More Tiny! ten adventures

Tiny! ten has now left Scotland to continue on his travels but before he left, there were a few more photo opportunities.

This past week, Torchwood was dominating the BBC1 schedules so it was only natural to watch it with Tiny! ten. No spoilers here as I know its not been on elsewhere in the world. All I will say is that it was really, really good.



We also went to knitting group and sat in the Conservatory with a variety of artwork.



There was also a little bit of Paisley sightseeing. Down by the old Anchor thread mill and the Hamills - a local waterfall.



And back towards the mill from beside the river.



And a rare blog picture of me with Tiny! ten.



Tiny! ten has now travelled to England to continue his adventures and I hope that Andrea has as much fun with him.

The adventures of Tiny! ten

Its probably obvious from previous posts that I'm a bit of a Doctor Who fan. Anyway last year on the Who knits group on Ravelry, I signed up for a swap called the Travelling timelord pass along which involves a crocheted tiny version of the Tenth Doctor travelling between various knitters across the world. Tiny! ten arrived with me last week and I've been out about taking pictures of Tiny! ten in various locations.

We went to Stirling and visited the Castle.



Stopped by George Square in Glasgow.



Visited the Police box in Buchannan street in Glasgow.



Went off to Edinburgh and visited the Royal mile.



Climbed up to Edinburgh Castle.



Tomorrow I'm off for a wander around Glasgow and Paisley for more pictures and then off to Knitting group for the evening with Tiny! ten in tow.

A day out to New Lanark

Today I've spent the day out and about. My aunt is visiting from Canada and my uncle and aunt are visiting from England so I joined them and my parents on a day out to New Lanark. Its a World heritage site village which had working cotton mills and was run by a social reformer called Robert Owen, who believed in better working and living conditions for his workers. The mill buildings now house visitor centres plus they also spin and dye yarn for sale.

I took a ton of pictures whilst I was there. New Lanark is in the Clyde valley and the falls of Clyde are nearby, making the surrounding area really pretty.

The view towards the mill.



Across the River Clyde.



Wool bobbins being wound



A huge carder for cotton fibres.



I bought some yarn whilst I was there - some DK weight wool. There's only one ball here but I did buy more than one - enough to knit a cardigan in fact.



Here's a slide show of all pictures, including some pictures of my various relatives acting a little silly.



All in all it was a great day and really interesting to hear about this side of Scottish history. It was also good to have a relaxing day as so far this week has been pretty busy. I was working nights at the weekend then I'm back on night shift again Thursday/Friday. Then its a couple of hours sleep and off to a cousin's wedding on Saturday afternoon so its going to be a little hectic for the rest of the week too.
Oh and back on to nights on Monday night. I think I might be a little worn out next week.

Knit in Public day 2009 Glasgow style

Yesterday was World wide knit in public day. In previous years, various things have prevented me from taking part but this year, various Glasgow based knitters joined together to have a knitters' picnic in Kelvingrove park in Glasgow. Prior to the event, the weather reports were unpromising and rain was suggested. However, the weathermen and women got it wrong yet again and it was a sunny and warm day.

Umbrellas were surprisingly used as parasols and cupcakes were eaten.



There was knitting in the sun.




There was even Knitters pass the parcel with prizes from Purplejen



And a thrown yarn prize from Karie after the planned yarn and spoon race was cancelled due to no one being able to move after all the cupcakes and other food.




Karie has a group shot on her blog Glasgow knitting picnic

All in all, a great day and it looks likely to happen again, hopefully some time later in the summer.

Post weekend update

I'm back after a fun weekend of stitching, knitting and relaxing with friends. The weather was pretty awful whilst we were away but we all had fun anyway.

The place that we stay at is a working farm with Alpacas and all sorts of other animals. The alpacas have just recently been sheared so they look a little bald.





For some reason this duck was trying to swim across a really shallow puddle on its own.



Prior to the weekend, myself and the other people at the GTG had been commissioned to make a wall hanging by the owner of the farm that we stayed on. The floral stitching that I shared recently was what I stitched for it.





The wall hanging seemed to go down pretty well. Whilst I was away, I managed a couple of stitching finishes.

