Evie, Author at Purl and Seam

Winter Flame scarf – FO 17/2010

September 16, 2010

Although I’m ridiculously busy Chez Stitches at the moment, what with kids, the alternative French summer school for my degree course, the small matter of planning a wedding and just generally making sure there’s a shirt in the wardrobe for Mr S for work and a meal on the table at appropriate times, I’ve also managed to finish the Winter Flame scarf.

I’m amazed!

It’s actually been unceremoniously dumped in the workroom for a couple of weeksBut today I managed to finally block it.Although I’m most definitely not a process person, I’ve really enjoyed the actual knitting of this. The yarn is delightful and the pattern simple.But I suspect I’m going to enjoy wearing it, it all its pointy perfection, even more.

Currently on the needles is a sweater for Button. I’ve done the front and backs. I have 8 rows to do to finish the first sleeve. I think I’ll get it done in the next week or so, so pictures will follow soon.

Sands of time

September 15, 2010

On Monday of this week Button started nursery. Just two mornings a week.

We are all thrilled but in a corner of my heart is a little voice reminding me that this is just the first of her major milestones that we will guide and cheer her through.

Still, she has been through so much in her little life so far that to see her strolling into class, without a backwards glance or a care in the world, we realised that maybe, just maybe, we were doing ok by her.

I think she’ll be fine.

Smaller than the smallest uniform

An Angels Story – Made by Ma

August 30, 2010

Before I start I have to say that the pictures don’t do this justice, simply because it’s so big! It’s nearly 70 inches wide and about 80 inches long. Huge!This is An Angels Story Quilt, designed by Anni Downs and made for Button by Ma Stitches.

It is spectacular.

It almost fills the whole wall of her bedroom, which is where it’s staying until she is big enough for it to go on her bed.

It changes the whole look and feel of the room.

And, most importantly, Button absolutely adores it. She pronounced that she was “very excited” about it whilst Daddy was hanging the café rod. She declared it “beautiful” once it was on the wall. My girl has excellent taste!As you can see the appliquéd stitcheries are just lovely. But perhaps the most impressive aspect of this quilt is that it’s the first quilt that Ma has ever made.

I kid ye not.

Impressive, no?

RSVP

August 27, 2010

Last weekend Mr S and I were chatting about what still needed to be done for That Bloody Wedding when a cold trickle of sweat dropped between my shoulder blades and a sickly feeling of horror crept over me.

I hadn’t sent out the invitations.

And we needed them back by the 31st August so we could confirm with Northcote how many bedrooms we’ll be needing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know I’ve been a bit busy, but really. Forgetting to send the invites is spectacularly dumb, even for me.

However, they are now out there, and the RSVP’s are coming in, with some delightful “yesses” from folks I didnt think would be able to make it. Happy me.

So I thought I’d share a little of the invite with you as I had them hand-made for me by letterpress queen Jackie at Print for the Love of Wood.

The invitations themselves are letterpressed on cotton paper:

: Front of the invitation

The inserts are printed, but in the same typeface. We wanted them to be very informal, so included the following quotation, which speaks so clearly of our relationshipOf course, they wouldn’t be the same without reference to TBWI cannot speak highly enough of Jackie. I’m lucky that she lives quite close to me and she made me welcome in her home. She also made the whole process of organising the invites an absolute pleasure.

Extreme toddler sport – sofa sliding

August 19, 2010

You climb upthen you slide (or more appropriately, shuffle, but who cares) downI’m ridiculously proud of their ingenuity in coming up with new and vaguely dangerous ways to play. God help me when they discover trees!

All hands on deck

August 15, 2010

Finally the sun is shining in Lancashire.

Which means the timber for the deck is dry enough for Mr S to be able to get outside and start filling the big black hole in the garden with a lovely new deckLike any sensible woman faced with the man of the house doing DIY, I took the only option available to me, packed the kids up and went to the park.

We are blessed with a lovely park just a couple of miles away.

: C’mon Mummy, the ducks are this way!

: Whaddya mean you didn’t bring bread?

: Milk please, Grandma. Ooh and a cookie too? Yummmmm!

: Ruuuuuuuunnnnnnnn!

: Can we play too?

: Ha! This walking lark is a breeze!

: I don’t think we should jump, Puppy, do you?

If the weather is even remotely dry next weekend, the deck will be finished. But for now, we have two tired babies fast asleep in bed, chicken dinner about to be served and Mr S nursing a well deserved stiff drink.

winter flame photos

August 11, 2010

As promised today I snapped a quick photo of my Winter Flame scarf in progressI cannot tell you how much I’m loving this yarn. It’s soft and warm to handle and glows with a gentle sheen. I swore I’d never knit bamboo again after the Green Tea Raglan (especially as the Bamboolo washes up like dish-rags) this is changing my mind. I’ll be interested to see how it washes as I can imagine a sweater in this would never be off my back!

The Gardener’s Journal – on a bit of a roll!

August 9, 2010

Another 2 stitcheries completed this evening – they are only tiny, so it’s not such an achievement.

Flower wreath

Ladybeetle

The Gardener’s Journal – more stitcheries

August 9, 2010

Garden tools

Flower basket

Dovecote

Moving “swiftly” on

August 4, 2010

Oh dear…that blog title is appalling. But so appalling I just had to leave it in place to give you a good groan.

You see, for my birthday I received lots of lovely gifts from my wonderfully kind and generous friends at my Thursday night knitting group. These were especially generous as I’ve been noticeable by my absence this year as Mr S is often not home in time on a Thursday evening.

Several people clubbed together to buy me this lovely swift from Brownberry Yarns.The yarn was another birthday gift…it’s 100% bamboo 4 ply from High Weald Fibre Factory and is so deliciously soft it could only be a scarf, so it’s going to be Just Enough Ruffles from the lovely Laura Chau.

I’m off to wind the yarn without cussing, crying or passing the knotted remnants of the skein to Mr S who has the patience of a saint and will happily rescue said tangle for me.

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