Flibbertygibbet

I'm so over knitting...

That's what I've been thinking in the past few days. It's not true, of course.  Only a little bit anyway.

I realised I've completely effed up the socks.

Firstly the tops have completely different amounts of rib, because I didn't take the first one with me when I started on the second. 

And then I realised that on the first one, somehow I just went a bit mad and did the heel flap on 30 stitches instead of 32.  Not insurmountable I suppose but annoying.

When I got into the second one I did count to make sure that I had the right number of stitches on the heel flap needles.  But neglected to count the remaining ones, so didn't notice that I only had 30 left there. That's right, two dropped stitches, now marked by the extra DPNs stuck in.  So basically I think I'll rip the second back and get it all right, from rib onwards.  Mutter, mutter.

Pauline helped me with the Clapotis the other night, she ripped it back and fixed it, while Helen wound up the reams of frogged angora.  Pauline persevered in getting me to try the purling-instead-of-using-stitch-markers route, and sat beside me to make sure I had it right, and lo, it seemed to be working in spite of my lack of prowess.

Until the end of that section, anyway. 

The next day I moved on to the straight sections and just couldn't get it right.  When, if I ever go back to it, I think I'll be using markers, sorry P, I just can't seem to get it.  Now I've ripped it back quite a few rows and can't get the stitch count right.  Bah.  However I guess the other members of the Clap along may think it's a bit odd if I don't stick with it.

We're finally getting some long-wished for sunshine in London (Obviously it's two days in and we're already hearing complaints about the heat) so the Innocent fete yesterday was a big success.  There were fifteen of us there for my friend's hen do.  We eventually retreated into the shade under the trees.  The knitting tent, run by Buzz of All the Fun of the Fair, was actually the coolest place to be but I didn't think they'd take kindly to all of us piling in there, although there were two knitters amongst the group - I just about count myself as one of them. 

It was rather more sedate than most hen dos (didn't manage to find Claire in the crowds but she thought she'd spotted our hen, dressed in a veil and L Plates - no, not us, our hen had no identifying features) but great fun.  We went back to the B2B's house for champers, facepacks and Dirty Dancing though some of us had to leave a little early before the movies started to get back into London.  Early on the in the day, I was introduced to one of the other guests and was told that her ex-husband was a colleague of the groom.  I said I got divorced recently too and she immediately said 'Thank god!' because it is a little surreal when it seems like the entire world is married and/or pregnant, which pretty much summed up the demographic of the group.  We ended up catching the train back to town together and it was interesting talking about our situations.  She's doing the match.com route at the moment and I have to say, it sounds hellish and I'm now 150% happy with not doing anything like that. 

What I am trying to do instead is to concentrate on other stuff which is gaining momentum  at the moment.  The flat-purchasing, obviously.   Job-hunting, still on the lookout for the right permanent thing.  Baby quilts, I've got two to make plus another two (baby's sex as yet unknown) on the list.  That's without considering preserving fruit , finishing the dress that Dolly's been wearing for two months or getting the letterpress working.  I'm going out with a new running club tomorrow because it's time to make more of an effort to improve my health, sort out my back and lose some weight.  Ting and I were  talking on Friday after seeing 'In Conversation' and I said that I need to get myself together and she kindly said that I wouldn't want to lose too much weight, because when people do, it often makes them look older.  Bless her for thinking I'd get to that point.  However as two people have put my age at 25 this week - how flattering! - I reckon I've got some leeway there...

Hair on fire...

That's what it feels like at the moment, that I'm running about the place with a barnet aflame.  In actual fact, I'm getting quite a lot done, just that there's an extremely long list to tick off.

Lately it's been all about the music.

Friday last week:  Amy Winehouse at Somerset House.  We were taking bets as to whether she would even turn up, and when she tottered out on her spindly little legs, heels, there was a collective sigh of relief.  In between musing what she had hidden in her beehive (Bottle of vodka?  Her stash?  No, a helium balloon, Claire decided) and smiling benevolently at her gently loony musings ("I was really worried that it might rain tonight but I thought that maybe there would be a cover or something that they'd pull over the top..." - no, Amy, when the venue said the gig was going ahead despite the rain, because it was "under cover", they mean that you, the artist, was under cover and all us schmucks could drown in the torrents, for all they cared) the crowd wholeheartedly showed their appreciation for  a tremendous set.  She was just brilliant, looked amazing - beautiful complexion and ok, so she's the width of a ruler but hell, she was glowing - and we had a mighty time.

