Cuteness Overload - British Alpaca Futurity 2012

I said 'Smile' and it did!  How cute.  Alpacas just make me want to fling my arms around them and give them a big squishy hug.  They would not like it though.  Today I went over to the NEC in Birmingham to visit British Alpaca Futurity 2012.  This is the biggest annual gathering of Alpaca in the UK.  I had a lovely morning wandering around chatting. . . to the animals not to people.  Some of the animals chatted back, which was adorable.  I went on my own and caught a shuttle bus with an alpaca farmer from Somerset, we got chatting and she offered to send me some 'free' alpaca fleece to play with. . . it hurt but I declined!  I need to use the sacks in the shed first!  This has been a great motivator to spin some of this fantastic fibre.

I was really interested in the results of the spinning contest.  Wouldn't it be great to think I could make something worthy of entering next year.  I am getting delusions of Grandeur again!  One of they Rosettes would look helluva lovely on my wall though!

Dyed Yarns to die for!

Show Fleece in a wide range of fantastic natural colours.

More Fleece, this was about half of the fleece.
Tis the stuff that dreams are made of!

Lots of knitted Alpaca.

Lots of Crocheted Alpaca.

Needle Felted Alpaca.

Alpaca shows.  This was very interesting and I watched the final of the 'Best in Show Black Female'.  I just think they are all winners and all lovely. The junior classes were very cute too.  I think the boys are being judged tomorrow.

 
               There were lots of trade stands and stores for me to have a thoroughly great time mooching around.  I draw the line at £30 for a pair of socks though, they were soft and luxurious, I know, but I would only wear holes in them!   I looked at spinners, weavers and felting.  You could also take workshops but I was not that organised.  The Workshop in 'Advanced Spinning Techniques for Alpaca Fleece' sounded just my cup of tea.  There is always next year.
                At the end of the Morning, after talking to the animals, we were all very tired and in need of a lie down.

Now I am off to make plans. . . . if I don't win the Lottery. . . how can I find a field to pop my Alpaca in?  My garden is barely chicken proof and three chickens take up all the room!  
              I hope you are all set for a great weekend filled with fun stuff.  I am having a very fun day, as I am off to the 'Basketry/Weaving Workshop tonight.  I wonder what I will make and how I will get on?  In my head I am already very good at this!    XXX

200 Followers Celebratory 'Give Away'

Pretties!

I think I may be becoming obsessed.  Last night I had a dream about the most fantastic town, where the High Street consisted of numerous Yarn Shops, there was even a huge Yarn Market store.  I can remember in my dream oooing and aaahing over green buttons.  Particularly green buttons, beautiful glassy green buttons.  It was one of those dreams where it is a shame to wake up.
            I had a couple of plans for today.  'The Ides of March'.  It is my Daddy's Birthday.  We all had a nice birthday meal this evening, including cake and dad was very pleased with his presents, Beer and hoodies.  The kids have hoodies and a couple of weeks ago Dad said he has always wanted one.  They will be very useful as Dad is a very keen astronomer, which involves cold, late nights stargazing.

I asked him to pose for a Blog photograph and this is what we got!  A mixture of my photography skills and Dad mucking about trying to act 'Gangsta'.  Suffice is it to say, he likes the hoodies.
Many Happy Returns Dad xxx

           Henry found out he got an 'A' today for part of his final English GCSE we are very pleased about that.  I always knew Henry is not as daft as he looks!  He broke the 'No phone zone' rule at school to send me a photograph of the paper with the grade on it today.  The photo was a bit blurred I thought it was an 'A' in Religious Education!  English is good.  It is Henry's last year at school this year.  My 'baby' will be 16 in July and I will never know where that time has gone.  I probably don't need to tell you, but teenagers are not easy creatures to be responsible for!  I am sure I worry about him now more than I ever did.  I try not too.  If I am worried it makes my crochet hook work faster or my knitting needles clack louder!  These times can be quite productive with lots of late night yarny stuff going on!

Daisy the Dawg

           I also visited my Aunt and Daisy this morning.  My Aunt is feeling most unwell.  I love her lots.  She is the Aunt I lived next door to as a small child.  She has a painful chest infection and a virus.  We had a good natter and a cup of coffee.  She has been having a de-clutter and has given me lots of knitting needles and crochet hooks and some patterns.  I will probably mooch thoroughly through the bag later.  I am sure now I will have all that I need in the knitting needle department.  I will write a post about them, as with everything, I have a tale or two to tell.  Daisy was very pleased to see me and is a very cute little character.  She has somehow made herself look old in this picture, she is as bright as a button and very playful.  Every photograph I tried to take she moved or squinted her eyes up.
           I am hopefully going to a 'Basketry' workshop tomorrow evening with my Blog Buddy Claire and my Mom.  Claire is a member of Stratford Upon Avon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and Mom and I will gate crash.  I needed some weaving material, basketry stash.  It involved taking the dog for a walk when Euan finished school today.  Walking with a large bag and a pair of secateurs.  Trying not to look too suspicious snipping at the hedgerows.

