2014 in photographs

My baby. Grew into not so much a baby this year. Here she is off to nursery for the first time!

It is a very belated but sincere Happy New Year from me - as usual! I want to say my new years resolution is to blog more, but it always is and it rarely works, so maybe if I say nothing, it might happen organically?! 
I don't want to make excuses, but I have had an incredibly busy last few months, and it looks set to be a busy start to the year too, with some rather large life changes occurring on top of all the usual work stuff. So, before the madness really kicks off, I wanted to take some time to look back at last year through some of my favourite photographs. 
Another ambition of mine is to become a better photographer, and last year I tried very hard, most of these are mine, all are highlights. Other, more professional pictures posted here are by the talented and lovely Britt Spring who is now back in her native Australia, I am going to talk more about her soon.

2014 was all about the babies! A reassuring reminder in a stressful, sometimes shocking year that life is good. Nothing like holding a baby to ground you and make you feel like everything will be ok.

Lots of weddings this year too, my littlun was a gorgeous bridesmaid twice and loved the twirly dresses!

The vintage double decker at this wedding was amazing!

I tried out tapestry crochet and promptly designed possibly my favourite ever project this year, Polygon Blanket from Inside Crochet Issue 53 

I also tried out bead crochet and promptly designed another favourite project! This is my favourite ever shot of one of my pieces, by gorgeous Britt Spring. Necklace in Issue 58 of Inside Crochet - my favourite issue...so far!

Possibly my favourite ever shot from Inside Crochet so far - shot by Britt Spring. Stunning cami by the talented Jenny Reid from Issue 55.

I just shot this on the hubbie's iphone, but I love it. It is at Kenwood House, a favourite place of ours. There was so much beautiful colour abounding this autumn, this sums it up.

Gorgeous Judy, love this little lady, have enjoyed spending time with her this year and her adorable new little sister - her feet are in the pic above. Love everything about this picture, the colour, her lips, her hair.

Finally, the last images are all about friends, I see too little of beautiful little Grace and I am going to make an effort to spend more time with friends relaxing this year, especially as I am moving away from all of them...eek!

Grace has chickens. Loads of them! I love being at her relaxed house and this sign sums it up.  This bright, welcoming feeling is what I am aiming for in my new house! I am not afraid to use The Good Life cliche!

Another from our summer trip to Grace's. Millie loved the chickens, the dirt, the playing in the mud outdoors with loads of little friends. More of this this year please. 

Felicitous news

The Felicity Shrug I designed for my friend's bridesmaids is up to buy on Ravelry! Just in time to make it for a summer wedding cover up - even if you aren't the bride, just knit it in a bright and beautiful colour!

teddy's debut

I have finally pulled my finger out and registered to sell my single patterns on the brilliant Ravelry. My first project to go live is teddy, a wonky but charming toy for a worsted/aran weight yarn. More to follow very soon; watch out for the recipe for the shrug I designed for my friend Felicity's wedding, the boxing day jumper and a very exciting group of patterns which I shall launch here in mid April. Keep your eyes peeled, and if you are into knit or crochet and haven't yet joined Ravelry, its great, get yourself on it, and search me out there, my username is montyknits.

wedding belles....

As promised, here is a photo of all the lovely bridesmaids wearing the shrugs lovingly knitted by me. I am hoping there will be some beautiful professional pictures of them too, so I will post them when I get some, and will let you know when I have got the patterns finished and on sale, possibly on Ravelry.

happy new year!

A very happy new year to all! I had a lovely relaxed Christmas, and even managed to finish the shrugs the evening before the wedding last weekend, and they looked gorgeous. Photos to follow, and hopefully a pattern will be available shortly after that. Until then, here is a photo of the ribbon name tags I sewed into each shrug - would you believe I didn't have a chance to try out my new sewing machine until now? I think it has felt unloved for the past two months, but now i know how to embroider letters, I feel sure I shall be using it all the time....I hope!

ding dong the bells are gonna chime!

It was fitting day this weekend for the bridesmaids shrugs, very nervewracking for me, especially as I have fallen behind in the making, but I think it went well.

The maids looked just gorgeous in their dresses and the shrugs actually fit!

I am now on a shrugfest to get them all done by the 3rd of January, only two more to go, and then all the edgings, so it is achievable, and it was great to see them on, it gave me an added incentive to get them finished, as I can't wait to see the full line up with all five bonny bridesmaids lined up in them.

Thank you to the models for my pics, the lovely Caomha and Clare, chief bridesmaids, who had to dodge needles and use their imaginations a lot when trying on!

dazzling dresses

Couldn't resist posting this photo my friend Katherine took at a wedding recently. I love the colours of the dresses, who knew we would coordinate so well...you would think we planned it! I am the one with my hand in my pocket, as per usual. I do love a pocket, it stops my hands fidgeting when there is no knitting nearby...well, it would be rude to at a wedding......wouldn't it.......?!

wedding knits

Here is a picture of some work in progress. The brief is to make some warm yet pretty cover ups for bridesmaids at a chilly January wedding. Their dresses are strapless, so I have suggested lacy shrugs just to warm the arms and prevent the beautiful ladies from becoming the 'something blue'! The yarn is a silk and wool blend, which will knit with a beautifully understated sheen whilst providing great warmth. The only problem is that there are five bridesmaids in all.....better get knitting....!

The recipe for the shrugs, along with other Monty knitting patterns will be on sale from my website and all good LYS very soon hopefully! Look out for pictures of the finished garments and wedding in the new year.