Woolly Woolfest!!

Had a rather rushed trip up to Wolfest today as DH had to be back home to do a gig this evening. What an interesting time was had! Started off with a service station stop at the lovely Tebay services as boy was letting us know loud and clear that his wee was coming out!! Who do I spot but none other than Heather from Little Tin Bird!! I knew it was her - I could totally tell from the pictures and it was only after I had called her and introduced my self and said hello etc that I felt a bit of an idiot because although I knew her immediately - poor Heather probably didn't recognise me from Adam. So... Heather... It was lovely to meet you but really sorry if I scared the life out of you lol.

We then missed the turning and carried on up to Carlisle - like you do before realising and heading back. Finally got there and was wowed by all the colour and creativity.

I am very camera shy outdoors but managed to take a few snaps before someone reprimanded me for not asking her first! She thought I might have been a journalist or someone from a magazine or someone who was going to steal her ideas. Quite flattering really. Nuff said. Camera went away till I got to the sheep. They didn't seem to mind. Here's a few of the shots I did manage to take of various outlets and crafty goodness.

Also saw my lovely friend Carole from Skeins who was helping out with someone else's stall. I treated myself to a lovely handdyed skein of wool for a scarf for the Autumn.

I got myself a new purse too. Desperately needed one as the zip had broken on mine. Lily got a toadstool brooch and two friendship bracelets.

I also saw a demonstration on needlefelting and the pictures looked wonderful so I bought myself a starter kit. It's a beach/sea scene - just a simple one - just to start me off.

I saw some fantastic woven hangings and there are courses held in North Wales so I would love to have a go at that at some point.

Finally, some sheep pics for all you sheep fans. Some of them were really friendly.

(These are the smallest breed of sheep in the world you know!)

We managed to stop off in Keswick for fish and chips before heading home. On my return I was really pleased to find that my two books from Japan had arrived! I bought them from this recommended seller here on Etsy called Pomadour24 and true enough, these items did ship fast! I am so happy as one of the patterns is the flowers from the flower scarves I made. So I know I am just going to drool and drool some more.

The blanket they are laying on is the one I started making last year but had so many ends to weave in it totally frightened me! Over the last couple of nights I plucked up the courage and began to weave those ends in. Just got a couple left to do but it means I can carry on with it now without fear or loathing. Here's a snap of it up to now. Maybe I will get it done for Autumn this year!

Thanks for staying with me if you're still reading. It is not like me to post so often.

I have been given a couple of blog awards and I will try and do a "Facts about ME" post soon. Have a nice weekend whatever you do.

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Round Robin complete and a couple of RAKS...

...are winging their way to two special people. They don't know it yet but they will in the next day or so. Hope you like them recipients!

What else have I been up to?

I made a tin can cozy.

Actually I also made a bigger one for a bigger tin but it was a bit loose. DD doesn't mind though and she now has it in her room. I also made a blue stripey one for the bathroom but dh was like... "Why have you put a baked beans tin in the bathroom??" Men - they just don't get it! I might make a few more for pens and pencils and things. They are quite handy and rather addictive.

My Round Robin got back to me from Julie and here it is in all its robin glory!

I did this one:

Tina did this one:

Clare did this one:

and Julie did this one:

Perfect. Thanks everyone. Great job. Now I need to make it into a cushion.

I also had a play around with a new App on my ipod touch. It's a Kaleidoscopic camera. I took some pics of my crochet and here are a few of the pics. Aren't they cool? I think I could get some of these printed off and make a bit of a collage/mural/picture with them. These were only my first attempt so some of them might look a little fuzzy.

Well, that's me. Short and sweet. Time is of the essence. I am off to Woolfest tomorrow for a short visit but hope to take lots of pics. Be prepared sheep fans! xx

Round Robin, new stash and blanket catch up.

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments in my last post. Your lovely words about my model really blessed me and I know they blessed her too. You are all very kind! Some questions were:

What yarn did you use?

Well, I used good old Stylecraft Special in various shades. It is an acrylic but a very soft one and I find the colours and feel of this yarn is great value for money. I love it.

Are you going to make a bigger one for yourself?

Perhaps. I'd like to but with my increasing size at the moment I am not sure it would flatter me a great deal. Saying that, I could always do one for just wearing inside the house.

I also got asked another question about my new cashmere merino yarn I bought recently and if I had done any more with it? The answer is yes! And here's the proof. I have done four rows up to now but I am weaving in the ends as I go so it won't be a mammoth task at the end.

I have to say the quality of this yarn is truly amazing. It is so soft and has a heaviness to it that makes it really drapey. It is lovely to work with - very soft and slips through your fingers very easily. I am not sure how big I will be making this blanket. I am sorely tempted to buy more yarn and just keep on letting it grow.

