How NOT To Drop Spin…..

This is the way NOT to drop spindle…..spin near your cats bed, as you will drop the spindle and frighten the life out of her. She will then shoot out of bed like a shot, taking your roving with her which is attached to the spindle. Thinking she is being chased by something freaky she’ll run like hell around the house!! You will have a hard time catching her and attempts to unravell the roving caught between her nails on her paws are undescribable…..Poo!

She will then look at you with frustration in her eyes and a frown, (which is so funny and yes they do frown!!) “what the flaming heck you do that for, you stupid woman?” look on her face as she glares at you with her eyes.

Oh my poor baby (my cat, that is) was rather confused and dazed poor thing. She now looks at my spindle with hate and fear 😦 and I don’t blame her. Almost another major disaster.

Well, after detatching my roving from her and spindle, did you think I was going to spin with Holly attached??? Eeekkk,  I did manage to spin.

I think I overspun in certain places but I am getting the hang of it and much prefer the top whorl method to the bottom. Mr S said…I see you’re getting the hang of it, I told you that’s the way to do it…..smart ass!!

I set the twist and blocked a small section of the yarn and this is what it looks like. Novelty yarn maybe? If you’ve never spun before, you should give it a whirl, what are you waiting for? It’s fun, but don’t spin near your pets though!!

Now Plying?…..where do I start?

Ooooh!! You Handsome Thing….

I’m talking about my new toy that I’m so excited about, not my Hubby, although he’s handsome too

I decided to have another attempt at spinning, might be another disaster but I REALLY REALLY want to learn to spin my own yarn. I am determined this time and there’s no stopping me. Are you ready for a major tantrum and a rage? I’m not going to give up so easy this time. I will be brave and hope that it will be better than this major disaster. I will spin and spin until I can spin no more. So stand back and hold your breath!

Inspired by Gnomiejo, who said she spun for the first time (She kidding ?? ) have you seen her first attempt?  I purchased a Top & Bottom Whorl Spindle and it’s so damn pretty (ahem, not sure which is the top or bottom tho.) Even if spinning isn’t for me, my spindle is just beautiful just look at. I’ll just place it amongst my stash of yarns and pretend I can spin. I’ve been twirling it everyday since I got it without the roving though (cheat) Hee. 

Made with Plywood, Pitch, Pine and Yew as a special request order, I had this made with a weight of approximately 75gms. I haven’t a clue where to start so fingers, toes and eyes crossed, take a deep breath for me please, I SHALL SPIN! Woot Woot!! Yeah Baby!

……..Oh you can breathe now

I’m Back & With A Nomination…..

I’m back! I’ve missed you lot so much and I have so much catching up to do. I spent most of this evening replying my emails and visiting all my regular blogs. You guys have been up to so much since I’ve been away, but it’s great to be back, Oh yes…it sure feels good 🙂

I’ve had a fantastic couple of weeks with my sister but sadly it has to end as she has returned back to Hong Kong today, back to her hectic lifestyle as a graphic designer. We’ve had so much fun, visiting places where we grew up, the school we attended, the back yard where we played silly games. Memories of our childhood are such a laugh. I miss her already 😦

Everything is slowing returning back to normal now, house needs cleaning (that’s Mr S department) me, back to my knitting and dyeing which I have missed so much. I only managed to do two rows of knitting.

Now I’m not so sure I deserve this as there are many fantastic blogs out there but Belaybunny nominated ME as a

Who ME??? Yup…me a Rockin’ Girl Blogger. Thanks CJ for nominating me. So, I have to nominate some “rockers” who I think “rock?” Errrr this is a difficult one as so many of you “Rock”, but if you are reading my blog…..consider yourself nominated, you “Rockin’ Babe!!”

Just so this isn’t a pictureless post again, I was a tourist for a few days and took some pics of my hometown.

Millennium Bridge and The Sage

The Quayside and The Tyne Bridge in the distance

Durham City, where I was born

Durham Cathederal

Smack My Botty Because…..

….I haven’t posted for how many days? Since last Friday actually. Oh this is so not like me and I am sorry, so sorry. Nor have I done any knitting so I haven’t got anything to brag about, nor have I been dyeing. I’m feeling abit,  well desperate. I need to hear the sound of my needles clicking, that makes me happy.

Its been a bit of a hectic week here. I have my sister over here on a vacation and all I’ve been doing is entertaining, eating and driving. I haven’t seen her for over 3 years now, so there’s a lot of catching up to do. I swear I have piled on the pounds in just a week 😦 and that’s not good news, ohhhhh no. Each time we’ve visited friends and relatives, we have to stay for something to eat and it’s usually a several course meal. Then my mom has been feeding us almost every other day. You would think that we haven’t had a decent meal for days. All I’ve been doing is feeding my face!!!

So….

Sorry if I haven’t replied to your emails, I promise I will.

