Radio Silence Broken!

Hello! *blows dust off the blog*...

Next time I look at changing jobs, remind me not to do it in the middle of assessment season. And remind me that recruiting for interns and my replacement at the same time as doing handover documents, submitting proposals for work I won't be around to see happen and setting up a subsidiary charity doesn't help my blood pressure or the amount of free time I have either...

Anyway, I'm through the worst of it. All essays are in - and back. I've passed these ones in the highest class possible, just need my exam result now. I'm very pleased, as these were even harder work than usual. It's not helped when you're writing one on your tutor's absolute specialist subject (Gothic literature) ... so no pressure there, then ;o)

Interns are recruited, as is my replacement. I'm still tidying a few loose ends, but hopefully will be able to meet with K one day after I finish work to discuss particulars with her. I'm not completely cutting all ties with the circus, so I'm happy to do this, and will be doing the odd bit of freelance stuff for them from time to time.And the subsidiary charity is likely to have me on its board of trustees.

The new job is very pleasant. It's a small national charity, and the office is staffed mainly by people who have been there a long time, and it's all very civilised. The office itself is light, airy and on a riverbank in a little business park that's leafy and tree filled. It's also only a 25 minute walk from my flat - all downhill, so in the lovely weather we've had this week, it's been a great start to the day. On wet days - and to get back up the hill - there's a door to door bus service which runs every 10 minutes, and an almost door to door one which is similar, so I can be home within 15 minutes of leaving the office. And leave the office we do, at 5pm on the dot. And we take lunch hours - for the whole hour if we want to! And of course I want to - the office is only 5 minutes from the quilt shop... ;o)

My new role is Communications Manager. I'm also going to be editing the charity's journal, which is the only specialist publication for the condition available. Me, editor of a proper magazine with an ISSN number and everything ... bizarre, as once again I have moved into a field where I have no qualifications, just the knack of acquiring the right mix of skills and experience as I go... I think it's going to be well within my capabilities, despite the moments of self doubt once I'd accepted the position! I've already turned one sad and sorry looking list of stuff for sale to a full colour, illustrated 8 page catalogue, and that seems to have pleased the Chief Executive.

I think the reduction in stress, the shorter commute, the nicer office environment and the daily walk to work will also help improve my physical and mental well being, so it's looking good... although it is going to be odd working regular, full time hours, Mondayto Friday, nine to five, instead of fewer, and less conventional, ones. I'm hoping though, once the reduced travel is taken into account that I won't actually be out of the house that much longer every day. (I'm being vague about the charity and the condition because I'm trying to keep a little privacy. This blog is open after all).

I've mostly been knitting, and I have finished another afghan. I've also started another from the book above... I have no self restraint! There will be pictures, eventually - I have rather a backlog of things to show, including exchanges sent and received. I also have a backlog of charts to dispatch, and July's to finish up!

I've been reading blogs sporadically, and I'm sorry if I haven't had change to comment on yours. It hasn't felt like enough hours in the day lately, but hopefully, things will be easier soon!

Right, I have a few chores to do and then I'm off out in the sun - there's a Green Fair on, and Sheffield Pride, and I'd like to go to both!

Keeping my head down...

I had my Critical Theory exam this week, one final essay to write and submit and then I will be free - ish. It's three weeks until I start my new job, and between then and now, I will be tidying up a lot of loose ends, documenting how I do the job, recruiting interns and trying to find my replacement.

I am hoping to get back to regular blogging after Friday's hand in though, I have lots of things to catch up on!

I know it's a holiday for a lot of people across the world, I hope you're all having a nice day off. Me - I'm about to go for a walk while I think about my essay plan. Oh for the days like above, when all I had to worry about was whether I could escape my granny! It's hard to believe in that photo, she was only a couple of years older than I am now...

Update

First of all, I'd like to say a BIG thank you to all the people who took the time to send me supportive comments and emails after I posted about having a bit of a depressive blip. It really helped to know that I'm not alone, and that there are some people who really "get it" - despite us having never met in person.

I'm a bit behind in posting pictures and stuff, but I will get caught up eventually. However, don't expect too much over the next month or so, as it's the end of the semester and I have two assignments and an exam between now and the 4th of June. Add into that two interviews (from only three job applications!) and I'm going to have my hands full - oh, and I mustn't forget my niece's birthday, or my dad's! I must remember about Blogging Without Obligation ... no one is actually going to fall out with me if I can't post because I'm busy doing other things...

Craft wise, I've been knitting because it takes less energy (physical and mental) but I will try and get My Needle and Floss finished for the end of the month - or at least, the end of the May Day weekend, which is almost the same thing :o) I do have a big knitting project nearly finished, it just needs sewing up - but as it's an afghan with 48 blocks in it, it may take a while...

I hope everyone who has requested an April Biscornu pattern (or any others) has received it by now - thanks for your patience. The good news is that I've done the May one already, so it will be released in a more timely fashion. I will be continuing with the monthly series as freebies, but I think I may have offer any other designs for sale only, because of the time they take not only to design but to send to people. I haven't decided how I'm going to do that yet, though!

Okay, I'm going to have to get cracking, unfortunately I can't spend the day like my guinea pigs...

A touch of the blahs

I'm feeling a bit low and stressed at the moment, so I haven't felt like posting. Haven't felt like much of anything, to be honest.

