Oh wow, I haven’t posted for so long…

I guess I've got some major catch up work to do as I haven't posted in ages!

I've managed to finish all my Christmas knitting and I did it in time to deliver to Kerry's on 23^rd December too! Here are pictures (click the links) of the stuff I've finished since last posting.

A sweater for Dominic , a scarf for Mel , a capelet for Rose (a client at the home my mother works in) and a snugly wrap for me! I also managed to finish the blanket that Kerry requested for her friend who is expecting a baby in February! I've just started the sampler stole from A Gathering Of Lace to keep me going until we start Moroccan Days/Arabian Nights on 3^rd January!

We had our knitting Christmas dinner on the 15^th, I'd really been looking forward to it and had new clothes for it –- aren't they fabulous? I ended up being sick twice due to a migraine and calling my mother to come and rescue me tut.

I was absolutely gutted to miss the dinner so a few of us met for lunch today and it was really nice.

I went to visit Kerry and the kids on 23^rd December; we had a lovely day even though Kerry, Phoebe, Alex and I all had the flu!

The journey was all too much for me unfortunately and I spent the next four days wrapped in a blanket with streaming eyes and a streaming nose. I haven't done any Christmas baking and I didn't get drunk on Christmas day like I'd been planning too lol!

I'm starting to feel much better so I shall see the new year in with style, even if I am just sat at home!

Happy holidays everyone!

Lots to catch up

So, let's see, what's been going on? Loads!!

Just over a week ago, Alex and I were messing around and Alex's elbow knocked my cup of tea over…all over my laptop! I yelled in shock and tipped Alex and Isis off my lap yelling to everyone to get some tissue.

Alex immediately got very stroppy and yelled at me so I yelled back at him and he stormed off to bed in a huff. Thankfully, the laptop turned out to be ok, but the next day I got a call from the school telling me that Alex had flipped out.

I went up to the school, but Alex refused to talk to me other than to yell at me shouting that he didn't have a home or family and that he wanted to be adopted. Normally I can pull him out of these phases he goes through, but this time, I was the cause. I ended up having to leave him at school…I left in tears.

About an hour later, Alex and his teacher came home and Alex gave me a huge hug. We were both exhausted and totally drained afterward.

Our X-Box 360 is on the fritz, of course I've made a deal with the kids that I'll buy them one big present and give them cash for Christmas (saves me the stress of all that Christmas shopping!). They all decided to have Guitar Hero for the X-Box 360! So we've spent the last week or so panicking that we wouldn't have an X-Box to play the Christmas present on, but I've just received an e-mail telling me it's on it's way home WOO HOO!

Whatever you do, DON'T buy a HP C7280 printer, what a piece of crap! I got one about a year ago when my last printer died because the man in Staples recommended that model. I found the software cumbersome to use, if I tried to print photos I had to load one sheet at a time or it would pull several through at once and print one photo over several pages.

Then about a month ago I started getting an error message telling me that the duplex module wasn't installed, I took it in to Staples and they sent it off. A couple of weeks later I was told to collect a new printer from Staples, but kept receiving the error message. This meant that I was turning the page so that printing was manual two sided.

A week or so ago I wanted to print a page and just told it to print anyway, when I went to collect the page, it had printed two sided automatically! It just meant that I had to click 'print' twice to get it to print anything two sided. Then yesterday I bought the Garden Variety Collection from Susan Pandorf, I was merrily printing away when I received an error message telling me that the Ink System had failed! I tried everything, I reset the printer and it printed the alignment page perfectly then flashed up with this error message again.

So I took the printer back to Staples this morning and told the manager that I wanted to kick the damn thing with my New Rocks. Staples finally agreed to let me pay the difference and upgrade, isn't this a huge piece of printer LOL

I finished what was going to be Nic's jumper but it came out so small I decided it should go to Phoebe instead, Kerry doesn't mind that it's blue…I think it'll suit her personally.

So I'm making another 'Weasley' but with a 'D' on it for Nic.

See what happens when you leave yarn lying around? Tut

Labels

After a bit of thought I changed my labels slightly, I added another ball of yarn with a crochet hook to the front and changed it to "Handmade" - Hand crafted just didn't look right to me.

I like how these have turned out and I can't wait to use them, they'll be printed onto card and attached to the garment with a bit of yarn.

It grows…

Tut, Lidl decided to sell some wool this week, look what I came home with!

