Busy

Well, sorry for being away quite so long - I don't think I've had such a long gap between posts before, and wonder if anyone will still be looking in, even!

I have had a busy time of it lately, though, and will try to relate it all here!  In May I had my first 'blogger' meet, when I met up with Suzanne, from Fieldy (she writes about it in that link) and had a lovely time with our knitting, drinking coffe and chatting, in IKEA in Glasgow.  We swapped pressies, and I came away with the most gorgeous 100% wool, in various shades that I hope to use once I've perfected my colour work, bless you, Suzanne.

Also, we have barely been home, these last few months, it seems as we had a wedding darn sarf in Cambridgeshire of our very great pal, G to Mark.  Married in church G is not the sylph-like tall woman of the usual bride pictures, but she is very pretty and I found tears in my eyes as she walked down the aisle with her proud father, and looking so elegant and stunning, and they are such a happy and 'in love' couple.  Also, it was a strange phenomenon to be in the company of so many 'fat' women!  I know it might seem a strange thing to say, some might think me unkind, but I really felt so comfortable to be 'average' instead of the 'largest' person there. Though, of course, G and I made our usual statement of 'This time next year, I'll be thinn....'  to each other.

In June we went trolling darn to Milton Keynes to a family BBQ, which was great fun and so lovely to see all our family, on my side, anyway - though by this time I have fallen out of love with Travvvelllodge (comfy beds, not!) Just back from there, I turned straight around and went to Durham to see my bessy mate, and had such a lovely, relaxed time HERE  We talked and ate, slept and repeated same for three whole days = bliss. Walking around the grounds we saw two herds of deer in the deer park, the gorgeous flower gardens and, in a valley, a summer house - simply gorgeous!

  So lovely to just sit around and catch up, without any distractions of work etc and simply a 'must' again next year.

Just last week we made the journey back down to Hertfordshire this time, for my cousin's wedding H to another Mark.  A different experience this time as everything took place in the Country Manor House where the reception was, also.  I don't know which I prefer as I am not a religious person (my faith is in people, and their inner goodness - but that is discussion for another day, perhaps?) but Church is part of our culture.  However, a civil service can be made so personal, can't it?  But, this was a small wedding, with great focus on H and her sister's small children as they were very much part of the party.  It was lovely to meet them, as well as other cousin's babies, who are the next generation in line.

Our wedding anniversary was in June, and I was married in a Register Office in a cream and brown dress a la 1970s that I had bought in a sale!  This was 36 years ago now, and I don't regret any of my wedding, especially as it was just very close family and a couple of friends, and a Wedgwood blue wedding cake with a tea round at Mr T's dad's house, then a meal at a Chinese Restaurant in the evening with our best friends.  These friends had given us a bottle of champagne to have on our own, which fizzed all over our bed!  So, we slept in champagne, then my nan came around in the morning to collect my bouquet to take to my aunty's grave for me - and, as we only had one rented room, sat on the bed with Mr T still in it, undressed as it were, so he had to stay put for the duration of the visit!  Happy, happy days, and thank goodness, though we do bicker and argue we still love each other, deeply.  Thank goodness.

That is enough of the catching up for today.  See you soon, I hope.

Ta Da!

At last, it's finished.  And entered.  And in the exhibition.  At last, it's Ta Da!

My project, for the City and Guilds Creative Textiles and Embroidery course I'm on, is a pair of cushions.  The design is based upon Knitting, but I didn't want to include actual knitting in it.  Then, my granddaughter, who is very clever and loves photography, took a picture of some tractor tyre tracks in the snow, and voila! The design started to take shape. 

I painted some patterns onto paper, using bamboo skewers and ink, then built up my fabric, so that I could embroider the design. Choosing to just use a running stitch kept the design as the focus and, as my tutor suggested, the stitches found their own direction. Every, and each, stitch was placed in just the space, direction and size I chose; sometimes making a copy of the pattern, and at others being a representation.  One panel represents a cable pattern that was on my jumper, and the other is of a design from a jumper I knitted one of my granddaughters at Christmas - two rows of stocking stitch, two of garter and another of stocking stitch.

The 'V' shape became very important, and I wanted to use that for the 'framing' in the mitred edgings to the panels.  Then, the fabric I used for the edging has lines within the weave that I used to 'point' to the panel.

