It's Chriiiiiiiiiistmas!

Which means it is time for the CtnY Secret Santa swap!
Inside the parcel i found all these shiney gifts...

The gift tag reads - "To Lukey, to help with the Christmas flatulance"
Brilliant! I wonder if it works on Blokes? :oD

Inside all the shineyness i found:
A skein of Yarn Yard sock club yarn, a campervan mug, a pretty little heart, and the cutest piece of campsite fabric.
I feel well and truly spoilt, thankyou to my Santa who, if i have guessed the clue correctly, is Jessica :o)

OH! And Lukey's gift? Some charcoal biscuits which i am sure he will love with a bit of cheese after dinner tomorrow LOL

Scrap Swap

I've finally remembered to take a photo of the gorgeous fabrics that Harrysmum sent to me in the CTnY Fabric Scrap Swap.
They are all from the same range as far as i can tell and feature inspiring words, flowers and the pink ribbons one would associate with breast cancer and they are all very pretty <3

Happy Birthday to meeeeee!!

So, i was on holiday for my birthday and as i was taking part in the Birthday Swap at CTnY i made sure Santa knew, otherwise the parcel would have been left out for the snails to eat!
(Bloke found the remains of one of his parcels when we got back!!)
She timed the delivery perfectly and it arrived not half an hour ago :oD


The postcard is my clue, it's a lovely picture of the River Tees in Middlesborough and after some deduction i worked out my Santa was Anna and on opening the card i was right! YaY! :oD

She's sent me three knitting patterns; a VW campervan, a VW beetle and a scooter plus some gorgeous enamelled glass beads, a very bright and groovy bag and a gorgeous skein of a new-to-me wool called Brigantia Luxury Double Knit which is sooooooooooo squishy i haven't been able to put it down yet!!

Thankyou Anna, i feel very spoiled on my non-birthday ;o)

Secret Santa Summer Swap

My parcel arrived this morning and i am soooooooo excitied and SPOILT!

She's sent me a packet of chocolate campervans, silver beads, wooden buttons, a lovely hard backed spiral bound notebook and TWO skeins of hand-dyed and hand-spun wool!!

My Santa is so clever isn't she!
The blue is Corriedale and the multi-coloured wool is BFL and i love them both to bits.
I must admit to welling up as i unwrapped my parcel, she's stalked me really well and the colours are just perfect and she put all that effort in to spin them both as well which means so much to me ::sniff::

Thanks Sprite, you are awesome!

Sock Swap!

My Sock Swap parcel arrived this morning and i just LOVE it!
Once again i feel spoiled rotten!!
My parcel was sent to me by the lovely Joy who is a very good friend that i just don't see enough of unfortunately, this year we went to Malvern and she was in London! Just typical! lol
Hopefully we will plan things better next year and both be in the same place at the same time!


She made me a pair of "Broadripple Socks" in CherryTree Hill Supersock and now i can't wait to cast on my own skein as it makes a wonderful fabric and is really squishy <3 She also sent me a little fabric bag and a Socktopus Knit Bits box, a chocolate recipe calendar for 2010, a sock shaped needle gauge, a Malvern Hills fridge magnet and a gorgeous watercolour bookmark with a scene of the Malvern Hills on it.
I would just love to have that view from my window every day!
There was also a set of the sweetest snowmen stitch markers

Dishcloth Swap - from Deb

Dishcloth Swap - from Deb
Originally uploaded by franneyk

Look at the wonderful parcel Deb sent me for the Dishcloth Swap over at CTnY! Two scrumptious cloths, one in seed stitch for extra exfoliation and one with a seed stitch border, a lovely piece of Sprintime fabric which just screams daffodils to me for some reason ;o) and a cute bunny called Harry :oD
What's that you say? Chocolate? OH YES!! A sample pack of Green & Black's, there are two of each flavour bar and Bloke and i have enjoyed the cherry and the butterscotch so far, they are the perfect size for a treat, and besides, it's such nice chocolate that you don't need much of it to satisfy you :oD

Autumn Secret Santa Swap

Autumn Secret Santa Swap
Originally uploaded by franneyk

My Postie loves me! He knocked and uttered the immortal words "another one for you" hehehe

My lovely Santa has sent me a skein of KnitGlobal baby alpaca which is so soft and squishy you wouldn't believe, and two balls of Lett-Lopi in a wonderfullly autumnal shade. It's all browny with flecks of red and mustard and the occasional flash of silver. Divine! Terri has stalked me well! She also sent me a GIGANTIC double lolly, remember them? A bar of dairy milk with cranberry and granola and a sachet of eucalan wool wash which will come in very handy!

