Yesterday, when blah blah blah

Pooch took me out for an extremely posh and nice dinner last night. I basically killed it in knee high red boots and an original 1964 clutch bag Mater had given me for my birthday.

Because yes, it was my birthday yesterday. I had a pretty awesome day. Multiple presents (that's the way uhuh uhuh I like it uhuh uhuh) including a solution to the cat conundrum I had not previously considered from my sister.

Plus the aforementioned bag.

Isn't it amazing? Look at this attention to detail. Little divuts cut out where the shoulder strap finding pops out if you choose to use the shoulder strap.

They don't make em like that anymore. Not in Primark anyway.

The day itself was spent in leisurely pursuit of a tidy flat and a few more rows on the lace shawl. Both achieved and having suited and booted myself I was off to Hawksmoor in Guildhall (near Bank). It was well lush. Lush that is until about 3.30am this morning when I started feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Pooch tells me it can't be food poisoning because we shared everything and he had a lot more of it than I did. But I dunno. Seems like a big coincidence timing wise for it to be a stomach bug.

That said it was a glorious meal for which I am truly grateful. I stand blog before you now as a 34 year old woman, no pets, no kids, divorced and dating her ex-husband.

I have always much preferred even numbers.

Books #27 - #31

So much for blogger saving draft posts. This is the second time I've written this. Curse you blogger!
 

#27 Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance
by Gyles Brandreth

A rather odd story full of juxtapositions - sexuality vs abstinence, poor vs rich, adoration vs loathing, london vs paris etc. Oscar starts the book by discovering a murder but doesn't tell anyone or report it until the body has been removed and the netire room stripped and polished. With beeswax. Conan Doyle again turns up and Oscar's similarity to Sherlock and then Mycroft Holmes is emphasised as he jumps about coming to all sorts of conclusions. The charactors in this are well written but I have some toruble believing that so many of them could be such good liars. Lies are very tiring and hard to keep track of, in my experience.

#28 I am the only Running Footman
by Martha Grimes

A Martha Grimes book and a good one. These books all look like they'll be typical 'cosies' until you get into them. They're intelligent and well written with wit and good character development. By the end you expect to find out whodunnit but it's not always the way with this series and this is one where I ended up reading the ending a few times over because it was so ambiguous. After reading four in a go a few years back I was astonished to find out the author is american and lives somewhere like Texas. She writes of London and the countryside with utter conviction. These tend to be out of print in the UK but are current in the US. If you find one in a second hand shop I'd definitely recommend it.

#29 Bryant and May and the Memory of Blood
by Christopher Fowler

Oooof, I do love these books. Again these are set very firmly in England but usually very much in London and the author is himself a Londoner this time. The last two were based more or less within the underground tube system while this one keeps us above ground and plays around with the Punch and Judy stories. A powerful man - is he being punished or is he living out his own passion? The usual inhabitants of the Peculiar Crimes Unit are in place along with several favourites including the amazingly long suffering Alma who explains very calmly at one point how being Bryant's housekeeper is her way of showing respect to God. I would recommend this series to anyone at great length.

#30 The Case of the Murdered Muckraker
by Carola Dunn

Oh dear. Sometimes an otherwise reliable author drops something like this into the mix. Personally I try to tell myself they had received an unexpected tax bill or needed to pay a ransom or something, because otherwise they never would have wanted this published in their name. Daisy is in some part of america - her husband is in another. I can't remember why now. It's not really important. Except I think they're on honeymoon. I wish I'd honeymooned somewhere different to where Pooch did. Anyway. She sees someone get shot and fall down a lift shaft. And so she drags herself into the investigation and gets in the way and some stuff happens and they end up flying cross country in a plane piloted by...a black woman pilot! I almost stopped reading this one. I'm just glad it was a library book because it would have depressed me to have bought it.

