of time today) and I am happy to announce that W Gniasdku Na Akacji will shortly be receiving a copy of Issue 17. I just had a quick trip over to her blog and saw the most amazing bunting with little crochet balls from it. Truly inspirational.... and now could you please email me with your address!

 Now for those of you who missed out (and there were so many lovely comments) I am having a giveaway tomorrow with a special pre-release copy of my new book. So pop around and you can have a sneak preview.

Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

Little Details in the Stanley House.

 Here a couple of peeks into Stanley's house. Printing of the book is going well and I will tell you more about it in a couple of days.

Some toys in Stanley's bedroom. I think a horse may be about to lose a leg....

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Fresh Ideas.

 Do you ever go through times where you feel as though you are never going to come up with a new idea again. I've been going through something a little like that, brought on I think by finishing the Stanley book. I've been happy enough, busy knitting a jumper for Jonno and finding a strange satisfaction in sorting out the house after months of neglect. But goodness me, the relief of having new ideas starting to come through is wonderful. 

Look at little Hugo, happily watching 'Top Gear' on a Sunday afternoon wrapped up in crochet....

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments below. It has been such an incredible thing to start working for Simply Crochet. I have lots more patterns coming out in it over the next few months so keep an eye out. In the meantime, if you haven't popped a comment below to join in with the giveaway, please do so.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Simply Crochet Mag Giveaway.

 It must be about time for a giveaway don't you think? Tanya from Simply Crochet has sent me a copy of their latest magazine for one of you lucky people to win. I am happy to post it anywhere in the world so leave a comment below and I will pull it out of a hat on Wednesday 30th April. 

 In this copy you will find a couple of patterns by me! Can you remember when I was working on these roses. Look at the bicycle basket on the cover and you might recognise them. The bunting too!

 I so enjoyed working on that project as roses are my absolute passion. I've included some photos of my inspiration. There truly is nothing like a rose from the garden.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. We were a bit flat out with ours as this year it coincided with Archie's birthday... hmmmmm. Since then we have been taking it easy with the boys on school holidays.

Anyhoo, don't forget to enter below and hopefully this magazine (with a lovely crochet hook) will be all yours.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.