Where are you hiding your melons?

Here is Elspeth from Rowan 37. Started beg July. Completed end July. Knit up in Knit Picks Shine in Blush. I loved this project especially because it encouraged me to learn to crochet.
I love it. Its a real boob cover-up. Especially for those conscious days when your melons are looking like Watermelons!

Crocheting Elspeth

I have a whizz of a 'puter now. I've upgraded her memory (as she was chugging slightly) and she's as good as new now. I don't feel like I'm on a slow train going nowhere now. I'm very impatient you see, and if things don't happen when they are to supposed to, or I have to wait the slightest more than I want to (or have to), I give up, I walk out or I turn off. Its just the way I am.

Very progressive day today with Elspeth... Here I have her all pinned up and ready to sew together.
Learning to crochet...

I did it, I did it. All those books and magazines I bought, they paid off. See DH, I told you I needed to buy them!

I would have made a tutorial for those of you, like me, who do not know a hook from a potato peeler, but my hands are unmanicured and they would probably look like man hands! Next time, yes?

My old headmistress always used to say "there is nothing that you can't do. The only thing you cannot do is strike a match on a bar of soap".

Welcome to the school Summer Holidays

Are we not supposed to be splashing around in the paddling pool in the garden, or bike riding in the park, or maybe jumping through the sprinkler in our swimmers? Hardly. We have had nothing but rain this week. I'm not complaining, really Im not... its good for my grass. But, give a kid a break, the Bubela just wants to play in the paddling pool.



The Bubela finished Nursery on Friday with a Leaving Concert. Here he is singing "Shalom Haverim" (translated Hebrew/English Goodbye Friends). Apologies for the poor photo, but I was juggling between the video and the camera at the time.


Here's my new project, I'm so excited about it. I won this book on Ebay last week and when I received it I had to put all WIP down and start making one. I'm very much like that, if I have a bee in my bonnet, then I have to drop everything for it. This little baby only took a couple of hours!! What do you think? I love him, I think he is really cute. Isn't it a great thing to sell at the school bazar? Would they sell? I dont know, what do you think? This little baby is made of Rowan, so he is soft and cuddly.

*edited to add* I received a reply from Cocky Little S**t today in response to my email setting out my terms of employment (as he was so vague I had to put something in concrete).
Email: thanks email will consider.
Oh, honestly, is he for real. I despise the fella already and I'm not even working for him.

Frogging shrug!!

I've joined a knitalong over at Craftster for the IK cabled shrug (IK Fall 2005). Or, I should say "stupidly joined this knitalong"! What was I thinking? I'm knitting up with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran which I bought at Coldspring Mill for a real bargain. I love the colour and I love the pattern, but boy have you seen that cabled chart. Here take a closer look . I've managed to start 3 times now without throwing it at the wall. I shall calmly be frogging AGAIN and shall cast on AGAIN tomorrow.

Elspeth is coming along lovely. Now I've got the hang of the pattern repeat, Im flying through. My problem is going to be the crocheted edges. I've never picked up a hook in my life. I'm looking forward to the frustration with the help of chocolates and truffles, trust me, it helps.













I took the Bubela to visit his new school yesterday. Arrrhhhh, what a lovely school and the Bubela just loved it. He is starting in September. MY LITTLE BUBELA IS STARTING PRE-SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER!! It seems like yesterday when I was digging my french manicured nails into DH and roaring at him that, yes, labour is THAT PAINFUL!

Introducing *drum roll please* the one, the only... CHICAGO

Started April 2005, completed July 2005
Yarn used Rowan Calmer in Drift, Rowan beads in gold.





I finally have for you Chicago, in my garden, on the hottest day of the year. Yes, its schvitzing hot out there and I'm prancing around in a cardigan, and its all for you.

We're having a bbq today, here's a little taster of what we're having for dessert.


Easy peasy, go on make one:
Madiera cake
Sweet white wine
Strawberries
Double cream, whipped
Cherries

Break the cake into the bottom of a champagne glass and pour in the white wine. Layer on top, the strawberries, then the whipped up cream. Pop a cherry on the top.

I've got a job!

I've only gone and got myself a job. What have I done? No more mornings at the gym, or manicures and pedicures at the salon, or blow-drys with David. No more coffee mornings with the girls, or lunching out with the Bubela. OH KNOW, WHAT HAVE I DONE!!

