Reports of my death slightly exaggerated, mainly by me

Turned out not to be pig flu - just a rotten cold which has left me wheezing like a portable church organ. Ah well. Gave me some bed-time to do some knitting, listen to some audio books and go through old patterns I had filed and weed out the unworthy. In doing this I had a chance to have a proper go over some vintage patterns I bought last weekend in Greenwich Market.

Isn't that great? It reminds me of this blog where she tells stories based on the illustrations of dress patterns from around the same era. It's a good blog and worth dipping in to every now and again. Going back to the booklet it has that pattern and some wonderful embroidery ideas too. I am thinking of doing it for my mum for christmas. Apart from the patterns what I like most about these types of things are the adverts. Reflect, for a moment, upon this one:

What is it, exactly, that would have been 'soluble'? The mind boggles. Or what about this one?

I find this a bit confusing. There is no date on the magazine but it does have adverts relating to coupons and the war so it must be somewhere before rationing ended. I guess it must have been after the war ended and is celebrating that because we don't need to produce airplanes anymore we can put that steel back into knitting needles?!

And then this one just goes to show there is nothing new in marketing. They were playing on the "but I thought it was white" paranoia of parents even half a century ago.

Not being a parent myself I find it hard to believe most parents actually worry about this. Should I ever succomb I am certainly not going to dress the enfant terrible in white. That's just asking for trouble. It's bad enough with pooch.

One of the other patterns is especially twee.

Looks like two broomsticks wearing booties and a fake head. But the booties are rather cute!

A while back I reported that my foliage plant thing has unexpectedly flowered. well, it's now gone into overdrive and has not just flowered, but mutant flowered. Is this normal?

I have no idea and the internet seems as suprised as I am.

Tutley asked about the shoe painting. The original article which got me interested was in the now defunct CRAFT magazine but there is a "how to" here. The paints are Lumiere and you need to use some kind of floor sealant (?) as a varnish which makes sure the colours don't run and is flexible so won't crack. I actually got my paints etc from the website whose owner wrote the article but they don't seem to ship to the UK. I am sure you can get similar at hobbycraft or by googling and at least the sassyfeet website gives you names of everything you need. I wore my painted shoes last week and received many (two) compliments. Very pleased with them.

Lastly, having not been outside for 2 days and having spent most of that thinking I was going to die any minute, what would a girl do but decide to dye her denise needles. It is well known that I *love* my Denises. I have long been interested in dyeing them and have often considered getting another set just so I could get these. But then I joined the denise diva group on ravelry a while back and recently caught up on this thread about dyeing your denise needles. The people on there were largely american so I decided to try about some Dylon. Lo and behold....

I used the little tins (which on investigation they don't seem to do anymore. I assume these are the same?) and a good blob of salt in some tupperware that I had no intention of using again. Mixed it with boiling water. Chucked in the needles. Microwaved on high for 2 mins. Left to cool for half an hour. Zapped again for 30 secs. Left to cool then rinsed. I used a whole tin of Madonna Blue. Am going to be getting some more colours next week to do the rest!

Neddle eeedle eeedelooooo

I am almost dead. It's either the early stages of pig flu or a perfectly normal cold. Bleh. I've been using my bed rest to cough one of these into existence. It's a for a swap.

I know I'm happy with something when I don't want to give it away. It's the same with this and with a pink and white stripe baby top I'm about 1/3 way through. It's on ravelry here but not enough of it to show off yet. I am happy to show this off though!

I do rather like it. Just wish I wasn't so crook so I could go out in it. Bleh.

L is for....

Letter. Which is what Ms Mutley gave me after i asked her for one in this post. So...blog about 10 things beginning with the letter L. Hmmmmm. It's not an easy challenge but I have an excellent first step.


1+2. Lucy (left) and Louise (right).

These are my two best friends ever. This was at Lucy's wedding in 2007, a week after mine. And now Louise is getting married this year within a week of when Lucy got married. Hurrah!