Saturday and Sunday last week - off to Lovebox. 

Horrendous weather on the Saturday (the dance tent had never been so popular) but Sunday brightened up, great weekend with lovely people.  And evil finger puppets.

Never mind the biggies, like the B-52s, who were great, most of the best bands were in the Clash tent on the  Saturday, including my new favourite band, Who Made Who.  Crazy Danes.

On Friday night, rather than taking my mama, I took my uncle to the Scissor Sisters at the O2 arena, which was a very cool venue and an outrageously good show.  Yeah, I am a huge SS fan, but this was the finest performance I've witnessed yet.

I've been working, just temping, so that's eating up a lot of time.  Slightly surreal as my new boss has gone off on holidays for a forthnight. 

Still making some time for knitting, and I'm glad to say that when I went home last weekend, Dad loved his socks as his 60th birthday present.  Despite looking quite big (I did knit them on 3mm rather than 2.5s and with a slightly looser tension than normal) they fitted perfectly.   His are the not pink ones.  Those were supposed to be for me but may go into the present stash, because yes, I am starting the Christmas knitting now.

I'm working on socks, two other pairs in progress and then there's some quilting to be done.  Oh, and flat buying and job hunting though I'm still kind of burying my head in the sands.  I'll pluck it out sometime soon.

And then there's the Clap too.  Have made a mistake with it, need some help to fix it so it's been cast aside
until I can get back to some knitting group who can help.  I had started the second section, when you start to drop the stitches, and I did something wrong on the second or third row after the first dropped stitch.  Bah. 

Did I tell you that I finished HP7?  Not going to say too much about it yet, not wanting to issue spoilers, but I liked it.  Didn't love it, but liked it and was glad I read it.  Still have a few questions which may necessitate another go at it. 

Has anyone else's Bloglines gone mad?  I know it's been a few days since I checked it, but it seems to be listing about 10 new posts for all the blogs I watch, and when I check them they only have one or maybe two new entries.  I will try to keep posting more regularly myself but somehow there doesn't seem to be much time at the moment...

Saucy

HP plus more HP - not lashings and lashings of brown sauce but two bum-numbing excursions to the cinema.   On Friday night I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with friends, loved it, loved chatting about it afterwards.  Yes, I've already bought the book and I'll be picking it up as early as possible on Saturday morning.  Mind you, by the time I collect Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I'm sure lots of people will have already have done it cover to cover.  Like Leslie...

The greatest thing about the film is the female cast.  Luna Lovegood, Dolores Umbridge, Hermione Granger and Bellatrix Lestrange, they're just brilliant.  Though I'm slightly disconcerted by the fact that I may sound a bit like Evanna Lynch who plays Luna.  There was a collective knowingness in the cinema when Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna are flying to London, as they zoomed over Canary Wharf and everyone thought - that's where we are!  Right now, in the cinema! 

Plus there was an almost mind-boggling array of knitwear (mostly sported by the Weasleys, of course).  In fact Harry seems to get off quite lightly. 

On Saturday I met up with old friends around Broadway Market, by accident and as arranged.  Sunday was delightful - visiting Abi's lovely house , singing along to and marvelling at costumes in 'That's Entertainment', with yummy cake to eat, in great company. 

Still job hunting.  Still flat-hunting.  Some crafty stuff on the way, photos later.  But I've been too blah lately to get it together to get the camera out.

By the way, if there are any knitters out there who fancy it, Jenny has forced me in this:
Come on,  Clap-Along.  Do come along.

When life gives you lemons...

...make this cake.

Nigella's Lemon-Syrup Loaf Cake

Cake:
125g unsalted butter
175g caster sugar
2 large eggs
Zest of 1 lemon
175g self-raising flour
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons milk

See here for conversions

Syrup: 
Juice of 1/5 lemons (about 4 tablespoons)
100g of icing sugar

23 x 13 x 7 cm loaf tin, buttered and lined, preheat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4.

