tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977584779854866152024-03-12T18:28:26.860-07:00Born to Sew... and knit and cook and create a home and generally faff around being creativeBridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-75234935886441044612010-12-06T05:43:00.000-08:002010-12-06T05:44:54.890-08:00You lazy ... bloggerI must apologise for my absence - I just don't seem to be in the blogging mood at the moment. Just so many things to do, I guess. However, I will be back at some point so don't give up on me peeps!Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-29147113562890241362010-11-03T02:46:00.000-07:002010-11-03T03:30:31.323-07:00New Broom<div><div>Well it seems posting in the school hols is a non-starter, so apologies for my absence. We ventured south, to my parents house near London, and into the thronging masses. Soooooo many people! I arranged to meet my friend in a local park and it took us a full <em>hour</em> to spot each other, even though we were standing in the same play area!!! Un. Be. Lievable.</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyhow. It was nice to be fed for a week and take a break from housekeeping. I felt like I needed a bit of an injection of <em>something</em> to change my fast-becoming routines. You know sometimes you just need a change of scene or to read a really interesting book that sets you thinking. In my case, that book turned out to be "Meat" by Hugh Furnley-Whittingstall.</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535268481783766786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-L8cpJw-UsSl9KCYvapYFBWkQ-0dqdIM-PGEFqzCFZmVtRwcGPi-Fih0S2N7hWNBETHFJv07G9Upki3Uo55f-wLdoukQQnDmTaqe86pQnXsmECG38W5_4mi8EDa72YM5bIeu7fuYSTz_8/s320/013.JPG" /><br /><div>Firstly, I should explain that I've become a bit of a HF-W devotee recently, after following his excellent new series on Channel 4, Everyday Food. Flaming marvellous ideas in there, some of which I have already adopted, such as making your own yoghurt (took less than 5 minutes to prepare). However, this gigantic tome of a book sets out to tell you everything you need to know about meat - from how important it is for an animal to live a good life, to how it dies, to how it's butchered, to how to identify good meat, to how to cook it. It's a truly fascinating subject which I didn't even know I was interested in. I love the way that Hugh writes - you can actually hear his voice as you read the words, especially as all his (bad) puns are also included :)</div><div></div><br /><div>This book has set me on a bit of a journey now. For a start, it completely slates supermarket meat and sets out in great detail the arguements for doing so. They are utterly convincing and I vowed there an then never to buy any meat from a supermarket again - which is a pretty big commitment, if you think about it. Luckily, we have an excellent butcher locally and I cannot fathom why on earth I haven't patronised it before. Off I went on Monday morning to find the most amazing array of meats, both raw and cooked and made into pates and all sorts of things. The shop was full - another good sign - and the butcher himself (and his staff) knew exactly what they were talking about.</div><br /><div></div><div>Of course, once I've made the effort to go to the butcher, I may as well pop into the excellent greengrocer next door. And so it goes. A whole new way of shopping which is extremely welcome because, I don't know about you, but the whole supermarket 'run' has to be one of the most boring and repetetive exercises that we habitually undertake. God, am I bored with it. Same old, same old each week, putting things in the trolley out of habit and not really thinking too much about it either.</div><br /><div></div><div>The above revellations, coupled with a new-found enthusiasm for making my own bread (with a breadmaker, admittedly) and my now own yoghurt, coupled with the doorstep delivery of milk (which I have had for a while now) has led me to realise that I don't constantly find myself 'popping out' for bread etc (to the supermarket, of course) and then end up spending 10 or 20 quid on stuff. Hurrah! At this rate, I'll never see the inside of a supermarket again!</div><br /><div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535268478630292818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SIuM6kJ6XwdICH6lzlgJal3WD2gRviFzTC2A6sLkZ-Yu8luS2pJ2NvXv4umhI7pynnwnauxR3VpGqmLTEHTBT-UwJBY6XyM5819fNgJKXz7AFJhYVegC8Gnn-tlVdzFN1j6Ch_YPtcnW/s320/010.JPG" /><br /><div>And just whilst we're on the subject, as for veg, I went to a shop on Sunday and bought 4 enormous carrots (the biggest you've ever seen - about 2 inches thick), 8 leeks, 4lbs potatoes, a giant pumpkin, some celery, 8 onions and 3 large parsnips. All local, all still covered in earth, all freshly harvested. Where <em>was</em> this shop, I hear you cry? Well actually, it's my local prison farm shop!! The prisoners grow the veg and then it is sold on a not-for-profit basis. Talk about a win-win situation, eh? Oh yes, and I forgot to mentioned the price of this bountiful harvest ... </div><br /><div>.....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>.....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>wait for it ...</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>.....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>.....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>.....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>.....</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>£4.50 the lot!</div><br /><div></div><div>I'll just let you soak that up for a moment.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div>So, all in all, I find myself with a nice new obsession on my hands - food. Not just cooking it, but finding out more about my food, thinking about where I buy it from and also the most economical way of shopping in general. My mantra has become - simplify - which can most easily be achieved by planning meals (which I always do), shopping once a week only (instead of 3 or 4 times) and being creative with leftovers - but that's another subject for another day.</div><br /><div></div><div>The vegetables I bought have so far been put to good use - a fabulous pumpkin and parmesan soup, a lovely chunky winter vegetable soup - both of which have made enough to eat now and freeze for another day - and I've still got loads left for the rest of the week.</div><div></div><br /><div>Tomorrow I'll tell you all about the bag of apples we were given yesterday ... bet you can't wait ... you're just going to have to bare with me on this food obsession I'm afraid ... :-)</div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-53307044226318486582010-10-20T03:40:00.000-07:002010-10-20T03:57:45.509-07:00Finished Objects!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530077282991692338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuKJuaP01cUdFyI6S4RB71We_T1xi1k1aViFaTq3bD60mYoT3kBV5gg4MeAdaSotOF2vYK_OJ7lA4j7dszr-xnpgWDWcmzY64vlOgCBA7YASP6q048-5Cm3qqWr8alBf47svCCIkuT7As/s320/002.JPG" /> Another stunningly beautiful day today. In fact, if you were to think about the perfect Autumn day, this would surely be it. Perfect blue skies,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqLrU8GfLafmh7G_eTc1RurMmbPRhm3JNt_RrK4Ocn4wwApNJwks-2Cezc9oRowuDKBL-aVIIidjV3znsdABXZzglZbOOWGc2E7KTwu-gTTPVNlrX-HpOBIjbvCLJq1Xe98C0Wy4qrFQj/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530077670376536770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqLrU8GfLafmh7G_eTc1RurMmbPRhm3JNt_RrK4Ocn4wwApNJwks-2Cezc9oRowuDKBL-aVIIidjV3znsdABXZzglZbOOWGc2E7KTwu-gTTPVNlrX-HpOBIjbvCLJq1Xe98C0Wy4qrFQj/s320/004.JPG" /></a> a thick frost indicating a nice chill in the air,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRIH7MWpiefgfQ0-E16TRAo1iQHFBGVJ1kjIrV8K01lbPtZpaIPNLTfjDDtIIdJTMvnMpXq-sUK6LLY5de-NXkPapYKe2ITB3z1RAI155ynLY4tdRu_iSpF-COfnUrAoSOmhnLLCHPIO3/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530077316173629410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRIH7MWpiefgfQ0-E16TRAo1iQHFBGVJ1kjIrV8K01lbPtZpaIPNLTfjDDtIIdJTMvnMpXq-sUK6LLY5de-NXkPapYKe2ITB3z1RAI155ynLY4tdRu_iSpF-COfnUrAoSOmhnLLCHPIO3/s320/009.JPG" /></a> and the bright colours of the season (this leaf is in fact the brightest red you ever did see - except my ruddy camera doesn't capture it's colour so well).<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZYsSvEqn6rOEgJKX9FwX_OK4HinPr2KMePT2PlgGjWU5X6pntv6wpa1YCQs4yRL1I-o_9VtGJ8WteoNqNhMa7brWzAbR7dMihtycx3-CRADYewazvc_pgfpcoKW0WbDQqAFccNQR87Lh/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530077279153228898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZYsSvEqn6rOEgJKX9FwX_OK4HinPr2KMePT2PlgGjWU5X6pntv6wpa1YCQs4yRL1I-o_9VtGJ8WteoNqNhMa7brWzAbR7dMihtycx3-CRADYewazvc_pgfpcoKW0WbDQqAFccNQR87Lh/s320/014.JPG" /></a> Back home, I can show you my finished tapestry. You may recall that my brother kindly bought me this kit from the Historical Sampler Company (under specific instructions, of course), for Christmas. It's been by the side of my chair ever since and I've worked on it slowly over the months, a bit here and a bit there. Last night I finally finished it and unfurled it from it's frame. I'm going to make it into a cushion for the kitchen. Now, however, this does leave me with a tapestry 'gap' - should I wait until Christmas for big brother to get me another one? I doubt I could wait that long, really, although it would be a nice tradition, wouldn't it? One a year. And even more special to have to wait for it. Hmmmm.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9mqgzGN1PdhPJOgHSKs_CRMxGGj-Nm6cLSA6UFxKYBwTziN07-XHb1WCYmtxpvZz7wKHoUIQPsmj8BIgT5BgdXGywuUSYP6TeEhyqw5qhlL0XR-Oews0MaOWPnqoJuCtHYITKjN2Abp3/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530077274913199410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9mqgzGN1PdhPJOgHSKs_CRMxGGj-Nm6cLSA6UFxKYBwTziN07-XHb1WCYmtxpvZz7wKHoUIQPsmj8BIgT5BgdXGywuUSYP6TeEhyqw5qhlL0XR-Oews0MaOWPnqoJuCtHYITKjN2Abp3/s320/012.JPG" /></a><br />I finished the little Halloween garland. The plain pumpkins do in fact have stitched pumpkin lines on them, but of course you can't see them from a distance. Wish I'd put the faces on them now. But it's quite cheery.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86yQn28B4dT4CrM9Fdnv6TTFKoRDaZG9Dyq9dD8b1jp8Bh69tOpkfn7V2MW3MZrXErLuT0IxfWiUyLq36i2FjmAGoBTyR40v48EqAVv95nKYvosJSTYK3ZU0lF_Dbm9KVA5LaYg4u-Ukn/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530077244856761522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86yQn28B4dT4CrM9Fdnv6TTFKoRDaZG9Dyq9dD8b1jp8Bh69tOpkfn7V2MW3MZrXErLuT0IxfWiUyLq36i2FjmAGoBTyR40v48EqAVv95nKYvosJSTYK3ZU0lF_Dbm9KVA5LaYg4u-Ukn/s320/010.JPG" /></a> And this is the finished runner. In the end, because it was 7 foot long (!) I used a sheet that'd I'd dyed a while ago, for the border and binding, so as not to have any joins. Then I just ran some straight lines of stitching along them, to lightly quilt it, as it does have wadding in the middle. Am quite pleased with it and, remarkably, it has remained stain free so far, which is always a bonus.</div><div></div><div>Today I am making sweet treats for the school Halloween party tomorrow. I figure anything can look Halloween-y if it's either orange or black, or both :)</div></div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-8318833991508322292010-10-18T03:06:00.000-07:002010-10-18T03:23:52.439-07:00Feeling Spooky<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlOyoj6jMjnBGBRRkU6GiRq9GNge1eRbi0dFJEsoBiTVXh658jmjQ11LK9Z0DqG9iZSHsRck1u8veMhPg7nbpydM0l8j-0X3QpT85DPwMoefimRjnZ4dZZA5tdJ9ejmbTziN-4KaNGJDP/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529329586784455042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlOyoj6jMjnBGBRRkU6GiRq9GNge1eRbi0dFJEsoBiTVXh658jmjQ11LK9Z0DqG9iZSHsRck1u8veMhPg7nbpydM0l8j-0X3QpT85DPwMoefimRjnZ4dZZA5tdJ9ejmbTziN-4KaNGJDP/s320/007.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Sundays have turned into 'Adventuring' day in our house, mainly for the boy and his dad - but yesterday I was summoned along (not quite sure why). Anyhow, we ventured up to Devoke Water, near Birker Fell. As you can see, the scenery high up in the mountains is almost pre-historic. In fact, these mountains have been here since the dinosaurs were roaming the land. Weird, huh?