#31 The Lamorna Wink
by Martha Grimes

I only finished this one last night so it is still very much with me and kind of echoing around my head as I go back over what happened. My only criticism would be that there wasn't enough Jury. But in his absence you got to see how the individual characters acted without him so it was quite clever to do that. Melrose has gone to Cornwall to view a property he saw in a magazine and to try and get away from his ghastly Aunt. Two small children drowned there with their bodies found hand in hand four years earlier and now there has been another death and a disappearance and Macalvie is on the case. As with #28 these books are a delight. This one does have a definite culprit but how things were done and turned out the way they did is multi-layered and complicated and haunting. It sounds trite but these are the kind of books where you regret they have finished and miss their absence.

Shoppywoppydoodah

Sister 1 came to visit this weekend. It has been pretty epic and is not over yet. The goal was the acquisition of her wedding shoes (she gets married in December). Goal acquired.

We celebrated the finding of the shoes (Irregular Choice) in somewhere I didn't even know existed outside of Brighton. Choccywoccydoodah has a shop and cafe just off Carnaby Street. For the sake of my ever expanding wasitline it is probably best I didn't know it was there.

The shop contains examples of their fantasy cakes. The cafe upstairs is like somewhere vampiric, chocolate-loving, ladies-who-lunch would hang out.

Sian looked like she was about to be crowned by the ludicrous lampshade.

We had accidentally found the wedding shoes in the first shop which theoretically meant game over, go home. But no. Five shoe shops and a Beyond Retro later and my plates of meat were doing the tendinitis tango and I had to head home. Sian bravely carried on. She's a trooper.

She got back to find me knitting. What else. She asked me about cross-stitch. "Is it difficult? Could I do it?" Never ask an enabler if you can do something. Thirty seconds later she had aida, threads and a pattern of a dog that looks like her dog.

She carried on with it this morning and free style embellished.

I am *SO* freaking proud. She's ordered a kit online to do more. This is already the best day ever. My sister. Crafting. Squee.

Speaking of the lace.

Going nicely. No counting either which I am a big fan of. As long as each half ends on the end of a pattern repeat you know you're doing fine and you stop when it's big enough. Nice.

The Sianathon didn't end with cross stitch. We decided to order a little sushi for dinner. I almost passed out with joy when I saw it arrive.

It's from Poppy Hana in Bermondsey which does free delivery over £15. So good. The eating doesn't end there either. This being a blowout weekend we are off in about 45 mins to eat Dim Sum by the riverfront in Canary Wharf. I can almost hear the pork buns calling me from here. My only sadness is that I won't be travelling there dressed like my hero.

:(

Nothing Says Summer Like a Cabled Aran

Finished! The only modelled photo is sans buttons.

But with buttons...

The buttons were from my giant stash. The pattern calls for four but I only had the three. I um'd and ah'd about whether to go with blue or dark brown but am glad I chose these.

The weather in the UK has done one of those sweet little u-turns. Jumped about 8 degrees in one day only to jump back down again the next day.

Sadly these things only seem to happen on weekdays when I have to stay in the office. Heat does not suit heavy yarns which is why I'm glad to be knitting with beauuuuuutiful silk laceweight. There is no point photographing it at the moment because it looks like a haemorrhoid - but the shawl for Nic's wedding is happily underway.

I had a monster migraine on Monday which has put the kibosh on further crafting this week. Plus my medium sister comes to stay tomorrow on the search for shoes for her wedding so that will be more shopping than crafting. However I am sure I'll manage to fit another repeat into the shawl and maybe even pin it out to take some photos at some point.

Craft Wave Keeps Coming In

I'm still crafting away like the zombies are coming to steal my supplies. This weekend I've made the pattern and the rough sample for the Groom's waistcoat for Nickerjac's wedding. No pics but I will share the process after the wedding has actually happened.

I've also made myself a coaster and a swap partner a fabric wrapped bowl.

I love these things and they are so easy to make. Any sewing machine will make one without complaint as long as you have a zig zag stitch (my swap partner likes 'shabby chic' so I'm hoping white and flowery patterns fit the bill).

There is a tutorial here but it's also very intuitive. I made one of these as part of my swap with QuiteContrary but I have also made others before.