Ooh, I am really pleased with the process of making these pieces, and with the result I've produced.

Boing!

Well, what a turn up?!

As you may remember, from my previous posts, Mr T had recently taken up the sport of archery.  Something he did at school, some oh.... a few years ago now, and was interested in doing again, now we are semi-retired. 

Well, the local club he joined had an 'Open Day' on Easter Sunday, so that anyone could come along and have a play, including family members.  We arrived, en masse, loaded down with picnic paraphernalia, children and, minus dog on a lovely sunny day, to do so.

Little did we know that another three of us would be hooked, as it were!  Mr and Mrs Daughter both tried and fell in love with it, and so did I.  Seriously. 

It was such fun, but I likened it to golf.  However much you try, only one hit in many, for me at least, made its target! Mr and Mrs D had much more luck, and now we are frantically begging and borrowing kit, to match our sizes and (ahem) abilities = strength of pull, so that we can get to practicing some more.

Who knew?

ps the 'Boing' of the title is the sound my arrows made as they hit trees - all three in one of the tries I had!

let there be light

Ta da!

Aren't Mr P and I a clever team?  I have the idea, go shopping and Mr T puts it together - under strict supervision, of course! 

I could 'do-it-myself' but I like to keep Mr T busy, especially as he's had a birthday this week.  I can't believe we are getting So Old, but I suppose it's better than the alternative, eh?

For Mr T's birthday, our grand-daughter, NBG and her step-dad made the most WonderFul Cake for him, thus

They are arrows in the target, you'll have to forgive my awful photo.  But, NBG and her family also put on a lovely 'children's tea party' for him, with egg sandwiches, sausage rolls and crisps, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.  The reason for this themed cake is that Mr T is returning to archery as a hobby - something he enjoyed greatly when at school.  I don't thinnk he/we will be taking up his other school sport of cannoeing just yet - though watch this space!

Wet Felting

With the Forfar Embroiders Guild, I attended a wet felting workshop on Saturday.  This was run by a local, talented textile artist, Tessa Mendez of feltunique and what a great day we had.  My wet felt is  the header picture above, after I had embellished it, using a photo we took while on our cruise holiday last year.

Sunset over the Med October 2010

On Saturday there were eight of us in all, and each of us made very different pieces - one woman's picture was of a rock and it was very life-like, others did scenes of trees, fields and another's was of underwater coral.

~~~ O ~~~

In other news, the cushion covers I am making for my college project are finally coming together.  I have decorated the fabric and am ready to sew my design onto them.  This would be difficult without transferring the design onto the fabric; and have wanted a light box for some time.  Even asked Mr T and my son in law for their help. 

Soooo, today I went into Homebase, where I got fantastic help from a young man there (who is a student architect, so knew what I was on about) who sorted me out with a short fluorescent light unit, and a sheet of perspex. Then, I have found a drawer, and will drill a hole in the side of it, add a diffuser to the perspex, bang in some nails (or screws, probably) to attach it to the top of the drawer, et voila!  Costing less than £30, it has saved me at least £50 and I will have it for some time to come.  Now, those of you who say I could use a window for this, don't know the lack of access and light my windows have!

~~~ O ~~~



This is another busy week for me, one of my students needs a report, three others are due a group supervision, foster panel reports are to be read and Mr T has a birthday on Wednesday.  Phew!  I remembered in time to organise a present, and we are having a 'children's tea party' for him, complete with balloons, jelly and cake. What laughs, what fun! xx

It's not yet, but not too early

Hi again

I have now calmed down, thank you to those who commented on my last post.  Phew, it did make me feel better, knowing that others feel the same, thank you guys. x

Now then, we had a brilliant red nose day on the telly last night, with some really funny highlights.  There was also some very harrowing film footage of the suffering of a lot of people in this world. I'm afraid I couldn't watch it all.

However, I do know there are some things we can do.  So, when my daughter came up with an idea a couple of weeks ago, for our weight watchers group to take part in the Relay for Life, I of course, said yes.  Like many others I have personal reasons for wholly supporting any Cancer research or charity. I have a link up there on the left of my sidebar, and another one here Relay for Life and, if you can or wish to, we would welcome anything you are able to donate.


Thank you.

Enough

I have now come to the point where I have had enough. I will not tolerate any more.  I am talking about the behaviour of some bloggers/facebookers, who are also sellers. Setting aside, for the time being, the amount of businesses who use Facebook as a free advertising medium, yawn.

