City and Guilds - Watch Out, Wee Minty About!

Here is the back of the LH Cardi. It is growing on me cos it looks stunning under the light when I am knitting at night. Getting through the left front and would have finished it by now if I hadn't had a hypo and fallen asleep afterwards. Ah well, c'est la vie!

If you happened to read the comment on my last post, and even if you didn't, Heather and I are going to embark upon a journey of discovery aka City and Guilds 7922. This is a certificate in hand-knitting. Just at the registration stage at the moment but really looking forward to it. Prepare yourself for highs and lows of that one! Actually, I'm a bit nervous of being Heather's study buddy. She is sooo modest about her work. Check out her blog and compare it with mine for FO's. I am a 'does exactly what it says on the tin' kinda knitter while she is creative! In my defense though, if you are being nagged2k you have to knit the pattern as is (okay I might change the colour for the less imaginative) but I'm a lazy old cow and it's a brill cop out!

So, I hope to blow the cobwebs away and get the brain working again.(Again? - didn't even know you had one - TB)

BTW, had a nice long soak in the bath accompanied by this month's Knitting magazine. Had had a quick flick through when I got it, spotted the LH cardi and started it and also saw a couple of knitted beaded necklaces that I thought I'd go back to after the cardi. So, looking for something to read in the bath, took the mag with me. Before I even got to the necklaces, I couldn't believe it, the editorial told me that the necklaces were designed by Fiona Morris. Fiona Morris is the lady who is running the C&G course. Fancy that! Oo-er well spotted though ... here was me planning a bit of plagarism before I had even enrolled. lol

You will notice that I haven't got round to looking at the html yet - massive paragraphs!

Off to get on with the cardi (didn't even look at the wee bonnet - Tuesday methinks!)

Catch you anon.

ps Have started a sensible blog for the shop. Sensible? Me? Yes, well, it doesn't do anyone any good playing the fool all the time - sometimes you just have to put your hair up and hang tight for a while.

But Why No Gloves?

Well, there it is - the New Lanark Aran slipover. I apologise for the model. She doesn't like having her photo taken and the photographer wouldn't take the shot if he had to cut her head off.

Another one has been started (4 rows of rib done) using the Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Aran sitting on the model's right shoulder.

Almost at the shaping of the Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Cardigan now and would have finished it by now if I hadn't fallen asleep on the two occasions I was working on it. Sometimes I look at it and think I don't like it and sometimes I think I do. Will reserve judgement until after completion.

I can't get the hang of the download images palaver. Mhairi does it by altering the html. I am going to have a go but I will wait until one of the long weekends so that I have time to spend time on it. However, I have decided that the website must be published and soon, so I guess I will be working on that a fair bit. Various reasons for it not being done yet .. blah, blah .. but when we started to populate the software we had (and had spent a bit of money on - software, maintenance and training) it just wasn't what I wanted so we are going to start again from scratch. (Cor blimey, not all that again!)

Meantime, how do you like my t-shirt? Available from Stitching Time, Hamilton in all the usual t-shirt sizes and, unusually for these sorts of t-shirts, great quality for the super-duper price of £10. Have your own 'she'd have to be drunk to knit that' photo in place of the groooooovy little Aran effort for only an extra £2. Indeed, why not go the whole hog and have the text changed too if you fancy it. I am going to get a 'nagged2k' one done - I have a 'Stitching Time' one already. (Must look it out now the weather is improving.)

That's all the excitement you're getting from me this evening - don't want the blood pressure getting too high. Found a wee baby bonnet needing finished and want to get the LHKA cardi back finished tonight, if not a front started. Have a pile of things needing knitted for display in the Designer Room (kinda slips off the tongue!) so I'm being nagged2k again.

So, it's goodnight from me, and it's goodnight from her (up the top).

ps Some of those Josephs are a weeee bit grating.

Beegone With You!

Bee was disposed of with all the great dignity befitting the Rasputinesque murder of said bee. Rubber gloves, empty fag packet and picky up stick thing with pincers (technical term). Amen.

