Sometimes I forget. Their three lives sometimes meld into one indistinguishable “baby” or “toddler” memory and I am unable to separate out whose experience was whose. I catch myself asking Kevin “who liked this?” or “who did that when they were a baby?” – maybe I am just getting old or maybe it is a natural consequence of having 3 children in 4 years.

I was certain he had seen a bubble machine before, but when I turned it on, he “whooped” in surprise with his whole body in the way that only the very young or uninhibited can do.  He watched in amazement as a cloud of milky soap bubbles were carried away in the wind, desperately trying to catch and keep hold of them in his chubby toddler hands. Squeals of gleeful amazement echoing across our neighbourhood of retirees and childless professionals. He ran back and forth through the stream of orbs and delighted when they popped around him. “Again! Again!” he cried when the soap ran out. We went through half a bottle of bubble mix, only going inside as his sister’s patience finished.

This one, I won’t forget.

- My inability to crochet and knit has given me the opportunity to work on kits this week. Well, actually Kevin has been working on putting together kits and I have been creating more work for him. I feel it is my duty to give him something to do when he gets home at night.  Aren’t I the wife that dreams are made of? We even have discussed teaching him to crochet so he can make samples. Proof that crochet is the future, no?

- I have been obsessed with this bread, this song and this album.

- I have to admit to first wincing, then nodding when I read this post from Decor8 about bloggers and promotion. I was reminded of it last night when talking to Kat in a discussion about how I have reached the point where I am annoying myself on the blog. I need to strike some balance on the whole promotion vs life on the ol’ blog here.  I’m working on it…

- But in the meanwhile, please go check out the stops on my Virtual Book Tour. There are giveaways (Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch is giving away a book and the discontinued wool for the Lion hat) and an upcoming video interview where I pretend to punch the interviewer repeatedly through Skype. I can only hope the edits make me seem marginally more normal than I am.

- Have you seen that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in England are proposing that crafts be classified under manufacturing and not in the creative industries? The paper argues that “While we recognise that high-end craft occupations contain a creative element, but the view is that in the main, these roles are more concerned with the manufacturing process, rather than the creative process”. They use a system of “creative intensity” to determine what should be included.  You can read more about the paper and comment here.

- Speaking of creativity…stop what you are doing and read this Guardian article by pianist James Rhodes   “And only when the pain of not doing it got greater than the imagined pain of doing it did I somehow find the balls to pursue what I really wanted”

- And while you are on the Guardian website, check out 2 free patterns from the book: The Mermaid Sleep Sack and The Rainbow Bright Dress

- Ok, I am off to wrangle children into clothes and then out of the house for the day. Georgia told me she wants to work for me and “not go to nursery because I need to help you, mama. I very good at making.” Further proof that crochet is the future, no?

Let us gloss over the low lights …dead car, missed wedding, late arrival to meet friends, cancelled camping, cancelled visit with other friends, thumb slammed in car door…(that last point is what brought a rather sudden end to Knitting and Crochet Blog week)

Instead let’s focus on what went well. Family, friends, a great after wedding party, and a good reason to drink wine!!

And while the food was delicious….

…that tummy was the most delicious thing in the room.

Just over 1 year ago, Kat sent me a tweet asking if I would be interested in starting an online film and photography school.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

This past Saturday, Capturing Childhood celebrated its first birthday and we celebrated in style at Twycross Zoo in the Midlands. We celebrated big successes such as being featuring in the Guardian Christmas gift guide and our upcoming workshop in London. We celebrated the hard work it takes to run a business and juggle family and other work commitments. Mostly, we celebrated a year of sharing our love of photography and film.

This last year, Capturing Childhood has seen hundreds of students come through our virtual doors and we have loved being a part of their photographic journey.  It is amazing to see the change in our student’s photographs and an honor and a privilege to get  such beautiful glimpses into family life across the world.

To celebrate our 1st birthday, we are each giving away 1x £95 voucher and 1x £55 voucher which can be used on our current courses. Just enter a comment below. For a second chance to win, pop over to Housewife Confidential and enter there!

Thank you for all of the entries!

Winners: Aussie Mum for the £95 voucher and Jeannette Archer for the £55 voucher!!

Competition Terms and Conditions:

• Giveaway is open worldwide.
• Maximum of one entry per person.
• Please leave your email to make sure we can contact you.
• Each voucher is valid for the face value which covers the cost of courses at 2013 prices. Vouchers may be used for full or part payment of a course.
• Not valid for use on our London Workshop.
• Entries must meet the entry criteria or will be void.
• Giveaway will close at 9pm BST on 10th of May 2013.

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED.

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 4:  Colour Review: What are your favourite colours for knitted or crocheted projects?

…um, lets see, could it be grey and yellow or yellow and grey? or what about just yellow, yellow, yellow,  grey, or grey.

*cough* Yes, I think we have covered that one, so let us look to the future:

Over the last few months, I have been drawn more and more towards off-white undyed yarns. It started when the lovely Jen at Artesano sent me some samples of Manos Fino and Artesano DK, both in cream. The 2 hanks sat on my desk for ages and I just couldn’t get them out of my head–something about the nakedness of them really appealed to me. That is where the colour inspiration for Alchemilla came from – I just knew it had to be in cream – partially to fit in with the colour scheme, but mostly because I just loved the idea of being enveloped in foamy waves.

(free download)

I think designing a crochet item in off-white gives the piece an instant vintage flavour, reflecting the creamy tones of vintage doilies and lace. I like the idea of combining this retro element with more modern shapes and fibers, sort of honouring the history of crochet, while still making sure it is relevant today.

Off white is also a colour that photographs really well here in Scotland, with our indirect sun and browny greeny purpley grey landscape. In a very sunny environment, white and cream have a tendency to blow out and stitch detail is lost.

Almost all of my recent swatches have been in creamy shades and three out of my last six yarn support requests have also been off white.  I can see a trend developing…

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Just a quick note to say that the competition to win my book, Crochet at Play and the yarn to make a Fox Stole of your own is closing today! Don’t forget to enter.

Also, my blog book tour has kicked off with Natalie at Bambino Goodies and another chance to win a book and some yarn!

Want to try before you buy? The Mermaid Tail Pattern has been published in the Guardian!