Great Scott! What the chuff is THAT??

A month? How can it possibly have been a month since posting? Certainly hasn't been because of a hectic social life!
I have an ick finger so cannot type much, ick warning (piccies ahead) - was not allowed the drug infusion or (hurrah!) the methotrexate last week  and had  a good telling off from the consultant (apparently I was on  the way to losing part of my infected finger). What started out as a slight scratch became a very infected wicklow - lesson learned, I now take the 'compromised immune system' bit much more seriously.

So the last few weeks  in piccies.

Hospital.

Update.
Last time I was there was to see the RA nurse. I was a bit concerned about this as at that point I was taking nothing more than Tramadol and paracetamol, no DMARDs etc but she reassured me she could go and see the consultant there and then.
She's very nice, as are all the staff there but I couldn't help feel a bit 'don't know what to do with you now so let's fob you off a bit'.

As I have had a bad reaction to so many of the DMARDs they have started me on a low dose of an older medication, Leflumomide, taking them on alternate days for a month then every day if I can cope with them. Same precautions as other meds as they reduce my immune system - and no soft cheeses! So much for making the world's best white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake ... can now make it but not eat it. Pah. If this fails there are Gold injections (which I don't want) or - er - nowt. End of the line. They won't start me on biologics such as Enbrel unless the next scans show increased bone damage.Thank you NICE.

What bugged me - not so much at the time but later on when I thought through everything - was the implication that my ME was making me less able to cope with the pain. In her words, 'if we do a touch test today you will come out scoring extremely high, which says your RA is very active indeed, no matter what the actual blood tests say. But is wouldn't necessarily be true.'

That's all well and good, I totally accept that.
BUT at this point my poor left hand was swollen and bruised, my nurse the previous day (blood tests) had commented on how bad it looked. The worst it has been so far - I can't make up or imagine swelling and redness like that!

Anyway, the swelling and pain lasted a good week after that which really got me down. I went to the Dr again last week after a chat with the receptionist who thought I needed an appointment in case something was broken or infected. Dr (grumpy monosyllabic woman with a hairy lip, not the world's best bedside manner!) took one look and said it looked 'terribly painful'.

I KNOW IT IS!
IT HAS BEEN FOR TWO BLOODY FEKKIN WEEKS!

Anyway, miserable cow she may be but she gave me some new anti inflammatories to try, one daily, and something seems to be easing, Whether it has run its course or it's the tablets I really don't care, it's just wonderful to have some use of my hand again. Typically my feet have decided to join in now and my knees (poor kneesies!) !

Another thing that had me thinking was can I distinguish between the ME and the RA tiredness (not the pain as such, the tiredness side)? This is something the Prof asked me right at the beginning of my treatment.
Yes.

RA - feels like the flu. Whole body feels out of synch, legs like Bambi on ice, that sort of thing. Want to nod off all the time.
ME - feels like someone has pulled the plug out.

Right, moving on, Which at the moment I wish I could literally, would have loved to get out for a walk in the snow yesterday, along the canal and the park. But never mind,

I am thrilled that I can spin, even when my hand is bad - thankfully it is the left hand, which means all it needs to do is gently hold the fibre while the right hand does the pinching work. So spin I did.

I am so pleased with this - I know it isn't perfect (if I want perfect I would buy it) but I am really chuffed. I think this will become mitts maybe for my sister. I usually spin thin and tight - this is about aran weight and wonderfully soft.

The colours - absolutely not me but aren't they gorgeous! It's an alpaca / merino blend. Love.
I also have a rainbow that I spun the other day, piccies to come - we have sunshine today so I must take advantage and get some photos.

So life's not all bad. And as my fingers are feeling more with it at the moment I have knit a soft floofy grey scarf and started matching mitts - again piccies to come.

Keep warm! And don't fall on yer bums on that ice.

