Fluph Fluff Fluff

Back when my daughter, Eilidh, was still a graphic design student in Dundee, she asked me what I wanted for my birthday.  Well, a knitter will always ask for wool and I knew there was a local yarn shop called Fluph near her hall of residence so I directed her there, with instructions to buy something 'to take me out of my comfort zone'.

Accompanying the quirky Donna Wilson bear journal and foxy card Eilidh sent, I also received this skein of Rusty Ferret yarn.  It's hand dyed by the very talented Leona-Jayne, who not only curates the Rusty Ferret brand but also owns the yarn shop, Fluph.  My Rusty Ferret merino/nylon mix rejoices in the colourway name 'The Dark Beyond' and is a blend of rusty orange and greys on a barely black background - far away from the magenta, purple and turquoise brights usually filling my yarn stash!

To enable the subtle shades of my birthday wool to shine, I chose to knit The Winter Wander Shawl by Helen Stewart whose Curious Handmade podcast I listen to every week.  Helen designs beautiful shawls and her patterns are very easy to follow.  She includes a tick list for each row which keeps my knitting on track and also aids motivation as I race to the finish! 

For my second contrasting yarn I chose a black kid silk mohair by Rowan I'd picked up in a bargain bin to add airy texture, yet lightness and warmth - increased fluff in fact.  These amber beads would add jewelled accents.  

So, in the run up to Christmas 2015, I knitted what I hoped was going to be a very beautiful shawl for me.

Until I realised I'd made a rookie mistake.  I'd fluffed it.  The second yarn I'd chosen was the wrong thickness - an aran weight instead of the lacy two-ply Kidsilk Haze everyone else had chosen for their Winter Wander Shawl.  My ball had 75 metres of fluff instead of the 200 plus metres everyone else had - and I was running out fast!  To add insult to injury, the Kidsilk Aura I was using was discontinued in 2011 and not even a trawl of Ebay could procure another ball.  I couldn't even find it in another colour.

This situation was all the more galling as I was working part time in my local yarn store at that point, ensuring I gave customers good advice so they didn't end up running out of yarn - like I was doing!

At that point I fell out of love with my Winter Wander Shawl.

Days, weeks, months and even years passed with my unfinished project languishing fluffy and unloved in its bag whilst I knitted and crocheted happily on other garments and accessories, giving it little thought.

In the back of my mind though, I knew if I didn't knit the wool Eilidh had given me as a gift, she'd challenge me if I asked her for more at my next birthday.  During a spring clean of my craft room earlier this year, I made the tough decision to rip out the half knitted shawl and return the lovely yarn to a state where it could be re-made into something else.

Again I turned to Helen Stewart and another of her designs, this time her Spindrift Shawl which is knitted from one skein of precious stash, so no risk of me running out of wool.  Helen generously offers The Spindrift Shawl as a free pattern with lots of support.  Beads were again an option and this time I chose these iridescent black beauties to add a little weight to the picot edging.

Around this time we decided to travel to Belfast in the autumn to attend a family wedding, viewing the occasion as a chance to celebrate with the happy couple as well as enjoy the company of relations we don't often see.  It occurred to me that the wool Eilidh chose for me was an excellent match for the dress I intended to wear to the wedding.

 I loved how my shawl looked when it was finished.

And I loved wearing it on the day, styled around the neck of my vintage velvet jacket before the ceremony and around my shoulders during the dance.  I'm glad that Eilidh's precious gift yarn has been knitted into something I shall treasure and enjoy wearing, not just for special occasions.

There's no right and wrong in knitting.  Some projects which stall just need to be set aside and viewed afresh.  I'm glad I didn't carry on and fluff my way through the original knit.  I'm so much happier with the finished item.  

And that black fluffy stuff will go on to become something beautiful in my knitting future I'm sure.

Oh and if you, or anyone close to you, has a stash of Rowan Kidsilk Aura in Black, please never let me know!

All welcome (well, nearly all)

I've probably sat outside our front door more this summer than in the last ten years.  It's the most sheltered and sunny spot in our windy garden in rural Aberdeenshire - perfect for a little knitting, crochet or an aperitif - or just a cuddle with the dog!  It's also where we welcome all our visitors.

Not all visitors are welcome, though.  A few years ago, these swallow chicks hatched in this nest under the eaves right beside the front door.  I think nest building occurred whilst we were away on holiday.  We were frightened our comings and goings might cause the parents to abandon their babies and were relieved when they all finally fledged.  Let's just not talk about all that birdie poop getting trampled into the house!  In subsequent years we've actively discouraged the swallows from nesting here - though it never stops them from trying...

Some years ago, my father in law gave us this bell.  It's a shop bell he salvaged from a business which was closing in a nearby village.  We don't have a doorbell but had never quite got around to installing this one.

So an idea began to crystallise in my mind for my next workshop with Ann at Blue Sky Mosaics.  I've been on  a couple of courses now and have made an outdoor wall panel, a garden table and a stepping stone.  My plan was to incorporate the bell into another decorative panel - and locate it at the front door to alert us of visitors and deter the swallows!

Since my last visit to Blue Sky Mosaics near Kintore, Ann's partner Will has created a wonderful new indoor work space and deck in their garden enlivened with Ann's beautiful mosaic artworks.

I was warmly welcomed by Ann and Will, and Will had cut a substrate for me to work on with an arched top as I'd requested.  I took some pictures with me I'd found inspiring and set to work creating paper shapes for my swallows.

Choosing colours is always fun and my stylised swallows began to take shape as I cut the stained glass.

By the end of day one, I had my main design feature in place and adhered to the treated board.

On my return the following day, Ann suggested some mirror pieces to convey flight and I enjoyed sifting through the tiles for the border to find just the colours and textures I wanted.

Some little dragonflies also made an iridescent appearance.  So much 'treasure' to choose from!

Fitting the background pieces of coloured glass is a therapeutic process.  They're all cut into strips from a single sheet then snipped into random shapes and placed individually into a pleasing pattern.

Here's Ann and I at the end of my second day with all the mosaic shapes in place.  She's such an enabling tutor, gently guiding, patiently prompting and endlessly inspiring.  I've never seen a pupil unhappy with the mosaic they've created under her tutelage.

Ann is also a very trusting person as she gave me my grouting materials to take home and helped me believe I could complete this step by myself.  Look at me in my full PPE - throwback to my offshore days when we all had to wear our Personal Protective Equipment.

A clear case of rags to riches as the drying grout is removed with a soft cloth revealing the beauty of the finished mosaic.

My board already had drilled holes in it for screws and to hold the bell.  I managed to remember not to fill these with grout!

So here is the finished piece in situ, beside the front door and right underneath the swallows favoured nesting site.  You can even glimpse my first mosaic panel on the other side of the door.

I love how the iridescent glass catches the sun.

Now visitors can ring the bell to let us know they are here - and deter 'unwanted' visitors at the same time!