Time for a catch up.

So....back story ....

It's been fun looking back through the posts and remembering the projects good and bad (the Tussah silk dress has only ever been worn once and spends most of it's life buried in a drawer and the mitred square blanket got eaten by moths!!). 

 I have been trying to recall why I stopped blogging because it was way before I started working more or less full time....I suspect that I just got fed up with reporting on failed job interviews and got ground down by it all.  I ended up taking a job at my local primary school as a TA which for the most part I enjoyed.

But by far the two most scariest things I've done in the last few years have been moving back to the canal in 2014 ...

Finding NB Mercy

and leaving a job that was no longer fulfilling...

The former was a fairly long drawn out process of looking for the right boat and sleepless nights worrying about the madness of it all....the later was a decision made over just one sleepless night and executed fairly swiftly!  

The processing of both decisions though were ably assisted by lots of crafting. I find replacing worrying thoughts of 'how will 3 people exist in a space 72x7ft', 'what if a tree falls on us' and 'how will we survive without my regular wage' with 'should I edge in white or black' and 'where can I find the right type of autumnal wool' far more favourable!!  Because as the end of the day the only thing you can do during times of uncertainty is to sit it out and wait for it all to settle down...and if your're having a sit down you might as well do some knitting!!

And so I suppose today's pearl of wisdom is that the process of getting older is really just a case of wracking up more and more experiences I know I can survive and get through ☺

I have a busy day today. The youngest returns from a week of sophistication in London so I will need to rebuild her nest to cushion the blow and I'm off to have my hair cut at the The Floating Salon who we are very conveniently moored near. 

What I MUSTN'T do is get distracted by this...

I have few projects on the go at the moment but updates on those will have to wait...I really need to crack on with the washing up (seeing as we no longer have the luxury of a dishwasher). At least I have a nice view :-)

TTFN x

Back.....Again!!

OK....Let's do this!!

I've been toying with the idea of blogging again for some time...

and so I suppose it looks like its happening!!

So looking back I can see it's been...Crikey...nearly 6 years...wow..

We've had some BIG changes. The usual stuff, kids growing up, working, moving onto a BOAT :-D etc etc

But one thing that OBVIOUSLY hasn't changed is the compulsion...addiction (maybe) to knit, spin, blend, fluff and CREATE...

And as I reflect on the last six years, I am absolutely certain, that it has been the crafting that has got me through.....through the toddler and teenage tantrums, job applications and interviews.  It's seen me through training to become a Counsellor and a Teacher and it's seen me through the dark days of bereavement....and of course other such life events as deciding to move your family out of a four bedroom house and onto a narrowboat!

...so I guess that's why I wanted to start this blog again...to share with the world and promote the message of Crafting your way to Happiness as well as the projects, the spinning and the navigating (literally and metaphorically) of life on the water.

Coming up....

Floating Markets, Pimp Ma Caravan Up...and more....

I'm Back!!!

You may (or not) have noticed that it went a bit quiet there for a bit! 
Even I was surprised to see I haven't blogged since before the summer entertainment started.

The blogger in me switches off during summer break....but the knitter and the spinner keeps on going .... so I won't waffle on ....here's the pics...

 

 

 

The Big Weave Finished

and here it is at night..

4 skeins of beautifully soft Pistachio Ice cream which is already well on its way to becoming my (potentially) favourite jumper :0)

Aquamarine Kina - finished, blocked and worn on my FIRST EVER supply teaching posting!!

 

 

 

 

 

and I've even cracked on with The Goddess Dress - it's not speaking Goddess to me at the mo but I think I will try and finish it and maybe wear it to my sisters wedding.

.... and the summer? the long absence? does it need to be explained?

Maybe not :0)

Busy, busy, busy....

If the Pistachio Ice cream really had been ice cream it would have well and truely melted by now :0(

Luckily it's not!! (yea!)

It spins up a dream and beautifully fine, but for now its very much on the back burner.  I've got some big events coming up and that require rather a lot of planning and preparation...things I'm very good at but only when the moon is in a certain position (touch wood that is were it appears to be right now!).

On Thursday we're off for our yearly trip to The Larmer Tree Festival  where we shall be doing a big weaving on this loom I made from hazel and dishcloth yarn.  After much trial, error and snapping (myself and the thread) this was the best stuff to use ...

 I think it looks rather good in my garden....I might have to make another one to keep.

Then two days after we get back from there I'm doing an African Day at the local school. This involves trips to the scrapstore, pound shops and rummaging in school resource cupboards.  All of which I do enjoy but it does require a certain amount mental discipline and focus.  I'm easily distracted by resources, its what drew me into teaching, that and stapling things on walls ;0)

But even with all that lot going on I couldn't resist casting on my lovely Aquamarine wool...

I'm making another Lady Kina. It's lovely to knit with, which is what I'm off to do now. Hopefully in a weeks time I shall have some photo's of how the loom filled up :0)

TTFN x x x

How to make Pistachio Icecream

Ingredients

100g of Pistachio Merino
1 bag of Pure Mulberry silk (white)
1 bag of raw Alpaca (white)

Method

First wash some white alpaca fleece and leave to dry.  The drying process can be aided by gentle teasing and fluffing especially during times of irritability, stress or absent-mindedness.

Next, on a drum carder, add a layer pistachio merino wool, followed by a layer of pure mulberry silk and finally the teased and fluffed alpaca.  Don't scrimp now, we want generous portions especially of the silk.  When you think you've added enough.....add a little more.
 
And finally, blend to a smooth consistency, about three times through the carder should do it.

Leave somewhere cool until ready to serve....

...with a glass of chilled white wine and a good dollop of sunshine.....Enjoy :0)

Yummy!

 

I'm also rather pleased to be able to add a picture of something finished and blocked.

Annis 

I'm quite pleased with it but the point is off-centre so it is a little botched but I still like it.  I'm pleased with the fine spinning and I love the colour.

 

 

It looks rather like the beginnings of a Cheshire Cat blocking on my living room wall. I may just have to leave it there.

Happy crafting ... X x X