I'm spinning around - just call me Kylie

Yes, tis a mini miracle - Saturday was bearable enough for me to fancy some spinning, which I don't think I have done since SCKC last summer.
Gorgeous batts were ordered and I oiled my neglected wheel - handies were OKish, and I hoped that the gentle foot motion on the treadle would possibly help rather than aggravate my bad foot.

And amazingly - all went well! I did my spinning in bits as I didn't want to push my luck painwise, and it certainly is not the world's best spinning but I am thrilled to bits to not only be able to spin but to WANT to!
I was so determined not to overspin as I usually do that it has ended up a bit underspun but what the hell.

There's about 250m there a bit thicker than 4 ply but not quite double knit despite being thickish / floofy in places and a bit less than that again to ply. My hands and foot are not happy today so it can wait. I think it will become a shawl with some plain pink and plain black.

On a completely different note, and for no other reason than I keep meaning to say how good it is and keep forgetting - this stuff is brilliant if like me you are 'blessed' with very fine hair. It is great - you literally just gently shake some of the fine powder into your hair where you need a bit of a lift (dry hair) and then ruffle it up gently or backcomb it a tiny  bit - it adds fullness without having to do anything brutal. Costs around a tenner a tub - the tub is small, about the height of a matchbox so a tenner maybe sounds a lot for what you get but you only need a tiny amount.

It helps if I tell you what it is - the photo isn't brilliant, sorry - it is Clynol's Powder Punch texture powder.

Definitely worth a try!

What else - I have a collection of Things That Are Simply WRONG, but I think that's a blog post of its own - maybes tomorrow.

The above arrived for Daphne on Saturday morning - the full reveal will be posted when my nerves are up to it. For now let's just say she hasn't stopped preening herself all weekend.

40 years of FollyFoot, cripes. The Lightening Tree - never did know the correct words ... (sorry, the local news is on in the background). I loved Follyfoot and Black Beauty, wonderful telly.

And I will leave you with my plans for this week ....

Hmmmm ..... it could have been worse, it could have been a turkey baster.
Toodles!

Saturday is Tizzwazzzzzzzzzzzzzz Day!

Nope, I didn't watch it. But hey ho.
Happy Weekend to one and all, hope the sun is shining for you.

Bits and bobs and stuff and nonsense to report - nothing of any major interest so feel free to nod off anytime.

I have plans to do some spinning this weekend - yes, this weekend. Weekends being when I am usually dizzy, queasy, hot, fed up and exhausted. Sounds like a good time to do some spinning to me! And some dyeing.
I have had some gorgeous pink and black (there's a surprise) spinny goodness delivered this morning and I love it - not sure I will do justice to it as I haven't used my wheel in maybe a year or more, but as my hands are okish this morning I will give it a go - am hoping the relatively gentle foot movement might help my poor toes. And if not then I stop.

So this and this

plus the fabulously mad punky batt made by lovely tatty might one day become - er - a cardi. Cannot have too many cardis.
I am also planning to dye up some wool for some secret knitting, again I haven't played with my dyes for a couple of years (where on earth does the time go???) but as I couldn't find the sort of wool I wanted then I thought have a go at dyeing it. So by Monday I should have mulitcoloured hands and floof all over the carpet.

I also need to dye my hair .... stocked up on various shades of pink yesterday.

What else?

Spotted the ultra wonderful Cyndi Lauper on telly yesterday and was mesmerised by the hair (wig) and makeup - I think she's ace! Teeny tiny woman with a big attitude and a huge voice, love her. How to age with no cares at all.

I have recommendations of assorted goodness. Fell free to completely ignore them, but they are really pretty good.
Every now and again I get the headsup that the fabtastic 'Try me Week' is on at hairsupermarket - top brands at £3 each for the week. So I did the decent thing and stocked up - PINK packaging is an bonus. I have used this company several times (only way I can afford to have plenty of decent products) and every time they are excellent - speedy tracked delivery, wellpackaged etc. For £3 a product well worth a look.

