tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62048340344334375972024-03-13T11:16:24.683+00:00Alice's SketchOffAlicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-69067624984010731482011-09-17T17:23:00.000+01:002011-09-17T17:23:57.681+01:00More Knitting Projects<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately I've had quite a bit of time to get some knitting project started and even some finished. My current 'Me' project is </span><a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEff11/PATTleaflet.php"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knitty's Leaflet</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in James Brett Marble Chunky, which actually ended up knitting to tension, which is great because I have enough balls of this yarn to make it long sleeved for the winter.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QaGPjvHnWZA/TnTFTxU4zaI/AAAAAAAAANU/K_-26BIwugk/s1600/leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QaGPjvHnWZA/TnTFTxU4zaI/AAAAAAAAANU/K_-26BIwugk/s320/leaf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cast on at the start of this week and despite some initial worries about the pattern chart, as I'm pretty new to charted patterns, I've managed to get to the sleeve and body divider part. I like the fact that as this is top down there'll be no major seaming and weaving in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also I've had a go at knitting some dish-cloths with a pattern taken from The Gentle Art of Knitting by </span><a href="http://yarnstorm.blogs.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jane Brocket</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. After seeing the pattern in the book I remembered I had some bright Rowan cotton yarn leftovers from one of my first projects from about 5 years ago and my local yarn shop had Stylecraft Craft cotton available- I managed to get 3 cloths out of one 100g ball, which was perfect for my 3 colours.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DWzLA6PMHQ/TnTFYGoE91I/AAAAAAAAANc/QXEef0vPAWY/s1600/discholth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8DWzLA6PMHQ/TnTFYGoE91I/AAAAAAAAANc/QXEef0vPAWY/s320/discholth2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only adaptation I made to the pattern was that I knit one row in colour after cast on, before starting on the cloth middle and then did the same before cast off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dad's new joke to the many relatives who have been visiting lately is that 'this is what you'll be getting for Christmas this year', so maybe I'll just end up knitting him one giant one this year as his present.</span> </div>
Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-47969757985490545192011-09-04T11:51:00.000+01:002011-09-04T11:51:19.272+01:00On the needles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I've been a little busy over August, but I've been able to make some bits and pieces as well.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly I've been making some small embroidered badges to sell on my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftedbyalice">Etsy Shop</a> and i've been really pleased with how they've turned out- the bear is a particular favourite.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also while my Mum's been in hospital I've knitted her birthday present- as it's often difficult to get things made for her as she's around a lot. I've done a lacy scarf in Rowan Kidsilk Haze and the pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frilly-filly-scarf">Frilly Filly</a> from the Stitch 'n' Bitch Superstar Book.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of the first things I've properly blocked as I've just invested in some cheap kids foam flooring panels which are perfect for laying out and blocking on and dismantling when you're done for storage.</span></div>
Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-29868736943116507722011-07-13T17:50:00.003+01:002011-07-13T18:02:10.226+01:00'Felt' like posting an update<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Ok, so bad pun out of the way I'm just posting a quick update to show I actually am still making stuff, although things have been a bit manic lately and will stay that way for a while yet so posting may be very sporadic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">These are just a couple of shots of a small idea I'm working on that's taking more effort than I thought! </span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYyVOnin-mA/Th3NJjJqzII/AAAAAAAAANI/RyTAGSXtXl8/s320/red%2Bfelt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628880673221299330" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">These photos are taken on my new digital camera and has all these lovely effects without having to do post production- like the one above where only specific colours are shown.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6YLWkDgjM8/Th3NJffOlPI/AAAAAAAAANA/SorGHxdRKiI/s1600/felt%2Bwork.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6YLWkDgjM8/Th3NJffOlPI/AAAAAAAAANA/SorGHxdRKiI/s1600/felt%2Bwork.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6YLWkDgjM8/Th3NJffOlPI/AAAAAAAAANA/SorGHxdRKiI/s320/felt%2Bwork.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628880672237982962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And here's a slightly better colour photo- can you tell what it is yet?