Minxxy

Raspberry Gin and Limoncello

I have planned to make Limoncello for  Christmas for a couple of years and in typical me fashion, I remember then promptly forget until it is too late. Depending on which recipe you use, it needs to mature for between four and six weeks. This year, I am on it. I followed a recipe from The Good Food Channel as it seemed simple enough and used less water, meaning more vodka. Hic!

I also found a recipe for raspberry gin over on the imake blog. It also seemed straight forward and simple although I have missed the Christmas deadline. This little red beauty has to mature for 12 weeks which means it should be ready in time for Hogmanay. Double hic!

Here's hoping that it all tastes yummy and scrummy . I will let you know when I regain consciousness.

 

An awakening

Yesterday when I was in the Mackintosh Church, the Macintosh society had music playing in the background. I have no idea what it was apart from  it was most definitely classical. As I sat in the pews knitting, I felt really relaxed, inspired and productive. As I sat thinking and watching others creating hand knits,  I decided that I wanted to find out more about the Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to get a feel for what it must have been like to be around in those times.

Today, as I settled down to finish some sewing, I searched YouTube for some classical music. Anything really as I have no idea what is what or who is who relating to that genre of music. I found Four Seasons by Vivaldi, pressed play and sat at my sewing machine. It was bliss. I concentrated well, was more focused and worked faster that I have ever done. Perhaps it was because I wasn't up every 3 minutes clicking play on another tune, I don't know. What I do know is I enjoyed the experience very much. 

I am now finishing off my  urchin bowls complete with felt counting pennies while listening to Chopin's Nocturnes - well thats what is says in the title. I have no idea if that is right or wrong.

 

I am also head over heels in love with knitting Marin by Ysolda Teague using Ripples Craft sport weight yarn. 

 

Today is blissfully chilled and stress free. Life should not be lived at 100 miles an hour... and mines is plodding along at a wonderful pace.

All is good in my world... How is yours?

 

Glasgow School of Yarn 2012

I have just returned home after spending a wonderful morning/early afternoon at The Yarn Cake's Glasgow School of Yarn. I wasn't doing any classes but I did want to go and see Charles Rennie Mackintiosh's church and to shop in the wool market. I was not disappointed. The church is simply stunning. Very plain  and simple but the lines and the design is beautiful. I so want a domino table and a hanging light.

The Yarn Cake had set up their shop on the altar and had a small but varied selection of goods ranging from mugs, needles and yarn to spinning wheels and fibre. I just had to purchase a few things didn't I? It would have been rude not to.

 

The market place did not disappoint either and there is now a huge dent in my purse where my money used to be.

1. Mini Skeins for Hexipuffs - Skein Queen

2. Voluptuous Petit Dk/Lt worsted - Skein Queen

3. Handcarded, dizzed roving, dark rainboww - Hilltop Cloud

4. Hand dyed sock yarn, Christmas night - Ripples Crafts

5. Hand dyed sport weight, Forest floor - Ripples Crafts

6. Hand painted yarn, Wake up lonely - Old Maiden Aunt

6. Hand painted yarn, Bitter bug - Old Maiden Aunt

7. Drops Alpaca -  The Yarn Cake

8. Crazy Zauberball - The Yarn Cake

Not pictured . Sticth markers from Andsewtoknit

 

So to round up, I am skint and the whole experience was wonderful. I spoke to a load of strangers about knitting, especially finding out the names of some of the stunning shawls/shawlettes that people were wearing and I feel inspired to knit, knit , knit for the forthcoming winter.

For what it is worth, something  which is done really well on a small scale is far superior to  one which is big, brashy, hollow and a means to earn as much as possible in as short a time scale. People like Kerrie Allman and Jo Watson should really take a lesson from people who organise things on a small scale, less is more and you must work within your means and talents/skills. 

Cheerio for now, I have some serious yarn winding to do and decide where to start. 

YABADABADOOOO!!!

 

 

October break

I am on holiday for a week. Hurrah!

Since we had such a terrible, wet and cool summer it has been a real struggle to get back into the groove at work. I need this holiday and plan to work on the few half finished projects that have crept into my world.

One is a top secret project for a wedding next year so I cant even share a tiny iota of what it is on here because the bride reads this blog. What I will say is the happy couple WILL GET THIS AS A WEDDING GIFT. There. I have shouted it out loud and shared my intention with the world simply because I am scared I will love the finished item and keep it. 

Moving on before I 'fess up ... loose lips sink ships and all that. I have been looking through my external hard drive and found  some recent (as in from the past year) projects I wanted to document on this blog.It really is great to look back through the archives.

Boneyard shawl

Honey Cowl knitted using handspun wool

Bunty mitts