my family and other animals

Dear all,
It seems a lifetime.
Chaos theory was modelled on my family.
Before I start I would like to thank my secret pal for a fab package, I will post pickies tomorrow.
So... so much has happened, new arrivals and birthdays and five yr old parties.
so here is a montage to chaos
Firstly meet GKB, isn't he fab! this was a birthday present from my BIL and SIL, he's made of recycled yarns, and I think he sums up the good kharma bunny completely, thankyou T & S

I got my Anna Crutchley cord winder, I've not had a chance to play with it yet.
Then of course there is the small matter of our new arrival MOSCOW, brace yourself for some terribly cute kitten pickies.He's yummy and settling in really well.
Chaos theory reigned yesterday when in the space of a few hours EMI decided she could open stair gates and doors and moscow decided he could also climb over stair gates.... stair gates pose not threat to anyone then...( apart from adults!)
I finally had a lovely birthday, chaos just won for a while, with everyone having colds and working etc. My ever understanding hubby took me out for a lovely meal on friday night and I had a large brandy, which made my cold melt. I got some fab yarny prezzys, more tomorrow.
We also threw a five yr old party on sunday, a home made party not a one in a box, one with party games and pass the parcel. Big hit and it was fancy dress.. here's adam's, I'll show you one of me later when a I find a flattering one. No prizes for guessing who he was. chaos intervened again yesterday with adam getting a chest infection out of nowhere and having to have steroids and antibiotics... fun fun fun.

more tomorrow
lots of love
al x

this looks fun!

Whilst perusing the web, like you do, I had a look at my secret pal hostesses blog, her name is Jody, and she's fab.
I thought I would point you in her direction because it looks like she had lots of fun on a workshop.
I followed the links and went all sorts of places. I thought you might like to to, cos it ends up with some cool photos
So I started at Jody's blog javajem
Them to mama E's blog, cos that was with whom she did the dyeing workshop
then I went to the flicker group that was set up as a result of the dyeing day course. if you click on more photos and view as a slide show....
It's a shame it all happened in the US, it looks like a lot of fun. alot of yarn and colour and a cool looking skein winder.
just a little web crawl...
off to make alot of ickle cakes to take into work tomorrow.
Al x

a Motherly moment!

Humour me for a moment
My boy is five today!!!
I have a five year old boy!
my boy is five!
It doesn't matter which way I put it I still can't believe it, it doesn't seem possible.
No matter what you do,you find yourself doing the "what was I doing this time five years ago?"
As the years go one, I can look back and laugh. It all mellows with time.
It can't have been that bad, Emi's is two next month aaaarghhhhh.
And I'm picking up the kitten on saturday! ( yes I openly admit it is a denial thing for what I really want). You wait!
I love being a mum, even though its hard work.
This week is always mad in our house, which kinda ties in with what I was doing this time five years ago. Adam's birthday is today, cousin Bethans is tomorrow and mine is Thursday ( this is not a plug honest). So this time five years ago on thursday, I was in tears cos the nursing staff had just brought me a black forest gateau birthday cake, and a specialist had just decided to whisk me across a hospital for a chest xray in a wheel chair, cos I couldnt walk that far after the c section.
FUN.
I'd do it all again for another. Aren't hormones silly/stupid things.
OK silly motherly moment over until at least emi's birthday.
Did I mention I got a bead spinner for my birthday! pickies to follow.
Did I also mention we ( mac's niece and I ) are having a joint five yr olds party on sunday, aaaaaarghhhhhhhhh.
Emi's word of the day "DOG"!
lots of love
al x

Ply Split Braiding Course

Dear All,
Some of you will already have seen the press release for my next few courses.
I thought it might be a good idea to show people what we will be doing on the plysplit braiding course.
This is what we are going to learn to do on the day.
Three types of pattern
the wave,
the oriental wave
and the spiral
we will also have a go at cord winding with two types of cord winder.
Now the information;
The course is on Saturday 24th of February
It's being held in shepshed ( loughborough, Leics)
The course is £15 and that includes some materials.
You will need to bring a packed lunch.
I'm also doing a kumihimo braiding course on Saturday April 28th
an advanced kumihimo braiding course on Saturday May 19th
and I'm running some basic hand felting courses in June.
If you want any more information or wish to book a place email me on goodkharmabunny at tiscali dot co dot uk ( sorry have to do it that way to avoid spam)
I hope to see you then
Al x

lots of fun!! winding!

