Flibbertygibbet

Sofa time

For one reason or another, I've been spending quite a lot of time on the sofa. 

I'm persevering with the bellatrix socks though they're not turning out like I expected (I thought they'd be more Lizard Ridges-ish, like some of the photos.  I think that some knitters modded it to 5 stitches between the repeats which would make it more bobbly, less space in between.) 

I also finally finished this, to curl up under whilst on the sofa:


Yes, my first bed sized quilt, all for me.  Contrary to what the cats think.  They pounce on it (and by extension, on me) whenever they can.  My only regret is sticking to my 'use what you have dictum' and using a lightweight wadding on the inside.  Won't make that mistake again. It's definitely more of a summer weight.  I machined it all, apart from the second side of the binding which I did by hand.  I used this tutorial, which makes it so easy.  It's about double-size I guess, the bed it's on is super-king.


"Nice.  When do you get one?"

I've been taking it easy after having a very minor procedure at the doctor on Friday -  sensible women get suspect moles removed.  I went back and forth on whether it was necessary; and where to get it done, at my local surgery's dermatology clinic or at a private hospital using my insurance and went local in the end.  While I can't say for sure yet that it was or wasn't a good choice, I have some reservations about the care and certainly the bedside manner.  My internal conversation was turning remarkably rude and increasingly frantic as he said things like:

"It will certainly leave a scar.  More stitches might make that better.  Or it might not." Ok.  So stitch more. In for a penny...

"Oh, well I said it wouldn't hurt but it turns out I didn't mean it."  WFT?  Is anesthetic on the 'cutbacks' list?

"You can have stitches without any anesthetic at all you know."  Yes well I've seen enough episodes of Casualty and ER to know that you can also do a tracheotomy with a pen but that's not necessarily the option you choose.

Home to the sofa and feeling punched in the chest for two days now.  I ventured out to the cinema to catch up on some movies (Bolt is funny;  watching in 3D is surprisingly fun.  Bride Wars - well I know, what was I thinking...) and purchase a huge pile of  books, my equivalent of the 'I was Good at the Doctor's' lollipop i.e. I didn't tell him just what I thought of his handiwork.
Warmed by the thoughts of all the lovely friends who offered to come around, to pick me up from the doc, who checked in with me. I'm fine.  And about to curl up under a new quilt.

Two of my favourite things

Flock paper and antlered deer.  Does it get much better than this?  Not in my little world.  I love!

After Renegade Craft last year I alluded to buying something else for the flat - the stencil.  I cut it out of  Paperchase flock paper and then went back for mock snakeskin to go behind it. The parts that I cut out may reappear later.

These prints came from this year's RC in San Francisco.  The bottom one is hung quite low - but it's the perfect height when you look across whilst curled up on the sofa. 

Last weekend I rearranged the studio.  To make room for writing which has naturally led to procrastination and displacement crafting.  Um, it's almost a win-win I guess.

Now the never-going-to-tilt-like-it-should table is accessible from both sides to facilitate cutting.  Cutting of what, you may ask...

Oh, get over yourself

We have a moving date.  Hallelujah.  And as of last night, half a kitchen and one room almost decorated.  Who knows what it will look like by this evening! Lots of lovely people are helping me with the move which is great.  I am coming down with all kinds of option paralysis - funny, because if it was someone else who was moving, I am sure I would be able to be more helpful!

I've done a lot more wallpaper stripping (the woodchip was a walk in the park compared to what was underneath) which took 5 man- and woman-days to shift and also meant that I missed out on Ally Pally.  Yes, I know I don't need any more yarn, but there were lovely people having fun, and there was yarn, and cake, and I missed it...though my lovely big brother did help me with it.  (But Lucy did purchase something for me...)

I'm freelancing and temping though the latter may dry up quite soon so I have to start looking for alternatives.  That's a little bit terrifying but we're not going to get too worried just yet.   Especially as that does is make everything else seem gloomy.  So I'm getting my CV out to agencies instead.

Not much time for writing or socialising, so roll on November - when I should be in my new house and maybe even getting to do some writing.  I am very tempted to try NaNoWriMo again, but think that this might be a bit too much...