Dyeing for colour

Heaven knows what a child's insides look like after they've drunk this stuff, but I'm more than happy with the results of my test-run Kool-Aid dyeing this afternoon. I followed the knitty.com recipe and concentrated on the primary focus - the samples of wool felt I have. Of course, I couldn't throw away some perfectly good dye liquor, so I dumped a few odds and ends of threads in. The wool works perfectly, the cotton not so - the three pink samples above are all cotton/rayon embroidery threads, but will tone with the wool felt on the little project I have planned. This test run used "Tropical Punch" flavour.

I have a collection of every Kool-Aid available in Manhattan, (thanks Jordi!) and some extras from California (thanks Mary!) I even have some "invisible" flavour, which I confess to buying myself. Not the brightest choice when I thought of it. I will soon have my hands on several yards of the wool felt, which is destined to be dyed in every colour and samples shared amongst friends in a bit-of-a-swap we've planned. Watch this space for the results.

Incidentally, half way through the microwave process, Edward wandered in, attracted by the sickly sweet fruit-drop scents which were wafting through the house. Once he found out the cause, he was appalled, but I think there was the tiniest hint of disappointment that something edible was not going to appear on the kitchen table this afternoon! 

Fun packed days

It's the time of the Cheltenham Music Festival and though we are both music people, we neither of us fancied much in the programme this time, except for a conducting masterclass on Sunday, at Pittville Pump Rooms, and a supper concert last night at The Daffodil.

This was particularly interesting, because the Daffodil used to be a cinema, where Mark's Uncle Tobe used to be the projectionist! It's a beautiful art-deco building with the most wonderful architectural details. We heard Claire Martin and Richard Rodney Bennet - smooth, velvety music for a well-fed audience, late on a summer's evening.

Crafty

In my WI capacity, I often need to send cards - thank yous in particular. But today I needed to send a couple of Congratulation cards to two ladies who have won prestigious competitions.
Stuck for an idea, I remembered I'd bought a new template last week and decided to try it out - fifteen minutes later, two cards done and dusted.

I'm sure that peel off "congratulations" sticker was straight - think I'd better hoik it off and get my pen out instead. Don't you hate those peel-offs really? I do! 

Stroud Maternity Matters!

We just went to add Edward's name to the others posted to the fence outside our local maternity hospital, which, in spite of delivering hundreds of happy, healthy babies to contented and well-cared for Mums, is under threat of imminent closure. Stroud Maternity Hospital is financially viable but due to debts elsewhere in the PCT, women with a low-risk pregnancy in this area are to be denied the choice to give birth in this midwife led unit.
How can a decision to close such a remarkable place be given any consideration at all?

Is that it?!

OK, I know I've not been so creative recently - or at least, not in a way I can show here ;-)
I have been enjoying the Mason-Dixon knitting book though, and having received a parcel of Provence Cotton yarn from Texere last week, I set to work on some mindless dishcloth knitting. I thought the cotton yarn was very good value - just £3.90 for 250g - so perfect for dishcloths.

I hope to have something a little more interesting to show soon, with some wool felt and a few packets of kool-aid on hand, not to mention a "to do" list as long as my arm!