Halloween!

The leaves are turning now, and the fungi and berries are out. We went for a Halloween geocache walk but only one of us dressed up!



Are you sheltering from the rain?



Well that's not fair! We want treats ;-(



Even meerkats shouldn't eat wild fungi unless they are VERY sure.



Finally we found the geocache and chose a treat! We chose a glow-in-the-dark bug (well, it is Halloween after all) and left a robot toy.

This is ... Lauren

a new friend from Etteam!



Favourite colour?

green

Favourite place?

I have been fortunate enough to visit Italy twice, my grandparents were immigrants, so I always wanted to go there. I did not visit the south, where they are from, but got to see Rome and Tuscany.

Favourite sound?

I love music, my mother was a piano teacher.



Favourite way to spend your time?

I really like to sew, and I enjoy time with my family

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

my quilts



Why?

I really like my quilts because each one is different and they are a labor of love. I used to make them as gifts, and now I sell a few here and there.

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

Apart from Niftyknits, obviously!) WarmnFuzzies

Why?

I think her cathedral window pillows are gorgeous, and she is a friend of mine.

What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

I learned that what I think will sell the best is not always what does. I have learned through trial and error, and still don't really know what people want, but I keep trying.



Niftyknits agrees: That is so true!

Find Lauren here:

www.originalsbylauren.etsy.com
www.originalsbylaurentoo.etsy.com
http://originalsbylauren.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/laurenoriginals

Meerkats don't only tunnel, you know.

They also ride on coaches!

A photo came this morning from my new virtual friend Normal



My husband promptly called the chap up front "Calamity Joe" - he really does look like he's whipping up the horses, doesn't he? They're obviously going at a fair lick, look how Mary's shawl is flying out!

Thanks Normal!

It's Springcolors birthday - and you get to party!

24/10 is the birthday of my Etsy friend, SpringColors - and you can win this gorgeous 50$ black rose OOAK pendant from her shop.


So, how do you enter to win this gorgeous pendant? It's easy, you can enter up to 5 times by doing any or all of the options listed here (although the first one is mandatory). Be sure that each entry is left in a separate comment ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE. If you do all the options and put them all in one comment, you will only have one entry. Comments on this blog DO NOT COUNT (sorry)

The winner will be determined by random.org. Be sure you put your email address or name of Etsy Shop with your comments so Springcolors can contact you if you win. Here are the entry options ....


1. For one entry: Visit Springcolors etsy shop and tell her in a comment ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE. what item of hers is your favorite! - This one is mandatory!

Here are some other ways you can have extra entries for this giveaway:

2. For a second entry: Become a fan of Springcolors fan page!

3. For a third entry: Mark “like” 3 of your favorite photos in her works photo album



4. For a fourth entry: Follow Springcolors on Twitter, and Tweet about this giveaway. Let me know about it in a comment with your Twitter account name and/or link to the Tweet.


5. For a 5th entry: Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave Springcolors a link to your blog post in the comments section ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE..

And there you go. 5 chances to win this gorgeous pendant. The winner will be chosen by Random.org from the verified entrants who have commented ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE..


The Giveaway starts today October 24th, and ends at Midnight, October 31th.

We'll be back ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE. next Sunday, November 1st to announce the winner.!

Knitting is better than sewing because...

I can knit at the same time as watching Star Trek...my sewing machine weighs a ton and lives upstairs.

Knitting is better than sewing because I only need to know how to attach my wool to the needles - my sewing machine has diagrams (and needs a mental health warning!)



Knitting is better than sewing because I can cast on easily - but threading a needle is another matter!

I've had my sewing machine for over 20 years. Last week I discovered it has a magic needle threader. So I broke it :-(



Knitting is better than sewing because I knit in the round - I can see while I'm working that the shape is working out. This commission was a nightmare! Took me forever to work out which layer of the three went inside which.



Knitting is better than sewing because I am not even slightly scared of my knitting needles. There's good reason for this photo to be shaky and blurred - I'm terrified I'm going to "run over" my fingers!



In the end though I'm pleased with my three golf cosies. Tenterden Golf Club, where my boss plays, has a red squirrel as its mascot - and his ridiculously expensive golf clubs will now be nice and warm!

beer and crafts - what could be better?

ooops - I wonder if I meant "and so much MORE"??? LOL

an apology...

it's been a whole week since I blogged!

In my defense, I've been incredibly busy with no less than 5 Meerkat Nativity sets knitted and posted to new homes. *phew*



I wonder how many more I will need to knit before December 24th?

If you wish to add to my workload they can be found on folksy and on etsy

My daughter is going to jump out of a plane!

(This photo is quite old!)

Is she mad? Certainly is!

This is what she says on her JustGiving page:

On 13th February 2010, I'm diving out of a plane (with a nice strong man attached to me!) 10,000 ft from the ground at 120mph, freefalling for 5,000ft. Considering I HATE heights, this may seem slightly strange. Only thing that could make it worse is if the nice strong man decided to dress up as a clown! ARGH!



(another ancient photo - think the girls were supposed to be painting her bedroom, not each other!)

Anyway, it's all in order to raise money for The Rose Road Association which is a registered charity that works with children and young people who have a range of profound and multiple disabilities. All the children and young people that go to Rose Road face extreme challenges in relation to their day-to-day lives, but the Association (and me!) believes they have the right to develop and fulfill their potential just as every young person.



(This photo is quite old too!)

As many of you know, I work on the playscheme that Rose Road runs during school holidays, and from working with the children and talking to parents I'm very aware of how important the Association is to families.

