Blog facelift!

So what do you think?? I got this from a free site http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/, nice to have more options than in Blogger and so easy to change!!

Buffalo

Here is Buffalo! x

Not sure if I've mentioned that I'm going to be an Auntie again. I have 2 neices and a nephew (Darren's side of the family). This will be the first from my side of the family, my brother is going to be a daddy! This is the email he sent with the 1st scan pic:

Dear Grandad Quang, Grandad Tony, Grandma Margaret, Auntie Liz, Uncle Darren, Uncle Khoa, Auntie Bich, Cousin Voi, Cousin Duoi

My name is Buffalo. The doctor says I am healthy and happy inside mummy's tummy. Doctor says I was sleeping. So mummy had to drink some water so that I can turn over and swim a bit so the doctor can take more pictures of me!

From my head to my bottom I am 75mm long (so this doesn't include my legs).

I'm due to come see you on 8 November but I'm not sure. It's nice and warm inside mummy.

See you in 6 months

I will send you another picture on 30 June

Buffalo xxx

I think I will make the ripple blanket from http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html for Buffalo. I bought some lovely baby wool last weekend. Hook and wool ready to commence battle!

Inspiration

I feel inspired to do more crochet...I came across this blog http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/ and I read it all between last night and this morning. I've printed out some patterns...I'm going to raid my stash and be inspired!

I love Lucy's style of blogging and all the lovely photos of her work, I must take more photos of mine. Her photos of local scenery are beautiful too. She's not far from me, so it's nice to see familiar scenes! Makes me want to go to the Cow and Calf rocks now.

Shame I'm battling with this awful cold. I hardly slept last night. So bless him Darren has been doing some washing, washing pots, mown the lawn...guilt or love???!

x

Lola - from Lionbrand

Swine Flu??? - NOT!!!

Ok so unless you've had your head buried in wool, you're aware of Swine Flu and the panic some people are in about it. Obviously it is terrible that people in Mexico had died from it and others are ill with in (inc in the UK).

However, I'm sure that to most people it is seen as being blown out of proportion (anyone remember the Bird Flu Pandemic panic??!)

Anyway, I think I'm coming down with flu! I was fine yesterday. By teatime I was a bit thick headed and aching (but thought it was just my back). I was cold and tired so I was in bed by 9pm. I had a really bad night. Today I feel like crap...on my way to work soon.

...SO you can imagine the comments/jokes etc about Swine Flu that I'll get when I go to work!

Thank goodness I've then got 4 days off but I've also got an essay to write.

Loving Hands challenge

The new challenge is in!! This is the challenge as written by Lou (founder) on the site....

OK - It is that time again - I know you have all been waiting for the announcement of the Summer challenges for 2009. These will run from 12th April right through to 18th July and we will then announce the Autumn challenges on the 19th July. :0)

This time we are looking for four sections again with items to suit all of your talents whether you knit, crochet or sew for us I am sure you will all find something to get you working like fury - if not then by all means feel free to continue with your favourite items from our wish lists - as you all know already we can always find places for everything we receive at HQ :0)

First off we would like you to help our furry friends - we are looking for Dog Coats, Pet beds and Animal Blankets - these can be knitted, crocheted or stitched - we need all sizes from pussy cats and puppies right up to Great Danes - we would love to get 200 of these if possible xx

We have been approached by SANDS the UK charity that supports bereaved parents - they have launched an appeal for blankets for their precious memory boxes - these blankets need to be made in white (they will also accept cream) DK yarn and 4mm (size pins. Here is the pattern to use:-

200gm of Double Knit Wool and size 8 (UK) needles
BASIC BLANKET
Cast on 1 stitch
Next row :- Make the one stitch into two stitches.
Next row :- Knit 1, into the next stitch make another,3 stitches on needle.
Continue to knit, ALWAYS knit the first stitch and into the 2nd stitch make another. Only increase this way at the BEGINNING of a row
Continue until you have almost come to the end of the 100gm ball.
Knit 1 row plain.
Next row:- Knit 1, Knit 2 together, Knit to end of row.
Continue this way, always knit the 1st stitch then decrease into the next stitch by knitting 2 together until 1 stitch remains.
You should now have a neat square.

