Friday 31 October 2014

A Skeleton Is For Life, Not Just Halloween


A favourite bracelet that hasn't had an airing for a while and has never been photo'd for my blog.


 

 
A Butler & Wilson piece of art, in my book!
  
 
You can't beat a bit of 'skull-duggery', can you?!
 

Twisted in with my homemade bracelet.


 
Such a wild necklace by Kreepsville 666, (check out that coffin-shaped name tag!), bought from Rockers England in Manchester.
 
Have a ghoulishly lovely weekend!
Zxx

Tuesday 14 October 2014

The Prettiest Boy In Da 'Hood

I'm stuffed full of catarrh and haven't been out of the house since Wednesday, when I had an osteopath appointment in Brum.
Sadly, the one other thing I bought back with me other than a big red folder for my Holiday Grand Plan, (thank you Tcakes for alerting me to this), was a stinking cold that has given me a big red nose!!
 
Yeah, I am feeling very sorry for myself!
 
So, I am treating myself to some eye candy!
the gorgeous Micheal Praed
Y'see, Robin in Nottingham was not the first Robin I had met!

Mr B had covered on the tour of Copacabana years back and when it came to Southampton, we had the opportunity to see the show together and we walked back to the railway station with Micheal, chatting away as tho' we'd been mates for life.
He was lovely and a gent. 
 
And, following on from the previous knitting post...how do you combine knitting with Robin Hood?
 
 
With vintage Robinoid needles, of course!

knobfast???????
 Lovely red plastic needles sadly a tad too big to knit my socks on.
 
again...knobfast????
But they look great don't they?

Thursday 9 October 2014

Sock It To Me

In what alternative Universe was I in, when I thought buying this book, (a bargainous £3.99 from TK Maxx), and having a go at knitting Japanese stitch inspired socks?
Knitted Socks East and West by Judy Sumner
 I am knitting the socks on the cover, 'Fuji', specifically because they were designed to be worn when doing a pedicure.
 
One of the 2 things that I kept doing all the time I was at my lowest ebb, (very low for a very long time!), I painted my toenails. I may not have bathed for a week or washed my hair forever, but my toenails where always dapper.
(The other thing was keeping all 'the paperwork' in order...bills, bank statements etc, all filed and tickety-boo.)
 
 
But I just can't get the 'hang' of this at all. Even when I hit a 'respite row' of just knitting every stitch, it drives me nuts!
 
To start with there are 4 needles, then you go down to 3. I bought a new set for the size and thought "what'll hold a lot, will hold a little". Big mistake as Julia Roberts says in Pretty Woman. Big, big mistake. Too much needle length. But having said that, when using two shorty needles from my stash, I am forever losing stitches off one end or the other.
 
You can see how thin the needles are next to the pencil above.

 
Also, I can't see the stitches very well with my varifocal specs, so when they drop off I just watch the rows unravel before my very eyes!
There IS a stitch pattern, but I've got to the point of if there is the right amount of stitches on each needle at the end of a row I'm happy.
 
Regia Design Line Ombre Stripe 4 Ply - Frost Colour (04480)bought from deramores
But, it is very beautiful yarn.
Designed by my beloved Kaffe Fassett.
 I am wondering, as the yarn is so lovely, that I should bypass the stitch pattern and just knit it up
 in plain knitting.
 
What do you think? Any ideas, please.
Zxx
 


Tuesday 7 October 2014

Goddess of Magic

As always, the Trafford Centre never ceases to amaze!
 
 
Life-size marble big cats, palm trees, dolphins, guttering pipe outlets shaped as eagles...bad taste/kitsch has never had it so good.
 
 
This was the view down to the Debenhams cafe!
 
 
I don't know when it was built, but they must work hard at the upkeep, as it doesn't look shabby anywhere, that I've seen.
 (Just checked...1998, but this water feature was only put in last year).
 
 
 The fantasy character of Circe, 'goddess of magic', and her water nymphs.
She is the guardian of the water of everlasting life.
 


 
I could've sat next to that fountain for hours.
 How does that spurt work?
It also has colours going through it which is not too clear close up; but you can just see it on the end blob of the jet of water. 
 
 
Me, doing my best 'goddess' impersonation!
My little bee ear-rings came from Laura Ashley. Aren't bees supposed to be lucky charms?

Monday 6 October 2014

Lucky Girl

I may be a lucky girl because I now own a MAC x Brooke Shields eye palette that sold out across the world on the day of its' release.
 

But I even luckier to have a wonderful partner who limped down to Selfridges in his between shows break and bought the last on in the store for me!
source
That really is lucky!
 
 
Thank you Mr B

Wednesday 1 October 2014

October Autumn Colour Palette

The Hanging Gardens of Pennyblossoms!
 
 
 
Love the way this Virginia Creeper changes colour at this time of year.


 
Mind you, when the leaves start falling off, it doesn't half make a mess!
 
 
Centre right there are three raspberry canes that are about 9 foot high...they didn't fruit this year, so, technically, they shouldn't be pruned. But if I leave them they'll probably be in the next door neighbours' garden. (Sure they won't mind, free fruit 'n' all!).
 
 
And to end, a tiny, lonely, home-grown freesia.
Smells amazing. 
Zxx