</span></div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-78700097441337633912011-04-24T14:35:00.004+01:002011-04-24T14:47:05.298+01:00Happy Easter!<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Nothing says happiness like a bit of homemade-ness, so here's some Easter cheer! </span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--rA4CzkKMAU/TbQoMKrCPBI/AAAAAAAAAM0/zgv987w-HQ0/s1600/easter.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599144426216766482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--rA4CzkKMAU/TbQoMKrCPBI/AAAAAAAAAM0/zgv987w-HQ0/s320/easter.jpg" /><br /><br /><p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I knitted the rabbit and needle felted the egg, but the little chicks are some of the mass produced fluff ones that are all over shops this time of year- but they're too cute to resist :)</span><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-w6nxO_rzQ/TbQoLmTqEQI/AAAAAAAAAMs/2NQYb1N2L_M/s1600/NESTS.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599144416455037186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-w6nxO_rzQ/TbQoLmTqEQI/AAAAAAAAAMs/2NQYb1N2L_M/s320/NESTS.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> And a couple of trays of chocolate shredded wheat nests with mini (very mini) eggs. Easter nests are a bit of a tradition and this year's are pretty good!<br /></span></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-61723451325014140322011-04-20T17:56:00.005+01:002011-04-21T09:02:03.268+01:00Projects in Hand<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">A slightly Work-in-Progress based post today- mostly because I've got so many going at one time and I'm excited about all of them!</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">First off is my quilt blocks for a king-sized quilt I'm planning using Oliver + S City Weekend fabric from </span><a href="http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/main?openpage"><span style="font-family:arial;">Moda</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">. The colours and prints are amazing and I've got some co-ordinating blue for spacing blocks and edging- so I'll have to get my maths on for that part.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597712233120472274" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwsmDf3_csU/Ta8RnjoBHNI/AAAAAAAAAMk/bLgEnWKQp-Y/s320/patch.jpg" /> <br /><p align="center"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Next is my almost completed 'Tulip Top' from </span><a href="http://www.craftster.org/blog/interview-with-debbie-stoller/%20/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, only it's done in Patons cotton in Pomegranate and will have a Sage trim . The yarn is lovely and it's been a pretty quick knit for me- but it's also a good example of how rubbish my maths is (not that it's too noticeable, but it doesn't bode well for the quilt!).</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></p></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAkKv5xwHxk/Ta8RnOWYUqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/tEP4wlPeO5M/s1600/tulip.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597712227409351330" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAkKv5xwHxk/Ta8RnOWYUqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/tEP4wlPeO5M/s320/tulip.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> I'm also going to have a go at making the Study Hall Skirt from </span><a href="http://www.annamariahorner.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Anna Maria Horner</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> which I'm doing in V&A Quilting fabric with pink cotton contrast. I'm a bit of a sucker for pleated skirts, so if it goes well I may do a more winter weight one with some lovely cranberry corduroy I've got.</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDfgdiVAga8/Ta8Rmiln-0I/AAAAAAAAAMU/2DBz6WOC3KM/s1600/skirt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597712215662132034" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDfgdiVAga8/Ta8Rmiln-0I/AAAAAAAAAMU/2DBz6WOC3KM/s320/skirt.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Finally a completed project in the Cath Kidston spoon competition, which <a href="http://john-primmer.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-draw-on-spoons.html">John has also entered </a>and is definately worth a look!<br /></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 189px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597712208125726546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89YS3r5grHA/Ta8RmGgzj1I/AAAAAAAAAMM/rre31Z_mah4/s320/spoon-doll.jpg" /> <span style="font-family:arial;">On the downside I think my camera has busted with over 5 years worth of service so it may be time for a new one!</span> </div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-20955937134594434372011-04-10T17:25:00.006+01:002011-04-10T17:56:07.947+01:00Kool Aid: The Return<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Following </span><a href="http://alicesketchoff.blogspot.com/2011/01/nuclear-yarn-dyeing.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">my first post </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">about dyeing yarn with Kool Aid I've been desperate to try more, so I picked up some cheap Kool Aid in mixed colours from ebay and a couple of skeins of Alpaca/Wool/Nylon mix 4ply yarn from</span><a href="http://www.dtcrafts.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:arial;"> DT Crafts</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, which is wonderfully soft.