Fibre….

This year I discovered Drops range of wools and The Wool Shed. I am in love with the squidgy Andes and Nepal ranges (65% wool, 35% Alpaca!) and the ladies who run The Wool Shed in Aberdeenshire are so unbelievably helpful. Drops are having a discount running until 31st December too!

Sounds…

…The frozen grass crunching under Jeremy’s paws…

… Declan O’Rourke… such a lovely voice and a great guitarist

Food…

…Lemon drizzle cake! One of the easiest things to bake ever and sooo mouth puckering good with a cup of coffee.

Watching…

…Just the best film ever to get you into the Christmas spirit! I recently watched the colour version, which I was highly dubious about, but it is even more magical, if that’s possible.

Laughing at…

…Jeremy’s propensity to sleep wherever she darn well pleases.

…and her “get out of my face” look…

Reading…

…currently revisiting The Tales of The City, by Armistead Maupin. I have read and re-read these books over the last 15 years and now enjoying them on my iPod!

Ah! Christmas is but around the corner. Not sure how Christnassy I feel yet…maybe I need to stick on George Bailey again. I hope happiness and joy is blooming all around.

The female one got up, deciding that it was more important to bake something (not for me Imight add, the male one gets the goodies) so I thought I’d stray over to the table and see if I might lend a paw.

I must say, the female one has been lax in her blog-writing! But where she doesn’t know where to pick up again, I can at least tell you what I know.

Until July I was happy living with The Male One. He was the one who named me Jeremy.  (That was rude of me, I should have introduced myself from the outset! ) The name, you may think, has a rather noble turn to it, but the fact that I am a young lady seems to have escaped The Male One – although he does, crudely, call me Jeremywithavagina sometimes, so he can’t be so clueless…

…anyway, I digress!

Yes, so it was The Male One and I, and my sister (she stepped out a while ago…August, I think it was…Not sure where she hangs these days) and then one day The Male One brought The Female One to say hello. I, being a bit of a madam, made a bit of a fuss of her and She I. On her very regular visits she began to bring some of her knitting for me to play with, which was very kind of her…here am I keenly watching the yarn, I made quite a mess of that when backs were turned.

Anyway, The Male One (TMO) obviously liked The Female One (TFO), and thought he’d keep her around. I’ve got the pair of them pretty domesticated now. It’s nice not to have troublesome pets. TFO has transitioned well into our lives and is ever so obedient – every morning, after parading myself outside of the “stick cupboard” she gives me my morning meaty treat.

Although it hasn’t all been fun and games! Currently I am a little…er…indisposed, I have an…infestation. TMO & TFO have been very obliging with the powders, potions and sprays, but when feeling under the weather there is only one place I want to be. Under the covers in their bed. Every time I open the door (who says cats *need* thumbs!) and creep in TFO comes rattling down the stairs to scold me. Something about warm environments and breeding fleas! Ach! if I’m scratching I don’t see why they shouldn’t be!

Mind you, I do like to grab a nap wherever is most inconvenient for others.

But then I just roll over, cross my little paws in front of my chest (like an old woman clutching a handbag)  and give a PurrMiaow and they’re like kibble in my paws!

…Miaoooww! TFO is coming back with a tray of scones for TMO! Well, I guess one day she’ll think of how to catch you up with all her news.

Until then, it was nice chatting…

Purr-Miaow

 Well, I suppose to catch you up, the last year has been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’ll try to keep to nutshell proportions.

 University: after having two years off, due to having as much motivation as a small, wet square of toilet tissue and a period of fragile mental health, I was absolutely chomping at the bit to get back to my course.

 My courses for my final year included Scotland and Heritage, Cultural Revivals and Traditional Drama and I was pretty fired up about all of them, until my old adversary Doubt came creeping in.

 ME (Gleefully): Revivals and Drama and Heritage, oh my! Revivals and Drama and Heritage, oh my!

DOUBT: Do you really think after two years you can do this?!

ME (positive): Aye! After what I’ve been through I can handle anything!

DOUBT: Are you sure? Really sure?

 ME: …er… yes!…I think so!

