Instead of packing...

April has turned out to be madly stressful.

We recently found out that we had to move house - four months earlier than we thought. Then it has been hard to find anywhere to move to. Finally last week, we found a place in Kings Langley even though it is just temporary. Anyway, now I am very busy packing and cleaning for the move on Saturday. Happy Easter!

We are excited to move out of London and to live within walking distance to the lovely Kings Langley Steiner School where Elliot will start class one in September. 

Once there, I then has to tie myself to the computer and piles of books to write my biggest assignment yet that has to be handed in first Friday in May.

After that, I will breath out!

When everything has been to stressful, I instead of packing went to Nest in Crouch End - a beautiful shop - and got some lovely yarn.

Spring coloured Bluefaced Leicester will be a Margrathea Shawl (ravelry link).

The lovely soft pink yarn from Rooster (at the top) will finally be a little 'Petra's Lilla Kofta' for a little friend in the family.

Polly

Here I am with a rare post, just to introduce Polly. My degree work is taking up all of my 'spare' time along work and family, so not much to present. (I just start a lot of projects to keep my spirit up when it all gets to much - but not much is finished...)

At least I sometimes get the chance to be crafty as part of my university studies so hence our new family member Polly. She is a quite large and heavy Waldorf doll with more details than I normally do - dimpled knees and elbows and both belly-button, nose and a 'real' bottom.  Her cardigan is knitted from this pattern with Shilasdair lovely wool and pattern for her linen apron-dress is adjusted from one found in 'The Children's Year'.  

Andrea's Shawl

A still unblocked Andrea's Shawl by Kirsten Kapur, knitted in lovely natural dyed wool from Shilasdair.

Third time lucky...

Some time ago, I made two felted hats for my sons Elliot and Zak. But Zak's got just a tad bit to small, so I tried to knit on a few more rows, which did not work - at all! So I knitted a new one, that turned out just a tad bit to large - for his teddy-bear...

 


But now I luckily got it right with help of Drops Alaska from Eks Lilla Bod, where I also got Drops Nepal for new mittens for me. Both yarn felt beautifully.

 

 Have no idea what happened to the photo-placement now, but anyway...

As the end of the Christmas Holiday draws closer, I now say good bye to my lovely 'Tilda Tomte' for this time.

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.