I have the urge for a fairly radical hair cut - not sure whether to fight it or go for it. My hair grows really quickly (makes up for the rest of me being stumpy) so I suppose if I hate it, it will grow soon. I am thinking of trying rebel pinup in Leeds and hope they will make me feel less frumpy and old. Hmmmm....

I also highly recommend - for the liquid eye liner lovers out there - the Graffiti eyeliner pen from eyeko. I usually use a black eyeliner in a pot from MAC, have done for a few years now and thought it was the best thing ever. But the Eyeko one is cheap (around a fiver) and superb - very easy to apply, doesn't smudge and gives a very sharp line - chuffed to bits with it! I also LOVE their double blusher, I have the pinkish one and it is fabulous (doubles as a good eyeshadow too). Not as keen on the lip crayons even though they smell great, am selling mine on fleabay.

So there you go, some hair and makeup recommendations from Sulky Corner.

Knitting-wise, the Daisy cardi is growing despite little knitting going on lately. I have almost finished the second front, and have now got hold of enough Cathay to finish both sleeves. One sleeve would be daft. And my ham hock arms take some covering. So far it's been an easy, straight forward knit - will be a bonus if it FITS and if I actually wear it.

Hopefully will finish it this weekend, but that depends on how hard the methotrexate and its buddies hit me.

That's it for now - no doubt piccies of the garden will appear soon, and I might even post a pic of Daphne in her new titfer!

Oh - I think there's something wrong with PSidney, he doesn't seem his usual self so I am keeping a very close eye on him. I really really hope it isn't his teeth.

Have a lovely weekend,

Stepping

outside the box, back to where I feel most comfortable. I need to make some money, that's the bottom line, hence sewing up a small storm lately - and so far the response to my bags is good.

I have the cards to tart up a bit to make them look better, and some other ideas on a back burner for wont of time at the moment. And energy.

But I also have ideas for bags that are more mini art quilt based, a bit left of centre, and finally let rip and had a bit of fun making myself one. All the time I was cutting and sewing I had my lovely friend Pat on my shoulder (not literally, she's in America) telling me to have fun with it, play with it.

So I did.

This was originally an idea I had for a small bag, so I slit it open.

The silk heart is padded and roughly stitched several times.

The wings are layers of fabric and muslin. I then started to have a bit of a play with some antique buttons, strips of silk, ribbons - the green leaf ribbon was a perfect find!

Very pleased with the finished bag, which I used today - it is unashamedly girly and romantic, and I like it a lot.

So then of course, never happy with one, I found an assortment in blues and creams - which is destined to become another bag, for sale this time.

And my very very favourite - I have an idea for tea cups and general madness involving a Union Jack flag ... watch this space.

Ah, and other news - spinning wise I am thilled that not only is my current spinning NOT overspun, it is all pretty equal, and when I checked it (which I rarely do but should) it is spot on 4ply when plied, so I am pleased. Must get the last bobbin spun up soon.

After the excitement of the footy I think it will be an evening of sewing, hand stitching some brooches and then curl up with Gibbs and my knitting, Bliss.

Hard Times

Sometimes it just seems to go on and on doesn't it?

I am signed off again from workj, for at least 2 months so wont be back this last half term, which is good for my health and wellbeing, but a very weird place to be mentally, as at some point I am going to have to go in and bring a load of my personaly belongings home, maybe in the summer holidays, All most strange.
My Dr, who is wonderfully supportive, recommends I find a less stressful job - yikes.

So I am giving myself a few more days to try and calm down (I am very jittery at the moment and have been very tense all week, an impending doom sort of tense) and then start looking, including jobs out of teaching, but I know not what ... ideas?

As for the Hartlepool interview - when the Head started stroking the hair of the internal candidate without cracking a smile at the rest of us it was obvious where that bizarre day was going. And the hotel? I paid for two nights and left after one, simply couldn't bear another. Mums instead, for some much needed tlc.