Method: 

• Cream the butter and sugar
• Add eggs and lemon zest, beat in well
• Add the sieved flour and salt, folding in gently but thoroughly
• Add the milk, mix in
• Spoon into loaf tin and put cake in oven for 45 mins, or until golden and a cake tester comes out clean
• While it's cooking, dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice, over a low heat
• As soon as you take the cake out, puncture holes all over the top and pour the syrup on to let it soak in. Make sure there are lots of holes in the top so it doesn't all go down the sides.
• Wait until it's completely cold to take it out of the tin.
• Devour.

Nigella also suggests putting some Limoncello in the syrup.  I used to have an automatic reaction to the word, which came from being offered a shot of something that approximated Lemsip mixed with vinegar after an Italian meal - you know, as soon as you hear the word, your face screws up so tight that you develop a tick in one eye.
But way back when, part of my honeymoon was spent in Capri, here.  (You know it's ludicrously posh when it's the sort of place that has 5 Star hotels, and 5 Star Luxury hotels)  One of the things that they do rather well on Capri is the local Limoncello.  Of course looking back now, I have Limoncello memories of that time - bittersweet, but better than you might imagine.  No word from the divorce solicitor last week but hopefully good news on that front soon. Waiting is driving me nuts.

As always, I'd recommend Nigella's first book.  My only quibble with the many recipes I've made from here, is that the quantities given for the Dense Damp Chocolate Loaf Cake are too great for the tin specified, so a lot of it spills over the side.  Not such a bad complaint, really. 

My favourite four-letter word

is, of course,

S A L E

When I was out and about in Fulham the other day (Oh, how the other half - of London - lives) I noticed some rather good sales.  No, not clothes, because I'm not in the market at the moment, but for crafty supplies.  Things that I am allowed to buy.

Cath Kidston has a decent selection of fabrics on sale, at discounts of up to 50%, plus other gifty ideas in the clearance sale.  Though I must say that I think that since they went more mass market, I'm not sure that the quality hasn't suffered a little. 

The Designers Guild also has a sale on, though most of the fabric on the bolt, even if it's reduced by up to 50%, is seconds stock.  They have a huge table of remnants too, including, ironically enough, a lot of Cath Kidston classic prints.

When I was over on the dark side, I also went into Peter Jones (the Sloane Square outpost of John Lewis).  More bargains to be found, again in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk.  This time it was the buttery yellow and the lilac.  I know that this is somewhat extravagant but the fact is, I have the pattern book and there are lots of garments I fancy making.  And now I have the yarn to do it, at 50% off.  I also bought some Cotton Cashmere for T, but I hear she then 'popped into' John Lewis in town - so dangerous - and it sounds like she purchased her own bodyweight in yarn. Again.  Apparently she blames me for this, I've no idea why...

Who's still waiting for swap packages?  Hopefully most of you are sorted by now but please do let me know... this particular swap seems to have gone on for ever.  To answer the question that some people have asked, if there is another round it won't be until the late autumn as the chasing up is taking an eternity and I think I'll take a break from it.

So I did the draw for a little something to celebrate my long-gone blogiversary, and the winner is Sarah.  Email me your address, and you'll have a wee gift in return.  Hopefully before we reach the second anniversary.

And even better

On Wednesday I also managed to get to the City Quilter (round 1).  Most of these are for quilting (a pile of orders are due soon) and specifically for quilt backing, for quilts for little boys.

I also went to Tinsel Trading, and unfortunately didn't make a couple of purchases I wanted as I thought I'd be back the next day but didn't make it, and also visited their wonderful ribbon shop,

'The Store Across The Street'.  It's seriously beautiful and worth checking out.  However I would have to say that I thought it was rather overpriced, given that I found many of their ribbons (obviously not the antique ones which are worth going for) in Daytona, for literally half the price.  I know, I checked.  Though the silk flowers were magnificent.  Of course I found a couple I couldn't pass up, and they were so prettily wrapped too:

One of the best things about this trip was that there was a constant stream of fun people around - some natives and some transplants.  Pauline was working in NY that week so of course we had to hook up which was brilliant....we decided at one point that telepathy works better in NY as one of us would say something and the other would literally stop in her tracks, exclaiming "I was just thinking that!".  My favourite example being - and this will show you what a cosmopolitanish melting pot London is - when I confessed that I had been musing to myself earlier about how there were loads of Americans about and Pauline said me-too-me-too...

