A little updating

So I haven't fallen down a hole and vanished. I've just been a bit blog uninspired. Anyway I'm happy to report that my things are a little better. I have started physio which is working as I can now feel my left foot properly but it has had the temporary effect of making my back more painful. I'm still off work and have been told by the physio not to go back just yet as it could just make things worse. Thankfully I'm lucky enough to have paid sick time.

The Anniversary sampler got finished just in time. The designs are by M designs and were stitched on 28ct Antique linen using Gloriana silk in Cranberry.



There was a family party to celebrate my parents 40th wedding anniversary held in the local Cricket club. Scotland is not really known for Cricket playing but there are quite a lot of teams and my dad does enjoy watching it. There were a few refreshments taken by my parents to celebrate. They even made a wee speech



Not sure they were really fit for speeches though. Just before the party, my sister managed to get in contact with one of our childhood friends who we hadn't seen for about 16 years. We met her for lunch and she came along to the party. Balwinder is on the left and my sister is in the middle. Obviously I'm the other one.



There was also a bit of dancing. My Aunts, cousin and Mum couldn't resist a little conga.



In amongst party preparations, physio appointments and gym going, there has been some crafty activity. I paid a little visit to Edinburgh just after my last post and met up with Karoline and her lovely daughter for lunch and stash shopping. We visited K1 yarns which recently opened and bought some lovely yarn. Alas I forgot to take pictures.

I've been knitting more socks during my time off. These are No purl Monkey socks in Lorna's laces shepherd sock in Georgetown.



And some very bright plain socks in Regia Nation shade 5399. Trust me, these are even brighter in real life. My camera doesn't capture purple that well.



Stitching wise, I have finished a couple of things which need finishing. I'm hoping to get a bit of finishing done this week and the strong desire to stitch rather than knit is coming back. Its a pity I can't stitch and knit at the same time.

Productive sick time

The only good thing about being off with back pain is that it means I have a bit more knitting and stitching time. I'm still sleeping a lot more than usual due to the painkillers, which have also had the less desirable effect of causing me to have a series of nightmares last night. I think I might have been knitting too much as the nightmare I could remember involved being trapped under lots of yarn . I was watching Heroes before I went to bed also and that seemed to be in there somewhere.

Anyway on with the knitting. I've finished the second sock of two pairs of socks.

The first one is in Lorna's laces shepherd sock in Liberty.



The second ones are in Opal feelings.



I've also finished the first of a new pair in Lorna's laces shepherd sock in Georgetown. The pattern is No purl Monkey, which is a variation of the Monkey pattern by CookieA where all purl stitches are knit instead. I'm rather fond of this pattern.



Most of my stitching time has been spent on an Anniversary piece for my parents, who were married 40 years ago next week. Its M designs Celtic heart combined with their intials. Thankfully I'm on the final stretch with it.


Now I've finished this post, its time for me to head off to the gym for some more therapeutic exercise.

Exchange update

I can now share what I stitched for the Here's to Ewe exchange on the SBEBB as its now arrived with Carol.



Its A Lamb's egg by Shepherd's bush stitched on 40ct linen finished into a little ornament/fob. I must confess that I now quite like stitching on 40ct. I don't think I want to stitch a big project on it but I love stitching small things on it and smaller versions of things I've already stitched are really interesting to me.

The rest of this week has been a little trying for me. Sadly the back problem that I first experienced last year has flared up again and last weekend at work, I was really struggling. I've been to see my GP this week with some new symptoms - altered sensation and tingling in my left leg plus an increase in pain. The visit has resulted in some x rays being taken, me being signed off work for 2 weeks and some strong painkillers being prescribed. I've also been advised that I should change jobs in the long term, which is something I've been looking into anyway. The strong painkillers have codeine in them which have been helping me to sleep in comfort for the first time in a while but have the side effect of making me sleepy for a long time - around 12 hours at a time. So unusually for this night owl, I've been asleep before 1am the past couple of nights. Hopefully things will settle down more quickly this time as I don't think I could take another 3 months on sick leave as I went a bit loopy the last time.

Exchanging and knitting

Most of my stitching time this past week has gone into stitching an exchange - the Here's to ewe exchange from the SBEBB. I can't share any pictures yet as its not reached its destination.

