Getting My Bake On

I've gone through a fit of baking. Olive and Mushroom Bread.You can get jars of antipasta mushrooms from the supermarket. They are really tasty and in olive oil which the recipe also calls for so two ingredients for the price of one.

Then slow cooked onion soup. A mix of spanish, red and shallots then just butter, flour, stock and seasoning. Delicious. Then tonight I am on Sticky Date Cake. The recipe I used to use has been taken down so I've used this one which seems to be more or less identical. I would strongly recommend it. The hardest part is not burning your tongue on the fruit syrup you make in the first stage while waiting for it to cool down.

In amongst all this I have been knitting and sewing. The knitting has been entirely on the 4-ply Camber Cardi I've been slogging away on since SkipNorth.

It's slow going but I do like how it is turning out. I've also been using something I purchased at SkipNorth. The recycled sari silk - but this sari silk was in strips instead of just threads and you can see two small balls of it left over from the 100g skein (it was about £4.50) to the left of the rotary cutter.

I saw this bag in Winghams (where I got the yarn).

I don't have quite as many fancy stitches on my sewing machine but...

My colours aren't as harmonious as the sample one but I rather like the arrangement.

I shall have to find some suitable lining for it. I'm also wondering about a button closure like a paper lunchbag type thing. Not sure...maybe.

To finish I just wanted to share a couple of things I've seen recently. You're going to wonder how I could resist this one. Especially with Halloween practically on the doorstep.

I should have looked more closely - but don't you get the impression each of those 'feathers' will be hemmed and nicely finished? So. Much. Time.

Then something to brighten any living room wall. Perhaps just to the right of the flying ducks.

I know - again you're thinking "£2.99? Tell me she didn't leave that behind in the shop?". But yes, I did. The dome protecting the furry cats was just a little too protuberant to meet my aesthetic requirements. I did consider getting it as a present for someone but I've just missed Mother's Day although....just imagining my Mother's face if I presented that to her as a present. Ha. Hahaha. Hahahahahahahahahahahahhaha. Ooo, oooo, stitch.

Not Easy Being Me

There I was, peacefully trying to take a picture of the WWE men, and a colleague started throwing things.

Then later - in the pub - hard at work - I was mocked.

Poor me.

These were all for my next illustrated story, following on from the one in my previous post, which will be entitled "WWE vs the Dinosaurs".

I've been tidying a bit at home with the idea in mind that I'll be doing some sewing again soon. I want to get back to my sister's wedding quilt and finish one of the ones I was making myself before I start anything new. I've also been more recently inspired by a chance visit to a shop called "Lovely and British" on Bermondsey Street which stocked jewellery by an artist called Tors Duce. Her website is here and her Flickr here and I borrow a photo from her flickr account merely to illustrate how beautiful her work is.

Isn't that divine? She had some simpler bracelets with buttons on too that were just beautiful.

It was another sunny day in WWEland

The boys awoke with the sun streaming through the window.

"Smell my armpit!" shouted Undertaker. John Cena did and seemed to go back to sleep again.

The yoga group decided to make the most of the sunshine and started their stretches outside.

CM Punk noticed his foot appeared to be pointing the wrong way. But he was a straight edge superstar so it was cool. They changed to do the greeting-the-sun routine.

Then they broke up into smaller groups to relax.

Once he had him alone Kane said to Undertaker "Dude. That whole armpit thing this morning was not good." Undertaker just stuck out his tongue in reply. Meanwhile Triple H hugged a daisy.

Not many people know this but HHH stands for "Hunter Hugs Herbs". Then it was time for wrestling practice. Shaun Michaels decided to go one on one with some purple cotton.

He was losing but the Heartbreak Kid didn't want to give up. Then Mr Kennedy challenged him to a Cone Match.

But Mr Wrestlemania didn't like the sound of that so he threw him off the cone and into some rare breed chunky wool.

Once they'd finished their workouts it was storytime. As the oldest, Shaun Michaels made himself comfortable on top of a hand knitted kauni cardigan and began to tell the story...

"Once upon a time, John Cena went to visit an alpaca farm..."

"...while his friends Shaun Michaels and and Triple H played in some fleece."

"I wonder how much I weigh?" said Shaun. "If only I could climb onto those scales I'd know." "Why don't you climb up that monkey puzzle tree and jump onto the scales from above?" suggested Triple H. (He wasn't called the cerebral assassin for nothing). So Shaun climbed up...

...and jumped down on to the scales.

"I don't weigh anything!" he cried. "Ha ha!" said Triple H from his rosebush.

And that was the end of the story. "Have you and Triple H always been friends?" the younger wrestlers asked Shaun. "Friends forever!" he replied.

(This is the first of two stories being published in the run up to Wrestlemania at the weekend. Did I say "Wrestlemania"? I meant WRESTLEMANIA!!!!!)

A Pun on Sweeney Todd

I can't think of one. But suffice to say I went to see it in the West End last night. Who knew Imelda Staunton could sing? It was very good and the staging was as entertaining as the singing.

It'a been a slow week craftwise chez byrne. I've been catching up after SkipNorth and things are pretty busy at work as well. Then the parents and sister plus fiance came to stay both nights this weekend in my one bed flat. Cue spatial thinking along quantum levels to ensure we all fitted in. On Thursday when I should have been cleaning the bathroom I was distracted by this on Pinterest.

