Long time, no yarn along.

 Oh my goodness me!!  What a long time since I joined in with Ginny's yarn along.  I've been busy on a commissioned bag, but have also been actually working on something for me!  Can you believe it, things for me usually get pushed down to the bottom of the pile, and  forgotten about.  Well, I had actually forgotten about this, I was twiddling my thumbs the other evening wondering what I could do, thinking I had nothing on the go, when suddenly I remembered this jacket I was working on.  Mum had bought me the cotton (Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton size 10) for Christmas with this very jacket in mind.  So I picked it up and continued from where I had left off.  I am pleased to have sussed out the arm holes, as basically this is one big circle with two holes for the arms to go through, and I have reached that point now, and I can see what is happening.  Funny how you cannot see how it works until you reach it (or is that just me?) 

It is two strands of cotton crocheted together, with the tiniest of crochet hooks (2.5mm), so I find it quite hard going on my hands, and certainly know if I have crocheted too much in one go, but I am so looking forward to seeing this finished, I really think  it will be something very special.  However, I still have a long way to go, and think it may certainly keep me busy for the rest of the year (in between other projects too!)

 As for reading, I am re-reading Buddhism for mothers by Sarah Napthali.  First time I read it I didn't really know much about buddhism, but found the book really useful with regard to parenting.  Since then, I have read much more about buddhism, but have found it difficult to relate it to my life as a mother of four with little time for meditation etc.  So I am re-reading it and finding new perspectives on it, and probably getting much more out of it second time around. 

Off to see what everyone else has been up to, have missed catching up on quite a few blogs and projects.

Very Woolly Thursday

Ok, so it should be Woolly Wednesday, but I was rather busy yesterday! But despite the delay, this month has seen lots of woolly projects going on, especially with the weather being so awful! So here's my contribution to Spinspiration for this month.

Remember me wondering how to dye a green with woad and weld?  Well, I eventually gave up on trying to get my head around it, and as time was of the essence, I got the colour below with some...

...Kool-Aid!!  How anyone would ever actually drink this stuff is beyond me, it is just full of chemicals, but it does make a wonderful dye stuff, and I will save the woad and weld for some future projects.

     

 My first attempt at dyeing my own wool, it was rather nerve wracking putting my wool into this, and then heating it!  But it was also very intriguing!

It seemed like magic, when the time was up and the wool was dyed and the water was fairly clear.  I was amazed at how vivid the colour was, and all from a dubious drink!!

 

 So the leaves have been crocheted, and sewn onto the framework of wire and wool that I created.  Robin is sitting patiently on her eggs, and all I have to do is sew a few more leaves on, and I reckon a few crocheted flowers would look rather sweet too.

It's really difficult to get a good picture ofit all, as the angles are a bit strange.  But you can just see the eggs that mama bird is sitting on. Sophie is adamant that they are going to hatch into little birds.  It would be wonderful if my needle felting skills were up to creating a little baby robin, just so I could give Sophie the satisfaction of them hatching, but I really think that might be a step too far!!

 

 Other wooll-i-ness has been going on with my commissioned bag.  A friend saw the bag I made for the guild competition, and asked me to make her one.  This is as far as I have got, as the wool I had spun was spun much finer, and I've had to double up the yarn.  I am now waiting for the weather to give me a break long enough to wash some more zwartble/suffolk fleece that Dawn kindly sent me.  I reckon a nice bright pink floral lining would finish it off perfectly, along with a nice silver button for the closing, but I have yet to source those.

 In the meantime I am really rather chuffed with my stitch markers.  I've never had stitch markers, and as a result my knitting has possibly had extra stitches or rows in some places, and perhaps be missing some in other places.  So these are going to be put to good use.  A wonderful shop on Etsy supplied me with them.  I thought little Buddha's were perfect, as I do see knitting as a form of meditation and seeing the whole process from the farmer and the fields, to the sheep and the shearer, all the way through to the spinner and knitter. 

Off to see what other projects have been worked on by other Spinspiration members.  And for all you spinners out there, why not come and join us?

Flitting

 I haven't been able to settle to anything much this week, flitting from one project to another.  This is more than likely due to there being lots of projects needing to be done at a similar time (when is that never the case with me!)  So, there has been lots of crocheted leaves ready for my 6 inch ring I am doing for the Guild exhibition.  I have to get it done by the beginning of May, and there is still some more spinning to do too before that is finished. 