This is where we went for drinks and dinner that evening - Pauline will have loads of photographic evidence to show later on. (She's great, she was the official photographer for the trip).  It was hysterical - she told me that there was something unusual about the entrance to PDT, so when we arrived in what looked like a normal fast food place, I thought 'Ok...' then I was kind of mystified when she ducked off into a phone box on the left  - and lo and behold we emerged in here!  God, it was such fun.  Apparently the entry criteria is that there's space inside (that will explain how I got in) not who you are/what you're wearing - and to reiterate that, from our perch on the bar we could see the little CCTV monitor that shows the poor unfortunates who are in the fake phone box entrance hammering on the false wall trying to get in.

We drank cocktails - slightly pretentious ones, pretty much each one has some mysterious ingredient that nobody's ever heard of , like Lustau manzanilla, anyone? - and ate hot dogs.  Yum. 

Then we popped across the road for chocolate, caramel and banana crepes for dessert.  Yes, we know how to have a good time.  With extra sugar, where possible.   Thanks to the poster in the creperie, we are also fully aware of how to do the Heimlich Manoeuvre, should it be necessary. It was funny to be waving goodbye to each other in Grand Central later, as if we were at the tube at home, with cries of "See you on Saturday" - more on that later!

[Can I just say that I never thought I'd be defending the London underground but yet again I have new-found admiration for an underground network that goes around the compass points, not just horizontally and vertically; and for stations that also let you go in both directions??  Mind you, the subway is cheap, cheap, cheap.  Particularly with magical British pounds.]

It was lateish to bed and really early to rise the next day, as I went off to meet the lovely Denise (who doesn't blog - yet) from her 8am train, having first checked out of my hotel and left my luggage at Penn Station,  and we set off to really kill the credit cards.  On the way, I spotted one of the Star Wars mail boxes that Susan blogged about ages ago (Anna, check out Susan's blog too as she has a link to the Threads list of where to go in NY for sewers!)

After breakfast, it was off to School Products (I'll tell you why it's called that a bit later).  Here's Denise browsing in this huge place.  Can you spot her?  She was choosing her Koigu.

I bought this lilac merino and the variegated cashmere.  Yum.

I think we got to Purl next.  Purl, the mecca for us UK knitters.  I have to admit, it's a rather lovely experience.  Particularly for someone like me, who's a total yarn flibbertygibbet and doesn't really know what she's buying - apart from some custom colour Lorna's Laces. 

And some Blue Sky Alpaca Silk (left) for the infamous Clap. I am following Helen's lead and not using a variegated yarn, rather something soft and luxurious.  Denise bought some more sock yarn (what was it?) and I picked up some amazing stuff for Lucy from my knitting group but unfortunately forgot to take a picture. 

Some tips: 

• Purl Soho doesn't hold exactly the same stock as the internet - that stuff is in California.  They can get  any of it in but it takes a couple of days.
• The Lorna's Laces custom colours don't have the names like 'Berry Stripe' on the actual labels, just on the net (no, I couldn't figure that out) so make sure you are buying the same ones if they are for someone else (don't worry, the staff there are super-helpful)
• They don't take American Express.  I had brought an Amex debit card - like traveller's cheques but in card format - and went to the local corner store to get cash instead.

And then we had some lunch to fortify ourselves at the little cafe next door.  "Once Upon a Tart".

Before making for the No I destination: 

Oh, I really loved Purl Patchworks.  It kind of reaffirmed that while knitting is my favourite social craft, I adore sewing.  I got overexcited, natch, while Denise patiently sat down and started on her sock. 

The very first thing I requested from Joelle (yes, the famous owner of the store was there herself)  was the Denyse Schmidt 'Katie Jump Rope' bundle and you know it was worth schlepping it all around town.

There's a part of the selection, it was such fun. Joelle is very patient and so friendly.   I'm sure a lot of you will have seen the article about the shop and her beautiful apartment in Blueprint, with the quilt pattern but I didn't want to appear stalkerish and mention it.