I get my clothes lines from the pound shop and go for the ones that look quite raffia-ish as they are a good size and easy for the needle to go through. Then you use any scrap fabric (as long as the pieces are at least 1" thick and off you go.

I have thought a lot about why I've been on such a craft bender for the last few weeks/months. I think Pinterest has a lot to do with it. My 'Crafty Inspirations' Board in particular means I am frequently reminded of creative opportunities and I am still on the site most days seeing what is inspiring others. In fact I repinned this from someone else on Friday because it resonated.

Source: someecards.com via Alex on Pinterest

For instance seeing something like this...

Source: wendigratz.blogspot.com via Alex on Pinterest

...makes me think of this jumper I saw on Flowermouse Blog (which I follow)...

...and how I want to use my own cat motif with the paperdolls jumper on Ravelry. And also how I have a cat embroidery on the go that I haven't even blogged about and so I do a bit more on that.

For today I am hoping to finish the Livingstone Cardigan from the last Interweave Magazine. Half the collar and the i-cord toggle loops to go plus choosing some suitably toggly buttons from the stash. I also made some resin pendants yesterday (I was about to make a sandwich and decided to do the resin pouring instead - you know how it is) so I need to photograph those and list them on Etsy. Then...who knows. I might swatch for the shawl I'll wear to the wedding, or make some more bunting, or do some more cross stitch planning, or....

We're both going to the zoo tomorrow...

This is what my colleague and I were singing on Tuesday when we left the office. We were on our way to Bristol to go to the zoo...for an event I had organised. It went really well and was structured such that we both got the occasional half hour to sneak off. I got bitten by a Lorikeet.

Twice.

Awesome.

I am not a big zoo aficionado and prefer that if animals have to be kept in captivity they have somewhere like Longleat to live in, but as far as zoos go Bristol's is very good. Sadly I couldn't go too far because of my amazing legs. It turns out the 'shin splints' diagnosis I was given in January was WRONG. Not only wrong but the exercises they gave me were making things worse. I actually have Posterior Tibial Tendinitis in BOTH legs. Yes, it is very painful. I have to walk as little as possible, use ice packs at least twice a day, sleep with my legs elevated and avoid ibuprofen unless I can't stand the pain. I'm having insoles made that should help but in the meantime it's sports massage on the soles of my feet and calves which will be agonisingly painful at the time and leave me bruised and hobbling for a few days afterwards. Bonza.  

Fortunately none of this stopped me meeting up with Mary on Monday to exchange parcels for the Spring into Summer Swap. She was uber generous.

She told me a lovely story about seeing the leaf and immediately thinking of me many months ago before the swap came up. She also made the beads herself. So delicate and clever. Close up:

Then the nom's and some yarny goodness. The lovehearts were the 'local' item as they are made near her.

A new playmate for me to photograph in unlikely situations and a book which is a classic I had ashamedly never even heard of. I've been glomming through it a few pages at a time while tucked up in bed.

And then....

I played with the colour settings on my laptop so the photo above probably looks a bit fake but I was trying to show the actual colour of the handspun silk plied with silk that is just so darn awesome I don't really know what else to say. And talk about timely. I'd been looking for a yarn to knit into a shawl to wear with the dress I'm donning for Nickerjac's wedding. And lo! This matches it perfectly. Close up:

 

I didn't alter this one so you can see the red, off-white and turquoise it is plied with. So perfectly balanced - I couldn't be happier!

Exchanging swap parcels in person was a very good idea and we had a good natter as well. A perfect way to start the week!

A House of my Own

This seems about as close as I'll get any time soon to owning property.

I was looking for some little wooden blanks to paint into houses since my trip to Amsterdam. I first saw some tiny ones in Prague in about 2003 and the large ones in Amsterdam souvenir shops reminded me of them all over again. There are lots on etsy...

Source: etsy.com via Alex on Pinterest

...but I wanted to make my own. I should have known that it required merely a word in my Dad Rob's ear.

