A few pics from Cumbria

As I said in my last post from a somewhat damp Keswick we went to the Pencil Museum on our first day there, as you go around there's a table in the middle of the room with small cards on and pots of pencils for you have a play about with, so both Mel and I did.
I really can't draw and you can laugh at my febble effort below, I was going to leave it there but decided that it would ony end up in the bin at the end of the day so I brought it home with me

As you leave you walk past the World's biggest pencil, go look in the Guiness Book of World records if you don't believe me
Tuesday we went to Trotters World of Animals and I do have more pics from there which will make their way into my Webshots album at some point over the next few weeks but just for Sharon here's one I took just before we left

Thursday night it was time to move to the Woolfest site ready for Friday. I gave Mel my camera on Saturday and she came back with pics of Sheep and a Llama and lateish in the day I had a chance to go and try my hand at some Extreme knitting in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, those needles are heavy and huge!

Last but not least both my stitching and sock yarn stash's grew a little, Mel kept trying to drag me away from the stands with Sock yarn on them claiming I had enough but when it came to the red and black one on the top row she didn't object at all but I guess that has alot to do with the fact that the resulting socks will be her's

As I said above I do have more pics and they will make their into Webshots over the next few weeks but right now most of my time and energy will be going on packing ready to move in the next couple of weeks

Quick Hello

I'm in an internet cafe in Keswick right now, it's been raining most of the day so Mel and I are killing time while ExH is at a puzzle place as both of are useless at them.

We've been to the Pencil Museum and Trotters World of Animals had a wander round Cockermouth and Keswick and been down to Derwent Water as well.

Tomorrow we'll most likely go to a mining Museum here in Keswick before Mel and I move to the Woolfest site ready for Friday and Saturday.

I have been stitching (compared with my normal amount I've done nothing!) but mostly I've been working on a pair of socks as I find them much easier to deal with when in the caravan.

That's about it really, I have pics which I'll upload when I get home until then TTFN

See you in a week

I'm off up to Cumbria until next Saturday, hopefully I'll have plenty of pics to share when I get back.
Enjoy your week

Holmfirth, home of Last of the Summer Wine

We went to the Knitting & Crochet Guild today with the Spinning Guild for our annual day out and after admiring just a tiny portion of the 10,000 items they have in their collection, a history of how they got started over a coffee, parting with some ££ (I bought a book about knitting socks, what a surprise) and an excellent lunch at a Garden centre we went into Holmfirth because Mel has never been. After a little wander round the town we headed for Nora Batty's house and unlike the time we visited when I was a kid you can now stand on the steps, in fact you can even stay in the house and the couple that are there now let us have a quick look inside and pose for pics

Fans of the programme will know that Compo lived under Nora and that has now been turned into an exhibition, you have to pay in The Wrinkled Stocking Tea Room (love the name) and someone comes and unlocks the door for you. One of the first things you see when you walk in is Compo's clothes hanging over the fire place

There's various bits from different shows including a few of Seymor's daft inventions then you go up some steps into a room that tells you bits of the show's history and has loads of pics of the cast and crew from it's long life. You can sit in these cast chairs to watch a programme that shows you some of the behind the scenes work and out takes


The one thing that spolit the day besides the woman that owns The Wrinkled Stocking being rather rude to us when I said that according to the opening times on the door we should be able to have a brew was the weather, it rained all day but Mel got to see for real some of the places she's only ever seen on TV as well as a Black Swan for the first time

A UFO bites the dust

Back in January I signed up to a UFO SAL and my first victim was Dimensions Angel of Light, I promised to spend an hour a week on her until she was done and late last night she was.

Her face is a little demented and I've left off the french knots coming from the candle but she's done after ???? years, I can't even remember why I started her in the first place as Angels aren't my normal cup of tea. The next victim of UFO killing is Shepherds Bush's Charmed Hearts, I gave up on it when I couldn't get one of the borders to match up but it's been done for me now and there's only the outer border to go.

Cheshire Show

I was shattered last night and didn't have the brain power to do this, 3 hours of clearing tables in the refreshment tent and then 6 hours of walking round the showground had me worn out and aching everywhere!

