Sunday 3 July 2011

Here come the girls!

Lots to show and tell you about today, great excitement in the josiekitten household! We went to visit our 'girls' again today. In a month's time, when we get back from our holiday, they'll be coming to live with us. They were both rather timid to begin with, but by the time we left, Florence, who is 10 months old, was much more relaxed, and almost on the point of purring!

Florence


Elsie, who is 6 months old, was less sure of us, and was still all big-eyed and wary when we left her. Hopefully, she'll remember us when we go back next weekend. We can't wait until they're properly ours!


Elsie


I followed Minniemoll's suggestion for using the Noro sock yarn and knit another sample sock for my LYS, this time knitting from both ends of the ball, knitting 2 rows from one end and then 2 from the other end. If I got a colour combination that I didn't like, I simply wound that section of yarn out! I also used a larger needle to see how the knitted fabric felt. It was much softer and less dense than on the other sock.


Noro stripy sock (3)


I also finished my Ishbel shawl. To say I am pleased with it is somewhat of an understatement! I am so chuffed with myself, it's quite ridiculous!! It's knit using some yarn that I spun from The Thylacine - a blend of 70% Blue Faced Leicester and 30% silk, and I just love how it turned out! I added beads using the crochet hook method for the last two sections of the chart, and they just finish it off perfectly. I've made it as a gift for Alexa - we shall be staying with her when we are in Munich in a couple of weeks time. It's going to be hard to say good bye to it, but I know it's going to a good home!


Handspun beaded Aegean Ishbel


I had a tiny amount left over - enough for an Innocent smoothie hat and maybe a sock yarn blankie square. Belinda insisted on modelling this one, and was most put out that I hadn't added any beads to it!


Innocent smoothie hat of the week 37


The Tour de Fleece began yesterday, so I've been busy spinning. I've spun up the fibre that Kim sent me recently - it's a beautiful deep inky purple colour. I've still got to skein it, so you'll have to make do with a photo of one of the singles. I'll show you how the finished skein looks later this week.


TDF day 1 2oz Abstract Fiber 'Ink' 003


The garden is getting into full swing now. We have eaten almost all the broad beans, and are currently enjoying peas, mangetout and cucumbers. Mr JK picked the first tomato today, so it won't be long before I'm taking handfuls to school in my lunch box. Yum! He also picked the blackcurrants yesterday, and is making blackcurrant wine out of them! They just look like little jewels, don't they?


blackcurrants (2)


We are enjoying a little tub of flowers in the garden. A few years ago, on a trip to Ireland, we bought a packet of Irish wild flower seeds. Mr JK found the packet kicking around the shed, and sowed them, just to see what would happen. There has been a delightful mix of pretty flowers for the past week. Poppies, cornflowers, plus many more that I recognise but am ashamed to say I don't know their names.


Irish wild flowers (9)


I'll leave you for now with a photo of a visitor to the garden - a hedgehog! We're not sure if he is residing chez josiekitten, or was just passing through. We'll keep an eye open for him this week and I'll let you know if there are any more sightings! Have a good week, and I'll see you soon! xxx


our hedgehog (3)

11 comments:

Lynne said...

Oh my goodness!!! Florence and Elsie are GORGEOUS! I'm sure you can't wait to get them home. :)

The sock is fab, I do like the technic for the stripes, what a good idea. And your Ishbel is beautiful, I don't know how you could part with it! I like how you can see the colours in the yarn in the third photo.

And I feel I should know the names of some of those Irish wild flowers, but, um, I don't!

snoopydogknits said...

I've fallen in love with Florence and Elsie already. What lucky cats they are! They have no idea. They are beautiful. Your Ishbel is perfect AND you spun the yarn. Respect!!! :-) Hope the little hedgehog has taken up residence. Have a good week. Not long to go now. Ros x

Northern Monkey said...

The new kitties are gorgeous, I'm sure they'll settle in just fine when you get to bring them home, what lucky kitties to come to such a loving home as yours!

Your Ishbel is absolutely gorgeous, your spinning is fantastic, I'm so impressed...I will NOT start spinning...NO NO NO! I don't need more stuff in the house :)

Kim said...

Oh Helen - that little hedgie is so CUTE!!!! Kade was quite envious. . . . And the spinning and the Ishbel are just awesomeably fabuloso!

Anonymous said...

Cute kitties! I'm not surprised you can't wait to get them home. I had to wait four weeks to bring mine home too, as Moll had two other kittens apart from Min, and I had to wait until they were eight weeks old and could go to their new home.

Your spinning has come on so well! The shawl is gorgeous, well done you :)

And I'm glad the tip about the socks worked out!

pinkundine said...

I'm not surprised you're pleased with yourself about the Ishbel, it's beautiful and I love the photo montage!

Love the new kitties too :)

Anonymous said...

The shawl is stunning. You have spun the fibre beautifully and the finished shawl really shows it off. Well done. I must start spinning again. If you keep posting pictures like that you'll encourage me!

Jennyff said...

You are such a good person giving your beautiful Ishbel away, but then you've already got your reward with those two gorgeous babies. If only they knew the fun they're going to have with all that yarn.

Yarndancer said...

All your projects are gorgeous!! And the kitties are so cute - you must be bursting with impatience to get them home :) I know I would be, they're lovely!

Stadtwaldvogel said...

So much to love in this post, Helen! I love your sweet cats that will live with you soon. I am sure they will get a wonderful home with you. I also love the wildflower tub. Gorgeous I say! And the striped socks are pretty, too.
Have a great weekend with lots of sun! Yours, Julia

Anonymous said...

oh sweet kitties - what a perfect addition to your family. they're both just adorable.

and your ishbel is breath taking. wonderful work!!