Hole update. Waiting for plaster to dry so painting can be done. New towels and a various assortment of toilet requirements in place in (third!) toilet. (Add to snagging list - toilet is not flushing. Er .. thank you whoever brought that to my attention, although a written message may have been more appropriate.) New Designer Yarns stand has arrived. Candelabra is staying as a fitting fixture and probably as close as I will get to my vision of how I would like the room to be. Soz, girls! Still going for the Designer Room sign - akin to 'Ralph's Room' in Slaters.

Knitting update. Have now completed 4 rows of Debbie Bliss slipover. Put it aside in favour of the Louisa Harding Kimono Angora girl's cardigan as featured in this month's Knitting magazine. The magazine has a new look which is very nice. The Miss Millie pattern book and Louisa Harding Kimono Angora and Kimono Ribbon are all available from Stitching Time, Hamilton. This project is a nagged2k project. The garment in the photo is done in the blue colourway, both shade 2, as used by Kathleen for her gorgeous scarf, but I am doing it in the lilac colourway, both shade 4.

Bought a new dummy today. It is still too big for the Wendy Mode crossover cardigan display but I am going to undress Wee Baby Bowie, (yes - all the 'good' dummies have names) and dress it in the said cardi and cute wee dress,

Mhairi slipped into her blog that she is off to New York and in between seeing the sights she is going to indulge in some SEX. There's an idea for a telly programme - Sex in the City. Major cities and the best places for sex. Wonder if Hamilton would qualify for an episode. I like Mhairi's blogs but she is such a tease. She slips in little titbits and leaves you gagging for more. She has a Secret Project on the go and was giving nothing away. Then, she had it with her at the last KnS, the one I couldn't go to because of my leg, and afterwards posted a picture with just enough detail to keep me guessing. Naughty girl, but just shows you - accountants get an unfair 'boring' reputation.

Sky+ goblin ran away with my recording of Ugly Betty and put it down a well. Too many goblins running away with things and putting them down wells.

Time for beddie-byes. No Yarn Forward magazines have arrived yet ... but maybe tomorrow?

Oh, Mhairi. Here is a wee story about knitting for your stateside visit. A customer story and I promise not to embellish. Said customer was over in New York for a long weekend. She was doing the sights although it was really cold. Up the Empire State Building she wrapped her Jet Whisper scarf around her head and neck and put her hat on top. (In case you don't know, Patons Whisper is an eyelash yarn and Jet is a lovely black, white and grey mix) A woman came over to her and said 'I hope you don't mind me saying, but I was just admiring your beautiful ... beard.' lol (Oh! And guess what she was in to buy when she told me the story - yep, more Jet Whsper to knit her friend a scarf.) lol Moral of story? Pride comes before a fall? Who cares, it's just funny.

To Bee, Or Not To Bee? That Is The Question.

Been to Livi and had a baldy. Also had some strange conversations with topics such as 'How do insects have their babies?', 'Cats don't have belly-buttons' (Buster was used as an example - much to his disgust), 'How should Nan refer to Andy (TAH's husband) on her blog?' and 'Hamsters and the life expectancy of'.

Elsie liked her birthday presents - didn't mention the original one but will fess up next time I see her and I don't know if TAH happened upon the topic before the Blog Goblin ran away with it .. it will all come out in the wash as they say even though it hurts me to use such an (in)appropriate cliche. However, Elsie is a Suicide Bunny devotee and into rings n bracelets n stuff so probably alls well that ends well.

The choice for Andy was between TAHP (the auld hoor's pimp) and MTM (Malcolm the Monkey - don't ask). Outcome? Forever and ever, Andy will be known as MTM. Lol - when I was leaving I did say 'Cheeriebubs, Malcolm', much to his horror and much to the delight (at his reaction) of TAH and Elsie.

Was going to post the picture of me in my New Lanark slipover but the camera batteries were needing recharged. Oh, thank the Lord! TB wouldn't cut my head off in the photo and I hate having my photo taken, so I look like a tube. Anyway, will get the charger out and leave it to work overnight. Not because I am desperate to have my pic published, but I want to take some more pics.

Managed to knit 2 rows of my Debbie Bliss slipover at Livi. Yes, 2 rows. 2 more than I usually manage. lol. Elsie has a pair of fingerless gloves (or Hobo gloves as the fashionistas call them) - I think I will knit her a pair. She was talking about stripey ones. So I will raid my stash and see what I come up with. Yeah, yeah. We'll see if that materialises. It did make me laugh though because she sniggered at mine when I took them over when I had finished them. I'm such a trendsetter!!

