tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68725876371087691262024-03-13T04:43:58.634-07:00Give pearls away and rubies...A blog about my crafting life on a small islandTeresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-87574107076591380372023-07-01T08:42:00.000-07:002023-07-01T08:42:37.854-07:00It's July so it must be Tour De Fleece 2023<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Team Spindler 2023</span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhjsUg5zVuQ9HB9aQNK4FEhZrISEmoKITXBzOkDFYEt9UNFbDikuIFrJZeDGzkaZm6ggRqZ16eRyhzCQqk_rBMZRmVAL-yQ2cc61dtVGT76sNTrt9R2vwXD6Rgw3lj_mALYN4JS_673QMr9DiRlNuONN-GXxG5d2lCapprMpLPG7eXyySzywayrPBXvzY/s1995/IMG_1186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="1995" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhjsUg5zVuQ9HB9aQNK4FEhZrISEmoKITXBzOkDFYEt9UNFbDikuIFrJZeDGzkaZm6ggRqZ16eRyhzCQqk_rBMZRmVAL-yQ2cc61dtVGT76sNTrt9R2vwXD6Rgw3lj_mALYN4JS_673QMr9DiRlNuONN-GXxG5d2lCapprMpLPG7eXyySzywayrPBXvzY/s320/IMG_1186.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Where did the year go? We are here again at the start of the Tour de Fleece, the spinning event based on the famous Tour de France cycle race.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">This year I am joining in with Team Spindler again as I enjoyed their company very much last time. I plan to spin every day the riders race and rest on the days they do too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">My goals for this year's Tour de Fleece are to:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">improve my spindling technique by using both research and practice</span></li><li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">finish any fibre started last Tour</span></li><li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">follow Team Spindler fellow spinners and cheer as we go</span></li><li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">look at what worked and didn't in my organisation last Tour and improve where I can</span></li><li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">spin every race day</span></li><li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">learn something new </span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">So I am starting with a beautiful British fibre, Norfolk Horn from The Fibre Workshop:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEVn-2TIPd7XiUBdxCDffYF9VTsxVrOHtvqm5ckICxlQVJjuAvyUAFzUmHD3TdrypzilljvpGeTGUwDfjOa_2KTdiK7mYEbu0GZpqo-qfoPJujkd85L-Gzoxn-SnETHjCTEh5pXEVAq0oxFZtSs2UnfFig3qzHpIDGZsCN0O0u44C_6Sl5vq0Ngc8FFvk/s1150/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.42.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEVn-2TIPd7XiUBdxCDffYF9VTsxVrOHtvqm5ckICxlQVJjuAvyUAFzUmHD3TdrypzilljvpGeTGUwDfjOa_2KTdiK7mYEbu0GZpqo-qfoPJujkd85L-Gzoxn-SnETHjCTEh5pXEVAq0oxFZtSs2UnfFig3qzHpIDGZsCN0O0u44C_6Sl5vq0Ngc8FFvk/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.42.16.png" width="267" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">The other fibres I hope to spin are a set of rolags from Sarah's Texture Crafts (sadly no longer trading) in "St Martin's Summer" (renamed by me) which is a Merino and sparkle:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzCQyAT1cAhvhw-am-_7HjhaLFy8UtEkuqlf9IgBmDT3crgG7NRFtVuwoAj2Ghq2VBE7D6XlsXpW-pYHcqXrxhpFqDxnc8khd4JVo77i8lAVH01So1rHagqoUs9L_P2igkJaBbcxeMc6rOhfpRlckS4JAin-PFFIulonlcyChoLvLMC_FFCkMOPfPgdcP/s1086/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.42.07.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="942" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzCQyAT1cAhvhw-am-_7HjhaLFy8UtEkuqlf9IgBmDT3crgG7NRFtVuwoAj2Ghq2VBE7D6XlsXpW-pYHcqXrxhpFqDxnc8khd4JVo77i8lAVH01So1rHagqoUs9L_P2igkJaBbcxeMc6rOhfpRlckS4JAin-PFFIulonlcyChoLvLMC_FFCkMOPfPgdcP/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.42.07.png" width="278" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">And this lovely fibre from Gone Woolly in the colour "Atlantic Waves" which is an American wool top/roving:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJ2n6jDZaCB5jck_S4aANQqBv9fzqwTApPzaDiNXReiS6FoRNo2xEYv9SZeI-KhefS6EEbiBggNOeC5_g4E8TWOD6v4RUFgnThHNf5pAXjr2qnxeoK-u_6ARPesNCWMqPQHfQMDKCWkYNhPNZ_kngrYWf2k95zGpyXD6n9FqdR9nU3KspyB2t6A-609DA/s1168/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.42.25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="956" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJ2n6jDZaCB5jck_S4aANQqBv9fzqwTApPzaDiNXReiS6FoRNo2xEYv9SZeI-KhefS6EEbiBggNOeC5_g4E8TWOD6v4RUFgnThHNf5pAXjr2qnxeoK-u_6ARPesNCWMqPQHfQMDKCWkYNhPNZ_kngrYWf2k95zGpyXD6n9FqdR9nU3KspyB2t6A-609DA/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.42.25.png" width="262" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">The Grand Départ is from the beautiful City of Bilbao which is home to the stunning Guggenheim Museum.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzt96Y-TraoHr64hfLFaB3T6CdMsfeotvBf0lfjtqKQ4rp7jkielc530muWOOpPhR8cm7qYs94_sMieZKEA1eXuUInqVoyl_FiKiVcpsUuiA-b2YanP3QE33i60ktnk-AcCgFero04BP58BwkykB-wByN1q3crVdsA4MGZR1YI4gHzs13R13OjMhvLMHS/s1196/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.52.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1196" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzt96Y-TraoHr64hfLFaB3T6CdMsfeotvBf0lfjtqKQ4rp7jkielc530muWOOpPhR8cm7qYs94_sMieZKEA1eXuUInqVoyl_FiKiVcpsUuiA-b2YanP3QE33i60ktnk-AcCgFero04BP58BwkykB-wByN1q3crVdsA4MGZR1YI4gHzs13R13OjMhvLMHS/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.52.34.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;">image courtesy of pixabay.com<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">1 July 2023</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Stage one - Grand Départ Bilbao</span></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I had a choice of three spindles and for the Norfolk Horn I have chosen my mid-weight spindle - I don't know the make but the remaining are an Ashford and Spin City spindle.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ2CXdSFI02dew8N0wSHukyf-RqxIlOtlrUZe7i4po99AKZseULDA_ET5zPBbKT_z7zjGvIYfcnHhPiXiS8Xe1k3ovLe2n6YB_IXRFFd5tirUc5C14t-w49gs93DhmPmwHyMiKkBqmzkvjJR_BIJGaUPqMIEiJ4lCG772xrBLUDyYW-InD6x9d-0gni6Q/s1064/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.41.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ2CXdSFI02dew8N0wSHukyf-RqxIlOtlrUZe7i4po99AKZseULDA_ET5zPBbKT_z7zjGvIYfcnHhPiXiS8Xe1k3ovLe2n6YB_IXRFFd5tirUc5C14t-w49gs93DhmPmwHyMiKkBqmzkvjJR_BIJGaUPqMIEiJ4lCG772xrBLUDyYW-InD6x9d-0gni6Q/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.41.56.png" width="285" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I am very motivated to get the 100g of Norfolk Horn spun as I have the Binham Mitts pattern also from The Fibre Workshop. The pattern calls for a 4ply yarn and I think that is achievable from the fibre I am spinning - hopefully!</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfYfXsHbVEHBl_vsS0qbd6NAu7Xj-qPN5u-zxlo9SWgmZo3W1M67W1-Qr0oajXFZ3KDnEbUW6uPfebDFwoOlnk3JxnC7WJY5MJI6RzcCP3uJKYkTTFGQho3kEST6UDPRYBMlE5LXohvWO3kzhN7ITeWg-yi7FF6Iyx1FRTjHQzRWLOfwhEgQmZ_Wj0dXR/s330/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.59.22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfYfXsHbVEHBl_vsS0qbd6NAu7Xj-qPN5u-zxlo9SWgmZo3W1M67W1-Qr0oajXFZ3KDnEbUW6uPfebDFwoOlnk3JxnC7WJY5MJI6RzcCP3uJKYkTTFGQho3kEST6UDPRYBMlE5LXohvWO3kzhN7ITeWg-yi7FF6Iyx1FRTjHQzRWLOfwhEgQmZ_Wj0dXR/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2015.59.22.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;">The beautiful Binham Mitts by The Fibre Workshop</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">The design is based on Binham Priory in Norfolk. The Priory has both Norman and medieval English carvings which is reflected in the geometrical patterns in the mitts. The Priory is in North Norfolk and was founded in 1091 by a Norman Baron Peter des Valoines who was a nephew of William the Conqueror. It housed an order of Benedictine monks until the dissolution in 1539 when it was partially destroyed. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">So here is my first stage finished spinning - 50g of the Norfolk Horn and I am more than happy:</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSdISRqS4XO2ExoeS82pJb9pv4h46gZ6QJratLdPmtzFXM0QnibyYhaTokrWv-hOFCe0702ihV5uQlzEhhHc60K_dgxB3MWC9UmlCogx3Pt0dczlDOz5qW-Cimgo2X12Lg-QHTZahQF8VVM-3rLErQ4EIUstNnrG40sDMfur0u67tlxiqM8PHdt1oGtGR/s1174/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2016.28.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="930" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSdISRqS4XO2ExoeS82pJb9pv4h46gZ6QJratLdPmtzFXM0QnibyYhaTokrWv-hOFCe0702ihV5uQlzEhhHc60K_dgxB3MWC9UmlCogx3Pt0dczlDOz5qW-Cimgo2X12Lg-QHTZahQF8VVM-3rLErQ4EIUstNnrG40sDMfur0u67tlxiqM8PHdt1oGtGR/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2016.28.29.png" width="253" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Many congratulations to the winner of today's Yellow Jersey, British rider Adam Yates for UAE Team Emirates, who gave us a terrific end to the day's racing beating his twin brother Simon Yates of Team Jayco Alula.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zvFQcEVZwGv_2Dvb6SDYXE9bvuy9wm2pgMOzcZoZf7B2m6mmnomLRqJdlHQEwhWljsDW3QLPs_idN9krNRHSIIczlXcqOM7fIFmh0ln2CYtVzT9nsIpNShiAu5C0dVXAXhH1df8GDXqq6iAExDFlPrqpoJJuQ7-hXBhwSQ1h__Mp1YVLS0jFxz-VeVcB/s1818/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2016.22.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1818" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zvFQcEVZwGv_2Dvb6SDYXE9bvuy9wm2pgMOzcZoZf7B2m6mmnomLRqJdlHQEwhWljsDW3QLPs_idN9krNRHSIIczlXcqOM7fIFmh0ln2CYtVzT9nsIpNShiAu5C0dVXAXhH1df8GDXqq6iAExDFlPrqpoJJuQ7-hXBhwSQ1h__Mp1YVLS0jFxz-VeVcB/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-01%20at%2016.22.12.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I'll be back with more soon,</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqvav7v_HFKZ3uS8hFD_WANvmfI3vSBFOGniqtxnqBAnvHou7lHYooeiqpyouNbfNU3QebDhb80w70-CeamfPYp1IfmTYkR6eTMUAX9szujmEVCP13AzMaczM4cKe8Sfy6G93I8UlWP5wAWqRioAtD0QbtJ1OL4RoGV1tpOkoaeJOCxGM0mrab02FuNzH/s414/Screenshot%202022-01-01%20at%2017.58.49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="414" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqvav7v_HFKZ3uS8hFD_WANvmfI3vSBFOGniqtxnqBAnvHou7lHYooeiqpyouNbfNU3QebDhb80w70-CeamfPYp1IfmTYkR6eTMUAX9szujmEVCP13AzMaczM4cKe8Sfy6G93I8UlWP5wAWqRioAtD0QbtJ1OL4RoGV1tpOkoaeJOCxGM0mrab02FuNzH/s320/Screenshot%202022-01-01%20at%2017.58.49.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p></div></div></div></div></div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-20330842215583999112023-02-21T02:11:00.000-08:002023-02-21T02:11:03.867-08:00Letters from Europe - travel projects for the Summer of 2023<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Celebrating NicolaParkman of Hands Across the Sea Sampler’s very special birthday </span></h3><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">It’s a delight to be celebrating a birthday even when it’s not my own (although in a way this does form part of my birthday too). So it was a very exciting moment when I was lucky enough to be one of only 600 stitchers who were able to have one of Nicola’s limited edition boxes full of needlework treats.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEitRjpp76AHgXqqb5pldfVUuxXKJ_mQRmUC5Ax8IwR5sRY2yYyvTeKl9z5v5Bi__LSLZtqSFSwgpx1Etz6LThRR0Q-gR3dCj40Oyo5djyPNzew-t8NRk7h85cVgbtZht6lzY25hrtYKuRR5gPYhdTm9rpB69nLa1fCUTdUoBiyQAV6K0879OGqWcLMQ/s4032/78AFE0C2-C846-484C-A3DA-E37B9B651B46.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEitRjpp76AHgXqqb5pldfVUuxXKJ_mQRmUC5Ax8IwR5sRY2yYyvTeKl9z5v5Bi__LSLZtqSFSwgpx1Etz6LThRR0Q-gR3dCj40Oyo5djyPNzew-t8NRk7h85cVgbtZht6lzY25hrtYKuRR5gPYhdTm9rpB69nLa1fCUTdUoBiyQAV6K0879OGqWcLMQ/w204-h272/78AFE0C2-C846-484C-A3DA-E37B9B651B46.jpeg" width="204" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful red box</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Nicola released the boxes on her website Hands Across the Sea on 14 February 2023, St Valentine’s Day (midnight on 13 here in the UK). My birthday is not until May but my lovely husband suggested I might like to make it an early present and, of course, I was more than happy to do that.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I was prepared for a very congested system on the website and a long night of getting through to secure a purchase, and I wasn’t wrong. At one stage I was really flagging having stayed up on the Sunday morning to watch the Superbowl match and decided to go to sleep. Of course, having the item in my basket, sleep was going to evade my poor tired mind because it was super excited. So after a break I popped back to her website and was able to get my payment through. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">That was just the start of a few days of nervous excitement spent tracking my package from Post Office to depot to Post Office. It didn’t help that a cross stitch kit from another business had been lost by DPD and I had been refunded the cost as they had no more stock of that item. Not good for my HS personality. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">However, all looked as it ought and on Monday 20 February (Nicola’s birthday) our Postman arrived early in his little red van and I rushed to the postbox and hardly dared lift the lid. I needn’t have worried though as the promised brown paper wrapped package was neatly snuggled inside.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I had watched Nicola’s YouTube video talking about the box and had taken on board her advice to not damage the special box inside by cutting through the parcel tape and accidentally scoring the box top inside. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPBFp_KBoJfrvdPybBoTP-uFidHtcu9TNmRiCy90Cnk3Eh6H4SEx0POTT7b5XZY-dq9LnKh5HWbEdkX289U0lMCAeJpKC314q7bU2EWSdgyO6gV6NzpJzQNUl8uUggMCytiRHLE5aHPxercuImIrvhYiEbCsezCgsPh18NtJkZ7byN8drbBvHDVTqYg/s1643/BE1E874D-4B12-480F-A0B0-FD7D6465D113.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1643" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPBFp_KBoJfrvdPybBoTP-uFidHtcu9TNmRiCy90Cnk3Eh6H4SEx0POTT7b5XZY-dq9LnKh5HWbEdkX289U0lMCAeJpKC314q7bU2EWSdgyO6gV6NzpJzQNUl8uUggMCytiRHLE5aHPxercuImIrvhYiEbCsezCgsPh18NtJkZ7byN8drbBvHDVTqYg/s320/BE1E874D-4B12-480F-A0B0-FD7D6465D113.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">There is nothing more delightful than a box full of surprises and as it was a gloriously sunny day I wanted to sit outside with a cup of coffee and explore the contents.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WGkPJUO6MPJhtXRSFMOUqY4wcTGhWuPRVPBvCRb6VBezSJO8O1qYI_Ny-LnbUyXu_oznQiSecVR-Kp2Qdb4lQFEso8AMJr5UjQA2JxA_w9LbFpBQbVzvaz7r3ozRZIWre3UHrGqP27XuTICZjqr-Vb1NOsb2Mj_JiKaTq7QoMu5CxfuDqn2TRo7h1A/s3573/B8664686-4104-4633-9747-8AC208F76326.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3573" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WGkPJUO6MPJhtXRSFMOUqY4wcTGhWuPRVPBvCRb6VBezSJO8O1qYI_Ny-LnbUyXu_oznQiSecVR-Kp2Qdb4lQFEso8AMJr5UjQA2JxA_w9LbFpBQbVzvaz7r3ozRZIWre3UHrGqP27XuTICZjqr-Vb1NOsb2Mj_JiKaTq7QoMu5CxfuDqn2TRo7h1A/s320/B8664686-4104-4633-9747-8AC208F76326.jpeg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn’t that the perfect way to enjoy a morning coffee </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I had so much fun opening everything inside and was absolutely thrilled with all I discovered. But I won’t be sharing until we are clear to do that and not to spoil the surprise for others. Although some are talking about opening each item over the months to come, I am not someone who can wait that long and, besides, I just know there will be so many posts online showing what’s inside and </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I would rather enjoy finding out by myself first. </span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">There is a private Facebook group and I have already been kindly invited to join and have been very warmly welcomed there. It’s going to be great getting to know everyone and share our stories there too.</span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I sent Nicola an electronic card wishing her a very happy birthday and I do so here too. Here is a screenshot of the card and I will be back soon with some more stitchy notes to keep a record of the letters from Europe.</span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9ggkhA7Eyn7Md47A0Df67NHpQS9t1PswEoJqXkx2wIvpm5xAdXweYVetJ_LTftLRj6hamnXQdsQlWgZCovW2qCP7Dg6NPR4Op3xk-6PqFy6nGxxcfr_baLuvl3UKZpo5R-oLE3PXkT7UBfjqS70Cyy3tXaXhF_1qgq5E2S7shn-lihopgZ8Qd8JPcA/s1498/83AB4DB9-0F37-475E-9B44-FDEE34AF21B7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1498" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9ggkhA7Eyn7Md47A0Df67NHpQS9t1PswEoJqXkx2wIvpm5xAdXweYVetJ_LTftLRj6hamnXQdsQlWgZCovW2qCP7Dg6NPR4Op3xk-6PqFy6nGxxcfr_baLuvl3UKZpo5R-oLE3PXkT7UBfjqS70Cyy3tXaXhF_1qgq5E2S7shn-lihopgZ8Qd8JPcA/s320/83AB4DB9-0F37-475E-9B44-FDEE34AF21B7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2U3K8zvrkZjSGr1LKOajHB6-zg6cjFVBMKSCMVI13bQPImyxyoqNmI47NtWstPdjPZrGzanfeBRKDtmZA_kymY4CkIJD9QqVVlKG9B3rcrFF7WQKOQc1nn_1MjV3j0BMBXGmPsm-myHEKlWFfJ4nBfsFLvPH9TeAVoWEYrwd9a_OvDZ_QBDjX09u_w/s1284/282CFC33-DF68-4F87-9AA9-D00641BDB02E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="1284" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2U3K8zvrkZjSGr1LKOajHB6-zg6cjFVBMKSCMVI13bQPImyxyoqNmI47NtWstPdjPZrGzanfeBRKDtmZA_kymY4CkIJD9QqVVlKG9B3rcrFF7WQKOQc1nn_1MjV3j0BMBXGmPsm-myHEKlWFfJ4nBfsFLvPH9TeAVoWEYrwd9a_OvDZ_QBDjX09u_w/s320/282CFC33-DF68-4F87-9AA9-D00641BDB02E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />_</span><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-37044855097934369762022-07-04T05:06:00.000-07:002022-07-04T05:06:21.398-07:00A Summer full of Crafting Loveliness<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">So many crafts...</span></span></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Crafting is really such a panacea when the world seems such a difficult place to navigate. The past few months have been a time of calming the mind with lots of lovely crafting projects and events. So let's have a look at some of the things I have been up to.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Tour de Fleece 2022 Team Spindler</span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLvkmVeAynOYv1PTePWJeeMtbYxPf0v9l0haPVS-xr7Ezy3aVH27svuE5Sf-YnVb4-dBxhuzWHcBiOgAg9Rbw8ww4jtXD3Td8hu6O3FS5mPuhZSuLD5LoR89cZHlvPG26YKEywmdcP5evxOA_9CRagi5ov6DHXHzmZjznc9UmjD4YLFLjJO9sfNkF3Q/s3264/PicFrame-Photo%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="3264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLvkmVeAynOYv1PTePWJeeMtbYxPf0v9l0haPVS-xr7Ezy3aVH27svuE5Sf-YnVb4-dBxhuzWHcBiOgAg9Rbw8ww4jtXD3Td8hu6O3FS5mPuhZSuLD5LoR89cZHlvPG26YKEywmdcP5evxOA_9CRagi5ov6DHXHzmZjznc9UmjD4YLFLjJO9sfNkF3Q/s320/PicFrame-Photo%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">One of the highlights of Summer each year is to follow the Tour de France cycling alongside spinning each day. This year I joined Team Spindlers on Ravelry and I am really enjoying learning about different fibres from their general pages as well as sharing what I spin each day on the Team page. I very sadly had to say goodbye to my spinning wheel recently because she had come to a point where there was more repair than spinning time spent on her. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">That meant I would have to do the Tour using my spindles and I looked around for a suitable team to join and came across Team Spindlers which has members from all around the world with a great deal of knowledge and some absolutely stunning spindles. If only we could get some more interesting spindles here in the UK.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">The Tour goes on through July and I hope to have a lovely amount of yarn at the end. I am spinning Falkland at the moment which is a joy to work with and, thanks to all the advice from my fellow spindlers, I am planning to make the yarn into a pair of winter mittens. You can see from the photo below the beautiful fibre from Friday Studios (sadly no longer selling fibre).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHocOLn4edPmKMNbEBTvL-1GtExYRzGc55wfMceyC9_WAYTLSDcrXd3xNpD49sTu1VjSb2fR4Vq7OW3MR0fXpSddKnNqxZJb9ZtEFLwriuKTjHunaGPslnNS0RghBh87-8-8kS7A3jQEzey5JIZrod6OGBldhfx_iUEWdEs_L8Krb0oSwvN2aIwXxWQ/s2180/IMG_4803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2180" data-original-width="1634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHocOLn4edPmKMNbEBTvL-1GtExYRzGc55wfMceyC9_WAYTLSDcrXd3xNpD49sTu1VjSb2fR4Vq7OW3MR0fXpSddKnNqxZJb9ZtEFLwriuKTjHunaGPslnNS0RghBh87-8-8kS7A3jQEzey5JIZrod6OGBldhfx_iUEWdEs_L8Krb0oSwvN2aIwXxWQ/s320/IMG_4803.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Gnoming Along</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I've had such a lot of fun joining in with Sarah of Imagined Landscapes and her Gnome Alongs. This time we were making a gnome which included stranded colour work. She is called Gnocci based on season three of the GNetflix programme "It's a Chef's Life". I used Lucy Locketland's Woodland Foragers set of minis which she made specifically for this gnome along. What do you think, isn't she cute? I know she has a beard!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQib9DY1kaFID5Sr20Cf_fTIw9ANlmqo-kn9BNNmuGnkh_d0kVe2E4PnMhra_V0eP6SRd8A8ugjnvbtiUMbGjMxkOUsaAhMDmzyRF5jo_yRSKT9x1DwDy_g9DZtOhCSDBwcAm7n_NIKl8w1NGGUmZed4lDjM37gb4olDcwkxdzmNOr8ZrwzKFcnSlJA/s1232/Screenshot%202022-06-01%20at%2011.50.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQib9DY1kaFID5Sr20Cf_fTIw9ANlmqo-kn9BNNmuGnkh_d0kVe2E4PnMhra_V0eP6SRd8A8ugjnvbtiUMbGjMxkOUsaAhMDmzyRF5jo_yRSKT9x1DwDy_g9DZtOhCSDBwcAm7n_NIKl8w1NGGUmZed4lDjM37gb4olDcwkxdzmNOr8ZrwzKFcnSlJA/s320/Screenshot%202022-06-01%20at%2011.50.28.png" width="244" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">She joins my other Imagined Landscape Gnomes, Gnombleberry with Gnewt in his backpack and Gnorwen who looks like an <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">ice cream.