Where Did It Go???

Okay, I have one question and one question only for today - where has the last 2 weeks gone? One minute it was the end of March and now it is the middle of April!!

It might, of course, be the fact that life Chez Makepeace has been extremely busy. Normally, in the evening (usually 9.00pm ish) after all the necessary chores are done, I have 3 choices.

1. Knit/crochet and watch TV
2. Check out Ravelry and all the latest on friends' Blogs
3. Post to my own Blog
No prizes for guessing which numbered choice has been winning lately.

So since my last post we have had Mothers' Day.

My flowers.

I also received a really cool bird feeder, which we have placed closer to the house as I really enjoy bird watching/spotting. I have to admit that when I first saw where it had been placed I thought to myself there is no way any bird is going to use that! However, with the help of Bird Seed with Aniseed generously supplied by my friend (see sidebar for link) we had a result on the first day - brilliant, I love it.
Euan, Sarah and I actually managed to spent the whole day together, managing to fit in shooting a few hoops in the back garden (aka mum trying to show that she has still got some of her old netball skills!) a trip to Tynemouth Market, and a few bargains found. Ikea for lunch and some impulse purchases. Morrisons for essentials and last, but not least Aldi for their 3Bird Roast which is family favourite - have you tried it?

A new pair of shoes provided the perfect place to squash a cat!

Mittens says - You see, I cannot be that big if I can fit into a shoe box!

Oh! I forgot to mention! We had a very special Royal appearance at The Knit Studio Saturday Knitting Group. The Queen! Yes, Her Magister graced us with her presence! Skillfully knitted by Meriel and sporting a very fine pearl necklace and Blue Ensemble. We are all taking bets now to see if Meriel has guessed the right colour of the Mother of the Groom Outfit!

As you can see, I was pretty overcome being so close to Royalty :-)
Photo courtesy of Meriel (Thank you)

Cold Hands - Warm Gloves

I don't know about anyone else, I can bear the cold weather if my hands and feet are warm. It has been extremely cold here in Newcastle this week, and with my penchant for losing gloves my hands have been freezing (cue one miserable person!)
So, when I received some fab new yarn in a recent stock delivery at The Knit Studio I knew exactly what to knit!
Now, this yarn is relatively new to the market - 6 projects on Ravelry and is actually sock yarn, but when you look at the ball you would expect it to knit up in stripes. And it does, but not in stripes as I know them! Have a look and you will see what I mean -

Sorry, small pic! Get your magnifiers out!

Interesting aren't they?

Knitted on 2.5mm dpn's - 54 sts - knit every row - thumb opening created the same way as Fetching and knit to fit! Easy! and more importantly warm!

Yarn is Katia Olé Socks Senses - 100g balls - 75% wool 25% acrylic.

When I showed them to Sarah we realised she shares the same 'matching gene' as her Grandma as she said she could not wear them as they did not match! My mum, you see, will wind off the yarn before she begins her second sock in order to match the strips exactly, this trait has skipped a generation and Sarah suffers from it too! This does of course mean I get to keep the gloves!! Hooray!

Normal Service Resumes!

Hello!
I bet you were all wondering where I had gone! Well the answer is nowhere really. Except I have been really busy, and life has still got this habit of throwing a few things your way that you had not planned on having to deal with (just yet)!
So today I shall upload a few photos and hopefully from now on I will have the time and inclination to begin Blogging again on a regular basis!

Citron x 2

One knitted by me and one by mum - we both liked the same colour and look how different they appear!

The cats who fight and have a little 'spat' each day,

managed to overcome their differences to hide away here while I was houseworking downstairs!

Mittens to the left, Pebbles to the right.

There has been a spot of Guerilla Knitting at The Knit Studio in readiness for Makers Faire in 2 weeks time!

Look at the fabulous bright colours!

New project, crocheted with new yarn.

It's very bright and not a colour I would normally wear, but it is really cheerful and I love it!

I 'found' these boots (bought over a year ago, and misplaced in the house move etc, and after wearing them around the house to soften the leather)

 I have worn them nearly every day since. Maybe my color preferences are changing??

The day my mum, finally realised that she IS the smallest person in our family!

But, much loved, all the same!

An email from School

In these days of modern technology, the school that Sarah goes to sends all important letters by email. This suits me fine, as I no longer find old letters, forms and notes crumpled at the bottom of school or kit bags!
Yesterday, I recieved an email with a photograph attached, and thought you might like to see it.
Sarah (on the right) and her friend Emily.

