Passion

- no not that kind.  The James C Brett kind. 

When I was in St Ives I popped into the lovely little wool shop down by the sea front.  The House of Bartlett is tucked way down a tiny arcade off Wharf Road.  It really is worth a little trip just to delight in all its glorious wooliness.  Kay is really friendly and was delighteddwhen I popped back to show her my finished item. 

I made the scarf using just two balls of Passion which is a chunky wool with a 70/30 acrylic wool mix.  I was inspired to making it after finding these in a charity shop in Helston.  It only costs £4 per ball too - thats a bargain.

Yeah Rowan Magazines for 99p each.  Yes I did buy all nine and yes I did drool over them all holiday. 

One of the magazines had a floral wrap in it.  I decided just to use one of the floral motifs and make a scarf.  I joined the flowers together as I went along.  The colour changes in the yarn were fabulous and eliminated the need to change colours in each individual flower.  I just carried on making flowers until I had no more twist.  I managed to get 18 flowers in total and each flower is approx 5 inches across so it makes for a good snuggly scarf.

They really were quick to make and once I had made a couple I didn't need to use the pattern any more.

Mildred was not happy to be draped in an old blanket but the scarf really did clash with her 1950's outfit.

I tried an arty shot - do you know scarfs are really hard to photograph.  I did try one of the scarf draped around my neck but my chings (good typo) chins got in the way.  So they were retired to the rubbish bin.

Drapey and cosy and snuggly and soft.  I am pleased with my flowery scarf - can you tell! 

Going now have been on the net a while, checked ebay sales, looked at Facebook, scanned through a few blogs, typed a post what did i do before - not much I say. 

Bye for now.

Have you spotted a few decorations are sneeking into our home.  Its beginning!

Oh yeah must tell you all LSJ proudly phoned me on Sunday to tell me she had completed her Christmas shopping!  Well done!  - do you want to do mine now?  Thought not.

Snap Shots

Great holiday.  Lots of fun.  Lots of rain.  Lots of walking.  Lots of eating.  Lots of charity shopping. 

On the rocks

One man and his dog

a girl and a rough sea

bit of crochet and a snoozy pooch

my dinner

dogs dinner - yeah check out that hotel - dog treats with a napkin served when we had our lunch - Godolphin Hotel, Marazion doggies very welcome.

Caravan step pumpkin display - one of the mini ones went missing - we like to think that a mummy rabbit sole it to feed her babies

lunch in the rain

Rainbow

very low tide at St Ives Harbour

Made me chuckle

Time to go home.

Good times.

A New Coat

Not for me though.  A new coat for Dyl.  Next week we are off to Cornwall and when we go in Autumn Dyl comes with us. As he recently had a good hair cut - read short back and sides, I thought he might get a little chilly.  I did search the net for a crochet coat and I found a great one but when I looked through my ample stash there was nothing either inspiring or in the correct weight.  So I made him one.  I did this over two days whilst there were quiet moments at the workshop.  I draughed the pattern myself and guessed the size.  Basically it was sort of a large bib shaped piece of cloth - a wool knit from Louise's ample stash lined in black cord.  I sewed the two shapes together leaving a gap to turn through.  I ladder stitched the edges closed and then hand stitched a red running stitch around the edges for decoration - this can't be seen on the outside but looks good on the inside.  Actually it is reversible.  I then found some nice elastic and joined the front together and put an elastic band for under Dyl's tummy.  Voila one nice snug doggy coat.  He has worn it around the garden and whilst playing ball and it stayed in place so I think it's good to go.  Want a look.  Here he is the handsome boy.

Ah Mummy no photo's thank you.

Got a sneeky one whilst he wasn't looking

Very dapper.

and Finally!

Me and my crocodile green Crocs - I don't know if this was an intentional photo or not but I like it.

A tiny lizard - well spotted Belle.  He was so cute. 

A pile of stones, we saw lots of these and also lots of stones balanced along with others.

