Tuesday 25 October 2005

Pictures!

Pooch and I have just had another loving conversation that ended in swear words so I have exiled myself to the spare room and decided to blog my little heart out – for – friends – I have managed to coordinate laptop-at-home-with-camera-and-found-cable-and-have-downloaded-photos-so-can-load-them-up-tomorrow-at-work. Woo ha!

So where was I? Of course, the amazing ally pally. I seriously loved that show. I kept within budget and everything and everything I did there was fun fun fun. I started off on Thursday on the Relax and Knit stand. In fact I started there but by the time the show started I was looking after Silkwood’s stand as Les, Tess and Nic were all caught in traffic. So that was fun (and later earned me a discount on the spellbound bead co stand!). They all arrived in time poor things and started doing things properly so I beetled back to Yvonne and did a swatch in the splash stuff in rowan’s new range. I am seriously happy I never bought even one ball of this to try.
Image hosted by Photobucket.comThe splashy stuff is only on one side of the yarn and it really is very acrylicy. Just not good so let’s not talk about that again.

The number of pics I actually took there comes to a grand total of…..two. Yes, folks, not one, but two. The first was of Liz’s gorgeous mask that she was exhibiting on one of the stands.
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And the second was of three girls in the queue for the toilet. You see they all looked so fabulous and I know they look like Sloane rangers in the making but they were actually very nice and bubbly and just looked so fabulous and exotic.
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I spent hours wandering round and talking to people and bumping into lots of people I knew from blogging or other knitting events. I looked at *everything* and bought bits of almost all of it. Want to see the whole haul? Well, wait no longer….
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When I first laid out this lot I just stood there and looked at it all. In fact I think ‘gloating’ is the word. I would occasionally move forward and touch something or pick something up and then carefully put it back again. This went on for quite a while. I even negotiated an evening of having it all on the table overnight with Pooch. So let’s have a look at it in more detail. Starting from the bucket shaped bag at top left…
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I saw this bag last year at AP on one of the stalls and have spent a lot of time since then lamenting the fact I didn’t buy one. Can you make out all the pockets? There are tonnes. All over the outside and layered up and more inside – perfect for putting all sorts of silly things in. So what this means is that I now have a knitting bag. Yippeee! The little pots in front are red, yellow and blue kemtex acid dyes. Ooooh yeah Nickerjac, here I come in the whole dyeing thing! Have tried them out all ready but more of that later! Next we move round in a clockwise direction to….sock wool!
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You can blame webof wool and Sue at …goddamn forgotten it’s name but they do lorna laces and cherry tree hill. Oooooo lovely stuff. Got some more of the Louisa Harding ribbon there too. Thinking ‘hat’ but not sure which one. And then on to….Colinette!
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Yes, the Giotto got me at last. But I am really not going to attempt the colinette stand again at AP as talk about ‘scrum’. Quite nuts. Got two skeins in the monet and another one in creams and reds. Both fabulous and both crying out for me to finish the xmas knitting so I can get the hell on with stuff I actually want to do.
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These are the lovely little clover bits I treated myself to. I have never actually had any clover accessories before so splurged on the chubi darning needle holder as I keep losing mine when they’re loose and a button making kit. Thing is these packets of buttons were all £4 on each stand but then was on the KCG website the other day and saw them for £3.20 and that’s pre-discount. Dear little KCG. I really must use them more. And on we go to….buttons!
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I *love* buttons. No seriously. I really love buttons. I got all these ones and have been enjoying their loveliness ever since. I need to think of more to do with buttons. I just love buttons. Buttons, Mmmmm. Then…actually do you know those places where you buy something and then you try and go back there later you can’t find it? Terry Pratchett always descriobes them as ‘travelling shops’ and apparently the owner has been cursed by a wizard to potter about in time and space until something or other is in stock. That bis exactly how I would describe the Japanese fabric stall.
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I got three fat quarters and here you get a better (?why?) view of the dyes as well. No, I don’t know what I’m going to do with them but I am sure something will occur to me. You can also see some of the magazines in the top left corner of that picture. I got two sandra’s and have taken out a three month subscription on the back of them. I have seen Sandra before and quite like the patterns (although admittedly am yet to knit something from one – hence only a three month sub as I want to see whether I’m getting anything from them.)

So is that it….? No wait, check out this bad boy.
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A skein winder. And a really nice one too. New, wooden and spins like a dream – very balletic. And did I get any use out of it….well let me tell you!
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22 balls later and I was done. So many skeins and all went so quickly and smoothly. Can’t believe I ever managed without one in the past. Combined with my ebay ball winder I was unstoppable. It was all getting a bit manic and obviously went to my head with the obvious result.
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OK, am knackered and sure you can’t be arsed to read anymore so more another day….

16 comments:

Iris said...

What a fantastic haul!!

NikolaAnne said...

Wowzers. Love that bag! :-)
We seeing you at Golder's Green tomorrow? It's been far too long!
*hugs*

PURLPOWER said...

Of all the hauls on display in the past week I have to say that this is by far the most impressive. Handy to have your opinion on the Rowan sample, sounds just as I suspected - rough.
You won't regret the Chibbis either, the best couple of quid I ever spent.
Sue? Probably Sue from Get Knitted methinks, their Cherrytree hill stuff is not only beaut colours but also a total JOY to knit socks with and wear on one's feet. Take my advice and make them only for yourself as no one else appreciates them quite as much.
All in all, top haul!

Mary-Lou said...

now that's what I call a haul! - great display!

Jennifer said...

Look at all that fantastic loot!!!

rachel said...

I'm green with envy - what a smashing haul, no wonder you gloated!

Knitsmith said...

What a spread, so yummy it's almost edible, I love the Cherry Tree Hill, totally gorgeous, just needs to be knitted into some super socks, but not on four needles!

Jan

Liz said...

Wow; that lot is gorgeous....

Totally agree with you on the Rowan spray stuff; fingers-on-blackboard territory...

And you got a way better picture of my mask than I did - would you e-mail me a copy, pretty please??

Nickerjac said...

It all looks yummy am so glad didn't wonder to far, the stand that Sue was on is Get Knitted I also succumbed to some lornas laces for my SP

Becky said...

Oh wow - what a haul - it looks like you had a lovely time. I'm jealous of your gorgeous bag.

annarella said...

You know what? I'm now totally regretting not having bought more stuff at AllY Pally. On the day I wasn't really inspired due to the shopping I did in Italy... but looking at all your goodies... I'm sure I could have picked up something more.

Enjoy playing with it all!

A xx

Kate said...

Great bag, magic haul. Good to have you back.

Mary said...

Great haul. I totally agree on the Rowan spray stuff, a most unpleasant feeling finish. Look forward to seeing what you make with it all!

soapy said...

OHhhh Lala! What great stash additions! those socks yarns are fantastic!

Uknitty said...

Blimey, that is some extreme stash enhancement. Just one thing... is one of the girls waiting to go to the loo actually Patsy Palmers little sister? Or is it a member of Girls Aloud? She looks terribly familiar...

C x

Woolly Wormhead said...

Hey, loads of great stuff to look at! You did well for your cash, my dear.. and cool to see some snaps from you again. Particuarly love the bag...

R x