Hats 2

Here they are.

Six little 'sugared almond' hats....

and one renegade non conformist, trying to hide.

I shall get them packed up and posted, and may even meet one again in Sainsburys.

Little hats.

It's Little Hat time again.

Every year the drinks company, Innocent, raises money for Age UK by selling drinks bottles wearing hats.

Naturally.

Last year over £200,000 was raised simply by people knitting tiny hats , sending them to Innocent who then dress their bottles and send them to Sainsburys, one of our large supermarkets.

I am late starting due to other things in life, but am hastily knitting half a dozen little hats to go.

There are many and complicated designs, but mine are the 'ordinary ' ones, with a bobble or a bit of lace added.

For each bottle sold by the supermarket, Age UK receives 25 pence,

and that mounts up considerably.

Knit one, purl one....

Just wondering if anyone has received letters from our Letter swap?

Stormy weather.

Cornwall is receiving the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo which hit Bermuda so badly. The winds have howled around us during the night, and are still howling today despite sunshine.

Unlike Bermuda, we have only suffered minor blackouts,

a few fallen trees, leaves everywhere and gales of up to 55 miles per hour.

In a night of wind and rain, it's the little noises which are more worrying than the gale outside. I lay awake for a long time wondering about a tapping, a knocking.

Bravely getting up from my warm bed, I discovered that my climbing rose was patiently tapping the bedroom window...waiting to be let in?

I've tied it back today, so all should be quiet tonight.

Bags and Tags

I think I mentioned that while my husband was in hospital, I was working on some craft. We have a local Surgery Fete in October and I wanted to make things for the Craft stall.

Little gift bags are always popular, and work out much cheaper using all the bits and pieces that I collect than buying a smart ready made bag.

They look nice with a few sweets in, or maybe some hand cream or soap just as a little present.

Tags...well, I'd never made them before, but had a great deal of advice from the lovely Lululiz (here) who makes the most beautiful and professional tags.

I hope these will sell at the Fete. Friends are already ordering from me!

The only problem is..I can't stop making them!

I love saving and reusing ribbons from chocolate boxes, lace from collections made over the years, buttons and bows.

Here we go!

Finally, after much thought and scribbling, I have a list of partners for you.

 I will email the addresses privately.
Please let me know if you don't receive an email in the next 24 hours.

Alex at Honeypot cottage, with Lorrie at Fabric paper thread.

Betty at Betty, the wood fairy, with Shane at Roses lace and brocante.

Sue at As if by magic, with Chy at Our little cottage in the woods.

Mary at Frugally challenged, with Melissa at Boyett-Brinkley

Jane at Marigold Jam, with Kimberly at Kimberleys kitchen and garden.

Carol at Scrappy Quilter, with Stephanie at The enchanting rose.

Ann at Ann's Garden spot, with Anke at Bayou.

Laura at Gypsy Mom, with Mags at Fraise.

Julie at Julie's little world with Carol at Carol in Cairns.

Noreen (no blog yet) with me at Cornish Cream.

Hopefully you will be able to link to your partner's blog to learn a little more about them.
Any problems with addresses--let me know.

Happy letter writing!

Letter swap

We have a really good mix of countries now.

Thanks to everyone who came on board at the last minute. You are all in the swap. I just need addresses from

Marigold Jam

Julie

Magsmcc

I'm closing the list now

and will send out partners once I have arranged and rearranged.

One more...please!

The Letter swap is nearly ready to go.

We would love to have one more person join us

...otherwise I don't have a partner!

I'll send your partners in the next couple of days.

I'm afraid there weren't quite enough English to go round all the people who had requested an English partner.

However, I think you will all enjoy getting to know someone from another place.

Letter swap.

Edit!
We already have several names, but need some more from UK, as many people abroad would like to write to England.
Do join us.


Reading your comments on letter writing reminded me of an exchange that I hosted a few years ago. 

If anyone is interested I'm happy to do it again.

This is how it worked.

Twelve people signed up and sent me their mailing addresses.

I assigned a partner for each person and sent the address on.

And it went from there, letters were winging their way over the land and sea.

I enjoyed being in touch with my partner, having a glimpse into another country and a life which previously I had only known through reading a blog.

If you'd like to get involved, let me know please.
Send me your address to eliz_abethd@yahoo.co.uk

Only one 'rule'...you must commit to sending at least one letter. It's so disappointing for your partner if nothing arrives.

This isn't a gift swap, just a simple letter, a correspondence which might continue over the years.

You would also need to let me know if you prefer to send only within your own country, or go further away.

Let me know by October 17th.

Letters

The postman comes. 

Brochures and catalogues come crashing through the door, many unasked for, unwanted, will be unread.

Yes, I'd love to go on a cruise, a train journey, love to buy the FairIsle jumper from the Shetlands, order the beautiful fabric for a quilt.

No, I won't be buying or going.

In the recycling it all goes.

My poor postman says he would love not to have to carry half the advertising stuff around.

It is such a joy to receive a 'real' letter, even a postcard, that has 'real' writing on it. It becomes a personal moment, when one person reaches across the miles to another. I had a letter from Australia today, written by someone with whom I have corresponded for over 30 years now. I stepped into her life once more, already knowing so much about her , and unlike an email I will read that letter over and over.

'More than kisses, letters mingle souls.'

John Donne.

What do you think? Do 'real' letters still excite you?

Home!

Excellent news.

My husband is home.

I'm so grateful and touched by your many comments and emails.

Thank you. 

It is amazing how connected so many of us are, and how friendship flows through the blog world.

I have two pears on my little tree. A pair of pears, one could say.

This is one of them.

Half a pair

One pear.

Apparently I should bring them indoors to ripen.

Maybe we will be eating a pair of stewed pears.