I don't have the blues I've got the greys!

Hello everyone, I've been meaning to do a new post for a couple of days now but this dreary, dull, grey weather is relentless and I am in some serious need of bright warm sunshine.

Before Alice was born I had the luxury of an annual trip back to my homeland of South Africa where I could get away from the grey January UK days but alas it's been a good 4 years since I flew back (Alice was 5 1/2 since we last went back) and I am dreaming of the bank balance this time next year taking us on a trip southwards....

South Africa is truly a beautiful country which I miss dearly at times

A few years ago we didn't see the sun for at least 3 weeks and I ended up making a papier mache sunshine which Alice and I painted with the brightest yellow we could find. Not sure what happened to it but it was good colour therapy at the time ;0)

Anyway, lets not dwell on the negative, I think I've just been feeling super frustrated with not having any light to take photo's for my blog and then I remembered that I had photographed this a couple of weeks ago when we had a momentary beam of light. It's a photo of the yarn Mr.A and I bought on a very rare (for him that is!! hee hee) trip to my LYS to choose colours for his man beanie I plan to knit and so here they are... 

And there he is when I first met him in 1996, he had shoulder length hair, usually tied back and on winter days his head was warmed with the beanie he is wearing. Oh yes a man and his beanie what more can I say? The very sad thing is that he LOVED this beanie sooooo much and then one day it was LOST and has been mourned for the past 10 years or so :0(

 

So, me with my new found knitting prowess decided it was time for me to take on the task of the return of the man beanie for Mr. A and knit away with the intention of semi-replicating the one he lost all those years ago with this yarn

 

I think the colours are very close to the original one and the yarn is Debbie Bliss and another merino variety for the grey (sorry can't find the label to tell you which one it is). It feels very soft and cosy and I have cast on the 150 stitches and started with the ribbing. The truth of the matter is that I am a wee bit nervous as I fear that the longing for the original man beanie might cast a shadow over this one.... I have been reassured by my beloved this will not be the case! I will share it with all of you lovelies out there in the land of blog and see what you think.

Do you like the Carrol Boyes lead free pewter frame I have hugged him in?

Carrol Boyes is an amazing South African Artist who sells all her incredible pewter and stainless steel hand-made products throughout the world. I have a few of her prized pieces I have collected over the years and just love them. See more of her beauties on the link to her web page.

So, as soon as we have some sunny shine here I hope to photograph my finished knitted bag and some other bits and bobs. Until then I wish you all beams of happy light xox