So ... what's with the title of today's drivel? Oh, my giddy aunt, I'm still getting shivers up my spine with the thought of it!)

We came home from work last night and I spotted a huge bee beside the drain in the wee sinky bit in the middle of the sink (technical term). 'Oh! Look at that bee!' The reply was not 'My! It's huge!' (or words to that effect) but a swift turn of the hot tap. 'Oh! I only meant look at the size of it, not kill it!' 'Too late now.' The hot water was getting hotter and I left them to it while I took my jacket off. 'Oh for goodness sake' (or words to that effect) 'It's away. Turn the tap off.' 'No. It's still there.' Sure enough, the scalded bee was still there and clinging onto the edge of the drain for dear life. then ... down it went. Shook my head and headed off to powder my nose. On my return, the tap was still running and the window was starting to steam up. 'Aw, come on.' (or words to that effect.) 'Honestly, it's still there. Look.' Sure enough, the bee was back. Ten minutes later and no hot water it was decided that the bee was indeed a goner this time

24 hours later....

Dropped TB off before I headed off to Livi. Went into kitchen to take a couple of painkillers before setting off and TB went to fill the kettle. 'It's back.' 'What is?' 'The bee' 'What bee?' 'The bee from last night.' 'Aye right!' (Or words to that effect.) 'It is.' 'Aye right.' (Or words to that effect.) 'It is. I'm telling you.' 'Stop winding me up.' 'It is.' 'Oh move over and let me see then. You and your wind ups.' (Or words to that effect.) I looked into the sink and (there go the shivers again) the bee was, climbing out of the drain. It was pure black and about twice the original size. 'Aaaaaarrrghh! Get rid of it.' On went the hot tap again. Would it go? Not bloody likely!!! Then, from someone who was only commenting on the size of it originally and was horrified at the cruelty then bestowed upon it, came the shout 'Pour bleach on it. That'll get the wee b.' Bleach was duly poured along with the hot water and I went to powder my nose before the journey.

So, ready to leave, I went to get the car keys from the kitchen and have a look at the empty sink. Ha ha. Got you this time. 'Aaaaaarrghhh! It's back!' It was on the top of the drain. 'No, man. It's deid! I told you.' My stomach churned all the way to Livi.

Anyway, came home and went to check that TB had got rid of the body. Had he? No.He had been on the computer all the time I was away. 'Could you not get rid of that?' 'Ach, man! Just get some kitchen roll and put it in the bin.' 'Aye that'll be right.' (Or words to that effect.) You do it.' 'Just scrunch up some kitchen roll.' 'No. You do it.' 'No you do it.' 'You do it.' It is still there (cos TB quickly went to bed and I'm, sure as Hell, not doing it). And if I go down the stairs tomorrow morning and it is NOT there, I guarantee, no matter where you happen to be, you will hear me scream!!!

Boy, I had some strange dreams last night, but if I dream about bees tonight ....

Candelabras v Fluorescent Tubes?

Ouch! Back to work today and what a bad move that was!!!

Joiner was in and put up wooden bit (technical bit) to support the hole and a wee ramp because the passage through the hole is uneven. I say passage because the hole is about 30 inches (yes, inches not cms!) deep. Plasterer is due tomorrow.

I took some photos with my phone (and that still makes me giggle) because I forgot my camera but they still come out a bit grainy so I'm not going to publish them. Will mind camera tomorrow. However, there was one I couldn't resist taking (much to TB's disgust - but he's a man and what does he know?). It is the light in the new new bit of the shop. Guess what. It is a candelabra!!!!!!!!!!! Should I leave it or go for fluorescent tubes? Hmmm! Still having dreams about my 'Designer Room' so it might stay. But .. light may not be so good for serious study of yarns etc. On the other hand ... realaxing background music, coffee, chocolates, fragrant pot plants, no children, elegant furnishings, ... candelabra. What do you think? Should it stay or should it go? You must be 18 or over. You must ask permission of whoever pays the bill. lines will close at 9pm, 19 April 2007. You may be charged for any thoughts after that time.