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dtcrafts.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593993155458380386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdg0zxwVF20/TaHbIvsQMmI/AAAAAAAAAME/gEVB_4b5npk/s320/sink-wool.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> (Yarn skeins soaking in water and washing up liquid)</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">My first colour way was 2 sachets of Lemonade, 2 Sachets of Orange and 2 Sachets of Strawberry.</span> </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_zsA7fpkzo/TaHbIo6PKJI/AAAAAAAAAL8/2BkbsR_7h4o/s1600/strawkool.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593993153637984402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_zsA7fpkzo/TaHbIo6PKJI/AAAAAAAAAL8/2BkbsR_7h4o/s320/strawkool.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I wasn't expecting the Strawberry to be so strong- I sort of wish I'd only used one sachet, but the colour looks nice, it's just pretty strong. Lemonade seems like a bit of a duff colour- it's very pale and so almost got completely drowned out by the stronger colours- a mix of lemonade and a more orangey yellow like mango might have gone over better. </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HWPWjYtAo9I/TaHbIT7nrDI/AAAAAAAAAL0/jvsRKPpc3p4/s1600/redyarn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593993148006640690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HWPWjYtAo9I/TaHbIT7nrDI/AAAAAAAAAL0/jvsRKPpc3p4/s320/redyarn.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I dyed that lot in the same way as the previous batch, but was a bit more 'rough' with the mixing so that the yarn was more evenly coloured.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">The second skein I dyed with 2 sachets of Grape (although I bought three, but didn't need the third), 2 sachets of Cherry and 2 of Ice Blue Rasberry Lemonade.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaVoRC0bSis/TaHa0G5JXRI/AAAAAAAAALs/A-E6NaKvOR4/s1600/grapekool.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593992800909221138" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JaVoRC0bSis/TaHa0G5JXRI/AAAAAAAAALs/A-E6NaKvOR4/s320/grapekool.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">This one I 'painted' with the dye, instead of mixing in the saucepan, and it worked really nicely. It's more controlled than just pouring over the wool, but I'd probably use newspaper to lay it out on next time. (Please try to ignore the kitchen debris- I should have made more of a tidying up effort!)</span> </div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593992797756026146" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm_AjcvcT6w/TaHaz7JXbSI/AAAAAAAAALk/aKSfcGEr9uQ/s320/yarnout.jpg" /> <br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ckc3wchDljU/TaHazhFxppI/AAAAAAAAALc/Y8-sMNRFjXI/s1600/yarncolour.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593992790761645714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ckc3wchDljU/TaHazhFxppI/AAAAAAAAALc/Y8-sMNRFjXI/s320/yarncolour.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> I love the contrast between these colours- the cherry is a nice deeper red than the strawberry.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3EYKdHpjwqs/TaHazbigofI/AAAAAAAAALU/wiujbVs-XBY/s1600/purpleyarn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593992789271552498" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3EYKdHpjwqs/TaHazbigofI/AAAAAAAAALU/wiujbVs-XBY/s320/purpleyarn.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">With all the nice weather we've been having lately it was perfect weather for drying.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kggB0zFdk68/TaHazKq7A-I/AAAAAAAAALM/dUn6dK0Z62w/s1600/Drying-yarn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 295px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593992784743433186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kggB0zFdk68/TaHazKq7A-I/AAAAAAAAALM/dUn6dK0Z62w/s320/Drying-yarn.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><a href="http://john-primmer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">John's </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">taken a more 'arty' picture of the yarn drying so I'll post that with the photos of the wound yarn later, when he gets around to sending me the pictures. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I think one ball will be for socks and the other for a lacy scarf.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This is so addictive- I've already started gathering some more Kool Aid together for a one colour dyeing, hopefully of a lot of wool to knit a jumper or something out of- exciting!</span></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-16547601766797215812011-03-10T15:43:00.003+00:002011-03-10T15:50:05.511+00:00Plain Paper Sketches<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GG80WTE5qxA/TXjyH-yOZ5I/AAAAAAAAALE/rcKeGbKlpzQ/s1600/SKETCHES.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 342px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582477957052393362" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GG80WTE5qxA/TXjyH-yOZ5I/AAAAAAAAALE/rcKeGbKlpzQ/s320/SKETCHES.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Just so this blog starts living up to it's name, I'm posting some sketches done over the last few months- trying to get my hand less rusty on the drawing front. It's a mixed bag- most are sketches copied from magazines, but there are a few from my spate of drawing what I wore on a daily basis and one is a test piece for a rubber stamp. Hopefully I'll get some scanned from my small brown paper book soon.