Bereft

Here I am awaiting my handyman. Not D.H. but the man who has been named "the best little paperhanger in Bolton". He's pretty good at painting too but not today. Why? Cos he's not turned up and I didn't go to The Great Northern Papercrafts Extravaganza at Harrogate because he was coming-except he's not coming until tomorrow and I'm stuck here. Not my week I think.

I love the Harrogate show, it's like my club. I get to see old friends and I know Craftwork Cards are launching new products. Hope this new look for my bedroom is going to be worth it.

Don't you think life sometimes is like swimming up a treacle waterfall?

Talking of waterfalls I thought you might like to see some pics of the Falls of Lodore which is near where I stayed at Glaramara in Borrodale. When my D.H. came to pick me up we stopped off there on our way home and both were quite proud of the fact that we managed to climb up the side to get a view of the water crashing down. We're both fully qualified old crocs and plenty of people (and small children )were skipping past us but what the heck we did it! It was full to bursting with water 'cos we'd had nothing but rain all week. For an amazing description of it just go to Robert Southey's poem "The Cataract of Lodore" . You can find it on http://www.visitcumbria.com/

YOO HOOOOOO (SHOUTS LOUDLY)

Yes I am still here.

Bet you thought I'd shuffled off the ole mortal whatsit-you know-kicked the bucket-pegged it or just done a runner with the milkman-well the skimmed milk in a carton from Morrison's man anyway. Just a minute that's my DH and I've got him right here anyway. He keeps muttering about me not looking after my followers properly so I am making an effort while he has actually legged it to the caravan for a fish supper away from my accusing eyes and an amble in the countryside while I deal with the decorator and play with all my crafty goodies.

Seems a long time since Glaramara and my wet felting course. Had a fab time and been chock full of energy since I came back. Met some amazing crafters-all as mad about crafting as me or in some cases even more. You know who you are!

Since then I've cleared out the wardrobe and the bedroom is getting a makeover. There has been much cooking, cleaning and crafting and no time for computers.

I learnt a new term while I was away. Apparently people who dabble in everything like me are "cross crafters" according to Carrie (see comments on previous post) and I'm certainly living up to it.

Last friday I went to the Stitch and Creative Crafts Show in Manchester and bought Noro yarn as I've only just discovered it. It's reawakened my passion for knitting. Since then I've knitted three pairs of gloves and I daren't show them to anyone else at the moment 'cos everyone who's seen them makes sheeps eyes at me and asks for a pair. I have become a one woman glove factory. The yarn is called silk garden sock yarn. It's got silk, kid mohair and lambswool plus nylon for wearing quality and comes in glorious colours.

What else did I get? Weeell----------a new sewing machine!

At the moment I'm staying calm but the first one delivered fell through the bottom of the box as it was lifted off the delivery van. The second one came this morning and I've been playing with it for the rest of today but it is now refusing to sew and the technician is coming to look at it on Monday. I am telling myself these are teething problems but remembering my lovely treadle machine -given away years ago-and hoping it'll all sort itself out before I have actually shuffled off this etc (see above).

Wot no photos Betty? My patience has worn a little teensy weensy thin and I'm not sure I can keep up this post before I just have to go and knit another glove to stop myself thinking a bout that bally sewing machine! Wouldn't care but I've got a pair of curtains to make for the bedroom with a 98 inch drop and two widths in each curtain. Still don't really need them until the new carpet's down eh?

Actcherly I lied. I decided to stick some piccies on. The first is Glaramara-the place I stayed in and the strange bits and bobs are some of the jewellery I made. There was loads of amazing stuff done by all the other course participants-enough to fill an art gallery-and I've got hundreds of shots but I think blogger would die if I tried to post much more and I would die of starvation before I sorted it out so off to the kitchen then back to the gloves.

Lotta love Betty -esp to Carrie who I met on the course. How's the patchwork Carrie and have you managed to do any more felting since you got home or have you just been bashing drums? (More later. I've got to keep you all guessing)