This year my WI entered the Co-operative classes for craft and produce and while we didn't win a place both entries did score full marks for sections of judging.
First up is the craft one, the theme was Nature's colours and we went for a Lili pond. Ros got full marks for her porcelain fish (named Spot by yours truely), the wallhanging was made by Alison and Mavis made the felt waterlily

Next we have the produce entry, Tea on the Terrace, we scored full marks for both staging and interpretation (that's what those little green cards are for). I made the fruit cake and Scones and Mavis made the jam. The comments on the card made me laugh, there's too much fruit in the fruit cake and my scones are very colourful. How you can have too much fruit in a fruit cake is beyond me and makes me laugh everytime I think about it

And lastly my chair, I scored 17 out of 20 for it and didn't even get a Highly Commended for it, yes I'm a little disappointed but I stitched it for me and I love it so it really doesn't matter.

The comment on the card reads... A most unusual idea beautifully carried out - try to improve box making for a better fit

Look who I visited today

Heather had held back a little on feeding Caleb so I could do it when we arrived which I was happy to do (I really don't like having my pic taken and Mel sneeked this one)
After an afternoon of cuddles, feeds, naps and gurgling at us we got a smile just before we left

Hopefully he'll be here in a few weeks to help me move house :)

Cookie Dragon Finished

Hot off the Q snaps, another goal reached for this month
He's last year's Birthday start, stitched with DMC, Dinky Dyes cotton & #4 braid (be frugal with 5007 if you stitch this one, I used the entire reel and ony just had enough), the fabric is an early Sparklies Solitaire

Bits and pieces

First of all ,please keep your fingers crossed that my Garden chair does well in the Cheshire Show, judging will be taking place as I write. I've been this morning and helped set up my Insitute's entries in the co-operatvie produce and craft classes and put eveyone else's individual entires in including my chair

My foot is doing much better, I'm alot more mobile than I was although it's still swollen and I don't as yet have full movement in my big toe so hopefully tomorrow it'll be pretty much back to normal. But because of the 2 days enforced resting it Cookie Dragon is almost done so I'm going to ignore TW Monday this week to get it done

The sold sign has now gone up on the house so I've started to look for a new home although there's still no rush for me to leave, this afternoon my Dad is taking me to look at one in Sandiway and it sounds really good, great rent, 3 beds, new kitchen & bathroom and off road parking but it's a good 6/7 miles from Mum's and my gut is telling me it's not right. I'm also going to look at one a few minutes walk down the road that's 2 beds but has parking at the back (I really don't want to have the same performance I have here for parking), I feel more positive about that one but it's slightly out of the budget so I'll have to see

Off to the Prom and Ouch!

So last night Mel had her Prom at a very posh hotel not far from here, her dress was made for her by a family friend who happens to be a fantastic seamstress and has made many a wedding dress over the years as well as Heather's prom dress.
Mel's very much a jeans and t-shirt girl so to get her in a dress is a rare event

And a even rarer event is for her to wear make up, in fact it's the first time ever for her and all she keep saying was that she was turning into a girl, LOL, even though she did say this morning she was a little disappointed that she had to take the false nails off to on the camp

She had a fantastic night and was rather pleased that the Limo she was supossed to have gone in before a few problems arose with one of the other girls got stuck on the ramp so they all had to get out and walk up the steps into the hotel and then had to do the same when they left as the Limo driver refused to go up the ramp.

And now for the ouch.

This morning after having taken Mel off to her field craft camp I came home and started to move everything off the kitchen floor so I could give it a really good clean that's long overdue, one of these things is my Kenwood mixer. I took the cover off it to make it easier to lift and as I picked it up it slipped out of my hands and landed on top of my right foot, to say the air turned blue is a understatement! After hobbling into the living room while trying my best not to be sick from the shock I ring my Mum and tell her that I've discovered that it hurt's if you drop a mixer on your foot, after a few seconds silence while it register's what I've just said her first words where put a wet towel round it we're on our way. They whisk me off up to the imfirmary and after a very painful half hour of waiting with a baby screaming and a toddler making way too much noise behind me I hobble in to get it checked. Turns out that I've not broken it for which I'm extremely thankful (I've mamanged to hit 36 without a broken bone and don't want to start now). I've got to keep a close eye on the cut and the circulation in my foot with being diabetic as well as keep it up as much as poss with ice on it and painkillers, so that's what I've done since 2pm. My kitchen and living are in a complete mess as everything is where I'd left it ready to do the floor, I still can't move my toes fully and when I do try to move them it's really hard to get them to do anything, my foot throb's from being up after a while so I put it down for a while and then it goes numb and swells up again and I'm getting really fed up of not moving about much, the plus side is that I've made good progress on Cookie Dragon :)

Home of a Needleworker(too!)

