What Katie Did

No sun - no moon!
      

No morn - no noon -
      

No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day.
      

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
      

No comfortable feel in any member -
      

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
      

No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! -
      

November!

Thomas Hood, 1844

heard on 'Open Country' BBC R4 today. And tomorrow it is December, so that's alright then
   

Happy Birthday Holly

Paviyarn

Wonderful Harrogate

where to start? fabulous fabrics

wonderful wools

beautiful buttons

errr ... ravishing ribbons?

fantastic fleece

sensational sock yarn

and so much inspiration...

below is the House of Hemp with such beautiful muted colours

batik is another of those crafts that I wonder about trying - but how many hours are there in a day?

loved these parrots - how about a bird cushion?

I have many more photos I could share with you - I really enjoyed having the chance to take everything in which two days allows you to do. Now I am going to the shed to unpack everything and take stock of what I bought. There will be some new necklaces and some knitting projects for the rest of my life the winter, an amazing piece of pink fabric for a shawl....
I bought some stunning yarn from Turkey sold by Parvi (no site) and began knitting fingerless mitts. Pictures to follow I promise.
Right now I have to go and unpack and thank Magrethe for her driving, her company and her organisation - great B&B! We have reserved our place for next year!

not christmas, or my birthday.....

This mysterious parcel arrived at Geoff's workshop and as he often gets strange deliveries he didn't do what most right thinking people would and rip the end off to see what exciting thing might be within. When he eventually did, it turns out to be FOR ME!!

Now you are forgiven for thinking this looks only marginally more exciting out of the box that it was in, but bear with me.

When I make mats, I use the frames that Geoff made me - there would be another photo here, but after an extensive search of the house I have to conclude that Owen has taken the camera to school.  He has been taking little video clips of people to put on You Tube so I think there will have to be harsh words when he gets home this evening.

So - no more photos to illustrate my new mat frames - but we will be patient. Suffice to say, they are completely lovely and will take my career as amateur matter to new levels!

And why did Geoff get them? Well, Dad wanted them to be a surprise for me thats why! AND THEY ARE!!!

Skip to this link and see the 'easy frames' section. I now have two of these - a large one and a really useful small one. The problem with mat making is that the huge frames make it a non-portable craft activity, a bit like playing the tuba rather than the french horn (?). You can stuff your knitting into a bag and go anywhere, but if you want to have a sociable time making mats, you have to hire the village hall and send out invites weeks in advance. Not spontaneous.

Well, I still might not be making mats on the train or matting on a tuesday afternoon in Cafe Nero, (Fore Street, Hexham, 1.30, all welcome)  but I will be able to be more portable with the small frame.

As ever - Thank you Mum and Dad! xxxxx

I am off to Harrogate on Thursday for Knitting and Stitching. I have a list. It is getting very long. 

(If you are one of the Wonderful Knitters Of Hexham and you won't see me at Knitting this afternoon and you would like something from Harrogate, email me QUICK!)

Full Report At The Weekend

Oh Dear

I've just found the bit on Typepad where I can change the style of my page ..... I've been tweaking. Now I might be able to read my own blog without my glasses on.

About My Work

I've never had work cross over into Blogland before, but I had a really lovely session there recently. Thought I'd share it with you all. I am a midwife at a large hospital. I rarely catch babies these days - though there is one coming up in January I'm getting ready for. For the last few years I have been the 'Parent Education Midwife' which sounds very grand! I design and run sessions and courses for women and their partners. I have a team of willing midwives who help me and together we offer sessions about waterbirth, active birth, yoga, many other things, as well as the more traditional 'Parentcraft' (hate that word). But I also get involved in all sorts of weird and wonderful requests - if ever anyone wants something out of the ordinary it usually ends up on my desk.

This week I had the pleasure of a visit from a group of women in their 80's. They are helping a woman who is writing a play about childbirth in the war years. She wanted to bring them to my hospital and film them talking about their memories. We had so much fun. I asked them what they thought of how things are now and their answers would fill several 'pages'. It was a lovely experience and very humbling too. Between us we had 34 children and there were only eight of them! Most were home births, one woman gave birth behind a curtain while two men mended the kitchen range! Though none of their men were present for the birth. When I asked about 'pain relief' the general attitude was - 'well you just got on with it'. How different it is now with epidural being the most common choice.

I have been invited to the play next summer!

Here is the bump I'm on call for in January.

Never was a child so well celebrated!

The trousers fit and look good, so hooray for that! (and in this photo she is still wearing last years birthday make from me - the stripey cardigan!)

So after a very busy few days, its back to work and dog walking and choir on Mondays (very lovely) knitting on Tuesdays (always fun), work, work, Oxfam on Fridays (a nice change from working, though I am often more tired after shifting books for half a day than a full day at the hospital). Then weekends and more, more, more of the same.

So the next event to focus on is Christmas, and until yesterday I was at a loss to know what I was going to make. Last year I made everyone who usually gets a little something from us, a grocery bag with bits and pieces in. Yesterday the answer to this years gift-make came to me in a flash. I'll try one and if it works - I'm away!!

But for now, the autumny sunshine is bright and clear and Poppy needs a walk in the woods.

Have a happy week everyone.

Not another weekend already?

So the bear is finished and my Mum wanted me to tell you who it's for. Well, she doesn't know! But he'll be safely packed into a shoe box along with some other gifts and sent to Operation Christmas Child. Mum does this every year, which is better than I manage. We used to take part when the children were little, but have lapsed in recent years. Well done Mum! And 'thankyou' from someone who will love your Little Bear!

I'm wondering where I can find a few extra hours in each day. This past few days has been particularly hectic, but a lot of fun. I did the knitting day for my neighbour who runs this place. And a craft fair - my first - here. This was my first experience of trying to sell the things I make and I was apprehensive about how they might be received. Some of them are a bit 'out there' and reflect the stranger side of my sense of humour - like the recycled badges - made from the pages of old books - the best sellers here were from the Gareth Edwards Book of Rugby Skills - I found the badges of Gareth Edwards foot etc..... hilarious, but I wasn't sure anyone else would. Well - I needn't have worried. Seems my quirky sense of fun is shared by some of the good folk of Northumberland!

No pictures of either event I'm afraid, but I feel sure there will be many taken today, at the second birthday of my little friend Cala.

But a post without pictures is unthinkable. This was taken by Owen on our way to school last week.

No sooner said than done.....

Look!

My Mum taught me to knit and all the time I was growing up, the sound of the needles gently clicking away was always in the background. She made so many Aran cardigans and jumpers, and other warm and lovely garments too numerous to remember.
But for the last several years, Mum has turned to quilting and needlework. She even gave me all her old needles and wool. But my Dad and brother now wear hand knitted socks and this chap emerged from the needles last week. He is going to be clothed I believe - and photos of his wardrobe will be forthcoming.