Patterns have been picked already! The alpaca will become a cowl of some description, probably a horseshoe lace one to match my Cranford mitts and the Lopi will be transformed into a hat. I was thinking of one from Going Straight, i just need to decide which one!

Thankyou Santa, i feel very spoiled! *hugs*

An eventful weekend!

Just as we were getting ready to head off the Postie turned up with "another parcel for you" as he put it! hehehe
I couldn't leave it to open when i got home on Monday so tore it open for a squish - how childish!!
As well as the lovely yarns that my Santa sent me she had knitted me a gorgeous pair of "Bluebell Mitts" in burgundy Karisma but they came away with me this weekend where they were much appreciated in the icy coldness!

On Thursday i decided i wanted a new hat for Halloween ;o)
With just a day (well, Thursday evening anyway!) to make it i settled on Jackyll and Hide from Knitty. Now, i don't like masks, they terrify me, as do clowns and gimps and well... this balaclava but i figured that as i would be wearing it i wouldn't have to look at it ;o)
The picture below is my progress as of Friday morning, i had the rib on a provisional cast-on with the intention of knitting the bottom section on the journey up to Santa Pod, and blow me, it only bloody worked!!

I didn't get round to sewing in that end though!
This is the finished scariness on Sunday, i did my usual trick of avoiding all cameras for the whole weekend :oD

On Saturday evening they lit the fire with the Jet Truck, it's an awesome sight to see, unfortunately as they were carghing £2 for aprogramme we didn't have one... we found out at 4.12pm that the fire was going to be lit at 4.15pm and with about quarter of amile to travel, through mud, people and a really cold wind we arrived in time to see the flames leaping in the air and the fire truck driving back down the road :o(

The fire was AWESOME though and despite the rain it was still burning on Sunday afternoon when we left, i was sure that it couldn't have survived the rain, but wasn't going to get soaked through again just to go and see as the fire was the other side of the track to where we had camped and it would have involved a looooooooooong walk round in nearly horizontal rain!! :o(
I reckon the pile of firewood was a good 40 foot high, maybe more! It was HUGE! You could feel the heat from it 100 yards away, seriously, it was HOT! I didn't want to leave but the rain was starting when they lit it and we were getting hungry for some dinner so we wandered back round and went to the cafe, just as we finished dinner the fireworks started so we stood out and watched them, it wasn't til i visited the loo afterwards that i realised with the rain blowing into my back i was soaked through and had a small panic until i got back to the van and into dry clothes.
Note for next year... take more than two pairs of trousers and get more long johns, one pair is NOT enough!
So, a bit of a washout really with barely any racing and me not actually seeing any, but at least we now know we can fit 10 people in our van, with the bed up! :oD

Sweet Pea Shawl - for Daisy

Sweet Pea Shawl - for Daisy
Originally uploaded by franneyk

Not a very good photo i'm afraid - i thought i had more but i have some "invalid files" on the camera so i am presuming that something went wrong in the photographing process :o(
I really like how it came out, the cotton slub gives it a lovely texture and weight and the colour is so soft and hopefully it'll "go" with both formal and casual outfits. Daisydap had commented on several Sweet Pea Shawls on the forum and seemed very keen on the pattern but being unable to crochet she was unable to make herself one... that's where my plan started for her parcel :o)
I started with the shawl - it took me several swatches to find the right yarn and then thought about what else i could include in the parcel... i came up with a scene... sitting in a comfy chair with a shawl draped round your shoulders, a book in your hand, a candle burning and enriching the air with the scent of flowers and a steaming mug of chocolate to hand.So, that's what i did :oD
I love making swap parcels :o)

Joy's Smooshy Sweet Pea

Smooshy Sweet Pea
Originally uploaded by franneyk

Here is the Sweet Pea Shawl i made for Joy's birthday. Fortunately for me she liked it :o)
I found it very hard to part with it i have to say! It is absolutely gorgeous, i love Dream in Colour so much. The depth of the colours, the tones and subtle shading and highlights are just perfect in every way <3
I bought this skein from someone on the forum and am now very tempted to get more for meeeeeeeeee, i would absolutely love a zip up cardi in this colour... or any colour come to that ;o)

oh dear

i may have just finished the most gorgeous thing i have ever crocheted, and i don't get to keep it! I'm not sure i can let it go to it's new home, i am totally in love with it and i really hope that it will be just as loved when it reaches it's new home next week.