</div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529327129863048594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmfBpNvS71Wr71pkIt201-YQeuJmGr29-QtMkcIBfWfSsAh_a442sLmxwcfl_BQJZNYfAkw0ztv9KvbbOTFvn9REilNwvdjodUAoBEbYKevAr_o4qRasRkcA1vKt8HGW9JlTVncfMxSoz/s320/002.JPG" />We had our picnic near the water. It felt like being on the roof of the world. The boy ran into school this morning and announced he'd been on an adventure yesterday 'climbing mountains'. Well, not quite, but there were suitable gasps from the girls.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529326096082072914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCnUF4HDrkbNan7nM0HptNlS25HRpbQOuy7LD9KWr5aomh-rdOdbUFqmldZzFD2ybWAwx2AJrYku-kWk1mMovYfBc38yS4aaZsnD6dG94JMTkrOkzZxjokj68e86G85WCtT0AbulKCMWO/s320/008.JPG" /> I wonder if he'll manage to keep them spellbound in this Wizard's costume? I spotted the fab star fabric on the market on Saturday and had to have it. I was thinking about a black cloak and then wondering how to incorporate the stars and then I thought - long, pointy sleeves! Wizards do seem to have those sorts of sleeves, and with the pointy hat it looks very Wizardy. Completely forgot to get some face paint, but I may just finish it off with a long, pointy beard.</p><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnls6uV_7Ytiro0-kfC5Lskw3_mjf33V0JX1w1OngI6bYuRSA8wlTzJHUqyqlMpbb4SeCEvupkoq-SMwwwtPY4sklxKC9GzyeQb0YwHfQHmXfIKYguDhUPSNj1qtFb5Jr34ahLlxFsoGG/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529326098227430114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnls6uV_7Ytiro0-kfC5Lskw3_mjf33V0JX1w1OngI6bYuRSA8wlTzJHUqyqlMpbb4SeCEvupkoq-SMwwwtPY4sklxKC9GzyeQb0YwHfQHmXfIKYguDhUPSNj1qtFb5Jr34ahLlxFsoGG/s320/009.JPG" /></a> Anyhow, with thoughts of halloween uppermost, I fiddled about with some felt and started to make a little halloween garland to hang across the fireplace. Was rather chuffed with it really. This is part of the joy of having kids - you can indulge all your little ideas and say you're doing it for them ;-)</div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-2500422280950601142010-10-15T02:33:00.000-07:002010-10-15T02:50:41.691-07:00Ta-da!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJfI7CmLr06JAVnWOkon-fmV08Se2c0S5wayDGI85fPuyhBM7StU_3w5N35wODgdVR9jLmHgKg6ufUDJeLZPXUM2AvH1LPd-HBnyF6ZQ2obcVbeRLZTygefC0rGhSTqsHd7TduZi2AnqD/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528204620586975698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJfI7CmLr06JAVnWOkon-fmV08Se2c0S5wayDGI85fPuyhBM7StU_3w5N35wODgdVR9jLmHgKg6ufUDJeLZPXUM2AvH1LPd-HBnyF6ZQ2obcVbeRLZTygefC0rGhSTqsHd7TduZi2AnqD/s320/001.JPG" /></a> Well here it is - my first fairisle project. It's knitted in aran weight wool, which made it knit up fast and also made it easier with the fairisling as the stitches were nice and big and it was easy to spot a mistake.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUyyOOgko2-iwTAA53bs2uh6w5xxyO1S4gMW0DyUuA3Iq6Nvz4vtndPRo1onU3TxZH35sn2hgfePdMB2r98dnDg3pHqwmL1cHKMvPBLTnfh0FM-XM8p4HgCzSeZ5AdkBvoX9CnpMM1qA5/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528204623960760546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUyyOOgko2-iwTAA53bs2uh6w5xxyO1S4gMW0DyUuA3Iq6Nvz4vtndPRo1onU3TxZH35sn2hgfePdMB2r98dnDg3pHqwmL1cHKMvPBLTnfh0FM-XM8p4HgCzSeZ5AdkBvoX9CnpMM1qA5/s320/003.JPG" /></a> Here is a dreadful picture of moi modelling it - sorry, the light is dreadful here today, so the flash went off and I don't know how to stop it. Anyhow, it's quite a snug fit, but that just makes it very warm - it's more like a jacket really because of it's hefty weight.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg816utc8GQpgl3xWoZClHSLpE8_gZeVD5_TvehLbbhZogoarWcenWtMZv8vxtjA0PRyypSNsTUWDl1sp8jr9a0bA18S0WXMBMjTT-qJBpou-gUlNncMLyEVt6FJls4d72t1m7D35NLlaNM/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528204619241160946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg816utc8GQpgl3xWoZClHSLpE8_gZeVD5_TvehLbbhZogoarWcenWtMZv8vxtjA0PRyypSNsTUWDl1sp8jr9a0bA18S0WXMBMjTT-qJBpou-gUlNncMLyEVt6FJls4d72t1m7D35NLlaNM/s320/006.JPG" /></a> Here's the inside - I'm very proud of my neatness here, especially as it is my first attempt (did I mention that at all?).<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528205529829730658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt9zwoVfkqOOr5OmlFUUwCbOX_ziVW8Y68nMu31W-TY_Z7q2Zp-2oupl4nTFYipGmMw0nsB7pXPYuEJfcFgqGeyPlS8bUiK3Hr7t02QJjOvHy_fYEYxzh_eJFbkWezOV3zIILCsUlbqlr/s320/008.JPG" />I have a long, denimn dress which I think will go with this quite nicely. Bit prairie girl, you know.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK5PzIRtIpHIaBxj4qbMhmj6i17JNsPIgpm34znoOYIyueHcC8-G3ty9b5ATKUnAi61WuEe1vpAtb5AcfEXcdiZjNb-81fDDBu1ImgJ6kxo0nMSeOjRN7vDD5AN0ZuvUWT8HYuWDVp8xb/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528204611961777906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK5PzIRtIpHIaBxj4qbMhmj6i17JNsPIgpm34znoOYIyueHcC8-G3ty9b5ATKUnAi61WuEe1vpAtb5AcfEXcdiZjNb-81fDDBu1ImgJ6kxo0nMSeOjRN7vDD5AN0ZuvUWT8HYuWDVp8xb/s320/009.JPG" /></a> Meanwhile, I forgot to show you my latest purchase. I spotted a version of this Keep Calm poster in a magazine recently and thought it was hilarious, so I <em>had</em> to have one. I searched high and low for one with the same wording on the net, but couldn't find it anywhere, until I came across a site called <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/">Zazzle, </a>which has a Keep-Calm-o-matic poster generator (watch out Wallace and Gromit!). You can choose the wording, the colours, the size - all of that stuff. Admittedly, it was a bit pricely, but I had fallen in love with it by then. It makes me chuckle every time I put the kettle on (it's right next to the kettle, of course) :-)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQql5hVmfULxKif7tIvI7bWOukjaF-U1WV4oAYElxNjND4w1OqBF_mVh1WIsHQefXH8ERkaVFaFK60fJ0aOKJ_y6p_6IxlIxNYCagPFls60gyuXPwDuQzXXJx7pHxDxr8Gk58xhznIuyX/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528204609690620690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQql5hVmfULxKif7tIvI7bWOukjaF-U1WV4oAYElxNjND4w1OqBF_mVh1WIsHQefXH8ERkaVFaFK60fJ0aOKJ_y6p_6IxlIxNYCagPFls60gyuXPwDuQzXXJx7pHxDxr8Gk58xhznIuyX/s320/010.JPG" /></a> And look what turned up yesterday, out of the blue. I had it on pre-order from Amazon and had pretty much forgotten about it. On a very rudimentary first glance, it is a lovely book - some fab images, but the projects are somewhat basic at the back. However, as I said, it's a lovely book to look through and gain inspiration and ideas from. I mean, you've just got to love Kirstie for all that she stands for in handmade crafts, haven't you? Keep the flag flying and all that ;)</div></div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-67552144986993474452010-10-14T01:46:00.000-07:002010-10-14T02:07:02.803-07:00Split Ends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLzS1VvNqEFoyMeEUVO3M9MbaSDQHVGDxHoHzzV05SQ5Tnn9WsliQRkqXfa-NXBhwgT3BqRuQ1VmfxQiRUEwPYKsBpZ3f4pnk8YvYCe6qXu6Okz-OpflIWAgU6lAZQgi83KIA7Hr-G6Cy/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527821291864947922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLzS1VvNqEFoyMeEUVO3M9MbaSDQHVGDxHoHzzV05SQ5Tnn9WsliQRkqXfa-NXBhwgT3BqRuQ1VmfxQiRUEwPYKsBpZ3f4pnk8YvYCe6qXu6Okz-OpflIWAgU6lAZQgi83KIA7Hr-G6Cy/s320/005.JPG" /></a> Well, as you can see, I have a little work on my desk today. Mainly involving these little monkeys - ends ...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt4G9FlrySQ99WxH25oHf-inbSRpGuo_PcHxmzN2-1kcUmsLPXkij4Z6xKnzRa5SQbgSsVx5bhQ4k6zP6e4XjqOq68kL1sRNNyQCGVrt_6rLEUCUgIytQKiQEyjbGOEGPwZqnViOaLh9y/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527821282762082018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt4G9FlrySQ99WxH25oHf-inbSRpGuo_PcHxmzN2-1kcUmsLPXkij4Z6xKnzRa5SQbgSsVx5bhQ4k6zP6e4XjqOq68kL1sRNNyQCGVrt_6rLEUCUgIytQKiQEyjbGOEGPwZqnViOaLh9y/s320/006.JPG" /></a> It's unavoidable really, if I ever want to finish this fairisle cardi. Can't say it's much fun this bit, but no pain, no gain, as they say.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvTrV66FPSezOseKeX6x4-2WJfgx5nXOtQRTDVv0PEu4VB8xLBGfciyaQULQvRH-10RIbzEdMCaw9D9FR0JFFMWf1iA4c08YizDbkasNu-xm6CR9MGIPDn-fG2fxfse7urvYgOyNmHc7h/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527821284152310226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvTrV66FPSezOseKeX6x4-2WJfgx5nXOtQRTDVv0PEu4VB8xLBGfciyaQULQvRH-10RIbzEdMCaw9D9FR0JFFMWf1iA4c08YizDbkasNu-xm6CR9MGIPDn-fG2fxfse7urvYgOyNmHc7h/s320/007.JPG" /></a> Meanwhile, as there has been a distinct lack of sewing on this blog of late, I thought I'd show you my current work in progress. It's a table runner (obviously). I started out just joining up hexes into flowers, not really knowing what it was going to become. And then I thought perhaps a nice bit of patchwork in the kitchen would look good. But I couldn't really be bothered to hex them all together, so I just sewed each flower onto a square of fabric - tres lazy.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ5A6eO_ZhkpG4v2WONDf7dBBQDizzFCCaQpSYlFd1nGjykho0Lv6ejizNCyBXummCTsMe5kd2Xc4gviMhd7td4k7H7-gGN_6HH5pGrMtMTsSFRftiEO8V6tbmMv_CF9EAIq5pZwUbEQI/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527821279125595762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ5A6eO_ZhkpG4v2WONDf7dBBQDizzFCCaQpSYlFd1nGjykho0Lv6ejizNCyBXummCTsMe5kd2Xc4gviMhd7td4k7H7-gGN_6HH5pGrMtMTsSFRftiEO8V6tbmMv_CF9EAIq5pZwUbEQI/s320/008.JPG" /></a><br />The girls at my sewing class like it, although it's a bit 'random'. I'm going to have to figure out how to put a long edge on each side with as few seams as possible - it's 7 foot long. Then I will have to find some backing fabric and sandwich in some wadding, then a binding for the edge. Bit like a very thin quilt really.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZwBS8B0RNObm3UTgd-N1oyscroscQkKaB8ahGct69wSHPR2MLq7z1BiYAoUMRJBIHDWJ4xLFaMDCDhkQRy9eWlQj223DCnltQrut9qMiVBltUoQ0cqbwScvH6-wETMpEoIW8r-W0IteC/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527821274802893794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZwBS8B0RNObm3UTgd-N1oyscroscQkKaB8ahGct69wSHPR2MLq7z1BiYAoUMRJBIHDWJ4xLFaMDCDhkQRy9eWlQj223DCnltQrut9qMiVBltUoQ0cqbwScvH6-wETMpEoIW8r-W0IteC/s320/009.JPG" /></a>But at the moment, I am thinking about Wizard costumes. Of course it's Halloween soon and I suspect the 'dress-up' day at school next week will be pretty obvious. At least I hope so. I grabbed a witches hat in the supermarket last week, suspecting that it was better to get it early and avoid the last minute panic. So I'm thinking a very long cape with stars and moons on it. I may even go the whole hog and get some face paint. Then I shall just have to wave my magic wand and hey presto! A wizard will appear!</div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-15067394176850667812010-10-11T03:58:00.001-07:002010-10-11T04:19:36.246-07:00Good Moow-ning!Good Mooooow-ning! <div><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526741862913868450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8p483rMQt5_dRafoJS-LmTsKJCJ9YibkDZ4fuioBGy7_6gNdvDjr4vROtNt10KzrZw3sz-HMmT9P3ISrzj_riA1mCdg1G-Dn4iZUodSAdkvSPhzIQWmHKBJyBjLPsWOYGvK_-ZrWPn7k/s320/004.JPG" /></div><div>Sorry - what was that? Did somebody say something?</div><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526741870208120562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwU6C7_LJTa10twFa0eNu5mcM5-zczUKXtpxVsvw5t4elH81EkPjv_L8ZvA18jQzHIDjapPavoSVuaHG5cS8HJTwq6sAFpjlL2GnyIa8hoZUd1EwHk2yE7sPj67xTyZmneBbXKt4-A0qP/s320/005.JPG" /></div><div>Another stunning morning today. So beautifully sunny and bright, a perfect blue sky, and yet that lovely chill in the air. A slight frost on the fields. </div><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526741874781871058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxrNDVhI4yHUDPCwZI7d5-EV2jchVQv65mHxgBrepvLbF0Nh3mLAEU3ew0Smjjn7uAC4VayiuH7j2mPWtHHmwe1qPtjYxqdHic_WZ2WU4re5rcmOCPpvsnSkCRj4HO1MmdIQB-AxJN9j-/s320/006.JPG" /></div><br /><div>As I walked the boy up the hill to school, I told him that Autumn is my favourite time of year. He said winter was his favourite "because first it snows, then it's Christmas!".