He is an electrician and general manly crafter. He made these out of some scraps. I love them.

I'm tempted to lightly oil or varnish them and leave them as they are but I am going to give the painting a go. Onward, ever onward.

The cat is now firmly out of the bag and Nickerjac has announced her nuptials. There has been much planning and discussion already and my first task is to make two waistcoats. I was idly strolling along the road thinking of this when I stopped in my tracks. Well, she will need a cake, right?

Meanwhile I will continue thinking of waistcoats. I had no idea there were so many styles. I'm guessing something like this just won't do.

The creator calls him "Niles the Nervous Bunny". Strangely apt!

Squeek

I love these.

I've got two kits for the bronze ones in my etsy shop but I've kept the silver ones for myself. Yippee! Also while perusing Etsy I came across snag free stitchmarkers. Now I have heard of such a thing before but didn't like the weird stringy appearance of them. The ones I found were much nicer and...in true craft whore style...I have copied them.

Hands up mine are not as good and lack finesse and I encourage you to go and buy the originals, but I rather like them.

Having launched my business - I Block Your Knitting - I do feel more strongly drawn to lace then last week. I'been looking at what is in my queue on Ravelry and do rather fancy this lace hoody. Thing is I very rarely buy more than one skein of a sock yarn. In fact I never buy more than one. And this top needs 5. And with indie yarns that means £50 easily. Hmmm...rethink....

I Block Your Knits

I discussed this with the Romford Knitting Group a few months ago. After much thought and deliberation here it is...

I Block Your Knitting

It is exactly what it says - you post me your item, I block it and I post it back. I've got a special introductory offer.

Shawls are just £10 plus postage. 

Even if you don't need anything blocking drop by the website and give me your feedback. All comments welcome.

Past Achievements

I have spent this weekend at Mater's, communing with cats and making a start on the curtains for the barn. Large check red gingham with a small check matching red gingham bottom border. Sewing projects at Mater's require the use of The Sewing Box which is one I used to use when I was but a littl'un. Behold.

The applique was my first attempt at such a thing having been reading a seventies craft book in wide eyed amazement at what could be achieved with needle and thread. The fabric, I fondly remember, was from a pair of pants that had lost their elastic. Embroidery thread was something to be had from the market for something silly like 10p a skein and I used it endlessly for both embroidery and friendship bracelets and for darning pairs of tights and jeans and anything else that needed two bits holding together. At one point a friend of my Dad's declared her embroidery days were over and I almost passed out with joy as she handed me a carrier bag full of tangled skeins she had dumped out of an old drawer. Parts of many of them still reside in the box.

Even at that fresh age (maybe 9 years old?) I was leaving UFOs in my wake. These were destined to be pin cushions but never got made.

But when it comes to UFOs I didn't just keep them small.

This doesn't really give you an idea of scale. The hoop is about 9" across. I spent hours working away on this. Sadly the chart has vanished in the 20 years or so since I picked it up so if anyone knows how to get hold of a copy please do seriously get in touch. It is labelled "WM Briggs and Co" and must have been from around 1988. I seem to remember buying it with birthday money when I was 11 but it could have been earlier. WM Briggs is part of Coats whose website is clear in saying they do not keep an archive so I am not sure where to start looking. I do still remember doing my favourite bits first. For instance the staircase.

And the footman in the dining room.

It would be nice to finish it one day but would be fairly hopeless without the chart.

On the subject of cats I finally got to meet and stroke Dudley, or Mr Dudley as my mother refers to him. He moved in next door some months ago and was very polite but had a definite look of sadness on his little face.

I was prepared to be friendly but my Dad tells me he suspects Dudley of bullying our resident Artemis (cue gratuitous Artemis picture from the archive).

 

And even of causing her bodily harm when she came in with a cut or scratch on her head. I would like to think Dudley looks sad because he has realised the error of his ways and misses the old times. But perhaps on the inside he really is a vicious brute. That's the trouble with cats. You generally can't tell until it's too late whether they are angelic buckets of purrs or demonic hatchet men.