Clearing the decks

I'm busy finishing off some WIP's, ready for when the WOOL arrives in the craft shop later this month. Well, I'll need to buy some, won't I? And then I'll need to design new projects around the new wool, won't I? I'm already busy planning in my head!!

Firstly, I got the Virus Shawl finished, washed and blocked - although I haven't managed to get any decent photos of it yet. And can I just say that if you're thinking of using King Cole Riot DK be warned - a HUGE amount of excess dye came out when I washed it!! (Apologies for the lighting - the shawl does look brighter in real life!)

Next I tackled the little purple and pink crochet shoulder bag I started months ago. It's coming on really fast now and should be finished at the weekend.

I crocheted a tube to cover the strap and used plastic canvas to stiffen the bottom and sides. I just need to line it now.

Naturally I've been working on some new small projects as well!
I've made two mandalas to list on Folksy, and I'm working on a big batch of stitch markers too - they're lovely and sparkly and dangly. I've always been a magpie for things like that, so couldn't resist making some more!

The first mandala I made was quite sweet and simple, using up some of the yarn left over from the Peacock Tail Bag.

The second mandala was made using the yarn I saw in a sale recently and was forced to buy. Again, quite simple and I actually managed to restrain myself from going completely freestyle and followed a pattern from Haafner Linssen's book "Mandalas to Crochet". Ok - that's not strictly true. I combined 2 patterns, then did my own thing round the edge. But I do so enjoy making it up as I go along!!

I'm wondering how many projects I should restrict myself to when the wool arrives? I want to make a baby blanket for another niece expecting her first baby in June. I thought circles in a square, using the join-as-you-go method. I've never actually done that before, so thought a small project would be a good place to start. And joy of joys, I saw a link on instagram today with a very handy tip for that join as you go method - I may be giving it a try when the time comes. (Apologies if that link doesn't work - you may have to be a member of Instagram to view it...)

I also want to make another sampler blanket (like the Stripey Blanket I made) and I'll write up the pattern as I go. I want to try and incorporate all the different stitches I've learned - and make sure it is completely reversible, so no obvious right side. It may also be baby sized for speed but the pattern could be repeated to make it as large as you needed.

And knitting. I need to find something to knit as well. There's going to be a knitting club at the shop (when the wool arrives) and I think Lynn is hoping I'll be running it!! Eeeeek!
My knitting project will most likely be a tea cosie (ie something small!) and if it is, then probably an elephant. This elephant!!

Out of all the cosies I made (apart from the fiddly baby bird nest I designed myself) the elephant was definitely my favourite. (If you'd like a quick look at some of the other cosies I've made in the past, there's a separate page at the top of the screen, or click HERE.)

You know, I even got out the circular shrug I started nearly 2 years ago and got the ladies at work to try it on, as they are much slimmer than me and the style might have suited them better. It didn't. It will definitely be frogged when I get time and used for something else!

I'm sure there are other projects tucked away that I've completely forgotten about but I have enough to do to be going on with I think!!

Take care and see you again soon!  T xXx

Tori's Eggs

Meet Tori, my friend's Mum. It wasn't until very recently that I found out she used to make beautiful decorated eggs and is going to do some more.
I'd popped in for a quick visit one day and she saw me eyeing up a big box of supermarket eggs in the lounge...I obviously looked a little puzzled as to why they might be in the lounge. On the piano stool. She asked if I'd ever seen her eggs and when I replied no, nipped off to get them and came back with a shoe box full of the most amazing decorated eggs.

The first photo shows the oldest one, made around forty years ago! Just look at the detail!

And this is the lady herself, holding a choirboy egg - there's even a stained glass window!

This next one is a space ship -

And a trio of choirboys -

I asked her which one was her favourite and was surprised when she pointed out the very plain egg with some brown splodges (top left in the photo below). No opening in the front. No people. Then she explained that it was made by her daughter Gina when she was 4 years old... Isn't that just the sweetest thing?!

