If it involves a bra and proper clothing it ain't going to happen.

For someone with a ridiculoualy (yet strangely pleasant) dull life there seems quite a bit to report.

Things are / have been happening. Some good, some indifferent, some not good at all. Such is life. More on the not so good another day, maybe. 'Tis scrawled in my diary but maybe won't make it to blogland. Let's just leave it at 'not good at all' for now.

Health is iffy, have had a really bad RA flare, probably the worst my right knee has ever been. Nasty. My left hand decided to join in to the extent all knitty things came to a halt. Pah. But today things feel easier - the flare up has left me with an all day headache and I am wiped out.
I haven't been prone to headaches since I was a teenager, thankfully, but asked mum if she remembered this whole cycle of pain, really bad pain, less pain, headache, shattered before (as in had I mentioned going through it recently) and she agreed. This deffo seems to be the way my flare ups work, and I am glad I am getting better  at recognising them for what they are.

Last month was the first time that my bloods / DAS had improved, albeit slightly, will see what next weeks' results say.

Anyway.
Isn't the sun lovely?

This is why us Brits are obsessed with the weather; it is  bonkers. Literally four seasons in one day. Sometimes in one hour. But I wouldn't swap it for anything else (well that's a lie. I would happily swap it for the warm days we have had lately, constantly, with rain in the night. We need the rain to keep this green and pleasant land green).

Obviously I am in the teeny tiny garden as often aspossible. Partly to try and get the sun on this godawful rash that I have as a side effect of the Tocilizumab (RoActemra). It is horrid, but painless. I am very freckly so that might disguise  the spots  a bit. Ok,it won't, I know but what the hell.

Ipotted up some strawberry plants - yes, yours are probably onto their seventh crop of  the summer by  now but this is Yorkshire. We are ages behind some other places,and things are only just budding. So far (in ten years) the record crop has been three - count them, THREE - strawbs. So anything above that will be a bonus.

 My sweet peas are looking better than usual (possibly because these were Sarah Raven seeds, more expensive)(not seeds to grow Sarah Raven).
So far very short likeme, but I think these were titchy plants anyway - they are much bushier than usual. Fingers crossed that they flower.

I potted up 21 of the cutest, diddiest, teenytiniest geraniums yesterday - look! Diddy!

Pixie plants! How cute are those!
I also have some diddy 'other' plants (ie can't remember off hand what they are) to pot up, but handies say do it another day please.

I hobbled over the road to collect some Elder flowers today, to make some cordial. My walking stick was perfect for pulling branches down to stumpy person height:

They have had two good rinses in water and vinegar, so I will rinse again tonight then set them to steep in sugar and water. I learned two things doing this.

1) the locals are completely used to my ways. Lady Who Walks Dogs asked what Iwas dyeing.
2) if one gathers Elderflowers whilst wearing a long black silky dress, one not only probably looks rather daft, but one gets ones self covered in pollen:

One is silly.

Knitting? Yes, in between bouts of useless hands there has been some.
This is happening:

but not saying what it is yet. Partly because it might all go tits up.

I finally got the March square finished and online:

Available on Ravelry, and I will add it to the side-bar of this blog after tea. Might even get April done before the end of June.....

Right,tea time.
Toodles.

Hurrah for burnt bosoms!

That's more like it.
Sunshine.
Loads of the stuff.
Smiling people,  very dodgy 'summer' dress sense, the smell of sun cream and a corner shop freezer crammed with giant ice pops.
Bliss!

Not only was it sunny today but it was downright WARM. 20C, not bad at all thank you.
Fabulous!

I still have this horrible rash from the Tocilizumab, so I am hoping that the sunshine will help.
That's my excuse (if one were needed) for afternoons in the sun.

All of a sudden everything seems to be blooming and sprouting at once. These gorgeous poppies are from seeds my mum gave me, collected from her garden, They are stunning, and look! Do you also remember the way poppy heads bend from your  childhood?

I remember peeling them open to look at the petals curled inside (naughty me).
Isn't it funny what obscure things remind you of being a bairn?

