I apologise if you're getting a bit fed up of pictures of yarn but (no slur intended on my wonderful husband) this does it for me!!
Colour grown organic cotton by Blue Sky in 'bone', 'sand', 'nut' and 'pebbles' (bought from the gorgeous Loop). It's incredibly soft and lovely and is patiently waiting to be turned into a set of big bunnies.
Won't be getting much time for blogging over the next 1 week, 5 days, 16 hours and 32 minutes (do you get the impression I'm already looking forward to the kids being back at school?). Yesterday was great as it was warm and sunny and we were in the garden for most of the day, picnic lunch, building sandcastles in the sandpit, lots of trampoline bouncing and just enjoying the warmth outside (feels like it's been a long winter!). I even managed to finish these knitted cakes - sewing on the beads whilst sitting in the sunshine! (they're now winging their way to Lilimay - a new shop in Brighton)
Today is not so nice - drizzly rain this morning resulted in a shopping trip just to get out of the house and it's too windy and cold to sit outside (although Toby is still bouncing as I write!). Still, we have some fun planned for later in the week and we're looking forward to catching up with old friends. Fingers crossed for more knitting in the sun! Will post again when I can!
I recently followed a link to a blog where the relative insanity of knitting cakes and pies was being pondered on. Well, she does have a point, it is a slightly bizarre thing to create but then so many things are bizarre these days and at least they're too soft to be used as a dangerous weapon. A couple of people have asked me why I knit cakes and I suppose the simple answer is that it's fun and people want them.The first ones I made were a bit ropey and it took many different attempts to get the shaping as I wanted it but it was satisfying being able to finally produce something that looked like the vision I'd had in my mind. The nice thing is that the design is still evolving and so it never gets boring to me. I was totting up the other day and I've actually made over 250 in the last 5 years!
Anyway reading the post that questioned why anyone would possibly want to make knitted cakes made me remember something I made last year and co-incidentally it is the right time of year to be showing these. There, if you want to ponder the real insanity behind knitted objects then get an eye-full of these babies!
Although I'm fairly happy with the pattern I never went into production on these because I couldn't see anyone really wanting a knitted Easter egg (chocolate ones are infinitely preferable in my opinion). But sometimes it's just nice to have the challenge of making something you've not made before and creating anything from scratch is, well, life affirming. Something the elderly people who created this knitted room would definitely understand.
Anyway, the Easter school break is upon us (arggggggg!!) I'll be out of the loop for the next 2 weeks, will try and keep up with any emails but be patient with me! See on you the other side of the abyss!
Just a quickie today to congratulate friends on the birth of little Sonny. This little bunny will be hopping along for a nice newborn cuddle!
As I've mentioned before, the main reason I knit is not to have lots of rabbits sitting around the place, nor even to make a bit of dosh (although that is a welcome side-effect). The main reason I knit is therapeutic.Living with small children is challenging enough (as many of you know) but throw a hefty dollop of severe autism into the mix and the world turns over leaving you hanging on by your fingernails. I'm not sure that it is anything that you ever fully come to terms with as it's ever-present and ever-changing. Just when you think you're doing ok with it, it shifts like smoke on the wind and you have to adapt all over again. But knitting has really helped me avoid the depression pit! It gives me something of mine that can be fitted into my small spare moments (unlike a yoga class) and creating anything is an energising and fulfilling process - even when the recipients aren't as appreciative as you'd hoped for...
Anyway, a few months ago I wrote a little bit about how knitting has helped me to deal with Toby's autism and submitted it to the UK hand knitting page on knitting as therapy. Through this a wonderful lady named Betsan Corkhill contacted me. She's on a mission to collate evidence about the therapeutic benefits of knitting and stitching with the aim of having it recognised as a valid form of therapy
"Just imagine Doctors prescribing a dose of stitching twice a day! "Impossible" we can hear you say, but I think, through our research, knitting and stitching could form the basis of significant therapies in the not too distant future."
She already has many interesting personal accounts of how knitting has helped to overcome illness, depression and many other similar challenges. Her website is called Stitchlinks and she's asked me to ask you to get in touch if you, or anyone you know can contribute, so please drop by and add your story.
PS: as you can see Toby has thoroughly tested the chewiness of little cotton rabbits products - they passed with flying colours!