Dear all,
Lots of very exciting textiley stuff a happening!
I finally got around to spending some of the money I earnt over the last few courses, and like a good little entrepreneur (did I hear you lot laughing out there!?!?) I have ploughed it all back into the business!! the fact that I've wanted all of these things before I even started the courses is not the point!!!!!!!! I don't feel so guilty buying them cos I earnt the money. And for those coming on the courses you will be able to use them to, if your really good!!
SOO
This week I have bought a skein winder off ebay!!WHich is great cos it clamps to things,
from here
A ball winder from P & M Woolcraft
and ordered another cord winder, for my iminent ply split workshop ( aaaahhhh) from Anna Crutchley.
I've also ordered some beads for my advanced kumihimo workshop... more of that when I get them.
So the skein winder and ball winder arrived and we have had fun. the plan is put skein on skein winder and wind it on to the ball winder, hmmmm. It kinda works. Just as well no one took pickies..... and I couldnt curse cos adam was winding the ball winder, where there is a handle to wind there is a small boy to wind it. I couldnt have done it without him.
SO you can see we managed a few skeins. Practise is needed.
Off to tie down the house and hide the valuable before the kitten arrives next weekend.
al x
P.S I've just sent out the publicity for the next few good kharma courses. If anyone has a queries let me know.

lots of daft things

I'm sure over the last few months there are lots of things that I've not told you.
Here's a couple...
I subscribed to Craft....... now it takes a lot to blow my mind but this did. it's crafty people doing daft things.
Did I also mention I was in the latest braid society newsletter, cant show you that but can show you me on the new braid society web site
Also on the Kumihimo yahoo group yesterday someone pointed in the direction of this fab site... armour for cats and mice.... mind blown again....
Yesterday I subscribed to the textile directory which is free digitally.... looks cool .lists all textile people in the uk ( think)
I've just ordered a skein winder and ball winder....
and I'm about to order another cord winder and place an order with shirley berlin for some very cool braiding bits......
It's all go....... I apologise for a repetition from previous messages, but it's all stuff that still cool.
off to write a plysplit workshop
aaaahhhhhh
lots of love al x

bling!!! puurrrrrr!

I'm reminded of that great christmas classic,
"santa Baby"
(I think it was Marilyn Munroe)
and if I had the brain cells I would find it on the web and put a link in etc etc...
you will just have to imagine me singing it.... something about a sable under a tree.....
But as I had the tummy bug for new year followed by a hum dinger of migraine, the world is still a bit fuzzy and alot delicate. yey
The end of 2006 was a bit hard work in our household but we are determined that 2007 is going to be more fun.
we've got lots of birthdays soon and nanas going to see aunty het in new zealand, oh and there are more good kharma bunny courses on the cards, ( a press release will follow once I've written it) etc....

But why the santa quote I hear you ask.....
Well because of what i got for christmas.
I'm sure the song has a diamond ring in it somewhere.
I got a beautiful antique (second hand) 9ct gold sapphire and diamond ( they are there honest) ring!
it's the top one. The other two have a story as well.... the silver band is my husbands wedding ring, which when he lost a huge amount of weight ( marriage will do that to you) I offered to wear it for him. The other is another antique ring that I bought for me when I had Adam. some people have tattoos I have antique sapphire rings!!