I have however received my exchange from Simone



On the knitting front, I've finished my second ever full size adult cardigan. I've mostly just knitted socks so far.



I'm fairly pleased with it. It does gape a little at the front and I think it would sit better if the buttons were smaller with more of them too. Now I just need to get stuck into my Central park hoodie which has been neglected of late.

I finished another pair of Cranford mitts last night after I got home from my knitting group. This pair have the same colours as the first pair but in reverse.



Finally I have finished stitching something that I can share since my last post.



Its a Country companions design by DMC. I haven't stitched many of these designs lately but this range was thing that started me stitching in the first place in 1990. I've stitched 66 of the designs within this range over the years and I own almost all of the Country companions ever released. So I guess thats a little obsessive but I doubt I'll run out of things to stitch.

I'm off now to watch more Doctor Who. I am so happy to see it back again. The first episode was really fantastic and its going to interesting to see where the story will go. The second series of Torchwood has just finished and it came to such an amazing sad ending. I cried so much with the last episode but then again I do tend to be a bit of cry baby with sad films/tv shows.

Meeting and knitting

Most of the past two weeks has been fairly unremarkable with not a vast amount of knitting or stitching going on. There have been a few good bits though.

A highlight was getting the opportunity to meet John Barrowman in a local bookshop during a book signing. For those who don't watchit, he is the star of UK series Torchwood and also appears frequently in Doctor Who. He speaks in TV with a very American accent but he was born in Glasgow so this was a home town event so there were a lot of people there and he naturally reverted into his very lovely native accent. He was very friendly to everyone and stayed until everyone got the chance to get a book signed. There were a lot of people there. Oh and he's even more handsome in person. I got a couple of pictures but it was pretty difficult as it was so busy.





I'm a big fan of Doctor Who so was a thrill to met someone who has appearred in the program. I'm eagerly awaiting the new series of Doctor Who which starts next month.

I did manage to finish my Cranford mitts inspite of not having a lot of knitting time. They are knitted in Yard yard organic merino in Mysteron and Sooty cherry. I have already started another pair in the same colours but with the colours reversed


Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post with my finished Grape thread keeper. Everyone made such lovely comments and they are very much appreciated. The pattern is indeed by Chatelaine designs and was an online class. Its not currently available to buy but the online classes do eventually come out as charts.

Grape threadkeeper HD

The title says it all really. I finished the stitching in January this year and I finally completed the finishing on it last night.

I made a couple of changes on it. No initials on the front and no year inside. Partly because they were stitched over one which I don't like doing and also because I felt it looked fine without it. I used a premade cord around the edges rather than making it mainly because I had the perfect colour in my stash. I also found some random oddments of Vikki Clayton silk in my stash to wrap on the thread rings.

Here is the outside.



And here is the inside.





I took some more pictures in the daylight today which I think shows it better.





Tonight I'm off to a local knitting group for a meet up. I'm hoping to finish the Cranford mitts that I'm knitting.

Holiday crafty progress

Well my time off work is nearly done. I'm back at work on Thursday for 2 days and then luckily I'm off for 6 days after that due to my roster and the end of the holiday year which means I have to use all annual leave.

The weather has been truly horrible. We had some snow at the start of the week and thereafter its been rain, rain and more rain. Still its Scotland in March and really its not that surprising lol.

As a consequence of the awful weather, there's been a lot of house based holiday activities. I have been spring cleaning which is not really my idea of fun but a necessary evil. I also have been spring cleaning and tidying my wardrobe so the local charity shops are going to benefit a little from my efforts.

I have been knitting a bit too. I finished my blue Monkey socks in the Sheldridge farm yarn.



I also have done a bit of internet shopping at the Yarn yard. Natalie had uploaded a lot of merino plus a lovely pattern for some lacy mitts designed by Jane. I started them as soon as the yarn arrived. This colour combination is Sooty cherry/Mysteron. I'm hoping to get them finished in the next day or so.



As well as the knitting, there's been some finishing being done also. I finished stitching You've been hatched by Teresa Wentzler in 2005 and since then I've been looking for a box to mount it in. I finaly found one in The Viking loom in York in November last year and yesterday I mounted it in the box top.


