Finished just in time

Here are my two projects for the Ravelympics. I finished the socks two hours before the flame went out so it was a close thing. I'm glad I decided to redo them in plain stocking stitch as I definately prefer that look. They fit but are a bit loose on the foot so that has made my mind up that I am a cuff down girl. I enjoy turning a heel more than a short row heel and I quite like kitchener stitch.
The little bug was a really quick and easy knit. It was meant as a pincushion for me but E has decided it belongs to her so who am I to argue.
This is the first time in ages I have only had one thing on the needles and its quite strange. I haven't got far to go on my Juno now and am not sure what to cast on for next. There a few things in my queue that are calling to me. In the meantime I have started a plastic canvas bag in the hope that inspiration will hit. Its either going to be a Spring Garden shawl in midnight blue Posh Cecilia with silver beads, or a top in Pure bamboo. The other thing I want to do is Arwen, basically too many things and too little time!

Thank you for lycra!

Just a quick update on the Ravelympics socks. I have frogged them and restarted. I wasn't happy that the yarn and pattern went together. The bit I liked best was the stocking stitch bit on the sole and I was getting big ladders because the first stitch on each needle was a purl stitch. So in frustration I frogged and am doing a plain unpatterned pair. The positive side to this is that I have now had a bit of practice doing a short row heel, so it should be a bit neater second time round. I have to say I'm not really enjoying knitting toe up. I definately prefer to do cuff down. It will be interesting to see how these socks fit compared to all my others. I have actually found myself watching bits of the Olympics and am so pleased that we have a few gold medals. The star of the show has to be Michael Phelps, the swimming genius from the USA. He is so good its scary, and looks rather good in lycra too.
I received my Iknit ticket yesterday and am really excited about seeing the Yarn Harlot. They are doing a competition to make a knitted alien as well and last night, (while not sleeping again) I had an idea. I will let you know if it works at a later date.
I have no relevant pictures today but I don't like a pictureless post so heres a random bunny nose for you.

Ravelympics are go.

I have started my Ravelympics sock. The opening ceremony was at 1pm on the 8th August and I had to be at work at two, so I literally just cast it on and then went to work. But at least that was during the opening so I am following the rules. This is how far I am at the moment. The yarn is scrummy, its Posh Yarn helena and is lovely and soft. The colours remind me of Bedgebury Forest where we took the girls for a walk last week. It was lovely, we walked for miles and enjoyed every minute. We also went to Longleat Safari Park, which was truly awesome. I was amazed at how close we were to tigers and lions. The monkeys climbing on the car were the girls favourite but they were little buggers for ripping bits off. We were lucky and survived intact. Photos will follow at the end of this post.
I had a nice day out with the beading group last Saturday, we went to The Bead Merchant for one of their Saturday open days. I have been neglecting my beads recently so this was a much needed reinjection of inspiration. On the Sunday D and R went to Brands Hatch for the day and E went to her friends so I had the house to myself and was able to spread the beads and my tools out all over the table and play. I made a necklace for myself which came out brilliantly. I am so pleased with it.
It was a complete bugger to photograph though. This is the best I could get and it took several attempts. I just wish that I had somewhere I could leave my beads out, its an absolute nightmare to get all the boxes, tools and lights out of the cupboard and then have to put them away because we need to have dinner. I love making beautiful sparkly things and just need the time and space. I can hear crafters all over the place agreeing with me. I know my Mum was only able to make the most of her crafts once my brother and I had moved out so I'll just have to wait and hope that the girls don't want to stay here forever. Lol.
Anyway on with the photos of our days out last week and I'll update you on the Ravelympics next time.

Shetland Shorty

This is my finished Shetland Shorty. I am so pleased with it. The pattern is great, easy to follow and fun to knit. The dress was a bargain from Matalan, when I saw it I knew it would go really well with the shorty but the only one in my size had a broken strap. I got a sizable discount and then fixed the strap. One new summer outfit for under fifteen pounds.
I took the girls to see Mamma Mia! today, it was fantastic. We really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a lift as it is definately a feel-good film. At the moment a lift is just what I need, things are just not going my way. My car broke down on Tuesday and the washing machine has packed up too. Work is just so stressful its unbelieveable and home is not exactly stress free either. Never mind, its the summer holidays so at least I don't have to worry about forgetting whats going on with school and clubs for a few weeks.

