All Hallows' Eve

We're staying in with friends tonight and munching on some hot chilli beef with sour cream, nachips and freshly made coriander and lime salsa. I expect a few 'sherbets' will be taken.

It's a film night for us. We take it in turns to host a film night with these friends. Tonight is our turn, so it's Burke & Hare starring Simon Pegg.

I have a few sweeties and some apples from our own tree for any little callers.

If you are going a witching tonight and are stuck for ideas, check out these fab ideas over at Jan's blog.

Handmade is Best

The shift in the weather has prompted many makers and crafters to start their Christmas projects. I've got my thinking cap on re some handmade goodies, for gifts and decorations for the house, but I'm finishing off some other projects first.

Yesterday the Mister and I visited a friend who always helps us a lot. I thought I would make her a wee gift to show her our appreciation of all she does for us. The yarn I used for her present - a cowl, was a good quality one and just the right shade of blue for her. Now, in the best thrifty tradition the cost to me was only my time, seven hours. The yarn itself had been part of a Rowan subscription offer that another chum bought for me as a birthday present a couple of years ago. This is the second gift I have made from the yarn and I have enough left to make one more item. My time is precious, so although the yarn for the gifts didn't cost me any hard cash, I have I think given a gift of value. It also helps when the recipient is delighted with the result.

It is the first cowl I have ever made and I'm so pleased with the result that I'm making myself one now, albeit in a different weight yarn. This blue Rowan yarn is a pure wool 4 ply, which is considerably thicker than the yarn used in the original pattern. It is made on a circular needle, which is always a bit fiddly to start with but works well once you get going, as long as you remember to mark the start of your rows. Seen here with a small red marker.

I pinned and blocked the finished cowl but it still seemed to take on its own different idiosyncratic look, nonetheless beautiful for that methinks. After all a pattern is only a guide and everybody brings their own creativity to handmade items.

Here is the link to the free pattern which is listed on the ever so useful Ravelry site. 

American Museum - Some More Titbits

One of the important things to me about blogging is the sharing of ideas and information. So I aim to post about interesting things I do or places I visit, that may be helpful to folk. I get a lot from other bloggers on that score so I like to pay a bit back into the pot when I can, so to speak.

I realise that not all my readers are based in the UK and may or may not ever get here. But I'd like to think, that like me, they enjoy reading about and seeing places regardless of whether they can visit or not.

Just recently I have been gleaning lots of info and tips from Blogworld about the Scottish Islands, as the Mister and I are planning a trip in the new year.
From the House of Edward and Where Five Valleys Meet have made some fabulous recommendations over the last year or so regarding Scotland and The Isles. Sharing at it's best.


So...........what to see at the museum. Well the gardens looked superb. We went late in the day so didn't have time to take a good walk around, but it looked picnic perfect to me. Next time we shall visit in the Summer months and spend the day there.

The museum opened in 1961 and is billed as the only museum of American Decorative and Folk Art outside the United States. There are three floors to explore in the main building, plus a Folk Art annexe and another building that houses the changing exhibitions.

There are numerous 'Period' rooms that are exhibits in themselves, quilts, textiles and Folk Art artefacts. Most of it interesting, although for me I did feel that the history and detail surrounding the subjugation of the Native American population was conspicuous in its absence.

As always, I was most taken with the wonderful examples of handmade items. They have a large collection of quilts, some rugs, antique dolls and surprisingly a case containing the Obama family in dolly form. Very good fun.

A big welcome to my two new Google Friend Connect followers, Dar Win and Jan.

Calling All Count Arthur Strong Fans

via

Just in case any of you lovely blogging chums are fans of the Count, here's a public information broadcast.

Tickets went on sale this morning for Arthur's 2015 tour.
I've booked to see him, I think you should too.

You can do it here.

American Museum in Britain (Bath)

The mister and I recently had a weekend jaunt to Bath, because I just had to see 'The Colourful World of Kaffe Fassett' exhibition.

I know I have probably almost certainly seen everything in the exhibition before, but I still wanted to go, that's how I am. Can't have too much of a good thing in my book. I loved it of course. But the American Museum was quite an experience too. Very Folksy and interesting. I'm not going to fill your heads with facts about the day, I'll simply (lazily) show you some gorgeous, if not somewhat blurry pics. I know you will 'get it'. It's COLOUR after all.

I'll pop back soon with some Museum images, otherwise I fear you may nod off, scrolling and scrolling...........................

Homespun Pursuits

I've been slowed down on the gallivanting front this week due to a lack of sleep. Frankly I'm knackered. Not due to any joyous or exciting activity, just bloomin mighty menopausal temperature swings. Just thought I'd share that. I suspect some of my blogging chums may empathise.

Anyhoo, moving on. Rugs. The homemade kind. I've finished my first, peg loom rug. I know, so exciting isn't it? Life in the fast lane.

This is it just after 'liberating' the rug from the loom.

Finished and 'installed'. Also above, showing the peg loom in all it's finery, as requested.

I am pretty pleased with it. I got my inspiration from an Irish Crofter's room set, during last year's Wool Week at Somerset House. Our bedroom now has that curated feel, ha ha.

More domestic goddess activity, in the kitchen this time, with home made soup. Actually I saw a post on Rosemary's blog which spurred me on to harvest the last tomatoes from the greenhouse.

I added more chilli, celery stalks and leaves and a few other bits and pieces, but essentially used her recipe. My it was good.

Change is a Beautiful Thing by Kathryn Ferguson

I found this here, at one of my fav' upbeat blogs. Made for Selfridge's Beauty Project last April.

All these women are in their 80s!

Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, don't mess with Mr. In-Between, no, don't mess with Mr. In-Between.