Hide and Seek

I finally found the camera last night when I got into bed, don't ask I have no idea how it ended up in the bed not a clue but hey at least I found it.

I actually got a good nights sleep which is unusual for my first night here (its the same anywhere) usually I am very restless and up and down all night but once I was asleep last night that was it.

I was up at seven to feed the bunnies they get a bit restless from about six and as they are just outside the bedroom window they make it known that they are up. They are lovely though, all of them have different characters its great. I tried to get some new photos of them for Silkwoods site, now the adults usually co-operate but this is what happens these days when I attempt to take pictures of the little ones,

Escape Bid 


yes they try to make a run for it, this one is out and on my lap before I could even think about it so I think those pictures are going to be a two person job.

Not only do I have the 30 bunnies and eight cats to take care of I now also have Boris to make sure I don't walk into.

Boris 


Now I'm not a spider person usually but his web is such a great fly catcher I refuse to disturb him and he is the most beautiful colour.

How about this for a perfect picture of the country ideal, this is Emily curled up on a hay bale, I think I move too much for her at night.

Emily getting comfortable 


My SP5 pal finally recieved her final parcel from me so I can now reveal her identity, go visit Melanie and say hi.

While I was checking out her site I found another raising money for the victims of Katrina run by Rox who ran SP5 go and check it out, I also heard about a couple of evenings being raised for fundraising one in London one in Liverpool coming up when I have further details I'll let you know.

And finally for now I just want to thank my postman, I know that it is a national sport to have a go at our post (including me on more than one occasion)but they managed to get this postcard to me using this address all the way from Turkey, isn't it fantastic.
Address 


I think I should have this printed on all my buisness cards :)

Installed

So here I am happily installed at Silkwood having worked out how to order from Tescos on the computer (the local supermarket is closed ) which was a whole new experience we will see what turns up, have made a trip to the local store for supplies (I know that I should support the local stores but what I have is a Europa store and I just can't afford (finacially and healthwise) to buy my food for the week from there. Apparently there might be a farmers market this weekend so will go check that out for some nice fresh produce.....Ok have completely strayed from where I was going with th is ok so all done settled down to the computer thinking great a computer that doesn't take three years to do anything, I'll put some photos on the blog so off I trot to fetch camera from suitcase only to waylaid on the way by hungry cats so being such a soft touch go and feed the felines and now......no camera, what I've done with it I don't know, its somewhere in the house!!!! But I can't see it for looking never mind if I stop looking it will appear.

Catch Up

Just a short entry before I dash off to the studio.
The week has definitely gone better than last week which couldn't be difficult. I started off with our pre term planning meeting for the youth club which I work for. Now as those who read on a regular basis knoiw I have my doubts about continuing there, I have to say I still have those doubts, I find it difficult to walk away from the kids though so I am persisting for another term, including a christmas Panto if there is anything that is going to drive me over the edge the rehersals will.
On the positive side though I have realised what a wonderful buisness world I work in, people I deal with have been so wonderful and understanding when I'm not having a good week, I know from experience that if I was working in any other buisness arena I would have gone under by now but everyone is so supportive.
Knitting wise, the Aurora scarf is coming on nd a second ball has been started, still not sure about it, and to answer Anna's question (sorry I couldn't seem to e-mail you back) its quite easy to work with it doesn't break or split like I thoiught it might but the knots are frustrating, its also not very soft we will see what its like when it has been washed but I'm not sure its suitable to be worn against the skin (I'm biased on this any way as I can't wear wool).
Lots of kits completed annd ready to ship and am now looking forward to my long stay at Silkwood for some intensive spinning action so expect the odd picture of rabbits too.
Oh have just noticed that Knitty's Fall issue is up and has some fantastic patterns including some for us Goddess shaped ladies.

