Knitting S.O.S

I've been working at Proper Job occasionally this summer, and this old trunk has been sitting forlornly in the corner of the textiles cabin. I'm always drawn to knitting, covetous of yarn in all it's many shades . Here, in the trunk, there are many shades of green. I wonder who the owner was? Someone else who loved green, and who had several nearly finished projects. How sad to think that they were put away, uncompleted, forgotten in a trunk for years.
In the end, I couldn't see them sit there unwanted any longer, and brought them home. Now I'm hoping that there are people out there who would like to have them and finish them!
Please, can anyone give these a new life ? For the cost of posting, I'll send one to you, if you will send a photo / or post a link back to Proper Job Recycling Centre when you are done.

Sap Green Cardi
This green cardigan is almost complete - it just needs the button band completed. It measures 68 cm in length, and 44cm across the chest (but it's ribbed, so that's it's slack measurement - it will stretch much wider). I would guess it would probably fit an English size 12? There is enough wool to complete the project, and 1 size 11 knitting needle.

Moss Green Cardi
This is another wool cardigan in a much finer knit. It has a back, two side fronts, I completed raglan sleeve, and one partially completed sleeve. There are two spare balls of wool (enough to complete the project). It measures 60 cm long, and approx 52 cm across the chest. The colour is a slightly richer moss green than it shows on my monitor. However, this one does have a couple of moth holes in it which need repairing (see the pic below).

Emerald cardi
The final cardigan is an incredibly soft acrylic yarn, in a rather bright emerald green.Again, it has back,and two sides completed, and 1 sleeve begun. There are 2 1/2 balls of wool left, which should be enough to finish. It measures 65 cm long, and 48 cm across the back.
Daisy dog not included!

Baby Dress
Tiny blue knitted dress/ cardi, with one side missing. I can't find any wool to complete this with.

I reckon the cardigans will cost a couple of pounds each to post within the UK, maybe a bit more to send abroad, but please get in touch if you would like to have one of these!

Whitewash and Whortleberries

The latest painting is finally finished! It's watercolour and ink, and is A4 sized. (soon to be for sale in my Etsy shop) I am really excited about beginning a quilted version of this, much larger than the last ones. Sadly, it will have to be put on hold for a while, as there are SO many things to be done first. Still, it is almost as much fun gathering the fabrics for a project, and rummaging through boxes, and jumble sales for just the right piece. I shall spend the rest of my summer doing that!

The main thing that has kept me occupied over the school holidays is 'The bedroom project'. I promised my eldest daughter that I would redecorate her bedroom for her birthday. It is little more than a cupboard in the uppermost eaves of the attic, and looked just like a store cupboard too. Foolishly, I thought I could tackle it while she went off to Pony Club camp for 4 days. It (as ALWAYS) turned out to be a little more work than I had anticipated! Still, I worked through the nights, and finally turned the scruffy little cupboard into a clean fresh room, suitable for a girl who is growing up fast!

This was definitely done on a budget! With the exception of the two cushions in the top photo, which I bought new, everything else was sourced from the recycling centre, Proper Job. Of the blankets on the top bed, the cream under blanket is an old one, knitted by my grandmother, and the top one is one that I made many years ago from a patchwork of old felted jumpers.

I found a lovely old oak sideboard at Proper Job. The top two drawers are partitioned and lined with green baize, originally intended for cutlery, but just as well used for sorting socks and tights! A rummage through the paint shed found emulsion for the walls, and some lovely Farrow and Ball paint to update the sideboard. The bric-a-brac cabinet offered up lovely treasures - a vintage blue painted candle holder, a white jug, and a lovely lacy cloth, perfect for the room.

My favourite finds of all are these - a gorgeous vintage coat rack, and a second peg rack, and a scrabble around through vast boxes of used coat hangers yielded a selection of beautiful old wooden hangers in various shades of soft blue and green and grey. Some have knitted covers, and some are just plain painted wood. I love them! They fit the room so perfectly!

So, finally, I finished it. I still have paint in my hair and on the backs of my hands, but the room is a great success, and my daughter is thrilled.

So,the school holidays are passing in a happy blur. Meanwhile Kestrel is growing and doing well. He is awfully small at the moment, which is a little disappointing ( I was hoping he would make 13.2hh) but striking to look at. He is beautifully put together, and makes up for his short stature by being incredibly compact and chunky. His foal coat is turning, and underneath he is coming through the most gorgeous dark burnt gold colour.

And we have spent our days out on the moors, on foot, or on ponies. Yesterday was spent whortleberrying, helped by Magpie and Daisy, and the day ended with a rare treat - enough whortleberries for a crumble. I have never managed to gather enough before, and my, was it worth it!

An Eeyore moment.

The cold and dark has crept into everything this week, even my mood. All I have wanted to do is tuck myself up in the little armchair beside the fire. I had a rummage at the book store at Proper Job, and found, to my delight, a whole pile of my childhood favourites. I brought them all back - ostensibly for the children to read, but I feel the need to reacquaint myself with them first!

Even a Sunday walk with the family and their dogs seemed to be in semi- darkness. Tonight I think it is time to bring in the christmas tree, bring light and greenery to the house, and sweep the gloom outside!

All dressed up and nowhere to go!

I did something totally out of character for me last week, and modelled for a photo shoot for the Proper Job 'sustainable styling' event. This was quite a big deal for me - I am usually to be found in the scruffiest of baggy clothes, covered in hay and dog hair, and I certainly don't possess any make - up. But my sister, who was organising it, as well as doing the photography, persuaded me to do it, as they wanted women of all shapes and sizes. Well, I had a ball! It was wonderful to be pampered, and have someone do my hair, and another do my make up - I felt like a princess! The reaction from my children, when I finally got home, brought me down a peg or two - my eldest daughter burst into tears, and my small son said " you look disgusting Mummy!". I guess I'll stick to no make up from now on!

So, for anyone who is in the Chagford area, the christmas 'Get The Look ' party is in the Jubilee Hall, Chagford on the 4th December from 6.30. There will be lots of recycled fashion for sale at very low prices, as well as styling advice, and you can book a 15 minute slot for a hair and make up session with hair dresser Becky Butler and profesional make up artist Kate Webber.

More info from Proper Job or 'Sustainable Styling'

Proper Job Recycling Centre, Chagford

I spent yesterday afternoon down at Proper Job, trying to sort through the portacabin which is going to be the bric-a-brac shop. It's a pretty daunting task - stuffed to overflowing with boxes and sacks of stuff, but it's good to see it starting to get organised. There is a phenomenal amount of kitchenware! Pots and pans ( and several woks that appear to have never been used), cake tins and jelly moulds, and piles and piles of china. Every kitchen implement you could ever imagine needing, and enough oven proof dishes to cook for an army. I love rummaging through and sorting this out. I even found a barely used mini frying pan, perfect for cooking eggs in. At 50p, that came home with me!

There are hundreds and hundreds of glasses - so many are in sets, and some are so fine and delicate I can't imagine using them without breaking. Wine glasses, and sherry glasses, and cocktail glasses, and cut glass bowls in every size and shape you could ever want.

Magpie came with me, in disgrace and feeling very sorry for herself. During the night she stole and ate a tub of margarine, and spent the first half of the day throwing up. Unfortunately she insisted on doing this indoors, at my feet, despite being out in the porch and garden for most of the morning. She specifically chose to come in and be sick on the living room floor. I'm afraid I was rather lacking in sympathy.

And now, Jana Johnson has made a great youtube video showcasing the work of some of the WHOA equine artists. This one features Unicorns, and includes one of my paintings. Do check it out!