UNDER THE HAMMER.

And at last! The evidence that the knitted sheep auction really happened and raised a staggering £1170 for Farm Aid.

I was Bo-peep, with a bone crook made by the local bank manager, and a dress and corset I made from a mosquito net and some old face towels.  I hold aloft 'The Champion" who was bought by Ray, who has spent his entire career moving Rough Fell Sheep from farms to auction houses, but had never actually owned any livestock of his own, until Adam slammed the hammer and I ran across the pen, to unite sheep with shepherd.  Ray had seen the champion sheep earlier in the day when he came to view the lots and knew he wanted it. Leaving his wife in the cafe, he came to the auction and waited for his sheep to come up.....which it didn't, until right at the very end, when he learned it was the champion, and just had to go for it and keep bidding. Ray was delighted with his purchase. He then introduced the sheep to his wife, who was not so sure, and affectionately said " What the hell did you buy that for Ray?"

Well done all knitters and bidders. I really hope it happens again next year.

SHEEP OF THE WEEK!

Last Saturday, our friend Maggie invited us to spin at the Mudchute City Farm. 

Mudcute is the biggest of all the city farms and can be found on the Isle of Dogs.  The animals were happy and so were the farmers, epitomised by bags of healthy fleece to spin and a delicious lunch, with summer pudding, and cream!

Our favourite photo is this Oxford Down lamb on the right, kissing a Wiltshire Horn lamb on the left. We had never met Oxford Down before.  Oxford Down is the biggest of all the Down breads, with big sturdy shoulders and a wide head. The fleece is short, but very fine quality and grows close to the body, and up their legs with an impressive 'top-knot' on their head.  

The children at the farm helped us card and spin while the horses neighed in the sunshine, and we couldn't believe we were in London! 

Thank you Maggie, and thank you Mudchute.

DUST JACKET FOR THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.

Lovers of adventure, I recommend you visit Miss Fleur Oakes's "Museum of Objects of Virtue" this weekend, for the show "Dust Jacket for Darwin's the Voyage of the Beagle."  Please aim to visit between the hours of 12-6pm. 

I'll ruin the adventure if I describe it to you, so all I'll say is that the museum is quite small, in a big place, and once you are there, you'll wish you had brought all your friends.

To find it, take the A to Z, to Cockfosters at the end of the Piccadilly Line, and follow the map to 89, Park Rd, New Barnet, EN4 9QX. The map has "Museum" written where the museum is.....Dress code is probably beautiful, but with sensible shoes....

GET KNITTED SHEFFIELD GALLERIES.

'Get Knitted' at the Sheffield Galleries is now open, and there are lots of goodies to see....

We're off up there tomorrow for the private view.

You can coo over the knitted wedding, laugh at the old Cast Off footage, marvel at Shane Waltner's amazing interactive party knitting, as seen here, and hot your self up over the knitted formula 1 car tyres! And don't forget you get my free pattern for knitted Sheffield Steal knife, fork and spoon.  

For more information go to www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

PSYCHOSTITCHGEOGRAPHY 3.

We know that our Rosemary has a lot going on in her head. You can see it in her eyes. 

Here are the workings of her citrus bracelet, avaliable in orange and lime.

BUZZING INSIDE.

On Halloween last, we had a fancy dress competition. The prize was one of Louise's knitted flies. Quite late in the evening a zombie walked in with a chinese takeaway and we instantly made him the winner. 

Nine months later, David Laurence sent us this picture of his winning fly in a bell jar. Now we know who the zombie was, and to be honest, it wasn't really that much of a suprise. The life of the fly however, was a suprise and we are delighted to think of it buzzing on his busy desk. 

YAYOI KUSAMA- SELF OBLITERATION (1967) Part 1

Our knitting friend from across the pond, Sabrina Gschwandtner just recommended this film for me to study. Sabrina is coming to stay next week and we are going to the country to make a knitted movie.  I hope it gives you inspiration for any picnics or camping holidays you might be planning this summer.