</span></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-41107551089204863042011-01-11T16:19:00.006+00:002011-01-11T16:51:40.081+00:00Nuclear Yarn Dyeing<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So here's some documentary evidence that my yarn habit may be getting out of hand- dyeing my own yarn.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyEEh6ICaI/AAAAAAAAAK4/IULnTzsXf5I/s1600/YARNHANK.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560964853252229538" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyEEh6ICaI/AAAAAAAAAK4/IULnTzsXf5I/s320/YARNHANK.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I've been wanting to try dyeing my own yarn for ages now and so I finally bit the bullet using the 'Kool-Aid' method. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">First you pre soak the yarn in water with a drop of washing up liquid for at least 30 minutes. I used 4ply Blue-Faced Leicester Superwash yarn from </span><a href="http://www.dtcrafts.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:arial;">D&T Crafts</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, which is where I aslo bought the Kool-Aid from. The green yarn is where I've tied the yarn off in more regular intervals as I'm pretty bad with getting yarn tangled when it's in one big loop.</span></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560964523419251442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDxVL0MvI/AAAAAAAAAKo/1yhXJCyvEAo/s320/dye2.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">After soaking, squeeze out the excess water, put the yarn into a large saucepan and mix your dyes. I used 2 packets of soarin' strawberry (vibrant pink) 2 packets of lemon-lime (vibrant green) and 1 packet of mango (orangey-yellow). I put about 100mls of water for every packet and mixed up the colours separately, as I wanted them bright, pouring them onto the wool from the measuring jug and then added a bit more clear water to cover the yarn.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDyLmJv4I/AAAAAAAAAKw/vA_qVLmo1n0/s1600/dye1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560964538025230210" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDyLmJv4I/AAAAAAAAAKw/vA_qVLmo1n0/s320/dye1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Yarn stew! The water looks a bit murky but it will go clear in the cooking process (just don't prod it too much or panic like I did and lift the whole lot out of the water and make a bit of a mess of it!). I think I'd buy another couple of sachets of Kool-Aid next time as not all the yarn was well covered, although this does make for some nice variation. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, check frequently to avoid boiling - I did this on the wok burner</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">on our hob to start but ended up having to move it because it wouldn't stop boiling- but I was lucky in not getting felted wool. Also you may have to add more water if it evaporates. You know it's done when after 20-30 minutes the water is clear (pretty much like it came from the tap!) and then leave it to cool in it's pan until you can handle it. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDxO69DwI/AAAAAAAAAKg/hibh0ZXIbqE/s1600/yarnstew.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560964521737916162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDxO69DwI/AAAAAAAAAKg/hibh0ZXIbqE/s320/yarnstew.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Rinse the yarn through in the same sort of temperature as the water you took it from to make sure there's no excess colour and then squeeze out the water- don't twist or ring as this will stretch the yarn. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Hang to dry- I used a clothes drying rack in the greenhouse as it's been cold but sunny so the greenhouse traps the heat, but it still took a day and a half or thereabouts- in the summer it might be quicker.</span></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDwz9jgyI/AAAAAAAAAKY/SRRKR519eqo/s1600/dye3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560964514501067554" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDwz9jgyI/AAAAAAAAAKY/SRRKR519eqo/s320/dye3.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Ta-Da!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDwQZZZdI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/LSh6olp_-M4/s1600/YARNBALL.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560964504954168786" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSyDwQZZZdI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/LSh6olp_-M4/s320/YARNBALL.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">One custom dyed ball of yarn it looks pretty different from when it's in a skein- I can't wait to do it again! I think this'll end up as a pair of socks for my brother.</span></div><div></div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-58535451868354443552011-01-09T14:40:00.003+00:002011-01-09T15:10:34.578+00:00Socks and Cake<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560196725151347730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSnJdlvvtBI/AAAAAAAAAJw/wl5RXOUTJkw/s320/macaroons.