Fingers crossed

So hopefully this is a high photo entry if I have got this thing to work, if not I apoplogise as this will make no sense whatsoever.

aurora scarf 


First up is a picture of my Aurora scarf,

knot problem 


this was before I had this small knot problem. The difference is not to obvious but now I have found a lump in the yarn and this is still only my first ball.
See what yu think about the colours.
Here are some sequins all set for my next set of spinning, I'm always a sucker for a butterfly.

sequins for spinning 


These are the wonderful Cob Nuts Lixie brought me, I will confess we ate a few this afternoon so not so many to paint but I still have plans.

beautiful cob nuts 


And last but not least these wonderful buttons which were a nice suprise in the post from my friend Mary aren't they beautiful.

Present From Mary 

Knotty problem

Ok may be sometime before we get pictures on this blog have just tried to upload a photo and it didn't go well at all so I'm afraid it is just me whittering on for now.
I had a good weekend Little Lixie came to visit on Saturday and bravefully offered to wind some skeins for kits which meant I managed to complete a few more sets. She also updated me on a couple of blogs as some just don't open on my computer at the moment. Plus she brought me a present cob nuts, now I have some lovely photos of these and they are almost to beautiful to eat, am very tempted to paint them.

Got a little further with the Aurora and came across another nasty suprise a knot, now usually this is not a problem but in this case it became a problem as (as Jill warned me might happen) the yarn was two different colours either side of the knot. One side it was almost black and the other side was a light dove grey, now I tried to find a matching colur later on in the ball with no sucess so decided to carry on and hope because of the pattern I'm using it won't notice too much.

Oh well back to the kits

Good Morning

So I'm still on dial up and my computer is definitely on the unhealthy side, apparently its a very artistic crack in my screen, wellthis may be true but doesn't help when trying to edit photos so a new computer here I come its no good.
I know I said I didn't have any time to knit (which is true) I did sneak a sample bit of knitting of the Aurora, ok I'm going to say something I never thought I would but I think the colourway I chose has too many colours in it. I know it doesn't sound like me but it is too much like a rainbow, I will persist and see how it continues but so far not impressed.
Back to kits for me and Skip North.

Update

Sorry for the gap in blogging, not only have I not had a great week but also I had a small arguement with BT about my ongoing connection problems which after a three hour phonecall ended with me tellling them what they can do with their broadband account. So I am now on very slow dial up and I mean really slow until BT have cleared the line so I can replace it with another company, so no pictures I'm afraid as the download time for Hello was unbellievable.
I'd also like to thank all my friends new and old who have helped me through the last week, all the messages are much appreciated and I know for those that have been around that I haven't been a joy to be with but I'm working on it.
Unfortunately a planned visit from Robins grand daughter didn't happen this week as unfortunately Robins ex-wife passed away on Wednesday so hopefullly I will go and visit in the next couple of weeks but it is a bit difficult so I'm treading carefully.
What was a sucess was the show at Hampton Court Green last weekend. I managed to sell all my handspun on the first day in fact mangled parrot was sold before we even opened, so now I have none left so when back at Silkwood next I know what I am going to spend my time doing :)
It was a very hot weekend though, and Sunday was almost to hot under the marquee. I do have to say that it was one of the best organised shows I've ever done, lots of security, lots of sign posts and wonderful loos (trust me that makes such a huge difference).
Also had a nice evening at Liberty last night, very quiet but nice to catch up with people I hadn't seeen in a while. Also finally succumbed to treatiung myself to some Noro Aurora, I'm not sure what I am going to knit with it yet but I have brought three balls, I know that I can't wear it against my skin as it has a wool in it but maybe a little shawl or something. Notr that I have any time to knit at the moment for myself as I am working hard getting kits together and the new kits as well.

Anniversary

Firstly an apology to anyone who has been trying to get in contact today, I'm afraid I turned my phone off for the day as I needed a day for myself.
Today would have been mine and Robins anniversary of when we first met so needed some time just to be. I thought I might spend the day in Hatfield but found out that Robins'son was working away from home this week so have put off the trip until next month so instead I decided to tackle a suitcase that has been haunting me since my return from Hatfield. It contains mostly things I brought in the states which I haven't looked since my return from Hatfield. There was a whole bunch of Christmas Decorations for our first proper Christmas together, he hadn't had a tree in many years hence no decorations so we had to start again, there was also the half finished felt stocking I was making for him and finally the newspapers with the announcement of his death. Now I'm not saying that it wasn't upsetting but something I needed to do and I'm also not saying that they didn't all go straight back in the suitcase but give me time. It also answered something else for me, it was osmething a friend said to me about something she had arranged, she described it as a good distraction. I'm not sure I want to be distracted and I definitely don't want to pretend it didn't happen, to be truthful I'm not quite sure what I want but I think after today I git a step closer.

