turtleknits

I joined the 10 dollar swap over at Ravelry. It's really good fun cos it does not cost a lot and it's amazing what you can put together to treat your swap partner. Today my parcel arrived from Giulia in Italy and she spoiled me with lovely treats. Italian art bookmark calendar, gorgeous pink merino/acrylic yarn which is so soft, yummy chocolate and other lovely little treats. Thank you very much Giulia. This is a sock yarn beret which I have just finished for my daughter. I was very pleased with the result, but alas it's too small. Not to worry though as I've just unravelled it from the top and am knitting it again. I will make it longer to the decreasing and it should solve the problem. Last weekend I finished this pair of socks for myself. Given the really cold weather we are currently having, they are very welcome to keep my feet warm.

It's not very often that our country has falls of snow and when it can be really beautiful. Last week I began a photography course. I really need it I hear you all say. Anyway we walked to the local park and took some photos. This is my back garden last night with the snow weighing heavily on the shrubs A view from my front door. More like Christmas? Looking at front of my house. While the snow is lovely, I was caught in almost blizzard conditions this afternoon on my way home. However it has eased off since. It's a little scary driving in these conditions. Don't think I'll make my knitting group this evening, I'm not sure I'd like to get caught out in the cold later, so I'll knit by the fire instead.!!

I started out this New Year with the intention of using up lots of my ever-growing stash.I really shouldn't purchase any more yarn until some of it is gone, that is unless I need some for a particular project!! Anyway so far so good. This is a pair of mittens for myself. I had none and the recent spell of really cold weather prompted me to knit them. Recognise the yarn? Well I bought 9 skeins of this Noro yarn to knit up a cardi for myself, but when I got half way in to it I realised I would not wear it and it would not be flattering, so I'm knitting lots out of it including 3 pairs of sofa slippers, 2 pairs of fingerless gloves and these mittens, and I still have a skein left!!! I'll think of something to use it for. Anyway these mitts are really warm. These two items are felted covers for portable hard-drives. My daughter needed a cover recently for her new and expensive hard drive and so I created one. However when her college friends saw it , they fell in love with it ...

I didn't get a lot of knitting done for Christmas gifts this year. I don't think I planned to really. Anyway these are a few that I did manage to do. A clapotis and matching mittens for my eldest daughter, and she was thrilled with them. I also knit a similar clapotis for my younger daughter in a different colour. The yarn used for both was Phildar Lambswool. It's 50% lambswool and 50% acrylic. It's really really soft. Hope it washes ok later! This is a gorgeous gorilla who came naked and needed a handknit cardi! I think he was very happy. Good way to use some more of my stash. Gorilla in another pose! Three pairs of 'sofa slippers' for my sisters, knitted in Noro 'Silver Thaw'. Hope they deep the toesies warm this cold weather. Must keep knitting from my stash!!!!!!!!!!!

My Mam, Carmel, passed away on the morning of Nov 21st last after a short illness. She was gentle, kind, loving, caring and giving. We will miss her terribly. I don't think it has dawned on us yet. I will miss the long phone calls, the chats, the gossip, the visits. May she rest in peace.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a most relaxing weekend in Co. Wexford with two friends. Despite many stressful things at present, it was really lovely to go away. Walks on the beach, short drives and shopping in Enniscorthy with plenty of coffee, wine and good food thrown in. I'm no writer, but one morning while walking on the beach in glorious November sunshine and crisp air, I was inspired. Flimsy, frothy, floaty bubbles Whirl about on the pebbly beach Left by the sandy grey sea Breaking, snowy, foamy white, to the shore A sunny crisp November morning Walking, crunching the pebbles Fresh, clean, crisp air Exhilerating the senses Ger

My package for the Fave things swap on Ravelry arrived yesterday. A lovely red scarf, Knitting Rules book, yummy sock yarn, scented candles, dpns, some coffee, lovely stitch markers and some doggie treats for my dog. Thank you Kellie so much for my lovely parcel.