This was the last rose in the garden, from an old old rose bush that really needs to be dug up, but I just can't bring myself to do it, when each year it produces a half a dozen beautiful, deep jewel toned, perfect roses. *sigh*
So after the bank holiday health scare I am just over half way through my three week vacation and I have been thoroughly enjoying myself doing... very little.
This picture is of the nightdress case and coat hangers I made for my friend from Colombia. She fell in love with the granny stripe blanket but there wasn't enough time to make a blanket and anyway it would have required a suitcase all to itself, so I made her a nightdress case and a couple of coverd coat hangers instead, using some left over yarn from the blanket so she still had all the pretty colours.
I lined it with some pale yellow cotton and used some of my polka dot buttons for the fastening. Overall I was kinda pleased with the result.
I have also gotten a head start on the Christmas knitting and crochet... for which I am very pleased with myself. One item is already completed and several others are well under way, including another granny stripe blanket but for himself this time in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK. Stupidly expensive I know, and in shades that are not necessarily ones I would normally use but they are colours that himself likes, so that's all that matters.
I added a couple of mid-dark purple shades to the mix, to lift the colours a little and the result is exactly what I was looking for, Lovely stripes in heathery shades that are not too bright and 'girly' and just right for a bloke! :)
And of course being cashmerino the whole thing is lovely and soft and snuggly.
The hat is a Christmas present already completed for a friend of mine, knitted in some of the welsh mohair I got at Wonderwool there are some wrist warmers and a scarf to go with still to be finished.
I am planning to have the blanket and the hats and scarves done by the end of October if I can then I'm pretty much ahead of the game in terms of Christmas present stuff, which will please me immensely.
The weather here has been mixed over the first week and a half of the vacation and Phaolin has developed a limp again which means that adventuring out doors has been limited for both of us. The sun is coming out now though and makes for lovely walking weather - except for the limp of course. Not entirely sure quite what to do about it yet. Instinct tells me to keep him quiet (yeah, try and keep him quiet) and let it get better of its own acoord, but the 'worried Mum' in me wants to rush to the vet, again. *sigh* He's a worrisome little monster in every way. We're just getting over a series of broken nights, which we're putting down to teenage angst and insecurity. I swear he has more moods and personality in two years than Callanish had in 13!
Yesterday we had a stroll up the lane...
In the sun... after the recent trauma it was a good for me as for the dogs... and I took pictures of a couple of the trees...
Because I liked them...
I've also had a couple of trips out to stock up on yarn. I needed more Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for the Christmas presents so on Monday a friend of mine from the Stitch 'n' Bitch went off to Port Talbot to the yarn shop there. We had a truly splendid time, finished off with lunch in the coffee shop where we normally meet on a Wednesday evening.
Besides stocking up on the Debbie Bliss I also bought some Noro - Silk Garden Lite. I know opinions about Noro vary but I wanted to try it for myself and so far I'm reasonably happy. No it isn't the softest yarn in the world by a long shot but I have it on good authoirty that there ways of softening it during blocking and the long colour runs are ideal for shawls like this one started below...
Not the best display background and the shadows don't help but I'm only about a quarter done and there'll be better pictures later. I just love the colour runs and I love this particular pattern. Seraphina's Shawl It's versatile, not too hard and very quick. Once you've got the beginning sorted and all the increases happening in the right places.
Then yesterday I went for lunch in Llandeilo with another S'n'B friend and after an excellent burger and chips for lunch we went to the yarn shop there where I bought a whole bunch of fat quarters to do some patchwork with and then treated myself to a 17 shade rainbow of Sublime DK merino and cashmerino silk. A truly excellent afternoon, gossiping and yarn buying. Oh! and I bought a new handbag too, which I love almost as much as the yarn.
The yarn stash is growing out of control. I really do need to put a stop to the buying and get a whole load more things made.
Anyway, we have cleared up the leaves outside while it is dry and now I am going to go sit and crochet for a while.
So I'll leave you with another picture of my fabulous 'last rose of Summer.'
Love O. xx