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECxCQhddrbE6mBltgTBDzIzTcdf1LRDjnHQITG2tAovyTFYESvUfUYsUEratTbXiFHVzEfHzLTtEm2I9wUWqEzx14nsZC9FwBif9Oh_JSvV7GObdD7JHcbJ69HQjFjpwj441rqWexFxrrl9CDekMuNdquyA4B6GdkfUXYj4vPamB5VoqtsGhjIWJzaA/s1190/Screenshot%202022-01-31%20at%2013.17.47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="932" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECxCQhddrbE6mBltgTBDzIzTcdf1LRDjnHQITG2tAovyTFYESvUfUYsUEratTbXiFHVzEfHzLTtEm2I9wUWqEzx14nsZC9FwBif9Oh_JSvV7GObdD7JHcbJ69HQjFjpwj441rqWexFxrrl9CDekMuNdquyA4B6GdkfUXYj4vPamB5VoqtsGhjIWJzaA/s320/Screenshot%202022-01-31%20at%2013.17.47.png" width="251" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18emAJZVXIvvz-Ax66QX-BNQp_oePlbUoXKD9tVHj01_uXLZxVnGq5l-3_pRuZCa8pHQqA6cNlkxZFoDzYpZW0Vh8g7q4oz2jfbkeDZi0ZVUH0jo6_tfSAZDRGHYjLssVgD7iX9ikCIMl_7CTQiTI4DeVhmHyQCaUH6znqlUBgaJo9xMyvfKjAkcM6w/s1164/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.32.48.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18emAJZVXIvvz-Ax66QX-BNQp_oePlbUoXKD9tVHj01_uXLZxVnGq5l-3_pRuZCa8pHQqA6cNlkxZFoDzYpZW0Vh8g7q4oz2jfbkeDZi0ZVUH0jo6_tfSAZDRGHYjLssVgD7iX9ikCIMl_7CTQiTI4DeVhmHyQCaUH6znqlUBgaJo9xMyvfKjAkcM6w/s320/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.32.48.png" width="263" /></a></div><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Dandelion Designs Redwork</span></span></h3><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I have been sewing along with Mandy Shaw's Secret Society of Redwork Stitchery and Crafty Loveliness for the past year. We have been making an Alphabet Quilt and I am so pleased with the result and have made it my own by adding some of Mandy's fabrics left over from past projects. I also made one of her cute kits for a watch pin cushion which is proving very useful.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsVaAxkImvcvkU9Hfli0N7dcqQkUDOgbd-HcsZQ0bdpAKFjcy4FTu28sYAvIDUnN1RZq0e-LcESGhQWuSLL-f-u6JRde4--r352RmpA3_uTkwMN2W9rRlpGcCiJPijbJasl-dvW84u4C5RxA_SnEkpW8oI_nTv9GiOkFYVEESsnStQsiTqXMSK7Ez4w/s1194/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.36.51.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="892" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsVaAxkImvcvkU9Hfli0N7dcqQkUDOgbd-HcsZQ0bdpAKFjcy4FTu28sYAvIDUnN1RZq0e-LcESGhQWuSLL-f-u6JRde4--r352RmpA3_uTkwMN2W9rRlpGcCiJPijbJasl-dvW84u4C5RxA_SnEkpW8oI_nTv9GiOkFYVEESsnStQsiTqXMSK7Ez4w/s320/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.36.51.png" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXYJLCBU-vLHXxkcLt8MGSyVIHKd_oWwX5TZ5WXnURFCkTIr-M7D-kLyyMYs23RqhL56TcJQfpNHKUBuArbcljQjAX2j1GCnkJrMaUL31-U14qLYr3_eG746ju6cGF8xzbr11N2yFZCYSS9Sc5D1kb4uYZGw7EINjzTwMSyAdxkp_iEtUH0SphFhPIQ/s1124/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.37.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXYJLCBU-vLHXxkcLt8MGSyVIHKd_oWwX5TZ5WXnURFCkTIr-M7D-kLyyMYs23RqhL56TcJQfpNHKUBuArbcljQjAX2j1GCnkJrMaUL31-U14qLYr3_eG746ju6cGF8xzbr11N2yFZCYSS9Sc5D1kb4uYZGw7EINjzTwMSyAdxkp_iEtUH0SphFhPIQ/s320/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.37.42.png" width="263" /></a></div><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Cross Stitch</span></span></h3></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Here in the UK there have been celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and I stitched these three designs by Carol X Stitch which I put on display on the table in my entrance hall. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxf9MIMMhfuH0WZkMLjXD4BWp2WYPdkgK4g1qDTcayEWj7Wxs8lLR5H9u58PwJVgTCz66Fs9olh73d_fasBjYmwQVS1TTJf9iZir1XkY174ahQV6ASEbBHOTSiWE0SUF6ZJU4zb7xdK3DSwcOWih3hHtOTT4Jwsl0E5E32o7Oy_BZ3mONZhgiZaijCw/s1676/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.35.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1676" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxf9MIMMhfuH0WZkMLjXD4BWp2WYPdkgK4g1qDTcayEWj7Wxs8lLR5H9u58PwJVgTCz66Fs9olh73d_fasBjYmwQVS1TTJf9iZir1XkY174ahQV6ASEbBHOTSiWE0SUF6ZJU4zb7xdK3DSwcOWih3hHtOTT4Jwsl0E5E32o7Oy_BZ3mONZhgiZaijCw/s320/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.35.53.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I also stitched the very pretty "Red Bird Sampler" by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread. It fitted on a spare piece of 40 count linen using the called for colours of thread which at first I thought were a bit out of my comfort zone but now she is finished I am absolutely loving.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkUL-zGxhFTgxeh1oURc9_pPRWU5wRuSlW1StQmlj6U2t9DJuqHh9WRJpIRrrU2ARt6t6XoU3ibSgc3ZtprYyI05pyXjEUx2KD98nn67Ti-7lyWyGtpi8G7RVMpMiFWErh8YcPpeMVGr54p8osjPZrlAu65MyDh2FcSXh9czXk1MLESu9tGZDHKWhwQ/s1222/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.42.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="942" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkUL-zGxhFTgxeh1oURc9_pPRWU5wRuSlW1StQmlj6U2t9DJuqHh9WRJpIRrrU2ARt6t6XoU3ibSgc3ZtprYyI05pyXjEUx2KD98nn67Ti-7lyWyGtpi8G7RVMpMiFWErh8YcPpeMVGr54p8osjPZrlAu65MyDh2FcSXh9czXk1MLESu9tGZDHKWhwQ/s320/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.42.56.png" width="247" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Well I am going to leave this post here and I shall be back soon with some more of the crafting I have been enjoying during the first half of 2022. I will leave you with a lovely photo of my seven month old Grandson enjoying the fireworks for the Jubilee. Going up and down to Yorkshire to spend time with him is so wonderful.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeozz82aJx2-ERhbdxmi9p9xT7eiFw2j5yi8A4ox79Su-T5MgFDgQqo8g0ii5Vzxvj5tJfZkM33kcWv3ssFXbbbWXYYXeDkWmgPpkAflWFKsNzaCnw9BUo2XbbNa7XAMwyv_9FmLZ6Ibnd7hy-1znLU943FwIaZbw5_FruoqJ0VLo1uvJY2D_LMTzuw/s2136/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.56.59.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2136" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeozz82aJx2-ERhbdxmi9p9xT7eiFw2j5yi8A4ox79Su-T5MgFDgQqo8g0ii5Vzxvj5tJfZkM33kcWv3ssFXbbbWXYYXeDkWmgPpkAflWFKsNzaCnw9BUo2XbbNa7XAMwyv_9FmLZ6Ibnd7hy-1znLU943FwIaZbw5_FruoqJ0VLo1uvJY2D_LMTzuw/s320/Screenshot%202022-07-04%20at%2012.56.59.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV58rlvpHGnxk5Nl56WJLbcBGYBZvu7wetjv7uItUaj1S6CsNCA8Fsk9wAhwEyGzwC50lDG9eS1Zc4j9UmL070_p-KSiqbSXFOuWzmGDiaZDgoMgcIWd-dG3Ppctmmo4oPKuE-CEER4Zgl911EaHljzT_Vuel3hLwFi3qH6uzkcGYPS__IuIWX9lU0Q/s414/Screenshot%202022-01-01%20at%2017.58.49.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="414" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisV58rlvpHGnxk5Nl56WJLbcBGYBZvu7wetjv7uItUaj1S6CsNCA8Fsk9wAhwEyGzwC50lDG9eS1Zc4j9UmL070_p-KSiqbSXFOuWzmGDiaZDgoMgcIWd-dG3Ppctmmo4oPKuE-CEER4Zgl911EaHljzT_Vuel3hLwFi3qH6uzkcGYPS__IuIWX9lU0Q/s320/Screenshot%202022-01-01%20at%2017.58.49.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-6619972020738403542022-01-01T10:07:00.000-08:002022-01-01T10:07:07.876-08:00Welcome the New Year 2022 - you have arrived bearing change 🎆<h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Like Janus:</span></span></h2><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">A quick look back and then a look forward</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">There were so many wonderful projects during 2021 and I wish I had recorded them more carefully as I finished them. However, these are a few that I enjoyed working on.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQrTHY7iFZVQyb3S3Xj283CBJ2-k1E9qawS51vfBvnJqHM2qHPIcLOpYJfdGwPw1dtaPG3_BGXpjTXasziKCbR06wVtQeww31Ij8m1_9D-JwFuEb-OE9m70LzhQTqatbxkSMPI5FBqrX2hliFlAPxcRd_BAF9aSlUMnkoVuLXuHU0h1ixvQ6JvjYwaXg=s2601" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2601" data-original-width="2233" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQrTHY7iFZVQyb3S3Xj283CBJ2-k1E9qawS51vfBvnJqHM2qHPIcLOpYJfdGwPw1dtaPG3_BGXpjTXasziKCbR06wVtQeww31Ij8m1_9D-JwFuEb-OE9m70LzhQTqatbxkSMPI5FBqrX2hliFlAPxcRd_BAF9aSlUMnkoVuLXuHU0h1ixvQ6JvjYwaXg=s320" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Manor House Quilt was finished and now awaits the quilting process</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy7V4A6gdJ9Dqzwm2XOw9GWIGEs0-f2CgPH-GvsU2Q6qpkJL5CeSx4O7bi1-l52twtWp38Faotwb7Bb9-_Y0xc0fKK5ORm8Y-xisPLsj-9SdMstvH__ZYmh8bmTOxrvi1ZAFsqHy7KzbfOh0O7P9nuQPDVDDDKv-4iJjReyaiAYPPEs8wENSuuQycWSA=s3024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhy7V4A6gdJ9Dqzwm2XOw9GWIGEs0-f2CgPH-GvsU2Q6qpkJL5CeSx4O7bi1-l52twtWp38Faotwb7Bb9-_Y0xc0fKK5ORm8Y-xisPLsj-9SdMstvH__ZYmh8bmTOxrvi1ZAFsqHy7KzbfOh0O7P9nuQPDVDDDKv-4iJjReyaiAYPPEs8wENSuuQycWSA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed taking part in the Royal School of Needlework Postcard from Home in 2020 and found it a beautiful piece to draw inspiration from during 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBOKvXhsuiUOIm31GRoYfKUGRDTd_YWoYpesy5P8Oudzmf1n_GtQb0u_J1hkJLquBU-xO0tmPI7_Nr5aavA9BIHQ2Tsta_ZjlIJIdaxyywSkluJPyIWA4HsDlSHIr3bnqaXPX7dxdVSV67-4G3Dwsi2AZ7ndne9uMp9l4u_OfLkpPU_E0d2Nj2IS3Xvg=s1238" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="982" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBOKvXhsuiUOIm31GRoYfKUGRDTd_YWoYpesy5P8Oudzmf1n_GtQb0u_J1hkJLquBU-xO0tmPI7_Nr5aavA9BIHQ2Tsta_ZjlIJIdaxyywSkluJPyIWA4HsDlSHIr3bnqaXPX7dxdVSV67-4G3Dwsi2AZ7ndne9uMp9l4u_OfLkpPU_E0d2Nj2IS3Xvg=s320" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the year of redwork and I joined Dandelion Design's Mystery Quilt along for 2021/2 which is great fun and includes lots of extra sewing projects</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_VkAw01VzjHPQR5um1bUCho0BTFn98FH6d9xQs1RAG84UwLr0idJEm8EfQW4qAIqKw1C-ZkrD_W23uagpr1D8l1rvsjC0gaKKHMJUp3CImVmuZ4cxl221mYXBuLK-REBDqG6o9kfF1Jmeqd3h0NGa8-Du2zGdNRcZ63GzMMQaLkoH6DupSSBKP_6cAQ=s1244" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1244" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_VkAw01VzjHPQR5um1bUCho0BTFn98FH6d9xQs1RAG84UwLr0idJEm8EfQW4qAIqKw1C-ZkrD_W23uagpr1D8l1rvsjC0gaKKHMJUp3CImVmuZ4cxl221mYXBuLK-REBDqG6o9kfF1Jmeqd3h0NGa8-Du2zGdNRcZ63GzMMQaLkoH6DupSSBKP_6cAQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sew Sweet Violet's projects this year have been absolutely delightful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO6h7EDgXUPBfePJ7OmUyBoR8D_i1FHZPQkvKB1ph5H12j4H6ZeGwY4PEIJLSfKLpztmJNVi4t5sH7Jj8MIwbimMJWGnfxk0vaOmCXC2lbnx6R9bZRI9Ku6Va7mMfKm_tFONN7f0HfwtlWFPoOIwWLdPMwaxvDGEXuHDfMXtilaPKbuHVcZowr4W1CGQ=s1242" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO6h7EDgXUPBfePJ7OmUyBoR8D_i1FHZPQkvKB1ph5H12j4H6ZeGwY4PEIJLSfKLpztmJNVi4t5sH7Jj8MIwbimMJWGnfxk0vaOmCXC2lbnx6R9bZRI9Ku6Va7mMfKm_tFONN7f0HfwtlWFPoOIwWLdPMwaxvDGEXuHDfMXtilaPKbuHVcZowr4W1CGQ=s320" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the 'extra' projects with Dandelion Designs was this cute Bee Skep embroidery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZBaYv98ATuSAiguZX1X6X1bhsCQIUqsOW4KSJu-uwQH-OBYvYXuCexNrV8Vf3C2j0SMOtHXeb7todyjBBbQLDidbD8bWf9qIJhYAT6zdnoY6oxikRhRWQ4hyY6oYyQRVqzjRvvmAy4EyyqcUdOXbxsQhLnjRDBH_hcEYpu61XgKDKPt2Bx3tG3VEOVg=s1226" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="942" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZBaYv98ATuSAiguZX1X6X1bhsCQIUqsOW4KSJu-uwQH-OBYvYXuCexNrV8Vf3C2j0SMOtHXeb7todyjBBbQLDidbD8bWf9qIJhYAT6zdnoY6oxikRhRWQ4hyY6oYyQRVqzjRvvmAy4EyyqcUdOXbxsQhLnjRDBH_hcEYpu61XgKDKPt2Bx3tG3VEOVg=s320" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dandelion Designs again and a really useful 'extra' was this thread holder</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZOTbVYHNvqJikhqpNLmfTkqRuqW5uVVGGZNsgk6mO9q5gb6M9vOjj7P-yK1_b1CWb4z3I1bsh3lsUxLE3_oNUbi0HsuFXqlwgZ7DX5NfNfXvnD4Bp6OxA20FA_9h8nZnRqn_FlOPjtEfk7vTTdRegCiS2BHy0rOFQenZEeK7Xe1rj2WPoOpmPt293vw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZOTbVYHNvqJikhqpNLmfTkqRuqW5uVVGGZNsgk6mO9q5gb6M9vOjj7P-yK1_b1CWb4z3I1bsh3lsUxLE3_oNUbi0HsuFXqlwgZ7DX5NfNfXvnD4Bp6OxA20FA_9h8nZnRqn_FlOPjtEfk7vTTdRegCiS2BHy0rOFQenZEeK7Xe1rj2WPoOpmPt293vw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline Loves To Sew had a gorgeous Autumn knit along with her new sock pattern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7NkY9aPwDer4MWpD8XzXDlHt8x0yXL36xHY4JwW_txvAwM2Yyg_3uGIkYmbqa2N1uLXghcxGbEu3wk8yuYz6U_UjkZDyKwh_C2miXWphkD5YMAwWiO57ZEHt41tskzCqktD6qVS5rKEulZR7ssnf1P3xnVaTCHFdOreh3O7Hgu_v8e1px9lGAkPDP7A=s1079" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7NkY9aPwDer4MWpD8XzXDlHt8x0yXL36xHY4JwW_txvAwM2Yyg_3uGIkYmbqa2N1uLXghcxGbEu3wk8yuYz6U_UjkZDyKwh_C2miXWphkD5YMAwWiO57ZEHt41tskzCqktD6qVS5rKEulZR7ssnf1P3xnVaTCHFdOreh3O7Hgu_v8e1px9lGAkPDP7A=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always I made a pair of socks to be given to someone in a Marie Curie Hospital ward this Christmas and this was yarn especially dyed for the Flower Power Fund which organises the sock knitting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-OocmjYxbp1ZDZu3vL3WWWeUqN1Z_lVjTO9C_C2SmILpxT0JtZQ6h2-8M-TLGxwPQ5DsYc5XLPpV-ZYU40SabWEr3EFve5uOGyEXYRBjeWb2Qtgp1be8Y1Wf9enTRSjuJOlByQa1CH-EO-vg2VpROqXP4mqrYXBPUhQ6u6TDt-xGJn_9n1dfJn7XfcA=s1079" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-OocmjYxbp1ZDZu3vL3WWWeUqN1Z_lVjTO9C_C2SmILpxT0JtZQ6h2-8M-TLGxwPQ5DsYc5XLPpV-ZYU40SabWEr3EFve5uOGyEXYRBjeWb2Qtgp1be8Y1Wf9enTRSjuJOlByQa1CH-EO-vg2VpROqXP4mqrYXBPUhQ6u6TDt-xGJn_9n1dfJn7XfcA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the first Sew Sweet Violet tiny EPP project and couldn't resist a Christmas version</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDZdMQynyDIbByFxjLFaWPC7ll1GzwUxBm8Zf_0BA0TJJ9d3wAvmIyjgCSUkrcK5dvO_6Oynz1at_KqW8lhoxvqxCUjZYOkloJZXbCjLZSb5DhSEzRVFTNjBgjtVULaK4duyuwqW9eLfhEQ6UyJUZeFy31cTzXE_4lQnOZ6wnKyi1dDUri-iYctNtM8A=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDZdMQynyDIbByFxjLFaWPC7ll1GzwUxBm8Zf_0BA0TJJ9d3wAvmIyjgCSUkrcK5dvO_6Oynz1at_KqW8lhoxvqxCUjZYOkloJZXbCjLZSb5DhSEzRVFTNjBgjtVULaK4duyuwqW9eLfhEQ6UyJUZeFy31cTzXE_4lQnOZ6wnKyi1dDUri-iYctNtM8A=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then there was a gnome along with Imagined Landscapes - who knew making a mystery knitted gnome could be such fun!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgktBhdB3XV9JfwLGkhyJIFz3fnxDbrS5NckQlD28-CLD3D8a9j_IOByKjqgDaPcCu3qjty9ZffFYAE4EcdpkfmctiK-Zj3ng8rRu8BpIubsVBWi76n11jH5CTiuB8yKPXud8ddkvVXC3f5jqTL2pFkXqT7e-2bQiqWdv4pY7GbrUKFvV_FvlZuVlHnew=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgktBhdB3XV9JfwLGkhyJIFz3fnxDbrS5NckQlD28-CLD3D8a9j_IOByKjqgDaPcCu3qjty9ZffFYAE4EcdpkfmctiK-Zj3ng8rRu8BpIubsVBWi76n11jH5CTiuB8yKPXud8ddkvVXC3f5jqTL2pFkXqT7e-2bQiqWdv4pY7GbrUKFvV_FvlZuVlHnew=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I won the postcard from Mersea run by my quilting group Ladies Who Sew having based my design on the metal soldiers which stand in the mud flats by the Strood (the stretch of road joining the island to the mainland)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioAF8RVZfgdWYlC_4ZT96fuo2bKkzAMGOvvOvwvJc8ULWr9c_JHYgU4Hr4QkCK4nou96Xc6n0D1vPdh4usK9xqL0zBKC6WXtDeFkAD8AMYsNdfXE3A6vQBbkr8rv72HPw4t4nivlRzFyEpE4CkVO68iv20x_oabIvCagZJHcV0HvBuu-2N6ke3bg5DAA=s3024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioAF8RVZfgdWYlC_4ZT96fuo2bKkzAMGOvvOvwvJc8ULWr9c_JHYgU4Hr4QkCK4nou96Xc6n0D1vPdh4usK9xqL0zBKC6WXtDeFkAD8AMYsNdfXE3A6vQBbkr8rv72HPw4t4nivlRzFyEpE4CkVO68iv20x_oabIvCagZJHcV0HvBuu-2N6ke3bg5DAA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another 'extra' from Dandelion Designs heavily improvised to make my flower a lilac fairy rather than a sunflower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTSjI_jysQPwX7aSLcUwab2xW-zMy6IpAiublCXAd_jXcbazsj7Htnrnkkp0oVV5owdIH6B2YvpZQtefdn7YPgLpvV8MJRDKn4UZU3wOZUProciS5XrSSXk0_vUAUkCj8_Gcm2LeEhCGEnNDN5NPNBZ5wdBpIqLDzgjhc6kOz4uB1HmagT2WeyW13axA=s1079" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTSjI_jysQPwX7aSLcUwab2xW-zMy6IpAiublCXAd_jXcbazsj7Htnrnkkp0oVV5owdIH6B2YvpZQtefdn7YPgLpvV8MJRDKn4UZU3wOZUProciS5XrSSXk0_vUAUkCj8_Gcm2LeEhCGEnNDN5NPNBZ5wdBpIqLDzgjhc6kOz4uB1HmagT2WeyW13axA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallowe'en stitching is one of my favourite things to do.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFUy2XYhnWDbMt5v8aAG0nug_ziBN2lKUNP2W2KZwXVw_qEMKOrD-aQWOJfwOArNo0TuxkNm4l_B3QWp46Wum3peEZU_BiQxFrW4oq6yRfD8dGa-bZAS6c8wqTbiVXL0Y-LQmV4edn0PdLc79FXvnvN_ZR4niDoNd3_dN3KYTY17Y2NZ_7_BdopOpK1Q=s1800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFUy2XYhnWDbMt5v8aAG0nug_ziBN2lKUNP2W2KZwXVw_qEMKOrD-aQWOJfwOArNo0TuxkNm4l_B3QWp46Wum3peEZU_BiQxFrW4oq6yRfD8dGa-bZAS6c8wqTbiVXL0Y-LQmV4edn0PdLc79FXvnvN_ZR4niDoNd3_dN3KYTY17Y2NZ_7_BdopOpK1Q=s320" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hands Across The Sea Samplers had a stitch along for Martha Dawson and this is tiny being stitched on a 56/64 linen count fabric</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9KKr6DU1XbaQRIE4OVBtUIuW5pQxZ1R1jYdOKKpES1LJ8f1fUNW-po5h-1kI0xSrFGAkQhU7WU22Geyu7E4n_QmYl-oA3MWFWiYWsUwQWjhqnody1a9Kfm9_OSquGDAp7R-o5jYLarAtLkUoUT5Vrzj2k9sIa5RgIQ-9c1SvYIE9ebu1sml-2MXSQSw=s3467" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3467" data-original-width="3023" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9KKr6DU1XbaQRIE4OVBtUIuW5pQxZ1R1jYdOKKpES1LJ8f1fUNW-po5h-1kI0xSrFGAkQhU7WU22Geyu7E4n_QmYl-oA3MWFWiYWsUwQWjhqnody1a9Kfm9_OSquGDAp7R-o5jYLarAtLkUoUT5Vrzj2k9sIa5RgIQ-9c1SvYIE9ebu1sml-2MXSQSw=s320" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sew Sweet Violet's "St Nick Socks" was a gorgeous test knit for my lovely friend Jooles Hill </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixkqxiH2farfxCE4jq9grAlhZGH0F3xDeIV_Cbl6L5z0gN4hxg9hX7oRIZX7YFtHqGKSuWOcMJpARPB8puGkrGp9Amk_XOua9DBeaO54KqmiIOfeOH663934J_CG58OOjLkEh4PfakLGGyOvPo5ceeRzQANIzMTDs4-25lkB2gUpsi9To7KYv4V83YnA=s3024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixkqxiH2farfxCE4jq9grAlhZGH0F3xDeIV_Cbl6L5z0gN4hxg9hX7oRIZX7YFtHqGKSuWOcMJpARPB8puGkrGp9Amk_XOua9DBeaO54KqmiIOfeOH663934J_CG58OOjLkEh4PfakLGGyOvPo5ceeRzQANIzMTDs4-25lkB2gUpsi9To7KYv4V83YnA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Hands Across the Sea Sampler this time Ann Morison. It was a celebratory piece for a Canadian needlework shop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwXzVnNGTQMfRyASwtm9VGorcvg1ultkxW8R2zubbtE6WKxKlVWkucaGU7zMyp1c-XRpVJr6SX8ZpRdhxZpKy02nwjzzUcN2dWHU_8RWMfIcr2pSjoovONY4iHZsLCtwRSv35Nnqe9O8hkhGTzcxKNpAKQ6lRHenxnKf79iJGSt_lKGXn7tRmBOQjrdw=s3024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwXzVnNGTQMfRyASwtm9VGorcvg1ultkxW8R2zubbtE6WKxKlVWkucaGU7zMyp1c-XRpVJr6SX8ZpRdhxZpKy02nwjzzUcN2dWHU_8RWMfIcr2pSjoovONY4iHZsLCtwRSv35Nnqe9O8hkhGTzcxKNpAKQ6lRHenxnKf79iJGSt_lKGXn7tRmBOQjrdw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then there were all the wonderful tiny kits from Nicki Franklin of The Stitchery and this beautiful needle/pin cushion was a delight to sew</td></tr></tbody></table><br />From knitting to stitching and many crafts in-between it was a year of many different projects. I signed up for stitch alongs and knit alongs and had such fun working on them month by month. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">For me crafting is a panacea and it allowed me to push all the stresses of life away for a few hours each day so that my mind could function without being overloaded with worries.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Then looking forward to what I might make in 2022 I have to start with a year long project with Alice Caroline which will be a Liberty Fabric Alice in Wonderland Quilt. I can't wait to get started on it around March/April time. </span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaY1BKwDIFWiN_jktZ4BSzGbvyHVLX5aafSR8V1tugWfLhPRGiRyzfAWHfj21zPQnU3PCJrvxMkH_RvGx81u1PeIdcM1Du8kV54wau8NuUdU9psiUAvx3zaSZjfPv5B8EnSel5j4FCQSWFJPhzMoK6XRq7lK2o5G3Mw50vVsyxeELr9gaCPMU78PYYvA=s1146" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1111" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaY1BKwDIFWiN_jktZ4BSzGbvyHVLX5aafSR8V1tugWfLhPRGiRyzfAWHfj21zPQnU3PCJrvxMkH_RvGx81u1PeIdcM1Du8kV54wau8NuUdU9psiUAvx3zaSZjfPv5B8EnSel5j4FCQSWFJPhzMoK6XRq7lK2o5G3Mw50vVsyxeELr9gaCPMU78PYYvA=s320" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">I might decide to hand sew my nine blocks for this stunning quilt - slow stitching might be just what the Doctor ordered this year!<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Cross stitching is going to be working my way through wips as I have way too many and the same is true of knitting and other sewing. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">We may also be moving this year so that will seriously impact my making time. I only hope I can find time to sit down and relax with my crafting in 2022 what with our new Grandson, William, who arrived in October 2021 also being a most excellent distraction too!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I hope you have lots of plans for the year and that you have a joyful, peaceful and healthy year ahead. Happy New Year!</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjThkudz8FfcOCyegYtS_uDy6bfVbRKR1DJLzsIZyKm5BLnBHlwnFVQ0HkMZ9Ci-ZRWBQAKAHzSw4SPJBOcKlsYQkdZI8LeniONLW5LXauTl-DMCDjnOO7OVf9rryRC5tVIDJ8CAdz_tKmiwV9ZCzwC3thu3eOK7-UkAhh8UsB2z1KlVuYD_YuCgeAzUw=s1600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjThkudz8FfcOCyegYtS_uDy6bfVbRKR1DJLzsIZyKm5BLnBHlwnFVQ0HkMZ9Ci-ZRWBQAKAHzSw4SPJBOcKlsYQkdZI8LeniONLW5LXauTl-DMCDjnOO7OVf9rryRC5tVIDJ8CAdz_tKmiwV9ZCzwC3thu3eOK7-UkAhh8UsB2z1KlVuYD_YuCgeAzUw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William my new Grandson wearing a cute hat made using a pattern given to me by my lovely friend Lisette </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZMmOkO05yxoza77bOhbG4_vwnORAg8tcS_MadVYRvl2lDdruIs67-drH3bGFRefbkonAT6PLMwskB2byYrQFJ3ORn4IGA30Nvktbjv7ATa6R7uLqY8ntusefcixeZutrpgubzpNQ-K29Kx-2iwhIgZ0suoLT98lyV1AyTU87cHf2BaoLZuOYFV9zlpA=s414" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="414" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZMmOkO05yxoza77bOhbG4_vwnORAg8tcS_MadVYRvl2lDdruIs67-drH3bGFRefbkonAT6PLMwskB2byYrQFJ3ORn4IGA30Nvktbjv7ATa6R7uLqY8ntusefcixeZutrpgubzpNQ-K29Kx-2iwhIgZ0suoLT98lyV1AyTU87cHf2BaoLZuOYFV9zlpA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-14843433231693916322021-10-02T07:34:00.004-07:002021-10-02T07:34:43.513-07:00🍂Ah September - the prelude to October 🍂<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"> 🗓where i am </span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Knitting</span></h3><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">The Rainbow Sock Chronicles, which is a knit along hosted by Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet and Kelly of Lay Family yarns, has reached the end of the seven rainbow colours and starting now in October we will be able to choose our own colours.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNHFHeRKud4/YVcIMKx9ArI/AAAAAAAAFSo/m2-gO-DJn-c9THAUGn4s5VKRD7ARb_EcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1038.