Goodies!

Ever since they started stocking it, I've been tempted by Clothkit's Liberty print bias binding It's Liberty Print! It's on a wooden bobbin (although I've realised it's cheaper to buy by the metre, but hey-ho)! What's not to like? Ok, maybe the answer to that question is the price, so it took a 25% off deal to get me to go for it. By happy coincidence they also had some Rowan Revive on offer too. I've been looking for a chance to try some of this out for a while as I'd really like to source as much yarn as possible from sustainable sources in future and/or support British sheep farmers. This yarn ticks the eco-box and I've an idea for a wintry number for little M, once I finally crack on and finish the sleeve of P's pirate sweater. On that subject, all I can say is that once again I've got a stocking stitch in brown versus entrelac in multicoloured glory situation once again (remember this one?)- I'll get there in the end!!

A little bit retro, a little bit Christmas

Sometimes I know I make too much work for myself. I already had a present ready for my best friend's little girl R, who turns 3 tomorrow (3! imagine!!). It was sitting proudly in my presents box, because with all the little ones we have to buy for these days I actually have a presents box where I store things for later. But I digress. As I said, I had a perfectly good present ready to send, but maybe it was the windy cold weather yesterday that gave me the urge to make something extra to pop in the parcel. I had some Artesano Alpaca left over from the Snapdragon Mittens and some Rowan Purelife Blue Faced Leicester left over from the Pirate sweater (which still needs an arm finishing) and together they made a lovely combination just crying out to be an Aviatrix. Thinking about it, given that the recipient is unnaturally clever at finding nearly all the countries on the world map, this could be a very appropriately named pattern- future career as a pilot perhaps?!
The result reminds me of those gorgeous screen print illustrations they used to use on railway posters and the colour combination is, in my opinion, just Christmassy enough for November. I'm sure R's clever mummy could easily add a little something to up the Christmas factor when that time rolls around. Speaking of which, that present box really needs some topping up...

A Seasons Shelf

I know some people move into new houses and find unexpected treasures discarded by previous occupants. We've mainly found junk and hideous wallpaper. However, sometimes a kindly eye can be enough to transform trash to treasure.
The shelf and cupboard pictured above was hanging in our still rather neglected porch, holding a collection of junk mail, old aerosol cans and other rubbish. At first it was on my list of things to send to the tip, but then I realised that it was the right sort of size for the Seasons display area I'd been meaning to get around to creating for ages. In addition, the little cupboard was perfect for storing bits and pieces not needed at any given time.
So, a bit of soap and water and a few coats of paint- not a fabulous job, I'm pretending it's meant to be a bit 'shabby chic!'- and while it's no heirloom piece, it does the job.
Here it is with our 'Autumn' items...crafts from the Steiner toddler group including a Michaelmas candle, hedgehog made from a conker, mouse made from sheepswool and a pine cone and a 'shooting star' made from a conker and streamers; a collection of leaves, acorns and nutshells collected on walks and possibly my favourite, a painting of a hedgehog in leaves by P and I. I drew the hedgehog and demonstrated how to fingerpaint the spines, but P was much more enthusiastic about handprinting the leaves, hence the hedgehog is pretty comprehensively buried in autumn colour!

Take a seat...

...or take four to be precise. Our home improvements are taking a long while to get done, partly because we are on a learning curve with most things, partly because free weekends are hard to come by and partly because two small children don't really speed things along! These chairs were a nice exception to the rule, though, turning out to be an easier and quicker job than I expected. My Grandma had given us money to spend as a housewarming present, so I bought some 'Provence Rose Green' cotton duck from Cath Kidston. It was a simple case of unscrew the seats from their bases, use a (borrowed) staple gun to secure the fabric over the old covers and replace the seats. The only challenge I have is to try and make an extra slipcover for the chair P uses. He insists on a big chair rather than his lovely adjustable high chair to sit up to the table and I don't want my lovely new fabric splattered with porridge, pasta sauce etc, so I want a removable, washable version. Sewing machine out later this weekend then, to finish the job.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

Just because I can do magic loop doesn't mean I have to like it...

The magic loop in question is being deployed on the Pirate jumper I'm making for P. It's working instead of DPNs for the sleeves, but I'm finding it pretty tedious and annoying work. This is probably why I'm giving it a break for a while. That and the fact that given how fussy the intended audience is when it comes to clothes, especially tops, at the moment. I'm not sure I can take the rejection of my specially designed, handknitted from BFL yarn offering just yet, so I'll go back to it in a wee while and maybe he'll be feeling slightly more cooperative.
I also have huge temptation in the form of spoils from a trip to Kendal last weekend. The trip took place for an initially bad reason- C's phone going on the blink and needing to go there to be fixed- but unexpected post the day before turned it into a bit of a treat. The post in question was a letter from the Inland Revenue, explaining I'd overpaid tax last year and enclosing a cheque!!! Okay, so the overdraft swallowed it, but we decided that a few treats were still in order, therefore new boots, a yummy lunch out and a visit to William's Wools made it a very nice day indeed. The yarn shop visit was not entirely selfish, as both purchases were in preparation for Christmas presents. Can't say much about the Noro in case the wrong eyes read this, but the golden Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino is destined to be a teddy bear like the one I made for P. It's hard to know what to get as a Christmas present for a 6 month old baby, so I've decided M should have something handmade with love. Hopefully she'll love it as much as P loves 'Edmund' bear. I'll keep some yarn back for essential darning in case she does!

My Boy

P had a twenty minute tantrum today. I think it was something about the colour of top he was wearing. He's two years old, so looking for logic just isn't worth the time. As I waited for the screams to fade down, I got on with making lunch and looked down into the sweet smiling face of my little girl, finding it so hard to believe that in a couple of years she'll probably having moments like that.
However, for all that it's tough at times living in the crazy world of the toddler, of course I wouldn't change him, wouldn't even freeze or reverse time so that he stayed the placid little baby he was. I know that the tantrums are all part of the process of him growing up, growing more and more into his personality every day.
So today's blog is an indulgence, for which I make no excuses! It's a tribute to what he's becoming and a bit of a chance to remind myself that he does a lot more than scream and kick, this boy of mine:









With any luck, another thing he'll do is wear the pirate jumper I'm making for him...although who knows if it's the right colour!