DOUBT: What about finding time to study in a shared house? What about working to pay the bills too? (in a creepy evil voice) What about your 10,000 word dissertation?????

 ME (frowning): Oh!

Doubt laughs evilly as I ran and hid in the corner for a little while.

Yes, whatever I seemed to undertake, Doubt was there, pointing and sniggering. But you know what? I did it. And I couldn’t be happier with the marks I’ve got this year and the progress I made. I think in first year I was thinking, “Right! Got to work for a first!” and to be completely honest I don’t care if I get third class honours. I did it, and I’m very proud of myself – if it’s a sin, I don’t care about that either! (unless God’s reading, in which case, Sorry!)

 My final marks are posted on the 3^rd of June, so I am going in with my two pals Mojo and Mighty L for moral support!

Right…What else…Oh yes…

Knitterly: Truth be told, I thought I would do a lot of knitting to help me relax during revision, but I quickly found that I couldn’t focus on a pattern after staring at books and a computer screen. So in order to unwind I began to wind. Spinning was a completely brilliant way to still be creative, but also relax. I found a great website for combed wool at really good prices, I bought a few bags of merino in delicious colours from knitshop and that really kept me going.

As soon as my last exam was finished I started on my first lace project which was also my first shawl.

The Mezquita shawl  is a lovely, and very quick project.

I ordered some nice lace wool from Jamieson and Smith, but wanted to try it in a thicker wool first to practice. I had some Artesano 4ply. It is so soft and I have hardly been without it on these blustery spring days.

I like the practice one so much (with my own little mistakes…can you see?) that I am using my J&S wool for an Anniken Allis shawl, which is on the pins as I type.

 Lately I have been trying my hand at felting, just a couple of wee samples really, but I seem to have go Mojo interested in it (maybe she’s only humouring me to shut me up!). She had her new kitchen put in and is thinking about designing a wall hanging or several small pieces to frame.

I have a lot of odd wee samples of wool so we have decided first to dye and hand paint the combed tops. I am not sure how we got on the the subject of plant dyes, but last saturday we went for a walk along the old Rosewell railway and picked a wee selection.

I should add that we only picked or cut flowers that were either blown over (what a wind it has been recently!) or horse trampled, or on their way out, so that the vergesides were kept pretty and blooming for others to enjoy.

When we got back to the kitchen we laid them all out, and realising we didn’t know the first thing about producing dyes from plants we did a bit of googling. Obviously all yellow flowers will not produce a yellow dye (in fact dandelions produce pink!) but we decided to put all our lilac and blue flowers together to see what our experimentations would produce.

Most hits on google said that the microwave method was quickest, so we picked our petals and bruised them before covering them with water in a bowl with a teaspoon of vinegar.

The method we used was to cover the bowl with cling film and blast for 2 minutes on high, then take out and bruise again with a pestle, and repeat this until your water begins to colour and the petals seem drained of colour.

This is the end product on banana fibre!

We were quite please with that and set about with our yellow flowers, which produced a sort of new baby’s nappy green colour. But after testing the colour with yarn it produces a lovely lime colour! we were quite gobsmacked. We felt a bit witchy, or at least ancient domestic goddess-like!

The quantities that we made we will use for hand-painting the wool tops before felting.

Today I am trying my hand at kool aid dyeing on a 2 ounces of different natural shades of Shetland wool. What great fun it is!

I bought the drink mix (this stuff is actually called Mixade) on ebay ages ago and forgot about it. So today I thought I would give it a go.

For anyone who hasn’t tried it, I recommend it! You can dye hanks of wool as well as the combed tops and for each wee sachet of drink it will dye roughly and ounce of wool.

There are varying methods but I prefer the stove top method.

Firstly you soak the wool in some tepid, soapy water (I use handsoap) and you prepare your pot (soup pot, Tattie pot, anything that is large enough, but use an older pot, just in case any colour is left on afterwards).

Half fill the pot with tepid water and add your sachet/s. I used two sachets of Tropical Punch Mix-ade…oh! A tip! Don’t go by the colour of the drink on the sachet. The Tropical punch shows a bright pink drink, but I would say the water was more orangey.

Give a wee stir to let it dissolve and then give your soaking wool a squeeze and add it to the pot.

