In June this year we decided to go on a long weekend break to our favourite Cornwall.  We usually camp, but after the problems last year decided on a cottage.  Having browsed the net, I found the perfect little get away.

It really was special, our little Cornish Vintage retreat in Porthcothan.  On arriving I recognised the place, later to realise a TV program had been made about it.

The Red Buoy, was the wonderful home of artist & film maker Jane Drake.  Who’s husband made the film The Wrecking Season, an insight into the life of a fisherman, beachcomber and wrecker, gather the interesting finds of north Cornwall beaches.

The place was full of objects found and tracked back to there origins, be that the Amazon or Florida.  It really is an interesting watch.  I am yet to watch her current film the Art of Catching Lobsters, a look into her life during her husbands illness and death, though it seems like an emotional insight into grief and love.

The house was perfect, vintage, quaint, and exactly what I love.

Having been knitting for a number of months, it was only a matter of time before a wanted to dye my own wool.  I had been worried about the use of chemicals, so when I heard of Kool-Aid I was thrilled and wanted to get started right away.

I went out and bought some  Mirasol Yarn Cotanani, which is beautifully soft and will be wonderful to knit with.

I set about with various plastic cups of dye, plastic take away containers and spirals of wool. (Not forgetting the rubber gloves!) It went really well, though I mixed the dye with way to much water and my wool had a high cotton content, all adding to the less viberant colours.  However, I was please.

Originally the wool was going to be used to make myself a little jacket, but the colours turned out a bit to pale so I am going to shelve it and use it for baby clothes.

The pictures above show it looking a bit brighter, but it dried much lighter as you can see below.

The sun is shining and its lovely out, so I thought I’d get creative and make a few bits to my etsy site.  I’ve starting making key rings, at the moment its cats, but I’m planning on ‘Home Sweet Home’ ones and rabbits as well.

The ideas are still in the making but going well so far.  When I can figure out why my sewing machine has given up I can making some soft toys.

I experienced my first Wave Vintage Fair in Worcester last weekend.  It was held in the lovely St Helen’s Church, on Fish Street. The fair aims to promote vintage and recycling and ’Make Do and Mend’, having everything from vintage 50’s clothes to handmade jewellery and toys.

It was great, and I have all the information to sign up for July’s event myself.

The July event seems to have a 40’s theme, something close to my heart, so I will be truly looking forward to it.  I am hoping to have a stall with my mother in law who will be selling her vintage inspired knitted cake’s.  I have thinking about a theme for my stall and it has to be 40’s garden party, similar to my wedding.

I have started creating a few new projects, knitted brooches with recycled wool,

I’m thinking, sunglasses cases, keyring’s and all my usual goodies.  I’m trying to think of some interested 40’s twists still though.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

My 70’s vintage fabric, now has a nice new home.  I has been made into cute cushion’s by my very own creative mother in law.  I’m loving the green against the red sofa!

I need to go on a sewing & dress making course myself, I am in need of cute hand made items for my home.  If you know of a course in SW London feel free to let me know.

Well, school holidays and I have 100 reports to write, so what am I doing, baking of course. I bought a new piping kit in Worcester and its great!  Though I did end up with frosting up to my elbows, not sure that is supposed to happen.

Aart from the poor lighting in the picture, I thought they weren’t bad for a first attempt.  They taste pretty good as well.

Another of my knits, really pleased with this one its an adult version of the lovely children’s pattern neighborly by Jennifer Casa. I took my pattern from stitchesinplay, who has a lovely blog. The wool I used was great and luckily it grows with wear, Noro silk garden and noro plain wool.  I knitted it a little small, I need to improve my knitting style.

Any advise on knitting slacker would be welcome.

The shalom cardigan seems to be on every knitters list at some time, there are 2482 completed projects of this on ravelry and I’m sure it will increase by the time I publish my post.

After an afternoon in blacksheepwools new barn, I purchased way to much wool with no idea of projects.  The Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran in lovely bright pink, a massive pack of bargain pale pink cotton, lovely Rowan Country in green tones, for possible felting and some baby wool.

The pink aran was used to create my very own Shalom cardigan.  I changed the pattern a little, added a bit of extra length, and changed the design to close at the front and added a row of pattern to form cap sleeves.  I am pleased with the results, though still need to find wooden buttons.

I added a little crocheted flower for detail whilst waiting to find the perfect buttons.

I now have a queue of 5 projects to be completed, the first being a poncho that purchased Sirdar demin ultra for and then a few things for summer.

My first attempt at muffins, I used a recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery book cheese and spinach muffins.  Well, the mixture was a nightmare, so sticky and thick, I had to add lots of extra milk to it to be a managable consistency.

After the tricky start they tasted great, especially when warm with a nice cup of tea!  I’m going to try a few more things from this book when I get some ingredients. Yummy!