Pumpkin time

This is the first year I've grown veg in my back garden and my crowning glory has been this pumpkin. It started as just a little green ball on a very long and aggressive pumpkin vine crawling across my lawn and got fatter and fatter until it went a lovely orange in the last of the summer sun. And here it is! I'm very proud that this grew in my little patch of garden and so wanted to make sure it was put to good use once cut. 

Flo of course helped with the scooping out of seeds and flesh and as you can imagine 'helping' is a very messy word when you're a 2 year old. Then I made a simple pumpkin soup with some onions, stock and spices added in for flavour and texture. Once blitzed up I decided to use the remaining pumpkin shell to heat and serve it in. 

It was rather of the top for a Saturday lunch time with just the Mr, Flo and I but it made me feel like I'd made the most of my first ever pumpkin.

Happy Halloween!

Wool Week

Last week was Wool Week and I couldn't help but notice my wool themed walk to work, just like last year. Please excuse the shoddy pictures, I clearly need a master class is shooting shop windows on a sunny day.

Oasis has a nice display with shelves of large glass jars stuffed with ribbons, cord, thread and of course yarn. 

Jigsaw has balls of twisted metal yarn, speared with huge orange needles, suspended above their knitwear collection display. 

Liberty as always has gorgeous windows. This Burberry display shows off their fair isle jumpers next to large wooden spools, balls of yarn and scissors. There was another shelf with lots of Burberry yarn on it but I couldn't quite get the window glare off enough to show it.

I was also really pleased to see these mittens on strings a few windows down. For some mad health and safety reason you hardly ever see mittens on a string any more. Perhaps I should make some for Flo now the cold weather has arrived. Till next year Wool Week.

I was inspired/ reminded to write this by Travel Knitter. Cheers hun!

Things that happened

Things keep happening and I think, 'Oh, I should blog about that' and then things get in the way like work, kids, food and knitting and I don't get round to it. Such is life. So here's a little round up of all the things I should have blogged about lately, in the shorthand form.

I actually finished a few projects. One is this cute squishy hoodie for my nephew. It's called Ashton and was a joy to knit in garter stitch. It's the second pattern I have finished from the lovely Rowan Miniature Classics book which I bought a few months ago and really fell in love with. The styles are so simple yet modern. The other pattern I made from this book was Starr for Flo and with the cold weather it's been worn a few times already. She grows so fast though it is quickly becoming a crop top. Note to self: always knit in extra length for Flo!

The other project was some initialed washcloths for my second cousins in Scotland. I didn't manage to take a picture of them unwrapped for some reason but there is a 'G' on the baby pink one for my new born second cousin Georgia and 'J' on the other for her older sister Jocelyn. Both have a little soap wrapped up inside to use at bedtime.

It was my 4 year wedding anniversary in September and The Mr spontaneously bought me this vase which Fleur Cotton had mentioned in a comment on one of my previous posts. Apparently the Mr. did not read this comment, but found the vase when searching for knitting related goodies to buy me!
It's from Heals and has little knitted stitches running up and down it. How cute and lovely that the Mr. thought of it without a prompt!

The next few weeks are looking super busy with a crazy work schedule and of course the highlight of my social calendar, Ally Pally taking place next week. I'll be at the show bright and early on Thursday so hope to see you there. Do feel free to say hello and point me in the direction of the bargains!

The Yarn Cake

The Mr and I took Flo to see my cousins, aunties and uncles in Scotland last weekend. We had a great time seeing everyone and enjoying the lovely weekend of weather which was a bit of a surprise to everyone in Glasgow I think!

One day we took the bus into town and Flo fell asleep, thanks to the rather late night of partying the night before at my cousin's birthday party. It was the midnight lego session that did her in I suspect. So we decided to try and fit in some of the 'grown up' things we wanted to do while she snoozed. For me, this meant YARN!

A quick search on the iPhone bought up a short list of Glaswegian yarn shops but one caught my eye as I'd seen it advertised in Knitting Magazine and remembered the name for an obvious reason. The Yarn Cake is situated on Queen Margaret Drive in Glasgow and is a tiny oasis of knitting heaven. The shop is miniature but has literally everything you could need or want in a yarn shop; great selection of yarn, needles, notions and books. A cafe stocked with any tea, coffee and exquisite hot chocolate you can think of as well as some simply irresistible cakes! It's a wonder that they can fit in seating, tables and even a loo, which is essential for the long stay any visitor will clearly be making in order to sample everything the Yarn Cake has to offer.

The Mr and I shared a pot of Rooibos tea and a slice of the Rhubarb meringue cake. Yummy!