I got some lovely goodies through the post this week. For my birthday, Tracy gave me a $60 gift certificate for Anita's Little Stitches shop and here's what I bought. Anita was so kind and sent me a packet of Bohin needles as well as an extra birthday gift. I can't recommend Anita enough. She is super fast and very thorough.

So from left to right, I bought:

Plum St Samplers, Paradise Lost

Shakespeare's Peddlers, Jenny Bean's Friendship Sampler

Sullivan scissors

Blackbird Designs, Blue Bird

With Thy Needle and Thread, Homestead Samplar punchneedle kit.

The last one has puzzled me a bit as the last Punchneedle kit I bought, it contained and iron on transfer to put the image on the fabric but this one says "trace on" - yet it is back to front????? Any tips from punchneedlers out there would be much appreciated! Also a little disappointed that it only shows speciality threads and not a dmc conversion so I am going to have to spend a little time working this one out.

I also entered Simona's giveaway and won! I was supposed to get just the book of motifs but Simona sent me a magazine, some threads and some charms as well! All beautifully wrapped in lovely paper with real lavender in the package as well. Thank you so much Simona. It was a lovely surprise.

Lastly, I finished up Tina's Round Robin. I really loved working on this sweet design. Since I am the last person to stitch on it, it is going back home now to be with it's owner. It was a lovely Round Robin and when I get mine back I will do a proper post all about it. It was my first Round Robin and for once there were no problems. Well, up to now that is!

This is Seasonal Samplings by Hillside Samplings.

Well, that's all from me for now. I'm off to pop the kids to bed then it's HAED SAL night with Lisa and Tracy. Need to get more progress on that pink lady!

Have a good rest of week.

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First time poncho perfect

Well maybe not so perfect but dd loves it so I am very happy!

Got the inspiration from MemeRose and the pattern from Lemonddesucrette. Soooo quick to do. DD chose the colours herself and the order in which they went in. You can't see them properly as two of the colours are greeny shades. She said she wanted it like the colours of the sea starting with white and getting darker as the sea got deeper!

I say it's not perfect as I think I should have done the neckline a little larger so it would be slightly more drapey. I finished it off with a simple cluster shell edging. DD says it is warm and snuggly and loves it to bits so that makes me very very happy.

Not bad for a firstie hey???

Meet Rosie Posy

Guess who arrived today?

Meet Rosie Posy - my new friend from the lovely Julie from Needlecraft Haven. Julie has made a few of these "friends" to help encourage us to get our projects finished.

This little dear was sent, I know, to bring me extra special hugs and cuddles and she has found her place right in my stitching corner where she will definitely bring me the encouragement needed to finish some of my wips.

Thank you so much Julie. I absolutely adore her.

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Crochet bag finish!

A couple of weeks ago I came to the realization that my UFO pile has now spread to my crochet wips as well. I have several unfinished items. I have 2 fronts of cushions that need backs, 2 blankets unfinished, and a crochet bag that I started at the beginning of this year. You can see my start here.

I wasn't very happy with my colour placement and so the usual thing happened and the whole thing went into a bag and got left there for 6 months. I decided that it surely was time to get some of these projects "finished" and decided to start with the bag. I didn't bother to unravel it after all. I just used it as a learning piece and after a couple of days and some sore fingers later, I ended up with this:

My Usual model!

Doesn't look too bad does it? I am pretty pleased with it. It's very roomy and will fit a whole pile of woolly balls in it. Maybe I will line it, maybe I won't. Not sure yet. Just going to enjoy this little finish and then onto the cushions I think.

A little stitchy update. Here is my Sampler au Bouquets. Scuzy the ring marks. I refuse to iron the piece till it is finished. Really enjoying working on this - such a simple design but oh so pretty.

I spotted this finish on Meme Rose's blog and just loved it. The link to the pattern is here and dd has decided she wants one first! I think I am going to be busy busy.

And.. here's a little friend you don't get to see very often:

This is one of our cats who disappeared the other night - quite unusually for her and reappeared the next day limping!

This morning her foot was swollen so a trip to the vet was in order. Seems she has three puncture wounds in her little paw that had got infected. Possibly a fight? She really isn't the type but maybe she was set upon in the night by a big fat cat bully. £54 for two injections and then she was home. Hiding under the table. Poor miss.

Well I have a birthday this weekend - tomorrow actually but I am moving it to Sunday as dh has got to work - all day, all night - completely rubbish but I have bought myself a cake and I have some cards to open too. I am determined not to feel like Mr Bean.

Have a happy weekend people.

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