Zoë's Knitting Bag

Dreaming of a Sophie Digard

The weather has been great and finally we have been able to enjoy garden barbecues, lots of reading outside and knitting too.  The light is so good for fine detail.  Sophie's bracelet is finished except for a fastening but is far too big for her.  I will just have to have it and make her another smaller version!

On the Words and a Bookmark swap front, Amanda has sent a most generous parcel to Christine, which can be seen here. I must get a move on with my parcel to send.  Please don't forget the deadline is 31 May and  feel free to contact each other to find out a little more about each other.

I've only just discovered the most beautiful designs from Sophie Digard when I received a news email update from Loop.  Her scarves and bags are so lovely and this makes me really wish I could crochet but it is her necklaces that I find just so perfect.  I may have to save up for one.  Every time I look at my flowering Clematis Montana on our old garage (which now serves as a garden shed and separate 5 star bachelor pad for Oscar, our cat), I see Sophie Digard necklaces.  Can you see the resemblance?

Actually, I also see those necklaces when I look at our Summer house!

May 1906

7th May 1906
"Weather very close and sultry.  I discovered most carefully hidden Robin's nest today in a marshy spinney in Elmdon Park.  I was stooping down to gather some cowslips, when a robin fled out over my hand, from under the roots of an Alder tree growing close beside me; it was quite a small tree, supported by four strong roots, which held it up clear of the ground, forming an archway.  In this cavity, right under the centre of the tree was placed a nest which contained five eggs.  The Crab apple trees and bushes are looking very beautiful now, covered with pink blossom and crimson buds."

The above is an entry from Edith Holden's nature notes "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" which was published in 1977 and 1978.  I still have my book from 1978 and love it as much now as I did then. Edith Holden recorded in words and paintings the flora and fauna of the British countryside through the changing seasons of the year. The book was so popular at the time that it triggered a whole range of kitchen accessories - I still have two flan dishes, a butter dish and we did have a duvet cover and matching curtains!!!  I wonder what Edith would have thought of all this.

The weather is so lovely today and I leave you with some photos, one of our own flowering Crab apple tree and other garden beauties.

You can just see Jasper's mini football - here in the bottom right .

Prom Bracelet

I found a lovely pattern on Ravelry for a beaded bracelet for Sophie's Prom by Heather Murphy.  On our way to the ballet yesterday, I stopped in a fantastic embroidery/cross stitch shop in Norwich and bought some DMC 8 cotton thread and of course I couldn't resist the seed beads.  Sophie wanted Emerald beads and gold thread and I plan to make myself a bracelet later in Duck Egg blue with burnished gold beads.  This pattern is very easy to knit. As the smallest needles I own are 1.5 mm and I can't wait for an internet delivery (there's no chance of getting any 1.25 mm in Norfolk) I started to knit the little bracelet this afternoon.  I am pleased with my efforts so far.  Sophie also plans to wear a Roman snake bracelet and an upper arm Roman style bracelet.  The dress is still a closely guarded secret but the hair style will be Roman style and the makeup will be gold and aqua eye shadow (is anyone still reading)? LOL.  These Proms are serious business and the amount of planning involved is incredible.  Some girls are having spray on tans just for the Prom!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by The Northern Ballet was yesterday's trip to the theatre.  I booked these tickets in January and forgot that we had front row seats although I believe that ballet devotees do not rate the front row as you cannot supposedly see the dancers feet.  Well that's one advantage of being tall.  I had a perfect view of their feet. 

The dancers were all on stage limbering up before the show started and the ballet was set in the Forties with the dance company on a train journey to Edinburgh.  As the train entered the tunnel, we were spectators of the dancers' dreams and the Shakespeare play unfolded.  The costumes, sets, props and dancers were brilliant and I loved it all.  Oh, we could also see the musicians in the orchestra pit - it was such a delight.

