Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Peaks and Troughs


And we are not just talking mountains! The peaks have been that we just spent a week holidaying in Wales with my family. The weather wasn’t great but to be honest we go more for the peace and quiet than the weather. We stayed in a bungalow this time not far from Cader Idris. I have wanted to start the Helon Dress from Rowan 43 for quite a while but as I am not as confident in my crochet as in my knitting, I have kept putting it off. Even though I have had loads of encouragement from Chris including a sample of what it was supposed to look like! A week with nothing else to do seemed the best time to start. I have managed to complete the sleeves and have started the back. My confidence is growing and I am trying to finish it before the end of August.


A definate trough was that Whilst we were away I had a birthday:( I am having a bit of a crisis about being so old but, my mum spoilt me with a couple of books that I have been salivating over for a while a gorgeous totally impractical pair of shoes
and a delicious carrot cake. The books....Loop Vintage Crochet I saw when I did the crochet workshop at Rowan there are some gorgeous things in it. The Inspired to Knit is very inspirational and also looks like it might be stash busting which is always good!Though I am determined that I will finish my dress before starting anything else.She also whilst roaming Aberystwyth stopped to tie her shoe lace and fell into a wool shop. Now that is what I call taking your parental responsibilities seriously! claires wools It really is a lovely shop. The owner and staff were really friendly towards me and the hoard of children that I brought in. I bought some lovely green Aran yarn to make the February sweater. It made me really wish I had a LYS.
The other major thing (apart from getting older) which I can't quite decide on it's peak or trough status that has happened is that after nine years of studying with the Open University I have got my BSC(hons). It feels very strange not to be studying or deciding what I am going to study next as it has taken up a large chunk of my adult life. I probably won’t be going to a graduation ceremony as the closest is in London on a Friday morning not really conducive for conducting the school run!

Friday, August 01, 2008

Two years today.

I just realised as I started writing this that it was two years since I started writing my blog. When I first started I didn't even tell anyone that I was writing it. Now I read back at the original entries the whole thing is pretty formal and quite stilted. As I was unsure how much information that I wanted to share. I am more relaxed when I write now. Happy to share bits of my life. I have met so many lovely people through their comments and then subsequently reading their blogs. So thank you to everyone who has commented over the last two special years.




As soon as I had sent off my exchange gift I again picked up Juliet the garter stitch was a bit wearing but once I got onto the bodice it flew by and I finished it a couple of days ago and I have to say I am really pleased with the result. I had the Rowan cashcotton in my stash for a couple of months but wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with it until I saw the pattern for Juliet. I think the combination of pattern and soft fluffiness of the yarn makes for a really feminine top. The pattern suggested closing the top with either a button or a ribbon. But, I thought I would like a brooch. I spent several afternoons browsing pages on ebay until I found this 1950’s brooch which turned out to be perfect.
It does however need the ribbon as well to just pull it in. The actual pattern is so simple yet very effective. So it is easy enough for a beginner and mindless enough for everybody else.

In April Bluetortoise, J and I had a day trip out to a patchwork shop where I found a lovely little bag pattern. Perfect for using scraps! Anyway we decided we would all have a go at making one most of the scraps were mine as neither of the others hoard as much as I do. We have spent several lovely evenings choosing the perfect scraps of cloth and then cutting out all of the little pieces. Each one is totally different. But when I use mine I shall think of my friends.

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