More Snow

Much to the delight of children and cats - it snowed again quite heavily last night. It is snowing as I write!
I am sitting in The Knit Studio and looking out at this very pretty scene.

The kettle is on, the cups and biscuits are on the table. All I need now are some hardy, intrepid Knitting Group members to join my Winter Scene!

Are you free?

What a Difference

My mum and dad have been staying this week (half term) and have seen The Knit Studio for the very first time. Over the past months they have seen various photos, heard my long lists of things to do and finally....last Monday actually got to see the place! And they love it - as I hoped they would. Over the last few days they have met and chatted to my knitting friends, drank cups of tea, glasses of wine, ate cake and biscuits, compared yarns, patterns and garments. I have really enjoyed having them stay and sharing my place with them.
On the home front, Euan and Sarah have enjoyed seeing their Grandparents and spending some time with them. We even had a family trip to Morpeth on Wednesday. The cats too, have enjoyed their company. Mittens loves my mum and plonks himself on her knee at every opportunity - the only problem with this is : he is 7 and half kilos and a BIG cat and my mum is quite small and cannot move when he is sitting there.
I travel back to Sussex with them on Tuesday to return to Newcastle on Wednesday and you know something? The journey home, alone, will feel twice as long!

A Poem

Have you ever noticed that, when searching for one thing you almost always find another, forgotten or 'lost' thing? Today I found this - a poem written by Sarah over two years ago to help while away the 360 mile journey South to see her Grandparents. It made me smile and I hope it makes you smile too!

MY MUM

She's as mad as a hatter

She knits and she natters -

It's hard to believe her brain is made of Wool!

She travels to towns

To relieve peoples frowns -

She is THE knitting guru!

She untangles their knitting instead

Of them sittitting

Reading their patterns again and again.

No tantrums or knitting thrown on the ground

Anything is possible while she is around.

From jumpers and socks

And shawls and tops,

Blankets and cushions are my favourite things.

She is incredibly bright and very polite

And works on her notes very late in the night

To get them 'just right'!

I wonder, I wonder when I'll ever get my jumper?

Sarah M

PS Readers, did you notice the hint?

Leaves and Buttons

Over the past few days it has been impossible to notice the change in colour of the leaves on the trees in our garden, and also the number of fallen leaves. I was sad to discover this today, though. Years ago, when Euan was about 10, he would enthusiastically collect literally hundreds of conkers at this time of year. For school playground games, for playing with at home, for baking in the bottom of the Rayburn or simply just because he could! Sarah was just 2, and wanted to copy whatever her big brother did. I decided, in a moment of madness, to get them to plant up a couple of containers with some of the spoils - one container each.
No-one was more surprised than me, when both containers started to display signs of growth! The result, our very own potted conker trees! Obviously, when we moved house they came with us and they are as much a part of our family as the cats. The ownership of the containers has blurred over the years and there is an unspoken competition over which will grow the tallest, have the most leaves etc each year.
What amuses me, is that no matter how small the tree, the leaves are a standard full grown tree size! Amazing. (and a bit odd).
I, personally, use them to let me know when Spring has arrived = new buds, or Autumn has really begun = orange leaves, then no leaves! This year, one of them has skipped a stage - and has jumped straight into the bare and interesting look. I have to admit, I feel a little sad.....

Moving onto buttons.... my last post about Button Tins has sparked a number of memories amongst my friends and readers. Today I have heard about people colour sorting Grandma's buttons, following patterns in the carpets, threading them all together with a bodkin and thread, to name but a few. What is interesting is that for everyone, the thought of a button tin brings back happy memories of childhood and relations who are perhaps no longer with us. Maybe I should start a National Button Tin Celebration Day? The whole day could be devoted to sorting, sifting, rattling, threading and just stepping back in time. Meanwhile, here is a photograph of one of my many button tins. Enjoy!

Road Trip Tuesday

On Tuesday, Sarah and I and two of Sarah's friends, Lydia and Robyn headed out for the day to Barnard Castle - another Road Trip!
This was actually prompted by my need to view some items due for Auction at Addisons. Addisons is one of the few Auction Houses that actually photograph every item in their sales - but, like yarn you need to see it and touch it before buying (or bidding) really. Hence, the day out. From a list of over twelve items, I left bids for only four. I have to wait until tomorrow to see if I was lucky or not!
Barnard Castle was at it's best - sunny, busy, bustling and market day. We had a spot of lunch at Penny's, on the main High Street, and then sat in the sunshine with our ice creams - just like real holiday makers! The best part of the trip, however, was finding this hidden treasure - a lovely little shop, full of quirky hand crafted items, vintage cups and saucers, felted slippers, jewelry and cushions..... the list is endless. If you ever visit Barnard Castle make a stop here -
My Generation (the only link I can find is a facebook page, but it does have address and opening details).

