I thought the blog needed a bit of a freshen-up for its birthday though - so I've stripped the Victorian wallpaper and gone for a cleaner look. Let me know if you like it!
I've done some stuff I never thought I would over the last five years; I've gained friends, and even family (3 little ones to knit for this Christmas!). I've met some wonderful knitters both online and in real life, gone to some excellent and/or interesting events, visited Venice, and Canada, and Vienna (which weirdly, I really didn't blog despite taking huge numbers of photos - here's the Flickr set though!).
I've also changed jobs for one which is both much more fun and much more structured, and where I'm finally using my qualifications fully; I've become a commuter, and Establishment, and have surprisingly found I enjoy both of those things. I've overhauled my garden (the back bedroom is next on the list) and learned to spin yarn which is actually knittable (more on that later, I hope).
Anyway, five years is a long time; and as with all these things, deserves some sort of contest/giveaway thing, to thank you for reading, and for continuing to read, particularly when I'm just maundering on about my garden, or showing you the next foot of unblocked lace in a big heap with a cat sitting on top of it.
So, please add a comment to this post before the end of October 30, telling me about the best thing you've made in the last five years. It might be a sweater, a baby, a pie, a decision... I'll use the random number generator to choose one prize, and give the other one to my personal favourite comment. The prizes are secret (largely because I don't know what they are yet) but will be yarn-related and fun.
Over the next few days I'll blog about two or three of the best things I've made over that time, too.
I like the New Look!
ReplyDeleteMy best thing over the last five years was the decision to move to the seaside :o)
The new look is great.
ReplyDeletePotentially the most life-changing thing I've made in the last 5 years is the decision to ask for CBT to address my agoraphobia issues. I've only had two sessions, so it's early days, but I'm already finding that I can do things I would automatically avoid.
Your new layout is the same as mine.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I've made during the last five years is new friends. I've never been one for joining groups but since I found Ravelry I've co-founded a local knitting group Hitchin Stitchin'. I've regained contact with someone I used to work with and we discovered we are also members of the same Red Hat Society Chapter.
Five years! Congratulations :) I've been blogging on and off for about that long, but not in the same place, and there were some long gaps.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I've made? The decision to take up knitting again! It's led to many other crafts, and made me lots of friends, both in real life and online.
new look is very elegant. Best thing I ever did was move back to Lancashire from Scotland a month before Mr Mog went to doctor and found out he had cancer. If we had still been there the daily commute for radiotherapy that he did for 7 weeks would have been 170 miles instead of just 50
ReplyDeleteHappy fifth blogiversary! And the best thing I've ever made in the last five years was a poetry book. Yay!
ReplyDeleteGreat look, really fresh! Need to give my 5 year old blog a bit of a makeover too.
ReplyDeleteBest thing I did in the past 5 years, was become part of the team setting up and running Long Eaton Art Room www.leartroom.co.uk
Best thing that happened to me in the past 5 years, joining Ravelry, and thus linking up many of my textile friends around the world.
I like the new look - something about those birds in flight warms the soul.
ReplyDeleteBest decision I've made in the last 5 years? Definitely making peace with my "stuff" and realizing I don't need all that very much stuff, after all, to be happy.
Best THING I've made - perhaps not technically best, the Snowdrop Shawl that introduced me to the world of lace was a revelation to knit. You can read your knitting? Who knew?
Congratulations on 5 years of blogging; I've so enjoyed your blog since finding it, and getting to meet in person was icing on the cake!
Hey Liz! Glad to see that the past five years have been good'uns for you.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing made during the last five years was Max. No shadow of a doubt there! Second best? The sense of achievement gained from running a half marathon last weekend. :) - Jo (from PQ - and it's almost 5 years since I left there!)
I like the new layout, although I tend to be more about the content than the design, and I really enjoy reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it was truly within the last five years, but meeting and joining the Cambridge Ktog group is something I'm really glad I did
I moved to Brighton five years ago next month. I also learnt to knit!
ReplyDeleteI like the new look and congratulations on keeping going with the blog for 5 years.