3. Lime

I wish limes were sweeter - then I could just eat them like apples. Whenever I get the chance of something a bit limey I'm happy to step forward. Mojito's, especially, I'm always up for.

4. Lixie-ness

Ok, a bit lame. But I do quite like being Lixie.

5. Ladybird trainers

6. Geez, there really aren't that many things I can think of that I like that begin with L. Llamas don't really move me. Labels, lizards, leprechauns, lilos, lilies, lesbians - meh. Am I really to be defeated? At a mere 5? I guess I'll have to come back to this another time. Am so dissappointed in myself though.

Wait....wait....

6. Lemonade!

I had a particularly nice organic raspberry lemonade when Pooch and I went out for breakfast yesterday. I had lots of time to take pics cause the service was pants. Still, at least the lemonade was good. Here I am, patiently waiting for my breakfast.

Pooch brought me back that hat from a craft market in San Francisco. It's nice!

This weekend I have also been painting shoes. It's something I read about ages ago in a copy of CRAFT. I got some of the paints and sealant and....bobs your uncle. This is the site. And these are the shoes!

I should have taken before and after photos but forgot. The red glittery ones were a cheapy black pair from tescos. The stripey ones were a very pale pink suede type ones that had got dirty. Now they live again!

Now finally...knitting has been going well. This is the not-a-poncho coat I started as soon as I got back from SkipNorth. I wore it yesterday. There are a number of things wrong with it but hey, I made it up as I went along and I'm pretty pleased overall.

Fun at WWE

We (pooch and I) went to see WWE Raw at the O2, formerly known as The Dome, last night. Talk about entertainment! I snapped a few videos which you can see here which show how close we were to both the ring and the runway and indicate the noise level. A lot of the shouting on the videos is actually me. Did a lot of shouting. I took a lot of photos but have managed to select just a few to thrill you with.

First up Pooch and I spent some time on sunday making a sign.

This is an important part of the experience. It also makes it easier to spot yourself on TV and yep, we were on there. Woo ha!

This gives you an idea of what it was like inside. It was pretty packed and the atmosphere was brill. Our seats were excellent, not that we really sat in them much, and we had an excellent view.

Both my heroes were there - John Cena, who is also in two of the videos, although he got boo'd a lot. Such a shame as I think he's lovely.

And then also Triple H (or HHH).

This is home during his entrance, which is very impressive. The matches were awesome. Batista was also there and was brill - really friendly so the kids on either side of the runway and joking about with the referees even though he's 6'7" and really built. Here he is showing off with Triple H after one of the matches.

And then there was Randy Orton who's a third generation WWE guy. Feast on this.

He was close enough to lick. What a body! And he is such a bad boy. Mmmmmm. I think he might knock Cena off the top spot in my heart.

A*N*Y*W*A*Y........

I was doing a spot of blog surfing at the weekend and saw this post on Ms Mutley's blog. I asked her for a letter and have duly received one. My next post will do it justice!

Blossom

This is what I am walking past twice a day at the moment.

Canada Water tube station, as tube stations go, is pretty nicely situated. This line of trees along a cobbled path (with paved option for slippery days) and a dock with ducks and swans. Yes there are cars and buses, but the blossom makes up for a fair amount of that at the moment.

We went for dinner with some friends last night who are due to have their first baby in 3 months. I remembered I'd promised a pink baby blanket and so cast on yesterday morning.

It's some of the yarn from SkipNorth - Winghams to be precise. I bought it with this project in mind and it is pretty nice to use. It's a rippled blanket except the ripples are on each of the 4 sides of a square. It's the first time I've used the ochert beginning and it worked pretty well. Might need to try it a few more times to get it looking properly neat.

For the last project I started I made some stitchmarkers so I thought I'd do the same for this one. I've had these beads waiting for a rainy day, but I had to work on all of those, so I made them yesterday instead.

I want to make some like those I've seen advertised on ravelry that say things like 'crap', 'bollocks' or 'bugger'. They would also suit my style of knitting pretty well.

