Whoops!

I've not shown you these socks yet have I? They are Spring Forward from Knitty summer 2008. Really easy lace pattern. I made mine in The Natural Dye Studio's Mirage - Merino and Tencel yarn.

I always, always, always hand wash my hand made socks. ALWAYS.....

Apart from this time. Oh blast I said. But I've cut the cuffs off and will crochet around the cut edges to make sure they don't fray too much. Maddie has a brand new pair of slippers!
This is Eddy, he's from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. Made using 2 lots of my very beginner handspun yarn. I think he is ugly but Maddie loves him :)

I've made this BSJ (Baby Surprise Jacket) for a friends new baby. Hope it still fits as he is growing very well!

On the needles at the moment is a Milo tank top for Sullivan using Rowan Classic Luxury Cotton in a yummy bitter/milk chocolate colourway. Photos soon...

Oh, I'm feeling a bit sad because there is a man on his way up from Weymouth to collect Bluey. I think I'll commiserate with crispy chilli beef and ginger prawns for tea....

Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club Regatta, Fibrefest and P/hop...

Yesterday Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club held their first regatta. Despite strong winds and a very lumpy sea everyone had a great time. The course was shortened due to the sea conditions so the races were about 1 mile in length compared to the norm of around 1.5 - 2 miles. The rowers had to work very hard to fight against the waves, and they definitely won the battle!

The Ilfracombe Men's A didn't do too well but the Men's B won their first ever race! It was Ilfracombes' first ever race win in a regatta and much celebration followed! Well done boys! The mixed team came a close fifth after Weymouth, the team really worked hard to try and edge past. It was practically a photo finish!
Daddy didn't win :o(


I loved this seagull, he (or she) posed quite happily for me before fighting against the wind to soar in the thermals. Not his thermals, it was quite warm yesterday!

Here you can see all the boats lining up for the first race. These crews are the Ladies B teams, Weymouth - the 2 green boats - came first and third, Paignton - yellow and blue - came second.

Overall, Weymouth were the outright winners. They have extremely strong crews who work with good coxswains to ensure the whole crew pull together well.

Emilia had a great day, she spent almost all day in the food tent helping to sell the cakes. She was brilliant with the money, adding it up, giving correct change and always being polite, confident and happy. It has done wonders for her confidence. In fact our Millie was back, the one who was so happy and confident before she started junior school last year. Let's just say that I will be watching the school closely this year and if her confidence even takes the slightest dive I will want to know why!

All in all it was a wonderful day. The Ilfracombe crews, committee and friends worked so hard to make the day as brilliant as it was. I hope that they are all proud of themselves - I know I am!

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Last weekend Mum, Barry and Maisie came to stay. It just happened to be the same weekend as Fibrefest at ColdHarbour Mill. Oh what a wonderful day I had. I was totally overwhelmed and overawed by the talent, beauty, squooshiness and total loveliness of the day. I bought a fair bit, some jute to make shopping bags with for £1 a skein, Araucania Patagonia Cotton to make Liesl (which I have started), some blue and red merino tops to spin into something for Sullivan and a few knitpro harmony tips. Barry disappeared when we got into the main tent and then reappeared with an Ashford Niddy Noddy for me. What a great stepdad! xxx

Mum let me 'shoplift' her wonderful fibre that she had brought down with her I've got so much lovely stuff that needs spinning but not until after wednesday when the girls go back to school :o(

This chimney is at Coldharbour Mill, it gave me reverse vertigo to look up to it!

One of the lovely outdoor stands, Sullivan adored all the animals and was answering the sheep back when they baa-ed at him!

I'm sure he wanted to get in with the sheep....

I've just realised that I haven't any photos of my newly enhanced fibre and yarn stash, maybe tomorrow.

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This a square I've knitted for a P/Hop blanket to be auctioned for Medecins Sans Frontiers. Mum has been helping knit and sew up these blankets and needed just a few more squares to finish the last one. I'm not sure what the yarn is, but I didn't have quite enough for it and the final 3 rows are knit in Fleece Artist merino sock yarn. I'll be adding a P/Hop donation thingy to my blog, please help if you can as it is such a wonderful cause.

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Tomorrow is my 5 year blogiversary. Amazing. How should I celebrate I wonder? Cake.....

Rubbish Blogger

Facebook appears to have ruined my blogging, as well as my housework and creative time. I'm going to limit myself to 15 minutes a day from now on and hopefully I'll get more done. I'm feeling quite unproductive at the moment.

Maddie had her sports day last wednesday, they all did really well. As well as the team events they have a few running races. Maddie came 2nd in hers which is way better than I could ever have hoped to have done even though I was 'a natural athlete'! fnar fnar!
On thursday we drove down to Weymouth for a camping trip and the Weymouth Gig club Regatta on the saturday. This trip was fated from the start! The van did us proud until we got to the camp site and then the gears/clutch packed up so we decided to camp where we had to stop lol! We unpacked the van, found the tent and then started to pitch it.

My darling husband looked a bit purplexed when unpacking the tent. He'd forgotten that when we packed the tent away last time he'd decided not to pack the tent poles in with the tent...

Luckily the campsite had a whole load of tent poles that had been left behind which they let us borrow and we managed to cobble something together!

This is the reason for the camping trip - Gig Rowing . Jez is a member of the Ilfracombe team and we have had a great year so far travelling around the west coast of England for different Regattas. The children and I don't go to all of the regattas but the ones we have been to are great fun for all ages, the social-ness of them is wonderful!

Whilst Jez was rowing my dear friend S and her lovely family drove up to see us. It was wonderful to see them again if a little wet! (A LOT WET!) I can't believe how much her sweet daughter is growing up and I love how our 3 girls all get along so well :o)

Here's Dion and Sullivan, Dion is another member of the Ilfracombe along with his gorgeous girlfriend Jules. They camped with us at Osmington Mills, having recommended it to us.

When we got back on Saturday evening a couple of our sleeping bags had got wet so we decided to pack up and come home. Dion and Jules stayed on and said they had to move their tent at 2am because of the howling wind. Blooming weather!

On Sunday we went to the Big Sheep in Bideford, they've got these new trampolines called Pillows which are huge inflatable, erm, well, pillows! Great fun!

I have been knitting, and sewing too but I have no photo's of that.

This is Emilia's Adipose. Jez printed the pattern before Mazzmatazz had to take it off her site. Lovely pattern, cute little critter. Made in Rowan Soft Lux.

Sullivan adores In the Night Garden and Makka Pakka is his favourite. This is crocheted from an online free pattern. I can't remember from where but it is in my Ravelry list so I will credit her when I get back from school. I adjusted the head a little as it didn't quite look right and used buttons for the eyes as my embroidery skills are quite rubbish!

This is Sullivan (again) in his Humbug Hoody. This has become a summer staple and will probably fit him next year! Rowan Luxury cotton (I think), from RYC Mother and Baby.

Well, I have to get the girls home from school now. I hope it doesn't rain again! No promises to blog again soon as I'll only break my promise and then you'll hate me! HA!