This will pass. With gritted teeth at times, but it will pass!

Plans changing and disappointing turns of events aren't helping. But I have talked over one of the major stressors with a person who is in a position to help, and I feel better for that.

I had struggles with depression for years, and I know that I can and will overcome them. But when an episode hits me, it still has the power to knock me off my feet and mess with my head in all kinds of ways.

If you are waiting for a freebie pattern from me, I will be sending them out at the weekend. And I will be posting April's freebie pattern then too. I'm sorry for the delays.

It hasn't been all doom and gloom - on Saturday, I went with my Sis, BiL and The Tot to Hardwick Hall, and I will post about that, especially the needlework... but for now, I will just leave you with a taster of the building:

Two Down, One to Go

You know that assignment I was working on and had to submit yesterday - well, I did it. Only to get an out of office response from the tutor, because he's on holiday all this week! Grrr....

I have submitted the job application as well - it's not that I'm desperately unhappy doing what I'm doing, but this vacancy is a new role and related closely to something else I've been doing. It may be earmarked for someone else though, in the way that jobs within the University tend to be, so I'm not pinning my hopes on it - but I'd like to at least get shortlisted!

The last assignment is stewing in my head - I need to get it on paper - or at least into my computer, but I've had enough of sitting and staring at my monitor!

So, tonight I'm going to have a night off and just knit. I hope everyone else has a pleasant evening too!

Still Here...

I've got a numb butt from sitting at the computer today. I've got an assignment due before the end of the day, a job application deadline tomorrow, and another assignment due Friday. When I'm going away for the weekend, so need to pack suitable knitting as well as clothing for our changeable weather... so, I've been busy typing away and I'm sick of it ... especially as doing the first assignment has shown up some issues that will need to be addressed fairly urgently by one of the companys I work for... and guess who will probably end up sorting it all out? ;o)

I've been knitting afghan blocks because they are pretty mindless, portable and can be picked up and down - Margaret, I will show pics soon, I promise :o) - but other than that, not a lot has been happening on the crafting front. The good news is that the Easter holiday meant I got all my stash together, and I'm even more determined to work through it - and to certainly make sure that more goes out than comes in! Having it all together and being able to see it all is certainly helping my planning - but not my frustration as I can't get working on it! Roll on the weekend - a weekend of friends, fab home cooking and a lovely house in rural Shropshire with nothing to do except eat, chat, knit and stitch!

Right, just need to proof read assignment one before I send it to the tutor ... I'll be back soon, hopefully!

Update

I've been having a bit of a Spring Clean this weekend - I've finally got all my yarn stash sorted - and given away over a kilo on Freegle! I'm also trying to get rid of some excess furniture and computer stuff, but some Freeglers don't seem to think "prompt collection, I'd like this gone ASAP" applies to them and that I have unlimited storage space ... perhaps I'm just odd in that once I make the decision to get rid of something, I want it gone quickly!

I'm working slowly on my afghan - I'm having a bit of a re-think about which blocks I'm going to use, as in my Spring Clean (yes, it deserves capital letters!) I found another 100g ball of suitable acrylic yarn, so I'm trying to incorporate that too. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the completed project, as the colours don't go with anything I have ... hmmm ... Ma has a bedroom that it might suit ... or my sister ...

Now that I'm de-junking the bedroom, I'm thinking about what colour to paint it. It's going to need something that will cover the existing pale pink (not my choice) and the marks from the damp (not my choice either, and why I bought a de-humidifier). I don't know whether to go with white, magnolia, or something else altogether. My sister has just done her living room in a very pale taupe colour which looked very nice, but I'm afraid it would just look grubby, as the room is north facing, unlike my sister's. It's going to be a pain to paint, as there's not a lot of room to move furniture too, but it needs doing. The whole flat does really, but I'm taking it one step at a time!

Right, back to the sorting and cleaning. My life is so exciting...

I Feel Lucky...

Over the past couple of weeks, I've actually been pretty blessed by the lovely people in the blogging community. In chronological order, I've won some stitching goodies, got a blog award and won a gift voucher to spend on stitching stash!

First of all, I entered a draw on Joanie's inspirational blog, Nini Makes. If you ar einterested in all sorts of crafts, I thoroughly recommend you check it out!

I was lucky enough to win the makings of a Cath Kidston tea cosy, a vintage linen tea towel, a handmade scented heart, handmade card and even a tea bag so I can have a cup of tea whilst I'm pondering what to do with my goodies!

The most amazing thing about this is that the fabrics are those used on one of the most essential things I carry - my diary! This year, I opted for a Cath Kidston one instead of my usual Moleskine, and the cover is printed in the floral and dots designs... (it's a great diary, even has little tear out notes, an address section, and a zippered pocket). Thank you Joanie!