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Two different subjects, but this time on a similar theme- I love cute pastely cakes and biscuits and have been wanting to try macaroons for ages and Tesco had some for £1.50 for 12 just before new year-which is a macaroon bargain- so I had to get a photo of them.<br /><br />Similarly, I love pretty yarn and this year for christmas my parents gave me a sock kit which had hand dyed yarn and a pattern for basic socks. I've always said that I'd never knit socks- the whole concept of knitting on 4 needles seemed completely beyond me and I've never had much success with magic circle knitting on one circular needle, but lately I've been 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing' over some of the lovely sock yarn available and I think Mum must've listened!<br /><br /></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560196729993656194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSnJd3yPd4I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/lbcxQg_864Q/s320/sockball.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560196737971844914" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSnJeVgY9zI/AAAAAAAAAKI/LonWt4GYpXs/s320/sockson.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560196735871312226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSnJeNrlYWI/AAAAAAAAAKA/ZtxxHlbHwdc/s320/pairsock.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;">So here's my first ever pair of socks, fittingly in macaroon colours, and I don't think they'll be my last- they were easier than expected and pretty quick to do- my brother now wants a pair so I've at least got one lot coming up.</span></div><div> </div><br /></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-70991536293943914122011-01-05T10:29:00.007+00:002011-01-05T10:53:51.318+00:00Out with the Old and in with the Vintage<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm incredibly interested in knitting and have a pretty awful habit of hoarding interesting patterns and magazines which I may or may not end up actually using in the future. One of the best collections I have is one mum found for me when she was on holiday. It's an almost complete book of womens knitting patterns from various eras and brands, obviously collected by one woman and stored in an old fashioned pattern book.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I've scanned a few to share- most are incredibly stylishly vintage:</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558648469224527826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRJVO9ll9I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/Si0Qd2liJ1E/s320/blue.jpg" /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRJU-2ivqI/AAAAAAAAAJI/qKeCSr3w2Nk/s1600/robin-2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558648464900013730" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRJU-2ivqI/AAAAAAAAAJI/qKeCSr3w2Nk/s320/robin-2.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRJUgvXlEI/AAAAAAAAAJA/5Ln0Oz_k2P4/s1600/robin1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558648456816858178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRJUgvXlEI/AAAAAAAAAJA/5Ln0Oz_k2P4/s320/robin1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Look at those waists! Unbelievable! Theres one or two where the photographer has looked at the garment and then run with the colour theme:<br /></span></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558649583490210162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRKWF7OmXI/AAAAAAAAAJY/TyR2xGnvD8o/s320/green.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Lovely jumper, but too much green! And then there's some where men are used as props (along with fake foliage):</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558650580097786050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRLQGk_YMI/AAAAAAAAAJg/hp6Hd3BueeQ/s320/tree.jpg" /></span></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558650581079213122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TSRLQKO-xEI/AAAAAAAAAJo/_EhPygTqUj4/s320/glass.jpg" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Not sure if I'd accept a drink off a man who leered like that! There's a whole 'genre' of mother/daughter/family unit matching knits that I'll have to scan at some point as there's some wonderfully awful head gear.</span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-31759104304167084082010-12-11T13:14:00.003+00:002010-12-11T13:24:37.417+00:00Feeling Festive<div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial;">We're putting up decorations this weekend so I've taken a photo of the wreath I constructed- it took an obscene amount of baubles, most of which I bought in the sale after Christmas last year</span><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549413513565616434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TQN6MEPUuTI/AAAAAAAAAI0/-yMOBQ7vwgg/s320/Wreath.jpg" /></span></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I based it off this </span><a href="http://the-white-bench.blogspot.com/2009/11/bauble-wreath-tutorial.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">wreath tutorial </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">and a couple of others, it's pretty addictive- I'd like to make lots of other colours if I had the money!</span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-69363742080221183452010-12-05T09:42:00.003+00:002010-12-05T09:57:04.832+00:00Hello Again!