At Christmas time a friend saw the bag I made, and asked if I could make one for her.  After explaining that I had lots of things on, and if she didn't mind waiting I could do her one in the grey Zwartble I had, she agreed.  So I eventually turned my attentions to this this week, only to find I had spun the wool too fine to use for this project, so am doubling up the balls, and will have to spin some more wool to finish it.

 I haave also been dragged into the 21st century with, not only a mobile phone, but a smart phone that does all kinds of things as well as making phone calls!  So before I was happy to take it out anywhere I had to make a case for it to prevent the screen from getting scratched.  I was going to use some handspun wool on that too, but it seemed a little rough, and was again too fine!  So I raided the conservatory (where all the wool scraps are kept) and came across some self patterning "Crofter" by Sirdar.  So combined with a dark grey for the collar, my new phone cosy was created. 

As for reading, just a bit of Radical Homemakers before bed.  Still enjoying it, but not finding much time to settle down and read.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been up to in Ginny's Yarn Along

The Journey of the Rings

It's Spinspiration time again!!

It really is quite a journey of discovery creating these rings.  I have finished the 2-D one, I might add a few more touches to it, but am pleased enough with it.  The clam shell and fishes are crocheted and sewn on.  The grey edging (zwartble) is supposed to be a porthole that you are viewing the underwater view through.  And everything else is needle felted.  The 3-D one of the robin on a nest is hitting a few stumbling blocks, which is a shame as I was really excited by the idea of creating this.  The biggest problem has been the dyeing of the wool.  I was hoping to spin enough white Portland to then dye it with woad and weld.  Firstly I've not had enough time to spin the white, and then the whole process of dyeing using woad seems to complicated, and I never have enough time in any big enough chunk of time to get anywhere with it.  So I am contemplating spinning some green roving I have, and see if it is enough, I'm not sure it will be, but I really do want to get this done.

 The robin is headless at the moment, and is awaiting its red breast.  Time is ticking on, and I will really have to crack on with it.

The Guild have announced their new competition to be completed in time for Christmas.  A cushion cover, so I am looking forward to having an excuse to sit down with my wheel and get some serious spinning done.  I have also been browsing Ravelry for some ideas for designs.  If I can co-ordinate it with our revamp of our lounge then I can see it having pride of place on our new three-piece suite!

That's probably all the woolly news for now.  Looking forward to seeing what others have been up to this last month.

Good things come in three's.

It just so happens that there are three projects and three books this week for Ginny's yarn along.  So let me introduce you...

This rippling star is going to (hopefully) turn into this, a jacket.  I had seen the pattern ages ago on ravelry and then asked for the cotton for Christmas from my Mum.  It has been picked up and put down as things with shorter deadlines have come and gone, as is the way with doing something for yourself, it never seems to be high on the priority list.  But this week has seen me pick it back up, and I want to get it finished in time for a wedding in September.   Without a deadline, despite it being a gorgeous pattern, I don't think it will ever get finished, as is the way with how I work!

Another two projects I have been working on.  A present for Ethan for his birthday next week.  It WILL be a minecraft creeper, like this.  But for now it looks more like a mallet!  I have used three strands of different coloured green DK yarn to try and get a pixel effect, like in the game.  It seems to be working out ok.  And the little pokeball keyring is a little something I put together from this pattern, as a gift for Luke to give at a party he is going to at the weekend. 

 As for reading, I am still picking up Car Sick, and Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales.  But my book of choice has to be Radical Homemakers.  I had seen Jacqui reading it a while ago, and checked out the library, but to no avail.  But then was able to pick up a second hand copy the other day online, and I am loving it. 

Christmas

 We got into the Christmas spirit with a trip on the steam train at Kidderminster to go see Santa.  We were greeted by the most vivid rainbow, which this picture really does not do justice to.

 A trip in the buffet car through a rainy countryside was very atmospheric.

 Our destination, Arley.  Steam trains coming and going. 

 Sophie dancing to the music provided by the brass band whilst we munched on roast chestnuts whilst queuing  to see the man himself.

 I was very impressed with Santa's reply to Sophie's request for a skateboard, a simple "I will see what I can do!"  Although she was initially rather disappointed with the teddy she was given, as she expected a skateboard there and then!

 Other preparations included the blanket.  Finished, but not edged, in case Stan wanted it any larger.  It was very touching giving it to him on Christmas Day, and my fears of it upsetting him were unfounded. I think it is fair to say he likes it.