Still on the subject of Road Trips - when we were at St.Abbs on Monday I took a little creature with us for the day. He was made for a friend as a Thank You gift, but we felt he needed a day out before his 'adoption'. I am pleased to say, he is very happy in his new home, and has even got a companion!!

Ollie at St.Abbs, enjoying the view.

I couldn't post a photo before because he hadn't been 'gifted' and I did not want to spoil the surprise.

Bank Holiday Road Trip

Normally, on a Bank Holiday, I am one of those people who stay home and far away from traffic jams and queues. Not so, yesterday, enticed by a posting on Ravelry, Sarah and I headed North to Scotland, on a yarn related Road Trip (naturally)!
We travelled up the A1, destination St.Abbs, which is just inside the Scottish borders near Eyemouth. Woolfish were having a St Abbs Wool Festival! How could we resist? The sun shone for us, the roads were pretty clear and the journey was definately worth it. What do you think?

The Wool Festival was held in the Church Hall, which was decorated with colourful bunting on the outside and full of yarnie goodies on the inside.

We had a great time browsing amongst the fabulous selection of yarns and accessories. Sarah has obviously inherited my talent for spotting yarn with cashmere content at 40 paces! We also enjoyed some home baked goodies including cream cakes and scones. Perfect!

Sarah, enjoying the sun and fine views. After lunch, we headed off up the road to have a look in the actual Woolfish shop. Have you been? It's an Aladdin's Cave full to the brim with yarns, buttons, patterns and garments.

A fine day out!

Preview Night!

Sarah and Euan relaxing after the frantic activity of the last few weeks!

Preview Night was attended by the members of 2 local Knitting Groups - the Centurion Knitters and Miss Spiritual Tramps.

Due to a rearranged appointment at the Orthodontist, Preview Night co-incided with Sarah getting her braces fitted! So, had it not been for the help of a group of close friends who stayed and unpacked yarn, filled shelves, priced items, tidied up, cleaned floors, laid out glasses, put out cakes, baked cakes etc while Sarah and I were away - we would not have been ready. So thank you everyone - I really appreciated your efforts! It looked fantastic when we got back!

Naturally because I was a tad 'stressed' I completely forgot to take any of my own photographs apart from the one above, and a little while later of this....

The Knit Studio's first Knitting Group - hooray.
If you head on over here you can see the photos that Meriel took of the evening (thank you)!

Previously Last Week

I forgot to mention that, earlier last week we had visitors to stay. Friends of Sarah, Holly and Emma live in Nottingham now and we do not get to see them all that much. However, Holly and Sarah are enjoying a pen friendship (running alongside the usual text messages and facebooking) that has impressed even me (aka Campaigner for the Continuation and Preservation of the Handwritten Letter or Card).
They arrived on Monday, and with Sarah's help this is what we were doing on Monday night.

Sarah and Holly aare knitting beaded bracelets, and Emma (on the left) is doing her first bit of real knitting. Well done girls!

On Tuesday we went to Wallington Hall, unfortunately we chose the only time the Hall is closed to the public! but we still enjoyed the grounds, play area, ice cream and trees!

And....

on Wednesday we caught the train to Edinburgh - a first trip to Scotland for Holly and Emma.

I have to say, I really love to visit Edinburgh and travelling by train to get there is a great way to really appreciate the scenery. True to form (for me) it was raining when we arrived - but, as the photograph shows the sun finally shone for us.

Knitting (at last)

Finally, here are some photos of Finished Objects - don't faint!

First up is Celestine, a 12 star dodecahedron. Knitted for Sarah's Maths teacher who left at Easter.
Knitted in Regia 4ply sock yarn - it took less than 50g - a very impressive leaving present.

Next, we have Sarah, modelling a pair of Ripple fingerless gloves. Available as a kit see link below:

Designed for Create  in Ilkley and knitted in their fantastic Ba T'at 4ply sock yarn. Aren't the colours gorgeous?

Euan, modelling Capone, a felted hat knitted in Rowan 4ply Scottish Tweed.

Hats do not suit me, but I love them, Euan is wearing this under duress! Bless....