Nearly There

I have been playing with the laptop and am almost there, I still have to check that the printer will respond, but the rest can wait a while.

I have mentioned that I was planning on something new, here is a little taster, the plans have been put off for a while.

 

 

 

These bobbly strands were the devil to wind into balls, they had been twisted into very tight skeins.

 

The balls are looking sparkly, that is just the light bouncing about. The yarn is Sari Silk, what is left at the end of a run is cut into long strips that then roll up from the sides to form a yarn like texture. It is not at all even and I am intrigued as to how it will crochet and knit up.

I saw it on a TV channel when visiting Maggie, I did a search online but could not find a better price so ordered 2 skeins of each colour. This is destined to become a scarf, I will knit and crochet a small amount to see which I prefer.

 

 

 

My bargain CS door curtain is now up and doing a grand job.

 

 

The small Ripple has become a cushion cover and Ben has claimed it as his own, although at the moment he is stretched out over half the sofa and 3 cushions.

 

 

The quality of this photo is dreadful but I had several attempts and each got progressively worse. I treated myself to this, I am a fan of Debbie Shore and it was well worth buying.

 

As part of my aim of sewing through my stash I am hoping to work my way through the book, this little bag caught my eye.

 

 

I have made several now but only captured these 2 so far. The pink bag is to the size from the book and was a gift for Maggie to store her crochet in. The large one is twice the pattern size and holds a sweater or cardigans worth of yarn, the pattern, knitting pins and all the bits required with ease. It will also hold a well rolled double bed quilt so there is one in Christmas (there, I said it at last) fabric on it's way for Fran. The quilt blocks are done and waiting to be sewn together.

The weather forecast is rain till Sunday, I really do not mind. Ben and I both have coats and are not scared of getting a little wet. I have more bags cut out ready to sew, a few quilt tops to layer and Fran's Christmas Quilt to finish. Then there is the sweater to finish, the big Ripple blanket, enough yarn for another and some Aran Yarn on the way for a Cardie for me.

 

You may have noticed that I have not mentioned the unpleasant stuff, laundry, dusting, polishing et al. It will all happen I just do not like to dwell upon it.

 

I had a spendy day on Tuesday, I checked with Which and bought a tumble dryer, the running cost for a year is £65, based on an average of 3 loads of cotton per week. That is not likely so it will be easily affordable, if I had the luxury of an open fire I would not have considered it.

 I have found in the last few weeks that it is too warm to have the heating on and too cool/damp to dry the laundry so bit the bullet and coughed up the money.

 

I also replaced my microwave, also with a Which best buy, and my kettle decided to leak so a new one of those, again a Which best buy. Both of these were from Tesco and were almost covered by my club card, mainly from petrol, thanks to boost. The microwave is a combi and works wonderfully, 2 large jacket potatoes in 12 minutes with crispy skins......Yum.

 

I have just looked out at the rain and Ben and I will have to don our waterproofs for the 1.00 walk, not to worry.

 

Reasons to be grateful.

 

1.  A well stocked craft room to keep my hands busy.

 

2.  My new book for inspiration.

 

3.  Rain to stop me feeling guilty about crafting.

 

4.  My new appliances to make life easier.

 

5.  All the lovely blogs on my list to keep me entertained, and in touch with the outside world.

 

On that note I think that a cup of tea and a half hours light reading is called for, I hope that you will all enjoy your day as much as I will.

 

     TTFN                                                                             Pam



Not a March Hare at all, She's a Bunny Girl.

The day started bright and sunny and absolutely freezing, there was a thick layer of frost on every surface at 5.30 this morning.
I made a brew and took it back up with my knitting from last night that needed sewing up.

Meet Bramble Bunny, go on wave back.

She's sulking now because you didn't wave, and she's flashing her little tail.

I will make this outfit next but I will use the yellow wool for the jacket (still a Norwich supporter at heart).

 I will make the bag as the pattern and a pair of shoes to match.

I do have a third outfit pattern and there will be another in the next magazine issue. I hope that these will help Kaitlin to learn to dress and undress and give her some fun, she does love her dollies.

I walked Ben and Greg round the field this morning and took a few photos but the wind was so brisk that they are not wonderful.

This tree is in a very sheltered spot and you can see how the tassles are being blown about.

It may be better tomorrow, although tonight is supposed to be a harder frost than last night, bang go my peaches.

I will have to make the most of the rhubarb, that is rampaging along.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. A new blog to read, Be Happy, from someone just starting on the frugal pathway.

2. I managed to find Paid in Chickens on Bloglovin, another happy read.

3. Bramble turned out ok, my first knitting project for absolutely ages.

4. Roast Duck for Dinner, love it love it love it.

5. Lots of yarn ready for an afternoons crafting.

I have just remembered that although I finished my shawl I have not taken a photo, I will remedy that tomorrow, I may even model it. 

I will have to see if I can shrink the pattern and make one for Bramble.

The sun is shining as bright as it can so I am off for a potter round the garden, no work mind this is my day off.

Enjoy your day where ever you are and what ever you are doing.

       TTFN                          Pam

The screaming wind is replaced by a Rhythmic Clicking

Well I did it, a cloth has been crocheted, not huge but big enough.

I just found an old crochet hook and used the craft cotton and

made a big Granny Square. It will be tried out and washed to see if the shape holds.

Then I braved the dragon and did this,

Size 6 needles, 40 stitches and basket weave. So far so good, once finished I will use it and wash it to see if the shape holds, which ever one survives the best will be repeated.

No aches or stiffness from holding the needles but I will take it steady, the temptation is to click away till it is big enough.

I went and had a look at the Art and Craft center this morning, there was no one about but there is a notice for a craft fair 1st and 2nd of March. Only 2 weeks away, I have it on the Calendar and will go and have a look see.

Lovely and Sunny here, it was so quiet when I woke up, no wind howling. It is a good thing that I keep on top of the laundry, water pressure was very low when I got up and dropped steadily through the morning. We got full pressure back around 1.

I was given an old copy of Country Music Magazine, dating from November 2003. It the copy with Johnny Cash on the cover, celebrating his music. I have been a fan from the early days and am thrilled with the gift. Coincidentally I have ordered the new biography from up the Amazon, it has had excellent reviews. There will be a new album released in March, recorded years ago and never released by his then recording company, that is on order as well.

I read that there have been many surveys carried out regarding Country music and one fact is constant in all of them. There a 2 names that are instantly recognized by fans of all genres of music, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Dolly has a tour planned of the UK, although I am a fan I will not be purchasing tickets. The cost is a factor but the main reason are the crowds. I can not cope with being squished, pushed and shoved by hordes of sweaty humanity. Just thinking of breathing in clouds of perfume and cologne/aftershave laden air warmed to tepid with body heat makes me come over all unnecessary. 

That sounds very affected but it is the honest truth, I like people just not en masse. When I was at work, if the canteen was packed, I sat down for the time it took to drink my tea and then left, pdq.

As a teenager I went to concerts and discos every weekend and loved it, then again I was also a big fan of the fast rides in the fairground and queued up for the first day of the sales, not now.

I dislike crowds, steer clear of the sales and shop when supermarkets are quiet. If we have a family gathering I am first in and first out when it gets busy.

Time is ticking away and I have to get dinner on the go. BTW my dinner last night was superb, if a restaurant could achieve and maintain that standard it would be a gold mine.

TTFN                                                     Pam