Today I framed up a Shepherds bush kit that I bought in Utah - Boo to you. The mount came with the kit and I had a frame made to size locally.



This evening, I'm continuing with the finishing kick. I started the finishing on Grape threadkeeper yesterday and I'm hoping to get it completed tonight. I'm working slowly on it as I don't want to mess it up.

February's crafty progress

Since my last post, the postal service has finally cooperated and delivered the Valentine's exchange that I stitched for Edgar. He is a fan of Quaker designs so I thought I'd stitch a quaker heart freebie for him. I used Gloriana silk in the shade Cranberry.






My only stitching finish for February was Autumn Silhouette, which I shared in my last post. I only started one project this month - Celtic heart by M designs. My parents celebrate their 40th Wedding anniversary in May and I'm going to stitch their initials separated by the Celtic heart design for them. Its a design idea that someone on the Wagon stitching board stitched for a wedding I think. My parents both like the stitching that I've done before and in fact quite a few of my framed pieces hang on their walls rather than mine due to lack of space.

Other than that I've still been knitting away. I finished a Clapotis that I started last year. Its knitted in Rowan Tapestry yarn.



I've also been knitting more socks alas not finishing a pair though but it should give me a head start for March.

This sock is in Lorna's laces shepherd sock in Rainbow.



And this one is the first of another pair of monkey socks in Sheldridge farm soft touch ultra, which is lovely to knit with in lacy patterns. I'm half way though the second sock and I might get it finished this weekend. I'm working on Saturday night and if the patients are sleeping, I can knit away.



After Saturday's night shift, I'm off work for just over a week on holiday which I'm in need of just now. I'm hoping the time off will give a chance to catch up with lots of household things that need doing plus just to get out and enjoy myself a bit. Last week I went to a local knitting group for the first time and really enjoyed it so I'm hoping to make a few of the meet up whilst I'm off. Oh and there's also a Craft show on at the local exhibition centre which I'm planning to visit too. The weather isn't looking too promising as there seems to be a chance of snow next week. We've only had a little bit of snow this year and I'm hoping we don't anymore.

Work, sleep, knit, repeat.

And throw a little internet surfing, a tiny bit of stitching too and that sums up life for the past month. There was also a rather nasty cold which floored me for a few days. Finally though the dark days of winter are starting to be over and it was actually light at 5 this afternoon. Its a downside of living in Scotland that the days are so short in winter, which is thankfully balanced out by long summer days.

There has been a little stitching in the past month. First off a stray Christmas ornament that I finished the stitching on in January and I did the finishing on yesterday. Its French country mitten by JBW designs on some Lambswool linen using Gloriana silk in Cranberry.



Then this afternoon I finished Autumn Silhouette by Blackbird designs. I used Crescent colors thread in Pansy purple for my version and the fabric is some R&R reproductions linen in Light expresso.



There is another project which I completed but its for an exchange so I can't share it until it arrives at its destination. Its a little overdue already so I hope the postal service hurries up.

Most of my off time in the past month has been spent knitting. I've finished a pair of socks using the remains of a skein of Lisa Souza sock yarn which I had already used to make a pair of monkey socks. One skein of this yarn seems to go very far, partly because I have small feet.




I've also been doing some baby knitting for a stitching friend. Sadly work stopped me getting to a GTG to give the knitted items in person but I was able to send them to Joy who was hosting the GTG.

The hats are knitted from a pattern in the book Itty bitty hats which I've used before. The socks were knitted using some of my sock yarn leftovers and took about an hour to knit the pair. And finally a Tulip baby cardigan which I bought the kit from Socktopus, my current favourite yarn supplier. If you knit and haven't bought from Alice yet, I would recommend Socktopus very highly. Many of the yarns she stocks aren't available elsewhere in the UK and the customer service is second to none.












Tomorrow I'm back to work which is not much fun at present as my workplace is being renovated around the staff and patients by the world's slowest workmen. I've got a week off coming up at the start of March which can't come too quickly at the moment.

Back online

Tecnically I've actually been back online since the 5th but I've spent a fair bit of the past 2 weeks catching up on various places that I visit and working quite a bit too. Today was my 9th 12 hour shift since the 3rd of January. Everyone at work seems to have had some sort of cold so unsurprisingly I've started to come down with one too. I get the feeling this weekend will involve lots of lounging on the sofa and sleeping.

