29 August 2010

A Woollie Week - or 2!

I've not actually been anywhere, just not been blogging......

The house renovations are moving slowly....I have a bed and a mattress, chest of drawers and a bookcase - some friends and I took a trip to Ikea in Edinburgh last weekend. They too have just moved house and needed some supplies. In one day we journey to and from Ikea and built a wardrobe, 4 chest of drawers and 5 bookshelves. I managed to build 26 drawers last Sunday - sore hands followed! But both homes are now looking a little more homely.

I started painting yesterday, the wooden shelves in my alcove in the living room are now glistening shiny white.....and it's only the start of it.....many walls to be painted. The plumber also came yesterday to remove the radiator in the kitchen and that means that the kitchen fitting can start soon. I will take some update photos shortly.

I finished another blankie this week. This one has an allotment theme although I am not sure the owner of the allotment would be too happy about the rabbits eating all their veg!


Whilst moving house I found my first ever softie! I made him when I was about 7 or 8 - two circles of fake fur (from the lining of a waistcoat from Clothkits) and some yellow felt....he's survived a long time (most of my childhood toys were male for some reason!)


I never did post about some of the goodies I brought back from my trip to Orkney in April. First is my sheepskin rug - a beautiful dark, long haired North Ronaldsay sheep. These sheep are famous because the are often to be found along the beach at low tide eating the freshest fronds of seaweed. The sheepskin doesn't come from North Ronaldsay but from a herd of sheep on the Isle of Auskerry - a remote island in the Orkney archipelago, home to 5 people and a herd of sheep - you can learn about their lives here.... The sheep are uniquely marked in colours from cream and gold to chocolate and from silver through granite to slate and black, helping to camouflage them amongst the rocky outcrops on the island.


As you may know, I can hardly resist the purchase of a ball of wool or two and a visit to Tait & Style in Kirkwall was a must......they make the most amazing wool textiles - toys, cushions and scarfs and you can buy their slubbed wool in an amazing range of colours....

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I think I'll be making horses manes and tails with some of this wool!

6 comments:

kiko said...

hi Di!
Those are the most beautiful wool!! I can see some beautiful cowl for the fall......Good luck with your reno! Hope you get settled soon!

Thimbleanna said...

Oh, your new little blankie is adorable Di! I love the allotment theme with the little bunnies. I can't wait to see your decorated house -- it sounds like you're making great progress!

Fei An said...

Dear Di, Thanks for your message to my post. Anja is very interested in her viola now. I will make her keep up to it but not give up halfway. Your friend would be really happy if he knows there is a girl would have been learning how to play viola for a few years. She just started last week.
Good luck with your renovation. It really take time and patience.
The little blankie is so adorable and it makes me want to have a baby:) No more absolutely, of course:p)
Childhood toy, I don't remember I have any. Well, really need to recall some memory. I have been busy working on the autumn winter collection of children clothing and will work on with felt late on. Have a nice week! Fei

Arctic Mum said...

Hi, it sounds so nice to have found a house that you know you'll stay in - and then just decorate as you go along. I bet it'll turn out beautiful in the end! We're looking, but it's difficult. Price and place...don't have to move out of here until 5th of January (on the 4th anyone can probobly sell me a wreck)I'm looking forward to Hurtigruten myself, haven't been since I was little.

Heidi said...

Such vibrant colors in that wool!

I can't wait to see more of the renovations at your new place...

Bethany said...

How did you have time to make another blankie??? Especially so cute... I love the bunnies!!! You've also been super busy with furniture building... it can take forever to get all of the pieces together. I love that you still have some of your toys from your childhood that you made (I do too!). I had to laugh because my sisters always made me play with the boy dolls or the Ken doll if we were playing together. I have no idea why. I can't wait to see what you make with that gorgeous yarn!