 A typical scene.  This was eating more roast chestnuts, whilst supping mulled wine.

 Alec made sure Santa knew where we had put the gifts for him.

 The Christmas meal went smoothly, and was quite a feast.

 There was of course lego as well.  Ethan built this all by himself.

Just snippets, there was so much crammed into quite a few days, with visits from my aunt, uncle and Grandpa, Stuart's brother and his family, Stan stayed with us for 5 days before going to stay with his daughter in Wales, and my brother came to visit.

There were classical concerts listened to and watched, Grandma bags given out in memory of Jean, plenty of toys played with, too much food eaten, and many more things.  We were all facing a different Christmas, but it has been lovely, surrounded by so much family.  Truly special.

Rudolph is ready to fly

Here he is all finished.  Trying to get him in natural light is pretty hard at this time of year.  Trying to get hold of him full stop is pretty hard too, as a certain little girl seems to think he is rather cute, and doesn't want him to go to someone else!!

It is a great feeling at this time of year, having had so many projects on the go, to be slowly ticking them off, and I must admit that I rather like Rudolph, even if he looks nothing like the original pattern!

As for reading, I've been working my way through "The Heart of the Buddha's teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh.  So much makes sense to me, I just wish I could remember all the words that are used to describe a concept, it makes my brain hurt at times!!

Linking up with Ginny for her weekly yarn along.

Rudolph the body-less reindeer

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things for her weekly yarn along.

 I have spent much of this last week trying to solve the problem of Rudolph.  I had done the legs, and head, but had underestimated the amount of wool it would take (I had been using remnants from other projects).  So after going round every yarn store I could find in the local area trying to match the wool, I could not even get close.  I eventually remembered that the wool I was using was sat in the wool basket as part of an unfinished hat. So, hopefully that is the problem solved, and I will have enough wool to finish Rudy off in time for Christmas.

And as for reading, well, not really managed to find a spare moment this week, you can tell it is busy, as my copy of The Mother magazine came through the door this week, and I haven't even managed to flick through it yet!

Yarn along- it's all progress

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things.

Well, after thinking about the granny stripe blanket, and pondering lots of different solutions to the oversized problem I decided I would play it safe, and just continue with it as it is, it will just be extra snuggly!  So, in order to get it done in time for Christmas I have to do at least a stripe a day, which is fine if I don't have anything else to do, but that never happens does it!  Anyhow, I am managing to do it, and if I skip a day (like Monday when I fell asleep taking Sophie to bed!) then I am making it up at other times. 

As for reading, I have fallen in love with this book. It is just my kind of thing.  Short little snippets that I can pick up and savour.  I do not need to be able to concentrate for long (5 minutes at night and I'm asleep!), but the wisdom held within it's pages is retained, and I can apply it to my days, which at times can be anything but peaceful!  If you have never read this book, I seriously recommend it.

Catch up!

 What a busy week!  Sunday, Luke and I took three bags of apples to an apple pressing day at a local craft centre.  2 bags of cooking apples from the tree at the allotment, and a bag of "eaters" we had accumulated from various places, oh, and a small bag of pears.  When I was washing them all, and putting them all into bags, I thought we had quite a lot!  But when we got there it was a meagre amount compared to what most people had brought!!  The apples and pears were tipped into an electric hopper which chopped them up finely, then put into a hessian sack and pressed in the green and wooden press at the back of the first picture.  We then had to decant our juice into bottles.

 We had collected plastic milk bottles to store the juice, as it could be frozen that way.  the juice oxidises very quickly, as can be seen by the colour of it in the bottles already!

 Given how few apples we had taken, I was rather pleased to have come come with 11 pints of homemade apple juice, although that really won't last long in this house!  4 pints disappeared during Sunday lunch!  Next year we will definitely be doing more. and may also venture into cider making!!

 Sophie, with a little guidance from Luke wrote her name, although she would only acknowledge the S as for Sophie, the rest were just shapes!

 Sunday I also decided that the air was getting a little nippy, so I decided I needed a hat that wouldn't look daft with my hair, and that would also fit on my rather large head!  So, I figured a tam, would work quite well.  And in amongst the apple pressing, Sunday lunch, family and everythig else, I was able to sit and crochet a hat, and by the night time, it was finished.  The wool, I had been given, and was using for a cardigan for myself.  But I didn't like the way it was knitting up, so I thought I'd use some of that, and I love how it has crocheted up, it looks jewel like in place, and I think I may just add a tassle to the centre of it with a few beads or gems on.