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="2048" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNHFHeRKud4/YVcIMKx9ArI/AAAAAAAAFSo/m2-gO-DJn-c9THAUGn4s5VKRD7ARb_EcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1038.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">The picture above shows the socks up to July. For September (picture below) I used one of Jooles's patterns called 'Sweet Bee Socks' using Henny Penny Yarns sparkle sock and Orkney Angora for the stripes and lace. These are definitely an indoor only, snuggle up in front of the fire pair of socks as the angora makes them a lot more delicate but so cosy and comforting.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmmJ5u-rYwg/YVcJ3zyL_0I/AAAAAAAAFTQ/OHqDqOykgBM3Tb2oJjeYoJBRTiUEOgWLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1715/IMG_1905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="1714" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmmJ5u-rYwg/YVcJ3zyL_0I/AAAAAAAAFTQ/OHqDqOykgBM3Tb2oJjeYoJBRTiUEOgWLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">There have been lots of test knits for Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet and one of my favourites was this Wondrous Shower Mitt which means you can put your bar of soap inside the mitt to wash and that means you don't have to buy plastic bottles of shower gel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RkMjAh1n_U/YVhm10H0bmI/AAAAAAAAFUA/YMbdPXOXIfsbK0eu4aLYZzNLzBb4zwsiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/60007F93-C666-46E1-BBC1-ACD6D71CA3B7_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RkMjAh1n_U/YVhm10H0bmI/AAAAAAAAFUA/YMbdPXOXIfsbK0eu4aLYZzNLzBb4zwsiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/60007F93-C666-46E1-BBC1-ACD6D71CA3B7_1_201_a.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">🪡🧵Cross Stitch</span></span></h3><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I have been working all year on two cross-stitch stitch alongs. Martha Dawson and Ann Morison both are reproduction of antique samplers by Hands Across The Sea Samplers. I am stitching Martha Dawson on a 56 count fabric using Au Ver A Soie silks and below is my progress so far.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQLGBUX11gY/YVcLM09iDHI/AAAAAAAAFTY/bnE_3gmVhM4dMnA5-YCeRE-oRGzMFKXIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1497.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQLGBUX11gY/YVcLM09iDHI/AAAAAAAAFTY/bnE_3gmVhM4dMnA5-YCeRE-oRGzMFKXIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1497.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br />I am actually a little further on but only have a photo of the process in the frame (see below).</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klCi4TB6lqw/YVcLeVCST_I/AAAAAAAAFTg/x2PDgOXJkks-yiRon1boP3advQiHjXO6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klCi4TB6lqw/YVcLeVCST_I/AAAAAAAAFTg/x2PDgOXJkks-yiRon1boP3advQiHjXO6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1818.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I veered off the set monthly section so that I could work on the house whilst I was on holiday in Salcombe and I didn't have to think, just make crosses and it worked.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Here is my progress on Ann Morison being hosted and in celebration of twenty years in business for Traditional Stitches.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kZOTvfdopM/YVcMAWQyDRI/AAAAAAAAFTo/4F_kVl0QSHsEJfUG5_Fr20GozRhI77JiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kZOTvfdopM/YVcMAWQyDRI/AAAAAAAAFTo/4F_kVl0QSHsEJfUG5_Fr20GozRhI77JiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1817.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">There are a lot of Algerian stitches in this project and they really take concentration and time but they do look wonderful.</span></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Other crafts</span></span></h3><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I have been enjoying some hand stitching and recently caught up with some of Nicki Franklin of The Stitchery projects. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymTatVut6b0/YVhnbyEbxcI/AAAAAAAAFU4/O8ZHEuYysQ8EzebmuDMR3aZgIHXk6lWKACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F7DDFF41-43FF-437D-8E1E-7B39A9EC7193.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymTatVut6b0/YVhnbyEbxcI/AAAAAAAAFU4/O8ZHEuYysQ8EzebmuDMR3aZgIHXk6lWKACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F7DDFF41-43FF-437D-8E1E-7B39A9EC7193.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FvNIvg3cJkQ/YVhm058FlFI/AAAAAAAAFT4/ibm0uUBIb-U4KprMNf6Ms1qemyyNfuowwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/11BA44BE-A4DA-4D0D-95EB-8ADBFE135900.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FvNIvg3cJkQ/YVhm058FlFI/AAAAAAAAFT4/ibm0uUBIb-U4KprMNf6Ms1qemyyNfuowwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/11BA44BE-A4DA-4D0D-95EB-8ADBFE135900.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the joys of stitching this year has been joining Dandelion Designs "The Secret Society of Redwork Stitchery and Craft Loveliness". We get a red dotty package each month which includes the redwork design for the quilt as well as a different project, sewing snippets and a recipe as well as Mandy Shaw's signature joke: sweets themed around the letter we are sewing that month. There is a private Facebook Group which is great fun to join in and share some sewing chatter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thEHiKnr49M/YVhm0VkS8jI/AAAAAAAAFTw/DjclBSQ6K-Az_xNoeQF6WUnfRuT0B-ouACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1EC7AD2F-45D2-4175-99E6-A86D8189FD4C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thEHiKnr49M/YVhm0VkS8jI/AAAAAAAAFTw/DjclBSQ6K-Az_xNoeQF6WUnfRuT0B-ouACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1EC7AD2F-45D2-4175-99E6-A86D8189FD4C.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7HZNftWQrgY/YVhm2FShU-I/AAAAAAAAFT8/96bRRH1NaIMzbsvISR4Vcd2kCeL6dAXZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/72F5F178-E500-47D4-AB62-DECDA688689B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7HZNftWQrgY/YVhm2FShU-I/AAAAAAAAFT8/96bRRH1NaIMzbsvISR4Vcd2kCeL6dAXZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/72F5F178-E500-47D4-AB62-DECDA688689B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4e7w9xZbG0/YVhm10zu4dI/AAAAAAAAFUE/JjKRHKmxQ14O6Bmx3zk3oCHqdk64e0c1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/410B5D53-8182-4A9E-AE32-07DFAB78651C_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4e7w9xZbG0/YVhm10zu4dI/AAAAAAAAFUE/JjKRHKmxQ14O6Bmx3zk3oCHqdk64e0c1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/410B5D53-8182-4A9E-AE32-07DFAB78651C_1_201_a.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvMT2bHFuTg/YVhm3oGHlsI/AAAAAAAAFUQ/6WR0p7djXOgUsd5SgA-ARSekMztTVauYACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/C6784664-8FBA-47BD-9B90-39FB8FC4F48F_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvMT2bHFuTg/YVhm3oGHlsI/AAAAAAAAFUQ/6WR0p7djXOgUsd5SgA-ARSekMztTVauYACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/C6784664-8FBA-47BD-9B90-39FB8FC4F48F_1_201_a.heic" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWLyhZHSYUk/YVhm3Y5WvkI/AAAAAAAAFUI/qC5mRXS2Z7UfVGznMm2BI2zLq7w-gqeMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/C8517227-E25F-4941-9459-21CE7B4FB0D2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWLyhZHSYUk/YVhm3Y5WvkI/AAAAAAAAFUI/qC5mRXS2Z7UfVGznMm2BI2zLq7w-gqeMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/C8517227-E25F-4941-9459-21CE7B4FB0D2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDTcofVzros/YVhm4HVtTpI/AAAAAAAAFUU/6K6pP1_Z8ZMtoVOvXjDzM639itM3XiwtACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D53CA827-F924-4736-9E92-0C6BFC2EFED0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmvyBpeb6Z8/YVhm3eatsTI/AAAAAAAAFUM/o8A6d8XyUs8yRKHEz1evYMeV8XDP7UMnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/D4B107E0-AB3E-4CE4-9DEA-CA680419B9C8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmvyBpeb6Z8/YVhm3eatsTI/AAAAAAAAFUM/o8A6d8XyUs8yRKHEz1evYMeV8XDP7UMnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D4B107E0-AB3E-4CE4-9DEA-CA680419B9C8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Quilting</span></h3><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">I joined in with Lori Holt's Red and White Sampler using four of her books. We made over thirty blocks, large and small and I have still to put the sashing around mine and then I can decide on how to quilt it.</span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEiCCSJwi8Q/YVhm0b7-PpI/AAAAAAAAFT0/rl1lugXr9e47BOu7-nznIxBsDZ183jthQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/038E5B8C-CC1E-4304-BAA6-1E3961106DFB_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEiCCSJwi8Q/YVhm0b7-PpI/AAAAAAAAFT0/rl1lugXr9e47BOu7-nznIxBsDZ183jthQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/038E5B8C-CC1E-4304-BAA6-1E3961106DFB_1_201_a.heic" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">This was a little English Paper Pieced Hexagon Bee panel which I bought as a kit from Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet and it was an absolute joy to stitch by hand and display in the glass frame which came as part of the kit.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDTcofVzros/YVhm4HVtTpI/AAAAAAAAFUU/6K6pP1_Z8ZMtoVOvXjDzM639itM3XiwtACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D53CA827-F924-4736-9E92-0C6BFC2EFED0.jpeg" width="320" /></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Well that's it for now, a quick catch up. There are many other projects I haven't had time to show you here but I hope to pop some in a future post including what I've been reading. Happy crafting, </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpT154iulCc/YVhsrKRheWI/AAAAAAAAFVA/Jkchwh9sUis56Ea97DZUGzCjz6lEMSHCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s434/Screenshot%2B2021-10-02%2Bat%2B15.28.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="434" height="136" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpT154iulCc/YVhsrKRheWI/AAAAAAAAFVA/Jkchwh9sUis56Ea97DZUGzCjz6lEMSHCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot%2B2021-10-02%2Bat%2B15.28.17.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-50940488247504115712021-03-02T05:24:00.004-08:002021-03-02T05:24:32.362-08:00January and February 2021 Edit<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;">🌸🌸🌸🌸 <span style="font-family: arial;">Time for a catch up🌸🌸🌸🌸</span></span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLSsaF8iPks/YD4nyjnNm3I/AAAAAAAAFH0/7uxoY7pNoXIAFV6J1_Ulv9PH0V4scLM_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8F13FBBF-1D27-418C-B4F8-6DF604F5131B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLSsaF8iPks/YD4nyjnNm3I/AAAAAAAAFH0/7uxoY7pNoXIAFV6J1_Ulv9PH0V4scLM_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/8F13FBBF-1D27-418C-B4F8-6DF604F5131B.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;">Hello and welcome to the start of my 2021 posting. Here I am with my 'no hair cut for a year, just been for my first vaccination' look! I am relieved that I was allowed to have an injection as I have quite an <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">anaphylactic allergic reaction to aspirin but it has not been triggered by the vaccine (but you must check with your own health advisors) and I have been happy to do my bit to help others in the fight against this awful virus. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">So today I am going to share a few things from my crafting life which has been the main occupation during lockdown here in the UK. I have been walking, reading, and crafting with the odd jog added in.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZTULMCouNA/YD4p86O51hI/AAAAAAAAFI0/P9ASPM0btzgLkKmlPlBZ29Kyxn9KycVFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/2CCDF4BE-E3BE-486C-ACC0-A4EAFAC2C5ED.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZTULMCouNA/YD4p86O51hI/AAAAAAAAFI0/P9ASPM0btzgLkKmlPlBZ29Kyxn9KycVFACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2CCDF4BE-E3BE-486C-ACC0-A4EAFAC2C5ED.jpeg" /></a></div>We had some snow in January and I wanted to record it by stitching a snow themed piece and I chose this one called 'Moments in Nature - First Snow' from Brambles & Me. It is beautiful to work on as the linen and silk threads are so soft and it is going to be a lovely project over the next few months.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAtgFWEtX5c/YD4p-OXSP6I/AAAAAAAAFI4/LCVG-RIZxfkTmZf63XRuadch01R9KbtjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2D4B4977-9E91-4921-8561-E361EE12175D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAtgFWEtX5c/YD4p-OXSP6I/AAAAAAAAFI4/LCVG-RIZxfkTmZf63XRuadch01R9KbtjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2D4B4977-9E91-4921-8561-E361EE12175D_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>I also started this stunning Ann Morison sampler in December with Traditional Stitches who are celebrating twenty years in business and created this sew along for us to join in with. I am using a 45 count linen with Au Ver A Soie 100.3 silk thread both of which are new to me and something I wanted to add to my needlework skills this year.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zaqVUNUT_8/YD4p-UU4bCI/AAAAAAAAFI8/MgqENr6xD2gz2Y5EQ4KKcvWjUwK8tp0rwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/31E9FF0B-6E30-4D4F-B03C-47B42E105047.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zaqVUNUT_8/YD4p-UU4bCI/AAAAAAAAFI8/MgqENr6xD2gz2Y5EQ4KKcvWjUwK8tp0rwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/31E9FF0B-6E30-4D4F-B03C-47B42E105047.heic" /></a></div>Every day I have been joining in with the Dean of Canterbury, Robert Willis's Garden Congregation on YouTube for morning prayer. It is absolutely delightful feeding both the soul and the eyes with good things. The Dean sits in the garden and is often joined by Cathedral animals which include Clemmie and Winston the pigs, Leo and Tiger the cats as well as hens and ducks. He has such a calming, gentle way of sharing both spiritual gifts, information about life events and music. It has been a highlight for me during these difficult times.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAmy1pNVrf0/YD4p_765GkI/AAAAAAAAFJM/-TaD4bvLWeYoYxuB8JpPUiCbDsSlRI-YwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/92F2A969-A1D9-467E-8ED4-3A3D7C137102_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAmy1pNVrf0/YD4p_765GkI/AAAAAAAAFJM/-TaD4bvLWeYoYxuB8JpPUiCbDsSlRI-YwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/92F2A969-A1D9-467E-8ED4-3A3D7C137102_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>We have not left the village during this lockdown and regularly walk four miles from our home along the road, through the country park and down on to the beach and back home. There are always new and exciting things to spot and one day I was delighted to find these Goose Barnacles which I am told are edible (we weren't tempted to try) and people once thought it was how geese were born.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d7Q3nBoOwg/YD4p-qpTPGI/AAAAAAAAFJA/kb69mSCARaQavEtuYu_2xK7KqQhhly5awCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/306E6969-0699-436F-AE44-C8410CB3470D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7d7Q3nBoOwg/YD4p-qpTPGI/AAAAAAAAFJA/kb69mSCARaQavEtuYu_2xK7KqQhhly5awCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/306E6969-0699-436F-AE44-C8410CB3470D.jpeg" /></a></div>Over the Christmas period last year (2020) I joined in The Sheep and Cheerful podcast's read along for Dickens' A Christmas Carol and I stitched on this little piece which I need to finish and make into a cushion - watch this space. The discussion on Ravelry was so interesting and full of brilliant facts surrounding the writing, political history and social situation at the time Dickens wrote this wonderful story.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dSjzT8hsDYk/YD4p_AqjLSI/AAAAAAAAFJE/pyly6QJa0RE0XVSekY4KK6nk8m-wj01_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/76038D2C-5E2F-4FD9-9D5D-2D05262F9D7D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dSjzT8hsDYk/YD4p_AqjLSI/AAAAAAAAFJE/pyly6QJa0RE0XVSekY4KK6nk8m-wj01_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/76038D2C-5E2F-4FD9-9D5D-2D05262F9D7D_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>Now we are moving into Spring I wanted to have a project which would record the start of the cherry blossom and this yarn from Mr & Mrs Rabbit called 'cherry blossom' is going to be knitted up into a cowl called 'Spring Buds'.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KE-oMx-F-Vk/YD4qApiqZHI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/kn9LEjKR1RI3HKFst78v2HbO2UaB9ahLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1805/A9097ABB-5B3F-4387-B4B9-C6020EA66AE4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="1805" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KE-oMx-F-Vk/YD4qApiqZHI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/kn9LEjKR1RI3HKFst78v2HbO2UaB9ahLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A9097ABB-5B3F-4387-B4B9-C6020EA66AE4.jpeg" /></a></div>January also saw the start of the Rainbow Chronicles being hosted by Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet podcast and shop and Kelly of Lay Family Yarn shop and podcast. We are given a colour from the rainbow and a pattern from Jooles which we can use if we want. My January pair were pink and used the Winter Birds pattern by Jooles and were knitted in Hedgerow Yarns Blossom Pink yarn.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsNcvsHsCLg/YD4qAz1EKoI/AAAAAAAAFJU/y0HGwhsY724QiK82qIYUY9D3U6ZT9K9EACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/A5216439-475F-4EE9-B1FB-96013BA9D985_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsNcvsHsCLg/YD4qAz1EKoI/AAAAAAAAFJU/y0HGwhsY724QiK82qIYUY9D3U6ZT9K9EACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A5216439-475F-4EE9-B1FB-96013BA9D985_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div>This gorgeous book came out at the end of last year 'Quilting with Liberty Fabrics Book' by Jenni Smith and I have a signed copy which took so long to arrive because it was stuck in various ports because of Brexit and pandemic - poor Jenni was almost distraught at the delay but it was definitely worth the wait.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukHeVcC1f8Y/YD4qBKd9u2I/AAAAAAAAFJY/ED611ZzDUQc0pTe8UHR2Z2O7kxx8X1OSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/B9A06657-3D2D-4C90-8C08-5376A2C30AD9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukHeVcC1f8Y/YD4qBKd9u2I/AAAAAAAAFJY/ED611ZzDUQc0pTe8UHR2Z2O7kxx8X1OSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B9A06657-3D2D-4C90-8C08-5376A2C30AD9.jpeg" /></a></div>Another sew along I started in January this year was the Martha Dawson sampler also by Hands Across The Sea (as was the Ann Morison above) and this time I am challenging myself to use 56 count linen with another au ver a soie silk but not the 100.3 so it is a little thicker and it makes a different texture (which I love) and, apart from the one over one crosses for the text, has not been too difficult to work on.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dtg6MKFgEg0/YD4qBqUY4HI/AAAAAAAAFJg/m7MEkkcnB8cX-SytvQk7jeO3dvLJsBD5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BF6C1C84-A149-4A5B-99AC-01168AE595C0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dtg6MKFgEg0/YD4qBqUY4HI/AAAAAAAAFJg/m7MEkkcnB8cX-SytvQk7jeO3dvLJsBD5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BF6C1C84-A149-4A5B-99AC-01168AE595C0.heic" /></a></div>Another great project during lockdown was the installation of new bookshelves. A room became spare when my darling daughter moved out to live with her fiancé at the start of the first lockdown (she was worried that working in London and travelling home to us would be a danger to us). I miss her so much but there is salve in a book and I love the way a new shelving system allows you to re-order and discover books you had forgotten about. </span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z2H-3gxx96U/YD4qBvb7ROI/AAAAAAAAFJc/6yKsMyqIiHgINvnlsWZTAnyJs8FsrbE7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1059/F0C7600D-47BF-4E78-8DD4-F59A0CAF5D64_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1059" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z2H-3gxx96U/YD4qBvb7ROI/AAAAAAAAFJc/6yKsMyqIiHgINvnlsWZTAnyJs8FsrbE7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F0C7600D-47BF-4E78-8DD4-F59A0CAF5D64_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>February for the Sock Chronicles was dark pink and I knit these Sweet Vanilla toe down socks by Jooles in Moel View Yarn in the Protea colour way which was part of the Flower Power Sock Fund in 2019 and I thought this the perfect project for this yarn.</span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOmMMzHzRCM/YD4ymmfC00I/AAAAAAAAFKE/7o30lV0NeJIL_va-Ecpj3Nr1K3VbN1LnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1654/Screenshot%2B2021-03-02%2Bat%2B12.41.44.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1654" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOmMMzHzRCM/YD4ymmfC00I/AAAAAAAAFKE/7o30lV0NeJIL_va-Ecpj3Nr1K3VbN1LnACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot%2B2021-03-02%2Bat%2B12.41.44.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bowSZQ-KA48/YD4qB7toqkI/AAAAAAAAFJk/9kxTEa001WwobDGP7Qpm-iEXEXnrn6rogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/F630297B-DEEA-452E-9B19-C073D38C0E17.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bowSZQ-KA48/YD4qB7toqkI/AAAAAAAAFJk/9kxTEa001WwobDGP7Qpm-iEXEXnrn6rogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F630297B-DEEA-452E-9B19-C073D38C0E17.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AjC0zXcoZCU/YD4p_LoHliI/AAAAAAAAFJI/YxyMlKDxS2oMBkvzQLpj7HeE-RY4lQK3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/89746E5E-5C16-49CA-A275-B649D1F44E39.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took part in Dena of Half Stitch Cross Stitch's #FebruaryFestivals2021 stitch along. The first half of February was for Valentine's ornaments and the second for Easter ornaments. I had a lot of fun with it. I stitched three Valentine's pieces first: a small drum pin keep, a cushion and a small picture. Then I finished an old piece of Easter stitching with three 'eggs' and then stitched a small sampler cushion, and finally three sweet rabbits which was a free pattern by WhilstIrisNaps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmxQlF3HFHA/YD4qCEPMOhI/AAAAAAAAFJo/LSji9LptX-cwYrADkYqbPLNNA9C-n77gACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FD6EB289-31E4-45C9-9C34-428D435F613A.