Today's weather....

SNOW!!! This morning we got up with snow falling there was enough to make a small snowman.


The boys and I have had a very lazy afternoon, eating popcorns and watching Harry Potter. I still had the time to make a summer fruit cheesecake, yummy!

Happy Easter!

Nick and the boys have surprised me this morning with the most sweet Easter sheep ever! I know this sound crazy but I am not mad about chocolate and in fact every Easter, Nick buys me chocolate and he will eat it too. But this is just too sweet for words:



Happy Easter to everyone, I hope you have a lovely time whatever you will be doing.

Swaps

Since joining Ravelry I can't stop signing up to swaps, my latest two parcels arrived last Saturday but because of Nick's surprise birthday party I have been too busy to post on here.

The UK Swap has been great! I got to know a lovely lady and she has spoiled me rotten! Angie you are a star! You have put so much thought into the parcel, I could tell from the second that I opened it that it was going to be special. Thank you so much, I hope we will keep in touch.



It was like Christmas all over again, Oliver wasn't pleased to be told that the presents weren't his though!



The first photo is full of treats, including some easter eggs for my boys, how sweet is that? A lovely new mug, so me really, sweets, a jumper shape ornament, the Anniversay edition of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' with Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, chocolate: sticky toffee & shortcake truffe egg and a milk chocolate egg with champagne filling - both of which are now gone, just divine! and finally a sheep. Not a real one, she has one too and hers is called Tallulah and mine is called Daisy - not very imaginative but the name seem to suit her perfectly!



The second photo is full of knitting treats and oh my have I been spoiled or what? First a paperback copy of the Victorian Lace Today book, I have had this book on my Amazon list for the past 2 years but every time I went to order it it was either out of stock or the delivery time was about 4 months, then it sold out! At the beginning of March the paperback version come out and my wonderful swap partner got me a copy. What can I say: I LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! but I must carry with the other goodies... two vintage pattern magazines: Stitchcraft March 1952 and a Woman's Own jumper book which even though I can't find any dates on it, it must be around the 1950's too, I love vintage patterns and I have already spotted a few that I would love to make. Two skeins of Lorna's Laces in Flamingo Stripe, her favourite colourway and mine too, it's just the perfect pink, also 20% of the purchase price is donated to a breast cancer charity so even better. One ball of Tofutsies sock yarn, this is a blend of superwash wool, soysilk fibres, cotton and chitin which is a fibre from shrimp and crab shells! I am still speachless for words, I can't wait to start to plan my lovely projects.

Angie's parcel wasn't the only one that arrived on Saturday, I also received my parcel from the Book and more swap on Ravelry. I think Nick got quite jealous as the next day was his birthday and I was the one opening parcels! This one came all the way from Santa Fe, New Mexico.



Don't worry you are not seeing double! yes I now have two copies of the Victorian Lace Today, well actually I have trading one copy with a brand new copy of Romantic Style by Jennie Atkinson which again I have wanted for ages so I have two great books! Also in parcel there was a lovely handmade pink stitchmarker, a knitted sweater keyring and a skein of Baruffa Cashwool, in a very light pink to make one of the project in the book. There are so many projects that I would love to make but I want to take my time to decide but not too long!

Thank you so much, Angie and Amy you can't believe how happy I am with the lovely things you have sent me.

Favourites

To date I have:

97 patterns and 64 projects in my favourite folder on Ravelry and 16 projects in my queue! When will i ever have the time to knit 177 projects? A life time won't be enough!

I am madly trying to finish 3 projects by the end of the week. The 3 hours sweater which does not take 3 hours is nearly done, I am sawing up a tank top and finish a hat. Hopefully I will have some pictures by the weekend.

On another note, by chance I have found out that I am listed in Ravelry as a 'designer' for my basic tubular socks that I did for the Knitting magazine. I had the biggest smile on my face when I saw that! I am currently working on another 2 sock designs, I am very pleased with them so far hopefully will finish them soon.

My new best friends...

Two months ago I decided to do a bit of knitting book destashing as some of them were just in my bookshelf collecting dust! I placed two posts on Ravelry and they all went so with my nice little profit I decided to treat myself with something extra nice! After waiting 6 weeks I finally received my brand new set of Knit Picks Harmony Interchangeable Needle Set! I also got the tips in size 9, 10 and 12 mm and a couple of extra cables!





I only have two disappointments about the set:
1 - the smaller size in the set is 3.5mm and since I only knit socks on 2.75mm I will have to get the fixed cable ones but that won't be the end of the world especially as so far I have only ever knitted socks on DPNs.
2 - I really don't like the case! it looks like a travel toiletry bag! I have to find something suitable for it all, something that will be as nice as the needles, maybe in pink!

Edit on the 2nd of March: I have just realised that the set doesn't have a 6.5mm tips in it but I can get it extra, I can't believe I miss that out, I could have ordered it at the same time with the set!

I'd love to be eight again!

A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.
'I'd love to be eight again' she replied.

On the morning of her birthday, he arose early and made her a bowl of Coco Pops and jammy toasties!

He took her to Alton Towers and put her on every ride in the park:
* The Death Slide
* The Wall of Fear
* The Screaming Monster Roller Coaster

Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park.

Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Right away they went to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate milkshake.

Then it was off to the movies: the latest Kiddies three hour epic cartoon, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favourite lolly and M&Ms!

What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked 'Well dear, what was it like being eight again?'

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total realisation...'I meant my dress size, you f***ing tw@t !!!'

The moral of this story: Even when a man is listening, he's still gonna get it wrong.....

Another project on the needles

I just couldn't resist it! I have madly fallen in love with an adaptation of the 3-hour sweater, an original 1930's design. I have nearly finished the back even though I only casted on on Saturday. I am using Rowan Pure Wool Aran in two different colours, the MC is plum and the CC is teal.

The version I am knitting is called Roses are Red Sweater (you can only view it if you are a Ravelry member sorry). I am making it up while I am knitting it by looking at the pictures and following the writing pattern. I really hope that the result will be good!

This is the back so far:



I am also making progress on the Diamond Top. It's a lovely pattern but I really need to pay attention as each row is different so not good while I watch telly!