Whilst I was off line I got some knitting and stitching done.

I finished two pairs of socks - the first is in some Regia crazy sock yarn in shade 5404 which had already been knitted up into a sock and ripped out last year. I'm much happier with the second attempt.




The second pair is another pair of Monkey socks. Its one of my favourite patterns. The yarn is Lisa Souza sock in the colour Lime and violet.



I also managed to finish up stitching Grape threadkeeper by Chatelaine but as yet I've not done ths finishing. I might give it a go this weekend if I'm feeling inspired.

As well as lots of sock yarn, my knitting stash is the home to yarn for some bigger projects . I've been knitting the Central Park hoodie from Knitscene magazine since earlier last year. So far I've only finished the back. Its in Rowanspun aran which is a lovely yarn to knit with.



The other main big knitting WIP that I have just now is Neaty from Rowan magazine 42, which is knitted in Rowan Cocoon. I started this last week and because its a chunky yarn, its knitting up quicker. This is the back plus part of the left front.



Its not even quite 11pm yet but its time for bed for me. All these shifts are sending me to bed earlier than my normal night owl ways.

Happy Christmas everyone

Christmas day has just arrived in the UK so I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy and safe Christmas. I'm just about to switch from one ISP to another one with what is looking likely to be a few days in between due to the annoying behaviour of my current ISP and the festive season causing delays.

I will leave you with a couple of pictures of my Christmas tree with and without lights.

Whoosh

That is the sound of time flying by of late. My desire to blog wandered off last month following my desire to stitch which largely wandered off earlier in the year. My desire to stitch has returned thankfully as has the desire to post here. The lack of daylight here at present is making me want to sleep all the time but the shortest day has just passed so whilst the weather is cold and frosty, at least the days will get longer now.

Just after my last post, I spent a few days visiting York and I also went to the Harrogate knitting and stitching show. It was s cold whilst I was there and there was even a little snow. York is a great city to wander around on foot and there are lots of lovely shops to visit, including some knitting and stitching shops. The last time I visited, York Minister was being renovated but this year the work is nearly done so I was able to see it as it should be



During a walk in a park in York, I came across some very friendly squirrels who ran up to me and seemed to want to pose for pictures.



I did buy a fair bit of sock yarn at the Knitting and stitching show but I also bought the book and yarn kit to knit Autumn rose by Eunny Lang, which is the loveliest fair isle jumper. I've never knitted fair isle before so this will be my challenge for 2008.

Earlier I mentioned that my desire to stitch has come back a bit. Whilst I was away, I got stuck into a couple of my long term WIPs and I've finished two recently.

Firstly Venice Windows 2



And then a Country companions cover kit which was left half done in spite of being very small..



At the moment, Christmas preparations are taking up most of my time outside work. I had big plans earlier in the year to stitch some Shepherds bush stockings for some of my family but that isn't going to happen this year. I've not even made up the stocking that I stitched for myself earlier this year. I did make a couple of presents though.

A stitched dress on a DMC doll for a small child of a friend. There wasn't much stitching in it.



And a little hat for the younger sister of the small child



The hat is from a book called Itty bitty hats by Susan B. Anderson and its got some lovely baby hat patterns. I knitted another one earlier in the year for another baby - the Little pumpkin hat



My Christmas tree is up and ready for the season. I've only got one night shift to work this week on Sunday and I'm off on Christmas day this year thankfully. Even though this is my 4th Christmas in my flat, I've never woken up here on Christmas morning. The first year and third year I stayed at my mum's and the second year I was on night shift. This year I've decided that I will wake up here on Christmas morning and go over to my parents later. All the family are going to my mum's for Christmas dinner so there will be a full house. Usually I premake myself something for Christmas dinner as I haven't eaten meat or chicken/Turkey for 18 years. This is going to be different as earlier this year, my dad decided to stop eating meat and poultry so there will be fish on the menu for the two of us. My dad has spent the past couple of years studying Buddhism and he now feels that eating animals is wrong for him. Its come as a bit of a surprise to us all as he used to eat all sorts of meat including Venison.