This box of lovelies is for a test knit I am currently doing - and loving, will have to check with the designer about how Top Secret it is before giving any details. Enough for now to say I love the pattern, and the wool / cashmere blend is gorgeous.

I am determined to improve my spinning - I keep ending up with lively, overspun wool - not dreadfully overspun but enough to make knitting it up a bit of a pain. All that effort for very little - so I was much more careful with this little lot. It is a custom dyed 'Spin a Cardi' amount bought from the lovely Marianne picperficGreys, pinks, purples, black - perfic!

Very soft bfl, hence the halo on it, I plied with some cashmere and ended up with this:

 which although not perfect is much better than I have made so far. 3 skeins so far and about 150g still to spin. I have an idea in my head for a cardi design, so that's for maybe Sunday.

What else?

I think I posted a while ago about a quilt pattern I had seen in greys - and lo and indeed behold the little fabric shop here had several of the prints in. So did I buy it and cut out the quilt pieces? Or did I buy some and cut out a skirt instead?

Of course, a summer skirt - Amy Butler's Barcelona Skirt pattern, all pieces cut out the other evening and I sewed the front yesterday. My sewing mojo is in hibernation at the mo, but as it is very warm here and I need some summery skirts I plan on finishing this by tomorrow. I also have some flowery (pink roses on black) fabric so if it's as nice as i hope will make one from that too.

I am struggling to reassess and make plans for my life. Things need to change - work obviously being the priority as it is making me very ill. I suspect a new job will mean a house move, and that's ok. But it's hard, wondering where and how to make such massive changes. For now it's one tiny step at a time - this week that's decluttering (kitchen cupboards first and some clothes etc for ebay) and trying to calm down a bit. I also need to sort my physical health out, and at least get a swim in even if I can't manage the gym just yet - haven't been for over two weeks.

Tiny steps.

Stitching up a storm.

More of a gentle breeze really.
I rummaged upstairs in the Cupboard of Doom to find a missing pack of Kaffe Fassett garish fabric, bought last year with the ambitious intention of making a quilt - never got further than the many bags I was making, and the material vanished.

In said rummage, I also dug out 4 half made bags, an armful of material that caught my eye, and huge bag of Laura Ashley yumminess - in shades of teal and duck egg, neither of which I ever want in my home. Hmmm...

BUT I did also manage to finally put together, and take a photo of, the two main colourways that I plan to turn into quilts of some description.

Sunglasses at the ready, the first will make your eyes bleed - it matches absolutely NOTHING in my home.

I love the cabbage material more than any other - a couple of the greens have now been removed, I just love the greens and pinks together, they make me happy.

I think if it is bound and bordered with pink it should be nice, I would either drape it over a the chair or hang it on the wall. (Throws on the settee just don't seem to work, I bought two lovely ones to try and disguise its shabbiness but they just end up looking really messy).

This is the other colourway, which would tone with the living room perfectly, but which doesn't excite me much!



I am toying with a silk pink heart in the middle of each block to tie it together, but am also tempted to applique a tree with a bird on a nest ... why oh why I don't go for a simple option I don't know.

Eve bought something utterly impractical purely because it was pretty? How's this for a pretty and useless tea towel -


Thank you Laura Ashley sale, with your dastardly ways.
Also from Ms Ashley's emporium, but bought on different trips, plus the heavy velvet from Ebay, the cushion cover mission (again to try and detract from the shabby settee - although I have a hunch they might make it look even worse).


They are about to be cut out and I will make a start on them - I haven't done any sewing at all for a week, which is a concern as I am waaaay behind with my million bags mission for Knit Camp. Bugger.

Knitting? I am plodding on with the most boring cardigan in the world, dull dull dull to knit. Hopefully better when it is finished! Plus some colourwork mitts that I m loving so far, piccies to come. Plus quite a bit of spinning and plying, including some gorgeous roving in pinks and electric blue / turquiose from Becca, who is kind and generous and downright lovely.

