A lucky start to 2015...

I have had a lucky start to 2015.  Last weekend I went for a little drive around Kent with hubby.  We had no real plans and just stopped at places that interested us.  One of those was an ordinary house with a sign outside advertising vintage items and collectables.  We are both incapable of passing a sign like that without further investigation.  It turned out that a lady was making a few pounds by using her front room and garden to display items for sale.  

We were her only customers when we went in and possibly for the whole day as the weather was cold, wet and windy.  I looked around and then remembered to look down.  Sure enough, stuffed into a corner on the floor were a few bags of wool.  I showed great restraint and bought one bag of variegated yarn for £4.99.  It didn't look too promising as the bag was dusty and yellow with age.  But I was more than happy to support someone who was showing a bit of initiative and effort to make a living. Imagine my delight when I opened the bag later and found several balls of pristine grey and white yarn.  

I couldn't wait to make something with it.  I knew if I knitted with it there would just be lines of colour.  So I decided to crochet something and I am amazed at how lovely it is.  The colour changes are quite short so each change makes just one or two granny square clusters.  I'm not giving too much away at the moment, but the photo gives a little preview of the finished project.

My next piece of luck was to win a giveaway that was hosted by Maria of The Next Stage blog.  Maria lives in Australia and bought this little Kateryn Parr doll when she was on holiday in the UK.  I was the lucky winner and it arrived today.  By now it has travelled around the world TWICE.  But its travels are over.  As well as the usual baubles, I hang little stuffed toys on my Christmas tree each year and this will be on my tree next Christmas. Thanks, Maria.