Aragon Farm open day

We had a lovely day out today at Aragon Farm in Sissinghurst. They were holding a sheep shearing contest and had loads of stalls and displays as well. There were owls, jams, yarn, ferrets, rabbits, pottery, sheepdogs and of course some rather muscular men shearing sheep. Photos below...








































I am quite busy at the moment, I have nearly finished my shetland shorty and it is looking fab. It is on hold at the moment though as I am making an Adipose for Mazzamatazz's BBC project. We have to make them but leave them unstuffed and with no face so it looks a little freaky! I only have the feet to do and then I can post it off to her. Once thats done I have signed up for the Ravelympics 08. If you are on Ravelry look it up, its great. Basically the idea is that you sign up with a team, I'm on Team Tardis, and decide on an event and you cast on during the Olympics opening ceremony on Aug 7 and have to finish your project by the time the Olympic flame goes out. I have signed up for the Sock Put. I am going to make it more of a challenge by trying toe up for the first time. I must be mad, mainly because that only gives me until Aug 7 to finish the Shetland Shorty and my Juno Regina too.

Bye bye moles.

Well as promised in the last post, I have finished Junes birthday present and now that she has received it I can blog about it. I made a felted crochet hook/ dpn holder for her. I crocheted and felted the main part from SWS soy wool and then sewed the inner part using Mums sewing machine. I made a couple of knitted flowers to decorate the outside. I am quite pleased with it overall. Considering I never sew I actually managed to make it look ok. The photos are a little fuzzy as D managed to break the camera while he was in Scotland and I am having to use my mobile phone camera.
I have finished a couple of other things this week too. Both for new babies , one a girl and one a boy. The bootees are Saartje's bootees which are a lovely quick knit. I used some colinette jitterbug and they came out beautifully. The bunny blankie is the third one I have made, this time I used Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino which is wonderfully soft but meant the bunny was a bit smaller as the pattern is for chunky wool. It doesn't really matter about size for a teddy so it looks great anyway.
















In other news, I had some moles on my face removed this week. I have had a large lumpy mole on the side of my nose for as long as I can remember and it seemed to be growing, there was also another one just under my eye. I nearly had them removed a few years ago but chickened out at the last minute. Recently E has been getting comments at school about her Mum being Nanny McPhee and it was upsetting her, so I decided it was time to be brave. When I went in to have them done, they also decided to remove two more smaller lumps I hadn't even been bothered about so I came out with four dressings on. I look like I've been in a fight, one of the girls at work thought I'd been glassed in a pub brawl! As it turns out the very smallest lump may be a small skin cancer so it was a good job I did go to the doctor. The stitches come out tomorrow and I can't wait, the dressings are really uncomfortable and the one on my nose keeps bleeding and the dressing is nearly falling off. I have woken up the last few mornings with my face all swollen and puffy, I am truly fed up with it now.
The bunnies are getting bigger and are still very very cute. It seems we have a boy and a girl so will be getting them 'done' as soon as possible. That way they can stay together as they are always cuddled up together and grooming each other, it would be too sad to separate them.
Have a good week everyone.

Additions to the zoo.

We finally gave in to the begging and pleading from E and said yes to a rabbit. We had to then say yes to another one or R would be upset. So yesterday two little bunny babies came to live with us. They are so cute and fluffy, I am totally won over. They are dwarf lionhead crosses and are six weeks old. At the moment we don't know if they are boys or girls but they are living together in the same hutch as they love cuddling up together. The breeder has said they can stay together for a couple of months then we have to separate them. Without furthur ado here are a couple of pictures.

















At the weekend it was the local village fete, E was doing her bit on the Brownie stand and volunteered to join the 'Its a Knockout' team with the Brownie leaders and dads. Each team was made up of four adults and two kids and E was the only actual Brownie on the team! Anyway they won the competition so E now has a huge trophy sitting in the living room, she is allowed to keep it for a couple of weeks and then pass it on to Brown Owl to look after.
D has headed off to Scotland for 5 days with his mates for a motorbiking holiday so I have a few days off work and peace and quiet in the house, it is bliss. I am making some bootees for a friends new baby and also have a secret project on the go for a knitting friend who has a birthday coming up. It involves sewing and crochet and I'm not sure that it will work out as I am making up my own design as I go. I will post pictures up if it all goes well.