Then I added that to my stash and that's when I realised that I actually am acquiring quite a respectable stash…I'm quite proud of myself lol…don't tell Mel though, she'll shoot me!

I've decided that I love knitting for other people, but only on MY terms, I don't like people to expect knitted stuff simply because I've said I'll do it. I'm doing a jumper for Nic, but the body is too short, the arms are SERIOUSLY pissing me off and I want to set fire to the whole damn thing. Kerry, this is probably gonna fit Phoebe better than it will Nic…sorry!

I can't wait for all the Christmas knitting to be finished, I've had enough of it now. In fact, I'm sick of it all! I don't think it helps that I've wound my yarn and bought the beads for Moroccan Days/Arabian Nights. I just wanna start it!

If you look back at previous posts, you may think some of the photos are different. I rearranged my files on Photobucket which changed all the links, so I've had to reload the pics.

My New Labels

A question that comes up on Ravelry regularly is having snazzy personalised labels. I didn't like any of the ones I saw online so I decided to create my own.

I've got no knitting done today, I'm one of those that once I start something, I become a bit obsessed about it until I'm happy about it.

Get a load of THESE!

On the front is my little Puddytat Purr with a ball of yarn and the words "Hand knit especially for you by Sam" and on the back will be a picture of the finished garment and washing instructions.

I've just realised that they say "Hand knitted" I think I'll change that though as I crochet too, should I go for "Hand made" or "Hand crafted"?

Whaddya think?

Josh’s Christmas Jumper

I've finished Josh's Christmas jumper , I would've finished on Sunday, but I was just starting the sleeves when I noticed a cable mistake on the back (thankfully, right at the top). So, I checked the front…there was a mistake on there too…right at the bottom SOB.

So I had to frog it all and re-knit, thankfully tis done now!

Isis the stroppy teenager

I knew it would happen as my kids got older, but I didn't expect it to happen as the dog grew up too!

Isis has become a stroppy teenager!

She turned 1 last Friday, but for the past couple of weeks, her behaviour and demeanour have changed. She's had the 'sod face'. ANYONE who has had teenage children knows exactly what I mean by 'sod face'…it's the face your teen gets just before they claim that life is so unfair and they hate you…know the face I mean?

As well as the 'sod face', she's taken to whining, ok, not so bad…normally. She whines all the time if she's not sleeping or on my lap or out walking. If I'm sat knitting or watching TV, she's got to be on my lap or she'll pace around the room and whine. She even woke me in the middle of the night last night by whining!

She's become picky with her food again, she didn't eat Friday's food until Sunday morning!

She seems perfectly healthy, is not in pain and sleeps quite happily when she is on my lap and is perfectly well behaved while out on a walk or in the car…she is behaving just like a brat! Therefore I'm assuming that it is a teenage thing and that there's nothing wrong with her….how long that'll remain the case remains to be seen, she won't reach 2 years old at this point LOL

Farewell, Great Lady

Today is the day that the QE2 leaves Southampton forever.

I'm sat watching it on TV, I would've liked to go over to Southampton, but it would've been far too hectic and standing room only. There's a huge party going on over there to say goodbye, loads of people crying and cheering. It's a real shame that she's going. It's quite poetic that she's leaving on Remembrance Day too. One of my biggest memories was of the QE2 shipping troops out of Southampton during the Falklands!

Here are some photos that my mum took when she went on her QE2 cruise a few weeks ago.

Bon Voyage!

What did you learn today?

I don't think there's much more I can learn in the way of techniques where knitting is concerned, especially not after today. I spent this evening teaching myself how to do Norwegian Purl with the help of this video.

It's still a bit slower at the moment, but it looks as neat as doing it the 'regular' way and I know I'll speed up with practise.

So, what did you learn today?

Weasley

I've finished the Weasley Sweater for Herbie -– I hope it fits, but Kerry assures me that if it doesn't fit Herbie, then Josh will quite happily steal it LOL

Beaumonde Scarf

I'm currently working on a Weasley Sweater, but just before I started it I finished the Beaumonde Scarf (designed by Marie) as a Christmas present for Ellie. Well, Ellie decided she couldn't even wait for it to be blocked, let alone wait until Christmas, so she's already got it LOL. She loves it, here's a pic of her and another of her and Jess both showing off their new scarves.

RAK

Oh, I LOVE Ravelry. I'm in so many groups and today I received TWO RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness). Look! The first is from EstieKnits

and the books are from hlf.