You will need rubber gloves, unless you want brightly coloured fingers…like me!

Turn the heat up and let it get to almost boiling and then switch off the heat and let the water cool.

Get your gloved hands in every now and again turn the wool so that it dyes evenly.

 In this case I am not too fussed if it doesn’t dye evenly as we will be hand-painting it at some point too.

Give it 30-60 minutes standing on the hob – with no heat under it – to absorb the dye. If after an hour the water is not clear (or almost clear) , you can turn the heat on again and bring it to almost boiling again and let it cool for another 30-60 minutes.

 I have just rinsed mine, which should be in water that is a similar temperature to that in the pot, so that you don’t felt the wool and this is the result!

The reason I wanted to use the different coloured natural Shetland was to see what colour variation would be like with the dye. It is unfortunate that my camera doesn’t pick these up so well, because the Shetland black has gone a dark aubergine colour, while the fawn and brown have gone almost heathery tones and just look at the white!

I have just rolled them in a towel to blot them dry and I’ll probably leave them there to dry for a while.

 I have to say that the pot was left with a pink tinge, but I used a bit of salt on cloth and it went away with a light rub.

So anyway, I think I have filled a yaking and maaking quota for one blog. I hope everyone is awful well, I have thought of you often, even though I haven’t been blogging!

Next time hopefully I’ll have wool hand-painting and felting news as well as results getting and boyfriend arrival…more soon!

Hasn’t it got cold chaps! Winter is definitely making her presence felt in Edinburgh…a good portion of my last bursary went on thick tights and knee socks as well as a few other thermal items!
University, hmmmm….since I took my leave all I’ve thought about was going back, now two years on that excitement has turned to fear and dread!
Ok, maybe not as bad as dread, but 4th year has certainly brought its fair share of anxiety.
I’m currently researching my dissertation, the topic of which is on the contemporary use of charms for luck or protection. Some of the theory is quite dry, but what I’m really interested in is finding out what people really think of the use of lucky charms…did you see what i did there? Yes, you dear readers (if you are still reading), I’d really like to know whether you have an object that you either wear or carry for luck and what your belief is in the item. And I definitely want to know if you don’t believe in such charms, and why? I’d be really interested to hear from you (email me if you dont want to post a comment)

I have a few items that I would class as lucky or protective, but when it comes to the faith i put in them i’m not sure if it’s blind faith, sentimentality, superstitious or something more religious.

what is the faith that you place on your charms, or amulets? Or is it mind over matter?
I’d be really interested to hear…and if you know any of your friends might have an opinion on the subject I’d be delighted if you can bring them over here.

On Sunday I went to Glasgow with three of  my friends to see Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Road Show which was filmed for the BBC! It was a great show, our sides were still sore the next day and not to mention the aching jaws. He had five guests including the brilliant Kevin Bridges. 19 year old Daniel Sloss was also a guest, a very funny wee fife laddie who we think will go a very long way.

i had a wee break on Monday…and needed it as we were knackered after all the travelling and laughing! but on Tuesday I headed through to North Berwick with Mojo and Dr Dudders to Fringe on the Sea to see Eddi Reader! After, or course,  Fish and Chips on the beach! The concert was excellent (even if we were packed in like sardines in the speigel tent!) and we went home singing!

Mirlinlass is down this away at the moment…hope your having a good holiday honey!

So! To the moment you’ve all been waiting for!

The winners of the second great Knitcircus giveaway are as follows Thanks to www.random.org the winners of the knitting pattern collections are Nan, Rachel Crosbie and Jill! Very well done girls I will be emailing you your pdf very soon. The winner of the Sunvalley yarn is maj! very well done haj. I will pass on your details to Jaala Spiro and she will be in contact with you re: where in the world you are and when you will receive the lovely wool!

Congratulations to all

Ok, not quite, but 6 miles outside is close enough for now!

I’ve been down a couple of weeks, trying to find a job…but no luck as yet! nevermind though, something will come up soon!

Absolutely no regrets about coming back either…this is where I’m meant to be.

And to celebrate that I’ve got a giveaway for you

Knitcircus’s Fall issue is out and I have three pattern collections to give away to you! I’ve had a sneaky peek and it’s well worth leaving a comment to be in with a chance.

