Samples sent

I got a reply from my email and am to carry on doing exactly what I had started doing. The scans have gone down a trea, let's hope the actual samples work as well. I sent them off today, so they should arrive tomorrow or Thursday. I started the sleeve, and it looks good. That reminds me I have to print out some knitters graph paper to graph the decreases on the sleeve tops. I like the one that I have linked to because you can input your own specs and it will print it out for you.

I heard from an old friend today. We haven't been in touch for a long time. She has gone through a divorce and has other things going on in her life, so it was nice to hear from her. I wrote to her to tell her that my aunt was dying, but wasn't sure if I would get a reply. I did and it was nice.

The weather in Ellon has been miserable for the past few days. Last week we had lovely sunny days, but today it was cold and blah. I had to go to the shops and got soaked even though it wasn't raining. It was one of those typically Scottish days. It was a good day to sit and knit. My back aches from sitting for so long.

Work finished this year

I've been quite a busy little bunny this year. I've managed to get quite a bit completed and am happy.

I bought some yarn at the Stitchcraft show in Aberdeen and was really looking forward to using it. What a cack thing it is to use. It is hell to work with, but looks quite good when it is finished. I hated every stitch of it. When I bought the yarn I received a pattern with it that said I needed one ball for a scarf and two for a shawl. I made a shawlette, and only used one ball. The other ball is sitting gathering dust and waiting for me to have a fit of madness and use it. I'm not giving it away or selling it, you never know, it might get better with age.

The yarn is called Melody and is by the South West Trading Company.

Bugger

Well, the project has been started, the yarn finally arrived on Thursday. I've plodded along and done four different samples. I was going to pop them in the post tomorrow, when I got an email fom the student I'm helping. She's done a sample or two on her own, and has made them using bigger needles and has asked me to do my samples on the same size needles and send her scans of the finished pieces. I don't know whether to spit or rip it all out and start again. Of course the decision is hers entirely, she's the designer, but Bugger, BUGGER, BUGGER!!! I've sent her scans of the samples I've done and am awaiting a reply.

I have been waiting to start this project for the longest time, but am getting nervous now. What if she doesn't like my work, what if I make a mistake, what if..............

To calm my nerves I started a scarf in my bagpuss yarn. I will post piccie when I've finished. It's looking quite good. I got the idea from the Clapotis on Knitty , but have adapted it for a straight scarf. I was going to try a felted bag, but couldn't be bothered going out to the garage to get my mega thick needles.

Well it's 2.45am and well past my bedtime, so I'm off to dream about knitting ;-)

Look at these prices

A few years ago, I was asked todo some samples for a new company who were just starting out in London. They had done one previous collection, and were retailing in companies like the one I have given the link to. The deal was. They send the yarn and design, or item they want copying, then send it back to them. They then add embellishments like ribbons and bows etc. At the time I said no because I was just about to have surgery on my hand and would be out of action for months. I never gave it a thought until tonight when I was trawling through my old addresses. I followed a link to their suppliers and couldn't believe the prices they were asking.

http://www.brownsfashion.com/fashion167.html

Last night I did a very naughty thing. I bid for a set of Denise needles. My bid was only a few dollars over the previous bid, and it had 18 hours to run. Little did I know that I would win. I now have to tell my beloved that I've just spent £35 on needles that I don't really need. I think that I'm going to have to put some books on Ebay. Oops!!!

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin. http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I had my interview

I phoned the woman at AFC and spoke to her this morning. She asked me to go in this afternoon. Of course I couldn't say no, now could I. I spoke to the customer services manager and it sounds like I'll be office bound and doing tele sales again. This time I'll be working from their data base and only selling to existing customers. I'm willing to give it a try if they are willing to offer me the position :-)

I really rattled along last night. The socks are finished, and the sweater needs another 6" to finish sewing it up. Only problem is the arms are too long :( I'm going to have to cut off quite a bit and then add a new wrist band. I know there are people out there shouting nooooo, but it's ok I know what I'm doing :-) I measured, and measures and made sure that I stuck to the pattern sizes, and still they look like they would fit Guy the gorilla.