I'm being a good girl, it's currently soaking in some wool wash stuff and then i will be blocking it to show off it's beauty even more!

Ahhhhh, i love it when a plan comes together! ;o)

My "current" project list is now:
SKP2008 Jacobean socks - must be fhinished by the end of April
Lavender Blankie - must be finished by the 13th May
Crochet Block blankie - must be finished by the time the babies arrive! Anytime after the 20th May if i remember rightly?
2 baby hats to match BSJs and possibly booties too if there's enough wool left - ditto 20th May?

Secret stuff

I'm taking part in a Secret Santa swap on CTnY so i've been busy with secret swap stuff, and other secret stuff too for a very dear friend's birthday but i couldn't possibly tell anyone about any of it - i'm nearly all done now though so work can recommence on the SKP socks post haste! I have only 2 weeks left in which to finish them or else i get kicked out of the group (i think, i might just be making that bit up though!!)

My internet time has been very eratic of late - as if not having my own computer wasn't bad enough, the laptop is now on it's last legs too. It needs reformatting and a fresh start, it's so slow and frustrating, it took 15 minutes just to close it down the other day. Of course, the broadband is playing up too so for most ofthe day we don't have any conenction anyway! I've got some housework done though so it's not all bad and yesterday Niecey no.2 came over and we spent some time digging and weeding the veggie patch. I have decided to either have no vegetable patch this year, or to have a very limited amount. I'm not sure my back will take it though so if i do grow anything it's going to be things which don't require a lot of digging/bending/fuss. Courgettes are tempting me, as are cucumbers and chillis as they just need watering once they are planted and tied up. Potatoes are definitely out but i would love to grow sprouts again, if i can find a way to keep the damn Cabbage Whites off them! We'll see though, i am really suffering after just a couple of hours out there yesterday and it wasn't even very heavy digging as the soil is just lovely! We got two of the squares done and covered with black polythene, i am hoping it will help cut down the weeds. It seems to have worked on the square i did last year, although i did find some potatoes growing under there from 2006! ::blushing::

Last weekend we had a lovely little camping trip, the weather was mostly kind with just a little rain but at least it didn't snow again! ::lol::
We went to Stansted last year and were looking forward to going again this year and we weren't disappointed. There were some lovely cars there to ogle, shops to wander round and a new catering van serving up delicious leek, cauliflower and potato chowder - superb! Unfortunately we were too late for the porridge but the chowder was awesome and made a welcome change from the usual show fare or burger, hotdog or greasy overpriced chips!
Lukey was as good as gold and didn't savage any strange dogs, in fact he managed to sit quietly as they passed him and the only time he growled was when he was growled at first, which is kind of alright ;o)
We've a weekend off and then it's BIG BANG! YAY! I am really looking forward to it, it's the first of the year at Santa Pod and everyone really gets in the party spirit. I shall be dusting off the gin and replenishing the tonic that's for sure ;o)

A somewhat late posting!

This is the lovely parcel that Janice sent to me for the "Stitchmarker and mini-skein" swap over at CTnY.
I should have posted photos and thankyous straight away, but the camera wasn't charged and so the parcel got put to one side and then buried underneath WIPs and wool and i realise it appears i am making excuses but i have a terrible memory!
In my defence, i did thank Janice when the parcel arrived, i just didn't get round to photos ::blushing::

The stitchmarkers are ever so sparkly and are made with Swarovski crystals which catch the light beautifully.
I was trying to show off their sparkle in this photo but alas the battery was on it's way out again and i was doing it in a rush and so it hasn't focused properly :o(
If i get any sunshine tomorrow i will have another attempt ;o)

In my parcel there was also a lovely little cross-stitched keyring with a lovely little robin on it and a gorgeous mini-skein of orangey-goodness :o)

Thankyou again Janice, my apologies for the lateness in my posting!!

Jacquie's stitchmarkers

Jacquie's stitchmarkers
Originally uploaded by franneyk

At last a photo! i finally co-ordinated myself enough to have the stitchmarkers, camera, charged battery and cables on hand!

They are gorgeous, i can't tell you what they are made from just yet as Jacquie is running a little competition on her blog and i don't want to spoil it for anyone :o)
If you want a set of your very ownsome then get on over there and tell her what you think they are made from in her comments :oD

Ooooh! Parcels!