Euan thought it was naughty and kept his identity hidden.  I am soaking my harvest overnight and keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to create something with it tomorrow.
               Now Finally on to the business of the 'Give Away' to celebrate reaching a total of 200 lovely Blog followers.  I did go to a yarn shop today, to my knowledge our town has a grand total of two, very small yarn shops.  They are both good though.  I found three pretty little prizes.  Guess what?  I also found some lovely green buttons for the green cardigan I am attempting to knit for myself.  I think my dream was a premonition.

First Prize: Pretty Printed Wooden Buttons
(I will find these hard to part with!)

These scissors are very 'Girly' too and would make a pretty addition to your work box.
Besides being pretty they are also small and very sharp.

The third prize are these three little charms.

 This 'Give Away' is open to anyone who follows my blog, (New followers are always welcome, the more the merrier).  I would also like you to leave a comment on this post and a way for me to find you, if I don't know how to find you already.  Closing date is midnight on 21st March 2012 and I will notify the 'winners' on Thursday 22nd of March 2012.

Thank you xxx

Pi Day? Pi Day? - Why didn't any one tell me?

This is Larry Shaw 'The Prince of Pi'

Here I know all about Pi Day.I did not know March the 14th was officially Pi Day.  I did not know there was a 'Prince of Pi'.  Now I have read Wikepedia a whole new world has been opened up to me.  Ha! 'A Prince of Pi', well doesn't he sound like my type of guy?  I thought he looked rather cool too, until I found out he was into numbers in a big way!  People who are into numbers scare me!  People who put numbers on their Pie scare me even more.  I prefer cream on my pie not numbers!  

Larry Shaw the founder of Pi Day looking very happy in his funky knitted hat

'Friday Pie Day' has had to be moved forward to today in honour of 'Pi Day'.  I have very nearly missed it too!  You are supposed to celebrate this official holiday with pie eating and discussing 'Pi'.  I cannot find anyone interested so I have had to tell you about it instead.  Then I have let Wikipedia do the explaining because quite frankly I never understood 'Pi' at school, I switched off altogether.  The only Pi I liked in school was in the canteen, a bit of 'Cheese and Potato Pie with Chips and Gravy' in the good old days before health fads when nobody cared if kids ate chips and gravy every day!  Happy Days.
              My Pi Day Pie is . . . . as promised. . . drum roll please. . . my first ever. . .

Blueberry Pie 'Tah da!'

 I really thought you would be hard pushed to make a tastier Pie than Cherry or Apple, but my word, Blueberry Pie, made with fresh Blueberries is the 'Mother of All Pies'.

I used shortcrust Pastry
300g of blueberries covered with water and bought to the boil.
I added 50g of sugar and a paste made with 25g of Corn flour and water.
This made a thick and quick pie filling.  I only cooked the blueberries for about three minutes.  Then you bake your Pie for as long as you can wait, or until it is golden.
Then you have to serve it with about a pint of cream!

Like this!  If you eat it in the dark on your own the calories do not count, because nobody knows you have had it!

What Larry Shaw has done for Pi and Pi Day, my lad could do for 'Squirty Cream' he had a bit of pie with his!  Larry will not mind if you celebrate Pi Day late, nor will I.  XXX  Happy Pi Day, but only just!
Go eat pie!

Pi Pie
www.geek.com

Oooo! Ooo! Look!

Yeah!  I noticed tonight I have finally hit the 200 followers mark.  Yahoo.  I have been waiting and waiting very patiently.  I am very grateful to each of my blog followers and love all of your comments.  I have a bit too much fun blogging as you know.  I made my mind up ages ago that I would celebrate 200 followers and I have some ideas for 'Give Away' prize shopping .  I must go shopping at the end of the week and I look forward to having another 'Give Away' post to write.  On my Flag Counter my last 'New' Country was the Bahamas.  I have always fancied going to the Bahamas. . . it would make a great change from 'Glamping' in a field somewhere in the UK.  I just have one thing left to say to you all. . . .  

Pie Day Friday ( Better late than never) Bacon and Egg Pie

Yeah!  Wooo hooo!  It's Monday, my favourite day of the week.  Bah!  Who am I trying to kid?  I can't help it if I just like being at home too much.  I am fine once I get to work but I am even better on a Wednesday afternoon when I have finished for the week.  I used to work full time, but I felt like I was not doing a great job or being a great Mom.  Work/life balance is much much better now I work part time.  I do not take the situation for granted.  Every week I am grateful that I can 'come up for air' and do a couple of school runs myself.  The dog is also very happy when I am home, so is the budgie and the chickens!  We all prefer Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
          I wasn't late with Pie Day Friday, I am just late with this post.  I saw this Bacon and Egg Pie Recipe over at Lavender and Lovage last week.  I have never tried one.  The photographs over at Lavender and Lovage put my pie to shame.  I did bake it between 7am and 7.30am though in quite a rush.