LACE EDGING Using Double Knit and size 8 (UK) needles
Cast on 8 stitches
Row 1 ( Wrong side) Slip 1, Knit 1,(Yarn fwd knit 2 tog)twice, Yarn fwd Knit 2 (9sts)
Rows 2, 4, and 6. Slip 1 Knit to the end.
Row 3. Slip 1, knit 2 (yarn fwd knit 2 tog) twice. Yarn fwd Knit 2 (10sts)
Row 5. Slip 1, knit 3 (yarn fwd knit 2 tog) twice. Yarn fwd Knit 2 (11sts)
Row 7. Slip 1, knit 4 (yarn fwd knit 2 tog)twice . Yarn fwd Knit 2 (12sts)
Row 8. Slip 1, Knit 11 sts
Row 9. Slip 1 Knit 11 sts
Row 10 cast off 4 Sts Knit to the end ( 8sts)
These 10 rows form the pattern.

Continue in pattern until it is long enough to fit one edge, or all around, as you wish. Sew onto the blanket We are hoping to be abe to give them 200 to help out with such a very worthwhile cause which I know is very close to a lot of our members hearts :0)

Part 3 of our challenge is for summer items for children - for our knitters this could be cardigans, tank tops, summer tops, dresses etc. Our stitchers could make pretty dresses, shirts, shorts, trousers etc. These items will be divided equally between our two childrens charities - Linda MacDonald and Algerian Action so we would love to be able to send them 200 items each - that means we need 400 childrens summer items xx

and finally Part 4 - this one is the pet project of our lovely Suzanne and she has already had a trial run which is off to the charity for approval so she can then help any of our stitchers who want to take part - Algerian Action is looking for sanitary towels for girls in their catchement area who are desperately needing them. You can read all about it in the 'washables' section on the Algerian Action website. Apparently some of these poor girls have been reduced to using plastic bags as they do not have the money to buy towels - in this day and age this is appalling and easily remedied by providing each girl with a set of washable towels in a handy drawstring bag - there are instructions on Algerian Action for the way Lynne has been making them or Sizanne has devised a way to make alternatives. We will not put a set target on these but would like to help as many girls as we possibly can to have a bit of dignity and comfort back in their lives.

So there you have it folks - another challenge launched - I hope none of you are disappointed and that we have managed to give you something for everyone to get involved in again.

Leeds Zombie Film Festival

Darren and I are huge film fans, especially horror...and you can't beat a good zombie film...so yesterday we went to the 2nd Leeds Zombie Film Festival http://www.leedszombiefilmfestival.com/ and watched a marathon of zombie films (6 to be exact) from 12 noon to midnight. Darren and our mate Ian made silicone masks for the event. Darren is the black zombie. He is also in the 2nd photo between Dominic and Mark. (with an even scarier mask on!!! sorry babe! x)

The event is the brainchild of Dominic and Mark (aka Paddy and Marlon) and it's in aid of the charity WSPA http://www.wspa.org.uk/

A great day was had by all!

Stray-local radio

Stray A link to my local radio station.

Exhausted

I've been on a training course all week, TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention). It's VERY interesting and I really enjoyed it but talk about stressing over it...It was a 5 day course and we had a 3 part test yesterday. I was so chuffed cos I passed!!! 95% on the theory!!! WOW!

What it does mean is that I've done no housework all week, each day was exhauting and it was a 40mile drive each way (1 1/2hrs) but more importantly I've not done any knitting!

I've been very good lately at reducing my stash. I had a stacker box full of DK Sirdar snowflake which I didn't like knitting with, so I combined a few strands together and used my looms to make scarfs. I've got loads of them now!

So I was very chuffed with myself!


Then last Saturday we were in Wilkinson's and they had 50g balls of fluffy wool (great for scarfs) for 50p each. So I bought a basket full!


It's a good job scarfs are quick to make and that I give them to Loving Hands and sell them at Craft Fairs!


Today I feel like chilling and knitting.....

I'm finally back!!

Hello world I'm still alive and knitting!!! Well what with Uni work and my pc 's motherboard going, I never thought I'd be back online!!

Luckily for me Darren bought me a new pc as an early birthday present (shall I let him use it then???!). I've now got to catch up with everything.

So what has been going on in the knitting/online world....looks like there's lots to catch up on!