These are terrible times we live in, and for those not directly affected by the awful disasters besetting people around the world, we are extremely lucky to be alive and well, and to not have suffered. It certainly puts into perspective any minor problems/ailments/grievances we may have.  And, no we must not forget that We feel helpless but want to help in some way, of course we do!  We need to hurry and make donations of what we can, where we can - I truly believe and abide by that.

What upsets me, and find despairing is that some people are jumping on the bandwagon and using these awful disasters to Advertise their Wares - to make money, to advertise their business and to elicit future business.  I saw one blog where the person first wrote an opening sentence about how terrible the Japanese tsunami is, then proceded to advertise an upcoming craft fair they are involved in - der?  Others tell us that if we just click on to their etsy/folksy/website shop, a certain percentage, or the profit from that sale will go towards the charity, etc.  Why can they not just make a donation, anyway, like other people do?

I am not going to encourage these people, anymore.  I remove their comments from my facebook and switch off from their blogs.

I do apologise to anyone who is offended by my view, but it is my view and if people don't like it, then they can feck off.  Yep, I feel that strongly about it.

So, Enough, Already.

And, then what happened .....

.... was that the next day, the 14th, out daughter's birthday, I came down with the most awful virus-y, chest-y, brochial thingy. And, yesterday, Friday 4 March, I cancelled my third doc's appointment, as I was at last, feeling better. Blimey!


I caught this from my lovely grand-daughter, who was so poorly, bless her, so I can't blame her. Now, my lovely daughter has the same thing, bah!

Mr T and I have been suffering a lot lately, with headaches each morning. Now, I think I have worked it out. We do spend quite some time each evening. Then we go to our bed, which has lovely pillows, gorgeous goose down duvet and tempur mattress - you really couldn't ask for more. But, in the morning we both have such steaming headaches, that make us feel sick. After being up and about for a while, it will go off, more or less, but returns the next day. I wonder if we are getting 'swan necks' from the laptops? Then, when we're properly laying down, it is altering how our neck and spine is, causing said headaches. It's just a thought.

On another note, I have been struggling somewhat with my first City and Guilds project. Oh, how I hate to be out of my comfort zone! But, I had a breakthrough this week, and think I am now on the right track. You see, I can quite comfortably come up with an item to make, think about it and get it made, whether it is knitting, sewing, felting etc. But, ask me to use my brain to go through the various design elements, de-constructing the elements of the particular item, grr. I worried, lost sleep, worried some more. Then, was able to get back to class this week, and bingo! We have it! I now need to experiment with colours and sewing methods, and I should be on track for producing something worthy of the exhibition we have due in early May. I think so, anyway....

Another two 'starts'

A new year, a new beginning?  Yep.  Two today, and I'm excited about both of them!

Moogsmum mentioned on her blog about another 'sock club'.  Well, anyone who knows me, even slightly, will know that I do not need to enter into anymore sock clubs, as I could start one of my own, with all the lovlies in my stash.  So, Moogsmum's sock club is just what I need.  What you do is match up your existing sock yarn, with your patterns.  Put them each into individual, clear bags - yarn and pattern.  Then, you have ready-made access to what you need.  Bingo!  And then, the idea is that you knit up those patterns on a one-per-month basis.  Sounds brill to me!

Here, you can see I am winding on the second skein of my 'Cookie A' sock club yarn, from Last Year's sock club.  Yes, I knitted half the first sock in January 2010, when the yarn and pattern arrived.  Then, I've finished the first one, and the leg of the second one all out of the first skein.  Since taking this piccie this morning, I am now knitting up the heel flap.  I will have plenty of yarn left over to add to some other scraps of sock yarn (as Moogsmum also says) in her post - which I will also copy.  Ooh dear, I promise I'm not a stalker!  Just love reading and enjoying others' blogs.

Speaking of others' blogs.  There is a lot around about people's '365 Projects'  where you take photo a day, for a year, which I fancy joining in for, as well.  However, I am already a failed 365'ver as i didn't take a photo on Friday.  But, here's a picture of my lunch on Thursday, jacket potato with tuna and sweetcorn and a coffee;

Sorry, but it's been a knacker-ing week!  On Thursday, I also arrived for an appointment two hours early, so had to miss it.  But, I shall carry on this week. 

