I think it's "Au Revoir" guys........

Sorry, sorry, sorry for being a bad blogger and not actually blogging anything :-( I just never seem to have time to blog. I check out several blogs belonging to other folks every day but I can do that in a minute here, minute there, blogging myself takes too much time.....

The good news is I have been offered a place to do a BSc in Chinese Medicine. Ta Da! I am absolutely over the moon. Due to craptastic circs, including death and disaster, I missed out on the Uni place I was offered at 18 so I have had to wait another 23 years for this and, boy, does it feel good! I really think that this subject ( which I would never have chosen at 18) is much more "me" than my choice back then........

It means I will have to get organised. No more festivals selling tie-dye for me, I will need all my waking hours (and probably some sleeping ones!) to fit in college, homework and still having all the stuff to do I do now (which I already don't have time for) like cooking, cleaning, washing, dog walking etc etc. So, the non-essentials go. Felting, dyeing, most sewing and, I'm afraid, blogging. I will still knit - you think I'd give that up?!- and spin if I ever get a moment but all the things I have filled my time with because I could will have to move over.
I will still keep in touch via everyone's blogs but from this one it has to be Au Revoir.................

Just popped out for some wool.....

Colinette mill shop. Nothing more to say........

(well, just a bit more :-) this is their bag of bits, 1000g for £20. Lots of lovelies. Gonna knit a shawl)

Happiness is................

A small boy.........

and a fish :-)

Bigger boys like it too.....

Bath anyone.............?

The scary part is we only have the one set of "facilities" (and they are subsiding apparently but that's another story) so you wanna wee? You brave the sheep shit :-)

Done! Now what?

I loved knitting it. The sleeves fit the armholes (always a dodgy moment I find.) It fits. The recipient seems pretty chuffed too...............

WOW!!!!!!!!

Look at all that!!!! I must be the luckiest Dye-O-Rama swapper in the Blogiverse, Universe, Cosmos, whatever!!!!!! My swapper was Reb from Shades of Green and I cannot believe what she's sent me :-) There are bones for the dogs, here they are "asking nicely" for them..... There are Gummies for the kids, here they are looking as if Gummies wouldn't melt! (Well two of them are here, the other one missed out, such is group dynamics in a house full of boys...) There is a beautiful book called "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" by Paul Goble, it has the most lovely illustrations and I can't wait to read it! There were what Reb calls "low brow" chocolates, all peanutty and fabulous - we are munching as I speak with Bri saying "cor, you don't get M&M's like this over here, give 'em here!" Then there is another bag, full of "high brow" chocs, fabulous stuff like Paul Newman's "Butter Toffee Crunch"and Seattle Chocolate's "Expresso Truffle Bar" Then there is a selection of teas from a Master Blender. I love tea and as I don't use milk in it I can really appreciate a tasty cuppa!! Then there's The Yarn!!!! Oh, it is wonderful. There is a blue blend in fabulous shades called "Seagasm" . This pic doesn't do it justice, it's bluer and deeper and altogether lovely. This will be socks for me. The other large hank is "Primevil Promise" and is the most divine wool/tencel blend, it shimmers like rain on leaves and is all the shades of trees. Greens, brown all with that shimmer. I don't know it's destiny yet. ( You will get to see the wonder of this when blogger stops arsing about and lets me upload the sodding picture!) Theres also a tidy hank of STR as I said I lusted after it, that will be an amulet bag I think.... Everything came with cards attached that are both beautiful and full of lovely notes and explanations. I have never had anything so lovely sent to me before, I am deeply touched and totally thrilled. Thank you Reb, thank you very, very much :-)

One day..........

.......I won't begin a post with "this is just a quickie". One day, not today coz this is just a quickie :-)I am pleased with how the dyeing came out. The thick and thin is really lovely and now it's dry the discrepancy between the deeper and lighter bits is much less. The thin stuff is the same sort of colours in a sock wool and is the other option to go to my Dye-o-Rama swapper. I will post it tomorrow so I'll have to decide today I guess! The black/shiny yarn is the latest hank of handspun. The shiny bit doesn't really take a great pic but is the Rainbow Merino/Tencel combed tops I came back from Winghams with. I have a huge amount to learn about what looks good plied with what but I'm reasonably happy with the result here. I didn't think the merino/tencel would show itself off very well plied to itself. I didn't want to echo a bright colour from the rainbow either so went for black. What do you think? I can't get my head round spinning singles which could've been a way to go I suppose......
This pretty thing is a new sock for my darling. In reality those colours are sooooo pretty. The pattern is lovely too, it's the Parting Ways sock. Can't remember offhand where I bought it but it's lovely to do. Blogger has decided that you will see no more today so that's your lot. I can hear my "new" washing machine arriving and have nearly two weeks worth to do so ta ta!!!

Quick.......

Hi! Just a few quick pics...... Thank you those who said "don't be stupid" I now have a lovely new Osteopath. Aaahhh! I am still in pain and constantly tired having spent two weeks doing bugger all, anything is a big deal.
You can dye when you are "pottering" (pottering as instructed by said ostopath.) In fact it is a good pottering exercise! The thin stuff is probably what I will ship to my buddy. I really like it but fair's fair :-) The thicker stuff is some thick'n'thin pure wool I got from Wingham's and have got around to dyeing. Now, some dyed really well and some has washed out quite a lot. Hmmnn. Think it could be a temperature issue. White and brown vinegar are the same pH aren't they? Swapped half way round the skein. Don't think it's that. It's not too bad and will probably knit up OK but the deep colours are soooo pretty it's just a shame. The socks are the ridged pair I started yonks ago. The Sweater is from Interweave, I'm knitting it for a friend. Well it wouldn't fit round my leg so def not for me!!
The skein of wool was the first one I did for Dye-o-Rama and though I like it - and still may send it - I wanted to try another colourway. Finally, why schools insist on having "Fancy Dress Days" willy frigging nilly is beyond me. We've only just had one! The teachers obviously don't have three kids (and a bad back - whinge, moan :-)) Couldn't sit and sew and couldn't disappoint the boy so forked out £30 (gulp) still, cute though............