A trip around Cumbria,very long

While Artis Anne and Tony were visiting,we decided a little trip to Cumbria would be in order
and a visit to see Cecilia via the Wool Clip would make it even better.
I'm not going to put these in order, it would take much too long and it is far more fun this way. Well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it:) I love trees as you have probably guessed by now and when they are in their winter clothes they are even more beautiful.
This church was stunning and so simple. The views from the grave yard across the lake district hills made it well worth the chill.
The windows welcomed you.

In the field by the church was this strange tree, can you see the monkey's face?


There were also pigs in the same field one of who was exceedingly friendly.
Isn't he gorgeous?

I love the old gravestones.

This church is built on an ancient site It is St Kentigerns. Better pictures here. According to locals The original church was built in the 12th century, it was lengthened in the 13th century; aisle, orch and belfry added in 16th century;
It adjoins a well associated with St Kentigern, who travelled here, baptising converts, about AD700 although we didn't see the well sadly. Some of us(??) were more interested in the pigs.
The trees on the way to Caldbeck were in full autumn plumage and stunning.
At Priests Mill Mr Mog took a walk down to the water to take these pictures. You can see that there has been much rain lately.
Quite a bit I'd say, wouldn't you?

At Priest's Mill is the marvellous Wool Clip home of many fibery things. No I didn't buy anything but some of us did:)
I was very tempted though.
Wouldn't you be?

This was on the doorway of the small building by the church in Caldbeck
I love the hearts.
They were on this building. I wondered if it was a form of Lych gate? Hearts for the weddings that took place there maybe?
The church was lovely, built of local stone.
I wonder if this was the rector's house in days gone by?

The Wool clip shares Priest's mill with other shops and a yummy cafe. We had sweet potato and carrot soup there. Mr Mog had a sandwich of Wensleydale cheese with onion marmalade alongside and I had Cumbrian ham with onion marmalade. Filled a gap nicely and I could have eaten one of the cakes but we hadspiced apple cake to look forward to later on our journey.
The mill tempts you in with all the signs and the trees, never mind the shops.

From there we were off to visit Cecilia, was this her home? No this was in the middle of Hesket Newmarket as we left Caldbeck.
Wonder if anyone is buried here?
Is this the house?
No? Are you sure?
We had to have another close up just to make sure.
Could that shaft of light be pointing the way?

I am sure it is
This barn isn't the place but I loved the mix of animals and buildings.
Soon be there
Just a few more trees
just because
I love them so much.

We had a great time with Cecilia and enjoyed coffee and spiced apple cake. It was wonderful to see all the things she is making and the colours in her knitting /spinning room. None of us wanted to leave but we had a long journey home.
Anne and Tony left today and it is quiet without them and their lovely dogs. Some friends are good to be with but its nice to have your home back. Not these 2, they were more family than friends.
Come back soon

I'm back and I have knitting

It is true, I'm back and I DO have knitting to show you. I also have a very long picture filled post to follow this sometime later.
This lady and her other half have been visiting for several days and sadly had to return home today.
Then this lady and her other half came over to join us last night . We had a great evening with much merriment and lots of knitting. Oh and a little alcohol may have been imbibed as well:)
It didn't stop the knitting though. I'll let Anne show her knitting off and Ursula show her crafting but for me here is a little of what this week had on offer.
Anne persuaded(forced) me to start the feather and fan comfort shawl and here you see the first 41 rows in my autumn hand dyed mohair. I'm actually enjoying it now that it is growing.
Then I finished another pair of hospice socks. sock yarn knit double for a teenagers socks. Gorgeous colours and very very soft.
It has been a great week with like minded people and both Mr Mog and I were very sorry to see them returning home. They came bearing gifts and left much too soon.

The femmes that are left

Had a few emails and messages about the femmes. The yule ones aren't ready yet. These are the ones left from the last batch for those interested.

Look what i found:) plus yellow socks

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Netto had a great special this morning, for just £19.99 this lightweight sewing machine. Perfect for what I will use it for, my days of sewing leather are gone:)
I also thought you may like to see progress on my yellow socks. I have decided I don't like tencel:( too slidey through the fingers. But it knits ok and that is the main thing. I do love the colour though and please notice I did a little bit of a pattern for a change.

More socks finished and a contest

Another pair of socks for the hospice and my first pair for November. Thanks to Cecilia for the 2 yarns I used together. I love the heathered background and the colour changes in these.
Now a contest for you. The hospice lunar year of socks ends next month and all the socks will be going off to the hospice. My question is, how many pair of socks will I be taking them? Certainly far more than the original 13 pairs I'd hoped to make when I started back in January, 1 for each lunar month. It may or may not be the total you have seen on my blog, there may be others I haven't shown, there again there may not be:)
Prize for the first correct answer, if there is more than 1 I'll draw for it.
Prize is a Yule femme and a skein of yarn.
Several (lots) of people have asked what next years challenge will be. Last year was a year of shawls, this year socks. Well I've had several ideas for next years hospice knitting/crafting:-
1/ a different sock pattern a month
2/ a set of femmes, 1 for each month. Not strictly knitting but they do use yarn.
3/? insert your idea here.
I don't want to knit big things like clothes, that takes away the portability aspect. I also don't want to do very complicated stuff such as fair isle, again takes away the fun.
so what would you suggest I make for my hospice appeal next year? If I use your idea there will be a prize of a femme in your elemental sign

WIPs thy name be socks.

I have wound the yellow sock yarn for the November solid socks KAL and it is gorgeous:) However when I went looking for needles to knit it I realised I have a lot of WIP (works in progress)
I feel I may need to finish a few items before the yellow becomes socks. What do you think?

