Chickens!

We got this...

these...

and this.

Blaithin

Blaithin from Kate Davies is almost done, knit in the round it just needs a good soak and cutting up the front to turn it in to a cardigan.

How is the Running?

11 Miles, one hour forty eight minutes and no walking.

Sharpay

Lately we have had a Peahen visiting.

The joys of a convertible...

£40 table a chairs for the garden.

Sanderson Mobiles

After nearly seven years in this house we have finally got the kitchen how we want it - without resorting to a new kitchen...

we laughingly call this the bistro area because of the tiny table.  Loving the 50's wallpaper and the Sunburst clock.

May - Where Did You Go?

We have been riding...

making pasta with our new heavy-weight gadget and improvising with an upside-down cake stand...

and making/eating macaroons amongst other things.

Triumph

The Easter Bunny has been and eggs have been hunted.

Zips have been salvaged...

and sewn in - which nearly took as long as it did to knit the sweater.

Winter Olympics triumph!

Olympian Task

Dale of Norway, Le Massif 2004

Uncut body and sleeve prep...

machining to secure stitches...

the first cut...

job done!

Easter Hols

Miette is finished and waiting for it's companion frock to be worn.

The Suzy Q Nirve Cruiser is finally on the school run.

First day of the hols we went to see The Pirates in an Adventure with Scientists...

3D...

and not another soul in the cinema.

Big Bang

Had a busy weekend baking Hugh's pasties, Gwyneth's blueberry muffins and my bread.

Big Bang Science Fair at the NEC, very busy.

Ducked in to Alpaca Futurity while we were there, managed to procure some handspun.

Mothers day was spent lounging about, knitting, eating Chocolate Orange and drinking my mothers day treat of 'Mr Pepper', or you might know it as Dr! 

Champagne and Chips

I have never been a drinker...

I literally never touch a drop, so much so that lots of people also think I am a veggie because of this?  At Christmas we had a bottle of the Old Widow as we like to call it - Veuve Clicquot,  Madame dropped the wool trade to concentrate on the champagne, I might have gone the other way.  Since then we have had a bottle of bubbly every weekend, the Vintage Moet last weekend was good but I think the widow still gets my vote.

 It is equally out of character for me to excercise, I got these while we were on holiday and I have been out running, mostly on my own, sometimes with a demon trainer on a pink and purple Raleigh Sunshine.

I am fully chipped up with this little gizmo in my trainer that talks to my iphone and the Nike world.  I even have a power song!

Olympic Knitting

Loving this.

Buff or Thrum?

While on holiday I got hold of a copy of Knitting Traditions which had an article on Buff knitting.

Buff mittens were apparently popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Knit with a loops on the inside which are then cut and felted for extra warmth.

I then came across Thrummed mittens which are similar but knit with wool tops.

Seems just what we need for the school run, watch this space...

Ghost Riders Circa 1977

Needles on Fire

Cashmere and wool socks started last Monday, done in 8 days.

Miette, a free Ravelry pattern cast-on with some properly vintage wool, part of a stash of goodies given to me by a friends mum, fab stuff.  Darts tonight so I anticipate good progress.

Up-cycling

This is what a six year old can do - completely on her own - when she has been taught how to thread her machine and use pins more-or-less safely.  A pillowcase that used to be a tablecloth now has pride of place in her bedroom and she thinks that she can do anything!

Wingspan

My holiday knitting, flight to and from Orlando resulted in a rainbow Wingspan, free Ravelry download, 966 knitters have made it so far.  The Kauni yarn came from the Tivoli in Denmark about 5 years ago when we went for Christmas - wish I'd bought more.

The Olympic sweater is on the back burner, the whole of the body is done, need to whip up some enthusiasm and start on the sleeves.

Can We Fix It?

The softest jumper that my big assistant has ever owned has always had a bit of a dodgy neckline.

I fixed it a few times with the odd stitch but eventually drastic action was required.

Better than new know.

Enthused by my success I pulled out a sweater I purchased about 6 months ago from a vintage shop, always with the intention of tweeking the neck.

W.I.P

Ghost Riders

The best clown shoes ever.

While we were in Orlando we went to the Osceola State Fair, we went to one when we were in California and it gives a better representation of the people and area than you get from Theme Parks and Art Galleries.

We went to the Silver Spurs Rodeo on Saturday night, we were there from about 6.30 until 10, and what a night.  The Barrel Man Tim'Wild Thang'Lepard was like no-one I have ever seen before.

*******

He had Monkeys riding sheep dogs rounding up sheep.

Please take a look.

You must.