MERRY CHRISTMAS - GOD JUL

Tomtar from Hemmets Veckotidning 50/2010 - a Swedish magazine

 I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Yippie, Christmas holidays and hopefully lots of time to do nice things - like knitting - and not only course work...

December has been really quite busy. The boys and I had a weekend in Sweden which was lovely - and white...

Being back home, I of course had to visit Eks Lilla Bod - and came home with half the suitcase full of yarn. This hat is made in JC naturgarn from Jarbo.

Back in London again, still feeling very Swedish, I took the whole family to the Swedish Church in London for the Lucia Celebration. This was the first time the boys had experienced this lovely celebration and was as delighted as I was.

Even if I do not agree with the BBC's broadcaster reporting about 'killer freeze' and 'the arctic conditions' in England at the moment, but yes it has been and still is cold in parts of the country. Even we in London has experienced some fantastic winter wonderland.

 

  

These are both pictures from our school garden on Monday, when I led our Winter Craft School. Could it be more beautiful and winter-like? A perfect day for candle dipping out-doors in our shelter.

 

 

As I haven't been posting much lately, I just want to end with these lovely soft fingerless mittens in Blue Sky alpaca.

   

... and a still secret Christmas pressie...

Celebrate with Stickfrossa

Another fantastic creation from Stickfrossa - an extra Christmas pressie for one lucky winner!!!

"Active Blogger Award" - will I never receive...

No, I cannot hope for that award, if there is any...
I am back in 'study-hell' - well that is how it feels at the moment anyway. Sorry for moaning, but it has all got the best of me.

So, even if I don't have much inspiring 'stuff' to show off, I keep my blog as it is my little window to all you other VERY inspiring ladies out there. I do call in at time and I so enjoy you all.

Something, has been positive though. As a birthday pressie to myself, I went to a one day spinning course at Handweavers Studio - and had a wonderful day. These modest skeins are the results of my first ever try with a spinning wheel.

 

The weekend after that I spent the Sunday at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Alexandra Palace nearby where we live. Imagine that, an afternoon all by myself.

Got a few bits and bobs...

 

Wonderful alpaca from Purl Alpaca Designs - A scarf to come.

 

Blue Sky Alpaca from Loop, Islington - my very favourite shop was also at the show! Fingerless mittens.

                        

  

Fun felted balls from Blooming Felt. So handy and quick to buy! X-mas pressies to come.

 

First try to knit with wire and beads - from 'The Crazy Wire Company'.

 

And some buttons for my Rosamund's Cardigan. I think I'll go for the patterned ones.

                  

The cardigan is knitted, but it still needs to have the yarn weaved in, be blocked and the buttons sewn on.

And to finish the blog in good style - still moaning - something happened with my camera. Tiny little photos and weird colours and...

Sorry all, I wish you a wonderful time and I promise to be back happier next time!

Loop - Yarn Heaven

Went to Loop in Islington, London yesterday to get a ball of tweed for a pair of Ysolda's "Garterstitch Mitts". The mitts are meant as a birthday pressie for a dear colleague.

But, as anyone who has ever visited Loop understand,  I did not walk out of the shop with only A BALL of Berroco Blackstone Tweed color 2635 - but a bag full of wonderful yarn. Just take a look at this and drool...

 

I am absolutely in love with Shilasdair natural dyed wool since my Ishbel, came out with four skeins. The two pink ones will probably be Andrea's Shawl and Mitts  and the two blue's a cardi for the boys. (All Ravelry links.)

And another of Berroco's lovely yarn, Ultra Alpaca color 6283. This is meant for these mitts.

All-in-all a great Sunday afternoon and soon it is the 'Knitting and Stitching Show' at Alexandra Palace, London. Yeah!

Ishbel

Lovely Ishbel in wonderful Shilasdair Luxury DK from Loop. This shawl is soft as a kitten and sunny and happy to the colour. Love it!

Well, here is the reason why my pictures are not that good - my phonecamera... And my poor technique photographing...

Had a first go with straw yesterday. A mobile, probably for a colleague who's birthday coming up.

Warm Feet

Mary Jane Slippers

Ragg-Socks for little boys

Virkligheten

One lucky winner will indulge in this new and lovely book from Virkverket. Good Luck! I keep all my fingers crossed...

More felted caps

On request from the boys, they have now got their own felted caps.

School start approaching

Filurer

 Soon I am back to 'normal' routine with work and studies on top of family life. Hopefully these bookmarks will make the reading easier to get going with again.

Little figures from Virkverket, Gecko (inspired as always by Anna) and Fan from Crochetroo.


If I can enjoy some treats while studying, it might be easier to keep going...

Princess cake

Dammsugare

Oops, a little mushroom in the garden.

Mushroom

KarMa's 2nd birthday

Not living in Gothenburg and Sweden since a while (well 10 years to be exact...) I have not been able to visit the shop - just their webshop. Now they celebrate their 2nd birthday with a lovely raffle. Fingers crossed!

Felted Winter Cap

Just back from a lovely week in Sweden visiting family. A lot of knitting has been done...

Made a hat for my cousin from this pattern. Knitted in Drops Eskimo bought at Ek's Lilla Bod. If you ever happen to be near Varnamo, it is well worth a visit to Irene and her shop.

We were all so pleased how the hat turned out, so today Elliot and Zak choose colours for hats for them.

Before felting...

... and after.


Someone else just learned to knit. Zak in action!


Just before we went to Sweden, we spent a few days with friends in Wales. The family's two daughter just turned 5 and 7 and I had made them each a craft/knitting bag.

SockPixie, Vivian and Kaellingesjal

Today my package from SockPixie arrived. What a joy to see and feel the hand-dyed/hand-spun wool. Even more joy to find an extra added gift from lovely Caroline. Thank you!



Having finally managed to finish my Vivian, I am now busy to sew the zip in. I know this will be a very, VERY warm and snug cardi for the winter.


This is how my Kaellingesjal look like at the moment. Just the top lace and end bits to go.


I'm sorry the colors in the photos don't look exactly as in real...