Fail

Well I didn't do very well did I?  In my defence we were out all day yesterday at the Newport Tattoo Convention and then stopped for something to eat at China China.  I am off out soon to take Alfie for a wash and shave, his fur is so long and he looks like a proper scruffy puppy!

I did post honest...

I did post from my new phone which I love lots but haven't been able to find an app to successfully blog with!


I am really hoping to manage to blog every day this month and have decided to try and follow NaBloPoMo to try and get me blogging more. I was lucky enough today to look up and see a Red Kite, these are such beautiful birds and quite rare now, so to see one as we left Tesco was quite unusual.


I'm actually typing this as we wait for friends to come round, and waiting to open the new bottle of Eristoff Black Wild Berry. While I wait I think I will open the Sparkling Rose and knit some more of my Honey Cardigan

Wants....

Just some of my favourites from Etsy, window shopping only for me though

Etsy Buy Handmade shellbean

I was going to post today but instead I done a shop update, mostly sock yarn but some fibre left from the last update. Let me know what you think.

A small improvement

Well I've managed to blog twice in one month, that's got to be an improvement.

It won't be a long one unfortunately as I've not long sat down from dyeing fibre and some yarn for the shop and the bed still needs a change of sheets, it's an exciting life huh?

I did manage to get the fibre I dyed the other week all uploaded into the shop this morning.



These aren't the best photos I've taken but I ended up taking them one evening as the light faded. The next update should contain some Falkland, though not as much as planned as the order was a little light and I may be keeping some back, and some Blue Faced Leicester as I will be getting some from the Guild this week or next.

At some point this week I need to finish tidying up the back room and start cutting out the next dress making pattern, I think the stretchy 3/4 culottes will be next. And then maybe another bag.

I've also had my nose stuck in Sock Innovation since it arrived from here, fab book wonderfully written and gorgeous patterns. The other sock book I got is Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn, from same place, which is also gorgeous I was knitting the Pot pourri socks but had to step out of the denial that they fitted as they were too tight over my heel.

I need to get better at this

Well I'm really not doing very well at blogging at the moment am I? I've been busy here, knitting, spinning, building a veg patch, collecting community compost for the veg patch, working, getting tattooed, dyeing yarn and fibre, going to Wonderwool Wales, etc etc etc. You get the picture.

I've left it so long that I don't even know where to start, Royston lost his job at the beginning of January and of course hasn't managed to find anything else. The amount of people applying for each job is scary but I shall leave this topic along for fear of stepping on a political and societal soap box ;-) which of course if you know my IRL you will have heard.

We currently have a cat with cystitis which is not fun, as we start to make progress things go back to bad. We told the vet this morning that she seemed better and now tonight she is trying to wee in places she shouldn't. Does anyone know anything about this? Can a change in cat litter bring it on? Bach flower remedies spring to mind, but I need to check with the vet.

I saved my birthday money for Wonderwool so I ended up with some nice goodies, including Alpaca, some gorgeous Falkland from Spindlefrog, she also gave me a wonderful gift to replace my spinners swap parcel that Royal mail have eaten, I have got as far as the sock yarn which is Superwash Merino and is knitting into the most gorgeous socks. I also bought some Landscape dyes which I have had a little play with and am hoping to play some more tomorrow (fingers crossed). I also sold my Haldane spinning wheel to make some dosh for the flyers I wanted for the Sonata, and also so she would go to someone who would love and use her. I'm not saying I didn't love her, I did dearly, but I hadn't used her since getting the Sonata at Christmas.

Well fingers crossed I will manage to post again this week and maybe with photos!

Wow.....

15th September was the last post! I have been here, but busy in a nothing happening sort of way. I've been doing plenty of spinning and I've managed to learn to crochet to start a ripple blanket (twice, as the first was too small), also some knitting and some frogging. I've also been dyeing and have set up a Misi shop www.shellbean.misi.me.uk. I have the shop title of Shellbean knits and stuff but I really want to think of something else less wordy, help?

Today I am off work so shall be heading off to Cardiff to do some Christmas shopping very shortly, for now I'm doing a little knitting and drinking coffee and just had some Lemon Curd on toast for my breakfast.

I wish I had more to share, maybe I will have an inspirational moment today as I shop, in the meantime I leave you with a self-promo photo!

A non post if you will

I was going to post but instead I cleaned the bathroom literally from top to bottom moved things around and tidied. Quite frankly Mum if you don't use my bathroom when you visit on the weekend I will be most disappointed!

xx

Just a quickie

To say if you knit and want unusual stitch markers then go here , so cute, I want the coffee and doughnut ones!

Sunshine means photos!

Last Saturday I went to Get Knitted for a dyeing workshop with Jeni of Fyberspates and I have to say I had a wonderful day and brought home some hand dyed yarn I am proud of. I may have also managed to spend some money in Get Knitted, well they give you a 10% off voucher for attending the workshop and I needed to get the most out of my petrol getting there (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

This is the yarn I dyed:







This is the stash I bought, I was quite restraint on the yarn front with a ball of Trekking Pro Natura (the red), which I have to say if I'd have know how nice it was and that it had bamboo in it I would have bought more of, a ball of Opal Uni and two skeins of Lorna's Laces in Bittersweet.


I also got Interweave Knits, two Amy Butler sewing patterns, some Amy Butler Fabric, some notions, and another set of Knit Picks Circular needles in 2.25mm.



I also realise that I haven't taken a picture of my spinning wheel, which it seems should have a name, any suggestions gratefully accepted. Tomorrow I am off for a little spinning tuition, which I could do with.