Blu over at Therapy by Thread gave me this award - thank you Blu! Apparently, there are some rules attached to this:

1. Accept the award
2. Thank the person who gave you the award
3. Add a link to the person who gave you the award
4. Put the award on your blog
5. Write 10 things about yourself others might not know about you
6. Pass the award on to 10 others

Ten things that may be of interest that I probably have not mentioned before:

1. I'm more or less ambidextrous - although it's probably fairer to say I have no particularly dominant hand. I do prefer to do somethings left handed - e.g. write and some right handed - e.g. use a knife, or a mouse. I have no dominant eye either.
2. I haven't eaten meat since I was eighteen. And no, I don't miss bacon butties (sandwiches) - I do sometimes think of corned beef and HP sauce in a fresh roll longingly though.
3. I'm forty one, and for only seven years of that time (birth to 4 and for 3 years as a student) have I not had a pet. I've had goldfish, guppies, Syrian hamsters, a dog (English cocker spaniel), Russian hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs. I can't imagine life without animals in it.
4. I currently work (mostly) for a circus theatre company and I can spin plates, juggle (badly), and walk the tight wire.
5. I don't have any phobias or irrational fears. And as far as I know, I'm not allergic to anything either - just as well, as MS is an auto immune disease, my system has enough to deal with!
6. Apart from jeans, I don't ever wear blue. Sometimes I will wear turquoise, but anything that's navy, royal blue, airforce, cobalt, baby blue or related - no, no way. For one thing, it really doesn't suit me, and for another, they are colours I associate with my mum and my gran. My gran rarely wore anything that wasn't either blue, rose, or plum.
7. Although I have the nickname "beebarf" and I stitch lots of bees and beehive projects, I don't actually like honey.
8. I don't have a particularly deep speaking voice, but I have to sing in the alto range. Not that I sing a lot - but I can sight read, and play a couple of instruments.
9. I worked for a kitchenware company for several years, and in the course of my work have met a number of famous chefs, including the Roux brothers, Michel Roux Jr., Gary Rhodes, Rick Stein, Ainsley Harriot, James Martin, Antony Worrall Thompson and Jamie Oliver. Some of whom I think are amazing, some of whom - well, not so. I will leave you to guess who did not impress me.
10. Back when I was young and foolish, I went to University to study Materials Science and Metallurgy. I dropped out after two years and am now doing a part time degree in English Literature and Creative Media.

I'm supposed to pass this onto another 10 bloggers, but I honestly, honestly can't just pick ten, especially as so many of the blogs I read have had this award before. So - if you haven't already been awarded this badge, and you read my blog, consider yourself nominated! *Do*  post about it, don't feel shy, don't hide your light under a bushel!

The final piece of good news I had was that I won a $10 gift certificate in Felicity's blogoversary giveaway. That was a lovely surprise, so imagine my delight when Felicity sent the voucher for $25 saying "$10 didn't seem worth it" - she's a very naughty girl, but I will have so much fun browsing the 123 Stitch site and deciding what to treat myself to ...

So, I'm a very lucky girl and very thankful to have such great stitching friends - you all really make life better with your comments, notes, gifts, inspiration ... Thank you everyone!

Update

Sorry I've been a bit quiet this week - just the scheduled "Finish or Fling" posts. I've not been feeling that well. Some of the time, I'm having a great time, and getting a lot done and some of the time, I'm feeling really awful, with severe headaches. Grrr.... I'm so ready for the long Easter weekend, as long as my cluster headaches have passed by then... The Hermit's not been feeling so great this weekend either - we're wondering if it's related to the change in the weather back to more wintery, or to the time change. Yes, we're on British Summer Time now, and of course, snow is forecast for Wednesday...

So, here's my week in review:

The good stuff:

• A certain work issue has been resolved
• Going to the local museum to see a very well designed exhibition - although I was alarmed to see that I have some of the "museum pieces" in regular use!
• Seeing BF and pottering around at a craft fair
• Knitting with alpaca
• Stash busting some of my acrylic yarn by making a blankie
• An exchange has arrived (another post later!)
• All decisions have been made on "Finish or Fling?"!

The bad stuff:

• Training courses with homework!
• Headaches
• Nausea
• The state of the flat
• Pressing deadlines for all sorts of things - funding, course work, job applications, exchanges

Looking at that, the week wasn't so bad - I think I'm seeing things through the opposite of rose-tinted glasses because I really don't deal well with headaches. Not the ones that break through painkillers!

Fingers crossed for a good week for everyone, and plenty of chocolate at the weekend :o)

Enablers Everywhere....

I forgot in my last update to mention that I'd also spoken to Best Friend.  She had been in Leeds for her regular yoga practice, and discovered that a shop she'd thought was a clothes shop was actually a yarn shop - Baa Ram Ewe. BF went for a nosey, even though she is not a knitter ... and confessed that she bought some Zauberball sock yarn and would I make her a pair of socks with it? So I guess the last couple of pairs I made for her have been appreciated ... the same with my mum. I was warned this could happen... Anyway, I think I've been given a bribe to make me compliant - BF also bought a skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn for *me* ... drools.... but what was I saying to Claire on Saturday about stopping knitting socks for a while to work on blankets? LOL

And if the vision of future yarn-y goodness was not enough, Margaret posted on her blog about a gorgeous etui which is featured in Inspirations magazine, so of course I had to see if the large WH Smith's in town had a copy - it did! Oh well, sometime this century I will be making this set:

The designer is Betsy Morgan of Willing Hands - I can't find a website for her - isn't it lovely?