I have heard today, that little nanny's lolly-dolly-pop has a v high temperature, so I will be looking after her tomorrow, for the day - wheeeeee!  But, first a visit to the doctor to find out just where this the infection is that is causing the high temp. (It's quite funny as well, as mummy has a hangover from her, in-advance, birthday celebrations for tomorrow.)

What a Great Idea!

Now, this is just the kick up the bum that I jolly well need.  Somehow, while trawling through the web log land, I came accross this darned good blog called Liesl Made where she has set a challenge, which I am joining, for sure. 

What's involved is that you make an item from a craft book that you currently own (erm, I have a couple, or so.... ) one in every month.  Now, I don't know how long the challenge lasts, but I reckon I should be finished by the time my work's pension is due to be paid to me, in about 2014.

I have many, many books on knitting (all kinds), sewing, felting, patchwork all too many to mention here, as I have not yet had my breakfast and am feeling weak. (But, 'Saturday Kitchen' is on and I don't want to peel my backside off the chair just yet.)  Suffice it too say that I will take up this spiffing idea and put it into practice, um, well within the next couple of days.

And, you can post piccies of what is made up HERE on flickr

How cool is that? *stretch*

A photo day?

The weather today was so horrible, foggy and wet that I didn't take anything outside.  However, I happened to be in Dundee at lunchtime, when I heard the lovely tinkling sound of this clock.  The top right butterfly door was opening as the clock struck. Sadly, I didn't see all of the parade, but thought I would quickly get this photo, anyway.

I joined the library again today, and brought home some lovely reads - Cath Kidston's 'Stitch!', one about embroidered textiles and another on soapmaking - talk about a butterfly mind!

*whisper*

yes, a couple of *whispers* One is that I have, for some strange reason unbeknownst to me, woken up with a sore throat, *bah*

Also, Snapdragon is re-introducing her Newsletter, *hurrah*  I did so enjoy reading about new products, what to do in the garden, etc as well as looking at the beautful flower arrangements Jane does. 'Flower arrangement' sounds a bit wet, but Jane's are not, they are so thoughtfully done, with natural flowers home-grown by her, in her Snapdragon's garden. And, as for the blog = a delicious array of beautiful and quirky items, some of which I own.  The mugs are just lovely, and the linen tea towels actually work, as well as looking good.  I keep them for our caravan and, and ..... erm, I suppose I'd better just confirm here that I am not being paid, in goods or otherwise, to advertise Snapdragon here.  At all.  I am just a fan, albeit a quiet one, today.

I had a look at my 'saved' pictures and couldn't find anything I wanted to put here, and that would cheer us all up.  Ah well.  We are off to the city this morning, as I need to get my car tyres checked and possibly changed, as they are close to not being legal.  Before that, I shall load up my slow cooker with veg and stock, so that it will all be cooked and ready to be whizzed up for soup, on our return.  Wish us luck in this snow - it fell yesterday, melted a bit, then froze overnight, *bah* again.

Quick, before another month goes by!

some drawing of the above 'Tracks in the Snow' picture, for my course project

It must just be the 'old age and poverty' my ma in law speaks of, but I don't know how time goes by so, so quickly.  I'm finding, lately, that all of a sudden it is the end of another day, then a week and it's Friday, once again.  I'm kind of keeping up with things ie most forms are completed, on time-ish, laundry is up to date, knitting and some sewing is getting done, as well as making some more of the lovely Whiskey Marmalade, that we do love so much.  I've even been keeping up with some friends, making a point of seeing at least one each Tuesday - which I have deemed 'my day off' otherwise, I don't think I would get one.  And, I do hate not keeping in touch.  Today, I had lunch with some friends and some, well bitches, but we won't talk about them.

