Tuesday 29 March 2011

Sending out ripples

I've been reading a few books recently and experiencing new life events that are making me look at some things in a new way.

I decided to make a treasury of ripples, sending out good vibes of hope and joy to others and hoping that some will return.

I found some stunning handmade items to share with you - hope you love them too.

Monday 28 March 2011

Coral reef

On Saturday I had just 1 hour to fit in some yarn dyeing. I've been wanting to do this for weeks, so it was a case of now or never!

I managed to get it done in time - just - and the gorgeous Coral Reef laceweight merino dried overnight thanks to the fine weather.

On Sunday morning I reskeined the yarn, after setting up a very Heath Robinson-looking affair which used almost all of my winding equipment!

I had a lovely photo session with 3 beautiful skeins, and they are now available to buy in my Etsy shop

These will look stunning when knitted up!

Sunday 27 March 2011

Party time

It's my youngest daughter's 10th birthday next week, so today is party time.

We've arranged a ten-pin bowling party, complete with party lights, chart music, and fast food.

Based on the party theme, I've chosen a few Etsy UK sellers wares for a new treasury - enjoy!

Saturday 26 March 2011

Addictive ripples

Remember the Friday night I spent salvaging a skein of Colinette Giotto?

Well now it's all knitted up and looking gorgeous as the Raspberry Ripple scarf.

As is it's new friend, the Lagoon Ripple scarf.

Both are available to buy in my Etsy shop, or you can buy the pattern and knit your own.

I think I could become seriously addicted to these.

Friday 25 March 2011

Etsy Euro Week - Viva Espana!

Today is my last day of doing treasuries for Etsy Euro Week, and I've chosen Spain as the focus.

We holidayed in Spain a couple of times a few years back when my dad was living in La Nucia

They were relaxing days, with much sunbathing, barbequing, and swimming in the pool. 

We enjoyed visits to nearby Altea and the kids loved seeing the animals and shows at Mundomar!

Thursday 24 March 2011

Etsy Euro Week - Turkey

Day 4 of Etsy Euro Week takes us to on a magical carpet ride to Turkey...


This is where DH and I spent our honeymoon in September 1996 - at a lovely hotel with it's own beach in Turunc. We had a great time and saw some beautiful parts of Turkey. 

I was particularly pleased to be able to bring home some crochet cotton!

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Etsy Euro Week - Italy

My midweek Euro treasury focuses on Italy. I holidayed there once with my father and brother when I was about 12 years old, and have always wanted to return.

This week's series of treasuries is throwing up some interesting concepts of what items portray the image or feeling of a particular place, and why. It's challenging my thoughts of what I have or should have in my own shop too!


For me, Italy means fashion, elegance, renaissance, beauty... Is it captured in this collection? Let me know what you think!

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Etsy Euro Week - Netherlands

My second treasury of Etsy Euro Week is dedicated to Nirvana in the Netherlands, mainly because on the same trip as Belgium we managed to fit in a day trip here.

My memory of that single day in the Netherlands is of being on the coach driving past fields of tulips, seeing windmills, and going around a model village which included a model of the model village..

This took longer to put together than I expected but ended up including windmills, tulips, delft blue, canals, and bicycles - all somehow inherantly Dutch when gathered together. 


Not a single Edam cheese or wooden clog in sight!

Monday 21 March 2011

Etsy Euro Week - Belgium

We are now in Etsy Euro Week and to help celebrate I am hoping to create and share a few Etsy treasuries based around European countries to highlight some of the fabulous creative sellers we have so close to us.

I remember as a child being lucky enough to go on a short school trip to Ostend in Belgium. 

My main memory is of a darkening evening all of us meandering around cobbled streets, all lit up and the shops open late, gazing at shop windows full of Belgian chocolates (yum!) and eating a gorgeous freshly-cooked waffle with cream and jam from a street stall - food again!

So of course the first of my treasuries has to focus on Bountiful Belgium - hope you love it!

Monday 14 March 2011

Peek-a-boo Project

For my daughter - using the Zauberball yarn in Fuschia and the lacy rib bias scarf pattern from the Wollzauber pattern book that she chose on our recent trip to St Ives.

I've made it narrower than the pattern states and only using 1 ball of the yarn. 

It's gorgeous - I love knitting with the transitional colours, although I have just come across a yarn splice in the ball which interrupts that a little.

What's on your needles right now?

Friday 11 March 2011

Friday night

Earlier this week I bought another skein of Colinette Giotto in the gorgeous Raspberry colourway from a Ravelry destash.

I'm itching to get started on another Ripple Drop-Stitch Scarf, so tonight I decided to wind the skein into a cake ready to get started.

Although the skeined yarn looked pristine, it didn't quite go as expected once I removed the band from the skein!

There were no ties around the skein so it was impossible to tell where the centre of all the loops was..

I had to unwind the yarn painfully slowly by hand into a bowl, using the swift just for support..

Giotto bolognese anyone?!

Perseverence and patience paid off in the end though.

Now to cast on!

If you fancy knitting your own version of this scarf, the pattern is also now available for sale on Ravelry and in my Etsy shop.

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Note to self...

... do NOT try to eat microwave-super-heated food quickly - the blisters in your mouth from the ensuing burns are too painful!

On a brighter note, take a look at these hand-dyed daffodils!

My youngest daughter repeated a school experiment to show me how the flowers suck up the water in the vase.

The red food colouring in the water shows up the network of veins in the petals and gives them a whole new look.

Amazing what your children can teach you!

Monday 7 March 2011

The sunshine effect

The Giotto scarf is finished, fringed, and available to buy in my Etsy shop.

I love it! I may have to make one of these for myself...

I've also finished a project for my eldest daughter's flute teacher. She's expecting her first baby soon, and my daughter wants to give her a special gift. 

This teacher has put a lot of effort and time into inspiring and encouraging my daughter with her flute playing, so I wanted to give some of that effort back.

So here is what she'll be receiving shortly - a pair of baby converse bootees that I crocheted from Suzanne Resaul's fabulous free pattern in Ravelry.

Soooo cute!

Thursday 3 March 2011

Peek-a-boo Project

I seem to be in a ribbon mood - must be all the sunshine we're getting!

This is Colinette Giotto in Caramel using a gorgeous drop-stitch pattern.

What's on your needles?