Chocolate Hotel Heaven

My Secret Pal is quick off the mark! I had a great hedghog card last week and this week chocolate!

My camera has done a little trip, so you'll have to wait for the photos - look here for the delights of the Chocolate hotel!

I have had to fight Aaron off them - they are all mine (well most - Lily have not spotted them yet - if she does I have no chance!)

I really must blog more often

I always seem to leave blogging for a while and then have a blitz to catch up. Time, where does it go. What with a job, two childre, two dogs, a husband (who does shifts), a Knitting club to run each week, an online Medieval Spinners guild to run, Re-enactment, Spinners Guild (only once per month) and the odd Role-playing event it no wonder I can't make it to the keyboard very often..oh nearly forgot the Lutsk Oprhanage appeal.

So what have I been up to on the knitting & crochet front? - photos very soon

• I have completed a beautiful jumper for a baby boy - for a friend who is extecting in the next couple of weeks - it is a boy (wellI hope it is?)
• Started and finished (in one night I might add) a little crocheted drawstring bag out of white cotton for a First Holy Communion present. I'm not sure if I will need to line it - I do rather like it as it is
• DISHCLOTH!! Dishcloth mania - Rachel its your fault! My SP from last time (the one I was spoiling) sent me some Lily cotton for dishcloths - I am so addicted - you even got the colour right for my kitchen! Several people thought I was made, cos you only knitted dishcloths when you could not afford to buy them. Not any more now the cotton comes in many funky new colour schemes at you can have trend dishcloths - the idea is catching on and they will all be at it soon.
• started a cardy for Lily (finally - I kept using hte wool for other projects like cirly whirly scarves) I have chosen purple 4 ply and a great pattern with a lacy border - piccies to come.

On the Spinning front I have spun lots of my Jacobs fleece with the aim to make my Dad a new bobble hat ready for the winter (well thats if we have any summer, cos the weather is terrible atm). I have spun palin white, brown and bits of each to make it fun.

Claire from Knit-Wits and the Spinners Guild brought in some beautiful Alpaca. The other members have spun quite a lot of Alpaca, but so far it has passed be by as I have been focusing on the old English Wool breeds as part of my research for the Medieval Spinners Guild. However I could be convinced, it is sooo soft and beautiful to spin - darn what will I make with it?

SP8 has begun

Its so exciting, SP8 has begun & I've had a cool e-card from my spoiler.....thank-you

Its Lily's Birthday this Sunday - my little girl is going to be 2! Time sure does go very fast. She is quite a little madam now, the terrible twos are definately here. Oliver never really had a 'terrible' - he had his moments, but not too many tantrums. Lily however can strop at the drop of a hat if she is not getting her own way.

So it present buying day and I'm not sure what to get her. At the moment its between a ride-on toy and a play house with figures..... we'll have to see what Toys-r-Us has to offer. Oliver is going to choose his present for her himself. It won't be long until its Oliver's Birthday too. No problem with present there - he has Dr Who mad!

no....no.... really it is the end of SP7

Rachel you loon - I was supposed to be spoiling you, not the other way around!

(Picture to come)

Thank you very much for my parcel. Inside there was:-

• beautiful cotton to make dishcloths - I can see this becoming a new obsession
• Purple (shows you know me) lorna's laces to make socks for ME (for a change - yeah get real Kellie as if you are gonna find time to knot yourself socks)
• Lavender!!!!!! Bath goodies
• Homemade stitch markers

Finale of SP7

I have 5 minutes to myself, so can attempt to bring this site up to date.

SP7 was fantastice, I have met two great new friends in America through this - Rachel the Social Knitter whom I spoilt and Penny of Sith Knits who did a great job of spoilling me - Penny did drop hints about the Star Wars theme, but I missed her on the participants list -d'oh. Now I am an avid reader of both blogs and will keep intouch with both of them.

If you are interested in the next Secret Pal then click here for SP8

SP8 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favourite yarn/s to knit with? What fibres do you absolutely *not* like?
I love all sorts of yarn & the yarn has to suit the project. I knit lots for my two children, so bright colours and softness is important. However I also do freeform knitting/crochet, so there I need interesting textures & colours

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I now have two beautiful rolls for my knitting needles and crochet hooks courtesy of my SP7 pal

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learnt to knit as a child, but did not really knit garments until I was expecting my first child. Since then however I have always had a project or 2, or 3 or many, on the go. I have done cable, and recently socks, but yet to do any Fair Isle, so probably intermediate really, with more skills to perfect.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Not at the moment

5. What's your favourite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Lavender and other essential oils

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favourite candy?
Chocolate!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Dying and felting – both wet & needle felting and yes I spin with both a wheel and drop spindle

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
All sorts really, very varied from Classical to punk & rock, stay away from rap, R&B, dance etc

9. What's your favourite colour? Or--do you have a colour family/season/palette you prefer? Any colours you just can't stand?
All of them, but if I had to choose a single colour it would be purple. My favourite season is autumn; so warm earth colours are good too.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
2 Children (3 if you count the husband) nearly 6 year old Oliver and nearly 2 year old Lily. 2 Dogs, Timba & Pebbles

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
All of the above

12. What is/are your favourite item/s to knit?
Goosh the list is endless

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks (first sock), baby clothes as everyone around me is sprigging and trying to finish my own cardigan before it gets cold again!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Coming round to the wooden side

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope

17. How did you learn to knit?
Taught by grandma and then through books

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Probably 3 years

19. What is your favourite holiday?
Christmas, though I always seem to leave it to the last moment to get prepared

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Recently stitch markers and drop spindles- oh now I think about it Vintage Children’s knitting patterns

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I subscribe to Simply Knitting and Knitting, both UK magazines – I love Childrens patterns especially bright, colourful & creative ones

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Perfect knitting in the round using double pointed needles

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes – but I’d rather knit my own – well that’s if I get further than the first one!

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
December 26th