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EmxQlF3HFHA/YD4qCEPMOhI/AAAAAAAAFJo/LSji9LptX-cwYrADkYqbPLNNA9C-n77gACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FD6EB289-31E4-45C9-9C34-428D435F613A.heic" /></a></div><br />I have loved the chance to read lots and my Goodreads goal of 50 books this year is going well so far. I had this book 'Cluny Brown' by Marjory Sharp (misspelt on the front of the book above) on my wish list but was put off by the high price for a re-issued edition. Then co-incidentally, whilst I was looking for something else in my late Mum's things, I found her copy from the 1940s and was absolutely delighted at such wonderful <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">serendipity.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">On that joyful note I will leave you for now and look forward to catching up again, hopefully, with less of a gap next time. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">💜Teresa🌸</span></span></div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-50595157440613713012020-09-29T07:15:00.006-07:002020-09-29T07:15:43.529-07:00September Edit 2020<h1 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;">A bit of this and a bit of that....</span></h1><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Reading, knitting, sewing, outings and life in general...</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Awp9efiIygY/X3MpNd-xAOI/AAAAAAAAE-0/lhv70UGpLbU6jQep0gEYwIsjBp5DswdtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/05CAC260-A351-475A-A274-379DC753FF6F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Awp9efiIygY/X3MpNd-xAOI/AAAAAAAAE-0/lhv70UGpLbU6jQep0gEYwIsjBp5DswdtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/05CAC260-A351-475A-A274-379DC753FF6F.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;">We have moved into Autumn and already there is an abundance of berries and other signs of the changing year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">Earlier this month we went to South Creake in Norfolk where we rented a small cottage and enjoyed visiting the surrounding area.</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">At </span><a href="https://www.houghtonhall.com/art-and-exhibitions/anish-kapoor-at-houghton-hall/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Houghton Hall</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> there was an </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;">exhibition of works by Anish Kapoor who is one of my favourite artists. Isn't this mirrored piece stunning:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVvbHjlOnDM/X3MqnxG5FeI/AAAAAAAAE_k/sI3A6tXKvX8t__lzuK_iY41F6M5Eo2M5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3800.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVvbHjlOnDM/X3MqnxG5FeI/AAAAAAAAE_k/sI3A6tXKvX8t__lzuK_iY41F6M5Eo2M5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3800.HEIC" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #666666;"><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The beaches along that part of the Norfolk coast are spectacular and we were lucky enough to enjoy really good weather whilst we were there.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQk9H24pCGs/X3MqTGlQC0I/AAAAAAAAE_A/fE6286loS_QGffg5fGXqTHoxWdzXWxAJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/51CDA0F1-50C6-4ED3-BC15-5973AE0D41EF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQk9H24pCGs/X3MqTGlQC0I/AAAAAAAAE_A/fE6286loS_QGffg5fGXqTHoxWdzXWxAJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/51CDA0F1-50C6-4ED3-BC15-5973AE0D41EF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WYfyIxnuC0/X3MqTiWV25I/AAAAAAAAE_E/6zNfJANciZYKbafVY0LvZOoi_qNfQBjaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/273D9453-BC61-4840-86D7-295C41772C10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WYfyIxnuC0/X3MqTiWV25I/AAAAAAAAE_E/6zNfJANciZYKbafVY0LvZOoi_qNfQBjaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/273D9453-BC61-4840-86D7-295C41772C10.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">I took my Purl Soho Half and Half Wrap which I am knitting for the Cady Jax knit along.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZB4ENKgZg4E/X3MqTu08OtI/AAAAAAAAE_I/eKgermbVDMAMsk6GWIJhhBPIYSTkqr8lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/12469DB2-BAA6-4AED-B472-C18FBD3DFC17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZB4ENKgZg4E/X3MqTu08OtI/AAAAAAAAE_I/eKgermbVDMAMsk6GWIJhhBPIYSTkqr8lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/12469DB2-BAA6-4AED-B472-C18FBD3DFC17.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">Near where we were staying was Bloodgate Hill, an iron age fort. There were only the sheep there that evening but we enjoyed the huge East Anglian skies on our walk.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E6Nep0QAf64/X3MqUK3dYKI/AAAAAAAAE_M/5dLK8oLWcYMPuPAMLl1TXQiyPU9tKgcQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BC1FC828-AF14-47AE-857F-9A21347CE8A2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E6Nep0QAf64/X3MqUK3dYKI/AAAAAAAAE_M/5dLK8oLWcYMPuPAMLl1TXQiyPU9tKgcQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BC1FC828-AF14-47AE-857F-9A21347CE8A2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_jHrQ52Bew/X3M7-Irmy5I/AAAAAAAAFCQ/sShaYVEkA4MqynOJl7mhU_WvUcblOXcZACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6763DC78-F4B3-4573-8486-1E48C9A3D7A1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_jHrQ52Bew/X3M7-Irmy5I/AAAAAAAAFCQ/sShaYVEkA4MqynOJl7mhU_WvUcblOXcZACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/6763DC78-F4B3-4573-8486-1E48C9A3D7A1.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">We took the opportunity to visit St Withburga's Holy Well in Dereham which was very interesting to see. It made me think of my favourite cathedral, Ely, in quite a different light as the Abbott and monks stole her remains to keep as a holy relic for themselves and this healing waters well sprang up in Dereham as a result.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">Another great visit was to</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="https://www.burnvalleyvineyard.co.uk/"> <span style="color: #674ea7;">Burn Valley Vineyard</span></a> </span><span style="color: #666666;">which we visited on a very wet and wild day. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the wines we tasted were and we took some bottles home with us including a sparkling wine we opened on a visit to my daughter in Yorkshire later in the month.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dh5fZdEnPEY/X3MqUB7y6yI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/aP0BZ1sk6L8WKXvPDUHbidYmb6qFoCB9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/EBFF0170-526E-4535-96B4-EBA22C3A813A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dh5fZdEnPEY/X3MqUB7y6yI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/aP0BZ1sk6L8WKXvPDUHbidYmb6qFoCB9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/EBFF0170-526E-4535-96B4-EBA22C3A813A.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gl_FFXStk_E/X3Ms_hcd4zI/AAAAAAAAE_8/l5j4iivvEQEmvIhiWtvgMVwRc_i7XeoUACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/cast%2Bon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gl_FFXStk_E/X3Ms_hcd4zI/AAAAAAAAE_8/l5j4iivvEQEmvIhiWtvgMVwRc_i7XeoUACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cast%2Bon.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">I signed up for a Selbu Mitten Course run by Patricia of</span> <a href="https://www.knitographyfarm.com/">Knitographyfarm</a> <span style="color: #666666;">and it has been great fun learning and recording how to knit these traditional mittens in my knitting bag notebook.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUP369dSy0o/X3MtxjB2C0I/AAAAAAAAFAI/AgfLqZfQHeQ9_tmA_BRWSUMbHRUrxpQrACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/68663EBA-7391-4BED-BD07-1F0F0C0FCA6F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUP369dSy0o/X3MtxjB2C0I/AAAAAAAAFAI/AgfLqZfQHeQ9_tmA_BRWSUMbHRUrxpQrACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/68663EBA-7391-4BED-BD07-1F0F0C0FCA6F.jpeg" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #666666;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjMC3CTY-_A/X3MtxXt9hOI/AAAAAAAAFAE/IT35P7Ii77EWD8apgyGjFVZjyNonO6ueACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D85AB1ED-D374-42D2-B061-344D4E23F6DF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjMC3CTY-_A/X3MtxXt9hOI/AAAAAAAAFAE/IT35P7Ii77EWD8apgyGjFVZjyNonO6ueACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D85AB1ED-D374-42D2-B061-344D4E23F6DF.jpeg" /></a></div>I write down what I am listening to, what I am feeling, the weather and all sorts of things that influence how I might knit that day. It is interesting to note because your tension when knitting can vary wildly. It helps if you notice the many things that might be contributing to your stress levels. It is good then to try to adjust the balance in your life in order to keep yourself at a healthy level of tension both in your knitting and yourself.<br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAFu7y9O6_E/X3MualZBE9I/AAAAAAAAFA8/Ihaup8GbkVQ31cLInyMCNAgrw2smMGzCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/EA86EC33-EA0C-4CBD-8F8C-C4E6A0BCBE56.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAFu7y9O6_E/X3MualZBE9I/AAAAAAAAFA8/Ihaup8GbkVQ31cLInyMCNAgrw2smMGzCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/EA86EC33-EA0C-4CBD-8F8C-C4E6A0BCBE56.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">During September I bought a lot of books and am enjoying reading along with book clubs, especially Miranda's Notebook whose read for this month was R C Sherriff's The Fortnight in September. Set in the thirties it tells of a family who travel to the seaside for their annual holiday but nothing is as static as it seems as underneath each character's stream of <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">consciousness a constant change is uncovered.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I am looking forward to reading the other two books at some point but I have a huge pile of to be read books right now including Miranda's October choice for her Tea & Tattle book club and The Botanical Yarn's book club which I signed up for for three months and have read two so far.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFLDMIqsixc/X3MuacIbH3I/AAAAAAAAFA4/PVkek2qxzDEp6h-C-ls91ya2pd4ABthFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/EA60F785-CDE1-4EEE-9A36-787F3CDC7E8C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFLDMIqsixc/X3MuacIbH3I/AAAAAAAAFA4/PVkek2qxzDEp6h-C-ls91ya2pd4ABthFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/EA60F785-CDE1-4EEE-9A36-787F3CDC7E8C.jpeg" /></span></a></div><a href="https://mirandasnotebook.com/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Miranda</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> made a YouTube video telling us of new releases for October and one mentioned was Miss Mole by E H Young and I knew it was one I own and have read so I looked it out and, yes, I added it to that ever growing to be read pile!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMUnGuC59vU/X3MuaA3BCPI/AAAAAAAAFA0/sTtx-WjhSM4wIVUM7KReZwRbsAZ3scY5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/EA5A7ACE-119E-4C0D-B8D4-0611154573FD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMUnGuC59vU/X3MuaA3BCPI/AAAAAAAAFA0/sTtx-WjhSM4wIVUM7KReZwRbsAZ3scY5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/EA5A7ACE-119E-4C0D-B8D4-0611154573FD.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">Betty by Tiffany McDaniel was the second of The Botanical Yarn's book club choices for September and I found reading this tale of growing up in a disfunctional multi cultured family in America both difficult and <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">absorbing. </span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The first book was Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams with it's mini yarn skeins based on the book cover and my chosen pattern the Queenie Cowl by Amanda who used to run the Natural Dye Studio. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wigD5d7dC_Y/X3M60-I0WqI/AAAAAAAAFB4/bYhGzyxgXaEeNQ4vgwilxQjbw2s1rkj1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/AB152361-D8B3-4D95-B9EB-969D4371F33F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wigD5d7dC_Y/X3M60-I0WqI/AAAAAAAAFB4/bYhGzyxgXaEeNQ4vgwilxQjbw2s1rkj1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AB152361-D8B3-4D95-B9EB-969D4371F33F.jpeg" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeALIP6uxBs/X3M79G0GW8I/AAAAAAAAFCI/jGMtKbpp7m8iDLkW5x7q2JwBCglQMlgkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/724358C6-28F7-42AB-B405-22CA139417C9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeALIP6uxBs/X3M79G0GW8I/AAAAAAAAFCI/jGMtKbpp7m8iDLkW5x7q2JwBCglQMlgkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/724358C6-28F7-42AB-B405-22CA139417C9.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">Yarn to interpret a book cover - what do you think?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWt_Z5iuadw/X3M798zNDLI/AAAAAAAAFCM/rTOitk3pF14i8sIi1SDsMbokXCiEMVxxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/67B9A51C-7B53-473A-8905-9F0F7B0C71FA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWt_Z5iuadw/X3M798zNDLI/AAAAAAAAFCM/rTOitk3pF14i8sIi1SDsMbokXCiEMVxxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/67B9A51C-7B53-473A-8905-9F0F7B0C71FA.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlWg74g0kwk/X3MuYsYi_BI/AAAAAAAAFAw/0d7PRSqOGiEIbx1mdEEo_hoT_UINh0c-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BFDEC063-DBD5-4B83-A211-39BBB8427A79.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlWg74g0kwk/X3MuYsYi_BI/AAAAAAAAFAw/0d7PRSqOGiEIbx1mdEEo_hoT_UINh0c-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BFDEC063-DBD5-4B83-A211-39BBB8427A79.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">On a visit to my daughter in Yorkshire I was delighted by the cows who graze on the common have no barriers to stop them walking along the road. Most drivers are able to relax and enjoy the moment but some sadly are not and by harassing the cattle they often find themselves with some damage to their vehicles!! A lesson in life, I think, to understand that we are not supreme beings and need to respect the place given to us in this world.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">I enjoyed this really tasty Lychee Martini whilst we were celebrating my daughter's birthday when we visited.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWsz-U8eF30/X3MuXEMj2pI/AAAAAAAAFAg/v_fk6RFkPEEwo2lEYm7WTyIeiOA7w8-VACLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/42327508-035A-47ED-A0CB-C051F3F4BD89.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;" width="240" /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqGaMhNkY3U/X3M0L4G2MgI/AAAAAAAAFBk/nAmRMb99uyklijxRMdjY3hbStSd29J2vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/4D8F0CE9-2AE7-4EC8-AB90-2B83E86ADEF7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqGaMhNkY3U/X3M0L4G2MgI/AAAAAAAAFBk/nAmRMb99uyklijxRMdjY3hbStSd29J2vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4D8F0CE9-2AE7-4EC8-AB90-2B83E86ADEF7.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; text-align: left;">Later in September I was lucky enough to visit Farnham (picture above) where my son has just moved. The Thread Festival was being held at the Maltings and I went along at the end of the afternoon on a late entry ticket to find I had the place almost to myself. Isn't that one of those dreams people have of being let loose in a shop when everyone has gone and that was exactly how it felt. I had the complete attention of each stall holder and was delighted to be able to chat and look at the wonderful stitching goods on display.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgGOp5NuQno/X3MuVxtAKSI/AAAAAAAAFAY/d_vEtfB5PbUJT8hYWGA84U5OrW_WwBc5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/533A1B37-4FC6-4DCD-9EC1-0C77A54C1B3D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgGOp5NuQno/X3MuVxtAKSI/AAAAAAAAFAY/d_vEtfB5PbUJT8hYWGA84U5OrW_WwBc5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/533A1B37-4FC6-4DCD-9EC1-0C77A54C1B3D.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">Some of the lovely bits and pieces I picked up at Thread Festival.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPt_X1cQ3Io/X3MuX9P-E9I/AAAAAAAAFAo/bELMt3AHwQgzBX8iClx1IMKg57zQ2dV8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/81FB44A0-772D-4954-9FAB-8EA095AF574E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">Vyckky of </span><a href="https://westgreenloftyarns.com/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">West Green Loft Yarns</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> also started stocking yarn and embroidery kits in her online shop and I picked up this beautiful set of sock yarn and an embroidered wreath which I am looking forward to getting to at some point. (picture below)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiO0ordCp_I/X3MuXGaBs7I/AAAAAAAAFAc/T4H1j4xRxBQpTSdmpc8YQgwbthPWMF-NwCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/37CF10A9-AD43-43C2-AD04-F12C1BFB72A3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiO0ordCp_I/X3MuXGaBs7I/AAAAAAAAFAc/T4H1j4xRxBQpTSdmpc8YQgwbthPWMF-NwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/37CF10A9-AD43-43C2-AD04-F12C1BFB72A3.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGbmYstQnUk/X3MuXosshlI/AAAAAAAAFAk/IEUtZCs3WkA648aGd1bt0rMxKwRh-tH2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5C52D011-65C9-4B79-B8EF-93ADE0D74D84.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGbmYstQnUk/X3MuXosshlI/AAAAAAAAFAk/IEUtZCs3WkA648aGd1bt0rMxKwRh-tH2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5C52D011-65C9-4B79-B8EF-93ADE0D74D84.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic I have tried to continue to support local bookshops using online shops such as Hive but recently we went to Maldon where I was keen to pop into a new little bookshop, </span><a href="https://www.maldonbooks.com/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Maldon Books</span></a><span style="color: #666666;">, and I picked up two really lovely books: A Poem for Every Autumn Day and D by Michel Faber. They are proving to be thoroughly enjoyable picks which I would really recommend. The poems are divided for each day into one to read in the morning to inspire your day and one for the evening for reflection. D is a children's fantasy book with so many references to children's classics which are fun to </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;">identify as you read, although Michel Faber is quite evasive about whether he sees them as influences or not, and the story is absorbing and great fun too.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_TKGHXjEmqw/X3Ms-dTGD_I/AAAAAAAAE_w/vkW0W7YoGmczIihBdmt_ku3U3-kBbrfQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Habitation%2BSock%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_TKGHXjEmqw/X3Ms-dTGD_I/AAAAAAAAE_w/vkW0W7YoGmczIihBdmt_ku3U3-kBbrfQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Habitation%2BSock%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666;">Keeping me super busy this month too has been test knitting for the lovely Jooles of </span><a href="https://sewsweetviolet.co.uk/"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Sew Sweet Violet</span></a><span style="color: #666666;">. Above is the Hybernation Sock which was a collaboration with <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Vykky of West Green loft linked further up in this post. And below is the Lola Sock which was another collaboration with Ali of Little Drops of Wonderful who hosts the Strictly Sock Along and was also a fund raiser for Bill's Special Bus who is Gayna of Tales from Cuckoo Land's son and they are raising money for his school bus where he is a pupil.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5teCWr-j-yE/X3Ms_CegR0I/AAAAAAAAE_0/rC5LgjrVEdAQcRZxEJUmU7D6xHEsqFw5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5teCWr-j-yE/X3Ms_CegR0I/AAAAAAAAE_0/rC5LgjrVEdAQcRZxEJUmU7D6xHEsqFw5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_3097.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><span style="color: #666666;">I am still very busy with my cross stitching too and was so pleased to make a start on this free gift from Nicola of </span><a href="https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/"><span style="color: #666666;">H</span><span style="color: #674ea7;">ands Across the Sea Samplers</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> for those taking part in the Exclusive Ann Morison Stitch Along being hosted by Traditional Stitches, a needlework store based in Canada celebrating their twentieth anniversary. I have signed up for the sal which has been put back to December because of the problems the pandemic has </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666;">caused with supplies but that is fine by me as I was more than happy to have this free stitch to be getting on with.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-irrzTRN0svg/X3Ms_BmVMYI/AAAAAAAAE_4/wKXJhQRRWcM1nlE2tCMbvB1BDlIASpnAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Teddy%2B%2526%2Bsnail%2B2.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-irrzTRN0svg/X3Ms_BmVMYI/AAAAAAAAE_4/wKXJhQRRWcM1nlE2tCMbvB1BDlIASpnAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Teddy%2B%2526%2Bsnail%2B2.HEIC" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I am going to finish this September Edit with a few images from a Sunday morning walk in Colchester with all it's historical architecture and lovely riverside walk. We ended our morning with a cup of mocha in Bill's restaurant and were very glad of an outing during these difficult days but, as you will see from my favourite stitches right at the bottom of this post, they shall pass and we will have hope. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upD90OleVQg/X3MuX0IuDHI/AAAAAAAAFAs/jW0IZWP8eMwfghOhJadmU3-dY6Mgdbx9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A14B8C94-67EB-44DF-98C3-B6FDB8BD3F9D.