The service was excellent despite the two ladies in the shop having a great big order to unpack as I visited. The atmosphere was also lovely. The two groups of customers that came in to knit, drink, eat and browse while we were there all struck up conversations with us as we sat. For me it was everything a yarn shop experience should be.

While checking out the yarn selection I found some locally sourced yarn called New Lanark Mills. The red colour really popped out of me and it was instantly earmarked for my good friend and photographer James who really does deserve something knitted from me by now!

The trip was rounded off nicely with Flo waking up in time to meet some local knitted Nessies She was then given a little windmill by one of the lovely staff. It kept her quiet enough for us to finish our tea and pay for my yarn.

A final plug for the shop is that they are running the Glasgow School of Yarn on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th October. There will be workshops, a market place, book signings and of course tea and cake. If you're in the area, I urge you to check out the website and go!

Stitches - South African style

During the Olympics the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank was transformed into 'Ekhaya' (the Zulu word for Home) for all South African athletes & supporters. They had all sorts of dance, music and performances going on during the programme but my favourite part was South African arts and crafts displayed in the foyer. There was everything from embroidery, beading, woodwork to some amazing knitted and crochet pieces.

These gazelle heads were my stand out items for obvious reasons. The one above is crocheted from plastic bags and the one below is knitted with string and has a gorgeous cable running down the neck.
The crochet one is by recycled textile artist Magda van der Vloed.

Think I could make one for my front room wall?

Bye Bye Games

What a Summer it's been!
After two failed applications to get Olympic tickets I finally got some for the Paralympics to see the athletics last week. I went with some of the girls from my knitting group and so we of course bought our knitting along. There was great debate as to weather we'd be able to get our needles in but security didn't seem to mind at all and before we knew it we were knitting in the Olympic stadium awaiting the action to begin.

The atmosphere was fantastic and it really was just amazing being in the park. The wild flowers were everywhere and simply gorgeous. When the action started we saw so many different events and rounded the night off with David Weir winning a gold medal for Great Britain in the 5000m. By the last lap of the race everyone was up on their feet jumping up and down and screaming. The noise was unreal and it was such a perfect end to our Paralympic experience.

Today I went to the South Bank where the Marathon was whizzing by and the Thames Festival was in full swing. I met my lovely friend Morag and I helped her get to grips with some intarsia, which created a few tangles but look at those colours!

The Games may be over but in my opinion the Summer is not yet done.

Nichols Buttons 3 day Open House

Nichols Buttons Three Day Westminster Open House 2012

Lionel Nichols was a lone glass maker who handmade couture buttons from 1946 to 1966 in London's Marylebone. His daughter, Dixie, has been gradually selling his remaining buttons, releasing just 5 selections per year. Here's your chance to see the latest selections in the flesh as well as tea & cake until Gin O clock then possibly a glass of wine in a most magical setting. Read on for more details!

12pm to 9pm Thursday 20th September

12pm-9pm Friday 21st September
12pm-9pm Saturday 22nd September


Address:
1 little Cloister, Dean's Yard, Westminster, SW13 3PL


Email:
The Cloister is very tricky to find in the twisting turning hallways of the Abbey and is not open to the public, so you must email dixienichols@btinternet.com for directions and to let her know you are coming.


Website: http://www.nicholsbuttons.co.uk/Events.html

I met Dixie Nichols many years ago at an event just like when I was running Stitch and Bitch London. The experience was magical to say the least. Not just because the buttons are stunning, so unique and original but also because of the setting. Little Cloister, Deans Yard is situated in Westminster Abbey, somewhere you'd expect to be some kind of museum or preserved guided-tour-only kind of place, but people live there. Dixie lives there! So even to visit the place alone is an opportunity you don't want to miss.

First you're walking the ancient corridors of the Abbey, then you're lead inside the most gorgeous little house packed to the rafters with the most exquisite handmade buttons you'll ever see in your life - guaranteed. 

Dixie always puts on a lovely open house with tea and cake and a spot of Gin-o'clock. One Christmas open house we were treated to fragrant mulled wine and mince pies. She knows how to get you hooked! You are able to wander the house as you please, browsing the buttons at your leisure and Dixie is always there for a chat and usually ends up imparting her excellent advice. Many times has she left me with some nugget of wisdom that I've held onto till this day. 

The open house doesn't happen very often so if you can, I urge you to email Dixie and go down for a visit this month. It really is a great opportunity to see an amazing place with some amazing buttons and the lovely Dixie too!

Happy Button browsing!