</div><div></div><br /><div>Well it's my pattern cutting nightclass again tonight and I've just finished my homework, which was to make up the skirt block we drafted into a skirt, and then design a skirt to cut tonight. Am so loving this course. I have wanted to learn these skills for so long and I'm so excited at the thought of having a new wardrobe that fits ME.</div><div></div><br /><div>On my to-do list this week is to sew up the fairisle cardigan. I finally finished it and blocked it out at the weekend. Can't say I'm looking forward to sewing in all those ends, up hey ho. </div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526745134134074818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFacvIyePTuGOYQ4gdreeWJ0s9S_hq3xzpauu_b8tcd4KIv5Uy83pBK_J4UzeI16Sw4ogMHM-es9At1OcC0AFFNlf9z8Ne_LU4aoBb7evwtttrDWI9_Jbpt_C0Xk6awfJxenI6NtG71_VO/s320/008.JPG" />Of course, that left me with nothing on the needles - yikes - not with an X Factor marathon approaching! Luckily, I had enough left-over aran yarn from the fairisle cardi to actually make this jacket for the boy. Except the sleeves will be a combination of stripes to use up all my bits.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526745141513740514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosQWaC2v65oyPmS67wyR6rDxwoqs45tXhlqNtDqgyWM0o6a85oGn3tN8ET1ssCz4hTDPHxm4t59U2WC2Yz_Yws5IIV85khDHQL6LGN24FuhQaVwDDwXH_LDh1d5jaTD5pdlQpMU5zv5uB/s320/007.JPG" />I started it on Friday night and by last night had already done the back and the left front! Don't you just love aran? I might even line this with a nice soft brushed cotton. Mmmm. Snuggly.</div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-14642226460132428132010-10-07T01:48:00.000-07:002010-10-07T02:08:20.244-07:00Morning!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525226157244312354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtgek6HJv-2DKZ3jI1v7YaTeK9s695C-VfNCEs2dhJs1319oe3jye06Hs6RtfmyrCKbDk0UzzOlQ0f4ZOxACUyYBS37i9hJZ83YCqRtQ5HQzOqpvDi5-K-r3ZKF3I66HlD8LwdVgCdAUO/s320/008.JPG" /><br />Morning all! What a lovely crisp and dry morning for a good stretch of the legs.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3weKU_gNVtDvnhi4Ph5uHX-DIX9dlLkzd-ph8_J5PEqqiGkZqTwOyQrqyVpgrlhhxit9C-biD5c9q6EJ_o_kxSSIpr1nIEF6pg0-4rxRrAbseWCwZTlvCWjL-N_K95T50rcSbV7S-4CxN/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525226159649116962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3weKU_gNVtDvnhi4Ph5uHX-DIX9dlLkzd-ph8_J5PEqqiGkZqTwOyQrqyVpgrlhhxit9C-biD5c9q6EJ_o_kxSSIpr1nIEF6pg0-4rxRrAbseWCwZTlvCWjL-N_K95T50rcSbV7S-4CxN/s320/015.JPG" /></a>Here is our little bridge over the beck, in our little hamlet. The water was babbling away this morning. It's the colour of beer - a deep copper brown with little white horses as it rushes over the rocks.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNM3i4wLqrqr2v409b-NYDlGd1pPBqA3b8bK6uD5pnzdEt7osnHYuO0TCJiEdo7VAduKHQ_vjtI6lPJyNulxt9yp_TQx9awyyKiHelZhXvhJcMNh-lNVpOpPLh8PWzbC1kXVEos_F2dO3/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525226150406955058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNM3i4wLqrqr2v409b-NYDlGd1pPBqA3b8bK6uD5pnzdEt7osnHYuO0TCJiEdo7VAduKHQ_vjtI6lPJyNulxt9yp_TQx9awyyKiHelZhXvhJcMNh-lNVpOpPLh8PWzbC1kXVEos_F2dO3/s320/013.JPG" /></a> On my way back I could see the church at the top of the hill, with the boy's school just nestling underneath. I said "Morning!" to 8 people in total, all friends and neighbours, two of which stopped to ask if I needed a lift. No, says I, I'm just taking a morning walk. Jolly good, lovely day, they chirruped! Lovely. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BByKuRwXbhjg-ka7F-2YDuED1MhUcA4nDzdfes7KvoaljXI6T6_GwYrXu9xIs8ndyQIN8TMgfW6NkoM0XosUyIfA84_WthcyNexIdXnYIfDEqt6BahPuuzZQRzXxIavMvlV1KjslEcu0/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525224387154306978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BByKuRwXbhjg-ka7F-2YDuED1MhUcA4nDzdfes7KvoaljXI6T6_GwYrXu9xIs8ndyQIN8TMgfW6NkoM0XosUyIfA84_WthcyNexIdXnYIfDEqt6BahPuuzZQRzXxIavMvlV1KjslEcu0/s320/001.JPG" /></a> So the last couple of days have been a bit of a baking frenzy, as you can see. Just couldn't stop, once I'd started, I'm afraid.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaj4_Jzm4CfpD3_s5p8TzYFyCTDjUB9ts1gEVmEtXcFE2kNgbCCtdVPbBpmhnzYmjEUD1_6wR1Pd3fqf20ibjv2ss9y6es5awmlhc6RZSGylj8zCkdmsHp-daa23TxzvjrLrwkEf5CFSE/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525224382487785682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaj4_Jzm4CfpD3_s5p8TzYFyCTDjUB9ts1gEVmEtXcFE2kNgbCCtdVPbBpmhnzYmjEUD1_6wR1Pd3fqf20ibjv2ss9y6es5awmlhc6RZSGylj8zCkdmsHp-daa23TxzvjrLrwkEf5CFSE/s320/003.JPG" /></a> These little pies are for the boy's packed lunch. He loves them - they have a mixture of corned beef, mashed potato and carrot in them. I make them in a muffin tray and they're just the right size for him.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCue2ek3nPCNusFRdY4bSBbEvHEen4SnAHslnhZ1stn9E6cuJ1DidKdXRpiZkSFKpwkOEkiRKKbzEQxhju-684ydhdABEhE6VypyNv_injqOAo2nbdAW7KV1ZzES4ZiLF5MZp22eZwNmFi/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525224380510727202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCue2ek3nPCNusFRdY4bSBbEvHEen4SnAHslnhZ1stn9E6cuJ1DidKdXRpiZkSFKpwkOEkiRKKbzEQxhju-684ydhdABEhE6VypyNv_injqOAo2nbdAW7KV1ZzES4ZiLF5MZp22eZwNmFi/s320/004.JPG" /></a> There was also a huge pastie, but it didn't hang around long enough to have it's picture taken ;)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jz37ttuz6dsYcn9ckfZLV7Ucu3UwxZCCNW4-v4K1IV4Q-_-5Ha43kz-B3R8t9IURyN0ZqICO-j7o_hUK5VSK_-UOOr8YxHeg_NBIl6PCjTg7ksbrNwJm-VdkZUU0NC5wk4oceTJwtZKK/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525224373166054626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jz37ttuz6dsYcn9ckfZLV7Ucu3UwxZCCNW4-v4K1IV4Q-_-5Ha43kz-B3R8t9IURyN0ZqICO-j7o_hUK5VSK_-UOOr8YxHeg_NBIl6PCjTg7ksbrNwJm-VdkZUU0NC5wk4oceTJwtZKK/s320/006.JPG" /></a>This carrot cake I took to my sewing class last night, to celebrate the return of Stanley. Yum!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jVofCnp8uJl4d7nT8nrAtB4JLbojb-67lBjto0I4V8KqXAsWnqC5xSau3xNYvmrdcK7WTbTjB4NSNliJafM07CTLQWiX3BEYUIFByN1ZKse8wSzGBuPEhrOnNr5L4Xd-ywbQ7HTIjEzy/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525224370357979106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jVofCnp8uJl4d7nT8nrAtB4JLbojb-67lBjto0I4V8KqXAsWnqC5xSau3xNYvmrdcK7WTbTjB4NSNliJafM07CTLQWiX3BEYUIFByN1ZKse8wSzGBuPEhrOnNr5L4Xd-ywbQ7HTIjEzy/s320/016.JPG" /></a> I even made some bread - in the breadmaker - just in the case the whole house wasn't filled quite enough with delicious smells. </div><div> </div><div>So now you can see why I've reinstituted my morning walks. Just to make sure I can still move, what with all the cakey-goodness going on ...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-72376674973583769292010-10-05T02:15:00.000-07:002010-10-05T02:31:08.247-07:00Good Times!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524488771297941154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH14Cku5CEhgVvYvKYaxI2zhFsgtgW540pXfbSlEdMC60VxXpN02P6sdebEQGkGTTH4cKSvl8GzyJJxbU9q390QTXLYpohyphenhyphen69JDoGrxwavYrMFyb-TqwQR__BmGRieinSlKO-DhbmxXRuE/s320/009.JPG" /><br />Stanley's back!!! I am happy! My house is warm! I can cook and bake again! The last 4 weeks have seemed like the heart of the house had been ripped out and we were forced to 'camp out' in our own kitchen on a make-shift hob and oven. Anyhow. Ordeal over. Breathe in. Breathe out. :-) Smile.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcQcuxdC3yms_ppdXtygzyT6i6Faas4ldxXBZ4ZnWztgMfICOxi1IPeSl72KxgirwVuGw2hTGw_N01I_HDjJ1bM3UBeJhQRY6iPrQIvpqsGRTvI3yfWAjc9pne8-3V7A_g43vj4gl6jsB/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524488765008333490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcQcuxdC3yms_ppdXtygzyT6i6Faas4ldxXBZ4ZnWztgMfICOxi1IPeSl72KxgirwVuGw2hTGw_N01I_HDjJ1bM3UBeJhQRY6iPrQIvpqsGRTvI3yfWAjc9pne8-3V7A_g43vj4gl6jsB/s320/007.JPG" /></a>Yesterday turned out to be a great day, in fact, because as well as getting Stanley fixed, I started my new Pattern Cutting nightclass. <em>Nothing </em>like I expected. The first class was all measuring and calculating and drawing, which was a bit hard on the old - and dusty - brain cells. However, at the end of the evening I had cut out my first skirt 'block'. A block is a basic pattern using your own body measurements, so it will fit perfectly, and which you use as a starting point to design your own patterns. Our homework for next Monday is to design our own skirt, so that we can cut the pattern in the class! Am absolutely chuffed to bits with this as it's something I've always wanted to learn how to do, and of course it means that from now on, every item of clothing I make will fit perfectly. Imagine having a wardrobe which is tailormade! We will be moving onto trousers next which I am especially looking forward to because I honestly don't think I've ever had a pair of trousers that fit me properly.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouMaJSYSgH6asi60Jc8oRaK_izpYQJtfGJXMLTTpAOCE27AVB8Z_RXOACWJeJt-X4_Sk27KZQuCMKpJYzgjDi1jpftWyAhtyKVv57hlpstRujWo2TbYxC_uobKyza5DAlQTDN326M1rp4/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524488763980553746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouMaJSYSgH6asi60Jc8oRaK_izpYQJtfGJXMLTTpAOCE27AVB8Z_RXOACWJeJt-X4_Sk27KZQuCMKpJYzgjDi1jpftWyAhtyKVv57hlpstRujWo2TbYxC_uobKyza5DAlQTDN326M1rp4/s320/010.JPG" /></a><br />Meanwhile, I have been progressing with the first fairisle project. Just got one arm to finish and then I think the fun will start as I will have all those ends to sew in :( However, it will need a good blocking session first as the fairisle tends to pull it out of shape somewhat.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8v6VrdjTIwLvaEXWZPtiFR0OGIY-KfoO26tzCKB3ktacpUf6O7SbcaiYuOl-vJ6-NyeMCtxJt14u0VNcoOUlrDQuPbkAN1l-GtYW93Plxj87Xw4VrnH0p56ZhmJf7OHi6AtAA6lIvEVN/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524488759464090002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8v6VrdjTIwLvaEXWZPtiFR0OGIY-KfoO26tzCKB3ktacpUf6O7SbcaiYuOl-vJ6-NyeMCtxJt14u0VNcoOUlrDQuPbkAN1l-GtYW93Plxj87Xw4VrnH0p56ZhmJf7OHi6AtAA6lIvEVN/s320/011.JPG" /></a> But it's going to have to wait for now because I have cakes to bake and pies to cook today. Hurrah!!! </div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-66103547714064178052010-09-29T01:06:00.000-07:002010-09-29T01:31:09.620-07:00No mojoMy sincere apologies for the lack of posts recently. I'm afraid I've been having a bit of a crisis out here in the country, which has resulted in a complete loss of my creative mojo. And it's all down to this. This is Stanley -<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522244354210704818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o4VeB7IAynPMeEd8oRtxPkcUOIb3ZqO6Ri10RWS7Oogh58jMFbaNDFAhEn6D-PY7sQ4O5ltLa-QGWku3y2pq8tkcFaG5xxMyiMqJiZtXHOaqBrSw9XTnGkEANtL9zfRuuYZs5W6-YI-W/s320/008.JPG" /><br />Stanley is my fabulously expensive, as in 'lifetime investment', range cooker. Stanley also provides me with heating and hot water. He is the roasty, toasty focal point of my kitchen. So warm and cosy on cold winter days. In the (nearly) 3 years since I got Stanley, he has become the most popular item of furniture in the house. People gravitate towards him when they enter the kitchen, marvel at him, swoon over him and generally heap praise upon him - he's like a giant magnet. And of course I use him every day. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522244357622437826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIblYJBvkbj5HErMjELfTLP0KH41Iu9-XG-bfAohLRWMVJ68wxrDaNZeTUcnhSB7vQKk-xC1-mZt2Y349OTqWWzHsstXcS6mq-4u8Vca6I7q1JOJvjXoewT_yyqgs9p2vjy1vtY2zNat5Q/s320/009.JPG" /><br />However, if you take a closer look at him, you will see that something is wrong. Very wrong. He ain't working. He is cold. He is unfixed. He is redundant. And, quite frankly, I'm beginning to fall out of love with him. I am in <strong><em>WEEK FOUR</em></strong> - yes, week 4 - of no cooking facilities, other than the microwave. I have had men coming in and out of my kitchen for the last month, attempting to fix him. In fact it's been longer than that - all summer really - since he first started to show signs of not being quite right. Buttons were pressed. Things re-set. New motors fitted. <em>Twice.</em> He still not working. He still ... dead.