Flibbertygibbet

Open the door

Lots of lovely things!  Inspiring me - even if making me a little more nervous about the market stall.

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Find this great bangle here, it's by Liana Kabel

You know, I can't quite see what these would be useful for, really.  Definitely a Want more than a Need.  But that's ok.

That doesn't stop me from ADORING them. 

Cupcakes, bunnies, mini knitted stockings for Christmas - genius.  Could anyone who could look at that bunny in slippers without smilling? It's impossible.

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These are part of a lovely blog, beautiful creations, for a wonderful cause.

Lend a paw

"Of course, happy to help. Let me just hold this yarn for you.  Eh?  Whassat?  You never actually wanted me to dig my claws in and hold on for dear life? What - you want it back? Um... no.  I don't think so. Back off.  Or Fred gets it."

Share the love

Ok folks, now this is not a diversionary tactic - as you can see, I have made my word count for today, hurrah - and who knows, I may even manage to squeeze out another couple of hundred this evening. 

But I was reading the Crafter's Companion earlier and something struck me about the sense of community etc, and the inspiration that I've received from others - it's a bit too long to actually explain why right now.  I've listed some of my inspirations in my sidebar but I don't update it that frequently (probably why the August Tie One On apron is still on there - maybe I'll just leave it for 2007) but I'd like you to give me your recommendations, via the comments, for up to three of your favourite blogs or websites.  (Please don't duplicate any others that are already there.)  This is for when I'm desperately avoiding novelling, knitting, quilting, or jewellery making - all things that I am obliged to do this month and though they are normally very enjoyable, I'm wary that I may lose a little gumption in all these pursuits when I'm against the clock and - eek - not have a thing done on time!

So if I'm going to procrastinate, as history dictates I probably will, please give me your suggestions for sites that will at least make the dalliance worthwhile. Come on people, share the love...

Winter WIPs

As you can see in the sidebar, the word count is falling a little bit behind (I need to write an average of 1667 words per day to crack the Nano nut and should be at 10,000 by the end of the day today) so this is going to be pretty brief. 

Rowan felted tweed, and Rowan Tapestry.  A fun scarf for Mum's birthday at the end of the month (I've temporarily given up on the Louisa Harding lace one, I don't have the concentration at the moment.  Knitting is something for relaxation right now, so nothing too taxing, thank you) because you can never have too many thin scarves.  Or something like that.

I finally made it to the swimming pool again yesterday, and used the spa there for the first time - surprisingly impressive for a local leisure centre. But also discovered that I seem to have done something to my foot, which may have been inflicted during a trip up the canal to Islington on Saturday en route to Loop.  My husband was in rather a stompy mood, so we hoofed it up there.  Loop was manic as it usually is at the weekends, my husband was intrigued by the demographics - mostly yummy mummies and twenty-something couples.  I can't talk, I've recently jumped back on the knitting bandwagon myself.  It was summed up by a little boy of about three, who was being trundled about the shop in one of those 4WD all-terrain-but-mostly-used-for-popping-to-Carluccios buggies, who looked up from his rather low vantage point at the shelves and cubbyholes which overflow with yarn and accouterments, and simply said
"We like this shop."
Indeed.

Other sidebar items:  my decorations for the Christmas ornament swap on Swap-bot.  Meet Fred.  (Fred?  Fred and Ginger, geddit?)  His mouth may need to be reworked. I think he looks a little like he has a nervous, toothy smile.  But maybe that's because he's about to be stuffed in a Jiffy bag and sent who knows where....

Century

There's a hell of a lot going on at Flib HQ so no posting recently.  You may have noticed.

As the sidebar shows, the Nano word count is coming on nicely for the first few days but it's not like I can become complacent.  In fact even at 49,500, should I get that far, writer's block could hit.  However, I've decided to officially change the title of the project - in my case it's NaBaNoWriMo - National Bad Novel Writing Month.  It's all about word count, baby, so it's quantity not quality all the way.  At the end of this month, I want to able to loudly proclaim "I wrote a novel in thirty days!"  Who ever said it had to be a good one?

I finished the "Words, Words, Words" ATCs for the next swap, three different ones.  And it's not actually concave, my camera did a wierd fisheye thing.  I'm pleased with the way they all turned out - will need to brush up on my calligraphy skills I think, but it's been about sixteen years so it's better than I expected. Never really got to grips with copperplate nibs anyway.

Also 92.3% done (approximately) are the charcoal gauntlet gloves.  The second one has to be sewn - which will take at least an hour if the first one is anything to go by, but then again it was done while chatting during Stitchcraft at the British Library - perhaps I could have been a little quicker. 

My grandmother was talking to a friend of hers about me making quilts and such and her friend Ethel told her that she had an attic full of fabric, and asked would I like any?  Um... yes please!  She got her son to come over and retrieve one of the bags from the attic. So thanks to Ethel, my grandmother and my own fabulous mum, a package arrived this week.  A package containing 10lbs of crepe de chine, silk, linen and woollen fabrics. I believe that Ethel's husband must have been a salesman, or was definitely in the trade as the package was comprised of sample lots - a main fabric, with between three and eight coordinating fabrics tacked to it.  Not really suitable for quilts I think, but perfect for bags and accessories.

Which will be appearing here...

Cabbages and Frocks Market at Marylebone High Street (the Baker St end, opposite Calmia and Conran).  I'll be bringing my quilts, accessories and jewellery, so if any of you blog readers will be in London please do come and say hello!  I'll be there on Saturday 18th November, Saturday 25th November and Saturday 2nd December.

And although it's taken me a while to get here, especially with the recent lack of communication - it's my 100th post today.  Hurray!