We back from the Ravelry day, and we had alot of fun. As you can see, it was really wet, but regardless, it was a great chance to catch up with friends, and do some shopping.

Having FB with me, I didn’t sign up for any of the classes, and though I had a ticket for Meg Swansen’s talk, I only stayed for the first 15-20 minutes because FB was starting to wriggle.  I realised that I would be better off getting my shopping done while the stalls were quiet and the rain had settled down a bit.

Can you see a theme? It wasn’t really intentional. ;)

I bought Wee Woolly Toppers by Woolly Wormhead, Airedale Aran in Plum and Petrol by Texere Yarns, Alpaca/Silk Fibre in Stormclouds by KraftyKoala, UK Merino Fibre by Artists Palette Yarns, and Merino/Silk Laceweight in Bramble by Old Maiden Aunt (which – as you can see is already balled up and on the needles! I’m knitting the Japanese Feather and Fan shawl by Izzysknits.)

I’m loving my sewing at the moment*, but I’m also itching to do some more spinning. I’ve promised myself that July is spinning month (in the main), since Tour de Fleece will be running, and regardless, there will be daily Tour footage to watch on ITV4 after FB has gone to bed, which is prime spinning time.

That said, I’m sure this fibre will be spun before then. ;) I’m thinking fine, and with 200g between the two, enough to make the boy something in the autumn when the weather turns cooler.

*I’m making the Expandable Pack It In Tote by U-Handbag, which is quite a big project, but I’m hoping will be finished and ready to show off soon. :)

Tomorrow FB and I are off to Coventry for the UK Ravelry Day*.

If you’re going too and you see us, please come say hello! It’s always lovely to put names to faces.

Do we get name badges at these things? If not FB will be in his Duck Trousers, so we should be easy to spot. :)

(*Sadly no stall this time, for obvious reasons.)

First off, I love being a mum. And FB is this amazing kid who is pretty low maintainance – he’s a big smiler, and not a big crier.

And god, I’m so behind on things…

I started the year with a secret plan to post twice a week – *laughs* -  yeah well that worked out well.

However W will be at home for the next week and a half, so I’m planning to spend a bit of time each day getting things caught up here, as well as everywhere else, because I have lots to share about crafting and Oxford Kitchen Yarns, and because I miss this place.

However here is the short version:

• Oxford Kitchen Yarns is alive! However no dyeing got done this winter for a whole host of reasons. I’m hoping to get started again very soon, but at the moment it’s all about getting a work routine that fits around our lives safely. But I have plans for new things as well as old familiars!
• I’m not doing any shows this year, but I’m hoping to do some next year, which I’m planning for now.
• I am still filling what free time I have with making things. I have things to share that I’m really pleased with, and links to places and people that you’re going to be glad you know about (if you don’t already), because they’re interesting and fun.
• The challenges are challenging, and life is good. I haven’t been sharing much because I don’t tend to get my head around things publicly but there are a few interesting stories to tell, so I’ll try to tell them.
• You’ll be glad to hear that I refuse to beat myself up about things – especially in public. It’s just not my style.

More very soon…

Hi, just a short note to let everyone know that I’m definately not going to be able to have a stand at the IKnitLondon show next month.

It’s sad, especially since the show last year really launched Oxford Kitchen Yarns as a business, and I had a WONDERFUL time there, but it’s a huge amount of work less that a month away from my due date, and what I really need to do in concentrate getting the shop stocked, and getting some rest (while I can.)

It’s sad, but there you go.

Hopefully I’ll get to do some shows later on next year.

I had such a great time at the show! I am exhausted and beaming, and happy and buzzy on it all. *grins*

It was wonderful to chat to so many lovely and interesting knitters. It was great to finally get my yarn out there and see what people thought of it. I just got to sit behind the stall all day and admire everyone in their knitted finery.

Oh it made me happy!

(A blurry-coz-I’-nervous shot of the stall just before the doors opened, being presided over by the lovely Lazulus who was an absolute star.)

Today I have been getting the shop back up and full of goodies. The 4ply is in stock for the first time, along with new colours in DK, Sock, and Lace weight. Various colour sold out at the show, but I’ll dye more of them soon. :)

THE SHOP IS NOW OPEN (AGAIN)!

I’m planning to write a proper post about the show in the next few of days, with links to a load of wonderful people that you should go check out…

(THE SOCKS!)

…however, given the response to the raspberry socks we showed off, I wanted to direct you to their creator: Thomasina Knits.

More when I’m not falling asleep into my keyboard. :)