It seemed like a good idea to reply to an ad I saw in the paper on Friday. I replied stating when I was available to work, or rather not. I have to work around the Bubela, so thats all the school holidays and Jewish holidays out. School finishes at 3pm, so I'm available between 9am and 2.45pm. Who's going to employ someone like that?

I seemed to have found that shmuck.

I went for an interview today with the guy. Cocky little s**t. Interview went very well. As I left, he threw over his shoulder "if you haven't heard from us in a week, just phone". Well, two hours later I get a call. "I'll try you out". Cocky little s**t asked me to email him when I was able to start. Probably September.

Hip Knits in action

I couldn't wait to knit up that gorgeous silk that I bought from Hip Knis last week. I'm knitting Amber, which is the vest top pictured. The silk knits up lovely, its very soft and silky. The stitches slide very easily off the needles and make perfect V's. However, it does fluff up a bit when knitting and I do find myself covered in organge fluff, but it is worth it. I'm also not sure how or at what temperature you would wash it. I would definately stick to handwashing as it feels too delicate for the washing machine.

Chicago and I are ready for a photoshoot. We are just waiting for hubby to get snappy happy.

Elspeth Frogged!

Elspeth (Rowan 37) turned into a mess of uncoordinated disaster. Lace holes in wrong places and dropped stitches, urgh, just a mess. I frogged the whole back and half the front and have started again. Now that I know the pattern repeat quite confidently, I'm hoping it will be a smooth knit.
I've got to say that the Knit Picks Shine is wonderful to work with. Its soft and cosy to touch and its managed to stay in tact post-frogging with no fuzzy bits. As to its durability after wash and wear, that I have yet to see.

A dull day for Londoners

Its a dull day for us here in London. Its been a day of disaster. Terrorist attacks on public transport in Central London. Frantic with worry, I called DH this morning to check he was ok. Relief came over me when he picked up his direct line, "Hello Bute"[tiful]. They were told not to leave their buildings all day. The army and police patrolled the streets of London and all commuter services have been closed. Its 4pm and on his way home.

On the knitting front, I have completed Chicago. Who? What? Where? I hear you ask. I started it months back and its taken me a while to complete, but I finally got there. I'm blocking at the moment and plan to sew it together tomorrow.

I also received my order of 300g of Silk yarn from Hip Knits . Packaged in tissue paper and tied in a bow with yarn. This yarn is the most gorgeous colour silk. Its called zing. I have that earmarked for something that I might cast on tonight.

Im also thinking of going to The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in October. I'm not sure what to expect in terms of yarn shopping. So if anyone went last year I would be interested to hear from you.

Live8 - thank you!!

Not only did you entertain my whole day with fantastic music and artists (Bono and Robbie you need a HUGE mention here), but you helped me in the progress of Rowan's Elspeth. Its not that you didn't entertain me enough and I had to entertain myself too, its just that I can't sit and watch TV twiddling my thumbs. I would end up biting my nails off, and with Live8 probably the skin right up to my knuckles.

I was playing around with my new Shine from Knitpicks and found myself casting on for Elspeth. After two false starts, dropping a couple of needle sizes and singing along to Sir Elton, I managed to get half the back done. I had not even intended knitting this up with the Shine (Shine was for Crumpets), but it is so soft and I love the way it has knitted up... so it stays! I love the colour too and will definately be ordering more of this.

We're Back!!

Yes, here we are back in the land of tea and biscuits. We arrived home tired, worn out, and an extra suitcase in tow. No we didn't kidnap Mickey Mouse, just an obscene amount of shopping.

I even managed to squeeze in a visit to a yarn store I'd found on the internet. Hopskotch in Celebration, Orlando. I was slightly disappointed with the this little boutique, it was primarily a clothes store with a couple of shelves of expensive yarn. Would I recomend it? Just for the visit to Celebration, definately.

I visited Michaels too and found they had ton loads of acrylic, yarn snob here sorry. I did come across some Lion Brand Thick and Quick wool, so I grabbed it and ran.








A wonderful package was here awaiting my return. Yes, my Knit Picks yarn. Its gorgeous, I've fallen in love all over again, especially with the "shine" (not picutred). Pictured is the "wool of the andes"... I see ANOTHER bag in the horizon.
Shanidy, thank you so much for shipping this out to me.

Knit Picks... I've almost gotcha babe

I've placed my order with Knit Picks thanks to the help of the lovely Shanidy of Purls and Curls . You'll get a preview once I receive it.

