Show and Tell Sunday ...

Well - not much to show this week as I still haven't finished my cable cushion cover and I haven't done any other crafts this week.

I have joined a few swaps though:

The Viva Mexico! swap = post about it here (June post out)
The Hippy Swap = post here (July post out)
And three other swaps -

This Button and Stitch marker swap via Ravelry
You just send 6 stitch markers and 6 buttons!
Send out date - 23rd June

This Christmas 2009 swap via Ravelry
For this swap in December you need to send:
* One handmade Item
* 2 Skeins of yarn
* Our favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe
* An ornament for our partner's tree
* One “present” to open Christmas Morning
* and some fun goodies to spoil your partner :)
There are also 2 mini-swaps you can join in too:
in July - “Mini” Christmas in July - Ornament Swap
and in October - “Mini” Halloween Trick or Treat Swap
My swap partner for this swap is GiddyCrafter

Then I've joined the 2009 Worldwide Christmas Stocking Swap on Ravelry, as I enjoyed last years swap, despite it taking me so long to knit because of my carpal / cubital tunnel operations.
Partners by August 1, 2009.
Mail out October 15th, 2009.

Apart from swaps I've been thinking about sewing
I've found these two great project bags on the net which I thought I might have a go at (I'm a novice sewer)

This lovely Grab Bag - pattern available here
I love this style of bag - just like the Square Cake red one I knitted (see last weeks Show and Tell post)

Then there's this lovely Two Kates Project Bag - free pattern available here

I think I should just about manage these two patterns, so hope to go to get some material next week




And I have to show you this lovely Noriko Handbag, pattern available here

This would be lovely in some Oriental material like the one shown, and make a nice evening bag.

Saturday Knitting finds ...

Here are just a few patterns that caught my eye this week -

This gorgeous Cinnamon Grace shawl, by Katie Harris - really pretty.










This Gloria Scarf - ideal introduction to mitered knitting

These simple cable wristlets from Lionbrand

This great idea - Door Thongs Free Pattern
ideal for when the wind blows the door shut -stops the dogs getting shut in / out!

Friday fill-in 29/5/09

#126

1. It's cold and I prefer it to the heat!
2. I'm growing tomatoes.
3. My favorite health and beauty product is Bodyshop's Elderflower Eyegel
4.Wind down the windows in the car, turn up the music and go for a nice long ride.
5. Well, first of all I'm Welsh
6. An alien race, myself and some survivors; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was very wierd
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading one / some of the 13 books I picked up in the libray today, tomorrow my plans include planting up 3 pepper plants, and aubergine plant and some more herbs I bought this afternoon and Sunday, I want to chill out!

Trial Issues...

I recently took out a trial subscription to these two magazines:
Sew - a new magazine
and
Make Jewellery

Great deals - 3 issues for £3 on each

They've both arrived this week

Sew is a first issue, so I'm going to see what the next one is like before I make a final judgement. So far I'm disappointed by the number of adverts in it, and the fact that the the dress patterns only go up to size 16. My daughter, for example, while thin, has a natural large chest, so she needs an 18 to accommodate her voluptuous G size boobs. I'm not expert enough at sewing to adapt the pattern!

I've decide I won't be renewing my subscription to Make Jewellery. Unfortunately the magazine concentrates on beading, which is not what I'd hoped for. I wanted more things like metal crafts, etc.
Still these 3 trial mags will be good to read.

13 of my favourite sandwich fillings!!!!!

Thursday Thirteen 29/5/09


You can tell it's nearly lunch time...here are 13 of my favourite sandwich fillings:

1. Hummus and roast vegetables on granary bread
2. Hummus and rocket on granary bread
3. Red cheddar and mango chutney on granary bread
4. Feta, olives, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber , drizzled with a little extra virgin olive oil & lemon, on a crusty baguette
5. Brie and cranberry sauce on a baguette
6. Cucumber on thinly sliced wholmeal bread (crusts off, of course!)
7. Raspberry jam on fresh white bread
8. Vegetable tikka (grated carrots, chopped peppers, shredded cabbage in a curried mayo), with lettuce and cucumber and mint yogurt dressing 0n a brown baguette
9. Grated cheddar and grated carrots mixed with a little mayo on granary bread
10. Vegetable pate and thinly sliced tomatoes on a granary bap
11. Freshly made free-range boiled eggs, chopped and mixed with mayo, with freshly chopped chives
12. Blue Stilton on granary bread
13. Blue St. Auger spread on thick white bread

Wordless Wednesday 27/5/09

Wordless Wednesday - join in here

Hippy Swap 3

Yep - I've joined another swap on Craftster - this one is the Hippy Swap 3 organised by Samsara
Send out isn't until July, so I've time to completed the Viva Mexico one in June and this one in July.

All things hippy ... for me that means flowers, lotus, Om's, peace signs, candles, indian textiles, batik, yoga, meditation..


Swap name: Hippy Swap Round 3
Craftster member who is organizing this swap: Samsara
Sign-up date range: 23.05.09 - 13.06.09 (6pm GMT)
Date to send item by: 18.07.09

Midweek Morsels 27/5/09

Do you like to cook as much as you like to read? Are cookbooks and recipes overflowing your shelves? Want to share them?