<br /><br />So for the last month I have been through the entire Tesco range of ready meals, had fish and chips too often and paid for expensive Sunday lunches out. All the while staring at Stanley and wishing, just <em>wishing</em>, he was fixed. And the phone calls. To men who say they can fix him. To men who swear they will send me some spare parts by first class post and 4 days later still nothing. To the shop I bought him from. To the people who made him, in Ireland. So far, no one has managed to fix him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWd9ue-2epE95vhzwskHYCkW2uhsNJol3NsAQDNDmf7PhcEjboDc6ScsdNR1ZY8Zbnnb1Hsuw0m5mA2dSkUgY2cl_py9TfU_KlB5iKnGGRHATxlWOKn2UGhOmF-69tnwWQJ_9Er-qU3Qb/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522244361476335874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWd9ue-2epE95vhzwskHYCkW2uhsNJol3NsAQDNDmf7PhcEjboDc6ScsdNR1ZY8Zbnnb1Hsuw0m5mA2dSkUgY2cl_py9TfU_KlB5iKnGGRHATxlWOKn2UGhOmF-69tnwWQJ_9Er-qU3Qb/s320/010.JPG" /></a>And so yesterday, not knowing whether to break down and cry, or scream myself horse, I had to spend £100 on this piece of kit. It's an electric oven with 2 hobs which you simply plug into the wall. Last night we had Spag Bol and garlic bread and were grateful for every mouthful.<br /><div> </div><div>However. When you pay <em>thousands of pounds</em> (roughly 6) for a special item for your home, you do not expect to be in this position, do you? You expect someone to at least care, at least try, at least be on your side. My head is sore from hitting it against that brick wall.</div><div> </div><div>I feel numb. All the joy I usually feel at this time of year - my favourite time, the autumn - has so far eluded me. I am not warm and toasty and cooking up hearty stews and yummy comfort food. I cannot pop a cake in the oven, when I get the urge, or cook a special meal if I feel like it. I can't sew. I can't create. I don't know what to do with myself :-((</div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-58179466829627681062010-09-17T02:04:00.000-07:002010-09-17T02:24:08.228-07:00Everyone's a WinnerNow you see, because of my Fair Isle obsession, I completely forgot to show you the fabulous fabrics I won recently over on the <a href="http://iamagingermonkey.blogspot.com/">I'm a Ginger Monkey </a>and <a href="http://celticfusionfabrics.com/">Celtic Fusion Fabrics </a>blogs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzEqV2Ikin10wplnRpao_8sNcHyMLhyphenhyphenFDLfQMChXAbthxq924BIZY7ViMv4XIeQLhJYjN2ycV2_BZ5RlNN7VAAidXtvevVCCX7f160enE9wpkCk6EY9TerCkd7S5KfvbZsECnkgT81O_Y/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517806804687532370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzEqV2Ikin10wplnRpao_8sNcHyMLhyphenhyphenFDLfQMChXAbthxq924BIZY7ViMv4XIeQLhJYjN2ycV2_BZ5RlNN7VAAidXtvevVCCX7f160enE9wpkCk6EY9TerCkd7S5KfvbZsECnkgT81O_Y/s320/001.JPG" /></a> As you can see (through the creases - doh - could have ironed them first, eh?), there are some unusual and inspiring fabrics in the bundle.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVOcw7P-n99Jka9YjSvX1iYnUhqqgjSuionenthfvqZVjt7o83LcbvPvna20qGbH5Vdow9oiNEImEdZpnFP35h13XR3K0_wbExNYj0UIyAHmi-KCps0mUyOzbq4-UCyRddjsnMqiLUWNo/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517806788684329762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVOcw7P-n99Jka9YjSvX1iYnUhqqgjSuionenthfvqZVjt7o83LcbvPvna20qGbH5Vdow9oiNEImEdZpnFP35h13XR3K0_wbExNYj0UIyAHmi-KCps0mUyOzbq4-UCyRddjsnMqiLUWNo/s320/002.JPG" /></a> I absolutely adore this Red Riding Hood one - would surely make a lovely pressie for a little girl.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6adfmv6gotgLsCmxINpAewl1OQNUhArU2T_KT_UZBY4Iceft8X81aosKrsVrPUt1KuZv5IbNSc0RfZkryv7gi8gQEN9dSNFJjq87F1TyEcdGMl9qtMLbs-0KneEUm5tS11ZCUEDqdKN9/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517806780307700386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6adfmv6gotgLsCmxINpAewl1OQNUhArU2T_KT_UZBY4Iceft8X81aosKrsVrPUt1KuZv5IbNSc0RfZkryv7gi8gQEN9dSNFJjq87F1TyEcdGMl9qtMLbs-0KneEUm5tS11ZCUEDqdKN9/s320/003.JPG" /></a>As would this one, which I think is Snow White<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3Pf9U7u4a1VqZm-x1qF4EFeDVWCs7g-KBe9iAor0LBFUeIV6ou_FPmGGUGEYlmRbI-8B7BAPa7ysB1COjdrfhq1pxgW3uSWvh2-gagM_53uaaTJ7jz_OZ-t4qhwRCRe9DksJfdVMLSnS/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517806774869428674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3Pf9U7u4a1VqZm-x1qF4EFeDVWCs7g-KBe9iAor0LBFUeIV6ou_FPmGGUGEYlmRbI-8B7BAPa7ysB1COjdrfhq1pxgW3uSWvh2-gagM_53uaaTJ7jz_OZ-t4qhwRCRe9DksJfdVMLSnS/s320/004.JPG" /></a> The purple colour on this is really bright (not shown here very well, I'm afraid),<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBtkoScCqs_njshQ73Zic3eBDuwjMTo8Z1IHRPRzUFewnSPdkFnSoGBuloSEQXoO1RuUNraXKdjbBq39wAdMSfEKZ53gEdr5rM0yFgWDOYQuFHTwBugX95KubSf6THEpS9b92fWFytlAm/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517806763623299298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBtkoScCqs_njshQ73Zic3eBDuwjMTo8Z1IHRPRzUFewnSPdkFnSoGBuloSEQXoO1RuUNraXKdjbBq39wAdMSfEKZ53gEdr5rM0yFgWDOYQuFHTwBugX95KubSf6THEpS9b92fWFytlAm/s320/005.JPG" /></a>But I do think this Russian Doll one is my fave AND - bonus - there's a matching tape to go with it.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517807059676207746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdwM529YiJvFXXO4XU1PP0Z-9hsfmAwBMjKgR5OtGromwk9PUKf9fQC_jTcW8OfrLEZjonUStulHm_A6_kBJqPBzwmwzwNtp1ERCusRJypovEyncsfmKggV_sambWY04bhagq8RRD4ThD/s320/006.JPG" />All in all a fantastic haul, me thinks. In order to win the prize, I had to say what I'd make with them and I said Christmas pressies - I was thinking in terms of book covers for various people. However, the fabrics are so lovely, I may have to re-think that. Hmmmm.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Meanwhile, I am jumping up and down with anticipation as my Amazon account informs me that my pre-ordered copy of <a href="http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/">Alicia Paulson's </a>'Embroidery Companion' will be arriving today! Hurrah! Oh joy. I hope it comes in time for coffee and cake ... perfect, non?</div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-15416702452641831922010-09-15T02:56:00.000-07:002010-09-15T03:22:05.674-07:00Still obsessed<div><div><div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517077580651092034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF8hhzUUCG59s4vBJrvpInteaz2832ct2WTyFUe22ALic355Yf-RbofW9OrLQ1tOpHAeOT2CgHZok8duQp_wIK4ZXVZLaRkgQMxR2mN_bEHGWz6hryDu-H0UZ-OW8IILIhXSAuHzxITDX/s320/001.JPG" /></div><br /><div>Yep, as you can see, this is pretty addictive stuff. Once you get the hang of it, you just can't stop yourself seeing how the next colour is going to work out. I think the fact that I'm using aran wool has been a great help for my first Fair Isle project - you can clearly see where you are and there's less stitches to worry about.</div><br /><div></div><div>The tricky bit is the weaving in of the wool as you go along. If a colour is not being used much in a particular line, then you have to keep catching it in with your working colour, so as not to leave a big loop at the back of the work. This can get a bit tricky when you're using 3 different colours! At the moment, I end up with a great bit tangle of wool at the end of each line, which I then have to untangle before I can carry on. I guess there must be a technique for dealing with this, but I have yet to figure it out.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSB1zkL1MfapPG246gsB3Q9BirZpIwfo8YLC7Z8E2Jj4rMVh6VjuK37bKVa2JJVqg8yp3e1fbSpsDYTdRQiSk03aufI46CbHThllmLLV07ZX55cS4Tcny6LNQ-pQ109V8FBE2bH8_dQRA/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517078078615581874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSB1zkL1MfapPG246gsB3Q9BirZpIwfo8YLC7Z8E2Jj4rMVh6VjuK37bKVa2JJVqg8yp3e1fbSpsDYTdRQiSk03aufI46CbHThllmLLV07ZX55cS4Tcny6LNQ-pQ109V8FBE2bH8_dQRA/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Despite the fact that I'm loving the actual knitting, the whole cardigan has been slightly tainted by the fact that, when I proudly showed it off to husband last night, he said 'oh, a Christmas jumper'. Eeeuch.</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517081385752103026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdwAXEPF_25MQzxZgj9kD_tv1tzXCpzJrIN2YAT-gNZ_l8KlR2R8b0URPbTz9Y00b5Jo0Rmq7cwds2OL0VrLKz_kptv0q-F8P4RO6J5mvSocCjNWpieMnHVKXOK_FkYoFQZVB0Fnjc_wp/s320/013.JPG" /> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRvnCEFKHSlfK6sPQgw7xAUXzApCujczHeNBGqtHB8oZfY8kmHL3U2Ag0ZcV8dPp9YBv-ft2TUek4bRMT5n0Ke_K36oGY5jzxhsfQsFx-rCCVvBD_vuILipeHDSkPzuSfksbkeoIlbkdg/s1600/002.JPG"></a><br />Moving on, you may remember that I started making this felt book for one of the boy's teachers who was having a baby. Well, the baby has been born now (a boy) and the book is finished. Thought I might give you a little peek at it ...<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517081391815924642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFCpRGFaDxzh518ApdfNn54SdgvtOV_KAkfdzbPtZvw3qymwLCHMv3F5bzUf7m8lSDhjYtktMSw2Rpti46f1-ve5wQFgX9aDixwde0tAcu70lx_dK2DkLQCdvRpeqq0paT62lROx23D8i/s320/014.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517082141401059010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSrKZHhiJ2fRQM6Z6AcwJhIvTnN_yWPwW64u0L04UjF1L5iXrgGbjNpu_JycyHfIvT32FCYoGbuqkHfmFatcv61c1ZfRXiQdUwBcJU85jywyIGMXg6iHtMlLrdPEfF4UAbOY3W-DNVElw/s320/016.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517082128310278370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPgaD4zwtkMXXsm453NsHClQNFwLrkuVWt2SQzw9NIycDOMBqmR_TKBnOSw8zjHaD3JC3b_pAsB5OoCJ72FQQqjRY6Fq7H48OIZJgKBckMCogg9F7MKdVx9XGukMRfjtCtjzvEVNAWImI/s320/015.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517082148741226402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5C-dkrvXqtd6z8DbufV1aSY_OsoZQKgY92e4h93ziEZm7VrW9c74RXUytcesNHtZKQ_3PCgZ-8eWzjzmODcSx7trsFQFpMy-APlRc47_NJaLv8dzIAdAMIkFZac-2jG85Aj3WQ8nI-1u/s320/017.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517082151016496290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jwKfncEr5jPypMLRabkMx2pubnBPBW14vI3aV8sE7_Jd5CTH49MJX7yLPCExjYYMje58MKcLVr-R3BKku0ISJIe8sA1L00zU0nw7ZeUcIOYMhDK9HNpOZvKDOCW8nsxETMlrFQVa-Zr9/s320/018.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Hope they like it :-)</p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-12464148597546167872010-09-13T01:26:00.000-07:002010-09-13T01:51:01.057-07:00Uh-oh here comes another obsessionOh dear. You see this is what happens when I am let loose in a wool shop on my own for an entire Saturday afternoon. It all started last week really when I was sort of casting around for a new project. Once the cushions were finished and with the tapestry nearly finished, I got that slight cold sweat at the thought that I didn't actually have another project ready to go.<br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516312094221164866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gSOvLPruFJ9eIIWN8GKXK30n4y06HCBb1xELamm7brfV-RqtNx03W1KTJWJ0Ep-mVamRZAYlSxNPOvl6chLILpLEbkWtFxjEaBAl5sx8bWoIEsgp41HVd7CHnIbUhJ1Rz6OK5p3QvnRY/s320/003.JPG" /></div><div></div><br /><div>And then, as luck would have it, I found myself with an afternoon (child-free) to kill on Saturday and where else could I go, but the wool/sewing shop? I popped into Tesco first and my eyes clapped down upon this little number - have you seen it before? It's quite pricey (£5.99 - yikes!), but unfortunately, as soon as I saw the cardi on the cover I was smitten. A cable cardi, in aran weight, with fairisle - and I am a complete fairisle virgin. Not once have I ever attempted to fairisle. But I have been inspired lately by Vanessa over at <a href="http://doyoumindifiknit.typepad.com/">Do You Mind if I Knit?</a> and her wonderful fairisle dress. </div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516312104466858498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhRm1BdkoXM5bmclj-LvFCaZbtlt3e9K4zHF94fYlpHF4c5Z851QPuNa0uiCgsFDKuuHHzltjxIddrk7XIK0aLVCcSQCTnoAekOViH7KYptZCpw53yNXeZglR1iC6u8k468dJHEBfhckf/s320/001.JPG" /><br />And this is only my second attempt at cable but it is soooooo addictive! I doubt whether I will ever knit anything in stocking stitch again - this is much more fun! And so easy! It's only an 8 stitch repeat over 6 rows, so even I can remember that.