greetings from beyond the hill...

so, I find myself landed on the other side of a significant birthday. The significant number is divisible by 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20 and... ahem...40. Cor blimey, how did this come to pass? I ask myself (and anyone else who'll listen)

beautiful japanese teapot and tea bowls from my sister Catherine...crazy birthday brunch by moi

Not being content with going over the hill metaphorically I headed to the Alps to mark the occasion more literally. It was a wonderful idea, would recommend it to anyone. I played in the snow, drank plenty of tea and ruminated on the state of things (as you do when you reach this sort of age).

Will be back (once the shock has worn off properly) to share details of beautiful owlish swaps and some fat quarters that made their way to me from stateside.

Until then...
another gorgeous teapot, birthday gift from my lovely friend Nich (he of teacosy fame - discern a subtle theme?)...can a girl (ooops, sorry, woman of a certain age) ever have too many tea making accoutrements? I sincerely doubt it...

beautiful italian yarn, another lovely birthday gift courtesy of my colleague Mia with whom I have recently set up the (two strong) "work knitting club". I feel some tea cosies coming on, or maybe a bobble hat...

ps new all time favourite tea - Genmaicha - mmmmmm...mmm. Thanks Cath!

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fancy meeting you here...

that was a rather random break...bet you thought I was gone for good...no chance!

there were some minor technical hitches chez milkwood, then a bit of difficulty getting back into the swing of things after the summer that never was...


Autumn is drawing in, the evenings are getting shorter, it's time to think about coats and boots, hats and scarves again. It's a little depressing given that we didn't actually have a summer this year and the thought of heading into a winter without the lift that some warm sun on your face has given is a little grim.

However, we shall not dwell overlong on such unsavoury topics. Winter does provide a useful call for knitted items after all and the needles have been duly dusted off and fired up. Mostly for baby kimonos right now (watch this space for details of my new nephew - due this week...very exciting)

In the meantime, let me share with you pictures of the lovely things I got in the post lately...

bought from Syko - some beautiful liberty fabric (the one in the foreground was a gift - thanks again Kajsa) which present one and only one problem... deciding what to do with them

some very pretty vintage sheet FQs from Oh Fransson's swap...aren't they gorgeous?...ditto the problem though...still, it's the best sort of problem to have...


and finally, these beautiful photos from Diane as part of the scentofwater photoswap, theme this time was motion and Diane captured that perfectly...I particularly love the washing line shot, while the kids are drawing lots to see who gets the deer on their bedroom wall...Thanks again Diane (Diane also included a very thoughtful tea sample which was the first cup I had when I got home from my hols...bliss!)

now, who could be fed up with all that loveliness sloshing about...not me, that's for sure...roll on winter, that's what I say...

...special people...tea bliss...swap goodies...

as I mentioned it was my friend Nich's birthday...we visited at the weekend bringing tea(bliss*) related gifts for Nich :

• one finished teacosy in Noro Silk Mountain - tick
  
• one tin of Fortnum & Mason Regent's Blend - tick
  
• one jar of F&M chocolate covered florentines - tick
  
• one copy of Tea Bliss (which will either make him laugh hysterically and wonder if I have lost my mind or will change his life forever) - tick
  

and a rather special little gift for his lovely wife whose birthday it was recently also...

"oldfingers family " by tenfingerworkshop (felted habitat by yours truly)

we spent some sunny days in their pretty country garden, enjoyed a bbq or two and a walk through the bluebells...unfortunately I forgot my camera so no photographic evidence exists and the only photo of the teacosy on the teapot is in Nich's camera as I write...don't fret, no doubt I'll post it (totally out of context) one of these days...

in other news on the milkwood front I received a beautiful parcel from Diane in the heart of Texas...we were doing a Vintage Swap exchange arranged by Meridian...and I was delighted to receive some vintage gloves (which Ms. Reva insists are so lovely they should only be used for a wedding) and a very pretty swarovski crystal necklace...I'll unveil what I sent Diane as soon as I know she has received it safely...

Thank You Diane!

*a lot of the bliss was mine I must admit as provided a perfect opportunity to spend a recent lunch hour in the glorious Fortnum and Mason foodhall - my god they do an overwhelming amount of beautifully packaged tea!

another happy day...

a lovely gift from jackie in conneticut, a very talented quiltmaker (the quilt on the front of the card is one of hers - don't need to say more do I?)


and a little bit of recycling crafting to meet Meridian's challenge






I've always wanted a needle book, and making one out of some old felted sweaters felt much better than spending a tenner on a Cath Kidston dainty. This is an ongoing challenge that I'll be returning to again and again I suspect, why not join us?


I love the little bow at the back - I was aiming for a kind of vintage lingerie look and by jove I think I've got it!

Other than that, life had been busy. Smallfry 1 is on half term so has been putting me through my paces. We visited Vauxhall City Farm today and stroked some rabbits, oinked at some pigs, listened to hiphop with a couple of ferrets and chased a cow and a bull around a field. Things I don't normally do every day, believe it or not.

I've also started up a little art club for local kids - it's something I've been mulling over for a long time now, children in the UK don't get much opportunity to be artistically creative at school so I'm hoping to plug that gap in my own slight way. Had my first half day session with 4 kids last week and we had a lot of fun. Next one is tomorrow...wish me luck...