Hello, October

I knew if I waited long enough September wouldn't disappoint. Three days of blazing sunshine more than made up for hurricane Katya. October has started off at its most brilliant if not a little bizarre. Crochet in the garden with the leaves falling around me, primroses flowering and sycamore helicopters whirling around. It's almost a scene from a good, old fashioned Disney film. The seasons have mixed and blurred and that's a good thing.

A ladybird is the only thing that ruins my day. It lands and is blown away home. It comes back and is blown away home. It became irritating. I had a break and reached for my camera. I stalked it until it landed and then snap!

Can you see it tucked up in the rose? Mmm, I don't think it's a 'normal' ladybird I think it might be a harlequin ladybird. These are native to Asia, and were introduced to North America and continental Europe as a biological control agent because it eats more pest insects than any other ladybirds. Sadly, harlequins will also eat the larvae of other ladybirds and the eggs and larva of butterflies and moths. We have 45 species of native ladybird in Britain and they play a key role in our ecosystem, but the harlequin has the potential to ruin this.

I didn't realise what it was until I downloaded the photos last night. I've sent the photo to the survey website. Perhaps it's an innocent native and not a nasty foreign invader.

On the work front I've joined the Folksy daily listing club, October Owls. I won't be posting everyday as I did in July but I'll give you a taste of my listings.

Those of you who remember Bill the burglar will be pleased to know that he's still living in London with Edward. I've listed two of Bill's friends, Maudie and  Reginald. They're cwtched up in their favourite blankets.

They're also available on Etsy here and here.

Have a good week!

Pantone colours

Nougat

Last week's colour, quarry, was one of my favourites but as Kris of Cat House Prints said, 'Pantone must have been in a hurry the day they wrote the color description!'

Well, this week we have an even shorter description,

A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat, is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle.

Pantone probably doesn't have to enthuse about these colours because they are staples. The more unusual the colour the more it has to be promoted.

I've been knitting furiously in the glorious, warm weather. Nearly finished are a thick cable scarf and matching headband. Just what you need, not today but in the months to come. Excuse the shadows. It's the blazing sunshine!

It's often very difficult to get exact matches when doing treasuries but this is my take on nougat. Enjoy all the lovely warm caramel on Etsy.



I hope the sun continues to shine for you. Have a great weekend!

PS
Did I mention the sun is shining?

In disgrace!

Yes! Disgraceful behaviour from a cat who's on borrowed time. The cattery is just up the road and yesterday she was very lucky not to shipped back there - again! She's scrawny with a huge overbite, well, fangs. It's not as if she's pretty and cute. I could forgive her then, maybe.

Mr BC works from home sometimes. Yesterday he had a very important meeting with a man who drove a very flash car. I didn't see the very flash man because I was tackling a crocodile but I could hear him talking. Projections, investments, returns, profitability, blah, blah, blah for about an hour.

They met around the kitchen table, all the better for spreadsheets. Until Dizzy walked in through the patio doors. They were so busy they didn't see her. They did see the mouse that she flicked up onto the table and that landed, slap bang, in the middle of the spreadsheet.

The flash man has a very girly scream. It's followed with a very manly laugh.

Mr BC picked the mouse up and removed it to the place we use to dispose of the dead mice - the garden, its own special little grave. Calmly, so as not to frightened the flash man. Apologising and saying that she doesn't normally do this sort of thing.

No! Dizzy has never brought in a mouse before and will never manage to flip one with such skill again. Anyone want a very used black cat? She's only had three previous owners and two loooong stays in the rescue centre.

Crocodile stitch

Don't ask me why I chose to do this on one of the hottest September days on record because 'I did' is the answer you'll get.

Ask me another - not on sport.

Ask me how crocodiles kill their prey.

Answer - they use leverage for killing. They bite down hard and twist off large chunks of meat. This is called, appropriately, the death roll. (Sorry vegetarians. I didn't mean to upset you.)

This is how I felt today. Like a poor wildebeest caught in the jaws of a crocodile. I brought it all on myself. Over at Etsy and Ravelry crochet crocodile stitch is everywhere. I exaggerate, of course, but it's a stitch that had me baffled. I don't want to make anything. The hats remind me of 1950s bathing caps with the fold over petals. I did quite fancy putting a few rows on the end of a plain scarf. Good for flipping over your shoulder.

Google came up with a few videos. With my trusty hook I sallied forth into the jaws of the crocodile! It ripped and twisted and got me all in a bother. My front was their back and my spikes were front and back. When I finally found instructions I could follow they kidnapped it and wanted money to release row 3 onwards.

Money? It's chains and trebles. It's not your stitch! It's not a pattern that's been designed by you!

I found the lovely Jenny at Yarn Muse who felt the same. Jenny has posted videos and written instructions for free. Yes, free! No money for tutorials passing hands.

Here's what it looks like in the hands of experts on Etsy

bkcraftstudio has a gorgeous apple green neckwarmer that shows you how the scales lie.

While Ebruk is thinking along the same lines as me. I love this for its simplicity and the colour

A special thanks to all of you who share your skills and expertise so freely. You know who you are!

Pantone colours

Quarry

I love blue greys. I've painted my workroom cornflower blue because I find it relaxing and a good background colour. This combination by Tommy Hilfiger is just the sort of thing I want to wear. I'll be knitting some of these heavy duty jumpers and scarves. That's for sure!

Pantone's usual effusive description has not continued for this end of the spectrum. It calls its blue grey for fall/winter 2011, quarry and says of it,

Quarry, a reliable, medium gray, remains, as always, a practical, dependable staple.

Lack of imagination, or did they run out of adjectives with their other autumn colours?

Imagination is not lacking with the shops I've included today. There were so many gorgeous items I had to leave out but special mention goes to the best dressed dog I've seen in a while.

The pattern is available at Wendy M Handknits

I've included a lovely print by Gorjuss because it reminds me of Rolla. Enjoy!




Have a great weekend!

Pantone colours

Coffee liqueúr

I've saved my favourites until last. Browns and neutrals work for me. I've always shied away from wearing colour but thankfully I'm over my black phase.

Pantone hasn't over enthused about this season's brown. It says,

rich, decadent coffee liqueúr brings a sense of elegance to fall, and is a savory alternative to basic black.

So there we have it. If Pantone says wear it instead of black then it shall be done. It's perfect for winter  with enough glow to add colour and can be accessorised with so many shades. I really enjoyed putting this treasury together. There were so many lovely items to choose from. Enjoy!




Have a great weekend!

What's on my table?

You remember July? When I did the take one a day challenge?

I made the crochet frames. The blue one at the top was made from the Lola Nova tutorial that has since been published in Mollie Makes. They are popping up everywhere on Flickr now!

This week I've finished two new frames for my shop using an Edie Eckman border from Around the Corner.

The blue is made from an upcycled wooden curtain hoop.

This one is my favourite. I've used a lovely Monsoon metal bangle and pure wool. The photo is printed from Google images.

When I was clearing up I noticed that they fit well together. This is something I've got to work on.