</div><br /><div></div><div>Of course, my first problemo was picking the colours. I had originally thought I'd go with the grey, as per the pattern, but that was knocked on the head when there was no grey available. Which is a tad annoying when you're itching to get going, so I went for the cream and these lovely colours for the fairisle bit.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Nd_3HOoLR9h4imk1IamVCUhhgHcZMXxbifR-U0CbaycYmRWFZfdEHgho8Nd8smEvMVdALvETMrFoVEZwB8PMk09svS_Ebk1vnGbsF5aYriLBb8d3rCEDqWGOGf2ooBcuW-cr9P_1MobX/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516312088289130034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Nd_3HOoLR9h4imk1IamVCUhhgHcZMXxbifR-U0CbaycYmRWFZfdEHgho8Nd8smEvMVdALvETMrFoVEZwB8PMk09svS_Ebk1vnGbsF5aYriLBb8d3rCEDqWGOGf2ooBcuW-cr9P_1MobX/s320/005.JPG" /></a>There is also a mustard yellow to go in there too - that one I did have to order. I figured it would take me ages to cable my way up to the fairisle bit, but as you can see, I'm pretty much almost there. And I only started it on Saturday night in front of X Factor AND I did a tension square first. I am not using the Artesano wool specified - just a much cheaper wool/acrylic mix because I<em> hope</em> I will be wearing it - and washing it - quite a lot this winter. </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516317261280436642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-CEcVTRNGhqzmBD6DLt9NHmH-JplyQQHtu1GG-9vILfAcHuvpnKRfZ97KOt19kHlOUW27AQPW1CF-xm_zAsghPqzJj_dJFEBZl4nz7WtAkWxfHrKzz0OZhOBQBPbkFg_ExstXH4vNh0y/s320/004.JPG" /><br />Well, wish me luck on the fairisle. Luckily, I have a How to Knit book by Debblie Bliss which goes over the basics, so hopefully I should be okay. </div><div> </div><div>P.S. Apologies for crap nature of pictures - all lights on today as it's hammering it down!</div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-3669771133776119732010-09-10T02:23:00.001-07:002010-09-10T02:36:54.654-07:00Cushion AccomplishedOkay, so I finally went with the patchwork on cushion no.2.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThh80W7xsTaPslyWY70oMkrn8HD3dQotfRyEggH9G6_xWHe-H1-v_lycvcp-ODz0UxHP3bT-NaHhMxEKg_gU7AXzRneQ2tBQZCdfgHx-5FeYTXR3tomUPcBaB3SYqbQ11zls9B_3I5cKl/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515213470990344226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThh80W7xsTaPslyWY70oMkrn8HD3dQotfRyEggH9G6_xWHe-H1-v_lycvcp-ODz0UxHP3bT-NaHhMxEKg_gU7AXzRneQ2tBQZCdfgHx-5FeYTXR3tomUPcBaB3SYqbQ11zls9B_3I5cKl/s320/002.JPG" /></a> Am fairly pleased with it. Think the whole seating area needs more cushions, though, but hopefully my cupcakes tapestry will fill the gap. Although then, of course, I'll need another one to balance it out.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D8o3zWZv3TZSOhXd35kTtn-Pz73L246QMQYO5axk0SqE3zDeVs-TrTRGvfGsxFBL1vi2O1ZWGqB0pip51AlNGv3q28dgLvQrCl9CSQzqWgGCpkp7it5bECGo_N_3lcwZbqrk4ElSzoBG/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515213448175057266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D8o3zWZv3TZSOhXd35kTtn-Pz73L246QMQYO5axk0SqE3zDeVs-TrTRGvfGsxFBL1vi2O1ZWGqB0pip51AlNGv3q28dgLvQrCl9CSQzqWgGCpkp7it5bECGo_N_3lcwZbqrk4ElSzoBG/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br />I got this tapestry kit from the <a href="http://www.historicalsamplercompany.co.uk/home.php?cat=140">Historical Sampler Company</a>. It's the first one I've done and I have to say I really enjoy doing it. It's almost a cross between knitting and sewing and is a nice, gentle project to do whilst curled up in front of the fire/tv. </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515214821062312674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRy1UYXR9Wm6atSjxnOz6IoqJVT5cq2jVjnP9tVMBMTkd3QDRqqU89UWAad7PzGLM8m_2JerlvMyYLGNYXD_HMgvCxyBTKKbxOZ2otwRTvFPKt21HCNJc26hy4AnZL61Vr4Mrvw0lGt4b/s320/023.JPG" />I've done the top row of cupcakes since I took this pic, so I'm on the home straight. It's a dreadful day here today, so I might just do something I never do in the daytime - catch up on some telly :)Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-30606200180863694012010-09-08T01:42:00.001-07:002010-09-08T01:58:56.447-07:00Ahh, Sunny September<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqBzkwbL3F31Gb-Eft-oo-U8d2y9rg_ZazJmOhbPdnDEdhwbqoLS668wqj3DMrni9FdNY2p8AAAFJ5za_U43ggLHe6TF4llGByh10_lnB3YUgODZndRI_lJWS9tX9sDFSx34g6QbFaQWT/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514461348773573394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqBzkwbL3F31Gb-Eft-oo-U8d2y9rg_ZazJmOhbPdnDEdhwbqoLS668wqj3DMrni9FdNY2p8AAAFJ5za_U43ggLHe6TF4llGByh10_lnB3YUgODZndRI_lJWS9tX9sDFSx34g6QbFaQWT/s320/006.JPG" /></a>Oooh, how I love September. And Autumn. And Winter, in fact. But September is so good for ultra sunny mornings, but with that lovely chill in the air. The grass this morning had just a faint hint of white about it and even now still has a thick layer of dew, sparkling in the sunshine (which you would be able to see, had I got a decent camera). My slippers are wet, just from hanging out the washing.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514461326451584706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBLzHKe0ffq_IRCHaaOEYG8RAdH3z-vQofLTYQU6R1ASWT8Tnge88gdC7m9vojuaKPRo-b1dw4x4LSSEj8NZZDZx4UjnoooUAd2xT_ShYM08fwQlZIS3emw2d3ZQuMvgCaMrk2v31OIgA/s320/003.JPG" /></div><div>Well, on Monday I achieved one complete cushion cover by the end of school time AND managed to give the house a damn good clean too. Amazing what can be done when there are no interruptions. As you can see, I went for the old favourite of hearts. Can't say it's terribly imaginitive, but I think it works okay.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514461333050866706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09eGaWStz-Kj-a1McQWNl9l08HEZ_NLpxqLBvSKm1MqRdrE630tSZglzDf2XcgMcLGQ0f5WzMejdocQc-M_0S_85kh3TYWq9PQdWh7a0ZpBENJpBPar-r6SOYWMo0y42capO0AHNWYIas/s320/004.JPG" />But now I don't know what to do for the other one. I <em>was</em> thinking the same navy background fabric, but with a different design on the front. I tried it yesterday but it didn't quite look right. Am now thinking perhaps a patchwork design instead. Hopefully, some inspiration will hit me soon. That's how it works, usually. I think and think and think for ages and then suddenly, whilst I'm cooking the tea or hanging out the washing - ping! - a vision appears and I have to rush and try it out. It's just the way it happens with me and I know now that if I don't immediately try it out, then it will just bug me and bug me for ages until I do.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaXalKMfMeaKWs-Io3sLFLvptNRqdkHLQQqhx1UPUw4VqbACDqEBjqo3-DQzE15dn24O87f9t69X7tOK_ooTzWvCB9J44jZGRGBiXHWmWmQsvkFzc1j9wc3d_SgCkS4qsL-91CUoDZ4Ar/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514461341340864962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaXalKMfMeaKWs-Io3sLFLvptNRqdkHLQQqhx1UPUw4VqbACDqEBjqo3-DQzE15dn24O87f9t69X7tOK_ooTzWvCB9J44jZGRGBiXHWmWmQsvkFzc1j9wc3d_SgCkS4qsL-91CUoDZ4Ar/s320/001.JPG" /></a> After all that talk of the Great British Bake Off the other day, and what with my lovely new book looking so pristine and unused, I thought perhaps a little baking wouldn't go amiss. The boy selected these - they are a cross between a jammy dodger and a cake, really. Yum! Very easy to make, I must say and only 10 mins in the oven. Super.</div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-48459723857008022822010-09-06T03:16:00.001-07:002010-09-06T03:58:50.760-07:00Back to normal<div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIaOaa8S3nTN_LnwmfcjRc3gJMyYeiqRQcYAnhfRrvSK_FxX5v-LQZyu3c01gb2Oyf2aITKGmwFt9-r3KZ7FW5Gk6uBJb6_6Gt9j5QkwyiLKmse9Uztp2sRJO29FLj9coDJWFWcrt7EM5/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513742844830320130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIaOaa8S3nTN_LnwmfcjRc3gJMyYeiqRQcYAnhfRrvSK_FxX5v-LQZyu3c01gb2Oyf2aITKGmwFt9-r3KZ7FW5Gk6uBJb6_6Gt9j5QkwyiLKmse9Uztp2sRJO29FLj9coDJWFWcrt7EM5/s320/012.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Are you sitting comfortably? As you can see, I am. Celebrating the 8.30am walk up the hill to the school gates. God love him. He couldn't wait to get there, he was so excited about being in Year 1! And now, at last, I have time to blog, in peace, with no interruptions. Aaaaaah.</div><br /><div></div><div>Firstly, I return to my kitchen project. You may remember <a href="http://www.borntosew.blogspot.com/2010/03/pay-it-forward.html">this one </a>from earlier in the year - I have a window seat area in the dining bit of the kitchen and it's just never been quite right. Earlier in the year I started making new cushion covers, but to be honest, I still wasn't that sure about the direction in which it was headed and only made 2 and then came to a halt. But last week I suddenly got a flash on inspiration from the fabulous programme called <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tr94k">The Great British Bake Off</a>. I don't know whether you've caught it (BBC, Tues evenings). It's not the baking, it's the fabulous styling on the set. They have set up a sort of Masterchef-style kitchen where every contestant has their own workspace, except it's in a marquee (in a different location each week) and yet somehow, they have made it like a country kitchen. All Smegs, union jacks, spots, pinks and reds and creams, Cath K, all that stuff. It looks brilliant. And I thought - that's it! This is the look I've been searching for! Then, I realised, that the new cookery book I'd treated myself to in Tesco last week, is in fact the book to accompany the series (doh!). </div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513747309992733634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3nRwYvCb_6ks06qrP-BTJtDwu74YVCeFOnPD44-qa5QjJOch5Bi1kpDuzPx8ybhujWW2nQoNyNRIPNqX1rpLtVsNyfUowUZJfJf5LxOErm9eiFpJdTnJSVffY8m5tEpBI0Jc_EtHX1yn/s320/019.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513747308504322962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMJgwNfUfBSr7DPl-ffNbH2yOO4svn57YABZkbXEe7eopAsbnabYZ1xXcW-cGvwREtDhde4kus_HpC_elUX57Qink3-tVsDv-7_Y89NHutJkrgO7dE0oH8ViPy7swHEBCnG5Khvcb97Jk/s320/020.JPG" />See what I mean? Then it dawned on me that there are rather a lot of Union Jacks about in soft furnishing at the moment something which, I for one, am very pleased about. I can remember going to the States years ago and being amazed at the amount of flags there were everywhere - not just on flagpoles outside every house, but inside aswell, incorporated into their lovely Shaker/New England style furnishings. I remember thinking what a shame we don't do that here. But - hurrah - at last we seem to have caught on.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513745833164983314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR3KWgGhxKwaWsaBQwl7lDMlJKnQ3bPYoYhgYpSHbMF7mA0gZEY9EzXvBY1DZigTwOwRiSAaZWCiUcSTGm-IAD-T6qxFvRO1NAthNAVJT5jNWvSoGZ4QT0a1eEXUDUec3oDwobkuM1D17/s320/006.JPG" /><br />And last week, in my blissful 2 solid hours in Dunelm Mill (sans child, avec purse), I came across this lovely cush. Just the job, I thought and I took it as my starting point for the windowseat makeover, part 2.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513749269217625698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkuOMGtQbFron6qSQn0cHaOmr7oa-8dME5-cWsmPd59EY8GpmhUru8wWo3djZeUHmui-YUkkXmLiPC9NcZkirdxCmaCQeGoFl28SRrwzCQbE8J6MYj6z4YXP0ApiTY6bUZwCJCCOetrtE/s320/008.JPG" />I got this lovely cherry red spot fabric and quickly got to work making a new seat cover.</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513749284344512498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFvS4KIxpOG_PoCPnHIQP2oudo17votJ1iiE-lacrp21xO1wciZR9CmfiBcXJUog0AcwG_z6m9fZlUwKQgyBht9sli_EpN-0B-168f_Lj1zzofXwVmH1Vn1e5GhqHFE-5F7AiO95Rzo3P/s320/010.JPG" /><br />I even put proper zips in the back, so that it is fully removable/washable. I also bought 2 more bolster-size cushion pads (same size as union jack cush) to cover. Am tres pleased with the result now. Despite only buying 2 metres of the spot fabic, I still have loads left over, so I'm going to use it in the designs for the new cushions. I'm thinking along the lines of applique designs - maybe even a bit of Poppy Treffry, who knows.