To finish, the can-you-guess-what-it-is-yet image from my last post was actually this:

Now you can see my dilemma. Nic assures me she'll make it clear it refers to crochet but your average joe is going to think little Pete has developed an early taste for steak. It just never occurred to me at the time. Doh.

I'm going to be embroidering some newborn t-shirts for Pooch's sister and her husband soon too. Now they are pretty religious so I've been considering what to add. Not being religious myself I'm not sure what is appropriate so let me know what you think of these....

• Faith, hope and love - but the greatest of them all is love
• Love covers a multitude of sins
• Let the little children come to me
• Love is patient, love is kind
• Obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing to the lord
• Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God

What do you think? Any good or something else?

MoFoBloJob

Pooch asked me how mofoblowjob was going. Yeah...not so good. I think I might just quietly retire. I did ok for the first 10 days or so but to be honest - my life just isn't that interesting and I don't knit that fast. Every 3/4 days is about right for me.

Having said that...lots going on chez byrne.

I'm not one to blow my own trumpet - asked to describe myself I would choose words like demure, modest, etc. But this week - I have been looking good. I mean goooooooood. I only have a pic from Wed which Pooch took, so is naturally out of focus. But still, I look good.

The day after I wore a turquoise vintage number with heels. Today I was in a brown polka dot wrap with boots. What's the occasion? Nothing special. Just a passing comment about burkas made me consider whether I was getting a little boring with my clothing. I think this general feeling or joie de vivre is also why I visited Schu on the way home and snagged these.

In case I've never mentioned it before - I do just absolutely fricking ADORE polka dots.

I got home tonight to find a surprise waiting for me. Look at this:

I thought it was just a foliage type plant. Now there are two flowers coming! Apparently they are going to look like this.

Awesome!

Now lastly....can you guess what it is yet?

Actually, I'm a bit worried about it. I just want everyone to know - I don't mean the meat. It didn't occur to me before. I hope it will be clear.

Easter!

Look who's a lucky girl!

I did really well this easter - and I've only eaten one so far. Lots more to enjoy alllllllllllllllllll week!

Pooch and I went for a walk this afternoon since it was so lovely today. The ducks were out in force, also making the most of the sun.

I'm always interested in the social hierarchy of the birds in the dock. Two men and a woman this time. The women are so beautiful with their amazing brown plumage.

The men are also very dapper although they are simultaneously more showy and more demure.

This one was having a stretch and unfortunately you can't quite see the rich purple band on the body, under the wing. But you do get an indication of the greenyblue irridescent head.

I don't know if it is an english thing - to be so unwilling to destroy any of the past - or international. I was very affected by my few days in Rome where roman stonework was on every street corner. I wonder whether they would go to the trouble of rehanging a plaque that commermorates where something used to be somewhere different to where it actually was.

And then there are things like this, also seen on our walk.

I mean, what is it? Or was it? Wouldn't it make more sense to pull it up so no boats can bash into it or anything? It is rather pretty though in its own weird way.

I finished my blogbook from 2008 today. It's always interesting reviewing the posts from the previous year. I have a feeling this photo will be featuring in the 2009 one.

Hoorah!

Knit Tastic

I've got in some good knitting so far this weekend - despite interruptions. The not-a-poncho has the main body almost done. Need to decide what kind of collar I want and start the button band. Then I've also designed the first bit of the latest wedding blanket and done the first two of 49 squares. It's looking good! You can see it on ravelry here.

Despite Sian and Pooch's tag team efforts to annoy me it is kind of nice having her here this weekend. I got her Godiva chocolates instead of an easter egg and here she is finishing the last one this morning. About 9am this morning. That's the Byrne way. She's got the ribbon from her chocolates on her head. That is also the Byrne way.

That's Pooch in the background - very proud of his eggs. They were pretty good eggs.

Sian has been taking mucho photos while she's been here which is her thang - not knitting. She's really good at them too. Here, totally without permission, I bring you the first published work of Sperm-Breath Byrne. "Somerset House".