Today I doped myself up with Piriton, propped my bad back up with cushions on the bench, had an illicit glass of Pimms (oh blimey, the new version is delicious!)  , read for a while and knitted for a while.

PSidney says he can read perfectly well and would I please turn the pages a bit faster.

Why yes I AM  we ARE reading a book that includes a Princess, a scorpion and  a Quest.
And Sid has suncream for his ears, bless him. How I love thee, Sidders.

And knitting a jacket for a wabbit.

Lovely Egyptian cotton, in one of my favourite bags. Not one I made (the shame of it), slightly larger than the ones I make, and  look at it!

Brilliant!
I bought a few of these in the sales in January, the only snag is that they don't have wrist straps and are definitely a pain to carry anywhere, especially as I always need my walking stick.

The other one I have is this:

They are from Kate Garey. The jewellery is worth a look too, I have my eye on the bluetit necklace.

This might just flower this year. Might.

Look at  the pansies,they are just beautiful.

The little things in  life, always look for the little things.

And look - it only took me 10 months to take  piccies. I really like how this looks,and it was a fun knit if a little boring by the end.

Venomous-Tentacula, free on Ravelry.

And that's it for now.
I have the urge to paint, and this arrived the other day - yes that is me reflected in it, and yes I DO have chubby little arms!

Toodles for now, enjoy the sun!

Hurrah for piccies!

That's better. I hadn't realised just how monochrome these photos were - but thinking back they are probably accurate, the sky was laden with snow.

I am very delighted because I have DONE SOMETHING this week!
Over on Ravelry, the delightfully bonkers lot in The Chocolate Teapot group are braving a knitalong, making a throw a month at a time (a square at a time? I think you know what I mean).

Not only did I manage to knock a pattern together BUT also, eventually (after rather a lot of muttering, chocolate, muttering and chocolate) managed to write, chart and publish the pattern.

Go me!
It is for this:

Made from aran weight, 5mm needles, but of course can be made using any weight wool although then the size of the squares will vary. It is much easier than it looks (unless it looks easy, in which case it's pretty much as it looks!), and has a moss stitch border. It is charted and written, and hopefully makes sense.
Available here:
january-teapot-square
(hopefully). Will also try to link it to this blog.

I have a cardi pattern almost ready to launch too, just a couple of bits to tweak, and a pair of fingerless mitts lined up.
It feels damned good to be doing something, getting this dullard brain to start working again. I can only do it in fits and starts, but am getting better at making the most of the on hour here and there when my hands work.

I hardly dare say it out loud, but they don't feel quite as painful today. Still very swollen, but I can bear to rub cream into them which I certainly can't when they are really bad. I would cross my fingers but that might be pushing my luck!

Why yes they ARE pirate pants. I keep meaning to try making underwear (I refuse to call them PANTIES), and suspect that these will remain on the table for weeks before making their way, unmade, back into the bag. But I started. So I might continue.

Nipply out.

Brrrrrr! Chuffin' freezing (literally).

It has been a sloooooow week, have been very sleepy and rather achey so bed, with the leccy blanket on, has been my favourite place. Luvverly. One upon a time spending the day in bed was MUCH more exciting (ie not spent alone) but at the moment I am perfectly happy to snooze. I must be getting old ....

Some knitting has been done, and Things have been finished (hurrah! Tis a mini Christmas miracle!). May I present to you - a gathering of mini hogs:

Utterly addictive - pattern from Little Cotton Rabbits, very quick to knit, good fun and they are just - well, you can see what they are like! I love them. Some are destined to become Christmas visitors, at least one will be staying with me, probably the middle one, I like his little upturned snout. I love how they all seem to take on individual personalities when sewn up.

Somewhat less cute (but still adorabubble, just don't tell Keef I said that) are these little fellas:

Keef says they are his 'Gang' and that he is teaching them 'everyfink wot he knows' (which presumably took about 20 seconds). He also has a new friend, piccies to come as they are on my phone, who he has named 'Ganja Santa'. I can only apologise.
(pattern - Mochimochi Snowman - again very quick and fun to knit)(just Don't Tell Keef).