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhUX1Zx-ilM/X3M604hVcII/AAAAAAAAFB0/5wvN8pRqVzgmWFqY_f_MGaKeV0jay2v0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/526DD835-AF3D-43C2-BEBB-B6C645F72D0D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhUX1Zx-ilM/X3M604hVcII/AAAAAAAAFB0/5wvN8pRqVzgmWFqY_f_MGaKeV0jay2v0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/526DD835-AF3D-43C2-BEBB-B6C645F72D0D.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sscEYUH7HA/X3M6zkBh0RI/AAAAAAAAFBw/aOqNovDEl-geXywRgnlIzciFmvBiR-jcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/F6E63D8C-0BBF-4708-890E-ECA40C971547.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sscEYUH7HA/X3M6zkBh0RI/AAAAAAAAFBw/aOqNovDEl-geXywRgnlIzciFmvBiR-jcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/F6E63D8C-0BBF-4708-890E-ECA40C971547.jpeg" /></a></div><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> 🍂Teresa🧡</div></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444;"></span></span></div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-68409814288840086242020-08-03T11:07:00.000-07:002020-08-03T11:07:32.311-07:00Crafting in the time of Covid 19<h2>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Nine months on...</span></span></h2>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Time to catch up here and to record some of the crafting and life events over the past nine months. I am going to log them under headings or I'll get completely lost. Right now as I write we are enjoying some lessening of lock down rules here in the UK but some have completely behaved in very shocking and worrying ways which I think might have the R number racing upwards again. Stay at home has brought the really sad number of deaths down and my heart is aching for those who have been affected by this terrible disease. I am also extremely grateful to all who have worked <span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">tirelessly to keep spirits raised and in the world of culture and creativity it has led to some amazingly wonderful things for those who have been staying at home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Dress Making</span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Since September when I last wrote I have continued to try to improve my skills in this area and have made a Merchant & Mills dress, a top and some jogging trousers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This is the which I adapted by not sewing a waistband and having three quarter length sleeves and making a boat neck. It is a super pattern and one I would really say makes a great wardrobe staple. I made mine from Liberty fleece.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">These are the Hudson Pants and they are a really useful 'at home' staple for your wardrobe. They will be great for just relaxing indoors and are very snuggly and comfortable.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Knitting</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I made these socks as a test knit for Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet and I gifted them to my dear friend for her birthday and I hope she enjoys wearing them. They are the Stripy Shorties.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This was another test knit for Sew Sweet Violet and it is the Timely Tulip sock, I didn't take my pattern around the entire leg but I do like the effect.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a little sewing project I started when we went into lockdown and just couldn't concentrate on anything too complicated. The result is a really sweet little ornament to decorate the house. And I bought two skeins of a, new to me, cashmere yarn to make a free cowl pattern - it feels so soft.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This was an unusual and really pretty jumper from which I made from A Sheep in Bear's Clothing yarn, I particularly enjoyed the little Fairisle section peeping from under the hem, a delightful design idea.</span><div><font color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></font></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><font color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Spinning</span></font></h3>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This month, June, sees the Tour de Fleece starting and here is my (very basic) French wheel ready for the off.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Nicola from Hands Across the Sea Samplers has been issuing some small samplers via a PdF and this is Mary Beard which was a delight to work on and I can't wait to get her framed once we can shop again.</span></div><div><font color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></font></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><font color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">More Knitting</span></font></h3>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This is a wonderful addition to my hand made wardrobe and was so enjoyable to knit on. I held a lace weight yarn with a four ply and the result is a gorgeous knitted fabric which is very nice to wear.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">My favourite designer Louisa Harding came out with a knit one, give one button flower and I plan on giving one to Paula of The Snail Garden when I see her, hopefully, at a retreat in October. </span></span></div><div><font color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></font></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><font color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">English Paper Piecing</span></font></h3>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I have been enjoying matching my crafting to my reading too. This is English Paper Piecing and is a Lucy Boston patchwork of the crosses design and how lovely to read her book alongside my sewing.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Stay tuned for another post soon - this catching up is quite a task.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">Teresa</span></span></div>
</div>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-53514552377994157762019-09-28T09:35:00.000-07:002019-09-28T09:35:21.491-07:00<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It has been a long hot summer and I have been experiencing some of life's lows and have been thankful for the gift of crafting which has been a salve during very difficult times.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In July I went to Fibre East and had a wonderful time discovering lots of new yarns and fibres and came away with a couple of projects worth of goodies.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two lots of wool for jumpers A Bear in Sheeps Clothing and Belinda Harris Reids Designs - top row, bobbles for hats, The Knitting Shed skein just because<br />two balls of sock yarn - middle row, shawl yarn and stitch markers from Owl About Yarn - bottom row</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The three skeins on the right in the top row became a Soldotna cropped top which was a lot of fun to make.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also talked to the lovely lady at The Knitting Shed stand and discovered I had two mini skeins I'd bought previously at Unravel to make their free pattern for fingerless mittens and was delighted with the result.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I am in the KnitBritish group over on Ravelry where we are having a read along for </span><a href="https://estherrutter.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">Esther Rutter's</span></a> <span style="color: #444444;">new book 'This Golden Fleece' a journey through Britain's knitted History.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I went to one of the book launches in Bury St Edmunds at the beginning of September where Esther spoke and thoroughly enjoyed listening to this delightful young writer, knitter and Mum who has obviously worked so hard on her wonderful book and well deserves all the lovely praise and publicity she is getting. It was a lovely afternoon and we were treated to home made cake and tea and were able to get signed copies of the book too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I posted about the first three chapters on the Ravelry Group page and said:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It didn’t take long before I realised I would need a pencil and tags because there was so much meat to Esther’s writing that would need some digesting. I also found my page anchor handy so I could knit whilst reading.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I found I needed a system for my markers: 1 = something that I wondered about, 2 = a word I needed to look up eg, first page of Chapter 2 “thole” (new word for me Esther), 3 = something catching my interest that I might have to do more research on, 4 = about sheep breeds, 5 = something with a link to buy or a book to get to read around the subject. I’ll pick out a few at random:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chapter one Dentdale Gloves page 22 Esther talks about the Terrible Knitters using needle guards which were often made from a single piece of wood as a lover’s token and I would really love to see a picture of these and learn a bit more about them. Then on the next page Esther talks about Soay sheep and St Kilda and I am reminded of a wonderful book I read called “Island of Wings” by Karin Altenberg which I would now like to re-read.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also in Chapter one is a reference to Penelope Lister Hemingway, ‘Playing with a Piece of String: The Story of a Dentdale Knitter in The Retreat Asylum, York’ in Knit Edge, 3 (May 2013) which I found was available here on Ravelry for £7.17 and is a magazine I was unaware of but am delighted with my purchase and the wide ranging articles and eight patterns.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here’s another find in Chapter two, a writer I have read but not the book mentioned: Neil Gunn’s “The Silver Darlings” set in the fisheries of the Moray Firth so that has duly been ordered on-line to be delivered to my local library (encouragingly all copies are currently on loan) so I will have to be patient until it arrives but good to also note that Esther’s book is now being stocked and also has all copies out on loan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I learn that Southwold and Lowestoft were the county’s major herring ports - Suffolk is a few miles from here and now I’d like to explore that bit of those town’s history.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chapter three and a bit of serendipity as my best friend is reading Stephen Fry’s “Mythos: a retelling of the myths of ancient Greece” and mentions Penelope at the same time I read about Mrs Ramsay and her knitting in Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse” and Esther points out the relevance of knitting as a salve and mentions Penelope here - now I have another new book I want to read and a re-read of Woolf too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am thoroughly enjoying this book and will post again when I have the next few chapters read and digested.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I have also been making progress on my goal of thirty books this year over on Goodreads and this is a quick review of the last one I logged:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44647263-where-the-hornbeam-grows" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Where the Hornbeam Grows: A Journey in Search of a Garden" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553764486l/44647263._SX98_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44647263-where-the-hornbeam-grows">Where the Hornbeam Grows: A Journey in Search of a Garden</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1815191.Beth_Lynch">Beth Lynch</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2991304623">3 of 5 stars</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed reading this but it felt like a longer essay rather than a book as there wasn't a lot of depth of detail within the writing and found it particularly sketchy in the end about gardening and plants and it was quite repetitive which felt like poor editing or padding. There were some wonderful insights about inner life which was why I gave it three stars. The few paragraphs about loneliness towards the end of the book were very insightful. I don't think I'd like to meet any Swiss people after the observations in this book!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I am a member of Ladies Who Sew which is held in the Village Hall and we have been learning patchwork and quilting techniques. So a friend and I decided we would like to visit the Festival of Quilts held in the NEC in Birmingham. What an experience. The hall is vast and to be honest quite overwhelming. That being said it was wonderful to see the stunning work that can be done with needle and thread which was both inspiring and daunting too. I bought this kit (below) which was lovely to sew.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I joined FlossTube vlogger 'Halfstitch Cross Stitch' for a stitch along to make the 'Christmas Tea' from Brenda Gervais's Mice in the Sewing Room series. I stitched on mine whilst on a lovely short break in Norfolk. It was a delight to sew along with Dena:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">And this was my finished piece:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">I have also started a block of the month with Liberty Bell to make the four seasons vintage sewing machine by Buttermilk Basin. This is a new technique to me and I am thoroughly enjoying it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There has been some dress making too and I will post more about that later.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I went to see the Cotton Scatterers Quilt Show at Wickham Bishops which was excellent and spent a wonderful morning enjoying the quilts and, of course, some coffee and home made cake.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">We have had an interesting time in the garden this year. Early in the summer the garden was looking so green and full and we had a bumper crop of cherries and everything was flourishing. Then the sun beat down and there was almost no rain at all and the garden shrivelled up and burnt to a crisp. That's the reality of global warming in the South East of England and it has been concerning to read about what is happening to our planet and my hope is that every little change we can make however small will help. So I will leave you with one of the good things about having the right amount of water and sun - fruit!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">🌍Teresa</span></div>
Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-78831224317132254032019-04-18T09:41:00.000-07:002019-04-18T09:41:11.821-07:00Teatime Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the delights of Spring sunshine is the opportunity for taking tea in the garden on the patio.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Armed with some sewing and a good book or magazine nothing could be more relaxing and calming.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am enjoying reading a, new to me, journal called <a href="https://www.elementumjournal.com/" target="_blank">Elementum</a> which Rob Cohen describes on the cover as "as much a doorway as a publication". It is a collection of writings on nature, landscape and people but more than that it has beautiful photographs, paintings and crafts too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the photograph above you can see the page showing a medieval book of hours illustration for 'none' which is appropriate as that is 3pm - teatime! Here is a snippet of Psalm 126 used at afternoon (none) prayer:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -3em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It is vain for you to rise before the dawn</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> and go late to your rest,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> eating the bread of toil –</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am embroidering "Chatelaine" by <a href="https://www.inspirationsstudios.com/" target="_blank">Inspirations</a> which is another beautifully produced magazine that I adore reading. There are so many stunning projects in the magazine many of which I have thoroughly enjoyed sewing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the vein of Christian reading I am about to start book three of Elizabeth Goudge's The Eliot Family Trilogy. The books are:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Pilgrim's Inn</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The Heart of the Family</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">These are the editions published by Hendrickson and I love them for the quality of production and the beautiful cover photography. They are printed in America.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The last one was written over a decade after the first and it will be interesting to see if there is any change in her writing by then.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">We follow the family life of the Eliot's after the World Wars as they "struggle to make sense of life in the peaceful and spiritually-renewing surroundings of Damerosehay" the house at the centre of the stories.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Elizabeth Goudge's writing has a great sense of personal sacrifice for the greater good of family and very much reflects her own life. She writes beautifully about landscape, inner thoughts and wisdom. I am looking forward to this last book in the trilogy and to lovely afternoons in the garden sewing and reading.</span></span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-15274182077592062742019-04-04T05:50:00.002-07:002019-04-04T05:56:09.567-07:00Seeing Red<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What a Winter it has been. We have had temperatures in February reaching 18 degrees <span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Celsius and now in April we have snow showers and sharp frosts here in some parts of the UK. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">One thing that will always come in useful during the cold spells in the winter months are some bright, warm accessories and I have been experimenting with yarns and reds. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I had already started, and wanted to finish, <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/veiled" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">Veiled</span></a> which is by Martin Storey and was in Rowan Magazine 62. It is a scarf in moss stitch which buttons up to create a continuous loop. It uses Rowan Kid Classic in 847 Cherry Red. The Kid Classic is made up of loosely woven strands which can split easily when knitting. I found the recommended beads fit very snuggly when strung on the yarn and was causing damage to the wool so I opted for applying them with a thin crochet hook as I went along instead. The wool does give a good stitch definition and the scarf is very warm and pretty to wear.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Next I decided to try some <a href="https://digilpin.com/collections/knitting-patterns/products/seol-gansey-mittens-i-patterns" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Di Gilpin</b></span></a> wool and she had a pattern for Seol Gansey Mittens which used one ball of the Lalland 100% Scottish wool in 50gram balls. The pattern was easy to follow (except for the times I kept going wrong because I have terrible powers of concentration) and the finished mittens were absolutely beautiful. I loved using the wool although I know lots of people found it very splitty (much like the Rowan) as it is made up of loosely woven threads but blunt ended knitting needles will help with that problem. The pattern definition this wool gives is superb.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuZmQBsHJYQ/XKX0qM232YI/AAAAAAAAEq4/zZm4qCfmCtEe1u_Ot5BLPc2a4HcJ9ap7gCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19bd.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuZmQBsHJYQ/XKX0qM232YI/AAAAAAAAEq4/zZm4qCfmCtEe1u_Ot5BLPc2a4HcJ9ap7gCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_19bd.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pattern, 100% Scottish Lambswool and shade card all from Di Gilpin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">My final foray into red yarn was also to try a new, to me, wool which was<b> <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buckler-hat" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">Rowan Moordale</span> </a></b> and I made The Buckler Hat also by Martin Storey. This was a beautiful traditional wool with an added softness achieved by blending it with very soft alpaca. Technically then it would be described as a skein yarn rather than a skein of wool. 70% wool and 30% alpaca in 100g skeins. The hat took one skein of yarn and I used smaller than recommended needles to achieve a tighter gauge and I also knitted a deeper ribbed section which I folded back on itself to make a less slouchy bobble hat. I used a Toft Alpaca pom pom which I bought at the Knitting & Stitching Show at Olympia. I loved knitting this hat and am so pleased with the finish. You have to pay attention to the stitch Martin uses which is similar to brioche where you knit one below because unravelling will be very difficult if you go wrong. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thoroughly enjoyed exploring some British yarns and wools and the lovely cheerful reds have resulted in some gorgeous Winter accessories. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is good to finally get back to blogging as Instagram seems to have overtaken how I have been sharing my crafting life but there is no time for more detail there so I have enjoyed sharing in a little more depth with you some of my finishes so far in 2019.</span><br />
