So sorry I haven't posted for so long. It's just been so hectic here with Christmas deadlines in summer and now Spring/Summer deadlines due for Christmas!!!

     Anyway, will promise to make time to blog more regularly and keep you guys up to speed with what's new and also how my brand new children collection, Cherub is coming along.

     On the home front, my eldest, Emily has flown the nest to Uni (sob!) and I am really missing her constant chatter of complete rubbish and sense of fun. Looking forward to her return this Christmas.

     Middle daughter, Lucy in bed with what appears to be suspiciously

like a dose of piggy flu! She is in quarantine and has been dying for 4 days now with high temp, coughing, bad tummy, joint pain, headache etc. Thank goodness we decided to vaccinate little Lily who is always in hospital with the worst kind of asthma every time she gets a sniffle. Let's hope it protects her from the worst of it. And to all you moms out there with a poorly child under five, let me say, I was agonising over deciding whether to have her jabbed or not. The press for this vaccine has been truly appalling. However, now I am so relieved we went for it. She didn't have one single side effect, not even a sore arm and if it keeps her out of hospital then it was worth it. So I am speaking up for the government who, IMO have acted very quickly on this horrid epidemic. Let you know how Lily goes- fingers and toes all crossed.

        Finally, look out for my front cover design for Yarn Forward. Can't tell you what it is but when you spot it (next month I think), do let me know what you think. This one's for intarsia lovers everywhere.

        Still got a few bits left to buy for Christmas but looking forward to all the hoo haa etc. Love the decorations, food and family. Promise to write soon- LOL!

Happy knitting

 

Well, somedays my job is awesome. For example, on Mother's Day I finally got a ball winder (better than flowers for sure). Been meaning to buy one for xxx number of years. Poor children scatter to the four winds every time I produce a skein of wool.

 

Then, at my knitting club in Liskeard, a lovely lady called Hella, gave me a spare yarn swift she didn't use. Knitty people are so kind and generous with advice,wool and equipment aren't they. In fact,last week a lovely lady called Di gave me a knitting machine cabinet she didn't want. It's perfect for me as it means the gubbins doesn't dominate our house anymore- but that's another story.

 

Anyway, when I got in from the club- guess what- the lovely Julia and Matt from Cornish Organic Woolhad sent me every single colour of yarn in their brand new Aran Wool Britanniarange. Well that was just perfect.

 

See these pictures to work out how the next hour or two went. What did I do without these 2 little beauties before. Now I know how it felt when the Industrial Revolution was born.

 

Now I can experiment with all those yummy colours easily and without

bribing a small child with weak arms!

 

Anyway, was really happy with Matt Hopson's colour pallette. He is a whizz with the dye and great at predicting trends. Look out for the designs for this range here and in all your favourite magazines.

 

Got to go now. Middle daugher's Native Indian dance in the school hall is at 2pm and I have some sketching and swatching to fit in before then.

Happy knitting

Tina xxx

 

Well it's snowing down here in Cornwall as it is across most of  the UK. In this country we tend to come to a grinding halt when a couple of flakes hit the ground. But as you can see from these pictures, my kids have lovedit. Their schools all closed for the day and they stayed at home making snowballs and snowmen with carrot noses until their hands were so cold they had to come indoors and thaw out by the fire. That's James at the back with Lucy to the right and little Lily right in the thick of things as usual.     All this snow is a bit weird considering I am right in the thick of designing summer knits! It's hard to get into the mood when all you want to do is huddle by the fire and hibernate. I am not sure whether it's the lack of light thing but I am finding it hard to dig myself out of a warm bed in the morning. Time for Spring I think. Can't wait to see a few daffodils poking up their heads. They are such a cheerful hopeful flower and one of my favourites.     Am feeling all behind with deadlines. The family was hit with the dreaded tummy bug last week and Jeff, Lucy and Lily were the only ones still standing. James and Emily copped it worse and me... well, lets say I am still feeling a little fragile. Spending this week catching up. Piles of making up and pattern writing to do but it's all part of the fun. Speak soon   love Tina