Keef managed to get to one of my Christmas Stocking gifts before I could stop him:

In his favour I suppose it's a 5 letter word (not 4), and spelt correctly.


I also finished and posted a rather dinky Wol, will have to ask my friend if I can steal her photo as I forgot to take one before posting him to his new home. He has Victorian buttons for eyes, and I love the bit of character they gave him.

I seem to have started a pair of mitts for me maybe five times now, only to unravel it before I have finished the cuffs. I keep wanting to alter the pattern and my head is filled with ideas - just use a flippin' pattern and stick with it woman! I also have two pairs of mitts on the go as presents, no, three pairs, a pair of shark mitts for meeeeeeee (as well as the other ones), and some other bits to knit in time for Chrimbo. I have sewing plans too, but actually getting off my lardy derriere and moving to the table is beyond me. One day ... I have some nice soft fleece with plans to make a few little pocket-type sleeping bags for PSidney over the winter (can just stick them in the wash every other day).

Before I pootle off, here are some rather speshul Christmas gift ideas for you to ponder.
A definite YES from me:

Black leather look nails with 3D silver skulls? What's not to love! Long waiting list for them apparently.

Then there are the other type of 'speshul' gifts. Why - really, why?

Really? That's enough nice wool to knit a cardi! The ones with animals or Amy thingy Childs are equally bizarre.

But maybe not as bizarre as this:

Yes. That IS a headless teddy bear lamp! I actually rather like the sheer madness of it, and if it was a fiver then yes I could see it fitting in Chez Sulky rather easily. But it is £94! NINETY FOUR POUNDS!

Then there is this - again I like the idea of it in theory (although it might damage the spine of a book) but the price!

£38. A book artfully plonked over one of those opaque Ikea lamps would be similar.

LOVE the bat pegs! But at a fiver EACH they are too steep, as you would really need a full line of them to look effective.  (the above are all from I Want One Of Those)(but not at that price).

There - no need to thank me, my indispensable gift guide!

I am going to curl up with an episode of Lie to Me (oh Lordy, Tim Roth, drool), the never-beginning mitts, chocolate and some pop. Keep warm and enjoy the weekend.
(exciting health news coming up)

Of mice and body parts.

This has been sitting on some blocking. I know not why. But it made me smile everytime I looked at it.

This has been sitting on the windowsill - yet still I rather like the headless one.

Better photos to come asap. When did it start getting dark at 2pm??? 4 or 5pm yes, perfectly fine, but 2? What's that all about! And it's cold, wet, grey and generally yuk, real November weather. November should be banned (except for any of my friends who have birthdays in November, in which case it is a jolly fine month indeed).

The said blocking - a jumper I started knitting a few days ago from this rather lovely book - it seems to have slipped beneath the Ravelry radar for some reason, yet I really like it - for once I want to knit about 80% of the things in it rather than one or two.

There is a dodgy looking chunky dress, but apart from that pretty much everything else looks wearabubble. Plus they are seamed which I prefer, knitting round and round and round and round is boring and hurts my wrists. Seaming is fun, knitting things in sections is fun. Some of the patterns here:

The one I am knitting is the third along in the grey section. It screams out to be made in a soft, lovely wool but tough, I am knitting it with Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed, which (going by comments on Rav) seems to be a love it or hate it wool. I love it, I love the tweedy rustic look and feel of it.
It won't look all flattering and stroke-abubble as the photo but I think (hope) it will make a warm, cosy jumper for at home. Mine is shorter, jumper rather than dress length. There are a few mistakes in the pattern so far (how? How do books get published with more than one error?) but it is a fast easy knit.

I love the jacket (5th along in the greys).

Sleevies blocking overnight.
See that pin box, the pretty one?

Do NOT pick it up when it is upside down. Thassall.

I spotted a dropped stitch when I was several inches into knitting, hence the pin - I tried picking it up with a crochet hook (the stitch, not the pin, Picking up the pin is easy) but it looked messy, so will catch it in when I start seaming. Rustic. Very rustic.