<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm pretty bad at this whole 'updating on a regular basis' thing, mainly because I'm lazy at scanning things, although I do have a whole load of things I want to share, so maybe over the Christmas Holidays I'll get around to it!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm posting this picture pretty much safe in the knowledge that although my Grandad has the internet, he doesn't know I have a blog, so if you're a cousin who stumbles across this- don't tell him!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547133314849086610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TPtgXCFQnJI/AAAAAAAAAIs/h4VO23WsvdY/s320/broadstairs-web.jpg" /></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This was comissioned by my Grandma for Grandad's Christmas present, based on a railway poster of Broadstairs I cut it all from paper (apart from the really small bits like people and fences- if I could cut that small I'd be rich and famous in the land of small bits of paper!). It's originally a little smaller than A4 size so it was quite fiddly, but I'm pretty pleased with it on the whole!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you can't try something new for Christmas and up against a tight deadline, when can you try it!?</span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-86823729261347041322010-09-08T16:07:00.005+01:002010-09-08T16:17:35.626+01:00Book of the Week- The Return!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0fFZFuYhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Juzte_0f-Eg/s576/colour%20book.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The first book of the week for the new school year is <strong><em>Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud </em></strong>by Andrew Lane. Not to be confused with the comedic film, this is actually a very good book in a similar style to a lot of 'books for boys' at the moment- action packed plotlines like <strong><em>Alex Rider</em></strong> and <strong><em>Young James Bond</em></strong>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514560083789071794" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TIenLcbLxbI/AAAAAAAAAIk/NBExIzwnGwI/s320/young_sherlock_death_cloud_wm.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You know you're fighting a losing battle, when one pupil asks you why Sherlock Holmes was book of the week every week, when you only put the poster up yesterday!</span></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-56512066570666521282010-07-20T16:06:00.009+01:002010-07-20T16:42:14.325+01:00Oldies but Goodies*<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Just posting some old work that I've dug out of my folders in a tidy up!</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">First few are from my fairytale project at Uni- based on the 7 Ravens story about a girl whose brothers are cursed into ravens. A bit like the swan fairytale, only with ravens.</span></div><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496010930552191074" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TEXA0n06OGI/AAAAAAAAAII/s1MoSXf0SMs/s320/ravens.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496009856956639858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TEW_2IXyKnI/AAAAAAAAAIA/TvPMRIjsvXY/s320/crow-2.jpg" /> <div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496008868264563554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TEW-8lNOU2I/AAAAAAAAAH4/I3jhfDqdLQY/s320/crow.jpg" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This last one is a contact sheet from uni, can't remember what the project was- may even have just been 'take a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">reel</span> of black and white film'! Anyway I love the look of contact sheets- can't get that with digital!</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 380px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496008047108169682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TEW-MyKSH9I/AAAAAAAAAHw/H_N0Qs70E20/s320/contact.jpg" /></div></div><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">*no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">guarantee</span> that these are any good!</span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-80957115069438303112010-06-29T17:56:00.007+01:002010-06-30T21:13:30.953+01:00Jack Johnson at Eden Project!<p align="left"><object style="WIDTH: 282px; HEIGHT: 223px" width="282" height="223"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QJvul-OgLAs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QJvul-OgLAs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">A pretty good quality video of an excellent, quality night! The Eden project makes an incredible venue for music and the weather was perfect for it. The whole night was brilliant and Jack played a good mix of new album, old album and even some requests. Watching him the next day on TV at Glastonbury makes me realize what an initmate gig this was by comparison!</span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-62208978921391141962010-06-29T17:43:00.004+01:002010-06-29T17:50:11.367+01:00Wave your Flag!<span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0fFZFuYhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Juzte_0f-Eg/s576/colour%20book.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial;">This week's book of the week is the first in the Stadium School series - appropriate for the World Cup. I would have Chosen something tennis related- but there doesn't appear to be any tennis fiction for kids!