It's that time of year when I try and finish as many WIP's as poss by the end of the month ready for my rotation/active WIP list to be rearranged on July 1st, that's why I have a few finishes listed as goals this month. So in that vain I finished Home of a Needleworker (too) earlier this evening and have now met 2 of my goals for the month.
I've used the called for Crescent Colours and an oddment of fabric from my pre labelled fabric days so all I can tell you is that it's cream and 28 count. It's my 13th finish of the year so far and I've moved onto what will be #14, a part on an RR to help get it finished for it's owner

MY Treasure

The before scan of the stitching in my previous post, I remembered that I'd scanned it before making it up

Fantasy Exchange

The weekend in Derbyshire was fantastic, we laughed alot, stitched alot, some went on a trip to Bakewell, some did a dyeing class with Kate from Sparklies, alcohol was drunk (no pretzels this year :( ), late night's were had and we all learnt a little more about each other. Roll on next year is all I can say, I've not laughed so much since last year's weekend GTG.

I came home to find that Lisa had received the Fantasy Exchange I sent to her, I stitched MY Treasure from Dragon Dreams and made it into a Pinkeep, my first one ever

If you'd like to see a better pic than mine go here Lisa's pic is better and there's one of the goodies as well

Day trip to Stratford

Yesterday I went to Stratford upon Avon with the WI, once we'd arrived and made out way into the town Mum and I went on the hunt for somewhere to have a brew. We got to the top of one street and on the opposite corner was this house, looking at the map it's in front of the Police station and Magistrate court.
We wandered around following the map with a route in mind to take us to Shakespeare's Birthplace, I've got no idea who the guy stood outside waving is!

We sat on a bench opposite it to eat our lunch and behind was a Christmas shop so all we could hear was Christmas Carols, it's very odd to sit looking at something several hundred years old on a sunnyish afternoon in June and have Carols playing

After lunch we went into the house, pics inside are not allowed so you'll have to make do with a couple of the back of the house from the Garden

That was the only place we got to see, the other one we aimed for had moved to London at least 12 months ago but it's still on the tourist map, Grrrrr
Because it's only a couple of hours down the motorway to get there we're hoping to go back later in the summer for the day so we can do the bus tour

The chair is done

I still have to do the fob but the chair and parasol are finished, the fob's the really easy bit.
Even with the top chopped off this is the best of the bunch of the chair (I'm still half asleep so my brain hasn't caught up yet)

And one with it's Parasol

It was so much easier second time around putting it together although the card for the drawer box is a little thicker this time so a little harder to score and bend. Oh and if you do decide to stitch it there's no wiggle room in the ribbon, if you make a mistake like I did you won't have enough

Fantasy Exchange Received

A box was waiting for me when I got home last night and it turnde out to be this gorgeous cube for the Fantasy Exchange on the Rotation BB from Kari he's stunning
Kari also included some wonderful stationary for me

I was sat on the sofa once I'd opened the box up and all I could do was say WOW to say I was speechless is an understatement!