I didn't get the job :( (29/03/05)

Woo hooo - I got a reply

15 March 2005
19:29:00 o'clock GMT
Feeling Hopeful

Oh my goodness, I got a reply from one of the jobs I went after. I applied to work as a customer services person with the Aberdeen Football Club, and I got an email today saying that I had to phone them to make an appointment for an interview. I am so happy. The money isn't brilliant, but it is more than I've been earning for years. I'm going to phone first thing in the morning and will get a time then.

I finished the wrap that I've been making today. It was quite hard and lumpy until I washed it, but it feels better now. It hangs quite low at th erfont and will look quite nice with a big broach or clasp attached to it. I've also almost finished a pair of socks, so I am really rattling those pins.

A new day, a new week, a new job?

14 March 2005
11:25:00 o'clock GMT

Well folks, it's the start of a new week. We've had snow all weekend, but today the sun is shining and the snow is almost gone. I'm supposed to be writing out my cv today, but am so bored with the whole thing. I know that I'm supposed to be applying for a new job, but it sucks, I hate all this selling yourself shite. I was out with some of my old colleagues over the weekend, and boy do I miss them. We had a great time, I got drunk, but not too drunk. Left the nightclub at 3 am and got home around 4.

On the knitting front, I have almost finished a mohair wrap in a lilac colour. Still not sure if I like it, but I'll know better once it has been washed and fluffed up. G is complaining because the mohair is going everywhere and getting up his nose. Well he gets up mine sometimes, so all's fair in love and knitting :-) I want to finish his sweater, but the sewing up is driving me crazy. I tried it on him on Saturday and found the body part is going to fit wonderfully, but the sleeves a waaay to long. I followed the pattern and measured everything at least five times. Why do knitting patterns always have to have sleeves that would fit Inspector Gadget's stretchy arms?

The project that I'm supposed to be doing hasn't started yet. I'm still waiting for the yarn to arrive. My deadline for samples is Friday, it's Monday now and no yarn. I can't work miracles. When the stuff does arrive, I'm going to have to work through the night to get the samples made, washed and down to London in time. What a bummer. The designer has ordered two different yarns, both will have to be knitted seperately, then both together. This is so that we get an overall idea of how they work on their own and together. I also need to make samples for my portfolio, so it's going to be madness here for a few weeks. The pieces have to be made from a flat pattern design, so there's going to be a lot of measuring and planning involved. I can't wait, and yet am nervous. What if it all goes tits up and I get the blame. Me and my big mouth.

Nothing new in Ellon land

02 March 2005
19:53:00 o'clock GMT
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Well I came back from London, but don't seem to have done a great deal since returning. I'm still waiting for yarn and the pattern to be sent to me, and the day of completion is getting closer. I don't how I'm expected to complete something when I haven't got the tools to do it.

I need some adult conversation, G is on night shift and the kids are at school all day, so life gets a little lonely. I did phone my friend today, and we had a nice long chat until her phone conked out. G can't understand how we can spend hours on the phone talking about everything and nothing. He's one of those boring buggers who only says about 6 things and then rings off. It's like getting blood out of a stone.

I'm hoping to go to anothe SnB meeting tomorrow night. We've had 3 in the past 5 weeks, pretty good going for us. I'm enjoying having knitting buddies around me, it feels good. I've managed to finish knitting G's sweater, now all I have to do is sew the thing together. I hate sewing knitted things together, it's a pain in the arse.

Off for a few days

15 February 2005
20:45:00 o'clock GMT
Feeling Hopeful
Hearing hell is for heros

On my way to London tomorrow. Should be an interesting few days. My student is meeting me and then I am staying at their house. Thursday will be a day for working and ironing out any problems in their design, plus trying to work out sizes of the pieces that I am doing.

Wow!!

