A Me! Me!

This is a post about looking out for Number 1 or to clarify concentrating on oneself for once.

I cannot tell all until this blocking is finished but you can see it is a trim so wonder away for the moment. Neither is it something out of this world but I must admit I feel quite pleased that I have managed to do something for myself.

Trims blocked this morning before going out for our walk. The front room windows left open hoping the trims will dry nice and quick.

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However I am learning to draw the line now at out of the immediate family requests from neighbours,students and friends of my daughter.In fact I find it quite amazing the audacity of some people " I'll pay you for the yarn of course" of course you would have to Mrs I don't know your name friend of my daughter no mention of my time or how much do you charge. Why do some people think you can whisk something up for them in a jiffy and for free??   I have now got to the point where I reply politely I do occasionally accept orders.Do you want me to give you a price?  However to date no one has got back to me when I say that!!!   Fine with me as I don't really want to take any orders as yet.


Sunday morning stroll and what a glorious Sunday morning too. We went for a walk to the city centre and then down to the Postiguet beach not really worrying about time or where we were going…letting off steam and brushing the cobwebs away…the best of walks!!

Luceros Plaza. Alicante City Centre

Bit hazy…sorry!
Luceros Plaza built in the 20s and the impressive fountain built in 1930.
The horses at the base of the fountain represent the four wandering stars;Dawn,Morning,Afternoon and Evening…..and the horse symbol also represents abundance and generosity. The Horse was considered in some legends and mythology to be a water divinity, having the ability to make water flow from the soil on striking the earth with its hooves!

Postiguet beach. Alicante City.
Lots of people had the same idea as we did and there were several people swimming although I thought the wind was quite cold.

Bit hazy again….mobile phone shots!!!

Postiguet beach again  and bridge over to the old quarter of the town.



Hope you are all having a lovely relaxing Sunday!!!!

Amanda :-)

Promise kept with Dory

Promises and pie crusts are made to be broken.  ~Jonathan Swift

Now are they Mr Swift???    A promise is a promise and I don't agree with Jonathan Swift mine are not made to be broken otherwise I don't promise.
I'd philosophically add and advise that you shouldn't make a promise lightly and then you won't break it!

My promise is about reaching its completion but had to undergo a bit of blocking before I send it off to the other side of the world...to a place called Toowoomba. Sure some of you know where that is :-)

How did this all come about well I sent my sister a bronze wrap for her birthday and my neice wanted one. I of course promised I would get around to making one for her.

Bronze Wrap made in April 2012

Its very rare I do the same pattern twice as I enjoy trying out new designs much more then repetitive crochet,so I wasn't really sure what sort of shawl I wanted to make for my neice. I thought possibly something light,airy,young looking and browsing through Lynne at Pieceful  blog I found just what I was looking for. I found the Dory shawlette  and the pattern can be purchased here on Ravely. I used
Freedom spirit,Twilleys of Stamford 100% wool.
It was a real dawdle to make not at all difficult.   Nearly nearly finished too!
At present it is laid out on the spare bed undergoing the blocking process.
I had done blocking before but on much smaller items such as doileys and lace crochet dipped in starch but never anything so big. Luckily Lynne also gave me some tips about that too so I have managed to improvise,that and reading the tutorial on MarrieB at Purals and Pleats .

Step 1. Soak garment in lukewarm water with a dash of wool wash and leave for approx 30 mins.
Step 2. Do not wring at all,lightly squeeze and lay out on a towel

Step 3. Roll up in the towel

Step 4.

STAND ON IT

Step 5.

and walk across it!!!!

Step 6.
Now here is where Lynne's advice came to the fore.
Spread it on a towel across the bed. I didn't use a towel I used an old impermeable sheet I had from when Cookie baby was a little girl.
 By using this sheet I was able to cover all the bed and it therefore helped to keep the shawl taunt.

so this is before I started blocking the shawl.

Step 6. I had no T pins (blocking pins) so again I had to make do with what I had and those were normal pins.

open the windows and leave it for 24 hours approx to dry.

I had to shut the bedroom door in case Willie Shakespeare decided to have a nose. He may be yonks old but he hasn't lost his need to know everything that is going on in the house. He is so nosey!!!. I could just see him coming out of the bedroom his nose and paws covered in pins!!!

There you have it folks not at all complicated and later this afternoon it should be dry and ready to send off to OZ.

Amanda :-)