A fabulous allotment/garden on the road into Mousehold. We always park just outside and walk into the village and the allotments are always amuzing.

Well I know I said finally BUT i'm fed up with posting now, the photos are not working properly - I don't know why - and they are taking an age to load so in the words of Arnie I'll be Back!! Only a few more now though I don't want to bore you tooo much.

Little Bit More

of our Cornish holiday.  I should live here because it is in St Ives which I love and because I don't drink.  It's true I very rarely drink alcohol.  One glass or two of wine and I feel sick think it's something to do with drinking to excess as a teenager.  The other reason is I become far too truthful when I have had a drink - honesty is NOT always the best policy.

BBQ on the beach - yum.

The path to Church Cove a great little beach with a tiny old Church by the side.

We wondered up the church path and went into the Church - as we do each time we visit.  It is really old and rather run down but still used and obviously loved by people from all over the world.  I know this by reading both the comments in the visitors book at the back of the church and the book that is always at the alter for people to write in to remember people they have loved and lost or to say special prayers for those in need.  Very moving indeed.  Me and Mum shed a little private tear as I wrote a piece for my Dad. Mum was enthralled by it as she didn't expect there to be a Church at Church Cove.  It was her favourite place.

I always have a stroll around the grave yard and I am always drawn to this grave.  It is the grave of a 12 year old boy who was evacutated to Cornwall in the war and he was killed, along wth a friend, whilst playing on the beach by a mine.  His parents were killed in the Blitz in London and are also remembered here.  Very moving indeed. 

Well its night nights time now - still more to post - will be back soon.

A pesky seagul in St Ives - they love to pinch your chips.

London Two

Here is the next batch of photographs to document our two day trip to London.

A tradition market barrow - the owner said I could jump on board for a photo - I declined - I did ask if we could borrow it so K could drag me around London on it in a very stylish manner - he laughed and declined.

Outside Oxo Tower

New very swish apartments just outside Tate Modern

Across the river

A boat in a wall - around the back of Oxo Towers

More views

Oxo Tower

Then on to the South Bank - the day after the Vintage Fair.  The Beach Huts were fab. I didn't get a photo of the outside and these photos were taken through perspex so are not the best - hope you like them.

A spotty cossie  - lovely.

A rouched number

A close up of the spotty one 

A pair of ladies enjoying their holiday - wonder what bathing attire they wore?

Inside the traditional Beach Hut - I could have moved in straight away.  I was surprised how big it seamed inside - the photos were taken through chicken wire so they are a little blurred.

Look at the essential item - the Needlecraft Magazines - I have always taken a sewing/knitting/crochet project on holiday so this really appealed to me.

Well that's all folks.  

We had a super , super time just the two of us, very busy but relaxed, doing as we pleased, pottering and pondering.  

Thanks K it was faberoony.

Looking forward to Cornwall in two weeks time - we have only just booked it and we have persuaded The Nannie (Chipper Nellie - yes I stole that phrase from you I love it when you refer to your mum as 'The Granny - so I have unashamedly stolen it) to come along for the ride.  She initially said 'no thank you' she said it was our holiday for our family 'I think when I got a little tearful and said 'but you are my family too' that she had a rethink and has said 'yes'.  I am so pleased, Mum hasn't been to Cornwall since I was about 14/15 (yes that's a long time ago) so we can't wait to show her all our favourite places.  When she asked what she should pack my reply was 'your cheque book' followed by hoots of laughter and me saying about 500 times 'mum I am kidding, you do know i'm kidding don't you'.  My mum;s reply 'I am good now you know I know how to use my card and that's what I will do'.  

Have I told you how proud I am of my mum.  Since Dad died she has been fabulous.  Her moto is 'I can sit in and be miserable and tell people I am fed up or I can go out put a smile on my face and make the best of what I have got' - I don't think she knows just how much that means to us.  

Going now as I am getting a bit tearful - time for a smile.

TTFN.