It's Been Ages

I don't have any good excuses for not posting, so I won't bother trying to think up anything amusing.

My brother Ian came for a second visit - that's twice in two months (thrice in five years). He brought along his friend Brad this time. We had lots of good laughs, though they were exhausted from travels through Montreal and Toronto. Gus and Whimsy just loved Brad. The poor little pups miss them both terribly now they've gone home.

Jane sent the button-of-the-month for June, and just look at the little darlings:



six tiny mother-of-pearl leaves, in honour of the leaves having finally arrived on the trees of Manitoba. In fact, there are now so many leaves and the weather has become so hot that it's hard to believe we ever had a winter. I'll be singing a very different tune come November, or maybe the same tune with different words.

I've been working on a little handmade-of-the-month for Jane. It's not in the post yet so I'll just give a couple of hints.





Hmmm, I wonder what it could be...

In local news, Mrs. Twitchett's Eye closed down at the end of May. This was quite sad, they had lovely embroidery threads and kits and such. On the up side though, it's been replaced with Kathryn's Stitching Studio and it looks as though they're not only at the same address but they've got lots of the same sort of stock. They've changed the layout of the shop a bit and I think there's a new colour on the wall - a very nice green behind the sales counter, and there's a wall of silk threads I could stare at all day.

They're stocking more than just thread and patterns too - loads of tools like needles and threaders and scissors. I love scissors and they have some dangerously beautiful ones. I went to check out the opening day sale and well, I couldn't resist (sorry about the sideways snap - it's blogger's doing).



I bought "Off The Deep End" - a pattern by Raise the Roof Designs. I love their designs, a little bit goofy and great use of colour. You can check out more of their designs here. I also bought some of the threads to work the design and a(nother) new pair of scissors. Ginghers (not my only pair, for shame) in the cheetah print handle. Ooh, la la. Before Nigel asks "another project?" or "more scissors?" or even "how much do Gingher scissors cost?", we should all remind him that there are far worse addictions to suffer from.

Speaking of which, I'm giving up the coke.

I've decided to start substituting coffee.



It's absolutely wretched stuff. It helps a bit to drink it out of a lovely piece of vintage china. Perhaps my next obsession will be just that. Just think of the potential to spend.....

I suppose before I start running around to all those antique shops I'll have to do some training.

Did You Think I'd Gone For Good?

Yes, yes, I'm still here. I've just been busy with mostly unblogable things.

My brother (Ian) came to town for a visit, which was very lovely and heaps of fun. We kept busy seeing the sights that have been changing since he was last in town, plus a few other additions to the city that he's never seen on other trips. We did this puzzle Sunday afternoon:



I spent the two or three weeks before his stay cleaning the house from top to bottom - well, actually I never got to the basement level, it's still a bit of a tip. Ian suffers from allergies which were very serious when he was a child, so I felt compelled to clean thoroughly - considering the two dogs, the rabbit and the general dustiness of the old place. I was quite worried he'd drop dead the minute he walked through the front door, but he didn't, Hoorah! He even managed a stay of five days without one trip to the hospital, though there was one trip to the pharmacy for antihistamines.

In the knitting department, I did finish those socks I started ages back. They were a very quick knit and I've been meaning to show them, it just kept slipping my mind.



They're very cheerful. They remind me a bit of the jars of jelly my Mother makes. Raspberry, bramble berry, red currant all cooling on a sunny windowsill. Very berry, jewel tones.

I've also been working on a tot cardi for a little one I know.



It's being worked in the recommended yarn, Sirdar Baby Care DK in a lovely fresh cream colour. I've finished the back, both fronts and both sleeves. I'll start sewing it up and then work the button band. I also need to choose some buttons - a favourite chore of mine.

There's also been two other projects in the works, one of which is winging it's way to its new home as we speak, and the other is queueing up to fly. As soon as they reach their destinations, I'll show you some photos.