</div><br /><div></div><div>And then - last night, I suddenly remembered this:</div><div> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513751432911338898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSpghaavM6FyT28JGt0rjP1BZUhbb_F6kimhDiVnuimDHl15yDItuLT9cyqR9AzOTEuc_r-IYsP-TSrON0c6gDUX-56vsAOkNxyeKhUiEaxkHMBXyA5sO5_h90HixbT_6DP196tcSN55d/s320/023.JPG" />This is the tapestry kit my brother got me for Christmas and which I got about 2/3rds of the way through before dropping and forgetting about. Think it could work its way into the new window seat - what do you think? Nobody ever actually sits on the seat, by the way, making it the perfect place to display cushions! I'm not quite sure how you go about making it into a cushion cover - guess I shall have to do a bit of research on that one.</div><div> </div><div>Righty'o. Might as well get on with it then :)</div></div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-867973448416041822010-09-02T02:33:00.000-07:002010-09-02T03:02:42.794-07:00I'm a Winner!Well hello everyone, long time no hear (ahem!). We are still hanging on in there with the summer holidays - <em>almost </em>over now - that means <em>almost</em> back to my nice little routines, such as blogging, sewing, knitting, creating - you know, all that stuff that I would really, <em>really</em> like to do instead of playing Buzz Lightyear, or Lightening McQueen ... I know, I know, I shouldn't complain but really -<strong> 7</strong> weeks? <strong>SEVEN</strong> weeks? Please don't get me started on the subject of 'Teachers - how easy do they have it?' ... <div><div></div><br /><div>Okay. And breathe out. I HAVE WON SOMETHING! Hurrah! Am very excited to be the lucky winner over on <a href="http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/">I'm a Ginger Monkey's </a>blog, in association with <a href="http://www.celticfusionfabrics.com/">Celtic Fusions Fabrics </a>of a fabulous bundle of fat quarters! They look scrummy, I must say. If you haven't been to Celtic Fusions website then get yourself over there now - it's full of the most inspiring and wonderful fabrics that will get your creative juices flowing straight away. Can't wait for the postie now :)</div><div></div><br /><div>Unfortunately, the only sewing I've been doing this week is attaching name labels to the new school uniform. Yawn. I've learnt from experience that, even in a school with only 9 pupils in the class (46 in whole school!), you still need to label absolutely everything. 5 year olds can't read, you see, and when the item arrives in some other mum's laundry basket, how does she know whose it is? Precisely.</div><div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512251674082008642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKmoM3evnibGk69HyAvugu_XfZalpQmndsFxNwGJF_zfFQjO3vNOcAvfMykPoV9ZQylhQhbBJM0zs3nodoA4VvL4uQ_wbLgB1thf8i6-HbJ-IwtuPXcgvedSBZlyALeNmwj1Bev3ztm0g/s320/010.JPG" />Ooh, ooh. Tell a lie. I did manage to sew this last week - it's a book cover. My attempt at some Poppy Treffry 'freestyle' machine sewing. This is where you drop the feed dog, put your fabric into an embroidery hoop to keep it nice and flat and then basically you can stitch in any direction you wish, using the hoop to move the fabric around. It takes a bit of practise, but it's very effect, although I admit that I only seem to have done straight lines here - doh! <div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512251669719596866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBuKEfDMBAuHhiEm4-a_Fv8Fqwoa3G1Rop9s509YCCw42kpA6bueEzz4NNzW7G727flzxV1LwWl3nC3aEMgeujFJO9ReVrjAeCtjSOl9WEoX05EEpB9F3DWy6Iz_UcMnpTqTwX8rtwe2d/s320/011.JPG" /></div></div><br /><p>This is the book I have which shows you how to do it. You may have seen some of her teacosies and things in the shops - they are very expensive because she does them all herself, but she has a unique style which I like. Not sure if I'm going to do too much of this myself though - it was really very fiddly and, unless you practise like a demon, you never know until you're actually stitching whether it's going to come out as you want it to. Plus, every time you put the hoop under the machine you have to take off your presser foot and ... it's just fiddly, believe me. But effective.</p><p>Righto - am off to loose myself in the fabric department at Dunelm Mill now. Sans child. Avec purse. Hee.</p>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-88317519876067796962010-08-19T13:46:00.001-07:002010-08-19T13:54:34.493-07:00Yum! Yum!This morning we went blackberry picking along the hedgerows of the lanes nearby. We had to reach high for where the ripe ones were, but we came back with a <em>kilo</em> of fruit!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY-xn1l-wFrd5C6DZGaUIr1MUbWxDiXDU7clhMtaVskXVkT88C44nfjoPY3TA8gRlG1I5RC38kEehvZpfbpWCmP5EZ_SjxsS2XsBFcXBkP_OqE26ajstOlf8lUSP15T2oHIcq9mdTF3H_/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 206px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507225925212157906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY-xn1l-wFrd5C6DZGaUIr1MUbWxDiXDU7clhMtaVskXVkT88C44nfjoPY3TA8gRlG1I5RC38kEehvZpfbpWCmP5EZ_SjxsS2XsBFcXBkP_OqE26ajstOlf8lUSP15T2oHIcq9mdTF3H_/s320/001.JPG" /></a> Here are the hands to prove it.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYObT9yhpun5f4WARNNpMtk48YHHQfUlR9oeZl7drJnDGr6QsBIeWFKJU5Iep0lDO1CTPe1kyEHWZCDW0iVJw6CVVpkF5n4YkEHkwkH5q1Az67_xPtvKWwDOI-oI261_FLgCrawA99-wd/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507225915478038850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYObT9yhpun5f4WARNNpMtk48YHHQfUlR9oeZl7drJnDGr6QsBIeWFKJU5Iep0lDO1CTPe1kyEHWZCDW0iVJw6CVVpkF5n4YkEHkwkH5q1Az67_xPtvKWwDOI-oI261_FLgCrawA99-wd/s320/002.JPG" /></a><br />With this bag of blackberries we made - 19 muffins ...</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij17dzCTSZcyK4O0GS4VH785lfQv-eg9Ls4t_62suufV4rjE4aMeeRB_bbx8gLr1s2-WAo5bvJ17zPY5__WJrxNmgALRCmDtWwTURVe_JXnzUyEQgSUktPxYk6HLNwzktVib8Rp6rFusMB/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507225908696612034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij17dzCTSZcyK4O0GS4VH785lfQv-eg9Ls4t_62suufV4rjE4aMeeRB_bbx8gLr1s2-WAo5bvJ17zPY5__WJrxNmgALRCmDtWwTURVe_JXnzUyEQgSUktPxYk6HLNwzktVib8Rp6rFusMB/s320/005.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>2 blackberry and apple crumbles (one cooked and ready for the freezer, the other awaiting tea-time) ...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kILhiNcPpwi24NdbBvgAov_FhpXxNCUm7itk966XsR_2Mov7Lp81quDeX1n3-AxCvg3ah7TWLokCifTwqTMte6LXhD0QQULhAlfuSxEgbN4ZGpgibmXI6CSl7kMq7ge-IpXWJ2M-i-Ti/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507225903552316642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kILhiNcPpwi24NdbBvgAov_FhpXxNCUm7itk966XsR_2Mov7Lp81quDeX1n3-AxCvg3ah7TWLokCifTwqTMte6LXhD0QQULhAlfuSxEgbN4ZGpgibmXI6CSl7kMq7ge-IpXWJ2M-i-Ti/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br />and also enjoyed a very refreshing smoothie which was in no small part blackberry! All I had to buy was 2 cooking apples for the crumbles, everything else I already had. Hurray for free food and a day's activities all rolled into one!</div><div> </div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-55562662712595361092010-08-15T07:23:00.001-07:002010-08-15T07:30:36.447-07:00Just about surviving ...... the school holidays. Crikey, it's hard work with a 5 year old boy, an only child in a small village with no other kids. He's just a bit too young yet to cycle down to the next village and play with his friends on his own. Either I have to go with him, or more likely, I have to play/entertain him at home. He's very good at playing on his own and I love to see him totally engrossed in his own 'play' world, but as it's been raining constantly for 4 weeks now (except today - at last), it's been quite a challenge to keep the ideas and activities flowing.<br /><br />Last week we had a week at Centerparcs. O.M.G. NEVER AGAIN. I could give you a very, very long list of the things I didn't like about it, but I wont. I think we just chose the wrong holiday for us - although, thankfully, the boy did enjoy it - it's just that his parents didn't!<br /><br />Anyhow, today I'm chambermaiding between visitors. Rushing round with the hoover and stuffing the washing machine full. Have had absolutely no time for anything creative so far these hols, so I'm sort of feeling a bit strange really. My creative mojo has temporarily taken a holiday, me thinks. there is just no time in the day for my activities and by the evenings I'm too knackered. Oh, woe is me! Still, only 3 more weeks to go ...Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-59597114700641941862010-07-22T14:07:00.000-07:002010-07-22T14:21:48.141-07:00De-clutter bugI'm in the grip of a de-cluttering frenzy. I don't quite know how it started - no, actually, I think I do know how it started. It was when the boy and his friend were trying to find something to use as 'pretend snow' the other day (don't ask) and I suggested that the holes from the hole-punch would make good snow. Thence began the search for said hole-punch. It was not in the desk. Not in any of the (4) kitchen drawers - sorry, bottom-less pits - that it could have been in, not under either of the staircases - i.e. general dumping grounds. In fact, after looking in about 10 different places it kind of struck me that perhaps it should not be so difficult to find an item such as a hole-punch. Especially if you have a desk - which is where it <em>should</em> be. Obviously.<br /><br />The revelation that I am a bit of a clutter-bug has been complete news to me. Being, as I am (or thought I was) a bit of a Bree Van Der Kampf (Desperate Housewives) who is really a desperate Martha Stewart, I was quite sure that clutter was not my style. Until I asked my husband if he thought I was a horder. He sort of looked shiftily sideways and said 'um'. Nuff said. I understand. I get it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV4lCU-g220EVXBGEm6cUJEXLumtnYgtx2BCG61JBy_3R9TpNqPEVKtvBQetx4uDkboNg1avchWtFPtVk9RKZrXknh5TSn8PAzi_vOZ0nNI_X2dt2RyTmVZ07b8YE4MMRQFehV8tf3IPa/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496840564912069426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV4lCU-g220EVXBGEm6cUJEXLumtnYgtx2BCG61JBy_3R9TpNqPEVKtvBQetx4uDkboNg1avchWtFPtVk9RKZrXknh5TSn8PAzi_vOZ0nNI_X2dt2RyTmVZ07b8YE4MMRQFehV8tf3IPa/s320/021.JPG" /></a> I must admit I was somewhat shocked when I decided that first up, I'd tackle the magazine pile(s). It turns out, I have magazines dating back to July 2007. That's 3 years worth of magazines - say about 3 or 4 a month -!!! Not good. These enormous Tesco bags are too heavy to lift up, actually. I may need assistance getting them into the boot of the car. There was a very slight exclamation about how much money they may have cost us - until I squelched that one right on the head with the mention of the word beer.<br /><br />Just in case you were wondering, I did of course go through each and every magazine to check that I had cut out anything I wanted to keep. I'm not that daft ;) The question is ... what next? ...<br /><div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-69919032702808658262010-07-13T03:21:00.001-07:002010-07-13T03:49:14.249-07:00Still Knitting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWIB6KvvQ-0dC_TacmQrU_tJ8rSSgxWaEtdlVbAgGWRx5fEqvykzUtDJGHkGCij07v-EbNERU91-1vBOaXJQeCnM90FjPCsjRNilQjt-bowU_D8s_nd_yqXWyq0legFlmPq78yVkETd-i/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493335612540890818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWIB6KvvQ-0dC_TacmQrU_tJ8rSSgxWaEtdlVbAgGWRx5fEqvykzUtDJGHkGCij07v-EbNERU91-1vBOaXJQeCnM90FjPCsjRNilQjt-bowU_D8s_nd_yqXWyq0legFlmPq78yVkETd-i/s320/023.JPG" /></a> Okay, so I've finally finished this. I made it shorter than the pattern - it should have been 10cm longer on the lacey bit, but I wanted it to sit just above the hips, on the waist, so I shortened it. And I'm glad I did because it's just right like this.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU6XfK700qF40xlKjnILBJte2rsnpDWjd0F9iF5LfC8FJQNJcQYb8sUi8-tVuALY_RgMWiDmTduozXwi_5SS0HTDEAQyjbe_5R9KYY9uiPUN250oKz65OYSzrV21UgM1HKPUwbjwft4NI/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493335598538242786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU6XfK700qF40xlKjnILBJte2rsnpDWjd0F9iF5LfC8FJQNJcQYb8sUi8-tVuALY_RgMWiDmTduozXwi_5SS0HTDEAQyjbe_5R9KYY9uiPUN250oKz65OYSzrV21UgM1HKPUwbjwft4NI/s320/024.JPG" /></a>It looks much better on! Especially with a white T-shirt underneath, as you can really see the lacey bit then. In fact I like it so much that I decided to use that luscious blue yarn I got from Woolfest to make another.