As I said to begin with, she's going to have a go at making them again and you know, I'm quite tempted to order her a ready-blown Ostrich Egg - what would she make with one that size??. Can you imagine the look on her face?!!... 

Til next time, Tina xXx

Grrrrr....

So, the virus shawl is going quite well. I finished ball one and got out ball 2. I had to wind off quite a lot because it started at a different colour from where ball 1 finished.  I get to what I think is the right place and start working but then I find a knot,and it goes from purple straight to mustard, when it should be red, pinkish, orange, mustard, pinkish, red, purple.
ARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! What do I do?  This is just so annoying! !!

This is how it looks so far and whilst I like the colours, to be completely honest, I don't like working with the wool - it almost feels a bit thin for double-knit, and the pattern is just soooooooo boring. I don't know quite what all the fuss was about with this pattern being so popular. But then I don't normally mind repetitive patterns, so maybe it's just me.
I don't think I'll be making another though!!

We had a frosty start to the week and it made some lovely feathery patterns on the car. Really pretty, and you can see the circles I must have made last time I washed it - it was a shame to have to scrape it off!

And everything is coming into bloom again -

Can't wait for a burst of warmer weather. Hopefully it's not too far off...

Where did February go?!

Boy! February just flew past didn't it??!! I can't believe it's March 1st today - it'll be Christmas before you know it!

I meant to stop by at the weekend but I was just too busy. Still, better late than never.

I managed to take last week off and got out and about and met up with friends and had a much needed rest from the office. I had a trip out to Hilliers of course and the weather that day was Glorious! Look at these -

It was really busy in the gardens too. Whilst I sort of want the gardens to myself, I do love to see so many people enjoying them, especially when they bring lots of children. There's nothing better than seeing the children enjoy the garden.

I had a walk by the sea with a friend later in the week and we were treated with blue skies that day too -

I also did a little crafting - of course!! I made a mandala for my Folksy shop -

The temptation to make a mandala had grown too strong to resist and this one is made using some of the Sirdar Cotton DK I used for the Peacock Tail Bag I made last year. I started by following a pattern but I very quickly went freestyle. Much more fun than following a pattern! So much fun in fact that I think I might make some more!!

I also listed the "Baaa - gs of Lavender" I made a while back, on Folksy.

And I made myself some new stitch markers as well - I've wanted some new, bigger ones for quite a while and decided to have a go and see how they turned out. They turned out so well I'm going to make a load more and sell on Folksy. (Or should I sale put up for sale - I've not actually sold anything yet!!)

On Saturday, I visited Greenhill Patchwork in Romsey. Although I no longer quilt it's a beautiful shop that I can't resist visiting and the staff are lovely too - and they also sell Wool!! They had some new ranges in and  look what I found!!

 

    

The light over the weekend wasn't very good at all for takings photos and the colours you see here aren't quite right - but you get the gist.
I've been looking for a variegated yarn like this for ages. I wanted one that had long colour runs, not just three or four stitches before the next colour starts. I stood in front of them for ages pondering what I could make and would one ball be enough. Yes, I really wanted it and was going to buy it even if I didn't need it and didn't know what to make with it!!
Then it hit me - the virus shawl! It was all over the internet last year and I knew the wool would be perfect. (A quick search on Ravelry when I got home and I even found someone who had made the shawl using the same wool, albeit in a different shade.) I bought just 2 balls and made a start the next day. I even took it to work to do some at lunchtime!

What do you think? I like the colours and the pattern looks good but to be honest it's rather boring to make. Everyone online who made it said it was really nice to make and they'd made more than one! Maybe they exaggerated? Or maybe it's just me?! Ah well. Once it's finished and washed and blocked, I'll pop it on Folksy and see what happens. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates.

There were lots of other things I got up to as well last week, including going for a lovely afternoon tea with a friend and her son. I was rather pleased to see this on the inside of the lid of my jar of jam -

Life certainly was sweet last week. Then I went back to the office...ah well. Hope your week is going well! T xx