My postie arrived this morning clutching padded envelopes for meeeeeeeeee! :oD
Firstly there was a set of stitchmarkers from Leah and she also sent me a lovely crystal snowflake which i will hang in the window above the radiator, the heat will send it gently twirling and the sunlight(which will return at some point) will catch it and make it even more pretty :o) The stitchmarkers are lovely, green crystals which look ummm... robust (?) but they are lovely and light, perfect for my sock and scarf knitting :o)
Thankyou Leah *hugs*

Then there was another envelope marked "beads" from Utah. My stitchmarkers from Jacquie as part of the swap on CTnY :o) They are gorgeous in lovely toning shades of brown with a marble/granite look to them but they too are lighter than they look :o)
I look forward to using them Jacquie, thankyou! *hugs*

Thirdly was a squishy parcel. Now, i know i said i was on a Stashalong, but i didn't buy it! I swapped it for a sockbag with Ann so as far as i'm concerned it's allowed :oD
The squishiness is 62g of Treehouse "Bloom" in a gorgeous sand and sea colourway and i have just under 500m to play with. Because it reminds me so much of the beach i want to use a wavy pattern so i'll be scouring my pattern books and Ravelry for some inspiration this afternoon :oD

Not a bad day for parcels all in all eh! It made up for yet another round of house tidying - if only i could keep the mess under control i wouldn't have to do such major tidy ups but c'est la vie, i can't knit and tidy at the same time and i'd rather be knitting thankyouverymuch! :oD

Well, guess who the idiot is

who has made and posted ten cards and forgotten to take photos of ALL of them!!
DOH!

Oh well, hopefully they'll be in their new homes by Thursday - i do hopethey are well received! they're a bit amateurish, i am no Bob after all, but i kinda liked how they came out :o)

OOPS! I've fallen off the (band)wagon already!

I wasn't happy with another swap parcel i was making up. It's complicated but basically i was going to make a hat then the strikes happened and some deliveries were delayed and i decided not to make the hat, then i dithered a bit and waited for something else to arrive and then i just plain old got caught up in "other stuff" and put the parcel to one side and now that's late too *extremely embarrassed and annoyed*
So, last night i decided to make the hat! For some reason i have had a hankering to try Fair Isle so i found a lovely easy pattern in Simply Knitting and cast it on at about 8pm, and then at approximately 11pm i cast it off :oD
It was SO easy! OK, it was only one round of Fair Isle every 3 rounds and it was only two colours and it was only K1A, K1B, repeat around, but i really got the hang of it! It would have been even better had i actually used two yarns of the same weight but i got confused :o(
It looks OK though, and hopefully it will fit the munchkin it's made for *crosses fingers, toes and anything else that's available for crossing*
So, there's no stopping me now, December will be cast on a proper Fair Isle pattern month, i quite like the idea of some mittens or handwarmers maybe... Ooooh, i saw a pattern somewhere that's gloves or handwarmers, i shall have to hunt for it again cos it was lovely :o)

NO-vember will resume tonight with either Hexagon Blankie getting a go or some more Clapotis. Is hould do blankie really as it's a gift and Clapotis is only for me :o)

New Arrivals

I promised you pictures of the two newest animals to join us chez franney, and here they are!
These arrived in the post this week from Sprite who is in charge of the beasts at Yarnimals :o)
They are earrings, but they are special. You'll have to wait until tonight for evidence of their specialness however ;o)
I swapped them for a bag. It's a special bag. A first of it's kind (for me) bag!
There were a couple of glitches and i sewed the bottom of the bag up wrongly so it's no good as a shoulder bag, but it's perfect as a small project bag. Not bad for having no pattern though :o)

I have also made another new-to-me bag, but it might be going in a secret parcel so i can't show you it, just in case i spoil someone's surprise ;o)

Super speedy!

This evening at about7 o'clock i cast on for Breasty Sock number two and i have just finished the heel! I am back on track for finishing a pair of socks this month! YAY!

Piccies tomorrow, we might even get some daylight :oD

Most of the stuff i've been doing lately is secret stuff for swaps and things.
Three knitted somethings, two sewn somethings, a felt something and a paper something :oD
They will all be going to their new homes in the next couple of days and once they do i can post piccies :o)

Ride a cock horse

To Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse,
With rings on her fingers, and bells on her toes,
She shall make music wherever she goes.

The mystery is solved! Loobyj got it for me cos i didn't have a clue!
My secret pincushion maker is *drumroll please* Binty! YAY!
Unfortunately she is blogless (as far as i know) so you'll just have to take my word for it and if you see her at CTnY, tell her she's FAB!