annarella | handmade : beaded stitch markers and original hand knits, london

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saturday, 31 january 2009

FO: Turquoise republic hat

Here's the same hat as below, but in turquoise as specifically requested by the receipient. I had originally bought the chunky button for my New Year's cardi (which I haven't yet blogged about, have I?), but then it looked much more fetching on this hat.

More details on Ravelry.

Comments
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friday, 30 january 2009

FO: Spice republic hat

This is something I made earlier, and by earlier I mean it was a Xmas pressie for Mum, but am only now getting round to sorting out the holiday photographs. I loved working with Lamb's Pride Bulky, such a buttery feel, it was a pleasure to knit with. Must make myself one too!

(Modelled by lil sis)

More details on Ravelry.

Comments
I've had to disable the comments yet again, due to the huge amount of spam I've received in the last few days, so if you want to shout, do so on Flickr, Ravelry or via email for the time being, till a more long term solutions is devised. Thanks for your patience :)

sunday, 11 january 2009

She who starts well, ends well...

... or so they say. Well, that's my intention anyway. Am I setting myself up for failure if I say I'd like to get one sweater done a month? Yeah, I probably am, given that I have only knitted one in the whole of 2008 (more of that at the end of this post). Anway, armed with goodwill, I've started this new year with an easy and mindless sweater, using Colinette Skye in Summer Berries from my stash, an impulse purchase from GetKnitted from a good few years ago.

I'm borrowing the neckline from Mesilla cos I'm too lazy to get my calculator out, but I'll make it a little wider, and no colour bands. Or rather, I'm using the number of stitches from Mesilla, simply because I got gauge without trying, but I'm going to improvise on the rest. Haven't yet made up my mind on the neckline finish or what I'm going to do for the bottom (and sleeves) edging. Or even whether this will be a sweater or a cardi. One thing I know, it'll be long-sleeved. But it'll be a few more hours' work before I have to make any decisions. So far, I'm loving the fact that I can mindlessly knit in front of the telly without having to follow a chart. Talking of which, I have to show you pics of my New Year's cardi, on which I worked over Xmas. Pretty, lacey, purple, girly :) Peek below, but need proper shots. Remind me! Luv to all xx

Comments
I've had to disable the comments yet again, due to the huge amount of spam I've received in the last few days, so if you want to shout, do so on Flickr, Ravelry or via email for the time being, till a more long term solutions is devised. Thanks for your patience :)

friday, 09 january 2009

Oh no... I know where this is going...

Howdy! Firstly, lemme wish you all guys & dolls a fabulous 2009! May it be exceedingly wonderful. Let's put all the crap from 2008 behind us and start afresh, shall we? Good.

Back to my post title. I am sometimes dubbed Elton John for my obsession with specs. Some folks are into bags. Other into shoes. Some will throw themselves at the sales rail of a clothes shop like their lives depend on it. (Mum, sis, I'm naming no names.) Me, I hoard spectacles. I've often said that I would wear them even if I didn't need to. I can't help it. I. Love. Glasses. Plastic ones, to be precise. The more, the merrier. Unusual? Quirky? Even better!

It's a (very expensive) love affair, you see, with no room for monogamy, there's everything in this game, the anticipation of the hunt, the fluttery feeling in your stomach when you meet for the first time, the silly giggling, and then: will we click or will it turn out to be just a fluke? But when two halves complete each other, you know. You put them on, and you're re-born, it's perfection. Sometimes it takes longer for the spark to take place, no reason to be discouraged, it happens to the best of us, but it doesn't make it less right.

I don't tend to go for designer models necessarily, partly because I generally can't afford it (I favour quantity over quality!) and also because I'm not into designer-wear so I'm really not bothered by the brand, or lack of it. In fact, I pretty much rule out all those bearing large marks over the temples (arms) cos I refuse paying over the odds and then be a walking billboard (the few designer pairs I do own have very discreet logos so they're acceptable!)

I bagged myself another pair over Xmas, after spending the longest time trying on everything they had in the shop (thankfully, they were all on display, so I could try them on without having to constantly ask the assistant to unlock the holder or for a larger selection, larger selection PLEASE! My kind of shop). I found it difficult narrowing it down to a few pairs, let alone picking just ONE, but as closing time was approaching, I made my choice and when for teal specs (I figured, I have 2 teal sweaters and never know what glasses to wear with them, so now I do know). (I also got some sunglasses, but they don't count really, so we won't talk about them.) When I went back to pick them up the following day, I put them on, loved them, and immediately started looking at all the others I was leaving there in the shop. I kid you not, had I had more €€ with me, I'd have bought another pair or three.

Despite all the pairs I own, from staples specs (you know, the simple, classic, frames for every day wear) to the more unusual and quirky styles, I never feel like I have enough. Sometimes I don't go look for them, they come to me. I swear that's true. Like what happened today. I was happily going through my Bloglines, when I saw this post by Glampyre. Buying glasses online had never crossed my mind. You see, I've never been one of those lucky people who can walk into a shop, spot something, think: this'll fit, and buy it there and then. Oh no, I belong to the try-on-and-have-a-think-about tribe. Expecially with specs. But you know what, at £20 a pop, I think I'm going to take a few risks... the only reason I haven't yet clicked the BUY button is cos I need to go digging for my prescription. This is a job for the weekend, me thinks ;)

On my shortlist so far:

Comments
I've had to disable the comments yet again, due to the huge amount of spam I've received in the last few days, so if you want to shout, do so on Flickr, Ravelry or via email for the time being, till a more long term solutions is devised. Thanks for your patience :)