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-42569104439703601552018-12-30T07:55:00.001-08:002018-12-30T07:55:22.434-08:00Making Needles Fly - Christmas 2018<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><b>Where has the time gone?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Looking back over the year I have found very little time to keep up to date with my Ravelry projects page and my blog here. But I have enjoyed a very varied crafting year. Looking back to last Christmas I enjoyed making these socks by Dani of LittleBobbins podcast for our Christmas Eve Cast On.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Ellie of Crafthouse Magic had some great tutorials for owls and a Christmas tree and I had fun making them using some lovely fabrics I had bought in the summer at Cowslip Workshops.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year I have been enjoying Vykky of WestGreenLoft Yarns' Advent Sock Along using her beautiful hand dyed yarn.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><b>Earlier this year</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I have been enjoying cross stitch again and have lots of projects on the go after discovering a whole new world of floss tube:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the summer there was Tour de Fleece and I finished my set of 'seasons' from Hilltop Cloud:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started a cosy memories blanket to use up all the new minis I had been acquiring - this is a lot of fun but will certainly be a long term project:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then there was the Flower Power Fund raising money for the work of the Marie Curie nurses and we knitted a pair of socks so that everyone on a Marie Curie ward would have a pair for Christmas Day:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another final flourish was the Little Box of Crochet Advent box and we made a series of decorations, great fun!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I enjoyed stitching with Nicki Franklin's The Stitchery Journal 2018 and went to a workshop which was such a lovely day:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At my quilting group we made these cute little quilts for the Linus Project for children:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I finally finished our mystery quilt which I gave to my lovely son for Christmas:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And my Christmas Eve Cast On with Dani of Little Bobbins for this year was with this beautiful Nora Gaughan yarn for Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet which seemed perfect for Dani's new Twinkling Trees pattern:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now I am off to plan out my crafting goals for 2019. Happy Crafting!</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"></span></span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-42560736003862009582018-03-10T08:08:00.000-08:002018-03-10T08:08:12.148-08:00Oh Hello 2018! <span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How lovely it was to welcome in a New Year and feel there are just so many possibilities to be explored and enjoyed.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My Year of Colour from Instagram (Yearofcolour.com)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I like to take time in January to take stock and set some goals for the year ahead. I'm going to put them under types of activity to make it more organised. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My general goal for the year though will be to get my projects and craft room under control and organised. I will have to try really hard not to jump on band wagons when I see shiny new things on social media (it is now March and I am only just about to post and as you will see this resolve did not last long!). Here we go:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">KNITTING</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Knit along with Marie Wallin for the edge to edge colour work cardigan Lerwick is going very well and I am enjoying knitting on this project. I am very pleased with all I have learnt along the way which I can see is making an improvement in the technique and the resultant patterning and tension in the fabric is much better. We have begun the section with the steeks for the sleeves and are awaiting our next video. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I would like to make a goal of finishing all other colour work projects that I have waiting or already started.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I knitted or cast on socks for every month of the year in 2017 in an attempt to get through all the sock yarn I have and although I am not going to attempt that again I wanted to aim at using stash rather than buy new yarn for sock projects but along came the </span><a href="https://mailchi.mp/b4e82b10f9e1/the-flower-power-fund" style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Flower Power Fund </a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> which is raising funds for Marie Curie Nurses. There will be twelve yarn collaborations throughout the year and I just had to support that. Norah George Yarns brought out a Snowdrop yarn and pattern for it in January. Then Helen of Handmade Curious started a sock club releasing a pattern every month that just seemed perfect for this. Just after that Danni of Little Bobbins Podcast released her new trilogy of sock patterns based on a romantic notion of the two names inscribed in her antique engagement ring. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have yarn now for three cardigans or jumpers and would like to finish them this year and also to complete already started projects such as the Betty Mouet jumper and a slipover which has been on the needles far too long.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My goal will be to finish three garments this year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I completed Carol Feller's of </span><a href="https://stolenstitches.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>Stolen Stitches</b></span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> Bubble Wrap shawl knit along which was great fun and the yarn was fabulous to use.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My goal is to take part in Ravellenics, Tour de Fleece and sock knitalongs.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then there were all the new books and magazines that require separate posts and lots of sewing and cross stitch projects too. I hope to get back to my blog soon for some more crafting updates. Next will be a review of Rowan Magazine 6</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-2767979810360951962017-11-02T04:45:00.003-07:002017-11-02T04:45:35.713-07:00Island hopping Wool - Shetland to Mersea<h3>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::My beautiful box of wool has arrived and now there is a flurry of activity sorting it out, getting everything organised and starting a swatch for gauge::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::This is the inspiring Club design and it looked so inviting - so let's dive in!::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::All the scrummy, yummy wool in gorgeous Shetland inspired colours and a folder with the pattern inside and the canvas project bag::What a wonderful project this is going to be to improve my colour work technique and to learn new skills too::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::So the first thing I did was to start my organisation and in addition to my folder where I am storing newsletters, the pattern, and notebook, I decided I wanted to make some cards in which I could record the colour name and number and the pattern symbol for that wool and the number of balls for each colour::I also put in a few strands of the wool with it's name so that I could refer to it if the ball band went astray::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I took my inspiration from the Quince & Co colour cards but obviously tweaked it so that they would reflect the information I wanted to store and also to keep the aesthetic of the Fairisle Club Three:: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Another reason for going a bit above and beyond was that I am trying to learn new computer skills and to develop my knowledge of pages on my mac::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I think it will be good to have a reminder of this beautiful project in the years ahead::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I have already learnt some more about swatching techniques::how to knit a swatch flat using circular needles::how to work out the number of rows and stitches you need for your swatch::</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Another Ravelry user, Anne, had a very interesting blog post</span><span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://lifelackadaisical.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/following-straight-and-narrow-in.html" target="_blank">here</a> </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about "following the straight and narrow in stranded knitting" which makes very good reading::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I am already seeing lots of knitting expressions coming up on the Ravelry forums for this project that I am going to have to explore::"taking up"::"throwing"::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Here I am then all set to start Chart A for my swatch for gauge::what is it about a new ball of wool and that first row that makes a knitter so happy::simple things::simple living::bliss::</span><br />
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-8393268188339813422017-08-27T05:54:00.001-07:002017-08-27T05:54:36.921-07:00All Things Rowan Autumn/Winter 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rowan Autumn/Winter 2017 season is here! So I thought I'd take a little tour through my new acquisitions with a quick catch up on my Rowan projects too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have a subscription to Rowan Magazine and I particularly enjoy the Autumn/Winter editions. There is a free gift with the subscription and I chose the "mohair haze" and four 25g balls arrived with two patterns by Martin Storey for a hat and wristlets. The magazine also came with a newsletter and a Members' Exclusive Collection of patterns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Having seen the beautiful gift yarn I recalled a pattern by Kim Hargreaves called Mist which is a lovely slouchy ribbed hat in her book </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.kimhargreaves.co.uk/product/still/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">"Still"</span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and decided that I would use two of the balls combined with fine lace to knit that instead of the Martin Storey pattens although I might be able to make the wristlets from his pattern with the other two balls of yarn.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm making some progress and am intrigued to find myself knitting a new stitch to me which is creating the interesting rib in this hat pattern. The hat is knit in the flat and seamed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rowan Magazine is usually divided into stories and this edition has two: Kinship - which is a story inspired by Rowan's original roots, housed in a beautiful old woollen mill and the surrounding landscape of the stunning Yorkshire Dales.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And Dawn til Dusk - which was inspired by knitwear that can take you from the office to evening drinks or slouchy layer pieces that can be worn for an afternoon stroll or as a cover-up over evening wear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I have already fallen for a cheery scarf design by Martin Storey called </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/veiled" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Veiled</span></a> </span><span style="color: #666666;">which will look great with my winter coat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">The other designers featuring in this edition are: Lisa Richardson, Sarah Hatton, Marie Wallin, Jennie Atkinson, Galina Carroll, Emma Wright and Georgia Farrell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">As well as the patterns there are articles and I very much enjoyed the one about </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Churchmouse Yarns</span></a> </span><span style="color: #666666;">where they sell tea as well as wool! That's a perfect combination in my view.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The newsletter comes out twice a year and usually has a free pattern and a couple of essays or interviews as well as details of new yarns and books. It takes a look at the new Autumn/Winter 2017 season, talks about catwalk trends, looks back at previous editions, compares heritage Rowan with the Rowan of today, gives a list of Rowan magazines and brochures and lists workshops at John Lewis. It packed with articles and also runs a fun competition with a signed copy of Lisa Richardson's booklet Timeless Cocoon as the prize.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The interview with Martin Storey was very interesting and I do think the beautiful oversized scarf in the feature will be very popular.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As well as the newsletter there is the Members Exclusive Collection which contains five patterns by Martin Storey and Lisa Richardson.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I particularly liked this one by Martin Storey which is knit in Alpaca Soft DK which is one of the new yarns:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Timeless DK booklet is a collection of six designs by Martin Storey and has some very pretty everyday cardigans which I think will look stunning in the new alpaca soft dk which Martin says is his favourite of the new yarns as it looks fabulous in colour work, cable and textured stitches and is lovely to knit with. I can't wait to try it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think the colour palette is so pretty. It is a soft mix of extra fine and super fine merino wool and baby alpaca.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bibi, the pattern below is my favourite and the model, Lara looks gorgeous in it. It has two dots which Rowan suggests has simple techniques with straight forward knitting and introduces various shaping techniques and is for the knitter with a little experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Then there is another new yarn called Cashmere Tweed and the booklet that accompanies that yarn has seven modern Scandinavian and Icelandic inspired patterns. I love the hat and scarf on the cover. Cashmere tweed is a premium yarn made with virgin wool and cashmere.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is another beautiful pattern with a lovely celtic colour work pattern designed with a very contemporary feel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">So now for a little Rowan works-in-progress update. I am working on</span><span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amaryllis-13" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Amaryllis </span></a></span><span style="color: #666666;">from Marie Wallin's book Springtime which uses both fairisle and intarsia techniques and which I am hoping to have completed before starting Marie's new Fairisle Club 3 in November when we will be knitting the cardigan called </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fairisle-club-3-lerwick" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Lerwick</span></a><span style="color: #666666;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So a busy knitting time ahead but first I must go on an enforced knitting break as I have developed some problems with my left thumb joint (I am a right handed knitter) and I am so glad there are such a lot of new Rowan publications to keep me occupied while I heal!</span></div>
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-67360036506188413962017-08-22T12:32:00.001-07:002017-08-22T12:32:46.693-07:00Marie Wallin's Fairisle Club 3<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tour de Fleece in July was very hectic and now it is all over I am happily signed up and looking forward to Marie Wallin's Fairisle Club 3. We will be knitting her new pattern <a href="http://www.mariewallin.com/fairisle-club-3.html" target="_blank">Lerwick</a> which is a stunning multi colour work edge to edge wrap cardigan. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is an active group over on Ravelry where we are all getting very excited in anticipation of our yarn Spindrift of Jamieson's of Shetland arriving.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was lucky enough to spend a very happy time at Jamieson's on the first Shetland Woolweek holiday a couple of years ago. We had an excellent guided tour and were able to spend a long time choosing wool in the shop afterwards. I chose some beautiful tweed material and aran yarn. So I will be delighted to see the colours Marie has chosen.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I am putting together a few bits and pieces to make a Marie Wallin section in my craft room and to go with the Fairisle Club 3 "Lerwick" project. So far I have put together a folder for anything I print off including newsletters. I have found a notebook and a notions bag and when the wool is here and the project underway I have a couple of fun ideas to decorate my folder some more - it's the creative gene - it is difficult to keep it under control!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have some shade cards from Jamieson's and have been spending time getting to know the colours and imagining how the wools for this project will look.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We start the knit along at the beginning of November and I have a colour work cardigan Amaryllis by Marie under construction which I would like to have completed by then.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also gathering up some books to put in my Marie Wallin corner and getting ideas for even more projects.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it looks like a Marie Wallin filled time ahead knitting-wise and that is going to be a lot of fun.</span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-44439208497198036622017-06-06T09:00:00.000-07:002017-06-06T09:01:44.575-07:00Tour de Fleece 2017 Team Sasquatch<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::Well we are off! I have joined Team Sasquatch on Ravelry which has been set up for those who love podcasts:: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was part of this team back in 2014 and spent a couple of year's with Team Fondant Fibre but wanted to catch up with some of my stash this year and felt I would get a lot of motivation from Team Sasquatch.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I set my goals and decided on my projects and introduced myself on their group page. This is week one of the tour even though we won't officially start until Saturday 1 July through to Sunday 23 July.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not planning on finishing every project but my goal is to achieve a finish on at least one. I will be using my spindles and my spinning wheel and will be using a variety of fibres.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So week one completed!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-72103381748943581092017-02-27T04:33:00.000-08:002017-02-27T04:33:20.747-08:00Visiting a Silk Weaving Workshop in Myanmar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was so lucky recently to enjoy a visit to Myanmar (which some people will know as Burma). The beautiful country of the golden stupas and pagodas, temples and monasteries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst we were there we visited a silk weaving workshop where women still make the traditional Longyi which is a two metre stretch of fabric worn wrapped around the lower body by both men and women. It is a very versatile garment which can be wrapped so that it can be used as a hooded jacket, a sling for carrying a baby or a backpack for a water bottle. It can be wound so that it becomes a hat on which large trays or baskets can be balanced. It can also be pulled through the legs to become shorts which are useful for playing football or when going out in a fishing boat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The men's garments are called pasos and the ladies a htamain. The ladies wear theirs tied in a different way to the men and are generally much brighter silk colours and patterned in contrasting colours. There are cotton ones for everyday and silk for more important occasions like weddings. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some photos I took and you will see how they are still using traditional methods and there are no computerised processes at all. I was very surprised to learn that almost every longyi you see is made in small workshops like this one and all by hand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Silk really does hold colour better than any other textile as you can see in this cabinet of thread waiting to be used.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the bobbins wound up ready for the start of a new project.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see from this weaving they are making other items from the silk weaving and this could be for a table.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although the looms are very large, the ladies sit side by side and there is a nice atmosphere created by the very hard working women in the workshop.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are very dexterous hands - just look at all those shuttles.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A view of the back of the workshop.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trying to get the right shot of the looms in use.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The equipment is very traditonal and all hand worked.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Working with both her left and right hands at once.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wonderful colour combinations you can achieve with silk.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the silk on the bobbins for the machine above.