11 February 2005
21:06:00 o'clock GMT
Feeling Happy

I know it's been ages since I wrote, and a lot of things have happened to me.

Firstly, my new job was going well, and I loved every minute of it. I worked hard, played hard and got on with my colleagues. Christmas came and went in a flurry. New Year came and went, then on the 5th of January we were told that we were all redundant. Needless to say we were all shocked, but money talks, and a new company had bought us out. The next few weeks went by in a flurry of sales, angry customers, grippy customers and exhaustion at the end of my shift.

Secondly, I have been asked to help a fashion design student out with their end of course piece in London. I'm going down next week to see what I can do, and to help sort out which pieces I am going to knit up. I am really excited about doing this because I have applied to go to college and start a textile design course.

Thirdly, I have been helping my friend out today and feel very spoiled indeed. She has given me two black bags of fibre for spinning, plus a heap of craft magazines to go through for reference sources. I'm just itching to get going and sort it out.

Death of my uncle

16 May 2004
10:16:00 o'clock BST
Feeling Sad

I just found out this morning that one of my beloved uncles has died. He had a brain hemmorage and a heart attack yesterday and wasn't responding to stimuli, so we knew it would only be a matter of time. The sad thing is that he has never ailed anything in his life, it was my aunt and my cousin who've been ill. Both my aunt and cousin have cancer and undergoing treatment at the moment.

I've told my parents to let me know when the funeral is and I will fly over to Dublin to be with them for it.

It is now 7.30 pm and I have just booked my flight to Ireland. I leave at 10 am tomorrow morning and will return home on Wednesday. I know he died quickly, but my goodness they are sure getting him in the ground quickly too.

Kids and viruses

14 May 2004
14:52:00 o'clock BST
Feeling Frustrated

Today started off well, but has slowly gone down hill since.

Work went well this morning, although the boss was an old misery. I found out later that is back was playing him up and he was in a lot of pain. If he would only tell us these things then we can help him. Silly old goat that he is.

I have just had to reinstall my virus scan program, and am now in the process of adding the 94 or so updates :-( I wish the kids would stay off my computer and use their own. I don't care if theirs gets infected with a hundred viruses, trojans etc. but I do care if it happens to me.

The christening dress is slowly starting to take shape, I have about and inch on the skirt finished and the pattern is starting to show through.I managed to ball up some more of the fine yarn last night, so I have at least one ball to keep me going over the next few nights. I only hope that my cousin likes it when it is finished. I'm going to amend the body, because I don't like the present design. I think I'll do it in plain stocking stitch with the sleeves matching the skirt.

Nothing much

13 May 2004
18:33:00 o'clock BST
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing The Rasmus

Well here goes, the first entry in a new journal.

In 4 weeks time my oldest daughter is going to be 16 and I'm dreading it. I remember those days well and know how hard it is to be one of the crowd. I pray that she has got a good enough head on her shoulders to realise that if she makes a mistake or gets bad grades in her exams it isn't the end of the world and we will be there to support her. She is a good kid and as yet we have very few complaints about her, but 16 is that funny age when you are no longer a child, and yet not quite an adult.

On the knitting front, I have been commisioned to make a christening dress for my cousins first child. It is taking a while just to get the pattern sorted out, but I think I have it. There's a few months until it has to be completed, and I hope that I can get it done on time. Whilst doing that I also have a very large sampler to do for my daughter. I only hopes that she will appreciate all the hard work that has gone in to it. I wanted to make her something that shows how much she is loved and how grateful we are that she is our daughter. Soppy, I know, but that is the way I feel about her.

Work has been kind of crazy these past few weeks, we are 3 staff down and everyone has to fill in, but I seem to be doing the lions share. I've stepped back this week and two of the other girls have taken over some of the responsibility at last. Hopefully in a few weeks it will settle down. Today I was asked if I would like to work at the hotel again, I'm not sure if I want to do it yet. The old owner is still there and I can't stand her, she is a pain in the rear end. I might think about it in a few weeks time when she has left the property.