Going for a baldy tomorrow. Hurrah! Now here's a funny thing. I'm growing my hair a bit longer again ... but ... can't wait to get it cut. Strange? No. What is strange is that I'm a woman and I can't fathom out the logic of a woman. lol Anyway, off to Livi and wil see my besi mate (TAH) and Elsie. Yes, Elsie will get her birthday present a month late. Hope she likes it. Well, even if she doesn't, I think she will like it more than the original pressie. (Note to self: get those felting photos back on - the Blog Goblin ran away with them and threw them down a well.)

Yarn Forward magazines are being despatched from 18 April. Hurrah! Should have them by end of week at latest. Can't wait - I really like that magazine.

Must get a wee photo of my New Lanark slipover. I really like it. I am thinking of doing another one in Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed (available at Stitching Time, Hamilton) but I can't decide on which colour to use. Fancied the green but I'm doing my Louisa Harding Grace (also available from Stitching Time, Hamilton) in green so ... going for the pink. BTW, like anything else, the photos on the link don't do justice to the actual colours of the yarn. Oh, I know what knitting I am taking to Livi tomorrow. (Another note to self: look out pattern and needles and put in - another - bag to go with me tomorrow.)

Must get a van - the number of bags I take with me every day - handbag, briefcase, lsd box bag (those M&S food bags are just the berries!), food bag, washed towels and mugs bag, thngs to go to MWM's bag, dry cleaning things bag, things I have been working on at home bag, knitting bag, .. blah blah .. etc. Yeah, yeah and TB will say the biggest bag is driving. Oh, ha ha, very funny, I don't think!

Fell asleep and missed The Apprentice tonight. Snoring woke me up in time to watch the You've Been Fired bit and it was the quantum physicist, Sophie. lol Not a wise move to say how you don't like selling .. to Sir Al. They are doing the buying and selling 'Art' next week. Must set it on the series link. Missing 'Life On Mars'. I was quite emotional last week when it finished. (Saddo!)

Anyway, off to bed. Long day tomorrow.

See ya. Wouldn't want to be ya.

Gosh! A Galosh! A Posh Galosh!

Evenin' all!

Here is what I've done of the first Tofutsies sock. It looks massive. Might have to give them to MWM cos she has massive feet. The pattern is from the last issue of Yarn Forward magazine. (And guess what! Stitching Time, Hamilton is going to be stocking it. Hurry, hurry, hurry before they are all gone!)

Remember my dilemma about measuring my feet? Tried using a ruler but I still had my trainers on so I thought that was a bad idea. (Mind you, could probably get them on over my trainers - ooh, galoshes!) Decided to go for the smelly foot in the knitting option. Yeah, a bit loose above the ankle but my feet and legs do swell up a bit and my poor wee leg-ends look like fancy table leg-ends when I take my boring old shop bought socks off so they might just be being kept. Soz MWM!

So after I did that I happened upon the comment Kathleen left on my last post re the measuring lark. It seems she found out that her bamboo needles were from a bad batch when she was trying her sock on her foot so I should be careful. I wondered and wondered what on earth she was doing with the needles over her ankles - I just slipped my little tootsies in and the needles just came halfway up the sole of my foot. Was she trying them on upside down? (Toeless socks? Nice for sandals, I suppose) She couldn't put them on from the top down. Could she? (As far as I know she has two legs and isn't a contortionist. Is she?) Nope. Couldn't fathom it. Oh, wait a minute!! Maybe, she hadn't turned the heel yet and was measuring the length down to the heel from the top, not from the heel to the toes. Honestly, I shouldn't think. It hurts my head- even with these painkillers. Sorry Kathleen, but my imagination and limited thought processes allowed me a good laugh at your expense. Think of it as Care in the Community.

Back still sore but going back to work tomorrow. Probably shouldn't, but needs must n all that. Was supposed to be meeting some friends from my previous existence for lunch today but had to take a rain-check. Amongst other things, I want to see how my hole is. There are some chairs and tables through there and I wonder if Rigsby (the landlord) is chucking them out. I know where I could find a wee home for them. They would be useful in the back room where I hope to hold classes. I'm not going to do them all myself. Good Lord! But if anyone is interested in holding classes or meetings, I know where there is a good-sized room to let (reasonable rates). And .. there is a secret passage to a scrummy wee wool and embroidery shop which could be made available in or out of shop opening times!! Seriously though, it would be a grand way of making a few extra pennies if anyone was interested.

