Craziness of Christmas

I have to show you the lovely cake my sister made for my birthday this year. Isn't it just great?! I'm not a girly type of girl but every year she makes me a cake with pink icing as it's become a tradition, whose origin in now lost in time.

So this year I got a pink ball of wool with a crafty cat sat on top! Excellent! And it tasted delicious too!

 I've found some time to knit some nonsense! We have a cat at work Big Tom who comes in the shop everyday who sleeps and eats and the leaves again.

Big Tom

We have decided to get him neutered so we have been holding the Mr Thomas' No more nuts' appeal! I've been knitting nonsense to sell to raise money.  Patterns from Ravelry 'May the mouse be with you' and 'Beans the cat'.

I did find some time to make cranberry and port sauce..yummy and the most gorgeous deep red colour. Some for us and some as presents.

Wishing all  my friends and customers and very Merry Christmas wherever you are in the world and bright blessings and good fortune for 2015...and lots of yarn!

Keepers

 I know it's the season to be crazily busy but hey ho, always time to invent a new product or two!

Marker keepers for knitting and crochet, all available on Etsy now.

Also new ,40 marker rings for those really big projects you might be planning.

Berries and goodbyes

Managed to forage a pan full of berries and apples to make hedgerow jam, the colours are just wonderful! Can't wait to spread it on my toast!

The last 2 kittens have gone to their new homes where I know they will be much loved and the house is much quieter now, but I do miss them charging about causing mayhem.

Badger and Bodger are staying with us as both have heart murmurs that need keeping an eye on, plus I can't refuse Badger's  little miaows anything! Crafty cat ranks have increased by 2!

On a sad note we lost a crafty cat too. Grace came to live with us as a retirement home after working as a professional mouser which she excelled at. She was a grumpy old lady, prone to swipes and growls that kept you on your toes. After a very short illness she passed away and she is very much missed lying in her bed in the kitchen.

Hallowe'en

I've actually got ahead of myself this time and actually got stock in my Etsy shop ahead of the event i.e. Halloween, Easter etc! I couldn't resist this cute little witch!

 Anyone for a crochet skull?

 Pumpkins

Bristol Wool fair

Bristol had it's very 1st wool fair this year www.bristolwoolfair.co.uk and I just had to pop along and look at all the lovely items for sale! Above are 3 batts from www.sarastexturecrafts.com that will be perfect for my Autumn wall hanging once I get around to felting it.

Along with this amazing assortment from Sara too, and Indiana thought it looked interesting too! Such lovely colours and textures ....less is more voice will be not be heard at all once I get going with this!!

I am lacking in the blue wool tops department so I bought a selection to fill that gap.

Just couldn't resist this shetland mix as the colours are just beautiful.

And this lovely selection were handspun by Phillipa from www.wheeldalewoolcrafts.co.uk who had a gorgeous selection of yarns, batts, tops and anything wooly related! Still undecided what to knit with these as there is enough for a small throw but the yarn is a little coarse so I'm thinking of doubling it and knitting another felted bag.

I met Lesley from Demon Quilting.She had bought some markers from me a while ago and is also based in Bristol. Her stall was full of lovely bright things as is her Etsy shop .. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/QuiltingDemon

Many thanks to Heather who spent ages encouraging me to get the spinning wheel back out again and with lots of helpful hints and tips www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Littleowlcrafts

It was a really lovely show and everyone was so nice and helpful when I asked questions. I came away satisfied that I had seen such beautiful yarns, colours, textures and I felt full of creativity from such close proximity to all those other creative souls!

The joys of working outside...and kittens!

This summer has been so nice! To be able to work outside in all the natural light has just been fabulous.

I'm afraid my 'workshop' doesn't look very glamourous, just my bead box, tools and a table, but it does me just fine. I had lots of cat company,  from Indiana on my left.

Who took time to catch up with some grooming, to keep herself looking tip top! Chloe foster cat  was on my right.

She is a BIG girl, even though I've had her on a diet it doesn't seem to have done much good! Pip sat behind me on the newly painted pew.

I like the little tuft of fur poking through the box!

These were just to the side of me, looking just perfect in the sunshine. They must have liked the mild winter as they have really grown big this year with lots of flowers.

The baskets are still doing well although have failed to trail the 1 metre as was promised, but they still cheer me up no matter.

I was amazed I got so much done as the house is full of little 'time wasters' now. We had a litter of three kittens come in the week before.

This is 'Pete the feet' as he's EVERYWHERE! He has already found a home and will be leaving us shortly. I just know he will give lots of love and laughs to his new owners. The fluffy is Mr Dinks, who is more shy and unsure of humans just yet, but we're working on him.

This is Mr Tinks, a very thoughtful sensible cat. He will make a nice calm companion for someone.

Then Saturday another 5 little ones arrived, who could abandon these faces? I just despair sometimes of people.

I haven't named them yet, but they are all doing well, after de-fleaing and worming and a bit of a sponge bath!

This one has been reserved already. They are only 5 weeks old, so won't be ready to leave for new homes for a bit.I love kitten fostering, I get to have all the kitten cuddles and fun, and it's nice to get updates from their new owners and know they are now well looked after. I don't even mind all the mess and chaos...it doesn't last forever!

This little boy has the biggest eyes I've ever seen. He will be simply stunning when grown up. Bless them all, and I'm on the case to finding good homes for them all. 

So I was actually  surprised at how much I managed to make on Sunday and there is no better reason than kittens to stop working!

And finally............whilst David was in the dentist reading a magazine. he found me my perfect cat!

One that does the cleaning! Hooray! Although he doesn't look very happy about it!

A bead box clear out!

I've dug deep into the depths of my bead box and come up with some new markers! 

 Summer flowers

 Mini Trios

It was a good time to do a bit of a stock check and think about what I need to order for Christmas. Yes I did say Christmas! Summer months sales slow a little as it's too hot for knitting in most places, and we're all outside enjoying the sunshine. So July and August are a good time to make lots of stock and dream up new ideas...sat outside of course with chilled lemonade!

 Trios

Sunset

Plans afoot for some new felting projects......unique storage for markers and knitting projects. Still in the early frustrating design and  test pieces but I'm sure I will think of a way to get my plan from paper to item eventually! Currently the coffee table is host to quite a few 'not quite right' attempts so I can sit and look and think about how to correct the mistakes. I'll post some pictures once I'm happy with them.

Finished projects and flowers

I finally finished the two felted bags which was just as well as my sister came to visit on Sunday and one was her belated birthday present. She'd spent her birthday in Spain this year and we finally caught up. I made her a strawberry cream cake and we sat outside enjoying the sunshine and chatting.

She loved her bag and said it would have been perfect for her holiday but I'm not that organised to get presents ready BEFORE the day!

The embroidery worked really well and was just as neat on the inside of the flap.

And I had lined it with purple satin.

She brought me a hand tied bouquet, picked fresh from her garden that morning. We did a flower arranging course a few years ago with Organic Blooms www.organicblooms.co.uk

at Acton Court our beautiful Tudor house in the village. www.actoncourt.com

The fuchsias have finally opened those little globes and revealed their frilly skirts, much to my delight.

 

And my 'tiny mouse' cuphea I think it's is it's botanical name, 

makes me smile every time I see them with their frilly ears and long bodies.

My new post bag has already seen some use and now I'm wondering if I do need to line it to give it some strength. But I also like the fact it folds up small once empty.

I couldn't quite capture the true colours. It is a deeper green and blends more than it shows here. But I seem to be be getting better at felting and I'm very pleased with it and glad I listened to the 'less is more' voice for once!