I got lots of fab books as well for christmas, mainly about felting and knitting. I'll tell you more later. ooh and a hair drier thank you MIL, cos I borrowed hers before christmas and never gave it back. Did I mention I was growing my hair.....
The other exciting thing that happened last week was this chap
meet kitten, he's only three weeks old, aaaahhhhhhhh
He should be joining our household on the 21st of january aaahhhhh ( only should cos I dont like to jinx these sort of things)
we have provisional names but we cant say for definite that he's a boy just yet.
But I thought I'd give a sneek peek.
enough of my ramblings
lots of new year cheer and good kharma bunny vibes
al x

mine mine mine!!!

And so Santa came to our house.....
It was an odd one as my little sis was away for the first time, not even a little bit away, all the way in christchurch New Zealand.
Adam definitley understood the concept of xmas and emi was right there behind him.
Emi's word of christmas was mine... mine... mine...
I think it is a good word to learn, althought the next concept to learn in the new year is sharing!!!
Christmas could never be said to be normal in our house, but can it be in any household with kids.
This year as well as het and her fella mark being away, My dearest hubby had a terrible tummy bug from the evening of the 25th to the evening of the 26th. that altered plans somewhat. Boxing day got postponed and we spent a lovely extra day at mums and the 27th at my mils.
And so to a couple of family pickies
This is adam opening his prezzy from aunty het and unky marc

THis is emi opening her prezzy from het and mark
THis is emi warming up to be the next delia with her fab new kitchen
The next two are a family tradition. Every year for the last 5 years we have humoured our mum and had a sisterly and grandchildren photo, they have had two of me pregnant and now have two of my children in. The first is last year, with a full compliment of sisters and kids. Unfortunatley this year we were a sister down so aunty het's side kicks "dog" and "bert" stood in and not to be out done Banana bear ( adam's ) ( back right) and Icky ( emi's) ( back left) had to be part as well. you have no idea how many of these have to be taken to get us all in the right place and smiling. So enough of my family christmas, I will bore you with wonderful textiley and glistening gem!!! prezzies next post.
Happy new year to you all I hope you had a good xmas.
Hope you like the photos aunty het.
lots of festive love and kisses
al x

I've been MEME'd

Am I the only one who doesnt know what that stands for.
I understand the concept but not the abbreviations. I can usually figure it out.
Ah well I have been thingyed
The theme is 6 weird things about me, I'm then supposed to tag 6 other people, I'm not sure I know that many that will do it, but I will try.
First things first....
1, I dont drink tea or coffee, my main drink is Hot water. I like asking for it when I'm out. It really confuses people.
2, I love cheesey footballs. These are a terrible snack that only comes out in the uk at christmas.
It is a small savoury snak with a biscuit exterior in the shape of a football and the inside is a very strong cheesey substance.
3, sort of carrying on a theme... I stock piled cheesey footballs this year when they came into the shops and had four huge tubs in the pantry for a while. ( they were on by one get one free) Now if seems that my poor daughter has inherited my taste for the above terrible snack and my previously untouch stock pile is now under seige.
4, I cant watch anyone cleaning their teeth, it gives me goose bumps, like others cant stand nails on a black board. This has had to be partially overcome with the arrival of children, cos I gotta clean their teeth!
5, I love pickled onion monster munch!
6, I think the welsh accent is very sexy! I really dont know where this has come from, its a new thing. I think it was from spending too long in wales whilst doing my degree. I think they brain
washed me.... it might have been the beer.

I have learnt alot from this if no one else has.... If I'm talking about food this late at night, I must have indigestion for one.
And I've learnt something I kinda knew already... I need to get out more.
So to delegate this very fun tag I challenge
Mama grouch
Caged minutes
and quite contrary

Off to sort indigestion
al x

They let me out!!

