Not Naff!

I have been involved with a charity knitting group for a while, and thoroughly enjoy it! We knit hats for prem babies, hats for sailors and all manner of things. There are about nineteen of us and we all seem to get on quite well - in fact the level of noisy chatter can reach such a pitch at times that you can't hear yourself think, let alone join in any conversation, at times.

We have decided to make the Christmas boxes for children, and were quite happily making (yet more!) hats, scarves, mittens and cardies for the children. We also decided to take part in the village Flower Festival and she who leads us suggested we knit a bunch of flowers to enter into the flower displays. Well, we entered into it all with great gusto! And, I think it could have been so naff, but isn't. I am so impressed with us all.

Can you see the ladybird, butterfly and bee? Can you spot his eyebrows?! We have also knitted, felted and sewn items to sell on a table, at the Festival.

When we send the parcels to be shipped to those in need, there is a £2 fee, which needs to be taped to the lid of the shoebox.

So, the plan is that instead of asking for donations of cash, we will raise what is needed by the sale of our work, and we'll also raffle the bouquet.

Sorted!

Scotch Mist

Wow, this was the view outside my kitchen window the other morning, at 5 am. Summer is on the way, it seems. I went outside, in my dressing-gown and Mr T's slippers to try and capture some of the freshness.

It was so peaceful, and I noticed several bunny rabbits skittering about the place, and even a large hare. But, each one would scatter as I turned to take their picture.

What a treat it was.

Icing talent

Speaking of nanny's lolly-dolly-pop (not easy to type, surprisingly!) She had her 2nd birthday recently and, look at the beautiful cake her big sister made for her!


We had a very talented cake decorator come to demonstrate some decorating at the Rural, last November. She had us in fits of laughter while making choirestors and penguins out of icing.

Obviously, nanny's best girl and I had taken note and this is the delicious result. I think we have a new talent in the family, especially as the picture in the book had a toothless fish, but NBG wanted to add something extra!

Untitled

This is the view at the back of our house at 2.30 am this morning. Beginning to get lighter in the new day. I couldn't sleep and got up to get a drink, and was able to see my way to the bathroom without turning on the light.

As I sat here to upload it onto my laptop and then to the blog, I heard the news that Michael Jackson had died at the age of 50.

What a sad man he was - a little boy who never grew up. Some say he was an innocent, but I wonder. I didn't trust him, I'm afraid. I would never trust a man who wants to play with my children, have sleepovers or want to share a bed with them.

I know there is no such thing as 'normal' in this world of ours today, but he was an eccentric, lost little boy. With friends like Uri Geller and David Blaine, it speaks for itself.

He certainly gave us some fantastic music, but I don't think he was the 'icon' the celebs speak of.

Such icons we have these days - Jade Goody and Michael Jackson.

May they rest in peace.

Pillowslip dress

Believe it or not, but this dress was cut out of a vintage pillowslip, which is really lovely and soft through the amount of laundering it will have had. It is much thicker than the bedding you can buy in the shops today, it seems. Plus, the lining was some recycled stuff I had in my stash, too. The pattern is a vintage one I bought from Silly Gilly's shop a while ago, when she was having a clear-out. I am really pleased with this, and it looks gorgeous on nanny's little 2 year old lolly-dolly-pop. It is a little too big, but she'll be wearing it for a while yet.

Yep, still here!

Yep, I am still about the place! Just been quite busy, but for the life of me I can't think at what! However, as I write I'm sure my brain will kick in and I shall remember and tell it to you!
Oh, yes - we went to my cousin's wedding in the middle of May, and had a really lovely time. I had made my dress, but when I tried it on I felt that I looked like Hattie Jacques! It just didn't feel right, so I wore a pair of trousers I already owned, and a blouse I bought from e-Bay a couple of years ago, from Next, but didn't fit until now. I also made my bracelet (left) from knitted wire with beads - both new techniques for me and looked lovely.

Next, is the wedding card, made using my new machine embroidery skills. I was supposed to use hot water to take off the backing, but had forgotten to cut out a window in the calico! However, no-one was any the wiser and I was pleased with the result.

As I didn't wear my dress, it meant I was able to use some of the leftover fabric to make my bag (it would have been too, too much to have both, as you can see.) The badges on the front are from Jane Snapdragon's Garden, put into my parcel when I bought two of her lovely linen tea-towels.

And, last and I feel, least, is the fascinator I made. I am not altogether happy with it, especially as I hadn't followed the instructions properly and put the feathers onto wire before pinning them onto it. Most of them fell out after playing air-guitar later on at the reception, anyway!

As we were also visiting family in the area, we stayed at the Duck Inn at Aston Clinton for three nights (at a three for two nights deal) which was very comfortable, relaxed and a fun place to stay. I'd actually forgotten to dye my hair (the grey, the grey!) before we left, so on my way out the door picked up the hair dye and an old towel, and did it at the Inn!

It was a lovely relaxed weekend and, on the way back collected my brother at Newcastle, and he stayed over for the week. When it was time for him to leave I decided to drive him back to Sunderland where he stays, in order for me to get to see the sea and eat some fish and chips!

A new skill learned

Or, shall I say, attempted? Enjoyed, but not expert, shall we say, or just get on with it?

I recently went on a 'Machine Embroidery' weekend course with the rural (Scottish WI) and had a splendid time. The above is a go at printing my own fabric, by drawing on some calico with fabric crayons and ironing it through some baking parchment. I then laid on some bits and pieces of fabric, yarn and stuff, then lay over some netting. I then stitched pretty patterns in free embroider - then forget to take another photo!

Anyway, I had a fab time, did loads of work - on the Saturday the hours were 9 am - 10 pm, but even then didn't want to put it down and go to my bed!
We did so much and below is a picture of the sum of my weekend's learning. Not bad for a beginner, eh?



The course was held at Craibstone Agricultural College at Aberdeen, which is surrounded by woodland, so I was also able to have an early morning wander about. Which got my head into gear for the long, but interesting hours of getting to know my machine.

Trouble is, now my head is just buzzing with new ideas - the first of which will be a card I will make for my cousin's wedding on the 16th - using hot water disolving fabric. For which I have already bought the silver and varigated threads, collected my white netting - and will show you pictures when it is done.

This is after I have made my new dress, bag and fascinator! Yep, you heard it hear first.