rockpool candy

So I never made it to the end of the week of favourite things

....my angioedema decided that I needed a few bed days....and when Ange decides that I need to lie down, I lie down.

As a consequence, I've let a few people down. I HATE doing that. In my heart I'm never a slacker, but in my body, well, I have no choice but to fail.

But hey, I've progressed to the sofa!
So here's a delve into what else I've been up to over International Crochet Month (and a bit before)!

I've been snuggling up in 1 of 3, yes 3, beautiful present swaps I received from the lovely Ina of Tante Sophie in NYC. (Isn't she just such a stunning lady?).

There's this gorgeous scarflet, which is like a warm cloud around my neck.

A cowl-come skater slouch that's been keeping my hub toasty.

And the softest cowl that I've been wearing around my house to keep out the chills. Don't be fooled by my bad pic, it looks wonderful on.

I think that I came off best in this swap.... as in return all I did was make her a jumbo skein of navy and white, irregular candy-stripe, as these are her fave things. I of course forgot to photograph it before I sent it, but you can see it here.

And I kept a little skein for reference.

I also found myself spinning up what turned out to be 'Blue Moustache' yarn.

So called because there was lots of prancing about with one of my blended batts one night.

It just HAD to be for JohnK, another US fibre artist I'm pleased to have visit my inbox. If you don't know this 'funny uncle' then drop by and see just why this yarn was always destined for him.

So what else?

Well..... The lovely Kathleen Greco sent me a copy of her Jelly Yarn book. Haven't tried this weird and wonderful yarn yet? The stuff above glows in the dark you know! Get some here.

And I've been battling with giant balls of my own plastic bag yarn for another project. It's so quick using my method (see the you tube link on top left of blog), but I really wish it was more pleasant to work with. Nothing can beat a bit of fleece for me.

I'm an old-fashioned Dorset girl, ooo-arrr.

New York, New York: Part II

So, leaving NYC behind, we headed upstate to pick up a car in Albany. (If you ever want to film an alien abduction scene, this is your city. Hardly a soul on the street and yet it was the middle of the afternoon on a working day.) Maybe it has something to do with the Egg - yep, that's its real name. Couldn't get out of this place fast enough. And did you know, it's the true capital of New York state (go figure) it was eerie.

If you want fibre, then you have to head up state and have a chat with the lovely Nancy

at Stitchin Post in Saratoga Springs. She is just the sort of fellow fibre fiddler that I'd love to spend more time with, hanging out, sitting on the front step of the shop. Alas, time was short and we had to rush on. A whistle stop tour of

And I have the first few local yarns to start my New York State travelling reef. (I spent the evening winding it on Adirondeck chair backs.) Here it sits in the woodpile next to a roaring fire.

And what a place to start crocheting it the next day, sitting on the edge of a frozen Mirror Lake, cosied up to an open fire. bliss

New York, New York: Part I

It's been a while since I posted, but those of you who know me, know it's because I've been crocheting my way across the beautiful state of New York.

My main reason for being in NYC was to set up my artwork in the WFC (World Financial Centre) for the IFF. Yep - it was a festival of abbreviations!
Here's a snapshot of my plastic creations through the tendrils of my jellyfish cloud. It's all hovering over the Chicago crocheted coral reef. (Unfortunately my crocheted work didn't feature in this exhibition in the end.)

But the opening was a great place to meet other artists.

Here, right to left; the breathtakingly-talented Helle Jorgensen, putting on her coral hat; the mathematical machine knitter, John K, into whose brain I can't wait to pick, plunder and delve deeper; the wonderful Molly, without whose determination, good humour and hard work (not to mention resilient liver) the show wouldn't have taken place; and my gorgeous husband, Andy.

Another wonderful high of the trip was hanging out with the beautiful Subway Hooker. Oddly, even after two cocktail-filled nights out with this intelligent and funny lady, the only thing I can show you is her card and an embarrassingly-large bar bill (only because I haven't yet found a way of photographing mojito-induced hangover thuds). But take it from me, it was FUN!

I don't know if it's some fibrey pheromone that I give off, but fellow fiddlers were literally coming out of the walls around me. Even the barman at our hotel turned out to be a class act on the sewing machine.  Not only does Nate make the meanest PINTS of margarita (oh yes, I was drinking them by the pint) but his stitchery is bewitching.

I'm hoping that the little crochet demo that I gave him and Kelly at the opening will inspire him to go 3D, too. Far too good an artist to be pulling pints.

Part II soon.

xx