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Elizabeth

This is Elizabeth - posing in my recent knitting projects. She is well over 40 years old and I believe she was used as a model for babies clothes in a shop window - so she was secondhand when I got her. My godmother gave her to me when I was about 3, so I have known her "all my life". I truly believed that she was a real person and I loved her as any "mother" would love her baby (with tender loving care). I had all the equipment, cot, clothes and a wonderful red and white pram. I still have the pram, which is big enough to hold a real baby. I also have the original clothes, the white dress with flowers in the photo is what she was wearing when I first got her. My godmother and my mother made a layette, including this dress, a petticoat, aran cardigan, gloves, tights and a complete set of blankets and pillow. Was I spoiled or what.

When my own daughter was old enough to play with dolls I tried to introduce Elizabeth to her thinking she would have the same attachment to dolls as I did. I was wrong, Elizabeth was tossed in the corner, naked, and I eventually put her in the attic, that was 8 years ago.
I took her down a few weeks ago and she is just right for modelling my little knitted things.

The Bolero is from a Patons book, the frilly cardigan is a Peter Pan pattern and the blue set is a Sirdar pattern from their Early Arrivals book.

Perfect!!

This rose grows outside my office and has the most beautiful scent. The office was once a dwelling house and the garden is dotted with gems like this. I just thought that the rose was perfectly "out" and wanted to capture it before our weather spoiled the moment!!

IRON EDDIE!!!

I painted (oil) this copy of an Iron Maiden album cover - over the space of 4 years!!! I finished it recently - it measures 4ftX4ft. I have done a few smaller versions, much easier, and I would like to paint (acrylic) some Dio covers too. We have a LP collection in the attic and there are enough album covers to last me a lifetime. Meanwhile I am just glad to get this one out of the "studio"!!!

The Flight of the Earls - Starting Point!

This is a photo of the plaque which was unveilled in Ballindrait, Co. Donegal on the 400th anniversary of the flight of the Earls. I was waiting for my friend to collect me the day we climbed Muckish, and took the opportunity to take a photo. The plaque is beside the bridge where the Earls met and started their journey to Rathmullan where they went to "the continent" never to return, the rest, as they say, is history! Ballindrait, transalted Baile an Droichead, town of the bridge. I have lived near this village since I was three and only recently discovered the significance of one of the oldest bridges in Ireland which is still in use.

Oh My Muckish!!!!

Friday 26th June 2009

Here we are, all 108 of us, at the big challenge!! We climbed this mountain, Muckish, 666 metres, for a colleague who is climbing his own mountain - fighting cancer.

It was a tough climb and climbing to the summit was challenging enough, only to be met by a sea of jagged rocks which seemed to go on for miles. It was like being on another planet. It took me over one and a half hours, but everyone agrees - the "high" that we felt was something else!!!!

Coming back down had its' own challenges, choosing the right path and getting a good foothold. Heathers look solid enough but they collapse like a sponge when stood on!!!!

Afterwards we all had refreshments at The Lagoon, entertained by a group of local Set Dancers - who probably wondered where the heck all these eejits came out of!!

There I am picking my way through the rocks on the summit!

View from the highest point. Wow!
















This is the view we met coming towards the mountain, it looks "timid" enough from this angle!!

Li'l Hoodie

This is from Sirdar Baby World. I have the book since 1994 but haven't tried this jacket before, it was a treat to knit. It is a gift for a friends baby.

Shay's Gloves

These are the gloves worn by Shay Given in his first match with Man City. They were donated to a local chrity (Drumboe House) and my DS got the chance to try them on before the auction. The gloves are quite heavy and re-inforced on each finger, not just your average goalkeeper's glove!!! They raised over €2000.

Goth Gloves

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

Excuse the bad quality photo, this was taken on a phone camera and it is a bit blurred. The reason is that DD wanted to wrap them up tonight and I usually take the photos of my stuff with my work camers (much better quality!!) These gloves are for her friend for Christmas, I hope she likes them.

Eyelet Night

Eyelet Night
Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

These are the penultimate pair before Christmas. Again, they don't look like much until they are worn, I was getting worried that they looked too scrawny, but they are ribbed and they stretch quite well, and the fit is nice and snug. All the patterns for the gloves can be found in various places on Ravelry. Get over there and check out all the great designers.

Berry Christmas!

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

I love the colour of these. The pattern turned out smaller than I expected but they are fine when worn, which is the most important thing!

More Daimonds!!

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

This time I got it right! They fit DD to a tee, so I can move on to the next pair.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend!!

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

I knit these for my DD's friend for Christmas, they turned out a bit big for a 15 year old, so I will keep them for myself and start a smaller pair!!! Yipee!!!

Mary & Child

Mary & Child
Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

This is the first chapter of my Nativity Collection. I have finished Mary and Baby Jesus except for the facial features. I intend to do this for all the figures at the same time so that I can get "good" techniques after a couple of figures!!! I am working on Joseph now and hope to have him complete soon. Maybe, just maybe, I will be finished by Christmas, even Little Christmas!!!

Thomas

Thomas
Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

This is also for a gift. I used a pattern by Sirdar and the yarn is James C.Brett - Rio. I love this yarn, it is DK weight but seemed much thicker so I didn't have to worry about the size "going smaller" than I wanted!! I am a tight knitter, so I end up with a smaller than needed if I go by the pattern size, can't help myself, it comes from years of being told, "knit your bands tight" when doing Aran Sweaters!!! I love the way that the bobbles are different colours, this wool is really nice.

William

William
Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

This is for a lovely little boy who is a nephew of my friend. It is a Tivoli pattern which I have used a few times. There is a great neck opening, a must-have for babies and toddlers.

An Owl Story!!

my wee owls
Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

These are the three wee owls which I have just finished. Mary my best friend asked me to crochet these for a "Story Sack" project which is going on at her kids' primary school. Aren't they cute? Mary has to knit a "mummy" to complete the set. I'm finished my part, good luck to Mary who still has to start hers. She had to order a set of DPN's on the 'net because the LYS around here are useless with that kind of request!!!

Mits for Me

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

I knit these from leftover yarn, I had knit a poncho some time ago for my DD and it is just right for these mittens. I have the bug folks, the glove bug, I have lots of patterns fav on Ravelry, and spend more time choosing than knitting!!!

Voodoo Mits

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

These are for a lovely Brazillian girl who is a friend of my DD. She is in Ireland for one year studying and she feels the cold bite of the cold weather more than we do. I modified them a "bit" and added a little "belt" with two buttons - DD says that these "green, yellow, blue" are colours on the Brazillian flag, hope she is right!!

Lulu's poncho

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Originally uploaded by lizzysbits

This is a poncho I knit for my DD about 4 years ago. I was ready for "the big house" by the time I had it finished. The pattern was repeated, cable and honeycomb and was monotonus. BUT, I was pleased with the result and when the "fashion" was over I couldn't part with it, had to keep it for posterity or as a sign of how I can keep my sanity.