The friends I saw remain interested in what I'm doing, how my course, and work, and family are doing, and allow me to be interested in their 'stuff.'  I have been very busy with my student work, and I do love it, and find it so rewarding. Especially, as I have been very lucky to have ones of such a high calibre.  The fostering panel is rewarding in a different way, and though it would be a breach of confidentiality to even discuss any of it here, suffice it to say that the team is always professional and supportive of each other.  Not in a 'soppy' way, but with honesty and trust, and with a respect for service users, as well as each other.

~~~~~~~~



The room change around has been a great success, and I can find things now, whenever I want to, despite still having fabric stored in the cupboard and bed drawers in the old spare room, as well as in a blanket box and suitcase which both sit on the landing.  I am currently knitting a jumper for nanny's lolly-dolly-pop, and sewing her a cord skirt, with an embroidered butterfly on it, for Easter - or before if I can't resist giving them to her beforehand!

We are all keeping well, in the main, though I am finding that I am very tired, with bags under my eyes all the times, lately.  I have re-started the Floradix with added iron, and plan on a few early nights, and see if that makes a difference.  As an aside - have you been watching the latest series of 'Shameless'?  Isn't it still brilliant?!

~~~~~

I couldn't believe it this morning, when I woke up to find it had snowed during the night!  I had a very treacherous car drive into the city this morning - I got to a point where I wanted to turn back, but daren't as I would have to go back the way I came on a very curly, snowy and slippery road, eek!  However, it got a little better as I reached the city, and then got worse as I returned home this afternoon, with the news announcing 'extreme' weather conditions.  It has been blowing a gale so much so that I turned the volume up on the telly, at one point so I could hear it!  I hope it has settled by the morning so that I can go and look after nanny's lolly-dolly-pop for my Friday 'job.'

Stumped

I had a lovely day on Saturday, when I went to a stump work workshop at a local village.  It was so pleasant to be sitting and sewing with friends.  It was just a short, one day workshop where we learned how to do the above 'Funky Flower.'  I loved learning this, but have decided I hate the colours!

I shall just leave it as it is and put it on a shelf in my workroom.  The sewing isn't as neat as I would normally do, and the thread we were given was, well, cheap and nasty. Most of us spent half our time re-threading broken thread, as well as it just falling apart.  It was such a shame as there is so much work involved in this - each petal is outlined in buttonhole stitch, over wire, before pushing the wire through the fabric.  Then, the back of the wires are sewn over to catch them, and the front, centre of the flower is covered in french knots.  Oh, and the buttonhole stitch is sewn using only one thread of the skein!  Luckily, the french knots use all six threads. 

We could choose to either use the plain pink fabric for the flower itself, or, as I've done, reverse it and use the own (the tutor's) dyed fabric.  I think I chose the best version.  But, you can tell from my tone and moaning that I'm not overly impressed.  However, I am pleased with this new technique and most pleased with the company I kept!

~~~~~~  -o0o- ~~~~

In other news our little nanny's lolly-dolly-pop has been right poorly with the tummy bug which has been doing the rounds, it seems.  Poor wee thing! She's been sitting about, all pale and interesting - very different from the jumping-bean we are used to. 

Bless her.  Sadly, her last childminder recently died from a relapse of her cancer. There has obviously been no way any of us can explain her demise to our three-year-old.  The other day, however, we were travelling along in the car past some fields.  N's l-d-p says,

"Sheila and I went to a field on an adventure.  We saw a frog, and the grass was wet."

She told me she does like her new childminder, but she likes Sheila better.

Bittersweet.

~~~~ -o0o- ~~~~

I Will Survive!

Woo, hoo!  I have been quite worried over the last year or so as my blood pressure and cholesterol have been 'raised'. 

I went for my 'MOT' tests in December, and got the results this week.  My cholesterol and Blood Sugar are 'acceptable' and my Blood Pressure is Normal.

So, I stopped taking the blood pressure tabs - only a small dose, anyway, but felt I needed to just check this out with the doc.

I spoke to her this morning, on a telephone consultation, and though I need to have the BP checked another two times before a conclusive diagnosis can be made - I can stay off them!

And, furthermore, by losing weight, being a non-smoker and a t-totaller, I have reduced my chances of a heart attack within the next few years, down from 1 > 5 to 1 > 20! 

How bloody wonderful is that, eh?!

So, I lost 2 lbs last week at the old weight watchers new Pro Points plan, and it seems to be working.  I shall find out tonight if anymore has gone.  But, judging by the way I have been pee-ing for Scotland this week, it looks likely.

Also, I have signed up at the local Live Active pool and gym, went to Aqua-fit last night; and am due to attend for Zumba on Monday - so here goes for 2011!

I buy my own Christmas Presents & Change Rooms

     'Give me your Christmas List, or I won't know what to get you!

