Yarn Shopping

Oh you girls (as my Gran used to say); such lovely comments regarding my felt heart garland in my last post.  Bless you, thank you!  I do feel a bit of a fraud as it came together quite quickly and supremely enjoyably!

Now, some weeks ago, a little card came through the letterbox announcing the arrival of a new and very local wool shop!  Wool shops are extremely thin on the ground in my neck of the woods I can tell you, so I was quite thrilled about the prospect of going shopping when it opened yesterday!

I might have 'learnt to crochet' some time last year but I'm still finding my feet with regard to yarns.  To be honest, I have absolutely no idea as to the technical difference between 'double knit', 'worsted' and 'aran' weights.  I'm only just discovering the merits (or not) of acrylic versus cotton versus silk, blah de blah.

To date, I have ordered the majority of my yarn from the internet where I can commit my crochet crimes in safe anonymity.

So, yesterday, it was with a teeny bit of trepidation that I went to buy some yarn in person.  Would there be crochet police around the perimeter, ready to pounce?  Worse, would there be three middle aged women who had 127 years knitting and crochet experience between them, grilling the shoppers on how they sew in their ends?  Would I be timed on how long it took me to complete a 6" square of treble stitch before being allowed to cross the boundary?

Is that silly?

Of course, there was none of that; the staff were kindly, and I had the most wonderful browse and eventually selected a small pile of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and Sublime, a mixture of double knit and aran, simply because I liked the look and feel of them!  And, yes, I had every intention of using them together.  Because, when you learn any craft, that's what's important isn't it?  It's all about finding your own way.  There aren't really any rules.  Are there?

Yah boo sucks!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend but not before showing you my sweet violas.  The colours are so pretty they leave me weak with delight.

Happy crafting!

Hx

Addendum ...Yes, the ergonomic crochet hook is FANTASTICALLY COMFY!  I'd been getting hand cramps with my previous metal hook.  Shame it was only proffered in a poo colour, seems you cannot have brains AND beauty.  :-)

One Free Afternoon ...

... and a thirst for colour ...

Hx

Monday Musings ...

Other than a slightly icky tummy, I had a lovely weekend.  Did you?

You'll be pleased to hear that my cleaning negligee has been packed away and, apart from the odd little 'sort out' here and there, I am now happy to just potter and be rather than do.

Today's domestic duties have included clearing the fridge front of all magnets, notes, party invites and bumf, giving it a quick spritz and wipe before putting them all back again!

We have a spotty cup of coloured pencils in the kitchen at the ready for any important colouring-in requirements and I spent a wonderfully therapeutic 10 minutes or so sharpening them all this morning.

Colouring-in these days for us seems to be mostly homework-related.  Now that the blondies are 12 and 9, colouring books seem to be a thing of the past sadly.  Aah, I do miss it.  None of the pressure of drawing, simply colouring.  Do you remember those A3 doodle colouring-in posters you used to get in cardboard tubes when we were younger?  They often came with their own little four-pack of pencils or felt tip pens which were awful quality.  I wonder if you can still get them?

Anyway, that is absolutely as domestic as I'm getting today.

My little car has gone in to the garage to be mended.  Thankfully, we've just been informed that it is a relatively straightforward and inexpensive sensor problem so I should have her back tomorrow.  I had no idea my little car had sensors, so I am really quite impressed with her for sounding so complicated and grown-up.

I am also finding it quite delicious that my car-less drive makes it look like I'm not at home when I actually am!

So, having had lunch, and with D collecting the blondies from school, my afternoon will be a leisurely one.

Talking of lunch, I rarely eat mine alone. Do you ever feel like you're being watched? ...

"Purleease, I've not eaten for weeks and weeks ..."

Bertie has so mastered the art of looking scraggy and beseeching when there's food about.

Right-oh, coffee to hand, I have some definite blog catching up to do.

Before I go, a big thank you to the lovely Pene of Scrap My Midlife Crisis who has awarded me with this ...

To be considered 'stylish' makes me very chuffed indeed!

I am struggling to find the obligatory seven interesting 'about me' things so, if it's okay, I shall cheat (albeit stylishly of course) and borrow some of Lissy Lou's (whose birthday giveaway link is on my sidebar) recent tag.  As for forwarding it, so many blogs give me so much pleasure so, if you're here and still reading, I hereby award it to you.  Yes, you.

What time did you get up this morning?

6:16am, usual school morning time.  Hideous isn't it?

How do you like your steak?

Very much and medium to well done please.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Yikes, I can't remember.  I usually wait for things to come out on dvd.

What is your favourite TV show?

Currently Miranda and always QI.

What did you have for breakfast?

Bovril on toast and tea.

What is your favourite cuisine?

Spanish and Italian.

What foods do you dislike?

Stodgy puddings, liver and goats cheese.  Bleeurgh!

Favourite dressing?

Simply a good quality extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

What kind of vehicle do you drive?

A cornflower blue feisty 1.9 VW Polo.

Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Nearly always 1/2 full.

Where were you born?

Leicester.

What is your favourite sport to watch?

Yuck, none.

Are you a morning person or a night person?

A morning person.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Woof!

Are you married?

Yes, to my soulmate D.  We will celebrate our 13th anniversary on Valentines' Day.

Do you always wear your seat belt?

Oh god yes.

Been in a car accident?

One which has left me with a lorry phobia.

Favourite Pizza Toppings?

Tuna, capers, anchovies and pineapple.

Favourite Flower?

Gerberas, tulips, peonies.

Favourite ice cream?

Don't really eat it.

How many times did you fail your driver's test?

None, I passed first time.

Broccoli?

Absolutely love it, particularly purple sprouting broccoli.

What are you listening to right now?

Radio 2.

How many tattoos do you have?

Two.  A daisy on my wrist and a rosebud on my shoulder.

Coffee drinker?

Ooh, yes, one sugar please.

Happy day.

Hx

Clearing The Way For 2011 ...

(http://www.weheartit.com/)

Oh my goodness me, how January is nipping past.  Have I really not posted since last year?!

I should love to tell you that I was spirited off on a spontaneous adventure to a far flung place and return full of wondrous tales but ... alas, it is not so.

The truth is, I have been taken over by a demon domestic fiend who has had me working my way through my little home tidying, sorting, cleaning, hoovering and polishing.  With regard to conversation, I am a little bit definitely sitting in the 'complete dullard' department at present.  Unless you fancy a chat about the merits of hoovering mattresses, rearranging furniture and washing fingerprints and ancient spaniel bogies off walls and skirting boards then I should absolutely pass me by.

Only for a wee bit mind ...

Hx