Source: theworkisgettingtome.blogspot.com via Alex on Pinterest

Of course it didn't quite work out that way. I left mine the second time for about half an hour and the yarn was dyed up to about 1cm in. So I skeined it and then chucked it back in the dye pot with a load of emerald and aquamarine. Then I forgot about it and let it boil way too high for too long and this is the result.

I'll make some vanilla socks to see what happens.

When I got back from SkipNorth I finished and blocked the 3/4 Hap Shawl.

It's not as big as the photo on the pattern suggests unless she is maybe moomin sized. That would explain it actually. I do adore a ripple stitch and am very pleased with the colours on this. And the texture.

Nom.

In its place I have cast on the Camber Cardigan in Rowan 4-ply soft on 2.5mm needles. Yes, this is going to take quite some time to complete.

I love the yoke although having almost finished it I'm not crazy about the instructions. I've ended up winging it on the edge panels as I can't see how the chart relates to them and if there isn't a knit row and purl row missing between rows 32 and 33 the pattern was rewritten after the model was knitted.

The next week is going to be very busy with a work event in Sheffield. But then it is the weekend and what is special about this weekend?

Yeah. It's Wrestlemania on Sunday. I am     *so*     *freaking*     *excited*. I have a WWE photo special planned. If that doesn't make you keep coming back to this blog then nothing will.

Books 2012, #7-10

Clicking on the pics will take you to the relevant Amazon page.

#7 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

This is a *brilliant* book. It's hard to put it into a genre though. It is clearly non-fiction but it's not science, not exactly psychology and definitely not self-help. Sociology maybe? Its basis is that we all make split second decisions based on social norms, past experiences, recent experiences and any number of other things. You know that feeling when you know someone is lying but rely on what they've said? Or when you've cast on and know it's going to be too big/small but carry on anyway? Trust that instinct! The author explains where these instincts come from and gives case studies from professional sports, orchestras, policemen, psychologists and more to illustrate his points. I found it riveting. If you have enjoyed anything like Oliver Sacks or Freakonomics you will enjoy this too. Also if you are interested in people this will definitely keep your attention.

#8 Murder on the Prowl by Rita Mae Brown

Yay! Mrs Murphy is back! The cat with a plan. The moggie who has a foggy (as in "doesn't have the foggiest" - possibly an english expression...or possibly just my mother). This one is actually quite hard hitting with a teenage pregnancy and various other activities but it's a good read and keeps you guessing until the end. If you like murder mysteries solved by cats then you've got to love this. 

#9 Death at Bishop's Keep by Robin Paige

Somewhat out of order I finally read the first of this series. Really charming! I wish now I was reading them in order. Very well observed characters portraying women and men at all levels of society during the period. An interesting crime. Interesting but not too overwhelming domestic dramas and a nice bit of scandal and romantic intrigue. A very satisfying mystery without being in the least bit a "woman's" book. Although it probably is. 

#10 Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby

I am aware that I have arrived very late to this particular party but I found a copy at the library last week and picking it up for an idle flick found myself quickly engrossed. I hadn't realised how much interesting text there was about shapes and designing. I don't do much lace but this was highly inspiring. Yes, some of the things do look like tablecloths but others are really divine. Even if you don't do lace I'd recommend splurging a pound or whatever yours charges for a library reservation. Definitely worth a look. 

SkipNorth 2012

I've been trying to find a picture that sums up this year's SkipNorth. I think this might be it.

The intensity in Kate's regard as she works out if the yarn is skinny enough (technical term) for her needs is evident. Then there is a hint of elbowing about to break out on the left as the British Breeds display came to general attention. This is Coldspring which is just one of the many places we visited. It was, in my humble opinion, a very good SkipNorth.

There were new experiences, such as the amazing County Alpaca Farm.

This was quite amazingly informative and fascinating and they were so kind to us.

Then there were the more familiar sights, such as Winghams.

Nic and I even fitted a sneaky visit to Bonds as well before the main holiday began...

A rare treat!

This is all surrounded by beautiful Bronte countryside.

And my haul? Modest, by the standards of previous years. A few skeins and balls of wool, already logged on Ravelry. Some lovely fabrics...

The blue and the art deco ones are destined to be skirts. Both came from the amazing Bombay Stores along with some other notions and sparkly delights.

One or two cards of buttons and some patchwork packs from Bonds.

A mere 20g of amazing handspun from Winghams which my photography skills have succeeded in robbing of all its glory.

Don't ask me what I'll do with it. Just *adore* it I suppose.

Those of you with more time than sense will find all my photos here. I'm tempted to just go on posting them endlessly but I'll restrain myself.

Nic and I have taken the rare step of looking into dates for 2013 already and will be rejigging the format as this will be our EIGHTH SkipNorth - amazing to think we've been going that long and also a lovely reminder of how long Nickerjac and I have been friends. We've both seen quite a few changes during that time but SkipNorth remains a delightful constant (at least when I forget the organisation that needs to take place before we get there to make sure everything opens and arrives and happens when it should, that no one goes into anaphylactic shock and that everyone has access to volumes of tea, coffee and cake that would make Kirsty Allsop weak at the knees.

One more photo - she was my favourite.

So cute!