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.

Custom Order

Made for Jane, as part of a custom order: a feather-and-fan scarflette made with Colinette's Banyan yarn in Mardi Gras. This dye lot is redder and more striking than the one that I'd used previously, but I like it a lot. It's very bold.

I've said it before, but this is a really lovely yarn. It works up incredibly quickly, and the colour changes add a twist to the pattern. I hope Jane likes it!

Noro scarf (III)

Noro scarf (III)
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

This is why Noro deserves to be drooled over (not literally, of course!). Yummy Japanese wool, mohair and silk; an utter dream to knit, not only because it's beautifully soft, but you're never quite sure how the patterning's going to turn out. Each scarf is an adventure - and now I have enough wool to make 6 more! Wheeee!

I love Noro!

Four Noro scarves that I've knitted this year... and I've just bought another 16 balls to make more... I must be insane!

Lacy scarf

Lacy scarf
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

Another feather-and-fan scarf, this time using Sirdar's Crofter wool (DK, fairisle effect, in Skye). I was quite happy with the way this turned out; the stripes are mercifully even, which has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the way the wool has been dyed! This wool isn't as yellow as this image suggests - that's thanks to the shop lights.

My first sale!

Sparkly scarf
Originally uploaded by ziedu_mate

Made using Sirdar Firefly, this is the first of my knitted items to sell - I'm so thrilled! This close-up doesn't really do justice to the yarn - it's in the midnight colourway, a near-black with pink and blue sparkles, and is perfect for jazzing up an evening outfit. A bit tricky to work with, mind, as it's a ladder yarn that consists of two threads and it's very easy to get the needles caught between the two. But yes. My first sale! Whee!