</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7pcEe2YTfCFIqSGg_0S2S7ECQV96CfaTy3wK7ehPbK_mVkvTo6KKJB_V4gobui2w7LkMBM6Kly_f55nOy2X4yFRWipa-46OAP4Zf7AVX_za6N7XiC6zWJ_ISV-9CSjXSzv98lU3s3UFB/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493335589336675794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7pcEe2YTfCFIqSGg_0S2S7ECQV96CfaTy3wK7ehPbK_mVkvTo6KKJB_V4gobui2w7LkMBM6Kly_f55nOy2X4yFRWipa-46OAP4Zf7AVX_za6N7XiC6zWJ_ISV-9CSjXSzv98lU3s3UFB/s320/022.JPG" /></a><br />Only problem is - I don't have quite enough - arrggghhhh! However, luckily - and in an extremely rare fit of organisation - I managed to write down which stalls I got all my yarns from at Woolfest (I know, stunning, eh), so I know that I got this from <a href="http://www.woolfish.co.uk/">Woolfish</a> and I've been in touch to order another skein.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPLRpBmE41YPATkJNymH-PNj6_uT_V-dxGucj2T8_6Mr4YJUMjTdoQF2BYGV0C0pPFLLh40qfd5jlNOEJSkdX1NpYz-dVY-XjaASg5QKsIWBrBi4vQWKYX33W2sLXV4MB_nET_RDvI6Vb/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493335019349454274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPLRpBmE41YPATkJNymH-PNj6_uT_V-dxGucj2T8_6Mr4YJUMjTdoQF2BYGV0C0pPFLLh40qfd5jlNOEJSkdX1NpYz-dVY-XjaASg5QKsIWBrBi4vQWKYX33W2sLXV4MB_nET_RDvI6Vb/s320/019.JPG" /></a> Meanwhile, as I wait for more blue yarn to arrive, I thought I'd start on this fabulous number - from the Kim Hargreaves Misty book.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7XRH3_MxS8L7cFXupIwlYoaYrqziE3EmfItVbEFScGNymDHI6_So4i7e09gPiPY56XFxAq-MCiZ9w8QO1Rvxotvt-T7DzcdPTnyRGm5RRSYyJW2RsjJIowrGYAZVbAw6AnXF6vn7-kG9/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493335004208794098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7XRH3_MxS8L7cFXupIwlYoaYrqziE3EmfItVbEFScGNymDHI6_So4i7e09gPiPY56XFxAq-MCiZ9w8QO1Rvxotvt-T7DzcdPTnyRGm5RRSYyJW2RsjJIowrGYAZVbAw6AnXF6vn7-kG9/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br />As you can see, the back is shaped rather interestingly, and it's this bit you start with.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvfYcUQNehqfnOqk8jEYa3c31IH07Okg-4gtgBUdAEI-plGvJa7VOYJyIH5OWYou1KAaHFC03ou-x8MwDjtwG8JhOsaqj4NH8I0HadfyHC8Kkc3UiwSA8bNHDOaW9eeTMok_lQEliTAo-/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493334991911390450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvfYcUQNehqfnOqk8jEYa3c31IH07Okg-4gtgBUdAEI-plGvJa7VOYJyIH5OWYou1KAaHFC03ou-x8MwDjtwG8JhOsaqj4NH8I0HadfyHC8Kkc3UiwSA8bNHDOaW9eeTMok_lQEliTAo-/s320/020.JPG" /></a> I've never done anything like this before, but you use a technique called wrapping. This is where you knit, say, the first 3 stitches, then you turn and knit back - but - you don't just turn, you do a sort of convaluted wrap-over thing with the yarn, so that you don't get a hole in the knitting. Then you knit back to the beginning. Then, the next row, you knit past your 3 stitches again picking up the 'wrapped' stitch, then carry on to say the 6th stitch and then wrap and turn again. So really you're just doing some shorter rows at one end of your needles. For this (above) you had to wrap and turn until you got to the 31st stitch. then you carry on across the needle to the other end and reverse it all. Very effective though, eh? It was made slightly more complicated for me on this because it's moss stitch and the wrapping technique is all about taking the yarn to the opposite side of your work before you wrap - so I had to really think about which side I should be wrapping. I know - this probably makes no sense whatsoever, but if you look it up on utube (as I did) you'll (hopefully) see what I mean!<br /><br />It's knitted in this gorgeous Rowan Lenpur Linen, by the way - you can probably see it has a sort of sheen on it so that it reflects the light - beautiful.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xdtHT3MfStaCILkaOzhWFFMhFB5jcRN-iBIzSWh-tRIRthuA15aqp2GioWHxHkqraXSN9x7L3Y1j8pA2DysPFp0ZQhjP079TtLpi2r9IEeGg6ZFyEV_GlSRZdEgrgVXf0C4E6PG_0Ob6/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493334986246331218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xdtHT3MfStaCILkaOzhWFFMhFB5jcRN-iBIzSWh-tRIRthuA15aqp2GioWHxHkqraXSN9x7L3Y1j8pA2DysPFp0ZQhjP079TtLpi2r9IEeGg6ZFyEV_GlSRZdEgrgVXf0C4E6PG_0Ob6/s320/021.JPG" /></a> At one point last week I randomly decided to knit a teddy bear. God knows why because I think they're a bit naff really, but this one just sort of appealed to me. So - here he is - named Timmy (by the boy). As you can see, he is wearing a rather lovely pair of pygamas (made from an old pair of the boy's!!). He is now the new bedtime teddy. I'm still not sure about him but he certainly looks chuffed with himself.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsAcYCAOUkXc9HvZDNUO82ruEz_Cmi_KOfkkTQDnIPI9vPCg-Q-MVFIoXcvO0q17GA2UASe6tv9y98OANqE8Lpt5liOvnivKQrEYhLoeYtisAKszCqdNEJ3PFBp23h0DQe1U5dxFkgisG/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493334977031458674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsAcYCAOUkXc9HvZDNUO82ruEz_Cmi_KOfkkTQDnIPI9vPCg-Q-MVFIoXcvO0q17GA2UASe6tv9y98OANqE8Lpt5liOvnivKQrEYhLoeYtisAKszCqdNEJ3PFBp23h0DQe1U5dxFkgisG/s320/025.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-26398300977755425142010-07-08T05:38:00.000-07:002010-07-08T05:50:51.546-07:00Tank Top LoveYou know it's a funny thing, but I have just realised that I am a bit obsessed with Tank Tops. For years now, I have been on the holy grail of finding the perfect Tank Top. You see, being the classic pear shape that I am, my thinking is that the bulk/extra layer of a tank top on your top half kind of helps to balance out the hips. And yet, somehow, so many tank tops do not look right. Some do - I have 2 in my wardrobe that I wear - but I also have lots of others that look catastophic. Actually, tank tops are pretty hard items to find in the shops (perhaps because they are about 30 years out of fashion? I don't know, it could be that:). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEO_1mvdusR4fSu_-mnhhzleAKFqE5E1998uAnHKdgXkvh_MnDkaEu81iepaaafiQnewXK2F4FeqYDVdmxPjd0l6IAGlvqFsPT44Ha09TsYf2SfQsItbknHXw-1rMezzdz56PvtQ0m5-9h/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491514769788581618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEO_1mvdusR4fSu_-mnhhzleAKFqE5E1998uAnHKdgXkvh_MnDkaEu81iepaaafiQnewXK2F4FeqYDVdmxPjd0l6IAGlvqFsPT44Ha09TsYf2SfQsItbknHXw-1rMezzdz56PvtQ0m5-9h/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br />Anyhow, it suddenly occurred to me the other day that a tank top would be the most perfect item of clothing for a 5 year old boy! Hurrah! An excuse to create my (well, his) very own tank top creation!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTpMyQb6sXrShYXkt5iR0ZIMW7cFs05TX1r7Mvhhj_HsTMlapolFmuVQJnWJ340XZBUWFc7NRSjsDrtPl6Ukr5LYJXEakWfkbN2twwUs0O-lXBJaWskFk0SJYpDOg0jI2sxB_Ygjayrt_/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491514765642952146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTpMyQb6sXrShYXkt5iR0ZIMW7cFs05TX1r7Mvhhj_HsTMlapolFmuVQJnWJ340XZBUWFc7NRSjsDrtPl6Ukr5LYJXEakWfkbN2twwUs0O-lXBJaWskFk0SJYpDOg0jI2sxB_Ygjayrt_/s320/005.JPG" /></a>I used up the rest of my Rowan Milk Cotton on this, imagining it as some sort of 'cricket' top (NOT that he plays crickets, of course not), or teamed with some navy shorts.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBMLwruJi7tXQvx7xFQDIkMugrvxJDZ916TavmY6aMXQ-dUq0LDKL2d8QTGncMv4kMyfBMlwcx0JBN1XeccaTV8BGdjoqg76k_j2aO8V73noz8OxSdLicF_a5nkRUIZsH0ZvtBNHJQyuy/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491514757364779538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBMLwruJi7tXQvx7xFQDIkMugrvxJDZ916TavmY6aMXQ-dUq0LDKL2d8QTGncMv4kMyfBMlwcx0JBN1XeccaTV8BGdjoqg76k_j2aO8V73noz8OxSdLicF_a5nkRUIZsH0ZvtBNHJQyuy/s320/007.JPG" /></a>I think it's turned out okay. So I'm going to start another one in this glorious yarn that I got from Woolfest. A perfect colour to go with jeans, no? I do hope the boy likes it (he hasn't seen it yet). Me thinks he might just be in for a few more tank tops in the future ...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491514779363832274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuEtfKogTgkXJNcbRGAmeLZZGepo20svtcOYhNlgba6mB6D-HazSAFkz00GdVn7gEjkUndyRuwXVEIdQuyq1L7NT9YXYXweemy50G8PvJlW0ZMaXyfLbY-dAbIhpGe76DthZBp7d8462I/s320/007.JPG" /></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-32292856327621572452010-07-02T04:07:00.000-07:002010-07-02T04:29:40.366-07:00Baby LoveSo. The boy's teacher is having a baby. Soon. I mean she's huge, god love her. And she's such a lovely teacher that of course I've been wanting to give her (or the baby) a little pressie. We don't know what sex it is yet, which does make it slightly tricky when you're planning presents, especially if you need time to make it.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489264881175156610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaGaO5Uv-qsxZk5EadfRq7r_FeIoPN-icjEsGL2t2zSz6CbOtEKjmg_TXFjIGVWX8l9sTYxQh00kSeKVYtj7eSQ1ryegPWJ2yGIJH8WS47AAjDbRTwK9A2YDy0oyyWbkEu8Xeaa_4ta3J/s320/006.JPG" /><br />Anyhow, I came across a fab idea in this book - Sew Liberated by Meg McElwee. I got it ages ago - it's mainly about embellishment and applique - but I haven't made anything from it yet.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489264888492596962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHdeyrA2dgiswZwQ_yRJhYNII2XNXB2hzEJAcGw98_XNDY4_AVm2ZdjxxMNWeI982SuAK4VDGHShVsYF1cNIB0HF8a8cgdCBts8krmyAjwrc7di8vcBpdZDH9k3elWLc8X8enM5RN8G6s/s320/001.JPG" /><br /><br />Anyhow, the idea is for a felt book.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489264897226511394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-XzK94-7qvhIrXRfrTD4o6BKFswT0g6OhCiSBGZrdsDlPXwwAAD-pjmavCa0EYTf-tZZGBdHnLDTgb9XGmpe5EBNos9yc7E3oLudsrVDpIkP5oZmUBXcApC1NYuf_Xq3jhz2kFT5Gm7H/s320/002.JPG" /><br />All the patterns for the motifs are given at the back of the book, so it's just a case of tracing them, cutting them out and then finding suitable pieces of material to use. Now I haven't got a huge amount of felt - just a few colours really - so I decided that any material would pretty much do, if bondawebbed onto the panel before handstitching around the edges.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489264908556080930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPSH5_f4iO60hQviX-4vgVPD3IQiwghhVqv5kRxRlQCi2ZrvYeeasO5yqZtywPAoqv39zRPsS6ls6-S-1NbwPQWBCz8VmzW6mnltttTFXADyWA7AYnKCXax_XuC05Ws0webXgj7I-ZWfW/s320/003.JPG" /><br />This is the panel for the front of the book.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489264913712696722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOV54YcwvhOY49JCgeORLO964yivrzHTA8_08-zXOuWtXyp4HSCJzOMgvPcqaYwv4UjPhof_s9MYs_PQWydsEqZmz6M4dqCV26kCQVHMqylPdrXPv5A7sYT4aW6lKG7W8ryh_TGtqGWeI/s320/004.JPG" /><br />And this is the first page.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzvbyDrw89d-y2UbzKEgamuCrbpNSbFAZvnxNqqDXWqg2HyRA3D5TDQ85mXA4bwbRO_idOHLgJ_cJfSUD_Asqd9vY8dxGZKgy_gFelJ18YgKBGCU65XzYoqegcOl-3r-v59dpT79ZOzWh/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489265129556585154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzvbyDrw89d-y2UbzKEgamuCrbpNSbFAZvnxNqqDXWqg2HyRA3D5TDQ85mXA4bwbRO_idOHLgJ_cJfSUD_Asqd9vY8dxGZKgy_gFelJ18YgKBGCU65XzYoqegcOl-3r-v59dpT79ZOzWh/s320/005.JPG" /></a>And this the next, which will be opposite a 'cats' picture. Luckily, a couple of months ago I picked up bags and bags of embroidery threads at an antiques fair (of all places - I don't think they were antiques!) for 30p a bag! Must have got at least a hundred of them for under a pound!! Which makes this whole exercise a pretty cheap one, as I'm using what I've already got. NOT that thrift is the name of the game here - just a bonus. Of course, this book has the added bonus of coming under the 'educational' banner (just) which is a double whammy for a teacher's baby, don't you think? hee hee.Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-42341662643575225412010-06-29T02:37:00.000-07:002010-06-29T03:03:58.271-07:00Woolfest 2010Oooh what fun we had! It was my first time at <a href="http://www.woolfest.co.uk/">Woolfest</a> in Cockermouth and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I went with some ladies from my sewing group - 5 of us - and we had a really great day, totally indulging ourselves in all things woolly, creative and crafty. We paced ourselves - regular breaks and a packed lunch - and took our time looking at each stall and gathering hundreds of ideas and inspirations along the way.<br /><br />I have to admit that I didn't take any photos of the show - because I'm a bit shy when it comes to getting my camera out - but I can tell you about come things that really caught my eye. Firstly, there was the lady who was knitting with what appeared to be broom handles! Her needles were huge! She was knitting with huge balls of strips of fabric, about an inch or two wide and making rugs! Fabulous idea. One of the girls bought 4 balls and a set of needles - enough to make a sizeable rug. Perhaps I'll get a picture when she gets going with it.<br /><br />Secondly, the whole place was ablaze with stalls selling the most beautifully coloured yarns. Mostly hand-dyed, fabulous mixes of natural fibres - angora, alpaca, mohair, etc. It was very hard to know where to begin with it all - I was thinking in terms of knitting scarves and hats as xmas pressies this year, but I ended up being seduced by the wonders of knitting a lacy shawl. Oh, they were as light as a feather and just so beautiful. I don't know if my photos are going to do the colours justice - this is a lace-weight yarn that is hand-dyed and has flashes of orange, pink, rust and 100 shades inbetween.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_49IR0hp_B5XgHfRm0pAZylCM-lOdMuzsieuUsGMjOOb1abWXTENT3iTM69hT8xaVZfulfuQs4rBM2EYM5EKxKZ1Eod4C0UtANNb_5yIZw6RP3IzjtS5LcVb6IJc20dvi5uUIerbIkd-U/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128304534077138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_49IR0hp_B5XgHfRm0pAZylCM-lOdMuzsieuUsGMjOOb1abWXTENT3iTM69hT8xaVZfulfuQs4rBM2EYM5EKxKZ1Eod4C0UtANNb_5yIZw6RP3IzjtS5LcVb6IJc20dvi5uUIerbIkd-U/s320/003.JPG" /></a>Here I have started my first ever shawl, and first ever project with lace-weight yarn - I can tell you it's a bit like knitting with something as thin and delicate as a spider's web! Also - bizarely - and it took me ages to get my head around this - instead of starting at the V part of the triangle you are creating, i.e. the pointy bit - you actually start at the longest straight edge, but only cast on 7 stitches. Eh? And they you increase with the lacy pattern in the middle so that it pushes the edges out and when it's off the needles it will be straight. Guess we'll have to wait until it's finished to get a grip on that.<br /></div><div>Here is a yarn - oh - it's kidsilk! It's like candyfloss (only not so sticky!). And again, the most beautiful shade of tuquoise with hints of grey.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaij1WMJlwx7g61Kd7Wgj2wWcHFFDWyvxXlxGbtuzdyFgs-JOv1aGYeJAuhhGKhTv4ATf4OXoq43qaV8ZEhOfffyME5A9YFoyUCv69n55VfTjlNnDYzUTCzaJbnBMskZJTjcjpKWnQ1eo0/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128292405643874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaij1WMJlwx7g61Kd7Wgj2wWcHFFDWyvxXlxGbtuzdyFgs-JOv1aGYeJAuhhGKhTv4ATf4OXoq43qaV8ZEhOfffyME5A9YFoyUCv69n55VfTjlNnDYzUTCzaJbnBMskZJTjcjpKWnQ1eo0/s320/005.JPG" /></a><br />And another shawl yarn - this time in a rich plum and this time a sock weight. Lace weight or sock weight are fine for shawls, I discovered.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCdKob9sS8NeHXx3X68xxhIcaXK_bWCG8nC3-RYSwlaXFSq5Qw37xg22dI2ZvYAqIGZhFWHM32Vp5VBj4GedzBV1n9JNqbGaq3dYIZlRof2lBhyphenhyphenwz9Nvq71fCCjl3sv3-9vsjjoXTB7lg/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128286483918402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCdKob9sS8NeHXx3X68xxhIcaXK_bWCG8nC3-RYSwlaXFSq5Qw37xg22dI2ZvYAqIGZhFWHM32Vp5VBj4GedzBV1n9JNqbGaq3dYIZlRof2lBhyphenhyphenwz9Nvq71fCCjl3sv3-9vsjjoXTB7lg/s320/006.JPG" /></a>And here is a DK weight in a fabulous blue - about the same colour as the boy's eyes, so I'm going to make him a tank top with it.<br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128278980315810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkipuPOCAjIvp8bJqFGAH1QCyoVgmk_XL7YNEHGSrRMQFnF1XLruUeU4AikaHD-JlVqj9LqgaBaL7OVSQlWmi7C74pGlqiEPW8ybpFAl8Z9CpX_yWShYItRGLqi7gZwscidB9JdD_7zr7D/s320/007.JPG" /><br /><div>Skeins seemed to be the order of the day, although there were regular balls for sale too. I guess it's because people are spinning and dying their own.</div><div><br /> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128274840350754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6C89I9YA8WfBRi2-B3TBZ8Hb62AJsrNqboO6DfgW8eVQGL1iYorO4H_MIEIaFzuV8_MNbR7WeSrVVU8N3rMzVGmLHDrqOOiCksC_XLOlVqSOgOn4fOdRX85GpdcF0f4vwi93BBKKzNtz/s320/008.JPG" />Ahh - now this one is another DK weight one which I simply could not resist - look at those colours! Makes you want to dive right in there, doesn't it? We thought perhaps a long, thin scarf for this one.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128648111848818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfyFtc6NB3pcR-LUghyphenhyphenQZMNXXKq3T-gaJnKcr2TWyZ2QST4LoS4u5vfz93lZgc6FO8PEUUBTre-QwQR_w2zillbZz0gybpPwhIqPl596eWbSUh-daBPS-soY9FHtP0VbQzcCmfLUcVtez/s320/010.JPG" />And finally a few notions - the above are little felt beads - there were some fabulous examples of necklaces and bracelets around, made from felt beads, large and small.</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488128644020180690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-sfRgb5zCRLb0l3SA0p3SDZnaSDamUWGSWjO3FButRMC13E0LkcXTF7Ol1t68BE-77mQv8fvhb47jg__-slw02qfDctMQrCk7AVoc0E8zvdaXYt4Q2iWh4SzsbzRo-p_2WylUWMBCTNH/s320/009.JPG" />And some interesting buttons! I also got some patterns for the shawls and some bags. So all in all, we came home loaded down, happy, exhausted and eager to get knitting!!</div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297758477985486615.post-78412040530358875472010-06-23T03:03:00.000-07:002010-06-23T03:21:03.973-07:00Keep on KnittingSo, of course you remember this - yummy pattern ...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2w0PGBj2Qrk6q3uLAFLAhanAsqixEZqYJJsWDmJQsoC9b7eX39ufzu-xzw4ItZhGhSKB4P8GPkhUQj9WXiEIIKn6ybKksR_JJ0c3EfbgN5Uyn9aId4mWRBk9HG6FDI4U5ho-6EVbGUwO/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485909297621624530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2w0PGBj2Qrk6q3uLAFLAhanAsqixEZqYJJsWDmJQsoC9b7eX39ufzu-xzw4ItZhGhSKB4P8GPkhUQj9WXiEIIKn6ybKksR_JJ0c3EfbgN5Uyn9aId4mWRBk9HG6FDI4U5ho-6EVbGUwO/s320/011.JPG" /></a> Well things are progressing ...<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485909283758344674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuh8oVZg87j8iZZpdhW1gprGhXBhRvUw-ifDJyFK4KrKFISgWGKmAnAxWtW0EMq86Tha4HW4zkeQPB3D-lVWalvGa2KnPH-V97GUBPHIOAH2s0PGq_SgqYc0U78tpoUwUgOUpX58Lep4R/s320/017.JPG" /> ... and I'm half way up the front now too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEPNPNPwd6Yu3Z252s6M5BVL97gb8SJdpf-yfgi7qvZ0QxmMJGONs8ydxkdoNFlFkPb-3gaAFl_ZrOcfmXt7U0ouY7Lz-SMOjeXXiUVe5f6QYREL3hQjPHArilLZMX1iDkdozEDdQN8hQ/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485909287522476706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEPNPNPwd6Yu3Z252s6M5BVL97gb8SJdpf-yfgi7qvZ0QxmMJGONs8ydxkdoNFlFkPb-3gaAFl_ZrOcfmXt7U0ouY7Lz-SMOjeXXiUVe5f6QYREL3hQjPHArilLZMX1iDkdozEDdQN8hQ/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I've shortened it quite a bit - by a good 14cm - as I want it to rest on my waist, not my hips. I'm figuring on wearing a vest/T-shirt underneath which will come down longer, if you know what I mean. Am loving the Rowan Milk Cotton too - very nice to work with and very soft and stretchy.<br /></div><br /><div>Now. On Saturday, our sewing group is going to <a href="http://www.woolfest.co.uk/">Woolfest</a>, in Cockermouth (only an hour away). (Yes, I know it's a sewing group, but many of us are knitters too). So, in preparation I was perusing the website, as you do, and one thing led to another and the next thing I knew I was having a browse through this new book -<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485908395468426818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dXKp_Xi-Ohw23wyaytqA7jzk7k6CO03psWpw1fH6womvh6rMTxk0ZSVUjCSHh68hJiqL5cLHc6wHLn_N5CxMG08oeGTb4pWKnzCzP9OP1YPLFjehRiPjCD7e6wB4lulxCS9r_z-dwwKh/s320/006.JPG" /></div><div>... and with every (virtual) turn of the page, all I could thing was <em>... drool </em>...</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PtIebpFq2HzlBafl0vc98S3TXBwJDyBTOV-QRmfhadrr7bl-erefQQDNy4rc1RlTIzLVbdhg9urm_FbyWQtqniARqNgZk7gbSCEcBmOexltPIxQrg7Qmj6Ihc0GOrKTgqmJ7WJ_FtpVY/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485909281277208386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PtIebpFq2HzlBafl0vc98S3TXBwJDyBTOV-QRmfhadrr7bl-erefQQDNy4rc1RlTIzLVbdhg9urm_FbyWQtqniARqNgZk7gbSCEcBmOexltPIxQrg7Qmj6Ihc0GOrKTgqmJ7WJ_FtpVY/s320/016.JPG" /></a>I want one of these ...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs1ke-xztbCfr6M2kpTz1OSNmOu4JTmwxeffSrDPap26HfKXF-_TDtrd7ZhIBz_Q5Thb2vSeSXms_CAXKgIjS81gdjJAF5dsCI8oYQSRUnfxF774I_SBr4OOtZPBhOgCce8UDeblvsA01/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485909269721927554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs1ke-xztbCfr6M2kpTz1OSNmOu4JTmwxeffSrDPap26HfKXF-_TDtrd7ZhIBz_Q5Thb2vSeSXms_CAXKgIjS81gdjJAF5dsCI8oYQSRUnfxF774I_SBr4OOtZPBhOgCce8UDeblvsA01/s320/015.JPG" /></a> ... and one of these<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ouSLm9Yxy2ingVqVRDKQr5y2R8SqMroAb207j82ZKVFS8aWi7sPfbftJxxrkcl7wgK1GXT2GE47R9RdlAyT5yScAKTXBPSE-RQIenygoGCB4LSros4feS8uThIHwZNlp6QPKAatp-ike/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485908413073414642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ouSLm9Yxy2ingVqVRDKQr5y2R8SqMroAb207j82ZKVFS8aWi7sPfbftJxxrkcl7wgK1GXT2GE47R9RdlAyT5yScAKTXBPSE-RQIenygoGCB4LSros4feS8uThIHwZNlp6QPKAatp-ike/s320/010.JPG" /></a>... and maybe one or other of these ...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TwOys3GKSPRI9glKEKYnVVlB2maqbfofWuxjD5TNlOno75lsRcL5DHtOCqag2I72FBtkidDb3GAGP5glUtqIIgTTuGQl91dg6ifhgkLYTtM8xitX8q048aqq3RmN2RObQ2wjZLZ5aP-X/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485908402461556642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TwOys3GKSPRI9glKEKYnVVlB2maqbfofWuxjD5TNlOno75lsRcL5DHtOCqag2I72FBtkidDb3GAGP5glUtqIIgTTuGQl91dg6ifhgkLYTtM8xitX8q048aqq3RmN2RObQ2wjZLZ5aP-X/s320/009.JPG" /></a>... <em>definitely</em> this one<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiashP7GtCfvTVPq9QoSM84WnTk0dIxoyBpPjdpXURTxNfe-c3H1wrNjy_dnK1rlcAg2Wbk5mXCNgXDHPNT4iNwnJ34EbX89b5x971wYrzmu-8Cf2nwweS5yVuqh3IioQZViMvj2miFFhp9/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485908396665888962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiashP7GtCfvTVPq9QoSM84WnTk0dIxoyBpPjdpXURTxNfe-c3H1wrNjy_dnK1rlcAg2Wbk5mXCNgXDHPNT4iNwnJ34EbX89b5x971wYrzmu-8Cf2nwweS5yVuqh3IioQZViMvj2miFFhp9/s320/007.JPG" /></a>.. and <em>definitely</em> this one too. But oh dear I thought. What if I get to Woolfest and there are no books left on the stand to buy? I mean, surely everyone is going to be heading <em>straight </em>for this stall and this very book? Surely it would be better to buy it now, then I can decide which pattern I could start first and then purchase the wool on Saturday? Eh? :-) Let's just say I am going prepared with a big empty bag.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwFCrhPQ2E6YXn7tnXJKJFCgtqhjoDa-UqfF2Uia28EI3kXOxTze38jo1F8lBrFmL4285OGGfjea5L-m6lsndwR8sRE6pOcTb4pzmNloK22OVgMXv4UYEpCyEALX_pUH3gPBQKNhqSlyb/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485908387220409746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwFCrhPQ2E6YXn7tnXJKJFCgtqhjoDa-UqfF2Uia28EI3kXOxTze38jo1F8lBrFmL4285OGGfjea5L-m6lsndwR8sRE6pOcTb4pzmNloK22OVgMXv4UYEpCyEALX_pUH3gPBQKNhqSlyb/s320/004.JPG" /></a> Meanwhile, I have not been idle, oh no, no, no. I just had to launch another shirt into the world, for the boy. Knit. Shirt. Knit. Shirt. Knit ...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bridgethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383147339829504563noreply@blogger.com0