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!

Lorra Lime

I'm knocking back ginger beer with fresh lime juice. Oh yeah. I know how to live. Except my second one was a bit too strong on lime and a bit short on ginger beer so with each swig I do the kind of facial contortions people with facelifts claim are good for toning your nose. I do this while making final preparations for SkipNorth for which I am now on final countdown. Expect many photos of alpaca, wool, knitters and more next week. Until then...

My crazy patchwork letter case has progressed. It puckered a bit but otherwise...

Cute huh? I'm now hand embroidering where the fabrics join.

My main achievement though is undoubtedly Resin Part Two.

Doesn't it just want to make you break down and thank god you are a WWE fan? I cut all those little pictures out of my WWE Magazine myself and glued and sealed them into the bracelet blank before letting it dry and then mixing and pouring the resin.

You know I've been wearing this one with pride.

People still tell me they can't understand why I like WWE so much but hell - there are woman my age that collect My Little Pony or have season tickets for football teams. This is just my little quirk. PLUS you can knit while you watch.

Brilliant.

Meep meep

Here are the irish ladies socks. I think my photography skills are getting worse.

The pattern is almost like a mock cable when blocked. Very sweet and lovely to wear. Yarn is Artists's Palette Smootherino . Lovely to use. Project on Rav here.

I'm now about a third of the way through the 3/4 Hap Shawl - so maybe I'm actually about 1/4 through the whole shawl? (Maths joke) (kind of). I dithered about the second yarn and have gone with this orangey red one I got from a seller I met on twitter.

Details of yarns and pattern on Rav. The Solstice Yarn (red one) is a relatively thick fingering weight and has a lovely woolly, bouncy feel.

I thought I'd have a go at some distractions other than knitting. After the success of my resin experiments a few weeks back the bracelet blanks I ordered duly arrived and I poured my WWE bracelet last night.

It's not fully cured yet but I am rather excited about it. I'll describe who is who once it's done. I also had a go at a bit of hand stitched crazy patchwork last night. It's for an old fashioned letter pouch to keep my correspondence in.

I used whatever small bits I had left over - including some Liberty swatches Purlpower gave me in a swap. These swatches have been so useful in lots of projects and are not something I ever would have bought myself. It just goes to show how swaps can introduce you to something new. I also used them in a couple of xmas presents I'm not sure I ever blogged about.

I made these little sewing sets for my sisters out of used pasta sauce jars by adding a little pincushion to the tops. Neither of them do more than sew on the occasional button so I thought these were more than sufficient for that. They each contained a little felt needlebook with their initials embroidered on. I wish one/both/either were crafty - but then I guess they'd just steal my stash. Swings and roundabouts.

Time Flies When You're Going Through It

Slight pause in blogging there. I had another 'depressive episode'. Or in layman's terms - went a bit loopy for a bit. As a result I am now mid-med-change and having therapy again and so on. One of the silver linings of this particular black-dog-shaped-cloud is that I am spending weekends at Mater's. As an example of the joys of staying there here is the cat giving us the quintessential money shot.

She's no lady.

On my most recent stay we went on a jaunt to Wiveliscombe (pronounced will-less-coom, I think, who knows) and found a place very similar to Liberty in London.

Inside, a staircase ran around what seemed to be the inside of the walls all the way to the ceiling. But then when you ventured up there were lots of tiny rooms all packed full of pretty fabric and kooky furniture. It felt like a house from Bramley Hedge. The coffee shop was very nice too and you should have seen the cake selection.

On the way there and indeed on my way pretty much everywhere I took pictures of clouds.

This isn't for the cloud jumper I will one day get on with. Oh no. For about 5 years now I've had an idea of a fairisle based on the colours of clouds and landscape and have been taking pictures accordingly. The first time I remember doing this was on the way back from a long distant SkipNorth with Nickerjac. I have quite a collection now.

I've been doing a lot of comfort type knitting - here are the socks in all their glory which I finished two weekends ago.

I've since done another pair which reside on my tootsies right now but of which photos there are as yet none. I've also just cast on the 3/4 Hap Shawl this evening and am using some Old Maiden Aunt in Bramble as the first colour. I haven't made a shawl for...I can't remember when I last did actually. Have a feeling it was a p-hop patterns about 3 years ago. I've had this one queued for a while so thought I'd give it a go.

My Mum has had these patchwork placemats since before I was born.

I adore them and have always had it in mind to copy them. I tried a few years ago but it didn't work out. It might be time to consider having another go. The finishing on them is just beautiful.