Time to Pack

After the fun and games of yesterday it is time to pack up and return home. As normal I will probably leave something vital behind but we are both back at the Hampton Court Green Country Affair next weekend so anything can be exchanged. I have just checked out the website for this event and I have to say the music looks like it could be fun with both an Abba and a Led Zepplin tribute band playing Saturday night and also some interesting Jazz musicians spread over the weekend.
I did get some work done yesterday, I completed a dye lot some of which is heading overseas to my Secret Pal so will post photo after she has recieved.
I also started to spin another funky hank of yarn.

mangled parrot anyone!!! 


This is a good thing as apparently both of the hanks I sent with Les and Tess have been sold and people want more!!!
Skip North almost there look out for website details.

Rescued

I am no longer the great unwashed, Andy a friend of Les and Tess got his brother to drive him over and fixed my problem so there is no excuse not to do the washing up now :)

Skip North and more .......

Just a quick entry as having a few problems, mostly a hot water tapp that won't turn off, don't ask but I think I now have it in hand but means I have a limited water supply fot today thankfully Les and Tess back tomorrow.

Just a litle more about mine and Little Lixie's venture 'Skip North' if you check out her blog she gives you the basic details but hopefully some of you will be able to join us, it is open to anyone, probably an interest in knitting will help:) There will be a website up and running soon with an accompanying blog so we can all join in the fun of the lead up to what I hope will be a fantastic weekend. So block off the last weekend in February now and start saving for those trips out that are planned to enable your stash.

One more thing thanks to all of you who have said nice things about my spinning I am having good fun doing it and did intend until the tap incident to send out some responses to the comments but this has put me a little behind so in the mean time many thanks.

Isn't it funny

Isn't it funny how time seems to run away from you, I thought I had all this time to sit back and relax this weekend but now seem to be running out of time for some reason and am finding myself feeling guilty if I sit down and watch any TV. Never mind, I guess the one thing that is causing this is that my sleep is very interupted here as I worry about the foxes so I sleep very lightly here so any slight sound I wake up, not that I am complaining as that is why I'm here but I think thats what makes me slower at everything else, well thats my excuse any way.
I got my second ever e-mail today from one of the customers that purchased one of my kits from one of the shows saying how much he liked knitting it, which gave me a kind of buzz.
Also my spinning frenzy has continued let me introduce you to Wool Flower (working title) on the wheel.

An Ashford Country Spinning Wheel 


Wound off into a hank,

One Hank 


And a close up of one of the flowers. This yarn was greatly influenced by Ravens Daughter over on The spinning on the edge yaho group.

Finished close Up 

And yet more

So all the bunnies are in bed and the cats are fed, so a little more time for me (how selfish). I managed to wind off that demented clown yarn off the wheel and also managed to complete a second hank of more normal yarn just to prove I can actually spin properly,

Two Hanks 


well ok there is the odd bit of gold lurex spun into it but probably as normal as its going to get for me.

Close Up 


I also prepped these flowers to spin into a hank tomorrow I'm thinking of a green base with green sticky out things if I can find some contessa that is the right colour.

Flowers 


Here as promised pictures of the two colour teenage bunnies, they are a bit of a handful and definitely sulk if you don't take immediate attantion to them when you go outside. Thier brothers aren't like that at all.

terrible twins 


And here is Gremal (not sure of spelling) refusing to give up my bed as it was his property and I was only a mere guest in the house.

Gremal 


Final piece of good news for the day is that Tess has manged to sell one of my handspun hanks at Paraham. So I guess it gives me another excuse to do some more tomorrow.
Fingers crossed for a fox free night.

Luxury

I think I have found the ultimate in luxury, well for me anyway.
The beautiful Louet 

This is the result of a wonderful evening sat in fronet of 'House' on channel five and a Louet spinning wheel.