 I also used my trusty enamel pie plate rather than a pie dish so this has turned out rather flat.  Not to worry it tasted great hot or cold.  I think it would make another good picnic pie too.  I am getting rather slap dash with these pies and should slow down a bit and take more care with the presentation.  I am not winning the sweet or savory pie 'battle' either, if it is not sweet, they are not interested in this house.  Blueberry Pie is on my list of Pies to make. . .I am sure that will be popular.
Hope You have a Happy Monday X

Birmingham and District Guild of Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing 'March 2012' 'Lord Of The Rings'

The Workshop for March involved preparing for 'The National Exhibition' This year it will be held 16 - 27th of July at the Weald and Downland Museum, in West Sussex.  Each Guild member has been invited to create an exhibit piece.

"Unselected work 
Guild members will be able to submit work that fits within a six-inch ring. Everything submitted will be hung together, in a special area for everyone’s enjoyment. It can be spun, woven, dyed, knitted, crochet, felted or any combination of these and perhaps in conjunction with other texhniques. The ring must be part of the exhibit."


How happily can a group of 'crafters' sit for five hours, creating a masterpiece within a six inch ring?  Very happily indeed is the answer.  The collage is a sample selection of the work that went on.  I am kicking myself for missing some real beauties, but I was very busy working on my own piece and photography was an afterthought.  Most, if not all members have taken their 'ring' away for completion.  So I am hopeful that I will get the opportunity to photograph them again in April.
              If you think a six inch ring can be uninspiring, think again.  There was a vast array of textile work being undertaken and imaginations and creativity were set free.  No two rings were alike and I am sure that when hundreds are hung together at 'The national Exhibition' they will make a stunning display.

This is my own 'Ring'.  It also happens to be the fuzziest photograph!  Sorry.  It is using my own hand spun yarns.  Unfortunately it looked much better in my head than in reality!  I chose a simple weaving idea from a children's textile book.  My first mistake was to assume it would be simple.  I crocheted the edge for my ring and I am using the Cute 'Daisy' pattern from Chalky's World to adorn my ring.  The Daisies are very quick and easy to crochet.  I am thinking of crocheting miniature daisies from embroidery thread to hide the edge of my 'Weaving Frame'.  Just what I always wanted. . . . . another Work in Progress.

I am very proud of my Mom's piece of work.  I really would like to pass it off as my own.  She embroidered this little design out of her very own head.  I am calling it 'Sheep May safely Graze' after one of my favourite pieces of music.  They look like happy little sheep munching spring flowers in the sunshine, growing lovely woolly fleece for us to knit with. 

This is an interesting ring using fibre and natural materials.  I have been assured the finished design will contain a miniature aeroplane.  Wow!

People explored designs using the 'stash' that they had and I really could have lost and hour or two mooching through sewing boxes, tins and bags if they would have let me.  I like the colours and sheen of these threads combined together and I think this is going to be a stunner when it is finished.

I really love the colours here and it is interesting to see the effect of weaving with fabric strips, rather than yarn or thread.  Check out the yummy stash too.

The lady who created this one lives on a boat.  I think she is capturing the water beautifully with the fibre, colours, movement and the tiny little beads.  I could dive in!

You can never have too much pink, shiny yarn.  I am very interested to see this one finished.  Look how neat the edging on the ring is!

I love the colours of this edging, again it is very neat.  I also love sparkly stars.  This is going to be a stunner.

I think tapestry weaving is very clever.  This cute design is going to turn out great.

I just want to give this one a rub.  I have never tried rug making, it is on my never ending list of things to try.

This is a nice solid design.  With the technique and the use of colour this piece really stands out from the crowd.

This is a beautiful Work in Progress using some very fine threads and what looks to be some intricate technique.  I am not sure how this is being made but it looks fantastic.  

Edit:  I don't know how I missed including this first time round!  This is going to be a tiny little sweater to go inside a ring.  Isn't it cute?  It would make Barbie incredibly happy I am sure :) 
            I am really kicking myself for the pieces I missed photographing, one was a bold 'Fire' theme design, another was some beautiful closely woven fabric and there was a beautiful piece of 'Tatting' being worked in hand dyed thread.
             I know my Buddy Claire has also been working on these at Stratford Upon Avon Guild where she is a member.  You can check out Claire's work in progress here at 'Simply. . . . Life':  She is working on a 2D 'Seascape' and a 3D needle felted Robins Nest, complete with tiny eggs.  Birmingham Guild are hoping, in July, to travel with Stratford Guild by coach to the National Exhibition.  I think we catch the coach at some ungodly hour.  Then I need to manage two or three hours on a coach.  I get extreme motion sickness.  I feel ill on planes, trains and automobiles.  I also could get sea sick on a mill pond!  Coaches and buses have to be my worse mode of transport second only to 'Cross Channel Ferries' where I literally turn a subtle shade of green.  Hence I tend not to stray very far from my own front door.
             I could not recommend enough that you grab yourself a 'six inch ring' and let your imagination run riot!  It is great fun to explore something new and you can make yourself (or somebody else) a crafty, textile wall hanging or mobile.  If you do have a go please don't forget to show me, I am nosey like that! 
             I hope you are having a good weekend, full of the stuff that makes you happy.  xxx