Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick's Day to all!

It is Gary's birthday today, which has been a pretty quiet affair as we have already had our family birthday celebration lunch earlier this week.

We do have a nice bottle of fizz and the special dinner request is steak pie - a bit of a rare treat as we generally try to do healthy round here - but once in a while won't hurt.....

Thes mini daffodils are looking so pretty just now I thought it was worth a pic as we are forecast snow over the next few days and the poor little things may suffer.

Finally, welcome to any new blog readers from the US - I have finally cracked (I think) listing over there, as our UK listings no longer show up.

Tracy Bella

Tracy's latest commission is the Bella waistcoat from the new Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton/Stella book. She decided on the Duck Egg that is worked in - it is very pretty and will be a versatile piece for warmer times. It is coming along quite fast.

Birthday lunch

Tracy is here for a quick visit and we went out for our family birthday lunch today (it's a bit like Christmas all over with Tracy on 8th, me on 13th and Gary on 17th). Our first visit to Rocpool Reserve - I would recommend to all. Far and away the best food, service and surroundings in Inverness and good value too. A great view over the city is a bonus!

I'm on holiday!

Freedom from the day job (never from wool)- until 21st March - using up the rest of my leave due. Had intended doing so much today, but the Tesco run took ages 'cos I met two friends and it was lunchtime by the the time I got back.

Sorting out the new books which I ordered at the NEC has taken ages - but have got them all prepared now for sale. Because I have had some peace and quiet to do a bit of web surfing today I have discovered Crafty Threads 'n Yarns and joined the blogring - how do you folks find any time to do crafts? Do you blog and craft at the same time?

I had a call from the Lana Grossa rep today, who will look in the next time she is in Inverness. Any thoughts on Lana Grossa folks? I like the sock wool but haven't tried anything else.

Springlike in Inverness today

Very little time for blogging this weekend! Friday saw the delivery of the summer stock from Sirdar, which has kept Gary and I busy getting all ready for sale.

The samples and prices are flowing in now following my trip to the Birmingham trade show and I have placed an order with Bergere de France today. I am really impressed with their range and designs. I plan to sell this in a kit format with the pattern, yarn and trimmings - everything you need to complete the garment. Watch out for the dog coats – they are co cute and typically French.

Of too the ‘Stitch ‘n bitch’ tonight at NHS Highland with some summer samples.

It has been a glorious sunny day here today, although pretty windy – a great drying day!

NORO Cuthbert

'Cuthbert' is finished and so are the socks! I have worn the jacket twice this week and have never had so many complements. It is truly lovely - warm and cosy, and you you can dress it up or down. A brilliant easy knit - I'm delighted. Another pair of socks on the way (it is a bit addictive) and a wee surprise for Tracy's birthday (shh...).

Gary's birthday socks

Since Gary spotted this ball of sock wool and asked if I could knit him a pair of socks for his birthday, they have been to Birmingham and back. I had a slight panic when I wondered if there would be enough for the second one, but a top tip from Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark's book 'Knit 2 together' is to weigh your first sock and then the wool left over. Postal scales are useful - and yes, there will be enough!

There are some really different ideas in Tracey's book and I have plans to knit a linen door curtain for the patio doors. They recommend Euroflax linen and apparently they have no UK distributor, so last night I bought 500g of linen cotton on Ebay that is coming from Russia. It is 4ply, I think so I plan to use it double.

I am less keen on the Witches Britches in the book - I guess these are a bit tongue in cheek!

Signs of spring?

It has been a bit of a catch up day for me at Alba Yarns today. although Gary was here yesterday things were quiet, but lots of orders and payments arrived overnight. Maybe folk worked out I was away.

It has been a beautiful sunny day here today, and these little snowdrops were looking at their best.

A grand day out Grommit…..

Up at 4.45 is not much fun, but by 8.50 I was in the queue for registration at he NEC in Birmingham for the Craft, Hobby and Stitch International exhibition (not quite Harrods sale, but close…). My first experience of Eastern Airways direct service from Inverness to Birmingham, which was very slick and efficient.

What can I say about the show? It was immense – I sat and planned where to visit over a coffee, as the yarn stands were well spread out. I think I managed to visit all the yarn stands and quite a few others too. I came away laden with samples of brochures and made lots of new contacts. I will definitely have some new ranges arriving in the next few weeks – watch this space.

Around 17.00 my feet could stand no more and I set off back to the airport (what a great venue the NEC is, all linked by an indoor walkway). A bit of contemplative sock knitting while waiting for the flight home and back in the house by 21.00.

Wensleydale didn’t figure, but still a grand day out…………………..

(Wallace and Grommit fans will understand).

Exhausted…….

Returned last night from a truly exhausting couple of days (from the day job) not Alba Yarns.

Highlights were:

Dreaming of fish and chips all the way from Inverness to Inveraray
Getting fish and chips
A glass or two of wine on Thursday night
Meeting lots of nice folk
Gary visiting M & S and buying a ready dinner for my return
A glass or two of wine on Friday….
The delight of a night in my own bed
Waking up and feeling pretty normal and getting back to the world of wool
New delivery with summer stock – the colours are so lovely

Not so good was:

Poor Derek missing out on fish and chips ‘cos we got the last ones
Getting home at 20.00 on a Friday, truly past it…..
Why do deliveries always happen when no-one is in?