There is the second sock to this pair, still to cast on.


This is ready for the instep stitches to pick up, then of course another sock to match.
Whilst staying with our friend last night I cast this on,
Then there is always the sock blanket to work on.

Is it November already?

Is it November already? Where has this month gone to? It seems to have flown by.
No pictures today but a great video for you, this is where Mr Mog and I were last night(only joking, or am I?)
Halloween
It is freezing here and I fear it will be a night of catching up on TV and yes, more socks. I have a shawl I want to start in the harvest mohair but I also want to knit more socks. I am thinking of doubling some of the sock yarns I've got to make thicker socks. Ideal for this time of year and easier on the hands this cold weather.
The felt is dry, the skeletons are started I fear some new femmes will be gracing the blog next weekend. We have dear friends coming to visit hopefully on Wednesday for a few days so I'm not sure what crafting I'll get done. We will be visiting Cumbria and Cecilia weather permitting, having other friends round for a knit in and who knows what other manner of fun will be had. Any ideas on who may be coming to visit?
Mr Mog has made a mark2 version of the swift and it works beautifully. If anyone knows of a source of 5 inch circles in wood or cheap source of spinning bobbins please let me know, thank you.

Happy Samhain from the girls and I

Happy Samhain, hope you have a good day. I'll be staying with friends for the night but I'll be remembering all my ancestors, family, friends and those who have passed through the veil this past year. I just heard yesterday that a friend of ours had died on Wednesday. It was at my first open circle there that I met Mr Mog for the second time and decided he was the man for me:) I think it was the creative way he made a representation of a God and a Goddess figure using hard boiled eggs and a few arty crafty items. Farewell Sandy,I hope your passing was free from pain.

Mr Mog photographed the Samhain shawl today and pictures are further down the page, but first may I introduce you to the girls?


This one was quite taken with the rhubarb and custard socks as you can see.
She also has a tendency to show her bloomers, just like my nan used to:) Her totem is a spider as you can see.
This one also tends to flash her bloomers when sitting, not very ladylike but I don't think she is too worried. Her turtle totem certainly doesn't fret.
Madame here is far more demure, just ask the owl.
Granny watches over them all and is a dab hand with the pumpkin.

Here you see them all together on the incense cupboard. This contains all my incense ingredients, essential oils and such.
Yes that may be a sock on the fountain. Do you not keep yours there?

Another gratuitous pose. The three smaller witches were made for us quite a few years ago and have travelled to each new home quite happily. They measure around15 inches high.
The larger one came from a charity shop here last year for the princely sum of £4 and is around 20 inches high.
The Samhain shawl is finished and this is quite a good representation of the colour. Lydia looks quite fetching don't you think?


A touch of morning sunlight on it.

You can see it is very big. Length approx 40 inches on some of the longest tendrils and is approx 93inches wide.
Quite fills the line doesn't it? I've had one or two offers for it and it is definitely going to go to a new home somewhere, but where? I've started another one in the autumn colours. Will it be for me? Not sure yet.


Then the rhubarb and custard socks came out into the frosty morning for photos. This gives a better idea of the colour. They certainly cheer me up. I love the effect in amongst the lavetera.

One side pools more than the other but I like that effect. Lets face it if I wanted perfectly matched bog standard socks I'd go out and buy some.
This sock is a mix of 2 yarns from Cecelia, Patons purple heather 4ply in grey and an unnamed sock yarn. The colours go well together.
Answers to questions.
BW I purchased a 10 metre roll of the felt some years ago from a tiny habadashers near here. I must see if he is still there as I'm getting a little short on it now. I've done largeish pieces as I have some other ideas for it. Blue didn't seem to want to be dyed this time.
Jean I think we all have our ideas of what inspires us and what we believe, that makes for a wonderful mix I think:) The red is my favourite as well:) I'm thinking possible abundance purses in it.
The femmes are my way of celebrating the individual using the elements for inspiration. They are something I came up with many years ago while writing a story to submit to a magazine. The story led me into little figures and I had to stop writing and ask Mr Mog how can I make a doll? We came up with the idea of the first one which was much simpler than these are and from then on I've just had to keep designing them. Sometimes I go quite a while in between making them, sometimes I can't stop for days. I go with the flow. I call them femmes as they celebrate the inner self and mainly the feminine side. This doesn't mean they are just female, but that my female creativity is within them. Does that make sense? I've also found through the years that the one a person chooses reflects where they are at that time or something that they need in their life perhaps.
Phew hope that helps explain me somewhat.

Samhain shawl is finished and felt is ready

The Samhain shawl is finished , perfect timing for Samhain itself even though I'm not going to be wearing it. The rhubarb and custard socks are finished also. Pictures of these in the morning when it is light. I am definitely letting the shawl go to a new home, it feels right. Now to wait for the right offer:) The main thing for me was to dye my own Samhain yarn, knit and crochet my own idea of an ethereal, otherworldly shawl. I also wanted to start and finish during the waxing moon.
I wanted something that incorporated aspects of this time, including spiders and I think the edging does that:)
So as I say there will be pictures tomorrow,watch this space.
I have also been dyeing, the felt for the Yule femmes.
not easy to see in this picture is it?


Is this a little better?
or perhaps this?
No? then how about these?


Colors chosen for Yule, Red to represent the fire festival, Green for the Green Man, Golden yellow for the longer days to come as the wheel turns, Purple for the dark of the longest night/shortest day and for the spiritual aspects. Remember the dark half of the year is for turning inwards, for reflection. Purple is my colour for this.