Tuesday 4 April 2017

Feeling the Blues

Good morning all. I can hardly believe that we're into April already. Spring has definitely sprung round these parts, although my cherry blossom isn't quite here yet. The title of this post doesn't mean that I'm feeling melancholy or depressed, it's more a reflection of my recent projects and wips. I only realised when uploading the photos that blue is definitely my colour of the moment. Here are a few of them:
The socks that I made for E in West Yorkshire Spinners' 'Peacock' colourway:
I always like to have a pair of socks on the go, so I immediately balled up the yarn for my next pair. They will be 'Hermione's Everyday Socks' in Norah George's 'Elsa' colourway with contrasting blue heels, toes and cuffs. I've already started these and the yarn is super soft and squishy!
This is me standing on the coffee table trying to take a photo of my finished 'Worsted Boxy' sweater by Joji Locatelli. It still needs blocking, but that hasn't stopped me from wearing it as it's really comfy and cosy. The yarn is Malabrigo Rios in the 'Reflecting Pool' colourway.
Next I cast on for Amy Meekes' 'Random Act of Colour' shawl in some Madeline Tosh yarn that I bought at Loop last year. I have to admit that I've struggled a fair bit with the eyelet sections. It takes better concentration than I apparently have and I've had to tink back quite a few times! I'm keeping it in my blue project bag!
Blue fabric this time - I was having a little play making a drawstring bag. I do love camper vans - R and I went to a Classic Car meet at the weekend and whilst he was looking at the old MGs and minis, I was lusting after these vans. 
I think it will squish up nicely for out and about sock knitting.
I even made a slightly uneven dpn cosy to go with it:
This week's library books - I suppose only one of them has a blue cover!
Mother's Day cookies from L. She was actually mountain climbing in Snowdonia on the day, having booked a weekend away without realising that it would be Mother's Day! She did , however, post me some homemade ginger and cacao nib cookies which were delicious and they miraculously made it through the post unscathed.
She and E also bought me a beautiful bowl of bulbs - they are supposed to be Narcissi, but I think the bulbs may be a little large so I'll have to wait and see. It all adds to the enjoyment.
I do love where we live. It has lots of beautiful countryside, is near to Oxford and Bristol so I can visit my babies and is handy for London on the train. It is, however, quite a way from any bit of coast and I do miss the sea. Leanne's posts, with her stunning photos of Cornwall, have me drooling, so when R asked me where I would like to go for a day trip, it had to be the coast. We drove down through the New Forest with its friendly horses and donkeys to Milford on Sea, just to the East of Bournemouth.


This donkey was particularly friendly and came up to the car to be patted:
It wasn't the most picturesque bit of coastline, but it was blue, it smelled nice, sounded nice and chips may have been eaten by it!

..... and it had a view of the Isle of Wight, the Needles and the lighthouse:
There were also blue beach huts!
Thursday saw me beetling off to Oxford for the day and to meet L after work. This is the Martyr's Memorial outside Balliol College. Anglican Bishops, Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer were burnt at the stake for heresy here in 1555/6 and it is claimed that scorch marks from the flames can still be seen on the door of Balliol.

There may have been a little visit to the yarn store!
The main reason for my trip though, apart from seeing L, was to see the Degas to Picasso exhibition at the Ashmolean. It covered the rise to Modernism and was fascinating.

Finally, I have been sifting through my stash trying to 'Find my Fade' for Andrea Mowry's shawl. You start with 1 colour and gradually progress, choosing skeins which contain some colour element from the previous skein. As you can see, I started with my favourite blue/greens, moved through golden brown and ending with purple/green. I'm a pretty monogamous knitter though, so I won't be casting this on until I finish my Random Act of Colour.
Anyway, that's all for the moment. Enjoy the spring in your part of the world and may your week be filled with blues of the best kind - or yellows, pinks, reds, greens ................

Toodle Pip for now. x

11 comments:

  1. You have been busy! Love those socks, your sweater and that adorable bag! Those beach huts are just gorgeous. Glad you enjoyed the exhibition at the Ashmolean. Would like to have seen that too.

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  2. Gorgeous makes, I'm a big fan of blue as well, I always seem to gravitate towards it. Glad you had a good day at the coast, I always love to go to the sea too, so soothing. Very impressed that you were sent homemade cookies for Mother's Day, how lovely. CJ xx

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  3. I love those socks. I might have to commission you to make me some.... We're not far from Milford, we used to take the kids crabbing near there. Oxford....lovely place. How great to have an excuse to visit! I'm also v impressed at the homemade cookies. I think I might make some drawstring bags too, having seen yours. Did you do round bottoms? Hope the running is going well? CT xx

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  4. Hi CT. No, the bag has a box bottom like my zipped Moomin one. I have a Hungry Caterpillar bag (which I didn't make) that does have a round bottom, but that seemed more complicated and the box type worked just fine. Thank you for asking about the running - I'm currently not, after yet another injury. I'm not even entirely sure how I did it! I think my leg hadn't quite recovered and I dug the veggie patch - it felt fine at the time, but then the following day, I could barely walk again. I'm still hobbling slightly (it hurts if I flex my foot), so I'm confining myself to swimming and yoga until I'm absolutely sure that it has recovered properly. xx

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  5. I don't think a trip to the coast is ever complete without chips! I'm a big fan of blue; such a calming colour. My Mum always used to say she found it a cold colour, but O would disagree. Plus it compliments so many other colours. I'm impressed with your biscuits by post! My birthday was also on Mother's Day this year. I had a Toblerone from Olly? And a bag of Aero bubbles from Alf. Both went down well. With all of us!
    Sometimes I wish I was closer to Sam. It must be a nice feeling to now that you're not too far away should you be needed. I'm also feeling like I'd like to take Olly to London this summer. I think he's old enough to really enjoy some of the museums and landmarks.
    Leanne xx

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  6. Glad you made it to the coast; those beach huts are gorgeous. Love your boxy jumper itlook really good and comfy. Bet the exhibition at the Ashmoleon was wonderful. You are so convenient to all the great exhibitions. Enjoy the rest of your week. B x

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  7. Oh, sorry to hear of yet another injury...it gets old fast, doesn't it....hope all is well soon.
    I loved your blue theme, my favourite colour too. Also loved all your new creations, I too would buy your work! That sweater is perfect, looks good on you.Will enjoy seeing how that shawl comes out, it really is right up my street....yes...you should set up shop on Etsy! I'll be a repeat customer! Bless L, loved her cookies, like mother like daughter eh?
    Donkeys??? Oh, oh, oh....one of my favourite creatures. How I would love to rescue one, hubs is having none of it though!XXX

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  8. Another fun post. The socks are great and you look lovely (if somewhat headless) in your new sweater.
    Amalia
    xo

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  9. Loads of lovely things you've been doing, but I especially love all the photos of the coast. My favourite place to go too. xx

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  10. I love that L sent you cookies through the post, that is so lovely! I don't think I've ever been to Milford on Sea but it's nice that you can see The Needles from there. We look over to the Eastern side of the island from where we are nearer Portsmouth. The socks are fabulous, by the way. xx

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  11. I agree that blue does seem to be the colour of the moment in the deep blue skies we've been having and so many blue spring flowers. Your day out looks lovely and I'm in awe of your yarny creativity x

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