So leave a comment before the closing date, Friday 13th August, and I’ll get someone to pull your name out of my hat!

OOOH! update! Knitcircus Editor Jaala has also kindly gifted another prize! One person will win two skeins of Sun Valley Icelandic DK in cream and moorit!

And I’ll have lots to tell you when I do announce the winners, next week I’ve got Wee Micky McIntyre, Eddi Reader and maybe even a trip to the Ravelry weekender in Stirling

x

I have been binning lots of stuff, its very cleansing…why don’t i clean out more often????
I’m also destashing my yarn! Rowan, Artesano, Jamiesons, Patons…my Norway wool! *eek* the thought of parting with them all is sad, but i’ll be living in a student room, so i need to make room for studeling things!

Any ravellers could have a wee look at Ravelry at my stash page, but if you like anything you see here have a word in me shell-like. I’d rather take the money of someone i knew, so that the wool was going to a loving home!

Mirlnlass and I took part in the relay for life on Saturday. Thanks so much to those who donated, we raised £1000 and Shetland raised a record breaking £158k! reportedly the most in any area!

What an atmosphere and really lump in throat forming looking at all the candle bags around the route lighting the way which had been decorated in memory of those lost to cancer and in celebration of those who survive.

Can’t wait for the next one!

I was having a dull monday, feeling a bit blue and then what do I see?

Big GW has sent a pic of him posing with his blankey….the one that took me flipping ages and 3 different guises before it was finished. Out there! on the front line (thats not the front line there!)  is BGW and his blanky

Lovely to hear from BigGW that’s fair cheered me up, but we’ll all be far more cheery when he’s back home safe and sound.

Also finished is JC Slouchy hat in Jamieson and Smith DK, which was in the bargain bin!

Mondays ain’t so bad

I’m doing the Relay for Life here in Shetland on May 29th for Cancer Research. Our team, and all those registered, will walk from 8pm to 8am the following morning. If you would like to give me a £1, maybe £2 the J Team and Cancer Research would be thrilled. If you are so inclined to donate you can do so here at our donation page and read all about it. Thanks for your time….
Now, for those all important names.

This was a hotly contested category!

The winner of the one year subscription to the fabulous Knitcircus magazine is…….TADDOE!!!!
And the five runners-up who all recieve a pdf of all the knitting patterns in the current issue of Knitcircus are…. Jane Prater, Mirlnlass, Jill, Landlady and KC!!!!

Well done everyone. I really hope you enjoy knitcircus. I will pass your emails on to Jaala Spiro and you should receive your pdfs soon.

Happy reading…I wonder if there is any raffia crafts????!

And just see, see what I have brought you!

A great crafty and knitterly magazine has recently been brough to my attention. It’s called Knitcircus, an independant quarterly magazine which has recently gone over from print to digital format.

It is a gorgeous collection of  knitting AND sewing patterns AND recipes AND interviews and it’s like picking up a favourite book (well not picking up, cos is online) as you’ll re-read and re-read.

Jaala Spiro is the editor in chief of the Wisconsin-based Knitcircus and in order to promote the new format, and bring Knitcircus to the attention of us craft lovers over the pond  she’s giving away a one year  subscription (PDF) to the full magazine and five PDF pattern collections of the summer issue, which is out on Saturday 1st May.

Jaala has sent me some pictures from the forthcoming issue, and if you need tempted further take a look at the website.

I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a fanbloomingbrilliant offer so here’s what you need to do… There are no set questions so lets have a bit of fun instead ;D

Leave a comment following on from mine below and lets write a little story! The first person to comment after me please put #1 at the begging and everyone else follow suit. I’ll then take the numbers and pick at random that way. The story is just for my amusement!

So, come on EVERYONE! Even if you don’t knit, craft, cook, read i’m sure you know someone who would!

CLOSING DATE  SUNDAY 2nd May: so comment quickly, as many times as you like (although not directly after your own comment) I’ll post the winners on Monday!

Look at my blogroll and catch up with the Knitcircus blog too! AND DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK TO SEE IF YOU’RE A WINNER!