Update

I had a lovely weekend. I went to Nottingham to meet with some fellow Bookcrossers, and we had our usual fun and frivolity! We do talk books - some of the time - but mostly we're just silly and laugh a lot! After a little light shopping, I went to see my friends Claire and Andrew. Both are writers, and Claire writes a column for Let's Knit, in which our knitting group sometimes makes an appearance. I have to confess the best stories aren't necessarily fit for publication ... ;o) Claire shared some of her recent projects with me, whilst I cracked on with my latest project. I've bought a book called 200 Knitted Blocks - although the title is misleading, as over 80 of them are just different colour variations. It's still a good book, and it will help make a serious dent in my double knitting stash, as I create some cosy blankets!

Then yesterday, I went with Sis and The Tot to visit my Aged Parents. I had a good chat with my dad - he's still a bit down over his heart trouble, but I know that he's really trying not to dwell on it. With the nicer weather and some holidays planned, he will feel better. The Tot is a great distraction, and it is hard to keep a straight face when she's around - she says things in such a serious way, but they are side splittingly funny sometimes. We were on our best behaviour though - last week, she'd to tell off her mum and her Nanna for talking with their mouths full... My parents garden is beginning to look spring like - the bulbs over the guinea pig graves were all blooming, and there's frog spawn in the pond. The Tot was going "Look at the *wonderful* flowers" - they were a distraction when she was jumping on the "bounce-oline" - the mini daffodils are just the right size for someone who is nearly four... I'm going to have to find another name for her soon, as she's really turning into a little girl and not a toddler.

The Hermit stayed home because he's been feeling a bit off balance lately with a change in some of the many medications he has to take. So he prepared dinner for when I got back - barbecue potato wedges, yum! All the better for being made with spuds one of my uncles has grown. And I came back yesterday with some eggs from my Uncle G's hens. I am going to do nothing but lightly scramble these because they are the best, most delicious, eggs ever. This is because his hens are the most spoilt chickens in the world - Uncle G. turns over a spit of ground every day for them to have something fresh to dig about it - and they reward him with eggs packed with flavour! If I ever get a house of my own with a garden, I'm going to want chickens...

I didn't do the stitching I had planned for the weekend, as I'm at the honeymoon stage with my the blanket blocks. You know how it is with a new project... And the blocks aren't terribly photogenic right now, as they need blocking. So, because a picture-less post isn't as much fun, have you seen the latest LHN release?

I am going to HAVE to have this, as I visit Nottingham so often, and have walked many times in Sherwood Forest. Then of course, Little John is buried relatively nearby to where I live ... and some stories have Robin called "Robin of Loxley" (or Locksley) - and Loxley is now a part of Sheffield ...

I hope you all had a great weekend. And thank you so much for the comments - I appreciate them all, especially on the "Finish or Fling" posts!

Work in Progress - My Needle and Floss Comfort Me

I'm definitely on my way to being a member of the Stitcherhood! I've finally decided on my colour choices for this well travelled pattern, and made a start on it this week. Because I find stitching in golds and rusts the most "comforting" that my lady had to be dressed in those shades, and I have searched my GAST stash (one of my favourite overdyes) for suitable colours.

I'm hoping that I will be able to finish it this weekend, as the lady is the most densely stitched part of the design and she is nearly done, as I've worked on her since this picture was taken.

I am sure most of you know about the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern but for those of you who don't this is her journey:

Harmien in the Netherlands (November 3, 2007)

She sent it to Lili in France (June 17, 2007)

Who sent it to Barbara in Malaysia (June 25, 2007)

Who sent it to Tessa in Australia (July 16, 2007)

Who sent it to Lizzy in the North Carolina, US (February 26, 2008)

Who sent it to Barbara in the Netherlands (March 11, 2008)

Who sent it to Sarah (no blog) in Ohio, US (April 11, 2008)

Who sent it to Anna in Pennsylvania, US (May 28, 2008)

Who sent it to Wendy in Ontario, Canada (July 4, 2008)

Who sent it to Sue in Michigan, US (August 2, 2008)

Who sent it to Jennifer in Pennsylvania, US (September 2, 2008)

Who sent it to CJ in Texas, US, (October 25, 2008)

Who sent it to Claire in Nova Scotia, Canada (January 20, 2009)

Who sent it to Kathy in Arizona, US (February 18, 2009)

Who sent it to Carol in Indiana, US (March 15, 2009)

Who sent it to Carolyn in California, US (May 20, 2009)

Who sent it to Sharon in Oklahoma, US (August 8, 2009)

Who sent it to Jill in Minnesota, US (August 19, 2009)

Who sent it to Sara in North Carolina, US (September, 2009)

Who sent it to CarolR  in Kent, United Kingdom (October 27, 2009)

Who sent it to Nic (me) in Yorkshire, United Kingdom (January 25, 2010)

Who sent it to ????

I'm going to need some stitching time, as this weekend is a busy one - I'm just checking in now before I dash off to assist in teaching a workshop about teaching workshops and of course tomorrow is Mother's Day here in the UK, so I will be entertaining my parents - and as I'm not going to be able to finish Ma's gift in time, I'm going to have to do a bit of quick shopping after the workshop! Fortunately, I'm working not to far from Meadowhell - aka Meadowhall, a very large shopping mall. I normally avoid it like the plague, but I'm prepared to brave it because it's for my mum! :o)

Hopefully I'm also going to have time to show some pictures of stitcher's finishes from my freebie charts ... thank you everyone for your kind comments about the latest design for St Patrick's Day. The March biscornu chart is ready for release too - I think you'll like it, I'm very pleased with it, it's very fresh and spring like!