Visit Kristina's blog each Wednesday and use Mr. Linky to link to your post.

This weeks theme - Anything goes!


Chili, Olive and Tomato Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:
extra virgin olive oil
handful of fresh chopped basil
2 - 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 tins plum tomatoes chopped
a pinch of sugar
handful of pitted black olives
handful of capers
2 - 3 red chillies, de-seeded and chopped

Method
heat a few tbp of oil in a pan
add crushed garlic and chillies and saute for a few minutes
add tomatoes, basil, sugar, olives and capers
season with S & P to taste
simmer until reduced to nice sauce consistency

Serve with your favourite pasta

Viva Mexico!!! aka the Mexican kitsch swap

Despite my good intentions not to join another swap for a while, I just couldn't resist this one on Craftster: Viva Mexico!!! aka the Mexican kitsch swap

As I'm currently redecorating / accessorising my kitchen with a Mexican / Day of the Dead theme, this swap is perfect for me.
I can make craft items for my partner and myself at the same time ;0)

This is the day of the dead knitting swap package I made last year for a swap pal .







Looking forward to thinking of some new things to make for this Viva Mexico swap.

As for me, I love all things day of the dead, as well as mexican folk art, geckos, chillies, cactus, Papel Picado, mexican textiles, paper art, tin art etc.


Swap name: Viva Mexico!!! aka the Mexican kitsch swap

Craftster member who is organizing this swap: missmuffcake and co organizer QueenNinjaMonkey

Sign-up date range: 5/19 to 5/26

Date to send item by: 6/26 (Friday)

You will be crafting 1 large, 1 medium and 1 small for your partner around what she/he likes.
A large could be an elaborate shrine, a medium a bound book of loteria cards or small a tiny punched tin magnet.

Bank Holiday Monday

Another glorious day here in Blaenau - sunshine and a warm breeze.
After a late lunch, I'll be making the new bird table for the garden.
Later this afternoon (when it's not too hot) I intend to finish planting up pots in the front garden, mowing the lawn, and fixing the bird table up.
I've peas to sow in grow bags, and some new herb seeds to sow in pots - dill, summer savory and some dwarf basil.

Doesn't the sunshine just enhance your mood and make you smile ;0)

This evening is being devoted to reading (finishing a few library books and browsing the Allotment Gardening book my brother bought me this week) and knitting some more of my cushion cover.

Quote for the week

"The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May."

Edwin Way Teale

Show and tell Sunday

I haven't posted any photos of things I've knitted for quite awhile, so here is a catch up post with some things I've knitted over the past month or so.

Basic cabled cup cozy

4 placemats and mug mats




My brown and blue mitts

Cotton Summer hat

Cotelli coffee pot cozy and Marat egg cozies






Brown Beret

Red Bag

And here are a few cards I made this week too - I have made more for various birthdays etc. but keep forgetting to photograph them before posting!

Saturday Knitting Finds -

So far only two patterns have caught my eye this week:

Cup cake Mitlets - here

Air raid socks - here

She Stoops to conquer

When to the Venue Cymru theatre in Llandudno with a friend last night to see She Stoops To Conquer, Oliver Goldsmith’s groundbreaking 18th Century comedy.

It was fantastic. Very funny, great performances, watched with great company.
My friend and I met for coffee (and cake) and a chat first, and then enjoyed the wonderful performance by Mappa Mundi

You can see The Guardian review of their tour here

Here are some of the cast:

Saturday knitting finds ....

These are a few patterns that have caught my eye this week:

This Siesta top by Carol Feller here

Ruffled Wristwarmers here

Jubilee Scarf here

Some other recent photos

Some knitting and other crafts:


Lace scarf and a felt zombie bunny!










Bug x-stitched pincusion and a Covered notebook

Some garden pics -












Herbs growing in pots and Growbags full of seedlings - rocket, mizuna, pak choi, mixed salad leaves, spinach beet

Some pictures of the dogs -

Spike in the garden!



















Amy & Steve and Spike looking toothy!

My Big Weekend

Spent this past weekend visiting a friend in Wootton Bassett near Swindon, and going to Radio 1's Big Weekend at Lydiard Park on the Saturday.

There were 4 stages and we saw:

a couple of the Dj's on the outdoor stage

someone (I can't remember who) on the Intoducing Stage
on the New Music stage - Fightstar, Doves and Basement Jaxx
and on the main stage - some of The Wombats, Chris Moyles, Dizzee Rascal, and Snow Patrol

The day was fine and dry, the company great as usual, and the chance to catch up, laugh, talk and have fun - priceless!

You can find out more about the weekend, and see clips of the bands who played over the two days, by clicking on the link here


Here's a picture from inside the main tent.

Here's the DJ outdoor stage

and here are some great 'Mighty Boosh' wellies someone was wearing!

I'm still here...

- and I have completed some knitting recently - a pair of brown and blue mittens to match a scarf I already have.
I now have a cotton hat, a blue & brown winter hat and a purple lace scarf on the needles - all for me of course! LOL

Just realised that I missed my 2nd blog anniversary, as I haven't blogged here for a while.
Oh well.