There is no doubt that Lily has the best room in the house.  It just has a lovely feel to it.  It gets the early morning sun and I could happily while away a few hours in there (when it isn’t trashed with toys and clothes all over the floor of course!).  I think part of what makes it feel so homely is the amount of hand-crafted stuff in there.  As I don’t have a lot of knitting progress to report at the moment  I thought you might like to take a peek at some of it. 

Before I got my head round knitting I did quite a lot of cross-stitch.  I wasn’t terribly good at finishing them, but the few that did make it to completion were framed and mounted.  I’m sure you recognise Mrs Tiggywinkle .  She’s one of a pair of Beatrix Potter kits that I did.  The other one was given to my niece, Nadine.

The little girl in the green frame was 95% completed for years before I finally put the finishing touches to it.  I love this one - twee though it is!

My mother-in-law made the ballerina decoupage when Lily started dancing lessons at age 3.  Sadly, she has since passed away. 

As you can see, Lily’s bed is rather crowded, and this isn’t even half of it.  I made the needlepoint cushion in the few months after Lily was born.  The rag doll leaning on the cushion is one of two made for me by my grandmother when I was about Lily’s age.  The doll and clown in the background are both gifts from my mum.

And finally, this desk is probably my favourite thing in the room.  It started life as a plain pine desk, but was hand-painted by a friend some time ago.  The detail is absolutely spectacular, even down to the insects sitting on the flowers.  Definitely a piece to treasure.

Thankfully, Lily still has a real appreciation for all things hand-made.  Let’s hope it lasts!

First things first!.  I’d just like to say a big thank-you to every one who took the time to enter my competition over the last week.  It’s been really nice ‘meeting’ more readers, and I’m really looking forward to keeping in touch with you all.  I feel quite integrated into the blogging world these days, especially after meeting Anna at the weekend.   I actually met lots of bloggers/Ravellers but Lily and I were so looking forward to meeting a real Princess, and we couldn’t have asked for better company!

Right.  Woolfest.  Yarn.  Here goes.

First up is Knitwitches Lace-weight . Just look at the sheen on it!

And more laceweight.  An assortment here.  From left to right,  pale blue from Natural Dye Studio,  pale green from Fyberspates, and lilac and teal coloured are both from The Yarn Yard.

And now for some sock yarn.  This all Knitwitches Merino, in Amethyst,  Storm Seas, and Lime leaves.

And this is Wool/Bamboo sock from The Yarn Yard.

I also picked up a couple of skeins of the harder-wearing stuff.  A ball of Opal Uni.

And a ball of Lana Grossa Meilenweit Bosco

Now that I’ve posted these photographs together it seems like quite a lot.  Oh well,  it’s only once a year, and there were lots of people leaving Woolfest with dustbin bags full of fleece.  I’ve also just noticed that I seemed to have matched my laceweight colours to my sock yarn.  Didn’t even realise that I was doing this, but then again, things were a little crazy on Saturday.  I visited the Knitwitches stall early in the day and made a purchase.  When I re-visited later I was disappointed to find the yarn I’d been admiring earlier had gone.   It was only as Anna and I were looking through our stashes when we got back that I realised I’d already bought it!  Just how fogged out on yarn fumes was I, that I was going to buy the same yarn twice in a day?

I haven’t cast on, or even wound any of this yarn yet, as I’ve promised myself I ‘ll get some projects to FO status first.  However, a neighbour has just been to tell me his wife had a baby girl last night, and I’m seriously feeling the call of some pink cashmerino.  Deep breaths…..it’ll pass.

Let’s talk about yarn….again.  Not mine this time.  This is for whoever wins of my competition.  Natural Dye Studio sock yarn. Along with this…..

…….Fyberspates laceweight.  Come on, you know you want it!  Less than 4 hours to guess.

Back tomorrow with the details of the winner and my Woolfest yarn haul!

eta  Competition now closed.  Well done Denise!

The knitters in this house are a little excited today.  We’ll be setting off for Woolfest in about 4 hours, and Lily and I can’t wait to meet some other knitters/bloggers.   Apart from my mum, we pretty much knit in isolation at the moment.  I’ve been unsuccessful in forcing encouraging any of my friends into trying it so Woolfest is a good as it gets.  And we get to meet Anna!!!!

There are loads of us yarny types staying at the same campsite too, so it’s knitting all the way this weekend.   As you can see,  I’m well prepared sugar-wise too.  Thought we may need some goodies to sustain us so I’m taking a supply of Choc Chip cookies and Fruit tea loaf.

I’m hoping to pick up some really lush yarns for my competition which closes midnight (GMT) on 29 June, so if you haven’t already entered please do.  I’ll make it worth your while!

Anyway,  I really should think about packing some clothes.  Have a great weekend everyone, and if I don’t get change to post again before Monday I’ll look forward to announcing the winner and prize details then.