Another year older ...

I had my birthday on Saturday, and right on cue - but fortunately after I'd got home from my day out - it started to snow! I know we've not suffered as much as many places, but this has been a bad winter by UK standards, and I'm ready for Spring now ...

This is the view from our living room window (we're in a first floor flat - second floor for US readers!) looking over the communal garden to the neighbouring building, which is an undertaker's business - the big rolling door is where the hearses come out of... it's nice to have quiet nieghbours ;o)

So, Sunday's plans got cancelled - the Aged Parents were going to come over and we were going to go for lunch, but the road to get here is a minor country road, exposed and not gritted so they stayed home. I stayed in too and stitched. I've made quite a dint in my UFO pile, so there's plenty of blog material to come - I even finished some pieces before showing them on a "Finish or Fling?" post :o) I can't believe that some pieces were abandoned so close to completion...

The Hermit bought me the remaining Prairie Schooler alphabet charts for the SAL, so I'm all set with that. The guinea pigs bought me a lunch bag in the shape of a bee (I think they had help...) and the Aged Parents gave me a cheque - I spent half of it on a new pair of flat black shoes on Saturday which I really needed, the previous pair were about worn through. I'm going to look at the Nashville releases and see if there's anything that catches my eye - have you seen anything you've just got to have? Sis gave me a giftcard for Waterstone's (a book chain) so equally, if you have any craft book recommendations... I wasn't in any birthday exchanges this year, and I really, really missed it. I'd hoped my Sew Red for your Heart exchange would arrive in time, but it's not turned up so far - and my piece hasn't made it to its recipient yet either :o( Oh well, something to look forward to!

I'd like to thank Carol who pointed out that pictures on my blog had vanished ... because there's been so much interest in my designs, I'd exceeded my monthly bandwidth limit over on Photobucket - who host my pictures - and nothing could be seen! It's all sorted now, I never realised there were perils in being popular! Hopefully everyone who has asked for a chart has one now, I took a break for a couple of days ... don't forget, if you like the charts and would like to make a donation to the MS Trust, it's really simple to do, just click here - donations can be made via Paypal as well as debit/credit cards.

Right, better get cracking, I have a Uni class later, just need to gather my thoughts and find a bit of critical theory to discuss in class...

Update and answers to comments

The new semester has started and so my stitching time is going to be curtailed by one evening a week - plus the private study time - that vacation went too quickly! I got a couple of my assignments back and I did okay - not the highest grade band, but comfortably into the second, which is better than I expected. My tutor is really great at putting in constructive comments so I know what to do next time...

I'm still working away on my February Biscornu design - when that is done, hopefully at the weekend, I will release the chart here. I wonder if it will be as popular as my Valentine Biscornu design has been? That has lead to so many requests - and so many more blogs to read :o) Hello and welcome if you're a new reader - especially if  you've come via seeing my design on Freebie Gallery or World's Largest Collection of Smalls ! I've also completed the stitching for the Stitch Red for Your Heart exchange over on Hooked on Exchanges. This just needs to be made up into "something" and mailed before Friday. It holds a bit more meaning for me than perhaps it might have done previously, as my dear dad has just been diagnosed as having mild left ventricular dysfunction. Fortunately, he is very fit for his age and leads a healthy lifestyle, so the prognosis is good, but it's been a bit of a stressful time for the family - probably because my dad is never normally unwell!

Design wise, I've finished a design for a March Biscornu and just need to stitch it - the same with a St. Patrick's Biscornu. The St. Patrick's biscornu may have to wait until next year for a release - unless anyone would like to model stitch for me?

I took out my tub of finished pieces yesterday and gave a number of them a good soak. My flat is poorly insulated and the outside walls get very cold so condensation builds up on them so that a couple of framed pieces have got slightly damp inside and needed a wash :o/. I'm going to re-frame these - or get them re-framed - and with the dehumidifier I got for Christmas, hopefully things will be better. These all count towards my "Year of the UFO" project too, but I've only done one so far! I have just ordered some nice fabrics though, so perhaps that will be a motivator?

I'm going to a friend's house to knit this evening, with some of the other girls from my knitting group. We met last week as well, in our usual pub and hopefully the evening won't end up like that - I had to walk the 3.5 miles home as enough snow fell to stop the city buses. And I live somewhat higher up than the city centre ... so there was a great big hill to go up, and underneath, the footing was awful, very slide-y and slushy. I'm grateful though that I am able to walk so far though - a lot of people with MS would find it much more difficult. Of course, as we'd met in the pub, no one had brought a car ... my friends aren't that hard hearted! Anyway, I asked them for advise on my Ripple socks and the consensus was to frog if I was unhappy - especially as the heel maths wasn't working out. I was knitting them in a Kaffe Fassett yarn - Landscape Canyon - and it looked awful. E. very kindly did the physical frogging so that I didn't get second thoughts, and T. suggested a different design, which I've started and am much happier with! I love my fellow knitters! The Colonnade wrap may yet meet the same fate ... I'm getting quite ruthless these days - I think it's all the Finish and Fling decisions I'm making, it's influencing me in all sorts of ways!

