Illyria

I have been Mummying, Working, Crocheting, Invest-ing, Rock-ing, dreaming… Helen came to help out this morning and we went to Jurassic Jungle!

Have to go out to homework class now…

On Saturday I met Rachel John at one of the stands and she had the most amazing textiles made out of yarn combined from  ten or more strands of yarn, knitted on HUGE needles. What surprised me most was that she used yarn I previously disdained for being too fuzzy or eyelashy or glittery and made it look amazing! And the texture - so thick and soft and squishy! So I looked out all the yarn I couldn’t work out how to use before and made my own ten strand ball of eyelash, mohair, wool and cotton…

And cast on 14 stitches with my 20mm needles…

I think this is a great way of reducing waste too - I bunged in all kinds of end scraps, some from Cyndi, attempted some colour variation, but I’m still not keen on the eyelash.  Sorry eyelash yarns - never bought you, never will.

Will probably be a cushion for driving support.

…the beautiful New Lanark marled wool, could have bought every shade, plus Debbie Bliss soho, £6 the lot and free 20mm needles!

Mira thinks the needles are a good teething aid. They must have worked as I got a great sleep last night!

Thinking of maybe this? Can’t find the link any more - but I have the PDF.

More tomorrow!

So I am now feeling energetic enough to crochet and have already broken my no more stash vow rather badly… I thought about all the things I was going to give up this year in the way of trips and conferences, as travelling and fees would be demanding, so I bought yarn for when I’m too big to go anywhere and to comfort me and bring colour therapy… and to add to my blanket!

Th colours are a bit washed out but I have learned a lot this month: 1. I don’t like centre joins - I’m now doing them in the corners. 2. How to block - thanks Attic 24! 3. What colours work - I’m really not happy with the central 12 round and may pull it back to ten and then use it later, or crochet the last two rounds in the ivory. I also joined ravelry and got given some exciting knitting needles… more tomorrow!

Here is the original pattern:

Babette

I’m hoping to learn to be as bold and fearless with colour but I’m still a bit colour panicky…

1. I can’t stand raw tomato. Cooked is fine!
2. I would love to study mixed media/textiles at Art School.
3. I also have two webbed toes on each foot.
4. I love hearing peoples dreams and trying to interpret them.
5. I have two zillion creative projects I’d like to do.
6. I have the best friends a girl could wish for.
7. My favourite holidays were to Venice and the Grand Canyon.
8. I am obsessed with blogland.
9. I am obsessed with yarn and fabric.
10. I am obsessed with beads and buttons.
11. I once ate a worm because my dad told me to.
12. He also told me walnuts could climb walls. I didn’t know about blutak then!
13. I have the sweetest husband in the world.
14. I like cake decorating.
15. My favourite food right now is Japanese, six months till I can eat sushi again!
16. My favourtie writers are the 19th century female variety.
17. My favourite film is Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet.
18. Normally I prefer happy endings. I like happy things.
19. My favourite illustrators are Eric Carle, Lauren Child and Quentin Blake.
20. I wish I could go sledging today, but it’s probably not wise in my condition.
21. I have boys names picked out but struggling a bit to agree on girl’s names with Ben.
22. Mira has the best hair of any toddler I know! (I’m biased!)
23. I really wish she would not scream when we wash her though!
24. My favourite colour is blue - turquoises at the moment.
25. Being a Christian is the most amazing adventure I have ever been on!

At last we have had some proper-ish snow and so before it melted we rushed out to have some fun!

We then had a go at building Snowy, which consisted of Mira trying to pulverise or stamp on the growing snow balls and pull out his nose.

Sandra came to help, particularly with reconstructive surgery!

We have such an amazing gift that has been hidden behind what may have seemed to outsiders many things… our new baby is coming in August, the 14th we think!

However, since mid December, I have had only brief flashes of energy, and mostly I haven’t been able to move because of the constant nausea. I hope my lack of socialising or other activity, real or web, hasn’t seemed like I’ve forgotten about you, but I’m still being sick and am very tired.  I am so very happy!

It does make me think about the metaphor of gestation afresh - what are you hatching that no one can see? Is it a difficult journey, and do people misunderstand? I am sending you LOVE!

In the midst of all the crazyness, I don’t know how I managed this, but one night and afternoon I responded to a sparkly urge from deep within my soul -

This isn’t a great photo bu I’m not sure the next is much better…

It was wonderful stress relief therapy at any rate and fun!

I have been considering these topics in a spiritual light for my Invest presentation on Friday, but here are some other senses of the words…

1. Family foundations. I love my families in the broadest sense - I even feel like my colleagues are family - sisters! Church family is blowing me away at the moment.  Mira has been so incredibly sweet and snuggly and kissy today - andI have smooched a lot of teddy bear fur! My sister came down to support me at the weekend and we will have a few very lovely visitors over the next fortnight.

2. Creativity  - both a foundation and baggage! Part of what I do is recycling, but I wanted to make hearts that would endure longer than card and I don’t have time to carve my own. These will be amazingly transformed when next seen…

However, to be honest, a lot of what I do is hoard  and collect, and stash reducing is a necessity. But I have bought this wire… so why? It is steel, and to buy this amount in sterling silver would have cost me over £200. The anitque colour is perfect , it cost me about £7 and should last for ages. So once my prelim marking is over, I hope to get started  - my head is buzzing with ideas. I also wanted some clear hard resin for jewellery purposes but that is proving harder to obtain.

Sorry I haven’t posted for ages - I’m afraid I have been ill and away. So belated Happy Christmas and New Year!

Mira had a great time and has developed an obession for tweaking the tree…

She was 21 months yesterday…

The real star though has been mrBen, who has held the fort while I lurked in bed. Thank you so much. Your homemade soup is wonderful. Love ya!