She's off taking more at South Bank today. I'm here. Knitting. Life's good.

How come knitting doesn't count as a legitimate weekend activity?

I am feeling got at because people want me to go out and do things this weekend. This is despite the fact I made it clear weeks ago that I would be staying in, relaxing and mostly knitting for this holiday.

I know a lot of people like their work and thrive on the whole work thing. It gives them a sense of satisfaction and a buzz and some of them even enjoy it. My career to date has involved encouraging people who aren't really interested to do career development just in case they become less employable by not doing it. It's difficult to get a sense of satisfaction from that. Some aspects are enjoyable but I have never made any secret of the fact that I work to live and that if I had another way of paying rent, bills and funding my yarn habit I'd pack it all in.

Don't get me wrong - work isn't a living hell. I enjoy interacting with people and not everyone I speak to nowadays is swearing at me. In fact I was corrected the other day when I asked someone to stop swearing in a phonecall because they kept calling one of the Supervisors a bitch. "It's not swearing." she told me "It's a noun, not an adjective." What I didn't say, not wishing to lengthen the conversation, is that so is "cunt", but I'd still call it unnecessary language when discussing career development. That though is beside the point - if I had an alternative I would not be working as a career development 'expert'. I might volunteer a day or two a week at a charity shop or something like that just to get interaction with people but largely I'd be at home listening to the radio or an audio book or watching tv and knitting, thinking about knitting, or planning knitting.

In my free time - the time I fund by working - all I really want to do is knit. Call me an obsessive, call me sad, call me boring, but that's what I want to do. It doesn't hurt anyone, it won't give me cancer, it's not exciting to watch but then I'm not doing for attention. I just want to knit. I don't demand everyone around me knits - but I would prefer it if they respected my right to spend my spare time doing something that is relaxing, therapeautic and which I really love.

I am a knitter. Hear me roar.

Pie!

I am loving this. So simple. So...maths.

My dad, since he retired, has become a committed forwarder or forwards. A recent one was full of amazing images - and they were all amazing but two particularly caught me. I always love the articles in National Geographic (which I am still reading every month about 6 years after starting my subscription) about weird and wonderful flora and fauna. So naturally I loved this one.

I was looking through the rest, marvelling at the fragility and beauty of life etc etc when I saw this one.

Hmph. Just makes you think a bit. How many bullets did it take to make the back of the van that lacy?

When in rome...

...eat chips.

This is one of my colleagues - a certain Sam - doing his homage to the Cadbury eyebrow girl.

It's had me in stitches all day.

Saw my best friend last night for the first time in months which was awesome. She is getting wed to Pooch's best friend in August and this little something arrived in the post today, which will be magically transformed into a little something for them as a wedding present.

I had a rubbish day at work today, just for a change, so have cheered myself up with a new ravatar. Only thing is - I think it came out a bit angry.

Stitchmarker Heaven

Aren't these adorable?

From sheep to bobbin to ball to sock. When I saw them on Ravelry I just couldn't resist. You can get them here. I have some of their buttons I got a few years ago too and when I got those I talked about them on the podcast but the site has changed a bit since then. I got a special surprise included too...

My name in glass! And as for the cake - pretty darned perfect! Hoorah!

Create your own hedgehog!

I finally got Pooch to agree to pose as a hedgehog. It was this pic I thought he looked most like.

Judge for yourselves.

I used some socks to make his ears stick out more. Job done.

I spent a lot of today in the pursuit of curtains. I bought this fabric from IKEA before xmas and got the black-out lining today in Lewisham. A while ago my mother objected to my calling myself a bodger but I make no bones about it and these curtains are surely proof of that. I made an elementary gauge-type error and they came out short. So I sewed two of the gorgeous woven tapes I got at SkipNorth to the bottom.

I *really* love them!

Just in the nick of time I remembered this is a knitting blog - and this is how the knitting has been going. I cast on when I got back from SkipNorth and have been hard at it since. I've almost finished the waist which has to be done in bits to allow for the belt arrangement I want. I'm really pleased with it.