I am (we are!) about halfway through the decision making for Finish or Fling - thank you everyone for your comments and input! I need to take the next lot of photos, so there may be a bit of a hiatus. Several people have asked about The Hermit and his Christmas allergy - and whether I'm being fair to him! The Hermit has always hated Christmas (and birthdays, and Valentines) - he is very avowedly atheist, hates consumerism, isn't big on parties or family get togethers and for many years was a cab driver, so got to see at close quarters the drunken excesses of the "festive" season. This has left him more than a little jaded, and used to be somewhat of an area of conflict between us, as I do celebrate Christmas - albeit in a secular way. I've scaled back Christmas in some ways since we've been together - I don't have a tree, and I don't plan parties or special meals, or bake a cake. I make sure he writes cards to his remaining family, and that he wraps my presents - which come from a list I give him and then I leave him alone. He knows it's important to me to celebrate Christmas because my gran died on Christmas Day 2004, and I don't want it to become a sad day so he is pretty good at tolerating the displays of Christmas stitching I have - as long as they are on display for only a couple of weeks!

Okay, better get cracking as I need to finish some stuff before I go knit! Thank you for your company, and i hope you all have a nice evening too!

News, Update and Replies to Comments

Exciting news first! I've just found out I'm going to be the 21st stitcher in the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern! Carol has emailed me to say the pattern's coming to visit, so I'll be sure to update and keep you eyes out for when I offer it on my blog! This is a lesson in perseverance - I've been following the pattern for ages... and it's lead to me discovering a number of blogs I wouldn't have otherwise found, so it's all good! I think I might change the pink dress though ... oh, and if you haven't discovered Carol's charts yet, go check them out ... I'll wait ;o)

Lovely, aren't they? I'm only holding off buying them until I get some more of my UFOs finished, but at least that number is smaller thanks to my ruthless "Finish or Fling" decisions. Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions, they are appreciated, and those people who've offered to take pieces from me, they will be in the post over the next week or so. A lot of people have said how much they are enjoying this ...and don't worry, there's more to come!

I'd like to say "thank you" to everyone who has  made a donation to the MS Trust via my Justgiving page. I've had a lovely email from the Trust thanking *me* - but it isn't really me, it's you guys! I set a target of £100 for the year, and I'm nearly a third of the way there already - which is amazing considering it's only January, and that there have been other demands on our money, such as the disaster in Haiti. It's thanks to donations like yours that new treatments are being developed - just this week, the news was that oral meds are on their way, so that the prospect of daily injections (which have some yukky side effects) could be a thing of the past.

I've been busy with a lot of Uni work, so haven't really been stitching, but I am nearly done with my version of the January Biscornu and Fob. Despite designing it for a dark blue fabric, mine is stitched on white, as my navy aida seems to have disappeared - I have a sneaking suspicion it went to my friend H. (Miss Shine) when she came and took some stash off my hands! (hmm... wonder if that's it in that last post of her's...) Anyway, my plans for today include finishing and making these up, so hopefully there will be pictures tomorrow!

Knitting wise, I've been making a head start on the Innocent Smoothie hats, as the Colonnade shawl is needing to be frogged back three rows - ggrrr! And I'm in a bit of a dither, because I'm not sure why I chose this colour - grey and black near my face don't do anything for me, especially in winter - so I don't know whether just to frog the lot and to use the yarn for something for The Hermit - well, it would match his beard :o) And the two pairs of socks on the needles are going nowhere either ... :o(

Thanks must go too to everyone who is leaving comments - they are all appreciated!

Heidi - get out those PS charts and join us on the PS ABC Stitching Bee - you know you want to!

Riona - yes, blackwork is usually worked on white or cream linen, but my big samplers were on cream, and my little obsessive self didn't like the white based one hanging near it, so I tea dyed it ... hence the fate of this one! If I remember, I'll post a picture of the wall where they are hanging ...

Blu - I think there's an eagle in the D block of the PS ABC because it fits with the patriotic theme. I'd be a bit scared if there was an Eagle with the Embroiderer in the E block ... they're big! :o)

And if anyone is waiting for a chart - I will be mailing them out later this weekend. I had another Uni deadline on Friday, and was a bit tied up - fortuntely, my "Finish or Fling" posts were all pre-written and scheduled in - love that feature! If you don't have your chart by Sunday, please check that you've left an email address either in the comment or that it's accessible from your profile!

Right, I think that's all the news that's fit to print - you really don't want a blow-by-blow account of the cold I've got - so I hope you have a happy weekend, everyone, and happy stitching!

Update

Well, I survived my first week of the new semester and working two jobs. In fact, I think increasing my activity is actualy helping me to do more, although I am careful not to overdo things, especially as my cough hasn't gone away - coughing until you're vomiting isn't the best thing to be happening at the moment, but there's nothing that can be done, I don't have an infection so antibiotics would be counter productive.

I spent most of Saturday in this structure:

It's called the Spiegeltent. It's an amazing work of art - painted wooden panels with a glass walledcupola, and canvas domed roof. Inside, it's more painting - and mirrors everywhere! It was all part of the Rotherham Open Arts Festival, for which the company I work for were providing much of the entertainment happening in the Spiegeltent during the day. I had the task of trying to co-ordinate all the artists - not easy when some were late due to a bad accident, and when the changing room (a small marquee) had to be taken down because of the high winds! I had to scrounge space in local shops offices and loos for them to get dressed in...