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 206px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488238173087713442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TCojil2hyKI/AAAAAAAAAHo/IwFl2NyzCnk/s320/hotprospect_big.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Book of the week will be taking a holiday as we approach the end of term- with 2 'closed' weeks in the library and then only a half week left there seems little point in doing any more until September.</span></div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-47978513143706679692010-06-23T09:52:00.004+01:002010-06-23T10:03:29.363+01:00Scott Pilgrim Avatar Creator<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TCHNoyvV1KI/AAAAAAAAAHU/UZrhEyHqa6w/s1600/img380579.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485891921812772002" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TCHNoyvV1KI/AAAAAAAAAHU/UZrhEyHqa6w/s320/img380579.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">A little bit of randomness- but I like how they 'assigned' me the moniker of 'The Vegetarian'!!</span></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-50396926922157846892010-06-22T17:36:00.004+01:002010-06-22T17:46:28.662+01:00Here be faeries...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0fFZFuYhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Juzte_0f-Eg/s576/colour%20book.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial;">This week's book of the week is The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1- The Field Guide. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 197px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485639588021661042" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TCDoJCHZ7XI/AAAAAAAAAHM/-pfACv8k_EM/s320/spiderwick.jpg" /></span></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is the start of a really excellent modern fantasy series with some incredible illustrations.</span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-16867437303234296192010-06-14T16:16:00.004+01:002010-06-14T16:23:42.827+01:00Homework<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 371px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0fFZFuYhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Juzte_0f-Eg/s576/colour%20book.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;"> This week's book is 'Across the Nightingale Floor' by Lian Hearn, a psuedo-historical/fantasy novel and first in a trilogy, but it can be read alone.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482649685577992130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBZI1zjIh8I/AAAAAAAAAG4/BIBqjG9ibK4/s320/%7BDD33FD3F-23FC-4A68-8F08-007C9C3EAE50%7DImg100.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As you can probably tell by the cover it's set in Japan and is very 'forbidden love and samurai' in theme!</span><br /><div></div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-28420173280551180352010-06-11T11:06:00.005+01:002010-06-11T16:39:02.899+01:00Knit, Knit, Knit, Knit, Knitting<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Just some photos of things I'm currently knitting, and have just completed.</span><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481456204113660514" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBILYCoOSmI/AAAAAAAAAGA/WiebnRe6pEg/s320/fair.jpg" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is my first attempt at fair-isle, I've never really had the guts to do it before and it takes a lot of concentration but when I saw this wool in Edinburgh I knew I'd have to give it a go. The yarn is Rowan Scottish tweed- it's pretty expensive, so I only bought 2 balls, but it'll be enough for a pencil case.</span> </div><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481456197200535522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBILXo4AX-I/AAAAAAAAAF4/c8UgJC1CgrA/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm also nearly done doing this <a href="http://fablehandknit.com/knit/patterns/gilmore_vest.htm">'Gilmore Vest' </a> in Stylecraft yarn- it's been an on and off project since before Christmas, but I realised I messed up the back a bit so it'll have to be taken back and re-knitted.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"></p></span><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBILXUxBt7I/AAAAAAAAAFw/zzkh4vXvhto/s1600/lace.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481456191802554290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBILXUxBt7I/AAAAAAAAAFw/zzkh4vXvhto/s320/lace.jpg" /></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481456186131905314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBILW_pCeyI/AAAAAAAAAFo/F3mom8X-OYg/s320/closelace.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;">I finally finished mum's Christmas present! Better late than never and I'm not a huge fan of lacework, and the pattern I used ended up having an error, which put me off for a little while- I ended up ignoring it and carrying on regardless! I've done a small closeup of the lace, it's knit in 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Silk.<br /></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 236px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481456176726032002" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TBILWcmgPoI/AAAAAAAAAFg/UP64EQ0c-TA/s320/teddy.jpg" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, my grandad sent me his old teddybear from when he was a child and it needed some tlc, so I reattached his limbs and knit him a new jacket as his old one was very worn. I've really proud of this one as I made the pattern up- I've never knit a jacket for a toy before, or completed sleeves so although there's a few things I'd change if I did it again, on the whole I've very pleased.