Flapjacks for Grace

I've made some flapjacks.

It's just a standard sultana flapjack recipe, nothing exciting - but very yummy.  I've made them for Grace because - Hurray!! - she's home on a flying visit this weekend.

We can watch the Formula 1 racing on the television together - just like old times.

Grace has brought this magazine with her, so I'm looking forward to having a browse.

Later, we're off to watch the first stage of the Tour of Britain cycling race.

They're doing ten laps of Liverpool city centre, so we're hopeful of getting a few decent photos.

Enjoy your weekend - whatever you're doing.

A New Magazine

It's been a while since I last browsed the shelves in the newsagents.  Today I decided to treat myself to something new to read and I found this...

Daphne's Diary is a Dutch publication with quite a mix of articles and inspiring ideas.

So I'm going to settle down with a nice cup of tea and flick through my magazine, I'm sure there will be plenty to inspire.  Have a good day.

Pretty Nostalgic

The latest edition of Pretty Nostalgic magazine dropped through my letter box last week.

It's always a treat to read; so many interesting articles.  The magazine is only available through independent shops and online.  So if you haven't already, check out their website.

It really is a wonderful magazine and I'd seriously recommend it.

Textile Taxidermy

Isn't it a wonderful feeling when inspiration takes hold.

One minute you're just sitting there, flicking through a magazine, the next minute, you're off on an exciting adventure, fuelled by the seed of an idea that's growing so fast you can hardly keep up with it.

I love these moments.  Fortunately, life is full of inspiration, so they happen quite often.

The latest of these moments occurred when I was leafing through Pretty Nostalgic magazine.

If you haven't heard of this publication before I can highly recommend it.  Such an interesting read.  Check out the website, here.

Anyway, I came across an interesting article, on crafted birds and animals... and it got me thinking.

Look at this picture of the owl...

... I could make something like this - but with yarn rather than fabric.

A knitted body - with a textured front - cables, honeycombs.

Fair Isle for the back and wings.

I could use icords threaded with wires for the feet.

Some crochet and buttons for the eyes.

An icord for the beak.

Collect together all the bits and bobs of brown and beige yarn I can find - put it all together and here he is.

My very own textile taxidermy wise old owl.

What a fun week it's been making him.  Bring on the next inspiring idea.

Olympics and the New Rowan Magazine

Second full day of Olympic competition and how is it going for you?

So far we've watched some cycling, swimming, archery, shooting, judo, handball, volleyball, more cycling and more swimming.  I think we need to pace ourselves a bit more otherwise we'll achieve burnout before the end of the first week.

On a completely different subject, the new Rowan magazine, number 52, is now out.

This edition contains some delicious cable patterns and scrumptious Fair Isles.  I have my eye on these.

At the moment Rowan have 8 of the patterns from the magazine available for free download - so get them while you can.

On my wish list is this gorgeous patchwork blanket by Kaffe Fasset (this is one of the free patterns).

I'll never get round to making it but I can dream.

More realistically achievable is another free pattern for leg-warmers.

Now these are a definite possibility.

I just need to complete the seven projects I've already started!  More on that subject tomorrow.

Belated Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday was last Sunday - but as it clashed with Eve's 18th birthday we postponed it until yesterday (I wouldn't want to miss out!).

Grace and Eve gave me some lovely presents, including this month's edition of Mollie Makes.

The free gift on the front was a kit to make a crocheted rose.  The kit included the cotton yarn, a crochet hook and a badge pin.  I couldn't resist making it straight away.

The girls also gave me a drawing Eve had done of the two of them when they were little.

What a wonderful gift, I'll have to get a frame for it and hang it somewhere special.  I'm so lucky to have such thoughtful - and creative, daughters.

In the evening we went to the cinema.  We have been wanting to see the film 'The Artist' for ages.

Our local cinema is run as a charity and doesn't have digital projectors - so can only show 35mm reel versions.  We like to support our local cinema so I got in touch with them back in January to see if they would be showing 'The Artist'.  Unfortunately the film company weren't releasing the 35mm versions of the film until after the Oscars so our cinema wouldn't be getting it until March (seems unfair).

Anyway we decided to wait, rather than go and see the film at one of the larger commercial cinemas - and finally our patience was rewarded.  It was definitely worth the wait.  We loved it.

The film was funny, sad and very cleverly done - all in black and white and silent.  No wonder it won all those Oscars.

We love our local cinema - it's run by volunteers and very reasonably priced - but it was sad and slightly embarrassing to see that we were the only three people there last night!

It was a wonderful Mothering Sunday - I'm counting my blessings - because I seem to have more than I deserve.

Wonderful Gloves

I've recently bought the latest copy of the magazine Mollie Makes...

And I've fallen in love with the wonderful crocheted gloves featured on the front cover. 

Last night I had four attempts at starting the gloves but my crochet cotton is too thick, it needs a really fine yarn - which I don't have at the moment, but I'm not sure my eyesight could cope with anything too fine. 

I've tried adjusting the pattern to suit my yarn but I can't get it right.  I shall have to rethink this because those gloves are utterly irresistable and my life is incomplete without them!!!

What's On The Needles?

What am I working on at the moment?  Well, I've started quite a few new items, here they are. 

Firstly, I needed some plain knitting for the journeys on Eurostar recently, so I have revisited an old favourite pattern.  It's called Bond and it's by Kim Hargreaves and it was featured in Rowan 28 magazine way back in 2001. 

I've made this pattern twice before (2001 and 2002) - it's a very comfortable, easy to wear sweater and it's so simple to make - just plain stocking stitch and very little concentration needed. 

My previous versions of this sweater (in Rowan Felted Tweed) shrank in the wash - this new one is in a more washable yarn.

The yarn is Sirdar Escape and is a lovely mix of reds, plums and greens - not that you can tell from the work-in-progress photo. 

I've recently bought the latest Rowan magazine (number 50) - I only buy it these days if there are at least 5 patterns I would definitely knit.  Some of Rowans patterns can be a bit shapeless.

One of the patterns I liked is called Loretta.

I'm not sure about the collar though - it has a look of Harry Hill about it.

Any way, I've started knitted it but I'll probably do a plain round neck and skip the collar.

Lastly, I've been trying to find a pattern for some yarn I bought cheaply - 20 balls of it.  The yarn is James C Brett's ripple. 

The colouring is lovely, delicate greens and pastels but when I tried knitting it up, it just tangled and twisted.  When I had a go at crocheting with it, there wasn't a probelm, in fact it's wonderful to crochet with.  So I found this free pattern from Garn Studio.

I've nearly finished the main body - it grows very quickly.

There was a Formula 1 race this weekend, so plenty of crocheting time. 

I've seen some more patterns I'd like to make - so I may yet start some of these.  Beginnings are always fun - it's making sure you finish that's the difficult part!

It's Me!!

So exciting - I was in W H Smith in Liverpool yesterday - browsing the crochet magazines - when suddenly, there in front of me - was me!

How wonderful - a picture of me on the readers' gallery page wearing my capelet.

The magazine is this month's Inside Crochet ( I like the crochet cardi on the front - another possible future project!).

Obviously it wasn't a total surprise because I had been asked a few months ago to supply a picture for possible publication - but even so it was great to see it actually made it to print.