I spent last weekend in York with Miles. It was, as always, fun, relaxing, and full of laughter and smiles. Miles let me go to a quilting shop. Actually, he took me there. He is an angel. Sometimes ;o) This was taken just outside York Minster.
I guess I haven't blogged since before Easter, which seems like so long ago now. The Easter weekend was really nice. Miles came down to London for the weekend and met my parents for the first time. Alex, my brother's girlfriend, threw a suprise 30th birthday party for my brother which was a huge success. They went on holiday to Paris a few days later and when they came back to England, she was no longer his girlfriend...she is now his fiancee! Woo-hoo! And, for the first time in my life, I'm going to be a bridesmaid! You may be able to tell from the number of exclamation marks in the last few sentences that I'm very excited about this! No date as yet, but I think their plan is to get married sometime next Spring. I need to lose weight so I don't look like a giant marshmallow.In the last few weeks, I've been knitting as much as I can, although I've been feeling pretty worn out with work and particularly the commute, so that when I get home at night I've been eating dinner and going straight to bed. Although during the last week or so I've been waking up around 5.30am so I've been knitting for an hour in bed some mornings.
I finished this hat for Isabella, and knitted a second slightly larger green one without the I-cord top. I have a photo of them both to download later. Jen said they both fit Isabella which is good news, as I made the pattern up and it was all guess work really.
One of Miles' friends has asked for a green hat (to match her archery kit) with an orange stripe running through it. This was the first orange yarn I bought, which I love. It's Handmaiden sock yarn. I've changed my mind now though, and will be using a double strand of Kidsilk haze in 'Marmalade' to add a bit of texture. So the sock yarn may indeed become socks!
These are rather assymetric socks knitted from Lorna's Laces 'Black Purl' colourway. They're rather large on me. I knit quite loosely so I think I'll go down a needle size for my next pair.
I knitted this wee tank top, also destined for Isabella, although it's 3-6 month size so I'll probably give it to Jen when I see her at Woolfest in June. I'm really pleased with this colour combination, and I know Jen likes purple. I think this is my favourite baby pattern. It's so quick, I knitted this in a few evenings.
Ahhh, lastly, this is some banana bread that I baked a few weeks back. I was in touch with one of my university tutors recently. He asked how I am keeping etc. and the last line of his email said, 'and are you still baking those heavenly cakes?!' Here's the answer :o) The recipe is in 'How to be a Domestic Goddess' by Nigella Lawson.
I ventured over to Ikea in Croyden this morning to buy lots of boxes. My stash appears to have got slightly out of hand and has been migrating around the house and especially all around my bedroom, onto every surface including the floor, so it really is time to sort it into boxes so I know what I've got. I've got some lovely yarns that I'd forgotten about, many of which have been presents, so it's time for a major stash busting effort!I *might* have more photos of knitting and tidy yarn storage later, but last time I said that, it was a month later, so don't be too expectant!
Oh, and for my Newcastle lovelies...I'll be at the Centurion next Saturday and in Newcastle all weekend. Not sure where I'm staying yet though. See you then!
