Need a New Hat !!

Well, have had a rotten weekend, been rather poorly for the last few days and have had to ease up on the sewing/knitting.  Husband put himself in charge of running the household/shopping/cooking etc - and I must thank him for that delicious cup-a-soup he thrust in my direction at lunchtime(complete with spoon as he did not have time to stir it 'cos the football was on tv !!).   Blue & Digby fared much better as he did not have a clue how much food the dogs need each day and so they were delighted with their double helpings.  Thankfully my wonderful Mother arrived with this months copy of KnitNow magazine and real food :)

Earlier in the week I completed a cushion, designated for the re-decoration of my bedroom.  It was a great way to use up scraps of fabric and a few odd buttons.  It's a real hotch-potch of applique,embroidery,suffolk puffs etc.

It was lovely until both dogs decided to squash it by laying on it, and now it's proving difficult to iron out the wrinkles but I still love it.

Have finished the dog coat I was knitting for the Dog Trust project, just need to parcel it up and send it off, so one less cold & shivering dog on the streets this winter.  My mother had a beautiful hat pattern with her when she visited, she then convinced me it would suit me, so this afternoon was spent casting-on and knitting with my revered Fyberspates yarn.  Have had this for a few years but could not decide how to use it, so was pleased as punch to discover I have enough yarn to make the hat.  Cannot remember spending quite so much on one skein before but have to say it is pure pleasure to knit with.  The colour really does not show up well in this photo, the yarn has a remarkable sheen.  Am in desperate need of a new hat, something practical for dog walking & gardening, as any time spent outside in cold weather without a warm hat leads to a bout of very painful facial neuralgia :(

Am hoping to be back at the sewing machine in the next few days, designing and making the stock required for the christmas craft stalls that are coming up.  Love using the bright jewel coloured fabrics within my bags & purses range - perfect for all the parties on the horizon :) It's difficult keeping track of all the stock when having to start considering colours for next spring/summer too.

Would like to say I am now off for an early night with a hot water bottle and a honey-flavoured drink but..... Jennie Rayment is on Create & Craft ,with her Quilting Classroom show, at 1am - and I just cannot miss that (I fell for her sales patter and bought the TrueCut system, so I need to learn how to use it !!).


"It's Amazing .... All That You Can Do"

Craft Room

This is the sign I have in my sewing/craft room - it's necessary because despite having the smallest room in the house to use as my own (for creativity/inspiring moments and devouring chocolate) I am forever having to scoop up papers & 'stuff' left behind by my Husband.  Am unsure as to why he feels the need to encroach on my space - he has a drawer of his very own  in the kitchen !  Anyway the sign is there to serve as a reminder to him that it truly is best to leave me and my organised chaos to ourselves, and no, thank you but I really don't need a hand to tidy up :)

On a more positive note I have finished daughters socks - they are winging their way to her at uni as I type. I am romping away with the dog sweater for the Dog Trust project, have cast on some Boot Candy (boot cuffs are all the rage here in the country, wearing them with your wellies :s) to accessorise my new winter boots and have finished the order for hanging hearts for the Tea Boutique in Ipswich.  Oh and I even had time to make a scrummy apple cake, recipe was from Tea & Cake http://tea-and-c.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-wednesday-knit-along.html   Have to admit this was the 2nd time I have made this cake in as many days - it is so very delicious :)

Aside from taking the dog to the vet for annual boosters, tomorrow has been allocated to making something for... Me !!  Have really got to redecorate the main bedroom soon, so was thinking of pillows & cushions & quilts & throws.... and am now thinking I only have one day, maybe just a small wall hanging then !


"It's Amazing .... All That You Can Do"

Yarn Along

Being able to incorporate my love of yarn and reading by joining Ginny's Yarn Along is awesome, this is my first time at taking part in this project.  Am currently knitting a dog sweater for the Dogs Trust  http://dogstrustblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/calling-all-knitters-to-keep-canines.html.   As it is such an easy pattern I am able to read whilst knitting, the book I am currently reading is Believing The Lie by Elizabeth George.  Have read quite a few of her books in this series and to date none of them have disappointed me.

The dog jumper I am knitting is for a larger dog as the Trust often has limited supplies of these, it is knitted in Aran and will be finished with a fold-over collar and a crocheted edging.  Hopefully there will be one less chilly dog this winter :)

Granny-chic

Hmmm.. it was Saturday, which must only mean more Yarn & Fabric shopping with Sister  !! Yesterday's port of call was Franklin's in Colchester, Essex.  A stunning array of fabrics, along with a most impressive choice of yarn meant the loss of another 2 hours this morning.  Picked up some fabric for  use in future bags designs, a couple of more books and... dare I say it... some more sock yarn - but as it came with a free pattern I didn't see how I could turn it down!!  This one is by King Cole and incorporates cable so it will present more of a challenge.  Sister grabbed the Katia pattern book after falling in love with this shawl (me too... don't know how keen she is going to be knitting 2 of them).

