Words?

I found this on a few blogs, one was Aknita's. Aknita is all about Love, so much so that she has knitted a wonderful Forest Canopy shawl to help raise funds for MSF. Please go along and read the post for more information.

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it! You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing. Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities. And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

What's Your Word?

Some other Fearless people include Huo Yuanjia whom Jet Li played in the film Fearless.

Me I don't feel brave at all.............who knows. :)

Improvisations

Improvisations are great fun, this sock was made up in my head when I wound this beautiful yarn into a cake! It is divine!!!! I am fascinated with twisted ribs so this is what followed, one sock is done and another done half way down the cuff. I better get my skates on if my SiL is to get her consolation prize!!! I still haven't found the errant sock.......................and there is not enough yarn to knit 3 socks.................

I never even took a picture of the sock in question.................sad................

Christmas Crafty Stocking Wap

This was my parcel and gifts that Joy sent me for the Craftythreadsnyarn Christmas stocking swap.................

Isn't she a star!!

Unwrapped!!! Including STR JingleBell Rock yarn

Thoughtful items!!

My stocking!

The fabulous Cranford mitts that Joy knit especially for me!!

Joy I love them all and the STR is gorgeous, my photos so not do the intensity and vibrancy any justice! :)

Awards time..........................

I received this award from Maggan!
Thank you, I am very honoured to receive it !!
And now I am passing it on as requested to 7 other worthy recipients!


The Rules:
What is this award?
The rules for award acceptance are as follows:
1. The winner can put the logo on his/her website/blog.
2. Add a link to the person who gave you this award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other websites/blogs.
4. Provide links of the nominated websites/blogs.
5. Leave a message at each website owner that you´ve nominated.

The recipients are (not in any special order):

Zonda
Terri
Joy
Ulli
Coley
Elaine

They are 7 of many many worthy recipients!! Spread a little love and praise :)

BTW I got in to the Wollmeise Sock club................."I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak!!

Monkey Sock Swap Four :)

I rejoined the Monkey sock Swap 4 this time round. Last time around my partner defaulted despite assurances to the contrary to more than myself. My Swap 4 pal Sheryl has more than made up for any prior disappointments. She was my recipient last round and I loved having her for a pal then too. :)

Look at all the pretty wrapped parcels

All unwrapped and so many items it could be hard to do them all justice. Apologies if I missed out on anything!
Pens and pencils, notepads, stickers, keyrings (one a sock knitted in matching yarn), a pretty sock monkey purse and fabulous
monkey stitchmarkers!! Wow!! A georgeous little box, a purse and project bag all in monkey themes. Yarn wise 2 different yarns: Louet Gems Merino in Cherry Tree Hill Old Roses colourway and a skein of Araucania Ranco Solid in pink. And a CookieA pattern Moselle. :)

Aren't these so cute!!

I love Louet Gems and Cherry Tree Hill colours!!

The piece de la resistance!!

I love how they fit! The detail is beautiful and the yarn fabulous!!!

The only problem is this good weather prevents me from pulling them on tomorrow and strutting them about at work to show them off!!

I love them :) Thank you so much!!

Birthday Parcels :)

Today is my Birthday and I took part in a Birthday swap on Craftythreadsnyarn forum. I sent a parcel to Joy for her Birthday on Friday and she sent me one which arrived on Saturday especially as I am going to be away all day today. I opened it on Sunday so I could take pictures for this. Thank you so much Joy for a fabulous and georgeous parcel :)


I received a georgeous skein of The YarnYard sock yarn, Joy sent me a mini slein in a previous swap!! Isn't that thoughtful and far thinking :) There was beautiful handmade chocolate brought back from a trip to Bruges and 2 fabulous heart shaped buttons. They are divine! :)
And the piece de la resistance was an exquisite Forest Canopy Shawl from the FSC diva herself!! Knitted in The Knittery merino/cashmere 4 ply. Just wonderful!!!!!!! Thank you so so much Joy. :)

Swaps, Friends and PIF

I was at the post office today and posted 6 parcels, 3 swaps parcels and 3 PIF gifts (posted later than I had hoped but gone nonetheless) :D When I got home there were 2 parcels waiting for me. :)

The first parcel held a swap skein of delectable handspun BFL bulky yarn, handpainted too. Isn't it georgeous!!! My pictures do not do it real justice. lilcoley is obviously a master at this :)

Spring Fling

The yarn feels like cotton wool to touch but with a silkiness too:)

The second parcel held this exquisite hand crafted bag in Amy Butler fabric. This is the second bag I received in a swap from CJ. Isn't she really talented? I wish she would set up shop!! And I'm not the only one who wishes that. Can you believe she is fairly new to sewing machines. I can't tell from the bags.......



I hope all those who were sent parcels today receive them quickly :) I enjoyed doing them but I forgot to put in the little cards I wrote for the PIFs and Swaps..............duh! I remembered after I had used up all the cellotape!

Friends who sew..................

A lovely friend CJ/Belaybunny made this bag for me to give to my MonkeySwap Pal. Isn't it georgeous!!!


A dinky little pocket inside!!!


