Kidsilk Haze

Kidsilk Haze
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

Another lovely find! I have tens of knitting and crochet books that I keep for inspiration; I don't necessarily want to make everything within them, but they often have tips about tricky yarns, interesting ways of combining techniques and beautiful colour arrangements that you might not normally consider.

I've been a bit fearful of using Rowan kidsilk haze because it's very fine and it sheds like crazy, but I really like its ethereal quality. I bought this book yesterday because it's had nothing but positive reviews (and I admit that I really like the colour of the mittens on the cover too!) and it's truly delicious. There's a section on using this yarn, on combining it with other yarns, and little tips that should make it a joy to use. And for once, I really, really want to make most of the items featured inside.

Barbara G. Walker

Barbara G. Walker
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

Barbara G Walker has to be the fount of all knowledge on knitting stitches and patterns. No matter where I look, she's always quoted as providing information about this or that pattern, which has subsequently been adapted by a more contemporary designer. But - oh my goodness! - if you're trying to find copies, they're all horribly expensive! Fortunately, I've found the two volumes that I really want to consult in a local library, and AbeBooks had a couple of reasonably-priced copies that I've just bought.

These are wonderful books, and utterly essential for every knitter. I'd even go so far as to say that if you have these, you won't need to buy any other kind of stitch compendium. There are so many patterns that I want to try to replicate in my scarves, so I think I'm going to be busy for a little while yet.

SecretPostClub May / Mai 2010

SecretPostClub May / Mai 2010
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

This was the first month in which I'd participated in the Secret Post Club, and wasn't quite sure what to expect. I get a bit nervous about things like this because I feel I'm never going to follow the rules properly or will send something that the other person will loathe - but if you don't venture, you won't gain, right?

Anyway, I needn't have worried. Mrs Shilts seemed to like the things that I sent her (and if she didn't, then she was very gracious about it!), and my parcel, from carolinesweetie hit all the right buttons: chocolate? Tick. Fudge? Tick. Lavender bathsalts? Tick. Bookmark? Tick! Yes, yes, yes, on all counts! Thank you both for making my first month so memorable, and on we go towards June!

Chickens!

Somerset knitters knit jumpers for bald chickens.

Fishtail

Fishtail
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

I seem to be doing a lot of knitting at the moment, even though some of those projects are a bit hit-and-miss (I've frogged more than I care to count). However, my stock seems to be selling well at the National Library of Wales, and I'll be taking some more items in tomorrow. This is one of my latest creations - a fishtail lace scarf made using Colinette yarn. The colourway is beautiful, and I've been very tempted to keep this for myself, but no - to the shop it will go! I've put up pictures of the other scarves here - enjoy!

Local shops

Another development; a second shop in Aberystwyth has agreed to sell my cards. You can now buy them at the Toko Gallery, and the National Library of Wales shop.

Oplontis

Fresco detail, The Villa Oplontis
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

I'm thrilled! I've just sold two prints of this photograph on Zazzle. I've had a number of items up on the site for a couple of years, but having not expended any energy in promoting them, I've had no sales (not unsurprisingly).

I think this is one of my favourite photographs from my visits to the Bay of Naples. It's a tiny fresco in the Villa Oplontis, and it's been painted so delicately that it's remarkably life-like. It makes such a different statement from the other, gaudier rooms in the Villa.