Tending the blooms by Shepherd's bush



Santa's coming by Shepherd's bush



I'm hoping to get a lot more stitching, knitting and even some sewing done during the remainder of this week. I don't go back to work until Monday night so that leaves me with a decent amount of spare time.

Weekend update and some shameless begging

This weekend has been lovely and relaxing. The west of Scotland is currently having a little spell of lovely summer weather which is happily happening whilst I'm off work. Today I've spent most of the day at my parents' house sitting in their garden, enjoying the weather.



They have a little garden room thing in their rather small and wild garden, which is absolutely stuffed with plants. At the moment, they also have family of Blue tits in a nesting box in the eaves of their house. The chicks are about to fledge out of the nest and its been lots of fun to watch them sticking their little heads out plus watching their parents try to keep up with their food demands. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture of them.

Later we had a barbeque and I did a little outdoor knitting whilst everything got going.



Yesterday I was too tired to do anything very much so I ended up stitching for a few hours on the sofa. Rather than work on anything too challenging, I stitched up a Shepherd's bush kit from my stash - Keeping the bees. I'm thinking of finishing this into a pinkeep.



I'm hoping for a lot more stitching and knitting progress whilst I'm off on holiday and I will of course share pictures of the wall hanging that I talked about in my last post once I've seen the finished article.

You might notice that there is a new thing in my blog sidebar just now. My little sister Nicola is running in the Cancer Research race for life next weekend. She's been training for quite a few months now and has done so well. She started coming to the gym with me around this time last year after she stopped smoking and I'm very proud of her. Cancer has affected her life with her FIL being diagnosed with cancer and nearly dying just before her planned wedding date. Thankfully her FIL is still alive and fighting cancer as is a favourite Uncle of ours who was diagnosed with lung cancer over 5 years ago. Advances in treatment have meant that our Uncle is still alive today to meet his first Great grandchild, who was born last year. This is especially amazing given that he was given 18 months to live at diagnosis. So if you can spare a few pennies, I would really appreciate a donation. I see how cancer changes lives everyday at work so its a cause that is close to my heart. Unfortunately I can't be there in person to see her run but I wish her, and the hundreds of other people who have given up their time to run, lots of luck.

Socks and stitching

One of my favourite things of the year is the weekend GTG that I'm going to in a couple of weeks. A long weekend in a lovely group of cottages on a farm with lots of stitchers and crafters who I've known for quite a few years now. Last year, the owner of the farm sounded us all out about making a wall hanging for her farm in return for a discount on this year's visit. Different people are doing different bits of it - Kate of Sparklies has designed the cross stitch section for instance and Joy has been organising us all plus putting it all together along with several others. I've stitched a small section and I really can't wait to see it all put together.



Flowers aren't my usual thing but I volunteered to stitch the french knots as I really like stitching them and most people aren't too keen. My stitching motivation still isn't too great so it took me a lot longer to stitch this than it should have.


Knitting motivation is still going strong however. I've finished my Kai-mei socks from the last post. The pattern is by Cookie A, who is definitely my favourite sock pattern designer. She writes such lovely patterns. The yarn is Malabrigo sock in Lettuce and its even greener in real life.



I've also made some progress on my Socktopus March sock club socks. The first sock is done and I've moved on to the second.



I quite like the embellishments even though its not particularly practical. Hopefully I shall finish the second one this weekend.

Next week brings the first week of two weeks off work which I'm really looking forward to. I'm hoping for lots of stitching, knitting and crafting plus there is the GTG and lots of things to do around the house.

Star trek

I spent an enjoyable couple of hours at the cinema yesterday watching the new Star trek movie. As a child, I very occasionally watched the original Star trek series but I really wasn't a fan. I've seen bits of some of the movies but I really wasn't keen. Mostly I was put off by William Shatner. Later on, Next generation came on to Sky and I was hooked on it. My real favourite is Deep space nine, mostly because of its continuing stories and dark, dramatic side. When I heard about the new movie, my interest was peaked, particularly once casting information started coming out and Zachary Quinto was named in the part of Spock. He's absolutely fantastic in Heroes even when he's being ubur creepy.