Progress report on Chicago (STILL unfinished): Back and both fronts are completed, and I'm onto the arms. Even though I know the pattern inside and out, it is still very slow progress. Is it boredom? Is it too much time on-line? Is it excitement of our Floriday?

Im off on Floriday on Thursday. Packing tomorrow with the bubela.

No pics, sorry.

Interweave Knits Fall 2005 projects

Look what I found, a sneak preview of IK Fall 05. So many projects in there. Take a look at the cabled shrug, its gorgeous, and that flower bag is a must have.

There's another subscription pulling on the purse strings!

Schlepping up and down Portebello Road

I had a great day today, apart from the fact that I have blisters on blisters! Here's a thought, wear sensible shoes next time.

I met up with a couple of friends in Notting Hill Gate, had lunch and schlapped around Portebello Market. Now, I say schlapped, its wasn't like I didn't enjoy the schlapping, I loved it! Apart from the antiques and fruit and veg, Portebello Market is also well known for its handmade stuff, which is amazing to look at.

Well, did I? Sure I did! I bought two necklaces, one made from shell and the other a big chunky beaded one.

Oy vey, Its May...and Schvitzing

Its only May, the sun is burning and Im schvitzing hot. How am I going to cope with the weather on our Floriday? Wide brimmed hat and a hand held fan that spritzes water I think!

I went to a friends house today, a knitting pal. She is the person responsible for me picking up two sticks and a ball of yarn...thanks Michelle! She is making the Zoe Mellor dots & stripes blanket, its gorgeous. In fact, I quite like the Zoe Mellor book it came out of. I've used it a number of times.

Now, onto something not so great. The Simply Knitting mag has really disappointed me. I think I've been spoilt with the Rowan and Vogue mags. It doesn't touch the surface of either of them. Will I buy it next month, hmmmm probably! This baby blanket was cute. A gorgeous keepsake present. Hmmm, a number of potential recipients flooding through my head!

What Chutzpah!!

There's nothing like buying fresh underwear for your holiday. It would be a crime not to, wouldn't it? With that in mind and an old Tesco's bag in hand, where else to visit but ye ol' faithful M&S.

A Tesco's bag?

I know its a chutzpah, but I'm told 'they all' do it. *whispered under mumbled breath* I exchanged a bra that I had worn once, ahem!! (hence the crumpled tesco's bag - didn't have an M&S one!).

The reason was, I'll tell you, was because it didn't fit me. OK hands up, I tried to kid myself that I was a 36C, but those boys just weren't having it. They were getting suffocated in there. So see, I had no choice but to exchange it for the Dcups.

And the moral of this story is that bucket loads of chutzpah gets you everywhere!

Chicago's back

With lots of false starts and frustrated fingers, I managed to figure out the problems, put them behind me and get on with the job. Obviously, the first person to blame was Rowan, but after an email (or two) the blame was left on those poor Addi Turbos sitting in my hands.

I did think once or twice about blaming Darling Hubby, but my grounds of him losing my concentration to talk to me didn't stand strong enough. I mean fancy him wanting to strike up a conversation when Im counting cast-on stitches, tch!

and here is a closer look at the detail.

Dive in!!

So I asked the Bubela what cake he wanted to make daddy today, we often have baking days for daddy. An 'I love you cake' he wanted to make. So, of course, thats what we made. Aunty Gem's delicious Chocolate Mousse recipe was used. Its easy, I'll share it with you one of these days. Oy, what a mess. That was just the start of it let me tell you. He loves cooking. I'm sure its the mess he prefers! And look, wasn't it worth it? Well you didn't taste it, let me tell you... it was worth it!

A satin bed of roses

I just love that colour satin, isn't it gorgeous!



Now, Im just waiting for the roses dry, should be a few days or so. Sew it all together and voila.

*Note to LouLou* Im hopeing it will be ready for Sunday!

Only 20 something days to go......

We're going on Floriday. Yes, a Florida holiday. The Bubela is going to absolutely love it. We took him to DisneyLand Paris when he was just a pitsele, he was only 2 but boy did he love it. At first he was a bit cautious and nervous of the charactors (well, they are larger then life) but by day 3 he was fine and having photos with Mickey and Goofy! This year, being almost 4, he is so excited, he doesn't talk about anything else.

So, with 20 something days away the pressure is on. I have the buckle bag to complete. Its all knit up and ready to go, I just need to find the perfect lining and line it. Now thats going to be a job and a half, i've never lined anything before! Tips, tips, tips, anyone?