I've managed to do some crafting - some more little smoothie hats have happened, and I've done the cuffs of one sock for the Through The Loops Mystery Sock KAL. I had to rootle through my stash to find a solid colour yarn, and the only one I found was some bright pink Regia - I don't know what I'd originally planned for this wool (I suspect a pair of cabled socks from the Sensational Knitted Socks book) but it looks good in this new incarnation...

Whilst waiting for the next clue for the KAL, I cast on another pair of socks - yes, I know, but I need something simple to do on my bus journeys round the city! I'm making a plain stocking stitch pair, using some (apparently no longer available) yarn from Opal. It's part of the Harry Potter collection, and the colourway I'm using is Tonks. It's very pretty - and these socks are zooming along, I've been knitting textured socks for a bit, and of course, I'm faster in general than when I first started knitting socks so I'm rather surprised at just how quick these are growing! They'll grow a bit more today - I have a dentist's appointment later so they'll come out in the waiting room!

And finally, before I go, have you seen the wonderful giveaways Annette is having? There are three altogether, but I'm throwing my name into the hat for only two - the stitching giveaway and the knitting one! -fingers crossed ;o)

Update

I'm sitting in a place with free wi-fi and an hour between meetings and my netbook in my bag, so what better opportunity to update my blog. Let's face it, it's probably the only opportunity I'm going to get ...

Work is busier than ever - the general manager of the company I do most of my work for has moved onto pastures new, and I've stepped up to cover some of his role until a new person is appointed. The trustees did ask if I would be applying, and I gently made my excuses - I'm not looking for a full time role until after 2012 (when I graduate) and - to be honest - possibly not even then, as the lure of academia may prove just too strong!  I've also started some paid work with the University in improving student representation, which will be interesting, and hopefully will only take up a couple of hours a week ... famous last words?

I got to make my professional performance debut a couple of Saturdays ago... I do most of my work for a circus theatre company and we are developing a new show, and we piloted some ideas at a community event, improvising on the theme of fairy tales. I think it's fair to say my creative leanings are better expressed through the medium of needles, thread, yarn and fabric but the finished result was well received. I even got some of the locals passing by - all tattoos and 'bling' - to stand up and recite their favourite nursery rhymes ... 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' as declaimed by a 'hard case' is something to behold...

(I'm not showing you pictures of the performance. The point of fairy tales is to use your imagination!)

I'd been coming down with something before the performance but 'the show must go on' and a combination of Coca Cola and Sudafed got me through - which of course meant a massive crash in the days following and an absolutely streaming feverish cold - I'm fairly certain that, nasty though it was, it wasn't the dreaded swine flu! The Hermit was his usual considerate self, providing hot drinks and hot water bottles when demanded required! I wasn't really up to anything more demanding than listening to the radio when feeling so washed out - it did seem like a waste of good crafting time though!

(No pictures either, runny eyes and noses are not attractive!)

So, crafting wise, what have I been up to? Well, I've finished another knitted wrap for myself, which is very timely as there has been a distinct autumnal feel in the air lately. And I made a couple of 'blanket buddies' for friends' new babies. They were rewardingly quick to knit and look very effective. There was a stitched piece for an exchange (and there's one to finish-finish) but I'm really not doing much cross stitch at all - I'm just so tired at the end of the day that my eyes can't focus on such close work and knitting is just easier ... Perhaps it's time to treat myself to a powerful daylight lamp? I also managed to miss Anna's (Stitch Bitch's) Swirlygig competition, even though I had two stitched versions to make up, and I've decided to pass on a couple of exchanges offered because of this stitching slump. The good news is that Neat Country Stuff has come back from the framer and is on my wall ...


(There might be pictures of this stuff. Sometime. You never know...)

Righty ho, must get cracking and on to my next meeting - hopefully, there will  be a more stitchy based post soon!

Update

I'm feeling a bit blah about my stitching at the moment. Then again, I'm feeling a bit blah in general, probably because I'm tired and work is a bit stressy at the moment. There's some changes going on, and I'll need to step up and take on some more responsibility (for a while) and I'm just a bit anxious about it all...

Anyway, I thought that seeing some of my pieces come back from the framer would help - and it did, for a while. Until I thought about all the other pieces I have still to frame - and the lack of room to display them when they're done ... the perils of living in a small apartment! No, seriously, I'm really impressed by the work the framers have done, and best of all, they are a five minute walk away. I'll show some pictures when I've taken them!

I decided to dive into my stash and see if that would perk me up a bit. It usually works, because I do have some lovely stuff in my stash. Last year, I went through my fabrics and matched them up to charts where I could. With the benefit of a spreadsheet - because I've inventoried all my charts - I worked out how long it would take me to stitch everything if I stitched one project per month. Would anyone like to guess?

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October 2023. And that's not including kits, or UFOs, or the charts I have which I don't have fabric for. Or the projects from books. Or freebie charts.

I'll be 54 by October 2023 (gulp!) so I'm not at SABLE, but ...

Hey ho, at least it means I will be set if suddenly all the designers stop producing new charts!