This picture is just because, I collect things with sheep on and did long before I moved to Wales or began knitting, it's fate I tell you. I've had this a long time and it's got to be one of my favourite things. It just makes me happy to look at it! It was a present from my Mum, doesn't she have good taste?





TTFN

I was going to post this evening but quite frankly after the day I had in work I have little chance of making my brain work long enough to manage it.


TTFN, back soon!

Cluck Cluck

It's been a long time and I'm now even going to try and catch up, not that much has happened to be honest! I've been meaning to post for ages, it would seem I'm very good at blogging in my head as you can see this blog post very rarely makes it onto the blog, which is the vital part really. I finally had a nudge tonight as I've joined both Plurk and therefore The Plurkette Hencircle and the first project is the blog about me and why I want to nurture my inner farm girl, so here we go.

Well I'm 28 years old and English but I live in Wales with Royston (him indoors), Rosco and Alfie (the dogs) and Murray and Penny (the cats). I'm a transport administrator which I have to say for the most part I really enjoy. I do however have hankerings for a life in which I work from home and bake and cook everyday and tend to a garden and vegetable patch. Ideally I would love to live on a small holding and have some chickens and maybe some sheep. Back on planet Shellie though as this isn't really possible some ideas and encouragement on how I can have a more farmgirl life appeals greatly.

A beautiful weekend

A wonderful weekend weather wise, I have managed to get a load of washing done. The nice weather also meant that I could get the yarn I dyed yesterday dry. I haven't got pictures yet, but I do have a picture of my first attempt.

To be honest I am happier with this one than the orange sort of colour I managed to create yesterday. I also ended up with some white bits because I tied the skeins too tight.

As I haven't blogged in a while I do have a large amount of purchases to show, this is mostly due to Wonderwool , at the end of April. I went with 2 of my friends and a obscene amount of ooh aahing and purchasing was the result. I had saved my birthday money so I had some guilt free shopping to enjoy. Here are some of my goodies.

Coast Lace weight from Hip Knits, I nearly didn't get this but I admired it on Kerrie's blog so seemed silly to go home without it.


From Fyberspates some superwash merino sock wool


From Tri'Coterie, some Malabrigo, probably for a Foliage hat.



Some Icelandic Unspun for a Pi Shawl



From the Natual Dye Studio

&


I have started knitting a pair of Bellatrix in this

which is Yarn Ahoy Superwash Merino is Sweethearts. Unfortunately they aren't a very good fit so I am now off to frog said sock.

TTFN

Mitten Inspiration

One day I hope to produce mittens as good as these, one day soon!

Calling Jane!

I had a comment from Jane asking me about puppy classes, unfortunately I don't have a way of contacting you to let you know. We went to Woofers in Birchgrove, Swansea. If you email me on michelleapril at gmail dot com I can try and find the number of the trainer for you.

New Look

Last weekend I decided it was time for a change for the blog. I'd wanted to change the name of it for a while but couldn't decide on anything, I'm not sure I like this choice either but I'm happy to try it out for a while. I also decided to the sake of ease to revert to the normal blogger templates instead of spending ages trying to work out what I'm doing with HTML.

This weekend I have very few plans really, maybe some knitting at a friend's house tomorrow evening it all depends on whether I can be bothered to struggle with our car who is somewhat reluctant to go at the moment. This reluctance of course had to coincide with our "new to us" car of blowing up. I was hoping to have it back for this weekend so we didn't have to car share but I can't pick it up until Monday evening. I am toying with the idea of calling in at the wool shop tomorrow and I also want to have another look for Interweave Knits. There is the usual cleaning and pledge to take photos. And I need to look for a bookcase for the spare room to put all my craft crap on.

In knitting news, I am still working on the socks of doom slowly. All the other things are still on the needles but not receiving much attention and on that note I am off to watch Eastenders and do some knitting.

TTFN

Procrastination

I'm sitting here looking through Etsy at yarn I am not allowed to buy, which is daft because I'm not allowed to buy any, I should be knitting birthday socks or having a bath or making some tea. I have added a lot of yarn and sellers to my favourites though. Here is a sample for you

Etsy Buy Handmade shellbean

I had a whole lot of stuff to talk about but I am full of cold and cold medication which has rendered me fairly useless to be honest. My Father-not-in-law did come over this morning to help me paint our hallway, which when we moved in was white and lilac, we have painted it a sort of coffee colour which is much warmer and more practical when you have 2 dogs. Right I'm off to go do something, have a bath I think before I make tea and settle down to knit these socks!

Well that's another Christmas and New Year over with, we did have a lovely time, if a little busy and I was a lucky girl again this year.
Next year I am determined to get it all done early, I know I said that 12 months ago but having to move didn't really help last year. More handmade gifts will be happening next year as well. Not as a cost issue but in order to gain a less commercialised Christmas, I like the thought of giving people handmade gifts, something I have put time and effort into.

I'm not really into the whole resolution thing but this year we are planning on more proper home cooked meals, and healthier ones at that. I also want to spend more time crafting this year, getting back to scrapbooking and embroidery and sewing. I really want to get some things done to sell in the Etsy shop, ideas gratefully welcomed!

Regret

I wish I wasn't full of regret today but I am.

I regret that I hadn't spoken to him in such a long time; that I never told him what a great friend he was; that I never told him he always cheered me up when I spoke to him; that I never told him how much I admired his ability to keep going now matter what crap was thrown at him; but most of all that I never told him that I was proud of him for all those things.

I always thought he'd be there. I thought I'd get to see him and catch up when I went home just before Christmas.

I've lit two candles today one for my great friend Stephen and one for my other friend Jan, you will both be missed by all who knew you.

xx