So PLEASSSSSSE PLEASE PLEASE donate whatever you can - in return you can laugh at the photos of my horrified face as I launch myself from a plane!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Proud mum here again: Why have I included ancient photos of the daughter? Well - I was just flicking through, remembering times past. So many of the milestones we take for granted in our children's lives are much more difficult for these special children to achieve. I'm very proud of my daughter for so many reasons (though I still don't know why she's scared of clowns!) and would love to hear from you if you've got any fundraising ideas she can use.



Of course - we'd also be very pleased if you were able to visit her JustGiving page and drop off some cash!

I win - you win!

As you know, I love entering giveaways! Yesterday my prize from Maria's blog Scarlet Butterfly arrived. I had won a £10 voucher, and chose to spend it on some lovely ribbons to use when wrapping my sales.



These are some Nativity Meerkats on their way to a new home!

Scarlet Butterfly links can be found on their website

This is... FishStikks! aka Debi

Favourite colour?

Lime green or acid green. I use it in every single piece I do although sometimes it is barely noticeable. I feel like nothing is complete until I have used that color on it or in it. I'm just not sure where that particular obsession stems from.



Favourite smell?

Blueberry cheesecake.
My friend makes soy tarts and she gives me this particular 'flavor' by the bags full. I just can't get enough of them!

Favourite place?

Any where at home. I never used to be a home body but something shifted in the last couple of years and here I sit. Just bought a jacuzzi from my neighbor who is moving so being a home body just took on a whole new meaning, at least once the electrical is run out to it.
My studio where I love to be. I have lots of my most favorite things there and being surrounded by things I love really makes it a place of comfort.



Favourite sound?

I have fur babies, the small rodent type. When I pass out their treats for the night and they all pick out their favorite from the mix the cacophany of sounds that ensues is the most pleasing sound there is for me right now. I thoroughly enjoy their enjoyment.




Favourite way to spend your time?

You mean when I'm not procrastinating?
I love movies and I love playing with the fur kids so one of my ultimate favorite things is watching movies WITH the fur kids, hehe.
They love scary movies as long as they aren't portrayed badly. Disney has been another favorite of theirs. Remy in particular loves Ratatouille.

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

That has to be Maddie and Margo, my big eyed birds. It's a mother and daughter pair named after two of my favorite fur kids.



Why?

Maddie and Margo were very special to me. I name all my big eyed birds after my fur kids, past and present but these two really touched my heart.

Favourite shop that isn’t yours? (Apart from Niftyknits, obviously!)

Well of course I love Niftyknits best but if I were to pick a shop or two that I find myself drawn to over and again I guess I would have to pick mummysam , lulubugjewelry and ObsoleteWorld one of my very first purchases.

Why?

I love the quality of mummysam's work and aspire to one day own something great!



(Niftyknits is in love with Horace by mummysam
I've had an idea of a pendant I would like to have done by lulubugjewelry and I adore the concept of concrete jewelry and ObsoleteWorld just has such a rich imagination. The print I bought sits above my fireplace. I adore it.

What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Picture quality.
It's an everyday learning experience for me. Why just today I finally learned all about the white balance on my very own camera. Wow, what a difference this makes.

Even though I didn't (and haven't...yet) read my owners manual I highly suggest doing this for your own camera and learn not only about your white balance setting but also about your macro feature. Can't stress it enough.

Niftyknits adds: I read my owner's manual recently - and oh my goodness I so wish I'd read it years ago. Do it. Do it NOW!

Find Debi at Fishstikks
and her destash shop Leftoverfishstikks
blog: http://fishstikks.blogspot.com
facebook fanpage
twitter

Tenterden Folk Festival...again!

One of the many joys of a folk festival is the fantastic colours of the Morris Dancers' costumes - but I was completely taken aback by the jumper worn by one of the musicians. I absolutely HAD to go and admire at close quarters (walking all around the poor man!) and luckily enough he offered to let me take photos before I had the nerve to ask!



If I'd known him better I'd have been touching...but just look at all the textures.



This is the inside. He said it was computer driven machine knitted in a "slub" style, but I haven't found out any more than that. Fabulous!

Quotes of the day ;-)

Picture the scene: small boy gazing excitedly at my stall, "Look mum, there's a meerkat! There's Superman Meerkat! There's a dragon...etc etc"



Mum to small boy "You can't have one. We've got all of those at home already."

LOL! (And I really did LOL) You'd think I'd remember selling one of each of my 150+ designs to one person, wouldn't you?

Quote of the day 2, browser to NiftyKnits: "I'm looking for something cheap?"

Tenterden Folk Festival Day 1

The Craft Fair is upstairs in the Town Hall - there's a great view of the dancers from the balcony:




Several "virtual friends" came along in support - these two twits (oops, sorry, twitterers!) are @HoodenersHorse and @justinnelson_



I loved meeting some of the Morris Dancers I've knitted: two ladies from the Loose Women team



and a lady from Mad Jacks:



Back to the fair tomorrow - do come and say hello if you're in the area, we're open 10 - 5, dancers will be about and about once more.

Tenterden Folk Festival

Tenterden Folk Festival - a Mob of Morris Dancers, a Fantasia of Folk Singers and ... most importantly? ... Niftyknits in person!

Tenterden is one of the most picturesque little towns in Kent all year round, but during the Folk Festival there are dancing "pitches" up and down the High Street where Morris Dancers will be doing their thing in a riot of colour and bells.



The Mayor and assorted dignitaries wave in a genteel manner from the balcony over the Town Hall as themassed dancers process along the High Street whilst behind the balcony in the upstairs hall there are a range of handcrafts - not just Niftyknits but jewellery, hand turned wood, traditional toys, paintings and ceramics.



Pop into one of our local pubs for a pint and you will quite likely be competing for the barman's attention with Morris Dancers, complete with tankards and likely to burst into song at the drop of a hat!

Wander down to the station - no commuters here, we're still in the steam age in Tenterden!

How will we manage without David Tennant?