ReplyDeleteMy best decision/thing was to finally learn to step back and to stop taking the blame for other peoples issues etc. My other best decision was to buy Lottie my Border Terrier because even on my worst day she loves me and makes me find some happy.
Hmm, best thing I've made in the past 5 years... Knitting-wise, maybe my Birch, or that great big sweater I gave to my brother in 2008. Also it was a good idea to do certain things about kids' schooling.
ReplyDeleteI just bought my first set of needles and skein this WEEK! I'm on the web searching for inspiration and ideas, thanks for this blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sewer, and the best thing I've made has to be a quilt for my first niece, it was VERY well received!
shannoncarman at yahoo dot com
I like the birds.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I've made in the last five years is my marriage. :)
Hello, I followed you over here from the Archers group on Rav.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I've made in the last five years was the decision to stop drinking. I was always a terrible lightweight, and I don't miss the hangovers at all, but more importantly once I wasn't drinking and couldn't just drown my sorrows in a glass or three of wine I managed to find the motivation to actually do something about the depression I've suffered for my whole adult life. It's not always easier, but I am a much happier and well-adjusted person now than I have ever been before. Also, I could never drink and knit, so now I get much more knitting done!
The best thing I made over the last 5 years was more time to knit.
ReplyDeleteIt was always something I longed to do. I had ideas whirling round in my head, patterns, articles and books that I wanted to explores, yarn that wanted to be made into beautiful or useful objects and people I needed to follow on the internet as I admired their work.
So I decided that instead of bemoaning the lack of time I would create it.
I now have a project in the car, always take one when I'm away on business, knit on the train, do a few rows when I lunch, and listen to TV instead of watching it (It's improved most of the programmes!).
Most of my work is experimental as I always want to change patterns, and often I don't use one at all. Some work, some don't but at least I'm WORKING on them. And that is so satisfying.
That glorious heap of time I really want is not going to happen until I retire (perhaps not then) but in the meantime I'm making the most of what I have got.
Keep up the blog, love reading it.
Regards
Ooo, it's all new in here!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I've made knitting-wise in the last five years is the decision to learn to knit! It's just over four years now and I don't know what I was doing with myself before, but it certainly didn't involve lots of lovely sock yarn!
Otherwise, the best thing I made was the decision to totally forget the rubbishy ex-boyfriend and get on with a new life without him. The knobber!
The best thing I've made in the last 5 years has to be Mom's Christmas Dress. I was just starting to knit after crochet became too painful. It came pretty naturally, and I set off to do a large practice piece. I had some red, green and white yarns with metallic that had been part of an inherited stash. I made my then 81 yo mother a long dress that was at best "festive" at worst spectacularly ugly. The point is it fit, it's warm and sturdy, and the knitting was very good, if I do say so myself. Turns out that she's worn that almost daily through the past several springs, falls and especially winters and parts of our SF Bay area summers. She won't go outside in it, but it keeps her warm inside!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogiversary! I loved watching your garden makeover this summer. The best thing I did in the last five years was to start taking better care of myself... meal plans, physical activities that I enjoy (yoga, aquagym, PowerPlate) and hobbies like knitting, reading and crosswords. Now if only there were enough hours in the day for more museum visits and, oh yes, houswork!
ReplyDeleteI like the new blog look. Lovely colour. Best thing I've made over the last 5 years - probably my kauni cardigan. Making it while on sick leave seemed to have made it evern more of an achievement.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful comments!
ReplyDeleteSame as Pigwotflies my now four year old marriage is the absolute best thing that came about in the last five years... but though I made the choice it was not a solo effort (duh) and I can't take the full credit.
I can however take full credit for my Girasole. That was a long and intense project commitment and I learned so much doing it. Including the fact that I CAN do something that big and finish it.
Now to apply that to my unfinished Lizard Ridge!
The best thing I've made over the last 5 years - a shawl that is mostly done - Far Away So Close. It's vertainly the largest item I've knitted, and I'm looking forward to my blocking lesson from a friend to see it reveal its true lacy glory.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I've made in the past 5 years was the decision to exercise on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteHappy blogiversary!