Also want to know if my copies of the afore-mentioned Yarn Forward magazine will be there. Yummy! We are going to be getting some other magazines in too - Simply Knitting. Knitting, Vogue and whatever else I can get my mitts on. Yippee! I can hear TB now 'There will be no work from you then?' when the new issues arrive. 'You have to know your products, Sweetheart!' lolol

So, I am heading off to bed now. I've climbed the wooden hill and I'm not going back down until Morning Time. (Rockin', rollin', ridin' ...lol Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart has a lot to answer for!)

I have said it before and I'll say it again. I can't thank TB enough for looking after me the past week. Especially since I know now that he is in a lot of pain himself after all the work he did on Sunday. The only reason I know is that he took painkillers today and he doesn't do painkillers. I think it was the window grills that did it. They weigh a ton. Honestly, they are seriously heavy. It is bad enough taking them down, but trying to get them back up (especially on your own) is not recommended.

So nightie, night. Sleep tight. Don't let bugs bite.

I've Got a Big Hole!

Howdie!

Well ... moaning over yesterday - will try not to bring it up again. I was doing this for a laugh not for a sounding board after all!!

Anyway, managed to do a bit of my sock. No, make that socks. If I say sock I might not do the second one. I hate doing things in pairs cos I know I still have to do another one once the first one is done. Maybe I should have done just one big sock for both feet (like the ones Billy Connolly used to go on about although I don't suppose the ones advertised in the Sunday Post were Tofutsies ones!) I have turned the heel and am dreading the 'do it long enough' bit. Do I use a ruler? Do I use one of my existing socks? Do I put my big smelly foot in my knitting? Will post a photo of the first one when it is done and that might spur me on to do the other one. Well that and a frozen foot. Although ... cotton .. lacy pattern .. frozen foot and one not so frozen?

Fancy doing some wooly ones for next winter but only after I knit some fresh new fingerless gloves. This winter's got a bit scabby through mega use. Boy, do they make a difference! (Or was that because I wore a pair of fingerless gloves under a pair of fingerless mitts? Better do at least one pair of each!)

TB was up at the crack of dawn and headed off to the shop. He returned about 20 mins later. Forgot keys. If I hadn't been so out of it with my leg I would have lmao. Anyway, hurrah, I've got a big hole but it is covered with a huuuuge plastic bag to stop the stoor escaping. The joiner is coming back tomorrow to put up some wooden bits (technical terms again). TMO took me down to see it - only after I said if she wouldn't I would get a taxi. She had seen me earlier in the afternoon and diagnosed me as unfit to view holes - mine or otherwise. I did feel a lot better - honestly!

What a hoot! We started putting wool back in the cabinets and she was complaining about how long it was taking her and how hard it was. I told her no-one said it was easy working in a wool shop. I had to show her how to do it. Fill the boxes from the back. Put the wool out so you can see how much you have of each colour before you put it in. Don't wear jaggy rings or bracelets. Don't wear fingerless gloves. Turn the labels to the front. If the labels are sideways, have them facing the same way. Don't put the balls in upside down. Be careful with the doughnuts - they are a bugger cos they fall to bits. Put the newer lot numbers at the back. Blah, blah. Let her off with quite a few things - just wanted it out for tomorrow. lolol

TB has nearly done all of the outside painting including the grills on the windows. I hadn't seen the windows with both grills off before. They weigh a ton. He couldn't believe I had taken them off and put them back myself - I did ask why he thought they weren't off very often.

He has been a wee gem this week.I don't know what I would have done without him. I couldn't have gone to the shop and he was a cracker. I don't know how my leg will be tomorrow but I really have to get in there. However, if I can't, I can't.

Felt quite guilty for making the comment about my neighbour yesterday but when I looked out again and saw her I felt it was deserved and then I saw Heather's comment and I thought 'Yep. You know where I am coming from.' BTW, loved the bit about 'what a bummer' - I hadn't even mentioned that the pain goes through my buttock. lolol

So off to peeps. Hope I get a good sleep tonight.

Catch y'all later.

ps Didn't get to SnK today. Bet the staff were checking the loos in pairs!