This is a little post just for my MIL
I got let out on friday to my works xmas do.
I cant remember the last time I got really tarted up (that may be a british term).
I even bought some new shoes, thanks to an investment from my grandmother.
I bought some stillettos!!!!! I mean I ask you.... a mother of two in very high heels!!
Well I dont usually but I had great fun wearing them. I even managed to dance for one dance, it nearly killed me but I did it!!
I dyed the silk velvet scarf and made the bracelet (plysplit) out of linen that I had dyed at the same time as the scarf!!
MIL told me she wanted a picky to prove I did it, so here you are..... me all glam.
al x

a new addition to the family!!!

Dont panic....... for all those who know me quite well, no I'm not!!!!!!!!!!
I'd like to introduce you all to MURRAY.
He is a little shy but my kids soon made up for. He's settling in very well and is getting into the festive season, his manners are impecable.
He was a wonderful prezzy from Mama Grouch
She's the best.
The pickies back up the theory of never working with children, and now i can add sock creatures to the list.
Talking of new additions though.....
we're getting a kitten in the new year,aaaahhhhh.
trying not to think of the logistics of kids cats and kittens 'till the new year.
al x

Still here honest

Hello world,
The good kharma bunny is still around. Only just got my boy back to school today, I've banned xmas until monday when I will finish all the unfinished stuff.
I've had two night sleep, so we're getting there.
I have two festive parties and a carol service and a kiddies party and visitors saturday pm, to pull in this weekend, so xmas is on hold.
I've posted all my important parcels to my SP9 and Mama Grouch and I've taken part in the online weavers spinner and dyers festive decoration exchange, so thats all posted.
My boy missed his xmas party and xmas lunch and carols, but it was lovely today when one of his class mates ran up to him and at the top of his voice said ADAM I REALLY MISSED YOU, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!!!!!
aaahhhhhh
And his teacher was really please to see him.
lots of season greetings
al x

just keep blogging

I am here honest,
It never rains when it pours or something like that....
I'm sure all I have to say is poorly children.... walk in centres.... doctors... no sleep....
Never mind ,whilst one sleeps and the other gets a thomas fix, lets have some fun...
Here is the bag that I knitted with Bev from knitting4fun.com
I used Katia Nordic wool and 20mm circular needles.
I then felted it in the machine.
The intention was to make a bag with intentional holes in. It seems to have worked. It's quite a small bag and firm, it's possibly going to be a crochet hook holder.At the moment the hooks and bag seem to be missing each other, in the chaos that is my house.
That aside I'm trying to get into the christmas spirit,
SSSOOO what are your run up to christmas traditions?
My mum made some giant fabric advent calendars for my two kids and she fills them with little gifts.
I'm seriously thinking about making myself one with thornton chocolate sized pockets. hmmmm
I've bought emi some christmas lights for her room and adam's as well, it's going to be a twinkly christmas.
I make my own xmas cards, maybe I'm just mad....
I've just bought Miracle on 34th street and the Santa Clause1 & 2 which will give me somethingo watch whilst wrapping prezzies.
Tell me what your doing for the run up.
al x

Blurrrrghjgjjgjgj

Dear all,
I apologise for the silence, I've been a really busy bunny, and what follows may not be overly coherent cos I'm very tired.
I'll give you the edited highlights, of a very hectic week.
This week we bought and collected (on friday) a new ( in a used sort of way) car,
But not before we had a week of being a one car family... which involved me working more hours cos I couldnt get home etc....
Tuesday mum and I dyed till we were blue in the hands....
Below is only one part of the day, dyed linen thread, the rest is a secret cos some of you will be getting them for prezzies.
Friday, mum and Emi and me did a preliminary xmas shop,
And then yesterday I did my biggest good kharma bunny workshop, it went very well.
Everyone seemed to enjoy it and come away with lots of samples.
So this is it now, with the workshops done for this year, it's the slippery slope to that holiday that we all love.... easter... did I miss one?
I got another domestice goddess badge today, I've made my christmas chutney. I decided to make twice the recipe.... hmm note to self for next year ... dont ... do it in two batches.... ( it doesnt all fit in one pan!!!!!)