<br /></span><br /></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-61487418889623388832010-06-07T17:29:00.006+01:002010-06-07T17:45:59.932+01:00Start Again! (and some Neil)<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So I'm attempting a restart on this blog and kicking things off with something new I'm doing in conjunction with my new job.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0fFZFuYhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Juzte_0f-Eg/s1600/colour+book.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480070499074466322" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0fFZFuYhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Juzte_0f-Eg/s320/colour+book.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"> (circus font taken from dafont.com)</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">As I'm working in a school library and we're currently trying to get more kids reading different things, I'm re-starting book of the week and posting the books on here. </span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The first book of the week is Neil Gaiman's 'The Graveyard Book' which is excellent and has only been taken out once since purchase, which is a major crime.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 147px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480071633395756178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/TA0gHaw_rJI/AAAAAAAAAEw/8NVrn0Ldkls/s200/Graveyard%2520Book%2520Neil%2520Gaiman%2520Chris%2520Riddell.jpg" /></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This isn't his first 'kids' book (though how kiddy friendly it is depends on the reader) but I do think it's his best. Read it and I don't think you'll be disappointed. He also has a very interesting blog: <a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/">http://journal.neilgaiman.com/</a></span></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-50804570394832548782010-03-10T15:30:00.002+00:002010-03-10T15:30:50.965+00:00Stamp Test<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/S5e7Iu3KPkI/AAAAAAAAAEg/DiUEQmxFmOc/s1600-h/24493_351655581057_556961057_4183944_2207601_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/S5e7Iu3KPkI/AAAAAAAAAEg/DiUEQmxFmOc/s320/24493_351655581057_556961057_4183944_2207601_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447028033020640834" /></a>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204834034433437597.post-56360711209330134922008-09-29T18:21:00.001+01:002009-04-03T10:49:46.663+01:00Opening Post<span style="font-family:arial;">Today is the first post of my sketchblog. It'll be a bit rough around the edges mostly because the idea behind the blog is to do a 'drawing a day' based on being a graduate trainee librarian in Oxford. </span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I warn you now that reportage illustration was not my forte at university- 4 years full time art could not cure me of my dislike of drawing buildings, however I really want to draw the architecture here so you may have to bear with me whilst I work through my rustiness.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here's the first post of drawings done last week, I'd avert your eyes if you don't want to see appalling wonky lines attempting to represent building structure!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/alicesketch/SOEQRPuXg_I/AAAAAAAAAAo/MlG64rJ5tlg/s400/manor.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/SOEQpsBgKxI/AAAAAAAAAAw/TcuQtiliEfk/s1600-h/manor.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This is the house we can see from the Social Science Library workroom- it's actually a lot nicer than this but this was pretty much done in my 20 min break as well as drinking coffee and eating cake so I can be forgiven. I'll probably have go at this later on in the year- see if my skills have improved any!</span></div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251498212273919842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/SOERzOkvl2I/AAAAAAAAABA/qd8i5xyqYiw/s320/sarah.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I quite like this one- it's Sarah Thomas, Bodley's Librarian, at the second all staff meeting. I did think this was going to be a good opportunity to draw, but then couldn't get past the 'we had no second plan' part of the presentation (in relation to the depository).</span></div></div><br /><div><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251499645383209634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/SOETGpUn8qI/AAAAAAAAABI/FHGEBjmCD88/s320/divinity.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">A window in the Divinity School- drawn just before the drinks reception.</span></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251500121508229698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u6RMSiDpCFs/SOETiXBrMkI/AAAAAAAAABQ/APDlz0BrPug/s320/canteen.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The balcony area at the Social Science Building canteen- this one has a note that says 15 minutes which shows I can draw a little better under pressure if I'm not distracted by coffee.</span></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688164266360012360noreply@blogger.com1