Shops updated

I've done a little shop update today. On MISI there's some bright and fruity laceweight. On Folksy there are some sweet flowers: and some
fly agaric toadstools lurking in a bed of moss in the woods.

Folksy will probably have another small update later in the week.

After hideous insomnia last night (I seem to be becoming more prone to it again, after being insomnia-free for several years), I drank too much caffeine today and feel somewhat drained now. I'd better catch up on some sleep if I'm going to be fit for marathon election TV viewing on Thursday night!

Election crafting

An Abstract Cat election line up:

left to right: laceweight BFL in Fire Festival, Superwash merino sock in Deep Blue, Superwash meinro sock in Jealous Sky, Silky baby alpaca laceweight in Lime 'n' Olives and BFL DK in Sunny.

If you're in the UK, you can't fail to have noticed we have a general election this week. Until the last couple of years I didn't have much interest in politics beyond issues I felt very strongly about (e.g. the environment, university tuition fees), but having left the relative shelter of academia, and knowing more people with direct involvement in politics has changed that.

Anyway, I am preparing for some marathon crafting on election night - with pizza, and wine, and hopefully cupcakes:



If you're planning a similar crafting/eating extravaganza (or planning marathon crafting to avoid the election), I have lots of yarn in stock whatever your colour (the above is a teeny sample) and lots of yarn if you're undecided, couldn't care less about politics or don't want anything with a political association. There's still time (just) to order if you want some election night crafting. This post has been about my Folksy shop, but there's also loads over on MISI.

And finally, I can't remember where I found this (probably http://www.icanhascheezburger.com , but lolcat of the moment:

The joys of spring

I'm trying to convince myself that blogging gets easier with practice... but I'm not one for actually communicating. Most of the time I wander round in my own little bubble-world.

I haven't done as much crafting as I'd like to lately for a variety of reasons. I started and finished the lovely Lyra's Stole (Ravelry link) by Alison Collins using some of my Abstract Cat Bluefaced Leicester laceweight yarn. I modified it the pattern a little, and even though my interpretation is riddled with errors (not the pattern!) I love it. It was my 'TV watching' project and TV watching projects always end up messy with me. Also, I hate blocking things, so it's typically wiggly. All that said, I love the way it turned out:

I'm still working on my Eva's shawl in autumnal colours (AbCat BFL laceweight again). I think it's going to be huge, and I'm only about 70% through the yarn:

The bag at the bottom right is a 'Miya' bag from Nicsknots. It's very handy for storing wee projects, and I will be purchasing another when funds allow.

I'm also dabbling in some simple design. Often I start designing and then get put off for some reason or abandon projects, but this time I'm determined to finish this one. Using my Abstract Cat Silky Baby Alpaca laceweight (100g/800m, £14) I'm making a lacy scarf:

Please ignore the ripply chain - I'll try and sort it out when I block it. This started out as being a stole, but I seemed to lose my ability to count when I started it, and kept miscounting the starting chain, so I reduced it and am making a lacy scarf instead.

There has also been an exciting development: I will be selling my Abstract Cat yarns at UK Ravelry Day Marketplace at the University of Stirling on the 13th and 14th of August (as yet I'm not listed on the website). Neither my partner nor I drive, so we have to rely on public transport, and this is the yarny event closest to my home, so I'm very excited to be able to exhibit and sell here. It's gong to be nerve-wracking but hopefully a lot of fun!

Well, much as I loved the snow, I'm glad winter is over. Now, roll on warmer weather so I can wear t-shirts all the time! Lately my partner and I have been watching some great DVDs; we've got hooked on Mad Men and The Big Bang Theory. Love them!

Must try harder...

I believe my New Year's resolution last year was to blog more often. It was also my NY resolution this year. Failed on both counts I think - not to mention being hopeless at responding to comments (partly my email provider's spam filter's fault - I keep telling it not to put Blogger responses in my spam, but will it listen?)

Anyway, there has been crochet. Lots of crochet, just only one finished project that's been sitting for a week waiting to be blocked. There has been snow, and although it's all gone bar a few patches of mucky compacted ice, the snow rather delayed dyeing activity. There has, finally, been dyeing, and provided the weather is reasonably bright today 'll be hitting the virtual shelves tomorrow.