Raffle Prize

A while back a FB friend asked me to crochet them a raffle prize for our favourite doggy charity. She runs an online raffle and a real life (at a spring meet up) every year to raise funds. I couldn't refuse.

Today it is all finished, washed, blocked and lovely.

The yarn used is Regia 4 ply sock yarn - so it's all washable and I used a 2.5mm hook. The patterns and design comes from this amazing book by Jan Eaton. I cannot praise this book enough. Anyone who loves crochet would adore this book, it is well written with great photos, clear instructions and wonderful colour palette ideas.

I hope whoever wins this. Loves it.

p.s if you want to purchase a ticket - comment and I'll point you in the right direction. They go on sale in early March.

Flash fiction - A Dish Served Cold.

Slowly the tight band around her chest squeezed and squeezed until she thought her heart might implode. She stood up slowly, the room swooped and dipped as she grabbed the back of the chair in front of her, she wanted to remain upright and maintain her dignity in the crowded restaurant. She would not collapse, she wouldn't give him the pleasure of witnessing the physical manifestation of the hurt he had inflicted. She took a long breath and opened her eyes. He'd gone. The chair opposite from her own was empty. He'd not even stayed to see if she was OK. She felt the sweat start to bead on her forehead, the panic was building. Her heart thumped alarmingly.

She moved forward, staggered slightly. She needed a bolt hole now. She spied the ladies room and headed that way. There was only one cubicle, it was empty. She knew her face was flushed and sweaty but still tinged with the grey-green of shock, she just needed time now. Time to put her plan into action. Sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, she pulled her bag onto her lap and started to rummage.

She'd seen this coming a while back, still it was a shock. The missed meals, the long calls on his mobile in the garden, the increase in dry cleaning bills for his shirts. She'd decided on a plan of action should today ever come to pass. It wasn't just the shock that affected her, it was fear and adrenalin. In his horror at her reaction she was sure he hadn't noticed her slip her glass off the table, the glass he'd held as her poured her wine. Both their fingerprints were on it as well as her lipstick. She was also sure that lots of diners had witnessed their interactions and her staggering walk to the ladies.

 Standing up she took the vial from her bag, her hands were shaking. She tipped a few drops from the vial onto some tissue and smeared it around the inside base of the glass, the remaining liquid she gulped down. She wrapped the small plastic vial in the tissue and dropped it into the toilet bowl. Round and around it sped in the following flush and then it was gone. She felt so sick and dizzy, they'd told her she would, it would be quick too, already she felt numb in her feet. Fumbling for her mobile, she found the photo of him, smiling across a table in this restaurant, taken three weeks ago. Her sight blurred and her fingers felt numb. Knees buckling, she sank down on the floor. Her last conscious thought was, if I can't have him, no-one will.

Being spoilt

Pretty good birthday :)

Follow Your Arrow

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

This was a mystery shawl KAL (knitalong) by Ysolda. I chose clues BABBA. Took 1.25 100g skeins in Eden Cottage Pendle 4ply in colour Teal knit on 4mm needles.
Knitting a clue per week it took 5 weeks to complete, average about 2 days knitting each week. It was cast off last night and is blocking in this photo on Mum's dinning room table.
It's a nice easy knit and makes a pretty shawl.

A wonderful surprise

Joined a little swap with my Knitty friends via FB and today I got my wonderful parcel from Alice aka Florapie. The idea was to send from our stashes - she sent me some lovely lace weight yarn with a pattern suited to it. Beads and the right sized crochet hook to apply them, stitch markers, a little llama pouch, some tea (which is delicious) and a very nice card/note.

I'd been having a really shit day - this made me feel so much better when I got home.

Knitters are the best people. Thank you Alice.

Spider - blast from the past.

Doris who turned out to be Boris. Martinique Pink Toe. Such glorious colours - 95% of the time hidden away in her web!