New Hamsters and a Knitting Round Up

The previous weekend, we were on our travels again, this time to Sheffield to see Grace.  She has just got two new dwarf hamsters, girls this time, and we were very excited to see them (we were excited to see Grace as well!)

They're very shy at the moment but hopefully will settle in their new home very soon.

It was good to spend time with Grace, knitting and chatting about knitting (my husband's attention is lost as soon as I mention the word knitting!)

Here's a round up of some of my finished projects.  I mentioned last week that I had finished a shawl, so here it is.

The pattern is called The Love of a Pirate and I really enjoyed knitting it.

For full details of the pattern and yarn, please look on my Ravelry project page, here.

I've also knitted up another mini sweater.

It's great fun making these sweaters - the plan is to make bunting with them, but I'll need quite a few more yet.

I've also crocheted another bag using my Handy Dandy Sock Yarn Bag pattern.

I love the colours in this one.

I'm hoping, this week, to get the purple cardigan I'm currently working on finished.  It's 4 ply so slow going, but I feel as though the end is in sight.  So, at last, I feel as though I'm getting on top of things.  I hope you are all having a productive week.

Fantastic Beasts in Liverpool!

I was in Liverpool city centre last week.  I'd popped in to pick up some curtain fabric for the newly decorated hall and landing.  And when passing St George's Hall, I noticed there was a lot of metal fencing surrounding it and what looked like fake snow on the steps.

Later that evening my husband and I were back in the city centre to meet a friend for a drink and there was considerable activity in and around St George's Hall.  I took a photo - just in case!

I've since found out that they are filming scenes for J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter spin-off book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".  The film stars Eddie Redmayne but unfortunately I haven't spotted him around, although one of his co-stars, Jon Voight has apparently been seen in one of the Liverpool night clubs.

Picture from Liverpool Echo

Picture from Liverpool Echo

Picture from Liverpool Echo

Picture from Liverpool Echo

Apparently, Liverpool is the only non-studio location for the film, and the city is doubling up as 1920s New York.

The film isn't being released until November next year but I shall be looking out for Liverpool when I go to see it.

Time for London

I seem to be playing a game of catch up at the moment.  There aren't enough days in the week lately.  This is because we've been away from home the last few weekends, so I'm not in my usual routine - not that I'm complaining, it's good to get out and about.

Last weekend we had a lovely trip down to London on the train to stay with Eve.  It was the first time we had seen her since her move there at the end of August so it was wonderful to be reunited.  She's settled in nicely into her flat and is enjoying her work.  It's so good to know she is happy - what more could any parent want.

Eve's flat is not far from the Tower of London, so we had a wander down to the river and explored the area.

It was a great weekend and I'm looking forward to more visits and more exploring.

Craft-wise, I've now completed another two squares as part of my embroidery project.

Creating the clock face was fun, it's lightly padded to make it 3D.

I can embroider time but I need to find a way of creating more time!

I've just completed one of the shawls I was knitting but there are no photos yet - I'll save them for another post.  Until then, I hope all is well with you.  Bye for now.

Lost Days

Not sure if I fell a sleep and missed a few days, but I can't believe how fast October is flying by - the 15th - ALREADY!  So much to do, so little time - as always.

Anyway today I thought I had better show you what I've been working on, before October runs away completely.

I have two finished objects.  The first is this cute crocheted bear.

He doesn't have a name yet, so any suggestions would be welcome.

I made him using a variation on my Tutti Frutti Bears pattern.  I should write up the pattern, and one day I will, but you know how it is!

The second finished object, is a pair of socks.  My October socks were made using the Thuja pattern by Bobby Ziegler.

I love the colours in this yarn, so scrumptious.  I thought about trying to match the colour pattern in the two socks, but the repeat was so long, I didn't bother.  When I've got my boots on, no one will see!

You can see full details of this project over on my Ravelry page, here.

With the trip down to Tewkesbury, I had plenty of knitting time in the car.  I'm still working on the purple cardigan I was knitting in the car when we went to St Asaph and Rhyl.  I decided about half way up the body section, I didn't like the pattern after all.  So I ripped it back to the ribbing and with a little adjustment, changed to my Edith pattern.  I wear this cardigan so much that I thought it would be good to have it in another colourway.

So I'm now back, half way up the body section, but I'm feeling a lot happier with it now.

Embroidery, my quilt and of course the decorating, are also keeping me busy.  In fact, I blame the decorating for the loss of so many days in October.  I need to sort out a new carpet now and some fabric to make curtains - then it's curtains to the decorating, for the time being.

A Break from Decorating

Decorating!  Why did I start?  It always takes so much more effort than you think it will - and also takes longer than you think.  Fortunately everything is going reasonably well and I should have the hall and landing finished this week.  I shall be glad to get back into a normal routine.

Thankfully, at the weekend, I had a break from the stress of decorating because hubby and I had a night away in Tewkesbury.

2015 is the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the hotel chain Travelodge.  In order to celebrate, Travelodge offered a free night in one of their hotels to any couple celebrating their thirtieth wedding anniversary this year.  So count us in!

We could choose any hotel, so we eventually settled on Tewkesbury, a place we have never visited before, but after this weekend we are planning another trip there and for a longer stay.

We had a lovely meal in Ye Olde Bear Inn, the oldest pub in Gloucestershire, dating from 1308.

We walked along the River Avon.

Admired the beautiful old buildings along the High Street and Church Street.

And we're stunned by the simple beauty of the Abbey - the second largest parish church in the country.

So thank you to Travelodge for the freebie and after a lovely relaxing weekend, exploring the sights of Tewkesbury, I guess it's back to the decorating!

An Early Weekend

Today I am catching up on all the jobs and housework I haven't been doing over the past two days.  I took my weekend early this week, on Thursday and Friday, so now it's payback time.

Thursday was officially a knitting day.  I had a wonderful time sitting out in the garden in the glorious sunshine, casting on to my heart's content.

First there's Swallowtail, a gorgeous lacy shawl pattern.  I'm using a beautiful lace-weight yarn I bought at Yarndale specially for this project.

Look at those beautiful, delicate colours.

I then knitted up a mini sock yarn sweater - to join the previous two, this one and this one,  that I've made that will eventually become bunting.  I used one of the mini skeins that Grace and I bought between us at Yarndale, I can't wait to knit up the other colourway.

And because knitting shawls is so much fun, I then cast on for another one.  For this one I'm using a pattern called The Love of a Pirate and more of the Yarndale goodies.  Again, I get quite giddy looking at the lovely colours.

Then in the evening, just for a bit of variety, I cast on some socks!

What a wonderful day, how lucky I am to be able to spend my time like this.  I am constantly counting my blessings.

On Friday my husband and I had a little road trip to North Wales.  First we visited St Asaph.  We had a picnic by the river and visited the tiny cathedral.

Then we went on to Rhyl.  The dress I'm wearing is the one I made in September.  It's the same pattern (Simplicity 2444) I used for my bed sheet dress and also this dress.  I love the style, it's so comfortable to wear.

We walked along the promenade.

Had a paddle in the sea (I can't believe it's actually October and yet still so warm).

Then just sat and enjoyed the lovely warm sunshine.

Obviously I had some knitting with me.  This is a cardigan I started knitting back in August, but I'm now having second thoughts about the pattern so it may not progress much further.

We ended our day with a lovely meal of fish and chips (what else could you eat at the seaside!)

A most enjoyable early weekend, but now I need to get on with some ironing!  I hope that your weekend will be as lovely as mine was.