In the light of this news, I'm going to set myself some new goals for each month:

• stitch on one kitted chart
• stitch on one UFO
• stitch on one kit
• make up or frame one finished object
• knit one pair of socks (because my yarn stash isn't getting much smaller either!)
• keep to a stash diet - buying only threads and trims needed for the pieces I'm working on
• take part in one exchange per month (ideally)
  

I'm not saying that each of the pieces I work on will be finished in that month, but I need to focus and use what I have rather than lusting over what I don't.

I've also decided I need to be more ruthless and only work on pieces I *love* so I will be having a stash clearout, and if I want new stash,I'll browse the trade blogs first...

I'm looking forward to a happy dance later today - Neat Country Stuff is sooooooooo close - and I'm also working on an exchange piece which may be completed. I will be sitting with my feet up, listening to Test Match Special - what could be better?

Frustration... and some progress

I've been sewing up the Striped Baby Jumper for a baby that is due on Friday. Jill at the Wool Baa taught me the wonderful mattress stitch technique for knitteds, but I've come to realise why my knitted items are either plain shapes, or knitted in the round. I had to set one sleeve SIX times before I was happy with it (perfectionist? moi?). I know being striped should have made it easier but ... Anyway, it is done, and will be mailed to Switzerland when I know baby has arrived safe and well and I'll share pictures then.

I still need to darn in the ends of my Clapotis, but you can see the yarn here. Yes, using autumn shades - again! I'm going to wear it for a month or so and then decide if I want to continue using it or if I will rip it back. It's hanging on a couple of pegs here, so you can see the lovely drape, but I'm still wishing I'd done it in a less plain yarn.

Although possibly nothing as bright and mottled as this - this is the current state of play of my Big Knit Hats for the Innocent charity campaign. I've been experimenting with stitch patterns from my knitting encyclopaedias, not that you can really tell from this picture, and it's been very interesting and has triggered some ideas for larger projects.

Two Bookcrossing friends of mine were having babies this month. The stripey sweater wearer-to-be is not yet born, but the other has arrived. And is a baby boy. I'd rather hoped it would be a girl, as I had cast on this cardigan:

If Swiss baby is a Swiss miss, all will be well... If not, I will have to think of something, or just rip it back, as I haven't got very far.

(Honestly, I don't really mind that my friend's had a boy. She had a tough journey to conceive, I'm just so thrilled there's been a happy result!)

I'm on the last square of Neat Country Stuff! And if you are thinking it's not looking like the chart, you'd be right. I really don't like the 'sheep' as charted on the original design. However, I also have in my stash the same designer's Sheep Button Sampler. The sheep as charted on this however was a little big, so out came the graph paper and pencils and after a session with those (and an eraser) I think it's going to work - fingers crossed! I'm hoping for a happy dance by the weekend, and then I can get cracking on my By The Sea exchange piece. The squashed stitches you can see will fluff out as I'm going to wash and press the piece - it's all DMC so will be safe. It's been hanging around so long it needs refreshing!

Finally, this is my Poetry Society letter. It's curling like nobody's business because it's plain stocking stitch. I hope the PS people are planning on putting a border on it, or displaying it stretched in some way. We still don't know what the actual poem is going to be yet ... Can you guess which letter I'm knitting? I'm hoping this will be finished in the next day or so too. It will be great to have some WIPs finished!

Edited to add - forgot to list my socks here, but I think I've left them at the office!

Update

I've been pretty busy on the knitting front - I went to two stitch n bitches in the course of a week, and that always spurs me on. Especially when one of my friends showed off her longline cardigan - the one she's given me the pattern for, the one I have the yarn for and which I haven't started yet...

I finished Clapotis, though! It's been pressed and is currently waiting for me to darn all the ends in. Despite it being reasonably quick, and knitted in a pretty luxe yarn in on of my favourite colours (Noro Cash Iroha, a silk/cashmere/lambswool mix - half price (£3.95/50g) from my favourite yarn shop, the Wool Baa) I'm feeling a tad underwhelmed by it. It's just a bit too simple and plain ... it does feel lovely though, and perhaps by the autumn, when I foresee wearing it, I'll be more keen on it. Pictures will follow soon ....

However, knitting is on hold for a while. I have a blister/callous developing on my ring finger of my right hand, where the needle rests and although it's not painful as such, it's a little tender. I guess it means I'll have to just stitch instead... I need to work on my By The Sea exchange and I would truly like to finish Neat Country Stuff ... here's a picture taken of me actually working on it!

Since that picture was taken at the recent knitting (!) retreat, I did some more work on it which will need to be frogged - grrr!

I had a free afternoon this week and went shopping in the scrag end of the sales. I bought some lovely trousers in M&S but my prize find was in Accessorize...

I know it's supposed to be a trendy necklace, but my first thought was "no more sticking needles in my clothes!" - and at 70% off, it only cost me £2.40 (about US$4) - bargain! Of course, there's probably some poor person in the Far East making these on piecework rates but I'd like to think that by buying this, I'm at least helping to keep them fed and clothed, and I will remember them when I'm doing my own frivolous stitching, and will always try to buy Fairtrade when I can. And to be fair, Accessorize do seem to be involved with the ethical issues.

Hmm, I didn't mean to wander off and climb on a soapbox!

Right, I'm off out to enjoy the rare sunshine we've been having this summer. I may go over to the Wool Baa, sit and darn in the ends, and plan my next but one project ...


PS Don't forget to enter in my blogversary draw, below - it's your last chance!