Is the cry I hear all through December. So, here it is


a new dressing gown
a metal ruler for my embroidery course (for drawing lines and cutting outs)
Downton Abbey dvd
a sparkly bracelet
Best of Parky dvd


Not much to ask, actually, is it?  No.  So, what did I receive from my lovely family and friends out of this list?  The Parky dvd (from my sister) and a beautiful sparkly bracelet from the everloving Mr T.


Luckily, I did receive some Christmas money, so Amazon orders have been placed for the ruler (£1.47) and Downton dvd (£15.95) and M & S will perhaps have a sale on, so I can shop there.

~ -o0o- ~

And, the Changing Rooms team is here!  Don't get so excited it is me and Mr T, as well as SIL to help with any (loads) of the heavy lifting.  We have wardrobes, chests of drawers and a whole sewing room to move around upstairs.  Woo, hoo! 


Our rather large bedroom is above the woodshed, the mud floor woodshed, in a very cold and snowy Scotland.  The cold was such that we would put a pillow at the top of our heads, to keep some warmth in And, it is a  l-o--n---g way from the bathroom (actually about thirty feet).  And, my sewing room is next door to our bedroom, and has to be passed when attending to the bathroom, etc, which means that it is espied by Mr T each time he vacates said bedroom.  Now, you have seen the mess in there, ladies, and you know what these men are like - very visual beings.  I got fed up with the amount of earache I was getting for that.  Also, our third room, our spare room is right next door to the bathroom.


So, yesterday, we moved our bed (heavy wooden frame, and tempur mattress) and stuff into the spare room - bliss.  It is lovely and warm, much lighter and brighter, and right. next. to the bathroom. Result.  Our old (large) bedroom will now be my sewing room :o) and the other room, the spare room.  Which means there is more room in the sewing room for z-beds etc, and we all win, all round.


A good and organised start to 2011, methinks.  Perhaps I shall get more work done, and as I've more or less gotten everything sorted out, be able to find stuff, and remember that I own it before buying anymore stuff.  Great Result.

Good effort

This is my resolution ............................ to finish all the

                                                             

things I have started.













The first picture is of a pair of socks from cookie a's 'Sock Innovation' called kai-mei.  I started these in October, when we went on holiday - actually knitting on the 'planes, there and back.  However, I finished the first sock, but have now started the second.  The yarn is 'Valbella' a lovely bargain I picked up at Lidl's a while ago at £2.99 for 200g.  Erm, I've got another 600g's of it in the cupboard.

The second piccie is of a wee jumper I have been knitting all over the Christmas period, for our little grandson, in an Adrafil (I think). Four balls of it was in my stash, I don't know what for, though it was earmarked for little 'un since he was born.  I was hoping to have sent it home with with him, but was busy with the whole family staying here for Christmassy stuff.  But, a couple of things were left behind, so it can go off with them.

When sorting out my sewing room so as to fit in beds for said family to sleep in, I had to clear all my stuff away.  What a job!  The place looked like something had exploded in there, but clear it away I did.  And, while doing so seemed to find a large amount of unfinished knitting projects - including a baby's blanket from about ten years ago, and  a jumper from about 1996! 

Plus, and I'm sure most knitters/sewers have this, several bags with kit in it.  I mean the pattern and the yarn, or fabric.  I say several, but there is more like about ten or so, plus random balls of wool to do hats with, a clothkits skirt (ooh yummy! but I'm not doing this until I've lost at least one stone = my treat to me, esp as it cost £59 to buy!) a Jamieson & Smith fair isle teacosy, which I am really looking forward to, wool and pattern for cardis, obv, for nanny's lolly-dolly-pop, kit for a fair isle neckwarmer, last year's knit sock club yarns - only one has been started and that is next on my list, plus the year before's sock yarn from the Get Knitted sock club (streuth!) and others that I've temporarily forgotten.  See?  This is what happens, isn't it?  You buy stuff, forget you've got it, then see something else you fancy and start that.

It would be just so silly for these things to be taking up so much room.  And, that is without the yards and yards of fabric just lolling about the place.  I have, so far, been able to squeeze most of this into two cupboards, two suitcases and a blanket box, I think, unless there's more.

So, deep breath here, I aim to not be buying anymore yarn (deffo sock stuff, anyways!) or fabric, unless it screams at me to be taken home, because I simply can't leave without it.  I am intending to list it all on Ravelry.

As well as all the craft books.  Ahem.