The whole film just blew me away. Its stunning visually although I did find it a little loud as I can be a little noise sensitive. The casting is, without exception, perfect. Zachary Quinto is just Spock without being an impression of Leonard Nimoy. Chris Pine is a better Kirk imo than Shatner. My favourite was Simon Pegg as Scotty. He does a Scottish accent thats like the original Scotty but is more like a proper Scottish accent. He also has the best facial expressions and stole a couple of scenes in the background just by the way he was looking at everyone. I might just go back and see it again as I enjoyed it so much.

But not this weekend sadly. Its back to work tonight and I'm also working tomorrow. Its only a couple of weeks till my holidays and the weekend GTG that I'm going on.

May Monday progress

This past weekend has been a lovely time of rest and relaxation after a very stressful week at work. I've cooked myself some lovely food - Asparagus cannelloni due to the bargain aisle at Tesco and then couscous, pittas and houmous yesterday. Having time off also meant I got some stitching and knitting time in.

Yesterday I got some stitching time in Autumn watergarden, which I've fallen behind with a little. I've now managed to get part 1 finished, beading and all and got a fairly good start on part 2.



I've also been stitching on my part of the group wallhanging that I'm part of and that's almost done too.

Knitting wise, I've been knitting on a couple of pairs of socks. First up, the Socktopus club socks from last month's parcel have made some progress. The people in my knitting group have heard my frustrations with these socks at the last meetup I made it too as I was having problems with one of the pattern lines that was in turn causing problems with the stitch count. It turns out that one of the written pattern repeats had an extra yarn over in it but the chart didn't. I had been using the written pattern, hence my problem. After getting over this, I made quicker progress. The first sock is knitted and I'm now on to the icord embellishments of that sock.



Whilst I was really frustrated by the problems of that sock, I cast on the first of a pair of socks from the new Cookie A book - Kai-Mei in Malabrigo sock in Lettuce.




I have done a little yarn buying over the weekend though. I've been trying to find a little cardigan to go with my dress without luck. I did, however manage to find the right colour of cotton yarn to knit one so hopefully with a firm deadline, I hopefully should get it done. The yarn is Drops safran and I'm planning to use the pattern Marigold from Rowan 45.

April progress and May goals

For April, I said I would

1. Finish a Lacy cardigan that I'm currently knitting. I've only got the sleeves to go.
- Yes I finished it.

2. Finish at least one pair of socks
- I finished my Jungle stripe socks

3. Start and finish my Socktopus April sock club socks once they arrive.
- I've started them but I'm having a few problems with the pattern on one of the rows and with the stitch count.

4. Finish at least part 1 of Autumn Watergarden and try to finish part 2.
- Didn't even manage a stitch in it.

5. Finish the box side of Japanese Octagon box and start the next part.
- Yes and I've made quite a bit of the progress on the next part, the first side of the scissor holder

6. Stitch my part of a group wall hanging project that I'm part of.
- No


For May, I plan to

1. Stitch my part of a group wall hanging that I'm part of.

2. Finish the first half of the Japanese Octagon box scissor holder and make a start on the next part.

3. Finish Part 1 of Autumn watergarden and start part 2

4. Knit 1 pair of socks from the new CookieA book for the Cookie A KAL that I've joined on Ravelry.

5. Finish my Socktopus club socks provided I can get the pattern problem sorted.

Tuesday geekyness

As anyone who knows me in real life or who has been reading here for a while, I love Doctor Who. I started watching it when I was only about 4 and Tom Baker was the Doctor. So when I found out last year that a Doctor Who exhibition was coming to Glasgow, I knew that I had to get there. Its being held in the big local museum, Kelvingrove, which is a gorgeous building with lots of different exhibits. My favourites are a Salvador Dali painting Christ of St. John of the cross and Rennie Mackintosh/Glasgow style galleries.

I had a great day and took quite a few pictures which I've embedded a slide show of below. I've also included a picture of the random old police box that sits on one of Glasgow's busiest streets and always cheers me up a little when I see it.

Friday progress

I'm continuing to make some progress on my goals for this month but I fear I may run out of month before I run out of goals.

I have finished one of the pairs of socks that I currently have on the needles - Plain stockinette socks in Lorna's laces shepherd sock in Jungle stripe.



I've also made a start on the latest Socktopus sock club socks - Over the garden wall toe up socks by Loumms creations. The yarn is Artist's Palette sweet feet in sweet pea.



Toe up socks are a new thing for me so I'm learning a lot. Mostly that they are easier than I thought they would be.