Off to draw up action plan, and get the spread sheet out.... ( I jest not)... it's the only way I can do it.

al x

Will this week never end and lots of wool

Dear All,
The week is almost over, only have to buy a car and take my boy to a party tomorrow and the week from hell will end.. HHOOORRRAAAHH.
Saying that I have had a good day, all be it with a little tooth ache.. I went on a workshop run by Bev from knitting4fun and Pauline Barke from Living threads.
The workshop was knitted felted bags. I had fun, because I'd bought some 20 mm circular needles recently and I wanted to knit something chunky with holes in. So I did. It's in the washing machine as we speak. I'll let you know.
My neck warmer got some interest and I said I would show the link to where I found it....
neck warmer
This is it... enjoy.
I also taught some lovely ladies, on Thursday, how to Braid. It went very well.
Take care
Al x

I love my dentist!

You know those weeks when it's just not going to happen?!
This is one of those weeks!
Hubby's head fell off..... he gets dizzy spells.
The main family car got signed off...... we've got to buy a new one very very quickly.
and I now have a huge whole in my mouth... the only way to deal with the wisdom tooth that was giving me jip was to take it out.... so he did.
But my dentist is so brill I can't hold it against him at all. Although I did decide one thing, having a baby is easy compared to tooth extraction! Hubby looks worried.
I have been doing lot of textiley things this week but with the current situation, photogroahs will have to wait.
I went to the Lutterworth embroiderers guild textile extravaganza on Saturday, and got lots of positive comments about my work and my courses next year. which is very cool.
I'm teaching on friday again, and off to a knitting course on saturday.
such fun. more soon.
al x

New Braid society web site

Dear all,
The Braid society new web site is up and running and looking wonderful.
I'm on it!!! my work is in techniques and my name is in tutors.
Welcome if you have come here from the web site. I've just posted below some of my new ply split braiding work. If you have any questions post a comment by clicking on the comment button at the bottom of a post or email me on goodkharmabunny at tiscali dot co dot uk.
al x

The triffid has legs!!!!!!!!!!

Dear all,
I have my ply split braiding head on this week. I'm demonstrating 3D ply split at the Lutterworth embroiderers guild on saturday, so I thought I should have something to show.
I have some but now I have more.....

Having lots of fun trying out some of the techniques I've been storing in my brain for a while.
The best so far is my triffid or Hydra. It started out as a tree and then got a mind of its own, and then last night it grew feet. I'm really pleased with it.

I've also done a few more 3d bracelets the red one is knitting4fun's banana yarn and the pinky one is hipknits aran weight silk

and as a finale I've had a go at lattice work, not very 3D but just as tricky. I'm so pleased with it, but it took ages there's about 2 inches here and it took me 2 nights!!

I've also set the dates for the Second batch of courses I will be running in 2007. I wanted them sorted so I could publicise them on saturday.
For those interested the dates are
24th February
Plysplit braiding
28th April
Kumihimo braiding
19th May
Advanced kumihimo
june 2007
two dates for hand felting, to be arranged.
I'll post more info later, but let me know if you want more info now.
al x

secret pal goodies

These are all the lovely goodies that Emi and I were lucky enough to get from my secret pal
They came like this












Emi reading the sock monkey card












and the unwrapped goodies, some hipknits yummy silk, some debbie bliss maya wool and some chocs and hand cream
guess which one Emi liked?!









And finally the reason why I've not posted this earlier ( have you ever tried to get a 2yrd old to pose!)
Emi in her beautiful hat, it took a while for her to warm to it, as it does for everything she wears
at the moment, but she wore it to school and to the fireworks, she looks wonderful in it.







The colour is perfect with her coat. You're a very talented secret pal.
Thank you again
Al x

secret pal 9 whoop!!

Just a quicky cos hubby needs to get on the computer, but I got my first secret pal package and it fab.
thank you thank you thank you. It's wonderful. I love the colours and Emi loves her prezzy.
off to eat my choc.
I will post pickies tomorow.
al x