Ballet

We're going to the matinee performance of this and we have been looking forward to it for some time but it looks like it's going to be one of the warmest Saturdays for ages and we will be inside!  I'll leave you with a photo of the clematis on the garage wall (sorry Kate of MA - it's not Nelly Moser but I think it's Clematis Jackmanii.)

I hope you've all got your swap partner e mails - any problems - please leave a comment - I will check tonight and over this long Bank Holiday weekend.  Hope the sun shines for us all. x

Thanks and Swap News

UPDATE - SWAP PARTNER DETAILS ARE NOW BEING SENT.  THANKS GEMMA FOR STEPPING IN AS A SWAP ANGEL.  HOPE WE ALL HAVE FUN.  DEADLINE FOR SENDING PARCELS IS 31 MAY 2008.

At last I feel well again.  Thanks for your kind wishes.  Hopefully I will get all the swap partner details sent in the next few evenings.  The matches are done and mostly I was able to stick to your requests but not in all cases.  I hope you enjoy the swap.  One last request for a "Swap Angel" to step in.  We have an odd number and so I have no swap partner.  If anyone fancies swapping with me I will be happy to accept the first comment here - if not I will have to think again.

SICK

So sorry everyone, but since the early hours I have been sick with a bad tummy bug and typing this from bed.   DH has had it since Wednesday night and we think we picked it up from the residential home where MIL lives.  They have it so bad that visitors have been banned until next Wednesday at least.  I will get the swap partner details sent as soon as I feel better.  Really sorry to let you all down.  I will extend the date that the parcel has to be sent by.

Reminder

Just a gentle reminder that the return date for swap replies is midnight tonight.  Thanks.

Promise

The weather is finally changing and the garden is full of promise of the beauty yet to unfold.  The cherry blossom is only just emerging and the clematis is overflowing with buds.

The swap replies are being returned very promptly which will give me a better chance of getting them all together this weekend and sending out your swap partner details.  Please be assured that, once the swap is complete, I will shred all your contact details (except email as it will be nice to keep in touch from time to time) and delete the word documents from my laptop. I'm a bit obsessed with shredding!!!! Our paper shreddings are put to good use as they go straight into the composter and so far it has yielded marvellous results. 

It looks like we are all of a similar age, with lots of us in our late 40s but the age range so far spans from 19 to early 50s.  However, in my opinion, age is irrelevant as we are ALL young at heart and obviously all love reading and crafting.

SWAP NEWS

Phew - just sent out the questions and details for the Words and Bookmark Swap.  I hope you have all received my email, if not please let me know.  I did get one email "bouncing back" due to a full mailbox.  Could Jackie please contact me so I can re-send?  Thanks.

 

I will add names to my sidebar as joiners to the swap once I receive your completed forms.

April Showers (written yesterday, photos taken today finally outside)

STOP PRESS - SIGN UPS FINISHED FOR SWAP - THANKS THERE ARE 22 OF US NOW.

Not just rain showers but also lovely sunshine and then there's the hail, frosty mornings and as I speak it's thundering and lightning.  The weather is so changeable and there has been little chance to pop outside and take some photos of my knitting.  So I'm afraid the colours may not be quite true but here are a few photos of my many WIPS.  Please move your mouse to read the caption and there will be more over on Flickr.

Thank you for all your good wishes about my tooth extraction, the gum is healing nicely and I'm not sure if it's an after effect or not but I have a heavy cold and haven't sneezed so much in ages.  Pepper has finally gone in for her new bumper this morning so I hope to have her back and like new this week - perhaps I am being optimistic!!!! I have been given a Peugeot 307 HDI to drive which is very nice but, sorry if I offend anyone, it's just not the same.

With me to add to the list there are 19 people signed up for the Words and Bookmark Swap.  Please note that sign up closing date will be this Friday 18 April 2008 and numbers are still limited to 30 maximum, so if you are interested please leave me a comment.  I will get the questions out Saturday morning with all the finer details and dates etc.  Once you return them, the matching can commence.