Happy me, yay!

Inconsiderate dog owners!

So, the beginning of this week was dreadful, migraines descended on Sunday - I woke up with one actually. By Tuesday I was in agony, outta my tree on painkillers and thoroughly sick of the whole thing. I was also suffering secondary pains in my shoulders, neck and back.

By teatime on Tuesday, I'd managed to get it under some degree of control -– it kinda felt like I'd stuck a cushion on top of it and then sat on it! After some argument with Mum, I decided I WAS going to the cinema with her, Matt & Kyle to see James Bond Quantum of Solace and promised that if it got bad, I would leave the theatre and go lie down in the car. But we also agreed that if all went well, we'd go to Tesco after and grab the weekly groceries!

I sat through the film with no problems, thoroughly enjoyed it and we decided we'd go and do the shopping.

We came home, unloaded and I went to park the car. I keep my car in a road opposite, we own a piece of land which acts like a driveway – it's just not attached to our house. We get to it via a footpath opposite my house which comes out directly opposite my car.

I was walking down the footpath back to the house with Mum and the boys, I'd linked arms with Matt – we were just passing a bollard in the middle of the path when my foot slid out from underneath me. I hadn't seen anything because the one and only lamp on that path was behind us at that point, but when we all moved we saw a HUGE pile of dog mess right between the hedge and bollard, so it was effectively in the middle of the right half of the path.

I ended up with dog crap all over my £150 New Rock boots, the return of my migraine and pulled muscles all down the right side of my body!

I bloody HATE people who don't clean up after their dogs – I have a back problem which causes me CONSTANT pain and yet I manage to pick up the mess that Isis makes and any mess that Kim makes if I'm out with whoever is walking him! So if I can do it, then why the hell can't everyone else!

Nails, Cinema

Had my nails done again today - don't they look fabulous!

Went to the cinema today to see Saw V, of course as soon as the film started I had the kids phoning to tell me that someone was misbehaving etc etc, drove me batty and I yelled at them all down the phone. Took me ages to calm down afterwards!

I just wish my kids would learn to co-exist for a few hours so I can watch a damn movie in peace!

Cabled Yoke Cardigan, Scarf, etc

I've finished! The cardigan is finished and it looks GREAT! Get a load of this! I also found some lovely clasps on eBay and it goes perfectly with the cardigan.

I want to make another one now, maybe in a different colour though not sure what colour…don't think they do purple aran :'(

I also completed this drop stitch scarf , I did it in Noro Silk Garden and used 3 balls. I initially bought the yarn for Askew, but didn't like it when I started so I frogged it. Then I saw Jan making a drop stitch scarf at our last knitting meet and after a bit of discussion with her decided to make the scarf up in the Noro. It looks gorgeous, but needs to be blocked to show it's full potential. I initially made this for me, but Jess has made it quite clear that I'm not going to get to wear it LOL

Now I'm making Beaumonde for Jess's friend, Ellie as a Christmas present.

What’s happening lately…

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, not posted for a while, basically because not a great deal has happened. I've received some Debbie Bliss pure silk from a Ravelry user, I was a bit miffed because Royal bloody Mail stung me for 'International Handling Fee's'.

I've spent today filling in forms, Alex's DLA is up for renewal and I've kept putting it off. Then I got a letter telling me that because I'm on Income Support with a disability premium, I have to apply for Incapacity Benefit. Then after talking to them on the phone they told me I should apply for Child Tax Credit too! Now all the forms are filled in and I've just got to post them!

Mum's going on a 5 day cruise on the QE2 tomorrow. I made Cinnamon Latte for her to take on the cruise and today I received a gorgeous shawl pin off eBay - it arrived just in time! It'll go perfectly with that shawl AND with Moroccan Days/Arabian Nights which we will be casting on January 3^rd. I've got several people on Ravelry interested in doing it too, so I've organised a KAL.

I got the beads for it today - blimey they're small. We decided a couple of days ago to thread the beads before cast on day, which is a bloody good thing now I've seen the beads - it's gonna take ages!

I also received two row counters from Muddy Paws, I can't wait to use them, they're great!

I've also just bought an iPhone, it's lovely and I've managed to get one of those sim hacker things so I can use my T-Mobile sim in it, but I can't jailbreak the damn thing. I've tried 4 times and every time the phone just freezes up. It's a brand new phone so I think I'll give it a bit longer until they've perfected the jailbreaking software for the phone.