A little information please

Got this on permanant loan from Velda feel free to do the same

What is in the back of your car? Map book, boxed up Lawn Dragon and spare bulbs
What color is your toothbrush? It's clear with a blue line wrapped round it
Name one person that made you smile today? Nora Batty while watching Last of the Summer Wine on TV
What where you doing at 8am this morning? Getting out of bed
What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Stitching
What is your favorite candy bar? I rarely have any but I am a fan of Double Deckers
Have you ever been to a strip club? No
What is the last thing you said aloud? Oh Wow
What is the best ice cream flavor? Mint Choc Chip
What was the last thing you had to drink? Tea, very English thing to do :)
What are you wearing right now? Ermm clothes!!!
What was the last thing you ate? Bacon, Egg and Chips
Have you bought any new clothing items this week? You mean we're supossed to get new one's
When was the last time you ran? Ask me an easier one
The last sporting event you watched? Monaco Grand Prix
What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? Toffee
Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on my space? Don't use it
Ever go camping? I've not slept under canvas since I was a kid but I do go in my Parents caravan a couple of times a year
Do you take vitamins daily? No but I do take Potassium every day because I'm on Water tablets
Do you go to church every Sunday?No
Do you have a tan? Just a normal every day life one and a drivers arm
Do you like Chinese food over pizza? Don't really eat either of them
Do you drink your soda with a straw? Don't drink it at all so that would be a no
What did your last text message say? I don't doubt it and I'm looking forward to it
Are you some-one's best friend? I think so
What are you doing tomorrow? Finished putting together the Garden chair and my weekly shop as I won't be home on Friday to do it
Look to your left, what do you see? An old printer on top of the drawers I keep my WIPS in
What color is your watch? Isn't that one of those things that goes round your wrist?
What do you think of when you think of Australia? Kangaroos
Do you use chap stick? Yes but more in the winter that summer
What is your birthstone? Emerald
What is your favorite number? 16
Do you have a dog? No, I prefer cats and I don't have one of those either
Last person you talked to on the phone? My Mum
Have you met anyone famous? The cast of Last of the Summer Wine many, many years ago when they were filming and Bob Carolgees (Anyone remember Spit the Dog?) runs a candle shop at a Craft/ Antiques place locally
Any plans today? Bit more surfing then bed
How many states have you lived in? I've never lived outside the UK
Ever go to college? Only when my DD's had something on that required my being there
Do you dye your hair? As of yesterday I do
Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Not knowing what's happening with my home, my Landlord isn't keeping me updated
Last song listened to? Iris, Ronan Keating
Can you say the alphabet backwards? No and some days I have trouble saying the right way
Do you have a maid service clean your house? Does in my dreams count?
Are you jealous of anyone? No
Is anyone jealous of you? Why on earth would they be!
Do you love anyone? Hmmmm well if this is refering to a male of the species then the answers no but if it's a general question then yes
Do any of your friends have children?yes
Do you eat healthy? Most of the time
What do you usually do during the day?Look after Mum, clean, stitch, surf, fall asleep to name a few
Do you hate anyone that you know right now? No I don't, there's plenty of people I dislike
Do you use the word 'hello' daily?yes
What color is your car? Dark Blue
Have you ever been to Six Flags? I'm not even sure what it is!
Do you like cats? Yes I do and I'd love to have one again
How did you get your worst scar? I had my appendix removed as a kid and the scar is huge, no keyhole surgery back then

Garden Chair part 1

I finished the stitching last night
The pieces are all cut out ready and those that need batting have it, I'm off now to get the scissors and iron out ready to start to putting it together in a little while

May progress & June goals

For May I said

UFORR Done
Make progress on Birth Sampler Done
Stick to UFO SAL Done
No new starts other than my Birthday one and an exchange I'm signed up for Done
As much progress as poss on the Garden chair Done, only had the seat cushion, seat base and parasol left to do and that was part done

For June I'd like to
Finish the Garden Chair (bit pointless putting this really, the stitching is done and I start putting it together in the morning)
Finish my UFO from the SAL
Finish Cookie Dragon
Finish another WIP besides those listed above
Only start something new if I can finish it before the end of the month ie SOLAK square

Time wise I stitched for 132hrs 55mins last month! I'm sure alot of that time comes from being ill early in the month and feeling extremely sick whenever I moved so I didn't get off the sofa unless I really had to. I had 2 starts (Fantasy Exchange project and Bigger Stash for my Birthday) and just one finish (Fantasy Exchange project).

As I said above the stitching part of Garden chair is done now and tomorrow I'll start putting it together, the card is already cut and I've stuck the batting on ready so first job tomorrow is to cut the pieces out of the fabric and iron them (after I've taken a pic)

Day trip to Wales

Friday evening my Parents decided that they fancied Sunday Lunch at The Austrian Restaurant in the mountians above Conwy and I was invited along with Mel's friend Sheena who was spending the weekend with her. Our first port of call was to The Smallest House in Great Britain on Conwy's Quayside, it measures 72 inches across, 100 inches deep and 122 inches high. The last tennant was a 6'3'' fisherman and before him it was occupied by a couple.

The downstairs taken from the top of the step ladder that's the upstairs access, under the mantle is the fire with a small table at the side and to the left is a bench where the seat lifts up to store the coal and that's it

Upstairs there's the bed and the trapdoor has to be put down to get a complete floor, at the end of the bed is a chair and to the right is another one and again that's it

After a pit stop for a brew we headed up the Sychnant Pass to the restaurant (scroll down to the last pic in the link to see it and better pics of the scenery) but we were ahead of time so we pulled into one of the many small car parks and both girls went up the mountian taking my camera with them. See that dark red blob at the bottom of the pic, that's our car and the even smaller blob in front of it is me on the phone to a friend who happenned to have perfect timing and rang me as we stopped on the car park

Bit more of the Welsh scenery

After lunch when we were all feeling very full and not ready to head for home we went down to Penmaenmawr for a wander along the prom and a paddle in the sea, this is just getting used to the freezing cold water that feeds directly in the sea across the beach

And then they decided to do a bit of wave jumping, getting rather wet along the way but having a great time doing it

I'll do my monthly stitching update tomorrow, I got home and haven't done anything but work on the Garden chair this evening