Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

 

It's dress up day in Violet's class today and the theme is The Farm.

 

Violet wanted to go as a horse, but due to time restrictions (I didn't find out about the dress up day until Violet came home with a note on Monday afternoon), and my lack of sewing skills, she's ended up as a Scarecrow.

 

 

Show them your moves Dingle Dangle Scarecrow.

 

 

If you want to know how I made it.  I've created a basic tutorial here.

 

Did I ever show you the Room On The Broom costume I made her for Book Week?

 

 

I'll be heading back to my home town of Nottingham tomorrow.  My Sister-In-Law is taking me to  Jamie Oliver's restaurant as a special treat. I'm really looking forward to it. Though I haven't a thing to wear.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

 

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A few weeks a go I ordered some very pretty yarn from a company called Sweetgeorgia yarn, who are all the way across the pond in Canada.

 

I was so excited when it finally arrived today.

 

Saffron & Boysenberry.

 

Aren't they fabulous colours?

 

They are destined to be knit into this lovely cardigan for Violet.

 

 

The pattern is called Lady Emmeline, designed by Holli Yeoh.

 

When I spotted this pattern on Ravelry I knew instantly that I'd got to make one for Violet.  I could have opted for a different colour combination, but seeing as yellow is Violet's favourite colour, I knew that I just had to have the same colours as shown in the original pattern.

 

There was an unforeseen cost incurred from ordering this yarn from Canada.  I had to pay an additional £17.19 Customs charge! Can't remember seeing that on their shipping costs page.

 

I seem to have a few projects on my needles at the moment.  It's like that with knitting though, don't you think?  I blame Ravelry!

 

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Update:  After I emailed Sweet Georgia Yarns about the unforeseen Customs charge they have changed their shipping information, which now mentions this extra cost to UK customers.  Also, they offered me $30 worth of their patterns.  What wonderful customer service.



Sewing & knitting

 

Phew!  I have been a busy bee.

 

I found a few metres of lovely deckchair striped material in my stash box last week and wondered what I could make with it. 

 

I decided on a new blind for the kitchen.  

 

After I'd removed all the fixtures and fittings from the previous blind, I set to work, and after a few pleasant hours at my sewing machine, I'd made this.

 

 

It may not be perfect, but I'm so proud of myself and I absolutely love it.

 

My other half couldn't believe I'd actually made it. 

 

I wish I had more of this wonderful fabric as I'd love to make some matching curtains to hang at the back door.  Though it's very unlikely that I'll be able to find it again as I bought this material over 10 years ago. 

 

I wouldn't call my sewing machine and I best friends, but it's really put me in the mood for some more sewing.  So I'm going to try this pattern next.

 

 

Actual clothing.  How scary is that?!

 

Currently on my knitting needles is this lovely pattern, called Turmeric by Veera Valimaki.

 

 

I'm using Rowan Cashsoft 4ply in a colourway called Deep.  I bought the yarn in a sale - 10 balls for £30.  There'll be plenty of yarn to knit this top, with enough left over for at least one more project. 

 

It's knit in the round, from the top down. So far, I'm about a third of the way down the body.  Hopefully, it won't take me too much longer to finish, and I'll be wearing it very soon.

 

On the subject of yarn.  I bought this the other day from the new yarn shop I spoke about a couple of weeks ago. 

 

It's Vivacious 4ply by Fyberspates.  The colourway is Mixes Magentas. 

 

I've got a 40th birthday present planned for this skein of loveliness.

 

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Aren't these guys supposed to be extinct?

 

You all probably think I'm dinosaur mad, but I swear it's not me.  Violet can't seem to get enough of them at the moment.  So when I found out that Twycross Zoo were opening a brand new Dinosaur Valley, I just knew that Violet would want to go. 

 

 

They move, roar and even squirt water at you.  You've been warned!

 

As you can see by Violet's face, she thoroughly enjoyed it.  Apparently seeing the dinosaurs was the best thing she saw at the Zoo.

 

I on the other hand, prefer my animals to be real and not made of plastic.  My absolute favourite part of our visit was seeing this baby Gorilla.  It's mum came right up to the glass where I was standing, so I got a very good look. 

 



 

 It's got to be one of the cutest baby animals I've ever seen.

 

 

And, of course there's always the funny penguins.  I could sit and watch these little fellas all day. 

 

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