Finally I've finished the side panels for Japanese Octagon box. I really want to get this all finished up soon as it will look perfect in my bedroom which has a lot of oriental bits and pieces. Last week I finished redecorating my bedroom and this would just set it off perfectly.

Tuesday update

As I mentioned in the last post, I've finished the Blue lacy Cardigan that I've been knitting this past few weeks. Its another design by Ysolda Teague - Liesl. and its knitted in New Lanark aran so a truly Scottish production.



There's more pictures of it on my Flickr page if you click on the picture.

On Monday evening, I knitted up a little bracelet kit that I had bought last year at the local stitching show. Its 0.3mm wire threaded with beads and was really easy to do.



Part of what inspired me to knit up the bracelet was that I'm planning to wear it later in the year. My cousin's son is getting married in June and I'm invited to the wedding as my sister and I were very close to him as children. My mum's extended family is huge so family weddings get a little big if everyone was invited. On Monday, I spent the day shopping for something to wear to the wedding with my mum and sister. I'm not a big fashionista or particularly girly so I needed their help to find something as they both are. After a lot of looking, I was persuaded to try on a dress. I'm more a jeans/trouser sort of girl so I was really surprised to find that I really liked it. Now I need to find or make some sort of cardigan/shrug type thing to wear with it.



Whilst I was in the shop, I also tried on a embroidered top which appealed to my cross stitching side. I'm hoping that we have a summer this year as I decided to buy it and want the chance to wear it.

An Easter bunny

Happy Easter everyone. I've spent today relaxing with some chocolate and knitting. This week I've finished a little Easter project - An egg cosy.



I also finished my lacy blue cardigan today. Pictures to follow once its blocked. I'm hoping to have a few finishes this week as I've got some time off.

A variety of finishes and some progress pictures

I've been catching up this evening with some of the things I've been making lately. First up, a finish from last month, Violets by Shepherd's bush. I'm not sure as yet how I'm going to finish it.



At the weekend, I made one of my previous finishes into a biscornu. The design is a freebie that I got with a package of Dinky dye fibres from West End embroidery at the Harrogate show a couple of years ago.



A couple of weekends ago, I made my first visit to a new and very lovely bead shop that has opened in Glasgow along with a couple of people from my knitting group. Its a fabulous shop and I'm planning a return visit soon. Whilst I was there, I picked up some purple beads that I've made into elasticated bracelet. You can see two of them below.



Whilst I was there, I also bought a watch face, some glass beads and silver spacers that became this watch and bracelet set. Its a slightly late Mother's day present for my mum which I hope she like. She doesn't read my blog so its safe to share here.



In my goals post, I mentioned that I've made some progress on Autumn watergarden and Japanese Octagon box so I thought I'd share some progress pictures. I'm enjoying my stitching again thankfully.





Not much else going on here. I'm working this weekend on night shift then flipping back on to day shift on Tuesday, which I am very unimpressed about but I'm off work the following week. On Wednesday, I saw my GP and I've got sinusitis, which would account for the facial pain and general washed out feeling I've had lately. I have some antibiotics to take which are making me feel pretty sick but at least they are helping.

March progress and April goals

For March I hoped I would

1. Finish my Central Park Hoodie - I only have a little bit of each sleeve, the hood and the button bands to do so its achievable - Yay I managed this as you can see from the last post

2. Finish one pair of socks currently on the needles - again achievable as I'm on the second sock of one pair - Again I managed this as per my last post.

3. Stitch at least the first part of Autumn Watergarden - Not quite but I made some progress.

4. Finish stitching the box side of Japanese Octagon box and make a start on at least one more section - Well I've almost finished the box side.

In addition I managed to start and finish Violets by Shepherd's bush and make a previous finish into a biscornu. I've also been doing a little beading of some bracelets and a watch strap.


For April I plan to

1. Finish a Lacy cardigan that I'm currently knitting. I've only got the sleeves to go.

2. Finish at least one pair of socks

3. Start and finish my Socktopus April sock club socks once they arrive.

4. Finish at least part 1 of Autumn Watergarden and try to finish part 2.

5. Finish the box side of Japanese Octagon box and start the next part.

6. Stitch my part of a group wall hanging project that I'm part of.