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't crop that lady with her head in her hands out as she looks as if she is overwhelmed with so much choice. These are all the finished longyis in the shop area.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here I am in my beautiful blue htamain on our boat the Princess Panhwar. I opted for an easier version which has long pieces of material which you wrap round and tie. I didn't think I would be able to manage the traditional way. You have to make sure your pattern lines up on the edges. I found it very comfortable to wear but I did wear another long skirt underneath as I thought it was a bit see through. I bought mine from a stall in a temple we visited as I was very taken with the two toned effect of the blue material which shimmers very prettily in the light. We had an entertaining afternoon when the staff modelled the different ways of wearing the longyi and showed how to tie them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-80358363752537561282017-02-01T10:54:00.001-08:002017-02-01T10:54:24.808-08:00If Tigers Were Bears and Fingers Were Thumbs<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd love you just the same, February.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is the start of the Love Along knit along</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I needed a special yarn to work on for this lovely knit along with Dani of Little Bobbins Knits and one which would allow the subtle design in the pattern by </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/love-along-socks" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Amy Meeks</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> "Love Along Socks" </span><span style="color: #666666;">to show up well</span><span style="color: #444444;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I remembered a knit a-long I started way back in 2012 with Laura Linneman of </span><a href="http://www.theknitgirllls.com/wordpress/" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">The Knitgirllls Podcast </span></a><span style="color: #666666;">called "Mittens for Me". I was using two beautiful yarns and the lighter one seemed perfect for this new sock. I had managed to finish one of the mittens and I might still have enough left to finish the second even after I have made these socks.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">The mittens had a beautiful cuff which used a vikkel (or lateral) braid and an unsual ribbing section. Laura's patterns are always fun to knit and I just can't say why I stopped working on them and consequently lost momentum to start the second and finish them. These mittens were co-incidentally part of a February knit a-long so I only hope I don't get second sock syndrome as well as second mitten syndrome for this knit along.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Angel Sock yarn was from The Natural Dye Studio but is, unfortunately, no longer available. It is unbelievably soft and feels very luxurious. Yesterday's post has details of the composition. These will obviously not be socks for wearing out and about but for hygge moments indoors when I want to cosy up and have a gorgeous, warm pair of socks to cherish my feet with.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the knit a-long has started and I have made a contrast at the cuff with my Christmas Eve Sock Cast On yarn to make a link to my last knit a-long with Dani which started in December 2016 and I finished in January 2017.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">If these socks take a long time I won't mind as working with the yarn is a comfort in itself.</span></span></div>
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-35161869449287388932017-01-31T11:35:00.002-08:002017-01-31T11:35:15.544-08:00Speeding On By - January's almost over<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">January 2017 didn't seem to want to slow down and now I find myself at the end of the month looking back to see what has been achieved and looking forward to what direction I'd like to take.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The start of the year brought some very unhappy times for me and I really drew strength from my knitting and crafting projects which allow me a few hours to let my mind be peaceful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">On Christmas Eve in December last year I joined Dani of </span><a href="http://www.littlebobbins.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Little Bobbins Knits</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> podcast for the annual Christmas Eve Sock Cast On.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I chose a simple lace pattern</span><span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lacy-anklets" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Lacy Anklets</span></a></span><span style="color: #666666;"> by Melissa Morgan-Oakes and a lovely yarn from</span> <span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ElmTreeYarns" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Elm Tree Yarns</span></a> </span><span style="color: #666666;">called Fezziwig's Party who is, as you know, a delightful character from Dickens' wonderful Christmas </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">novella, A Christmas Carol.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These socks have a lovely cuff which reminds me of the dancing from Fezziwig's Party. I chose an ivory sparkle yarn to make some contrasts on the cuff and toes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My next knit-a-long is another one of Dani's for February and it will also be a pair of socks, this time Love Along by Amy Meeks. I have chosen to abandon a pair of mittens from way back in 2012 and to use the yarn for these socks. The yarn was the truly beautiful Angel Sock and is a Sport/ 5 ply 70% Alpaca, 20% Silk, 10% Cashmere goat 350 meters/100 grams by The Natural Dye Studio.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">I knitted a cute little Christmas mouse called Snowball Buddies by Susan Claudino which I saw on Jooles of </span><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://sewsweetviolet.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444;">Sew Sweet Violet's podcast</span></a>.</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I do love both the podcasts mentioned and have noticed lots of new ones appearing which I am hoping to have a look at.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been having a lot of fun with my sewing and have been making progress on two quilts and a quilted Christmas table runner.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also made myself a project bag which was a first for me and I am quite pleased with the outcome but there are areas which could be improved next time I make one. I need to make sure that both layers of seams are sewn together which is difficult on a project like this.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another craft I've been enjoying a revival of interest in is cross-stitch and I was delighted to work on this very deep stash project and must now think about getting it framed. It is a sampler called Oyster Catcher and I bought it many years ago at The Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexander Palace.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the garden I have been very lucky in having a new greenhouse put up and it has really become my 'baby' keeping me very busy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I painted the old potting table and have had a lot of fun planning what to plant and growing some vegetables through the late winter months.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sowed some Autumn sweet peas and planted a lot of paper white narcissi as well as some tulips and for vegetables I have parsley and a couple of spring cabbages which I just pick a few leaves at a time. My most satisfying grow was two bags of potatoes which were so tasty. I also had some beautiful chrysanthemums in pots to enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the things I plan to achieve this year are:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to continue to enjoy cross-stitching</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to learn a new craft (I have in mind wool punch work)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to use up stash where possible</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to sort out and re-organize my work space</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to expand my blog to include my other creative interests</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to continue to enjoy sharing my projects on social media and to take part in a-longs relevant to the season</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to watch and learn from new podcasts</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to finish as many already started projects as I can.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That will keep me very busy but having a lot of fun too. </span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-12570540879393685322016-04-24T07:34:00.001-07:002016-04-24T07:38:29.397-07:00Progress!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I feel as if I have been knitting and knitting and knitting but with very little result in the form of finished objects::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I have been delighted with this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reagan">Reagan</a> edge to edge cardigan by Isabell Kraemar in sulka legato by mirasol yarns which is a light fingering/3 ply and is 60% merino, 205 silk and 20% alpaca, 251 meters per 50 grams in grey::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::this yarn was on sale in my local yarn shop and so this was a very economical knit::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the cardigan can be worn either way up but I think is most comfortable with the lace at the bottom::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I went to a quilting show at Duxford in March and picked up a pattern and some beautiful fabrics to make this craft bag::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the handles were from an etsy shop in Scotland::they really make the bag sing::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I have been enjoying wearing my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frosted-leaves">frosted leaves</a> wrap scarf which was a free pattern by Louisa Harding (you can make a donation to a cancer charity Louisa supports)::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I used her amitola grande in 516 iceberg::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::it is an aran/10 ply 80% wool and 20% silk, 250 meters per 100 grams::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::it was an absolute joy to work with::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I used yarn from my 'deep stash' to make the Kate Davies cardigan <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/manu">Manu</a>::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the shade is juniper and is the naturally dyed Shalisdair luxury and is a DK/8ply in 40%angora, 40% wool and 20% cashmere and has 340 meters per 113 grams::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the only problem is that over time the natural dye has faded in places giving a strangely mottled look which is apparent on the sleeves::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I have not worn it yet as I need to put on some buttons::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the yarn has an oily feel which is not fully gone yet but the whole cardigan grew substantially when wet blocked::it looks and feels very cosy::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::Then there were the Christmas Eve socks, I posted about earlier, which I made for a knit along with Dani of the Little Bobbin Knits podcast::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::we all cast on a sock project on Christmas Eve and knit on them over the holiday::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::this is the Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso yarn which is a fingering/4 ply, 75% merino, 25% nylon and is 422 meters/100 grams in the colour "Zombodys Kissing Santa Claus"::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the pattern is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanilla-latte-socks">vanilla latte</a> socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::Also mentioned earlier were these Jared Flood "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/feathercrest-2">Feathercrest</a>" mittens which are now completed and were a delight to knit in Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran in grey which I picked up in their discounted bin in their shop in Lerwick last summer::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I have been enjoying making another blouse and improving my sewing skills::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I love the collar on this simple three quarter length sleeve top::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I bought the fabric which is Swiss cotton at a craft event at Five Lakes which is an hotel and country club in Essex::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::the pattern was "Mademoiselle" by Aimee comme Marie::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I managed it even with my school girl French::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::And here are some future knitting plans which were all purchases from 'unravel' knitting event at Farnham Maltings earlier this year::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::Lake District Alpaca and a pattern for a blanket from Town End Yarns:: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::A pretty little coin purse kit from Natural Knits::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::a gradient sock blank from Whimzy::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::two skeins of Coop Knit Socks Yeah::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::one skein per sock so I will mix and match heels, ribbing and toes to make some fun socks::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I also bought some Knit Pro Karbonz and Zing dpns to try::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::and how cute is the project bag to commemorate the event::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::last but not least of my recent making is this bible cover::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::are you aware of the current craze for bible journalling?::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::you choose a verse of scripture to study and then illustrate it in the bible margins::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::I used a scrap of leather in grey to make a reinforced spine and scraps of fabric for edging and pockets::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::perhaps the feeling of not much knitting is because I have been crafting in other ways - sewing and drawing::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::well, whatever craft inspires, I hope you are having fun with your making::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Teresa</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">::</span>Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-37156835698540950782015-12-31T12:33:00.000-08:002015-12-31T12:33:34.447-08:00Knitting at the end of the Year<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Looking back over 2015 it was an exciting one for me in terms of trying new yarns::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I have to say that one of the stand out yarns was the Mabel & Ivy Coast::I believe it is wound up in smaller lots from the larger <a href="http://holstgarn.dk/en/information/company-profile/">Holst Garn</a> cakes that come from Denmark and you can buy Mabel & Ivy in the UK from <a href="http://www.tangled-yarn.co.uk/collections/mabel-ivy/products/coast">Tangled Yarn</a>::It is a 55% Merino/45% Cotton 3ply (light fingering) which is ideal for lightweight summer shawls, baby clothes and light tees:: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I knitted some shooting socks for my lovely daughter's boyfriend this Christmas::A first for me knitting for someone else but I did enjoy it even if they were so long and so was his foot length::He chose the bright orange and it is from Regia and they had shaped calves which was new to me and I made long garters too use under the cuffs to help them stay up::It did mean I could sit down and enjoy one of my favourite Christmas films "Young at Heart" whilst working on them::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::The highlight of my knitting year had to be my trip to the Shetland Islands for the Wool Week Holiday::I will never forget the trip to Mousa where we lay down at the foot of the Broch at Midnight to listen to the Storm Petrels returning to feed their young::I was wearing my Baa-ble Headband adapted from Donna Smith's Baa-ble Hat and it started a lovely conversation on the boat back with local knitting girls::An experience I will treasure for ever::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Enjoying a drink outside the Shetland Textile Museum ::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::On that trip I met with three ladies from Jimmy Beans Wool and I was gifted the Sandy Goes to Scotland hat pattern by them and it was a delight to make in honour of these really wonderful knitters, Sandy, Jeannie and Laura::I met so many really exceptional people on that holiday and my knitting life was enriched beyond measure::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">::The Sandy Hat::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Another highlight has been my inspiring knitting friend Lisette of the Flitter Knitter blog which you can see </span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://www.theflitterknitter.blogspot.com/">here</a>::</span><span style="color: #666666;">We share a love of everything Louisa Harding, the colour teal as well as seasonal produce, cooking and tea drinking::</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">::"Chrysalis" cardi by Louisa Harding for a knit along::</span></td></tr>
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::I have had a lot of knitting fun this Christmas too::I knitted some Simple House Slippers by Simone A. with some Gnome Acres worsted in "Mistletoe"::</span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::I joined in with Dani of the Little Bobbins Podcast's Christmas Eve Sock knit along::I used the delightful Desert Vista Dye Works sock yarn in the colourway "Zombody's been kissing Santa Claus" and they are so evocative of the season::</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::And on Christmas Day my Husband and Mother, who both understand my knitting passion, bought me a sheep knitting bag by Quincepie Designs on Etsy and some Millifera 100% super wash merino singles sock in the "Rusty Gate" colour::</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::So to round off the knitting year I am spending the morning working on a pair of mittens with some Jamieson & Smith aran I bought in their Shetland shop and reminiscing about my time there and making plans for my New Knitting Year ahead::</span></span><div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Ending a good knitting year with some cabled mittens::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ::Wherever you are I hope you have had a great crafting year and wish you a very Happy 2016::</span><br />
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-83215778992368484542015-12-07T11:12:00.000-08:002015-12-07T11:12:27.198-08:00Wool and The Gang Party and Periscoping <span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::It has been a busy late Summer and Autumn in terms of crafting for me::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I went to a <a href="http://www.woolandthegang.com/t/whats-new"><b>Wool and the Gang knitting</b></a> party at <a href="http://www.thejamtree.com/"><b>The Jam Tree</b></a> in Clapham, London::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::They were very welcoming and fun to knit with and the kit was very exciting::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::We were given a set of large wooden knitting needles with some re-cycled tee shirt material yarn and clasps, needle and a cute Wool and the Gang brooch::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I chose this beautiful teal colour to make my clutch bag::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::The Jam Tree was an ideal venue for me as my son, Toby, is living nearby and he came to meet me and we went off to see the Eric Ravilious exhibition at the Dulwich Gallery afterwards::Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day except that it was absolutely pouring with rain::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> :: I chose to make a clutch bag with a tassel and have almost finished it but I let other things get in the way:: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I even made a quick Periscope of the party::I loved making Periscope videos but found that they were quickly going to be something that took away from actual crafting time and that was not a good thing for me at the moment::sadly, I have had to leave Periscope on the back burner for now as it sucks up too much time::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::This was a fun crafting adventure and I would not hesitate to go to another Wool and The Gang Party::</span><br />
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-1600433017574487022015-08-09T11:15:00.000-07:002015-08-21T01:54:08.488-07:00Shetland Wool Week Holiday July 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">::This July I was fortunate enough to join a group of knitters on the Shetland Wool Week Holiday in Scotland:: Our holiday started with a visit to the Shetland Museum and archives in Lerwick::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Dr Carol Christiansen gave us an exclusive tour of the famous Shetland textile collection::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::We learned about the textiles that the people of Shetland crafted to keep them warm in their often difficult climate::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::These, unique to Shetland, taatit rugs were woollen loops stitched into a woven ground::</span></div>