2 Good, 1 Not Bad and 2 Ugly

Let's at least start with the good - these are the soles of my first pair of fairisle socks.

I started them almost a year ago and finished one before casting on the second and then putting it away. I've almost finished the second in the last 4 days. I'm not crazy about fairisle socks because you lose the stretch (at least, I do). But I have enjoyed making up the pattern on the soles as I go along. The main pattern is a chequered heart thing which I'll try to take an in focus shot of at some point.

The other good is that I fired up the embroidery machine and did this to my dressing gown.

The blue pen round the outside is water soluble tailors chalk type thing and I just haven't washed it off yet. I made it as big as it would go which isn't very big because it is one of the presets, but I still rather like it. I used some variegated thread I had stashed away. I love blues and greens. Sadly the good...

...also brings us to the bad...

I'm clearly ok with the stabilizer that goes over the top of fleece or towelling but not ok with the one that sticks to the back of thinner cotton. Made a hole in my summer dressing gown :( But hell, it could have been worse.

Our other 'ugly' contender is rather more annoying. My beloved Minnie the Minx jumper.

In my head: "Hey, you know one of the reasons for doing jumpers in the round is so you can try them on as you go along?"
Me: "Yep, knew that."
IMH: "So why then do you keep leaving it til almost the end before trying things on?"
Me: "Er...."
IMH: "Is it because you are reinforcing the schema you have built around your self-image since 2003?"
Me: "Woah, getting a bit personal there."

...and so on.

As a rough estimate I would say it was 20% too big. Maybe 25%. That's a lot of "too" to the "big". Fuck.

So that just leaves the 'not bad' which is the finished Fairisle Jumper.

I used applied i-cord around the armholes and neck and it looks very nicely finished. It wouldn't have worked if they weren't steeks as it would roll but it lays very flat as it is and I'm pretty happy with it. Of course - being me - it is slightly too big and slightly too short but hell, it wouldn't be me if it wasn't in some way faulty.

I've felt a bit odd the last 36 hours or so. I went to my assessment for therapy on the NHS yesterday. Going over all the back history is always a downer - and this was the whole back history back to childhood, not just the divorce stuff - and then she told me I did need therapy but there was a three month waiting list. It's already been a three month wait to get the assessment. It's just another set back. "Just". It's put me off my stride though. I had a couple if dates lined up from Match but I cancelled them as I felt too stressed to try and be normal in front of anyone. I was thinking a lot about Pooch again and also about "Religion for Atheists" which I am reading at the moment. Alain de Botton talks about the innate desire to have someone look after us, whether it is a god or a person. Not necessarily like a mother, although there are "Mary" figures in most religions, but more like having someone to listen to you and tell you it will be ok. Thank god for Angry Kitty.

Otherwise I really would feel like I was on my own.

Two Pints Byrne

I drank two pints of beer last night.


I haven't done that ever. In fact I don't even like beer. I was out with friends, one of whom is editor of a beer journal (I'm not making this up) and he recommended this stuff called Boon which tasted of beer not at all. In fact I quite liked it. Apparently it is a spontaneously fermented beer (no I don't know what that means either) and has sour cherries in it. It was certainly a good pink.

I've woosed out of my date for tomorrow. I just wasn't feeling it. On the plus side I now have the whole day to play with my new sewing machine.


A is for ace.

Give me a Resin to Love you

Much time ago I bought a kit to make resin pendants. It was another phase I was going through and nothing would satisfy me til I had made one. Then of course the kit took a week or so to arrive from america (perfectly understandable - lovely seller) to arrive and by then I had moved on to my next obsession. I'm sure that is typical of how the craft addiction cycle works for so many of us. There's so much craft...and so little time...Except there isn't really. There's lots of time and no need to hug every cat or do every craft right now. But anyway.

By no means perfect - you can see the resin has soaked into the white one - but overall I am very happy with them.

The white lady is actually from the envelope Natalie made me for LetterMo. She said she used that page because she thought I'd like the topic and I liked it so much I've immortalised it! Despite multiple warnings with the instructions I wasn't careful enough about sealing the paper (hence it soaking in in that little semi circle) so that is a lesson for next time.

The thing I love about resin is the 3D effect even on a flat surface. Of course that is increased if you use a bevelled container (all of these ones came with the kit).

You can see there were a few teeny tiny air bubbles caught in the holes of the buttons but I can live with those. I think next time I will try sewing some cotton through the button holes so they look more sewn on.

I've got more of the resin left and have ordered a few bezelled ring blanks. I'm thinking a WWE series of rings :)

Seriously though - Can't Hug Every Cat. Everyone should watch this.