I need to get back to Christmas and swap making / knitting . sewing etc, but definitely needed to have a cardi or jumper on the go again. Knitting little things is great fun but not as rewarding as summat to wear.

That's all for now, will leave you with a picture of the body parts which are now felted and drying. Hopefully I will have a pattern ready by the end of this week.

The Sulky Cat

The original and best.

Someone on Etsy - and Twitter - has started using the name sulky cat, sometimes with and sometimes without the word 'creations' or 'creates' attached.

This merely made me raise an eyebrow at first - but I am increasingly annoyed by it.

Without going into too many details, I have been on Etsy for years, this shop started a few months ago.
She says she checked the name first - as I pointed out, if you Google it the first few entries are mine .It isn't rocket science.

She says I must not discuss it on Ravelry again, and not to contact her except through a solicitor as my messages via Etsy are 'harsh words' - I can assure you that they are not, they are professional and polite.

If it was me, and someone pointed out I had 'inadvertently' used an established name, I would change it in a heartbeat - party from embarrassment, but mainly because surely the whole point is to have an individual, ideally unique name? I have been sulkycat in various places for many years - online for well over ten, on Ravelry since 2007, Etsy since 2009, on sewing labels all over the world (almost literally) for many years - the fact I do not sell much lately due to illness is neither here nor there, it is an established part of my online persona.
The name has been used at craft fairs for years, I have banners, business cards, the whole drum kit n caboodle. What a farce!

So I want to make it clear - the other 'sulkycat/creates/creations' is NOT me and has absolutely nothing to do with me.

If anyone can advise me regarding intellectual property infringement I would be very grateful, thank you - either via comments (which are moderated so if need be nobody else need read it) or via Rav.

Thanks for reading,
the original
Sulkycat

Wotnots.

Ironic isn't it that one of the few times I have actually DONE THINGS, BEEN PLACE and MADE THINGS, I have been lacking the bloomin energy to blog about them!

Law of the sod.

Right - going places. I had a really spelndid afternoon with two luvverly friends. I love Ravelry - people who are online friends are rapidly becoming 'real', have met several times, have gone out for the day with, giggled with, talked with friends. Real Friends.

I spend most of my Rav time in one specific group, pretty much full of incredible kindness, LOADS of laughter and genuine friends. Last week three of us had an Out, which in itself is a big deal for me (I tend to avoid anything outy partly because my house is a shambles and it embarrasses me and also because of The Failing Body health issues).

But no, an Out was had and a jolly fine Out it was too.

We went here and we did this:

Ten minutes drive, I love this place. Kirkstall Abbey, it is stunning. Have had several pinics over the year by the river, and a wander a few times. It is definitely worth a visit if you are ever in the area.
Over the road is a rather decent coffee shop - a bit full of screechy children (why do people let their kids do that high pitched ear piercing shriek over and over again??) but very beautiful.
They were setting up a private birthday party in the adjoining room which looked rather pretty.
Clean plates are always a good sign.

But the higlight of a day filled with history and heritage?
The kids dressing up box of course!

(Ignore swollen handies)(and general chubbiness)(ah what the hell, I was happy!).

Lots of giggling. Lots!

My poor body really struggled for a few days afterwards, my legs and knees particularly and then (possibly due to the tiredness) my hands decided to join in and I had a good old RA flare up. I still cannot knit more than two or three rows which is damned frustrating. I do have a lot of frustrations but will air those another day.

But worth it mentally to get some air. Fresh air and friendship, excellent combination.

(piccies look ok I think, am hoping a friend's hubster can sort my best camera out over the weekend)

I have managed some Making of nThings. I cannot knit much but I am able to sew a bit, thankfully (not totally sure why that works but glad it does).
I finished this young lady for a certain woolly event this weekend.

And must say I am delighted with her.

I also made this cheery little chap for a recent swap, so I am pleased to have something to show for my time lately.
I certainly don't have a tidy house!

Bye for now

from me and the fishy fella