Sorry if I haven’t posted in days.

Sorry that this is a pictureless post, my sister is using my camera.

and sorry if I am boring you……smack my botty hand if you wish my lovelys 🙂

Oh I do have one thing to brag about, a lovely new toy that I can’t wait to show you all!

I miss you all but I will be back very soon!

Naughty Little Minx…..

I really don’t know what I have done to deserve such good and generous friends. There are so many of you out there and I really don’t deserve you all. This morning bought a HUGE smile to my face cos a totally unexpected parcel arrived from Paula. This was just so unexpected, took me by surprise and has really made my day. A box full of the most yummiest of goodies, soap, t shirt, tea, earrings, oven gloves, dream catcher, chocolate, handpainted yarn, just look………..

The dream catcher is so unique and beautiful, I just love it, the oven glove is blue which matches my decor….peeeerrrfecct and look at that beautiful yarn……the colours are just GORGEOUS (how come mine don’t look like that??

And look who else is happy, so happy he is dancing and can’t control his excitement. Isn’t that just awesome, so cute and don’t he look handsome? Oh boy, he’s ready for his first date! This made me giggle when I opened it but its perfect, just perfect.

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH PAULA……I REALLY DON’T DESERVE YOU, thank you mmmwwwahh!

Now I’m off to eat that chocolate before anyone gets their hands on it, hands off its all mine 🙂

Eight Long Months Of…..

…….solid hard work and we have finally FINISHED!!!….WWWaaahhhh!!!! Two days before our deadline. Can you hear me scream? Can you feel the earth move?

It’s been almost eight long exhausting months of dirt, sweat, dust, cuts, bruises and broken nails, two months without heating during the coldest of the winter months, one month for the planning permission to be approved to replace the window to french doors and some heavy lifting and back breaking positions. Oh and not forgetting the gruesome tiling/grouting and my prune like wrinkle finger tips from cleaning and being constantly in water, to getting such a fright when we were fixing the light switches, when our mobile phone started to ring and we both got such a fright, that Mr S banged his head on the wall unit and I screamed and thought I got an electric shock and knocked some pliers which dropped onto my foot…..ouch!!

FINALLY….we can stand back, admire and contemplate on our first experience of home renovation.

Night view with the under cabinet lights

Now you can see why I hate tiling and grouting? Although each tile measured 50mm each, they came on a sheet with 25 tiles which made it much easier but the grouting was a killer!!! The tiles had to be the right shade of blue, not too dark, not too pale and it was one heck of a chore to try and find the right shade…..they say blue tiles are rare and not very popular?? I had to find the right extractor fan that had some glass to match the wall units. You can call me picky but when it comes to things like this, I am really picky and it has to be perfect. don’t know whether thats a good or bad thing.

Daytime view

…and what about the curtains you all picked for me? Well, they are so so peeerrrffect.

I had to pin them up to clean the floor so they seem a little on the short side 🙂

I am so so exhausted from this project, so tired and I am aching, I am really aching, my poor fingernails, my poor foot and my bruises, I need a long long holiday 🙂 I really pushed myself to the limit, but I think it was worth it, you think so?

Anyone care to join me for tea or coffee? Don’t forget your knitting! I so wish you could all come, what fun!! I can dream tonight…..a happy dream 🙂

So Slooooowwww, So Tired….

I was completely zonked out last night. I worked on the tiling and grouting all day. It took absolutely ages. We had to apply it on then polish it off and wipe everything down. I NEVER want to grout or tile again 😦 You see I have a deadline to meet…Friday 10th as I have my sister over for a couple of weeks and want to get it done before she arrives. I hate deadlines but I’m really pushing myself and I’m so tired. Will post pics soon but at the moment, its looking like a real mess. Oh…..the curtains are up too and they look great 🙂

Last night I crashed out and not even the snores of Mr S or the cries of Holly wanting food could wake me…..Nope, I was totally gone. If I had the chance to sleep all day, all week….I would. But before I crashed out and despite my arms feeling like lead and me feeling like a  zombie, I did the 5th repeat of my Hanami stole and its coming along really slooooowwwwww.

I haven’t gotten very far with it have I? I can’t decide whether just to do 6 repeats on it or the full 7 as my yarn is just a little tad short or whether to do less on the other section. I love it and really enjoying it but during times like this,  I do need a brainless knitting pattern. I must knit faster tho.

Lazy days…….life is so wonderful for my Holly? She looks more tired than me!!

Oh and don’t forget, the free shipping is still available on all my yarns in my store.

ETSY SHOP UPDATE…..

I am offering FREE SHIPPING on all items in my ETSY shop, whether it be one item, two items or more, worldwide!! Yay!!! This offer will continue for an unlimited period… Just for you 🙂

I hope there is something there for everyone.  Some bright colours, bold colours, plain and variegated. Why not pop over and have a browse? 🙂