Quick News Flash

Firstly, don't forget to enter the fantastic Bombella giveaway. For the beady eyed amongst you, you'll be relieved to hear that the end date isn't 2012 but 2013. Typos and I are not friends. 

Also, one of our very clever Ravelry group members is designing us a mystery sock! How cool is that? Come play!

Finally, I just got a laptop..... which can only mean one thing........ shownotes are being written and the vocal chords are being limbered up. Exciting, exciting times. I MISSED recording. 

More soon x

Featuring: BomBella

Many months ago I was working on some words for a website and got chatting to Ella Austin, the designer behind BomBella. It turned out that she too was expecting a baby and we swapped stories and I learned about her fab knit kits. She offered one up for review to which I winced and admitted, 'I can't knit toys, my RSI can't take the tight gauge . Unfazed, I received a package of beautiful patterns and a ready made owl from Ella that now sits wisely in Playful Baby's nursery. I adore these fuzzy friends and have been looking forward to sharing this delightful designer. 

(c) Ella Austin

Ella designs kits with an amazing eye for beautiful features and details. She enlists the best of British providers such as Fyberspates and Skein Queen to bring exclusive kits to create her charming designs. By working with yarnies, Ella is able to ensure quality kits that match her gorgeous patterns. When I received my sample of patterns I was blown away by the quality of print and layout, not just the gorgeous pieces. 

Ella currently has three popular kits available via Etsy, with plans to launch more very soon. Tawny Owl, as shown above is my personal favourite with the cute little fuzz body from gorgeous Fyberspates Faery Wings yarn in a soft brown palette that highlights the delicate motifs across the body. I think I actually squealed with delight when I open this one up!

(c) Ella Austin

Then there's 'Intrepid Fox', a rather charming chap who calls for Skein Queen's merino 4ply. I think the leg detail is just perfect and am slightly sad my wrists wouldn't hold up to this. I would love to make the fox as it looks like a really satisfying knit. Finally, there's the Bunty Mitts, a retro wallpaper influenced kits, also making use of Skein Queen yarn. 

(c) Ella Austin

I think this is what I enjoy the most about Ella's designs: detail. She just has an ability for taking a motif to a whole other level in a way I haven't seen before. I love the designs and the idea of a kit ready to go is very appealing. I keep pondering who I could gift some too! 

Since receiving my lovely gift for the baby, Ella released another stunning design, 'Leighton House Handwarmers'. As always the patterns are available on Ravelry and the kits are on both her Etsy store as well as the yarn provider, Fyberspates. The inspiration was initially from the damask or brocade style of heavy curtain fabrics that might belong in lavish traditionally decorated mansions. Leighton House was the home and studio of one of Ella's favourite artists, Lord Frederick Leighton so again you can really see Ella drawing on delicious and enticing details. 

(c) Ella Austin

Like what you see? Well, leave a comment below telling me which kit you love best to be in with a chance of winning the kit of your choice. Be sure to enter by 25th Jul 2012 to be in with a chance of winning. Good luck!

Destiny and Yarn

In the run up to Christmas last year I plotted hand knits for loved ones and assigned yarn and patterns. I mostly hit the stash as shopping from my own private collection is very satisfying indeed. The only new yarn I purchased was some aran weight for my Dad's handwarmers and some beautiful worsted weight from The Uncommon Thread. 

The handwarmers were easily finished, running smoothly and without problem. However, the TUT had other ideas. 

The base is Ce's beautiful MCN 'Lush Worsted' base, a squishy mix of Fibers 80% Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere over 230 yards. I chose the 'Bois' colourway to show off an ambitiously cabled pattern. What? You can see a problem already? Yes. Quite.

The pattern I had chosen was Dryad by my knit crush, Jared Flood. It is a beautiful collection of cables and twists over a long, long scarf and the giant, its intended recipient, seemed very pleased with the idea. It was knitting destiny. It would be beautiful. 

I cast on late in the year for such an ambitious Christmas present. I gleefully told myself that this would be what I knit during the 'nesting phase' of my pregnancy. You know, the bit at the end where all you do is sit around knitting and creating while your due date looms? Yes, you're seeing where this is going aren't you? 

My baby was quite impatient and arrived 2 weeks early which was certainly better than the 7 weeks early arrival she originally tried for. It was joyful but complicated cables only 2 repeats in were just folly. 

Rrrrriiiiiiippppppp

I stayed with the Jared Flood theme though and picked Setzer. Welts and short rows, what could go wrong?

Ah yes. About those short rows....


I have only just finished the cowl and still have a whole skein and a half left of the original yardage to turn into matching mitts for the Giant. I'm really pleased with the results and as soon as I find a moment to block it and snap it, I'll share the results. 

Sometimes you just can't argue with destiny can you?

Evolution

Being the playful thing I am, I have a few favourite games but my favourite is any variation of Hide and Seek. 

As a child I nailed 40:40, the game where you all run and hide from the scout and try to creep back to base. I was a demon  Sardines player, packing myself into spaces no one else dared. I stalked, crept, pounced and camouflaged. I loved getting lost and that feeling that no one knew where I was at that particular moment. 

As a teenager I lamented the loss of these games as my awkwardness meant I wished for nothing better than to hide. I transferred the game into hiding my inner self, going up to London, alone and uncontactable with nothing but the promise of being home for dinner. 

Today I am the world's best and worst hermit. I like to retreat and console myself with quiet bliss at home. This happens more and more since the arrival of Playful Babe. We hide together: long meandering nap time walks, baking sessions with the phone switched off or ignored and a quiet defence of unanswered mail or messages. 

Yet there is this blog, the podcast, Twitter and Ravelry. A whole part of the Internet that I skipped across playfully and made friends. What of those places when I'm going through one of the biggest Hide and Seek phases I've ever encountered?

They become quiet. Still. Unused. 

They are hidden and I'm not sure how long I will count for. Almost certainly until I figure out my new words and identity. I have a complete metamorphosis occurring and like when I was a teenager, struggling to learn who I was, I feel the same way now: lay low and watch for signs of emergence. 

I'm skulking, keeping an eye on base though. I have ideas and thoughts. I'll share them when I next make a streak for base so don't drop your guard ok?

Till next time.... X

Just Keep Swimming

New games we currently enjoy?

Dropping things from a high chair. Things drop! Wow! Now look at mummy crawling around underneath picking things up? This is brilliant!

Raspberries. Blowing raspberries is perfection itself.

Pee-boh! Peekaboo! 

All those bottles on the side of the bath? They don't belong there. Let me crash them all into the bath then squeal with delight as I look at my destruction!

Rolling on and off of Daddy. Daddy makes a good climbing frame.