Summertime

I could moan about the heat (I dislike summer as is well documented) but why cover old ground? No, today I shall moan about nothing at all and try to make a positive summer time post, just to mix things up a bit.

In the summer I like..............................................................................nothing.

Storm Clouds

Taken from the window tonight. The storm rolled in across the sea.

Freedom.....?

Living in a free country, with freedom of speech? Why does it sometimes no longer feel like that? You can talk about a 'Nanny state' when decisions about our everyday lives are now taken away from us. You can talk about how what used to be seen a personal parenting choice are now being dictated to us by national and local Government. Everyday it appears that George Orwell was a prophet when he wrote '1984'.

All of the above seriously annoy me. I find a large percent of it ridiculous, that the adult population are seen as so useless we have to been given guidelines on how to live our lives, from what we put in our children's lunch boxes, to when we can have our children out of school for appointments or heaven forbid that demon 'the family holiday'. Obviously some people out there in the big wide world must be as thick as shit and unable to think for themselves, but when authority sets their plans in action they deal with lowest common denominator every time. So if 3% are stupid it appears that they set dumb rules for the other 97% as well, who are perfectly capable of deciding for themselves. Well 'Doh' I might as change my name to Homer right now.

But my personal gripe today is when I feel that I am unable to express a general opinion without it being questioned. It is an 'opinion', my 'opinion' and as long as it isn't hurtful, cruel, damaging or breaking any laws, then I am pretty certain I can express my personal 'opinion' wherever I like, in what language I choose without having to justify to anyone.

I truly believe that I have the right to say what I like in the confines of my own home, on my blog and in any conversation that I happen to be involved in (subject to the list above).  I am sure that the great and good haven't banned personal opinions yet? So I will continue to speak as I find, express myself as I see fit and generally use whatever terms, words or phrases I want to, until some over eager twat decides that we are no longer fit to speak for ourselves and restricts another personal freedom.

Oh and finally if you want to know if there is any hidden meaning in what I say -then no - I am normally pretty upfront and honest with people but feel free to ask - but if you question me too closely you might be told to go fuck yourself.

Brighton, bright orange pebble beach.

This is one of the free patterns in the Unwind programme it is by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade and is the Pebble Beach Shawlette. Loving it so far. I've joined the KAL on Rav too.

I am using one of the skeins from Unwind in an uber bright orange -  have I ever mentioned how much I love orange? - It is from easy knits (link on previous Unwind post) on his Mesmeric base the colour (I muted it in the picture because it is so bright all the photos went blurry) is called Solar Erruption.

I plan to make the other free pattern as well but this one called to me being a Brighton girl who spent her teens trying to get comfy all summer on the pebble beaches by the pier.

P.s I know eruption only has one 'R' but I spelt as it is printed on the label.

After Unwind 2014

Wow! What a weekend. Unwind 2014 passed in a blur. It was very hot, my feet still ache but all in all it was pretty awesome. Really well thought out and organised. I caught up with a lot of old friends, made some new ones and met a lot of lovely and interesting people on the stall and off it. I didn't encounter one unfriendly person all weekend.

I made a few (cough, cough) I mean a lot of lovely purchases. Yarns from EasyKnits, Triskelion, Skein Queen and Juno Fibre Arts. Fibre from Sweet Georgia -this is meant to help me find my spinning mojo which has been awol for ages. A lovely owl and hedgehog decorated project bag from KnitRunDig and finally some yummy smelling wool wash etc from Soak. All the magazines were total freebies about £20's worth - lovely to have some crafty reading matter. **links at bottom of post**

Although we were very busy there was time to chat to customers which was nice. The packed lunches provided were pretty awesome and I think once I have recovered, the heat was really draining, I will cherish some happy memories. My co-workers Isabelle, Kate  and of course Ce were good fun. And all the other helpers just made our lives so much easier. Even the stressy moments are fading overwhelmed by good ones.

Here's hoping that the wonderful Unwind team do it all again next year.

The other wonderful person who needs a mention and a huge thank you is the wonderful Mr M who kept the home fires burning - he did all the housework, laundry, dog walking and made sure a very tired me came home to delicious food both nights - he even ran me a foot bath and didn't bat an eyelid when I zonked out and went to bed at 9.30 ish Saturday night. He drove me where I needed to be and worked for The Uncommon Thread lifting, carrying and heaving around shelving and huge boxes of yarn. He is my Mr Wonderful.

Links;Skein Queen. Tirskelion Yarn, SweetGeorgia Yarns, JunoFibreArts, easyknits, KnitRunDig and of course The Uncommon Thread

This time.....

next week we will be half through Unwind. For those of you who don't know Unwind is a knitting show taking place in Brighton organised by a local yarn dyer Dani of Lioness Arts. The event is taking place at the Corn Exchange, Brighton on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July and looks be one of the best knitting shows around. Lots of info on the event can be found here.

Although I will be working, because The Uncommon Thread has a stall there  teeming with a whole caboodle scrummy yarn to buy, I am looking forward to seeing lots of old and new faces and treating myself to some lovely yarn too.

It is well worth coming along - there is also a spinning surgery at The Friends Meeting House in Prince Albert Street which is included free of charge in the entry ticket - which looks interesting to anyone who would like to know more or has questions. Expert spinner Jay Kendall will be on hand to share her vast knowledge of spinning and fibre with all.

So maybe I'll see you there - come and say "Hi' or just give me a friendly wave - it would be lovely to see you.

One last link to the Unwind Shop for anyone who wants to purchase their tickets online or look for last minute spaces in any of the wonderful and exciting workshops,