I'm really delighted to be able to give such a fabulous bag as a gift :)

Thank you CJ :)

The Traveller Case

This was made by the lovely Zonda for me. It is georgeous!! Thank you I love it. :)

The fabric is beautiful!

Opened up a little
and some more........places for straights, circs, dpns and interchangeables..........
And here's the dinky little pocket and pretty clasp :) I'm very lucky :D

Evolution Socks....................pattern now available

A sock pattern specifically for Evolution yarn. This ribbed pattern helps these socks hold their shape and stay on/up. Evolution is a beautiful yarn but not as stretchy as other wool sock yarns so needs a rib to compensate. I really love this yarn, and it is very hard to believe touching it that it is wool because of the special process applied to it.

I finally got around to writing this pattern up properly and putting it on PDF. Sussexyorkie knitted 2 pairs and they can be seen here and here. She is a much neater knitter than I am and has used Figgy Pudding and Black Cherries colourways. I am also knitting a pair in Flamingo Sunrise. My aunt has ordered another pair too. If there is any problem with the pattern please let me know and I will try to fix it :) Click on the socks to download, it's free.

Parcels..............................numero uno

I have had a few parcels turn up this week. The first is my swap parcel from Craftythreads'n'yarn forum February swap parcel. We swapped a small, approx 20 grams of sock yarn, some stitchmarkers and as an extra my swap pal also sent me a lovely treat. Thank you!!

Thank you DreamCatcher!!

This parcel arrived yesterday!!! Thank you Dreamcatcher it is a georgeous cowl, knitted in Posh Yarn Emily (colour Digress)the pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. There is also a lovely card and sock blocker keyring and the Burnt Sugar honeycomb chocs are all gone!!! Yummmmy :) Thank you again, now to get a move on with my own PIF gifts!!!! :)



Closeup of cowl, isn't it so pretty! And it feels so soft. :)

Awards......................

I have been nominated for a "You make my Day Award" by Terri and Maggan

I have to award to others now. I would have added Terri and Maggan anyway, but since they have been awarded already I will use their slots for some of the many georgeous blogs I read. Piglottie as already been awarded or she would be top of the list. Joy has a lovely balanced blog with stories of interest and lovely modelled knits. Fiona and LittleBerry I find inspirational reads. Noo and Natalie are EcoWarriers who act now and then as a social conscience for me but who entertain nonetheless. Zonda and Shannon who I aspire to knit/spin/photograph like etc and are fun reads too. Queen of the Froggers and Sussex Yorkie who have lovely stash and wonderful knits too and are also happy to share their adventures. Kay who I admire for her sock yarn stash but mainly because she is such a lovely brave person. There are loads of other regular and wonderful reads, but strangely enough some of them already have awards! ;) :)

Thank you guys for all collectively but not exclusively making my Days a brighter place. :D

A Silken Angel ..................................

I took part in another swap on Craftythreadsnyarn Forum. This time we swapped Christmas Decorations. I received a lovely knitted silver and white angel from Chrissy at BrightDyes. This is the angel I sent to the blogless Carolinne.

I made it from the pack of Oliver Twist Silk products I bought at the RDS. The head is a cocoon, the wings silver wire covered with a silk handkerchief, hair and cloak different fibres etc etc. Instead of glueing the bits or sewing it I used pearl topped pins to put it together so it became a recyclable Eco Angel, if Carolinne wants to recycle it that is. I have so enjoyed these monthly swaps as they have persisantly challenged me to try new things :) I look forward to next years challenges :) First up is a Dishcloth swap, great to start spring cleaning with? :)

A little something........

I had ordered some yarn from Kerrie at Hipknits in the sale and I received it yesterday along with a 'little present', 50 grams of Chunky Cashmere. I was very taken with the feel of the yarn and was compelled into knitting something with it. What to knit? I couldn't find a pattern so I made it up as I went along.....



Here is the result: A little Neckwarmer.

You can see just how little waste there is. And the scarf is so buttery soft. Luxury around the neck. Thank you Kerrie!!!

Wonderful friends........

This arived in the post today from the wonderful Piglottie! Thank you so much. The bag is absolutely georgeous and so 'me' :) The cards are exquisite. Thank you again :)

YPF................................Evolution

This yarn was sent to me earlier this week. I wanted to share the sheen and colour some more this Friday :)

Evolution in colourway Figgy Pudding from my friend Piglottie. I think it is divine..........do you think so too?

Autumn santa swap parcel arrived

This month's swap on Craftythreads'n'yarn forum is an Autumn secret santa swap. This box arrived this morning! :) I feel so lucky..........





These georgeous gifts arrived courtesy of an old blogless friend Farmgirl. Thank you for going that extra mile and really spoiling me :)

'Gifts' Galore...............................

I got home from picking my sister up from Newcastle Co Down this morning to find the postman had left 3 parcels. One was some Piece of Beauty discontinued Merino Sock yarn I had 'traded' off a fellow Ravelry member. Another was another 'trade' from a friend Piglottie and the third was a thank you gift from my Monkey Pal Sheryl who I had sent my Monkeys socks etc to me a few weeks back. I love the Eleanora sock pattern, it was on a 'to buy' list. :) What can I say I'm overwhelmed by the pleasantness of the trades and the gifts, Thank you all :)