28th May 2013 - My first bag

I finally managed to sew my first bag from a pattern all by myself. Took me longer than expected and as my teacher once said: it takes longer to prepare everything from cutting out the pattern on tracing paper, cutting the fabric and ironing on the interfacing, before the actual sewing starts - which doesn't take you too long then.

Please admire my piece of work; I am really delighted with myself:

The fabric is actually curtain fabric which I bought in Hickeys. They had a big piece of it in the scrap basket. It came at a price of €10 for two meters and I still have material left, hopefully to make a matching rucksack. Overall costs: around €25, which includes fabric (the purple one above and a silver grey I picked up in Germany the last time I went over), a zip (can't see it here, it's at the top) and two different types of interfacing: a volume interfacing and a thinner one to stiffen the inner fabric.

The strap is a bit wider which makes it look a bit wonky but I am delighted that it turned out so well. The pattern was rated "2" on a scale of 1 to 3 and I even understand the instructions no problem. Only made the mistake of sewing in the zip wrongly first time around, but was able to fix that.

Overall time invested: about 8 to 10 hours, split over a couple of days.

10th May 2013 - Exams are over ...

and I am very tired. Almost fell asleep today in work. Can't believe I've finished the first year. Seems like it only started yesterday. Tells you how fast time goes.

I would like to thank everyone for their support. I really appreciate all the help I got.

Now, I will enjoy my well deserved break.

I've spoilt myself with a few little things for my birthday, and also to celebrate the end of the first year.

I bought this on GlenAran Irish Markets a couple of days ago. First time I fell for advertising on Facebook. Can't believe it, actually. It arrived with today's post in work and I am really delighted. And what's more, they sent me a €10 voucher for my next purchase when I spend €50 which might happen soon enough. There jewelry is just lovely.

I also bought a Pandora charm:

I took the picture of Google, as you are not able to see the colour properly on Pandora.net

I seriously spoilt myself this time but I feel I really deserved it.

7th May 2013 - Spooky - Google knows it's my birthday

I am sitting in the library, looking at my Visual Basic stuff for later on. Wondering about the variable data types, I opened Google and was greated by this:

I am currently signed in on Google, to write this post. So I assume, Google knows it's my birthday.

It's kinda cool, but also creepy ...

1st May 2013 - Two down, three to go

Okay, this is the truth: these exams are just taken it out off me. I am really tired and at the same time I don't sleep a lot. I go to bed late and I wake up early, I go to bed early and again I wake up early. At least after tomorrow the majority is done and dusted and I have theoratically pasted the two exams for next week, so can't complain.

In the meantime, we are working on the film premier of the StartUpKids. We got the original movie from Iceland and are planning a show in Trinity College on 29th May. Anyone interested, please have a look at the Facebook page.

And yes, I got myself a Facebook account again, after I wasn't able to get into my old one. Might check once I am on holidays that I can ask a few friends to help me get back into it. Then I just have to see that I somehow merge them if that is possible.

Despite exam time, I managed to put a few hours aside late in the evening to work on a knitting project. Louisa Harding has released new patterns based on her new Jesse Yarn. I am currently working on Oakley, long sleeved, in dark denim by Rowan. Here is the picture:

It's just plain stocking stitch up to the should part where it's a few rounds of lace.

It's very soothing knitting, as I only have to watch my tention and the row I am on. The only issue I have is that the Rowan yarn dyes my fingers blue, as if I've spilled ink it's that bad.

Still can watch Anime while working on it, admiring my blue fingers and hands. Good they invented soap. Found my love back for Japanese cartoons, rewatching Final Fantasy Unlimited.

Here are another two patterns from the book, I am going to do.

Miss Kitty - I have lovely red yarn left made of silk and viscose which will go nicely with it and I am dying to knit some proper lace again.

And Mae - I have a light green alpaca yarn left that would suit this pattern. Just have to check the yardage.

More on Louisa Harding's new patterns can be found here.

Tomorrow it's Organisation and Management - another three hour exam but than at least it's the weekend after that.

Now, what was that about team building ... *zzzzzzzzzz*