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:<span style="color: #666666;">:<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rugs were constructed in two halves and the pattern often does not meet exactly::</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::my, personal, theory for this was, that I imagined a family visit and the two women starting the pattern with each taking a half and working on it until the visit ended. Then working on it in their own homes and when they got back together found they didn't match exactly - that, as I say, is my own personal take on why they don't match, of course, no-one knows exactly why this is!::</span></span></div>
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::<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This box bed above would have had a taatit rug. It was used right side down for extra warmth from the air trapped in the wool fibres::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::A sweet little detail beside the box bed::And a heart shape decorative to use for opening the door of the box bed::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Above the crofters would spin the wool and then a fabric would be woven and this would then be used to stitch the taatit rug::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::There were lots of examples of Fair Isle knitted items and lace hidden away in drawers which you could pull out to examine (sorry I was so engrossed in looking I forgot to photograph the lace)::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::A fisherman's hat - you could be distinguished according to your Fair Isle::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::a Fair Isle worn in a prisoner of war camp::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::Fair Isle Golf socks::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::After a delicious lunch we were given a masterclass in Fair Isle by the world's fastest knitter, <a href="http://www.hazeltindall.com/">Hazel Tindall</a>::</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Below are some of the wonderful examples she brought with her to inspire us and to teach us about colour combining::</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Hazel was a delight to learn from and her gentle wisdom and quiet assured manner will always stay with me::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::one of Hazel's hat examples, the colours really spoke to me as I thought the combination of purples and greys worked so well together::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Here is the mug hap project worked in Fair Isle with steeked handle opening that Hazel Tindall and Donna Smith were giving their masterclasses in::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">::Below we arrive for our masterclass with Donna Smith which was held in the beautiful <a href="http://www.bustahouse.com/">Busta House Hotel</a> in Brae::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::We were working on our Fair Isle mug haps (cosies) which we started in our Masterclass with Hazel Tindall on day one:: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Donna was going to help us learn how to improve our steeking (cutting into knitted fabric)::Donna showed us lots of examples of her knitted work and explained how they were constructed using different ways of steeking::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Donna, like all the professional knitters we were introduced to, was very generous with her knowledge. Like Hazel, Donna had a calm assured way about her which made me feel totally relaxed and ready to learn::</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl652lxf4U8/VbploZviggI/AAAAAAAADlM/IIR_uLIMzYs/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl652lxf4U8/VbploZviggI/AAAAAAAADlM/IIR_uLIMzYs/s320/IMG_3552.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">::Working on my hap in the long room with some fortification - a delicious cream tea::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::(Below)Looking up I could see how everyone was totally absorbed by their </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">work including Janet, from <a href="http://www.threshingbarn.com/">The Threshing Barn</a>, who had brought her travelling spinning wheel with her and was busy core plying some beautiful yarn::</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::I was delighted to have my picture taken with Donna who</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">is holding my headband which I made using her Babble Hat Design::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">::</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Susan Crawford drops by and chats with the class members - she is the one with the beautiful long red hair::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::During the session we were joined by Susan Crawford who was in Shetland to see the location where photographs for her new book, Vintage Shetland Knitting, were going to be taken::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::One of the ladies in our group who already knew Susan had been delighted to be asked to join her on a visit to the castle, on another Island, where the shoot was planned::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I can't wait to see the finished book, as her description and the photos Tracey took whilst she was there looked amazing::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::You can watch an interview Ysolda did with Susan <a href="http://ysolda.com/blog/2015/8/7/the-vintage-shetland-project-an-interview-with-susan-crawford">here</a>, it is a very interesting look at how the book came about and the work involved in producing it::Many of the garments she mentions we were able to look at at the museum in Lerwick::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::some of the finished mug haps with steeked handle openings, also showing how different</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">knitting styles and colour choices can make the same object look completely different::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::Also joining us that afternoon was Hazel Tindall::Here are the two Masterclass tutors who,</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I hope, were pleased with the work of their students - well they have lovely smiles so I guess maybe they were::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOEOqVoTazY/VbppgzCTooI/AAAAAAAADmI/qatL-QdJ0Uc/s1600/IMG_3578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOEOqVoTazY/VbppgzCTooI/AAAAAAAADmI/qatL-QdJ0Uc/s320/IMG_3578.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::One of my favourite photos from the trip when it looked as if we were</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">members of the paparazzi lined up to take photos of our 'stars':: </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0G-FYdcRl7g/VbpptoAVzwI/AAAAAAAADmQ/hr2zheZVcOI/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0G-FYdcRl7g/VbpptoAVzwI/AAAAAAAADmQ/hr2zheZVcOI/s320/IMG_3581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::Jeanne and Sandy from Jimmy Beans Wool with their mug haps::they are</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">joined by Susan Crawford, Donna Smith and Hazel Tindall::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::The next day we took a trip to the village of Hoswick in Sandwick, where we were met by the larger-than-life character Neila Kalra in her shop <a href="http://www.nielanell.com/">nielanell designs</a>::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Here she holds us all entranced talking about her designs and her knitting philosophy::Neila started her career in law but soon realised her calling was in the design world and she studied for an MA...<a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/the-lawyer-who-became-a-shetland-fashion-designer-1-3598686">here</a> is a link to an article in the Scotsman which explains her journey and philosophy::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Neila's shop was a work of art in itself and most of us were tempted to buy some of her work::I bought a 'neck thingy' in her unique knitted material which gives an extremely elastic finish to the product::</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::Whilst we were visiting a tombola, Sandy from Jimmy Beans Wool posed in her beautiful hand-knit beaded pi shawl::the pattern was so gorgeous I bought a copy for myself when I got home::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M7FQUl2xK8/Vbpq0HXtopI/AAAAAAAADmg/Q_Ofjhh81nQ/s1600/IMG_3625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_M7FQUl2xK8/Vbpq0HXtopI/AAAAAAAADmg/Q_Ofjhh81nQ/s320/IMG_3625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::Apologies for the silhouetted photo but as you can see we had a beautiful view from the floor to ceiling windows of our room at Sumburgh Lighthouse where we were given a lace Masterclass:</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VnBSpypkOco/VbprO1aatGI/AAAAAAAADmw/9gLkxaiJof8/s1600/IMG_3628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VnBSpypkOco/VbprO1aatGI/AAAAAAAADmw/9gLkxaiJof8/s320/IMG_3628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::I loved the happy and relaxed relationship our tutors, Anne Eunson and Elizabeth Johnson, had which made concentrating on our lace knitting so much more enjoyable::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bMX3Nl2ACuA/VbprynToeWI/AAAAAAAADm4/5hwMUn6VpXw/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bMX3Nl2ACuA/VbprynToeWI/AAAAAAAADm4/5hwMUn6VpXw/s320/IMG_3629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">::We were working on small lace panels which we could embellish with some colour work at the top and bottom::this beautiful piece was knitted by one of my fellow students::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Anne Eunson as you may know was the lady who knitted a lace fence - see <a href="http://katedaviesdesigns.com/2012/09/05/anne-eunsons-artistry/">this link</a> to a Kate Davies blog post about the fence::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::At our other lace Masterclass we were driven up to Unst where we worked in the Unst Heritage Centre::We were using a much finer lace wool::The pattern as you can see in the photo below uses symbols and letters to explain the lace::</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LytwGQxEcvE/VbpryhF_XvI/AAAAAAAADm8/-NN4YT0_Bjo/s1600/IMG_3686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LytwGQxEcvE/VbpryhF_XvI/AAAAAAAADm8/-NN4YT0_Bjo/s320/IMG_3686.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Lots of bargain knitwear at the Sandness Mill shop::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::We went to Sandness Mill, home to Jamieson's of Shetland yarn, where we were given a wonderful welcome and tour by Garry Jamieson::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Below are a selection of photos from the tour::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666;">::look at these beautiful wooden pins holding the wool sacks together::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::we also visited Jamieson & Smith in Lerwick::the shop was just beautiful as you can see below::it was very easy to get carried away thinking that it would be possible to knit an entire lace shawl and I might have bought a pattern and wool to have a go!::</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mmkvz7iLsls/VcX0GrocOHI/AAAAAAAADqY/jZmv9TiWFks/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mmkvz7iLsls/VcX0GrocOHI/AAAAAAAADqY/jZmv9TiWFks/s320/IMG_3765.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666;">::there was a sheep blanket by Kate Davis using the natural wool colours::I have the wool and pattern ready to have a go at this pattern::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Below are pictures showing how we were given a tour of the wool broking process at Jamieson & Smith::the fleeces are graded according to how they can be used::there have been some wonderful advances in the wool trade which has meant that the wool can be used in many different products including carpets and bedding as well as the traditional jumpers and shawls::</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666;">::here is a lace shawl and a 'Viking' under dress::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #666666;">::and, of course, in the shop is the most magnificent Up Helly Aa Viking costume which you can see and read more about <a href="https://jamiesonandsmith.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/viking-visits-js/">here</a> and <a href="https://jamiesonandsmith.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/up-helly-aa-2015/">here </a>on their blog::</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ::on the last day I went to the <a href="http://www.shetlandtextilemuseum.com/">Shetland Textile Museum</a> which was just the most perfect end to this wonderful holiday::the museum is community organised and has some great local knitted items for sale::I did buy quite a lot here::I will have a separate blog post about the things I bought on this holiday::</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::finally, here is the knitting I was able to do at the Masterclasses::</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">::my mug hap, I picked some very subtle colours which seemed to me to speak of the summer landscape of Shetland::we used the Fair Isle technique together with steeking::</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">::My lace sample using a two ply lace and introducing colour at each end:: Next time I will show a picture of the lace when it is blocked:</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666;">::Our second, finer, lace sample was washed and blocked and mounted as a greetings card, although I will probably frame mine to have as a keepsake::we were shown how to use our</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">::We did so many things on this holiday but one of the non-knitting highlights was catching the Mousa ferry about ten thirty at night - remember it is still fairly light as there is the Simmer Dim during the summer months::</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">::Then we landed at the island of Mousa and walked up to the broch where we laid with our heads to the wall of the broch and the storm petrels began to return, having spent up to three days out at sea, to feed their young in the crevices in the walls of the broch::the sound of the birds feeding their young has been described as 'a fairy being sick'::it was just magical and a very special experience::</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::H<a href="http://www.mousa.co.uk/storm-petrel-trip" style="font-size: 13px;">ere</a><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">is the ferry website where you can see some photos and learn more about this wonderful adventure::</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px;">::So that is my whistle stop tour of my Shetland Wool Week Holiday::We visited the north and south and the east and west of the island with our very knowledgeable guide and driver::we ate some delicious food::we met so many friendly and interesting people and our group got on extremely well::I was delighted to spend time in the company of fellow knitters and especially those with a love of Shetland and its beautiful wool::</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">::Teresa::</span></span></h2>
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Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872587637108769126.post-6029814127016776342015-07-12T07:49:00.000-07:002015-07-12T07:49:07.243-07:00Off the Needles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::A flurry of activity over the past couple of months has seen quite a few projects flying off my needles::</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Avana by</span> <a href="http://blog.byannieclaire.com/"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Annie Rowden</span></b></a><span style="color: #666666;"> was lovely and quick to knit with an unusual construction::I used the natural undyed Ullcentrum DK/Worsted for a lovely summer cover up::</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICjIJ79Q6mA/VaCu0CIN6gI/AAAAAAAADb4/GHEb31NmHEM/s1600/IMG_2854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICjIJ79Q6mA/VaCu0CIN6gI/AAAAAAAADb4/GHEb31NmHEM/s320/IMG_2854.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Then there was the very pretty </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kiva-beach-shawl"><span style="color: #444444;">Kiva Beach Shawl</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> by Yellowcosmo::I was so taken by basilandbelle's Coast to Coast Kiva Beach Shawl test knit that I made an exact copy::the Mabel & Ivy Coast Merino and Cotton 3ply yarn was absolutely wonderful to knit with and I have plans for more knitting with it::It has a beaded lace section which I achieved by threading the beads onto the yarn and introducing them at knit stitches on the right side::</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::Now, of course, it is Tour de Fleece::I am in the </span><a href="http://www.fondantfibre.com/"><span style="color: #444444;">Fondant Fibre</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> team::We have to use her fibre which is absolutely never going to be a problem::Punis in the Silent Movie colour way in merino, kid mohair and sparkle, were my first stage of the race::we are spinning every day that the Tour de France is on and resting on their rest days::there are prizes on the Ravelry groups for several aspects of spinning::</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::having spun 100g I could not wait to start knitting a project and have decided on a pair of </span><a href="http://www.laughinghens.com/knitting-pattern-page.asp?patternpageid=12955"><span style="color: #444444;">Victoria wrist warmers</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> by Louisa Harding from her book Knitting Little Luxuries:: </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Everyone seemed to be knitting the</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waterlily-7"><span style="color: #444444;">Waterlily</span></a></span><span style="color: #666666;"> from Pom Pom Quarterly magazine::so I did too::</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::I also visited </span><a href="http://www.cowslipworkshops.co.uk/"><span style="color: #444444;">Cowslip Farm</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> near Launceston on my way home from a trip to Mevagissey in Cornwall::I fell in love with this little pillow and made one for myself::</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::My free gift from my Rowan subscription in the Winter was Big Wool and a </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wickery-cowl"><span style="color: #444444;">Wickery Cowl</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> pattern by Diana Krawchuk and it was quick and easy to knit::</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"> ::Dani of </span><a href="http://www.littlebobbins.co.uk/"><span style="color: #444444;">Little Bobbin Knits</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> organised a swap and we had to send a mug cosy and tea to another participant::I had fun knitting a cosy, coaster and teabag holder for Emily and she sent me a lovely package with a beautiful blue cosy in return::</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Here is the finished result of my fat quarter tote::I absolutely love it::And it's purple handles are just perfect for the fabric::</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::A double gold star for my </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Thistledown/fancy-silk-sock-for-a-child-of-5-or-6-years-2"><span style="color: #444444;">Fancy Silk Sock for a Child by Nancy Bush</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> at the Essex Federation of Women's Institues Summer Show at </span><a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall"><span style="color: #444444;">RHS Hyde Hall</span></a><span style="color: #666666;">::</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-37qI0gCzUek/VaIz41YlgPI/AAAAAAAADfU/uUFXF89_lLQ/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-37qI0gCzUek/VaIz41YlgPI/AAAAAAAADfU/uUFXF89_lLQ/s320/IMG_2806.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">::More sewing and a lovely </span><a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/washi/"><span style="color: #444444;">Washi Tape Dress</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> in a Swiss lawn cotton::very happy to have found something simple but pretty to sew::</span></span><br />
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::Spurred on by my success I made this charming little <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/patternpdfs/sailor-top-pdf-pattern"><span style="color: #444444;">Sailor Top</span></a> in a cotton fabric::<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::I am off to Shetland to join in a wool holiday and there was a free bobble hat pattern that I adapted to make this cute head band::it is very windy there::they are having the coldest summer since 1947::thank goodness I am a knitter::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::the road trip to Cornwall saw me making a start on the Lus by Mer Stevens from the Spring Pom Pom Quarterly::it will be a long knitting 'trip' for this one::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::And what would a knitting life be without a little stash enhancement::And a little reading too::</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">::Whatever your summer brings you I hope it includes some handicraft work or some reading::</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">::Teresa::</span></div>
Teresa Parkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06878377816406775321noreply@blogger.com0