As I was repacking the bags post-fabric purchasing so that it would all fit a little better, she spotted the lilac merino and said 'Oh, that's nice - that's not from Purl!' and I explained that it was from School Products.  Then the conversation went like this:

Joelle: I wonder why it's called that.
Woman: Oh, I just designed her book,  it's because it used to be a school supplies store.
Us:  Really?
Me: Oh, when is your new book coming out?
Joelle:  Not until September, it's called Last Minute Patchwork Gifts (I think that's what she said)
Me:  I can't wait - I was gutted that Amy Karol's book wasn't coming out until Tuesday and I go back on Monday.
Woman: I designed that one too!

It's a teensy-weensy tiny world.  Or maybe the telepathy/synchronicity thing works with total strangers too.

I must say that I am a big fan of the City Quilter and it worked well for me to go to both stores first and then back to the City Quilter as it has such a big selection.  But if I only had time to go to one location, or wanted to go somewhere to hang out, it would definitely be Purl Soho/Patchwork because they have plenty of lovely things, and the atmosphere is fab.

After all that fabric shopping we needed some sustenance (yes, that's right, all we did was shop for craft materials and eat sugar - and lo, 'twas good) and we went to Magnolia bakery, the home of my favourite cupcakes.  (recipe here) Damn, they were delicious.

We stood outside and devoured them, and then realised that through the window you could see them, making the magic and just look at those jars of sprinkles.

Ok, unbelievably there's still yet more to tell you, (and more fabric to show you) but I'm done for the day again.  Laters, ladies.

 

It's been a while

So just to recap a little, class....

It's been such a long time since I blogged.  All went well with Shaun the Sheep and the rest of the knitterly stuff for the Camden Green Fair.  It was really hot and Lucy baked the world's best brownies and we had a good laugh.  We may even have taught a few people to knit. 

International Knit in Public Day was on the 9th of June and we ambled along to Trafalgar Square to watch the security guards try to get all heavy with the guys from I Knit London - hilarious. 

Though we did agree that of everyone there, ironically,  Craig was definitely the person in possession of the most dangerous needles (the huge ones from Wool n Boat, he was using them to knit a curtain).  It was fun, until we decided that us three little white girls were getting burned to cinders despite the Factor 25 so we went to the National Portrait Gallery's cafe for lunch.  Or in the case of myself and Helen, for starters as we ended up having pad thai later. 

And on Sunday we went along to the Spitalfields City Farm, to the Sheep and Wool fair, where Claire was running knitting workshops.  On the way home, I stopped in to see Zoe - who made this bag - who has a stall at the Backyard Market.  She has lovely things and I think she's there for a few more Sundays - go and see.  (and if you need any other reason, I think these people are usually there too).

Now there's something else I need to tell you is, isn't there.... um.... oh yeah. Heh heh.
New York was everything I was hoping, as ever.  Now I'm sleepy and heading to bed to deal with the jet lag.  Once I clear some of the shopping off it....

More tomorrow.

Hey, if you're still waiting for swap packages, will you let me know?

The times - are they a changin'?

I may have implied in my last post that I was about to fall off the earth for a month.  Not so.  It's just that there wasn't much I wanted to blog about.

Then lots of pressies arrived in the post.

This was the surprise from the lovely Julie, which I showed you all wrapped up.... my very own Little Knitted Cupcake!  You won't be surprised to hear that the workmanship is just perfect.  Adorable.  As some of you probably know, I have a thing for cupcakes, like a lot of us do.  Knitted, sewn, and also...

in pincushion form!

From the lovely Tamy, along with lots of other goodness in my first swap package from Round 3, and Julie also donated yarn for the newbie knitters at the Picknit tomorrow (surely extremely good learner-knitting mojo must come from yarn used for Little Cotton Rabbits?)  Tamy sent beautiful bright fabrics and also something that will come in handy for tomorrow - will put pics on the Flickr group.

This is a belated birthday present from an old friend who I saw last week.  I have been thinking "I must get a milk jug" and then put it out of my mind along with notions like "I must change over to my summer wardrobe', 'My life would enriched by matching napkins", "Making a souffle sounds like fun" and so on.

But it's perfect. 