Not a lot of pattern to see yet, but eventually this will be Crosshatch Lace from More Sensational Knitted Socks.  The yarn, which is Trekking XXL is without doubt my favourite machine-dyed sock yarn.   Yarn snobbery aside, it’s a nice stress free experience knitting with this.   Hand-dyed yarns are beautiful but there’s always the issue of yardage to think about.  They just vary so much.  I know, I know, I should just get my head round toe-up, but for once, it’s just nice to be able to knit a pair of socks, any pair of socks, without wondering if I’ll make it to the toe.  I really like the colour changes too. 

Still 4 days left to enter my little competition.  I think it’s dawned on most people now what the Joli House thing is all about.  It seems that lots of you were thrown by a possible french connection.  A bit of a shame to let on really.  Although, much as I’d love to perpetuate the myth that ‘Amanda has some French-chic thing going on’  I’d be seriously kidding myself, as well as you.  Anyway, keep the entries coming!

Oh, and can I just mention that the photograph of Lily on horseback from the weekend was actually taken by Dave.  Credit where it’s due and all that.

I seem to have a real blue thing going on at the moment.  This is the upper half of Favour - where all the action is.  It was such a relief to get to the cabling after the seemingly endless bottom half!  I’m loving the way the cables look, and they should stand out even more after the shrinking.

This is a nice knit to go back to after a few hours of the fluffy torture that is Icarus! Only joking, it’s not quite that bad.  Just soooo hairy.

I must thank you for wishing Lily well in her dressage test.  Unfortunately, it was cancelled due to the very high winds we have here today.  Gales, rain, ponies and young riders are never a good combination so it’s for the best.

And now for the goodies.  It’ll be my 6 month blogiversary on 28 June. I’m also fast approaching my 100th post.  These events coincide nicely with Woolfest this coming weekend.   I think a little celebration is in order.  A yarny celebration maybe?  Now I could just run a normal ‘comment to enter’ competition, but I’d like to think that the readers who have stuck around from the beginning get some recognition for it.  So, there’s slightly more to this competition than commenting.  Anyone who has been reading even half of my posts has probably worked out why my blog name is Joli House.  Even a ‘fly-by’ commenter could work it out by reading back a week or two.  The prize will be some yummy sock yarn and possibly a laceweight too.  All you have to do is leave me a comment with a link to your blog (always on the look out for more crafty goodness!), and drop me a line at mailto:competition@lkfconsulting.co.uk  with the answer to the blog name question, between now and 29 June.  Please don’t answer the question within your comment as you’ll give the answer to everyone then. 

eta - OK, some clarification.  I’ve never actually mentioned why Joli House is Joli House.  You’ll need to work it out.  However, looking back over the last months posts I’ve realised you may need to go back a bit further.  Tee hee!  Just because I may have confused you all, I’ll give a little clue.  It’s a family thing!

If no-one guesses by mid-week I’ll maybe give you another clue.

You can see it on her face can’t you? 

Lily has her first dressage test tomorrow morning.  As we still haven’t found her another pony she is riding a mare that belongs to someone else.  By all accounts Bailey is a bit of a ‘whizzier’ ride than Lily is used to so fingers crossed everyone that she doesn’t forget the set order of things!  She’ll be doing the test then coming home for a few hours before going back out for a riding leson on the pony in the photograph. 

Kids eh!  Where do they get the energy?

So I’ve finally found a pattern for the Kidlin.  I pored over Victorian lace Today for ages but all the patterns in there include knitted on borders.  I don’t much fancy trying to pick up hundreds of stitches with this hairy yarn so I’ve cast on for Icarus instead.  It’ll be a relaxing mindless knit for some time yet, with a nice lacy kick later on.  A perfect knit really!

I’ve given up trying to find a pattern to suit this yarn.  After 4 different patterns (all of which were totally obscured by the colour changes) I’ve finally got the message that sometimes simple is best.  And knitting a plain sock can be quite therapeutic I think.  This is nearly the last of the Natural Dye Studio yarn I picked up at Woolfest last year.   Just in time to re-stock

Ignore the ratty fingernail!  Had to hold the sock down as it wanted to curl up.

Pattern: Vertical Waffle from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.

Yarn: The Natural Dye Studio. Blue-faced Leicester.

Needles: 2.5mm

I very nearly caught the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome with these.  I’m not normally susceptible to it, but I didn’t exactly fall in love with either the yarn or the pattern.  That said, I quite like the finished item.  I’ve used this yarn before, but this colourway was different. It felt so coarse to knit with!   Also, the socks are slightly different shades but I can live with that.

This was my only knitting success today.  Ever have days when you just can’t get your head round it?  I’ve cast on and ripped two other projects already.  The first was the new Knitty shawl, Seascape.  I love the pattern and thought I’d have a go with the Kidlin I picked up in Florida.  Hmmm.  I know this yarn gets rave reviews on Ravelry but it may take some time to grow on me.  Think Kid Silk Haze with extra ‘nuisance’ factor.  Then I tried Meida’s socks from Favourite socks.  These weren’t working for me either so more ripping.  Given up now - going to take the kids to the fairground instead!

On a positive knitting note,  I won the competition on Gabriella’s blog!  The first one I’ve ever entered too.  Watch this space for a little Joli comp soon.  I’ll be doing something to celebrate 6 months and 100 posts!