Close up of yarn 


I'm about to wind it off onto the niddy noddy before setting the twist but it does look like very demented clown has been spun nto yarn.
Unfortunately not a great night, the foxes started howling at around 3am making me very nervous so have been awake pretty much since then so II feel an afternoon nap coming on. Also the weather has turned completely, at about 5:30 am the thunder storms started which made the bunnies a little jumpy so therefore me jumpy. I'll try and take some pictures of them later especially what used to be the baby bunnies who are no full grown teenagers as they are very cute. Of course the other problem with the rain being that there were a lot of wet cats around this morning.

More later I expect as have refound the joy of having the interne4t and am trying to catch up with my blog reading!!!

Lots to tell you

Ok so I'm sitting here at Silkwood so I have a computer for the weekend plus the odd spinning wheel but more of that to come.
So much has happened since my last entry firstly Angela from Which Craft in Cheam did come and see me at Silkwood and I brought along the majority of my kits so she could see how the uniqueness works, she brought the lot including this my new kit which in fact is an inspiration pack for spinners textile artists scrap bookers extra all colour coded which you can't really see from the dark photo.

sorry dark photo 


She also wants to buy some of my handspun boxed up in hat kits.

No name yarn 

I never thought that the buisness would grow so fast. Yarnsmith has also just had an order and it gave me a chance to play with young Sirus he is so cute.

The over really exciting thing is the plans that me and Little Lixie are drawing up, I can't tell you anything yet but kepp a look at all will be explained soon. All I'm saying is keep the last weekend in February free.

close up 


On the knitting fronet having a bit of a disaster as have lost both of the new patterns for the new kits when my computer crashed so am trying to rework them an Gill from Woolly Workshop has bravely volunteered to attemlt to knit up from my hand scribbled notes.
Mostly my time has been spent putting kits together and spinning so I am looking forward to this weekend as it is going to be a very lazy weekend taking full advantage of Tess' wheels and dye house. So expect lots of photos of wheels cats and dyed hands.

brief interlude

I'm sorry I am still struggling with computer problems so I am over here at Silkwwod sharing their computer so at least I can upload a couple of photos. I have to admit that I don't like bloggong with out photos as I feel that even if the people reading my blog aren't interested in what I'm saying at least they have something interesting to look at.
First of all we had a great time at Syon Park over the weekend thankfully the weather held out for us with only a quick shower on the Friday. We had some wonderful helpers to Jill, Yvonne and Little Lixie. Little Lixie had made a wonderful necklace out of some of Silkwood silk. I managed to get some drop spinning done at the show see the results below but also I had an enquiry from WhichCraft a knitting store in Cheam about sending them stock.

Latest spindle action 


So it has been a mad week putting kits togther as Yarnsmith also put in an order and Woolly workshop also put in a follow up order.

Close Up 


Unfortunately this has left little time for much knitting but hopefully this weekend I can get a chance to catch up on testing some of the new patterns for kits.

Hi and Bye

Just a quick note as computer connection still down. Had a wonderful day at Syon Park with Silkwood and got a bit of spinning done. Pictures I'm sure will be appearing on Yvonnes Blog shortly.
The best news of all is Woolly Workshop has put my kits up on her site and two have already gone.
Hopefully normal service will resume shortly.

If its not one thing its another

Ok so there was I last night all settled and ready to upload all my images of the wonderful time I had at Silkwood on Monday I turn on the computer and what happens, nothing, well not quite nothing I get up the window that says window has not opened properly and choose a way in which I wish to open, I go through all the choices and no joy I think I may have to use the rescue disc but this means I will be loosing evertything I stored on the computer, thank fully I have a back up for most things there are a couple of things though that I haven't like a couple of things that Robin sent to me, at the moment I am more angry than sad as the computer was perfectly fine when I used it in the morning so I have my suspisions that someone else in the house may have tried to use my computer while I was out.:(
So I am now sitting back in my local internet cafe so I'm afraid no photos and I think my bloggong may be a bit sparse over the next week but I promise photos on my return.