Blimey, so that was Sunday.  The rest of the week zoomed by so fast no pictures were taken!  Monday was busy preparing for visitors.  Stuart's nephew, Tom, and his partner, Denise, were coming to stay for a couple of days, as Denise had a training course nearby. 

Tuesday was my Grandma's funeral.  Stuart took the day off work to look after the children, and Mum and I went to Northampton to say our farewells to Grandma.  A sad day, one I was not looking forward to, as I still feel rather raw from the loss of Jean. Grandma was buried in a lovely green burial site (I love these places, they feel so alive), and they held a service of celebration afterwards, which was not exactly how I would have liked to say my goodbyes, but is what Grandma would have liked, so I guess that is what counts.  I returned home to our visitors, and Tom disappeared with Luke and Stuart to the Warhammer club, whilst Denise and I chatted about knitting, spinning, crochet and all things woolly, plus she has come up with a solution to the crochet blanket problem, which I will attempt to sort out this next week!  A lovely end to a busy, emotional day. 

The rest of the week has been entertaining guests (Sophie was excellent at this!!), and all the usual stuff.  But we have now reached half term (teacher training day today) and we can all breathe out and relax for a week. 

Granny Stripe strife

 You know the Granny Stripe blanket I am working on?  Well, I hit a snag!  When I did the foundation chain I didn't think to measure it against the bed!!  So, 16 stripes in I thoughts Id better make sure it was ok, as it seemed a bit big.  Our bed is a king size bed, and just look how much I overestimated the length!!  So I am now faced with the idea of either starting again (which would be heartbreaking) or trying to salvage this one by cutting it, and retying the ends.  I am sure it won't be as easy as it sounds!  I was wondering of any of you more experienced crochet-ers (better than hookers!) could advise me the best way to do this

Some other stuff I've been up to this week is knitting a hat for Sophie for the winter. A rainbow hat, which actually ended up fitting me, but is nice and baggy on Sophie, which is how she likes things.  (Please excuse the state of her face, she had been refusing to wear it, and when Grandad threatened to wear the hat she plonked it on her head, so I quickly snapped a photo, before she changed her mind, if I'd had more time I would have cleaned her face!!)

 Can just about see the green and blue on the top of the hat.

Unfortunately there hasn't been much time for reading, too much produce to try and process from the allotment!!

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things and her lovely yarn along.

The rollercoaster of life

 It was my Mum's birthday in the week.  Unfortunately it was a rather rushed affair, as we had to go and view a prospective high school for Luke that same evening.  So a tea of fish and chips, followed by the above cake (filled with homemade apple butter, of which I am a bit of a convert to!)  Along with a homemade card (on it's side again, blinkin' camera!) and some home spun wool, which I will talk about in the next blog post.

 We had some sad news the following day though. We had been told on Mum's birthday that my Dad's Mum was very ill in hopsital.  They had discovered she had stomach and bladder cancer, and being so frail, they didn't think she would have long left with us.  The very next day we had that phone call to say she had slipped away in the night, with a Macmillan nurse by her side.  She was a woman with a very strong Christian faith.  My wish for her is peace, and freedom from pain, and for those left behind to find comfort in those around them, along with many happy memories of her time with them on this earth.

Mum had popped over that day so we could spend a bit of time together, and comfort one another, when out of the corner of my eye I saw something unusual out the window.  Closer inspection showed a strange flying insect that was hovering by the honeysuckle, sipping the nectar through it's proboscis.  It flew so quickly it was really hard to get a picture of it.  If you zoom in on the middle of the picture you can just about see it. 

A google later and we discovered that it was this, a hummingbird hawk moth.  I had never heard of such a thing, but was fascinated, and Mum and I were suitably distracted whilst we researched a little more about it.

 Life continues all around us, which I seem to be continually reminded of, even in the darkest of times.  Not really feeling like doing much, I finished off a present for a friends little lad whose 2nd birthday was the other week.  Sophie was the product tester, and very graciously handed it over to Joel, but I have a feeling I may have to make her one too!

 And to try and lighten things a bit, my cello case got transformed!  I had plonked a couple of recently spun skeins of wool on top the other day, and it made it look a little like a grey haired lady.  So I just helped it a little to complete the look.  So meet "Chell" the cello case lady!

 And another lighter moment...

 ...he was like that for a good hour or so!!

Such stark contrasts this week, making me appreciate the good things all the more.