Oh, I also had my nails done on Friday, then I met up with a few of the others from the knitting group so we could knit in public as last week was National Knitting Week!

What I’ve been doing

Forgive me if this doesn't make sense - I didn't go to bed last night and I'm exhausted!

I've been working hard on my cabled yoke cardigan from Vogue Knitting, I've completed the front and the back, just doing the sleeves, then I can sew it all together and do the yoke.

Mum said it's starting to get cold and she's been suffering with the most awful chest infection, so I rustled up Tudora for her. This is her modelling it along with a pic of the back of my cardi.

Going to get back into the afghan as soon as I've finished this cardigan. I've also got to make a "Weasley" for Kerry's son Herbie. I've got the wool, still waiting for her to send me the measurements. I'm hoping to have my cardigan finished by the end of the week!

Must remember to buy some buttons tomorrow!

Now I feel all inferior

On Friday I told you about the World's Biggest Stash - today I decided it was time to sort out my stash into some semblance of order.

Now I feel all inferior :'(

Knitters Paradise

I'm just off to battle the insomnia, but I had to draw your attention to this! Isn't it amazing? I could barely breathe when I first saw those photos. Now THAT is knitting paradise!

Yummy!

Oooooooooooooh, look what came in the post today, I bought it from another Ravelry user and it is simply gorgeous -– it's Knitwitches silk and there's LOADS –- I'm going to have so much fun finding the perfect project for it! A friend has just loaned me Victorian Lace Today and A Gathering of Lace, I'm bound to find something in there!

And here's a photo of Phoebe modelling one of the romper suits I made for her - apparently she's growing out of them fast!

Road Rage!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Why is everyone on the road - apart from me, obviously - a complete and utter idiot!

Don't worry - that was a rhetorical question!

I went to Newport to get the design on my nails changed today - don't they look great??

Anyway, on my way down the High St in Newport, heading for Coppins Bridge roundabout, I was in the right hand lane (to Sandown). As I went onto the roundabout, some old fart in a Jaguar with a woman who'd had some kinda botox explosion on her face, tried to cut me up. I moved forward and threw him a filthy look - which I'm very good at lol.

The Jeep behind me allowed this idiot to cut in, then BOTH cars overtook while in the wrong lane and then both of them cut me up! I couldn't believe it. What the hell is wrong with people? I sounded the horn to notify the Jeep that I wasn't happy about being cut up and the dickhead behind the wheel got all huffy - yes, he'd indicated, but just cos you flash your indicators does not mean you can cut in front without waiting for me to, at least, acknowledge you! What a pratt!!!

It's at times like this I wish I still smoked!

Freecycle

Dontcha just love Freecycle? If you haven't heard of it, it's a swap group essentially. If you have something you want to get rid of locally, but you can't be bothered to sell it or whatever, you just send a mail through the yahoo group. If someone wants it, they mail you or call you and they collect!

Look what I picked up today!

How great is that! It's got a little dent in the front and the top is a bit of a mess, but that can be covered easily and it's in full working order. I've cleaned it up and it's come up great!

Ok, some catch up to do…..

Last week we cleaned out our tortoise's house so that he can hibernate for the winter…well, I say he, but we actually found out about 10 years ago that he is a she! Trouble is he'd been a he since we got him which was when I was about 18 months old and he'll always be a he to us!

So, we took out all the old straw and earth from last winter and look what we found!

Touché (we pronounce it Toosh) laid an egg! How cool is that!

My swift and ball winder finally arrived - it's only a plastic swift, I wound a ball of 4ply using the swift and ball winder earlier, it was quite loose. I don't know whether that's the swift or not, but I would expect to be able to get more than 100g of 4ply on the ball winder.

I took Kyle to Southampton today so he could spend his birthday money, he bought a coat, a t-shirt, a hoodie, pair of trousers, pair of shoes, backpack, couple of belts and a couple of console games and he still had enough money left to put in his bank account!

I went in Waterstones (I really should avoid that place) and I bought Field Guide To Knitting by Jackie Pawlowski, it cost £9.99 and is a great guide. I want to design a scarf for mum in reverse cable and this book should help me pick out the design. What I like about this book is that it tells you roughly how much yarn you would need, recommended needle size, whether it's a flat or textured stitch and there's a photo guide in the middle of the book. It's a handy pocket size so it'll fit in my bag!