Two-whit Too-woo!

So, aaaages ago I knitted the legendary OWL jumper in Sirdar Peru, a lovely phased yarn I got on the cheap from Kemps Wool Shop. I learnt the hard way not to knit a jumper during winter in a darkened room, as the colour phase yarn wasn't exactly, well, phased.

It was a bit too unfortunately stripy for me to wear, shame as it fitted like a dream. I bought some FabDye, an acid dye good for dying wool. This is when I learned lesson #2: an unwatched dye pot will boil over and dye your dresser purple. Gah.
Hot water does funny things to wool. It came out a brown/purple marl which I could live with, but the arms are now fit for Mr Tickle. Still I can always roll them up.

34 buttons later (yes, that's THIRTY FOUR) and we're good to go. What do you think?

Jelly!

Blackcurrant. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

A Retr-Oh moment

I pop into my very-local charity shop almost daily. Like all these things it's more hit than miss. Today, this cheeky little chap was sat on the shelf just waiting for me. It's Brixham pottery, a history of which is apparently difficult to track down, so I've no idea of age, but it looks Seventies-tastic to me!

I love these acid-type greens, they compliment the strange blue-toned purple of my living room walls so well, and that teaky-brown looks almost woodgrain to match my beloved G-plan coffee table.

I paid £3. No money in it, as The Duke would say, but this one's going to live with me a while, and bring me lots of viewing pleasure, making it cheap as chips................

Creative Open Workshops (or COW to me and you)

Last weekend was my dear friend Clare's hen do, and being a crafty type she wanted to do something different during the day. She discovered the marvellous Creative Open Workshop studio at The Custard Factory, and we went along to make our own tote bags.

Now, I'm still a little nervous when it comes to the old sewing thing. I have a machine but we've yet to fall in love. I was hoping that this workshop would help me with my reservations, and as it turns out I could have taken my own machine in order to learn how to work it. Instead, I used their (rather fabulous) ones and knocked up a bag to be proud of in a couple of hours!

Our hostess Francine was lovely; very patient, friendly and helpful. There was jasmine tea (in fancy vintage teacups nonetheless) and cakes to help us keep our sewing energy up, and the choice of fabric was dizzying! Everything was very step by step and simple, thankfully, and I would recommend this type of thing for newbie and experienced crafters alike.

It cost just £15 including materials. Bargainous.

Me and my bag

All the hens