What Katie Did

Yarn in a Teacup Swap

Zoe organised a really good swap! She did so much careful planning and matched people up to partners. And she got it so right with me. My swap partner doesn't have a blog, so I can't link to her and get you all to visit and send her a huge HUG. I need to do that so much!
I had been feeling fed up with this and that when I got home to this parcel.

Now, bear in mind that the swap was about a ball of yarn and a cup. Zoe did say that you could pop in a bar of chocolate or whatever. Kate from Massachusetts interpreted this instruction with a very generous pinch of salt.

I've cropped this one a bit too much - but you can just see the little kitty perched on the top. The cat is playing with WOOL!

Maple syrup in solid and liquid form and tea from Boston - what better?

well - chocolate covered cranberries - that's what!

this is a nifty little thing for saving my fingers from those pan lids and oven trays. The design of the fabric is tea cups - another thoughtfully chosen gift!

These are amazing - the instruction is to store the cable needle behind your ear - like a pencil - when not in use in your knitting, which helps to condition the wood.

this has to be the best smelling soap ever though I'm not sure about the knit reference? It must be to make sure my hands are nice and clean before I handle the yarn..... so are you ready for this yarn?

there is DK and 4ply and the colours are exactly perfect


I have been looking for some wool to make these from Knitty and I think the double knitting will be perfect.
Oh Joy!
So - Kate - you are personally responsible for my 180' turn around in mood. Thank you so much for putting this pack of wonderful goodness together for me and sending it off to a complete stranger half way round the world. I'll never cease to be surprised by the generosity I encounter in this amazing blog world!
More pictures on Flickr, and visit Zoe's 'Yarn in a Teacup' Group to see the other swaps as they are posted.
Thanks Zoe.

My lips are sealed!

Phew! what a roller coaster! I really enjoyed the book and you can rest assured that no word will pass my lips until everyone I know who wants to read it has read it!

In the meantime - here is a bundle of loveliness that I got from Onegirl in a fabric swap arranged by Melly and me. I confess I got it a week ago, but was too absorbed by the whole Harry thing to enjoy it. I am enjoying it very much now! These lovely fabrics are already part of a couple of plans I have in my head waiting for some Shed Time to realise. So - don't hold your breath then. Thank you Lesley!

and here is a bit of silliness that Martha found and 'acquired' to send to Owen for his collection

The best thing to do with a rainy saturday

so - that was - 'please do not disturb' unless of course......

And the lucky winners are.......

Mum and Dad have just left for their journey back to Preston after a birthday tea party with all the trimmings

they are chocolate coated cherries on the top layer - more of them later

and this is apricot cake from Nigel Slaters ' Appetite' with more chocolate coated fruit and eight candles and two candles and a knife that sings 'Happy Birthday' ... really.
And here is a bowl full of papers waiting for the winners to be announced

here is that very draw..... am I building up an air of anticipation here (or just annoying you all?)

and the winners are
Maddy from 'Maddy's Glasshouse' and Sarah from 'All Fingers and Thumbs'

hooray! hooray! hooray! congratulations!

well done you two! email me your postal address and I will pack up the prizes and send them on their way. Thanks to Mum and Dad for helping make this impartial draw work so well!

After all that excitement - here are the chocolate coated cherries. I made a batch to take to knitting at Anne's yesterday, took a few to share when we went to see Happy Potter last night and made even more today for Mum's birthday. This is because I enjoyed the palaver of making them so much.

I didn't want them to have flat bottoms - hence all that suspending from the cake rack with little pegs..


and I was all out of Scotblock so I had to use Green and Blacks - ah well - such a great combination - dark chocolate and cherries.
Harry Potter was wonderful - watch out for a fabulous performance from Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood

1000 comments and prizes!

Checking out my stats the other day I noticed that I was creeping towards having 1000 comments! So I devised a plan. The person who left the One Thousandth Comment would receive a surprise parcel!

And for all my other visitors here is a chance to have a little package of this and that from my shed. When I was putting this package together just now I made up two more a bit like it.

To be in with a chance of one of them, just leave a comment and I will select two at random - on - lets see..... my Mum's birthday .... 16th July. In fact, Mum can pick the winners as I have just issued her and Dad with a personal invitation to the shed!
Oh - and if you'd like to know who left the 1000th comment - it was Lindsay at Serendipity
Isn't this blog world lovely?

the draw will be on 15th July - the Sunday when Mum and Dad are visiting. So - by noon on 15th please.

Woman's Hour!

Today the item that was recorded a couple of weeks ago was broadcast on Radio Four's Woman's Hour. I love R4 and I listen to W Hour whenever I can. It has been a long held ambition to be on this iconic programme.
Here is the link to the page and if you click on 'Listen to this item' you might be able to hear it! I'm not sure how often the BBC change their pages so it might only be there for the next week.
Today has been a lovely day.