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on Helene's blog: a copy of Marie Claire Idees.  Yes, I know you can allegedly buy it here, but I've never actually had my hands on a copy before.  Dangerous stuff. I could convince myself that I'm buying it just to improve my French.  Pas une mauvais idee... (zut, je dois plus practiquer - ou bien apprendre encore?) and Helene sent the most marvellous package of goodies along with it - thank you so much!

I went down to Cockpit Arts today to see Ruth - lots of lovely things on show from her.  I spent a while talking to Lissie Baldwin, who is just moving out of one of the studios there, and I completely fell in love with one of her Dolly's Dollar Pin-Up works.   Lisa Marklew's ceramics are utterly whimsical and covetable.  They can both go on the 'When I Become A Patron Of The Arts' list.

I've been thinking far too much recently - mainly because tomorrow would have been my second wedding anniversary, had we lasted that long.  I got copies of the decree nisi from the solicitor on Friday and being reminded of it again, in black and white, 'adultery with unnamed woman', 'irretrievably broken down', still hurts.  Horribly.  Actually it never goes away.  The corresponding drain on confidence which ensues - which is a lasting legacy for many women, I believe - that comes back to hit you in the teeth over and over. I actually got to the point recently where I started to think that maybe it's time to hang up the towel and move home.  Like, HOME home.  Ireland. Jesus Christ almighty.

Live in the country, like this lovely pillow from MCI. 

My mother,  bless her heart said something along the lines of 'sure, come home if you want, I just think you'd be mental to do it.'  She is almost certainly right.   I am getting the fear about buying 'my' lovely little flat but Mum tells me that it will all work out ok, so I choose to believe her.

So tomorrow I'll be in Regent's Park with a six foot knitted sheep, rather than a six foot husband.  I won't be swapping cotton gifts, I'll be knitting with it.   Swapping wedding cake for cupcakes.  Better get baking.

Thoughtfull

I am sure she has been named a Thinking Blogger by about 'eleventy million' people, but the third person I'm naming is Laurie, aka Crazy Aunt Purl. 

She makes me think. 
She frequently makes me think "How did she get into my head, fish the jumbled-up thoughts out, and rearrange them more more eloquently and in an infinitely funnier way?"
She bares her soul, not just her knitting.

And then there's Kelli from AfricanKelli.  She is not just a Thinking Blogger, but an Action Blogger, I suppose you could call her. She's in Africa at the moment and her recent post is heart-wrenching. This is the woman who brought us CAOK, or Calculated Acts of Kindness - and that sums her up, really.

I think... therefore

A while back, I was very flattered to find that the lovely Julie at Little Cotton Rabbits had nominated me for a Thinking Blogger award, in the company of four other blogs that I like immensely.  And for many weeks I've been thinking about which five bloggers I would nominate myself.
Then I decided to feed them out to you one by one.  Here's the first couple:

Another Outspoken Female  -  you have to love her for it
Eglantine's Cake - a delicious mixture of wordsmithery, family musings and general entertainment

Today on Julie's blog there's a meme, for which I've been tagged by a number of people, including  Miss Marvellous Mouse, Jade and Helen and please remind me in the comments if you tagged me too.  I think it's either seven or eight random things about yourself...

1. If I miss the first episode of a series of TV, or the first few minutes of a film I just can't watch it.  The set-up is just too important.
2. When I was little I despised having my hair cut so much, my mum had to bribe me (roughly twice a year) to get me to the hairdressers.  Horse-riding lessons, getting my ears pierced etc.  I still don't get my hair cut as regularly as I should.
3. I'm not a Catholic.  That made for an interesting upbringing in Ireland.
4. I am extremely particular about writing instruments and paraphernalia, I adore paper, notebooks, stationery and proper pens. But I can't write properly with a fountain pen - or even a biro -  if I haven't placed the cap on the opposite end, so that it's balanced again.
5. The sound of Pan pipes can drive me to bodily harm.
6. I am the person who forgot how to ride a bike.  Twice.
7. When I was little I wanted to write books for a living, and started at least one. I burned it, pages and pages of it, when I was eighteen and clearing out my room when I finished school.  I kind of regret that now.
8. I have a tattoo.

And that's probably enough for now.  Consider yourself tagged, and leave a comment if you do it on your blog so we can zoom over and check out your particular flavour of randomness.