And for no other reason that it is such a lovely photo - this is from etsy, and sorry etsy seller I don't remember who you were.



Enjoy the rest of the Easter break!

Trying

to keep some arty crafty goodness going in my life, even though my paintings are not going as planned! I am very out of practise, and it shows.

The dyeing is for knitting a clapotis, definitely not my favourite shawl / scarf, but there is a Clap party at Knit Camp, so I neeed it for then! Looks like we are having a mni clapalong on Ravelry, that should give me the incentive to get on with it. I love the colours of these two skeins, the third not so good and needs redyeing.
I planned on something much more subtle with gradations of colour, but never mind.


Ignore the mess, this is the little still life I set up recently - the painting I started is far too crap to show on here, needs either binning or lots of work (I am trying not to bin anything arty).


This is hopefully going to be for my mum's birthday next week, absolutely loads of work to do on it but I am enjoying it. It is my much loved and very deeply missed nan and grandad. Nothing else to say really. Very special people.


And spinning - the pink cheviot I spun up recently (rough, tough and rather sproingy! very easy to spin but mine is a touch overspun still)actually looks like a REAL ball of wool when wound up!Cheeky blighter, you little chick, hands off my wool!


I do feel that there is a very amateur edge to everything I do - Jill of all trades, mistress of none.It frustrates me.
I try to write, it comes out as bilge.
I write a blog that nobody reads.
Sketches in my diary / journal are rubbish, so is what I write.
Knitting is average, as is my spinning.
Painting - pah!
But I get a lot of pleasure from it when I allow myself to just relax into it, and that's the most important thing.

Relax ...

How

does it get to Thursday evening so quickly? Eh eh eh?

Sooo... no piccies today, I don't seem to have used my camera much this week which is unusual. Must charge the batteries (of camera and self) and catch up - oh, I DO have a piccie somewhere of the current knitting project, let me look.


This is gorgeous - The Summer Shawl,via Ravelry - this is my challenge for the year, no idea if I will get it finished, and had a bit of a fart on getting it started! But I am now almost finished with the fourth row of roses, and it is lovely. The Kauni Effekt wool is a bit odd, rather rough and tough, but the colour is good and I suppose that's what all the hype is about.

Cheviot, great to spin - not next to skin soft, but very easy to use as it's long and grippy. QAnd cheap!

And this little bundle is most of the spinning I have done lately, I need to start thinking about how to use it all up. Ideas?

Lots

of things.

This is almost, almost heartbreaking, in a knitty sense.
It is Pocket Watch, a lovely pattern from one of Louisa Harding's yummy books, a fun knit - until I rinsed it prior to blocking.
The black dye ran into the pinks, and has smudged them - the photo doesn't show the true damage, its very noticeable. The wool was from ebay and I am pretty cross about it, to put it mildly.
I think the only thing I can do is wash the sleeves (there's about 3 inches left on the second sleeve,I threw them in a basket out of sight before I was tempted to throw the whole thing out) and hope they run the same way. Then either live with it, or try rinsing with a colour run product ...
Very very annoying.
So I turned to this: again from one of Louisa's books (see, I am on first name terms now), Masquerade from the Cardigans book. The light grey is baby alpaca and is a nightmare to knit as it's so soft and fluffy - but for exactly those reasons, it is also lovely! This is my relaxing knit, as I am also attempting something which for me is really challenging, piccies to follow.


Plenty of spinning going on, I think because it relaxes me (my mind is inescapably on going back to work a lot, not good).The pink is cheviot, which is certainly not next to the skin soft, but because of this rougher texture is a doddle to spin,. I plied it much more tightly (is that's the right description?) than usual, gave it a damned good THWACK and left ity to dry, and it hung wonderfully, much better tension than I ever imagined! Quite a bit left to spin, I should get enough for a short length cardi of some description, maybe with black.


And one day I will find a use for all of these!