                                                  


Happened upon an article in one of the daily newspapers which proclaims 'Granny-chic' is this years big news in interior design - slightly shocking as it would appear I have been fashionable years ahead of time :)
Crocheted granny squares are being incorporated into everything from bed-linen to rugs - I just love the old-fashioned blankets myself.  Apparently 'sewing baskets' are popular autumnal interior design items too - surely they are a necessity not a seasonal ornament ?!  Either way I shall continue to store my yarn in baskets, make my own curtains and knit my own cushions - even when the current fashion-craze has passed !!

Sunday is usually my lazy day but with those pesky caterpillars still to catch, chickens to clean out & green tomato chutney to make,dogs to walk, roast to cook and getting the new images uploaded to website I fear it will be another late evening of knitting :)  And just to prove what I already knew........

"It's Amazing .... All That You Can Do"

Knitting Dog Coats for the Dogs Trust

Recently stumbled upon this project whilst flicking through Simply Knitting magazine - Dogs Trust are asking for people to knit dog coats/jumpers for their Hope Project so this winter dogs are able to keep warm.  Click this link for more info http://dogstrustblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/calling-all-knitters-to-keep-canines.html     They even have a suggested pattern for people to use.  Think this is such a fantastic way to help and you get to use up all the odds and ends of yarn you may have laying around :)  Myself, Sister and Niece are going to contribute, we just need to get them done before the deadline of 23rd November so Daughters sock, which are so very nearly finished, will take a back seat for a week or so !!
                                                       

Sock Blockers Arrived !!

How excited am I to receive the sock blockers I ordered ?? - these WILL be the answer to my somewhat peculiar looking socks I knit.  Got them from Whorldropspindle and they are gorgeous, particularly love the sheep image on each one.

Have been frantically sewing for days now, the Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn has been dutifully knitted by sister and,using an embellisher, been attached to the front flap of the bag, even managed to use an off cut to cover a button to complete the look.  These bags are proving to be the most popular design at the moment :)

Discovered Yarn Along yesterday, am far too late for this Wednesday's link up but shall be joining in and posting next week.  It's such a lovely idea - click this link for more info http://www.gsheller.com/yarn-along.  

Shall take a more leisurely approach to life today, was invited out to dinner last night by sister & family, we have frequently eaten at this restaurant but for some reason this time I had an allergic reaction to something I ate, within minutes I looked like I had had collagen injections, not a good look !! Have to say the food was terrific though.  So me and my swollen lips will hide indoors, knitting our way back to normality  (any excuse to have a day 'making.... and making do').

"It's Amazing.,,.. All that You Do"

The Yummiest Mushroom Pie Ever...

Had the most pleasantly exhausting day today.  Following the news that Betsy-Blue will be counting Tea Boutique as one of their stockists of  bags & purses, we felt the need to stock up on further fabrics.  So a visit to The Cheap Shop in Tiptree was the order of the day.  They have a fantastic selection of fabric,yarn,books,crafts etc and they are very competitively priced.  I had great fun choosing new fabrics whilst my sister added to her cookery book collection with The Readers Digest Baking Bible.  Laden with goodies we then headed to our favourite yarn shop Twist, where we had a minor panic when they did not stock the yarn we use for needle felting our bags.  This time my sister came up trumps by purchasing superfine yarn and offered to knit the lacy panels I need :)  Haven't actually told her yet that I need enough to construct at least 10 bags !!
Late afternoon was spent photographing our latest  products for the website and deciding on future designs.  Am ashamed to admit no knitting has taken place today but I did manage to complete a few Christmas cards using "T'was the night before Christmas" Clarity stamp and an hours fun with my pro-markers.
Early evening brought a superb surprise - I  live a mere 200 paces from my sister (she of the cookery book collection) and I was the lucky recipient of the newest addition to her culinary repertoire - a fantastic Mushroom Pie, it was the most delicious thing I have eaten in a long time (probably since the last pie she cooked for me !!)
One rather extravagant purchase today was the Stitch with Love book, by Mandy Shaw, this Christmas wreath has given me so many ideas, cannot wait to hunt out my scrap bag.

It also has the most adorable Hare appliqued cushion but that shall have to wait for another day.


"It's Amazing....All That You Can Do"