Here Be Knitting

The Knitting. A Quickie....

I'm making this quick, it's late and I'm very tired.  I've been off the computer for a few weeks due to computer problems.  Back now, so will have to catch up with a few postings.  First up, I need to thank Shelagh for an absolutely fantastic final gift box in our 2007 exchange.  The swapping has been great, the making of a new friend positively beyond words.

The photos:

Some yummy chocs, hair clips and great Christmas themed pot holder, hand towels and gingerbread man!

 

A kitty themed calendar, bookmark and notelets, some metallic pens, 10 (count 'em 10!!) skeins of Knit Picks Shine Sport (60/40 cotton modal) in colourway crocus and some gorgeous hand made stitch markers.

A stunning hand knitted hand felted bag - glorious isn't it?

A close up of the Stitch Markers.  Aren't I lucky??!!!

Enough for now....

The Knitting. Not Much Happening Here....

It has been over a week since I last posted and I feel like I have achieved very little.  To this end, I think I hate the Yarn Harlot - she makes me feel so slack, inadequate, slow :)  Not only does she knit absolutely stunning gifts for her lucky family and friends, but she churns them out like some sort of human factory - how does she do it?  I seem to spend a lot of time knitting, but I have nowhere near the finished objects to show for my trouble.  My efforts over the last week and a half are as follows:

The First Earl of Grey is off the needles:

Her Dad has decided to gift these to his Brother in England for Christmas.  Great - nice sentiment, he "might" get them in time for Valentine's Day....

I do like these Dahlias (and I'm not just sayin it now).  I haven't cast on for the second one yet, I've got a Christmas pair of Size 12's putting the pressure on now....  And before you say anything about how much I have achieved, please remember that both these socks were past the heel when I last blogged them.....

I have completed something for The Girl:

And a close up of the stole:

A very simple pattern using about 1 and 1/2 skeins of the lovely lace weight mohair/silk that Shelagh sent me.  I think I will knit one for myself - it is lovely finished and I have skeins left - woohoo.

And finally, a photo of my knitting corner with all my knitterly bits and pieces.  I haven't started the Christmas pudding, the oven is on the blink and no present has yet been purchased, but my knitting corner is comfy and complete - all is well with the World (who am I kidding - but it does sound great, don't you think??)..

Enough for now....

Added Later:

And now I feel sooooo guilty.  Stephanie over at the Yarn Harlot has fallen down her basement stairs, injured her elbow and thrown out the knitting schedule.  I hope it wasn't me who jinxed her..... :) :)   Although she did at least have a great time with friends decorating gingerbread :) 

The Knitting. The Dahlias, The Lentens, The Earls...

As promised, a photo of the original Dahlias on the feet, so to speak:  Noice, are they not?

And here are the Earls on Her Dad's whoppers:

Spiffing, me thinks.

And here, are the Identity Crisis socks, still not sure who they want to be - Dahlias, Lenten Roses, or socks for our troops:

 

See what I mean?  I'm going to say that I like them, mostly because they don't look quite so bad in "real life", but also because I've come too far to leave them all behind (sorry very bad music taste rearing its ugly head) to stop now.  Let me know if you still like them, I won't be offended - ugly ducklings don't always turn into swans :)

This last weekend, we were out at The Block.  Some lovely Briar Roses were flowering:

Roses, particularly old fashioned roses, are my very, very, very most favourite plant of all.  And these simple pure varities deserve their place, weeds or not. 

But, these simple little creatures I could do without:

There were thousands of the beasts!  I wandered around with my skirt over my mouth and nose (it is a scary image, don't dwell too long on the thought) to keep them out.  Yuk.  I have since purchased myself one of those fly meshes that go over your hat. Yah. Me and the flies can lead entirely separate lives. 

But... we did see some truly beautiful things:

You really need to click on this one to get it.

Isn't she lovely...

Enough for now.