Yep, it's been a very long time.  

I've just created the facebook event page for the next PicKnit and it feels like it's been ages since the last one.  The next event is going to be on the 11th of March, in the Botanic Gardens.

I'm so out of practice I'm struggling to work out which of all the things that have been going on to tell you about first.

Well first of all, the BBC got in touch again the other day to ask if the group would like to put together a team for the Eggheads quiz.  That was a weird one, but the response from the knitters was too enthusiastic to ignore so we're off to the Crown Plaza on Thursday to audition.  

The response to the wee film by Precious Productions for the BBC was lovely and thanks to Craft Scotland for choosing it to be their Friday Film a few weeks ago.  I've since heard from some lovely people who'll be joining us for our next meet up.

I also heard from possibly my dream yarn company who I am now designing for, which I still can't quite believe. As most of you know, the plan was to start selling patterns independently, but I really couldn't resist the lovely emails from their team and the large box of gorgeous yarns that arrived for me from Carlisle.   

I also visited Iceland for the first time last November.  When ever anyone asked me what my perfect travel destination would be I would always answer Iceland, and I wasn't disappointed.  I visited the Hand Knitting Association of Iceland and filled a suitcase with fleece and Lopi.  The girls who worked there had a wee chuckle when they saw me running back for more, but said that they were used to seeing the look of panic and delight on tourist's faces when they see the yarn shelves at the back of the store.  

Yarn buying aside, I still can't quite describe how I feel about Iceland.  It took me a very long time to get my head back after leaving Iceland and I've been planning to go back ever since.  You don't realise that it's getting so deep under your skin until you're home and the weird, brutal landscape keeps creeping back into your head and you (I) find yourself (myself) talking away in a lilting Icelandic accent.  I've been learning Icelandic from a lovely lady called Natalia here.

Reykjavik itself is magical.  All the little houses have brightly coloured roofs and white fences.  The people are strange and funny and beautiful and I was fed rotten shark by a man who looked like (could have been) an elf.  Then he persuaded me to drink a lot of Icelandic schnapps.  That happens a lot in Iceland, or at least it did when I was there.

Not long before visiting Iceland, I discovered a little shop in Oslo that sells chunky merino for just 10 Norwegian Kroner a ball, which is about £1.  It's the only thing in Norway that is actually cheaper than the UK.  Another cupboard in the kitchen is now full of yarn.  I miss Norway and it's been calling me back, so hopefully I'll be going back soon in a more professional capacity rather than a holiday.

I'm spending almost all of my time these days working at Kelvingrove Museum or making costumes for the Victorians Rediscovered event there on the 3rd and 4th of March.  At the moment I'm working on a whole lot of Victorian underwear for the Irrational Dress Society (me) who will be demonstrating how to create the perfect Victorian figure with the aid of steel wires, tight lacing and giant pants.  I've just finished teaching a course in Ribbon Corsetry at the museum, where I met some gorgeous ladies who made some beautiful corsets.  Sometimes I can't believe I get paid to work in such an amazing place.  

The Irrational Dress Society will be working our thing in the Looking at Design Gallery (the one on the ground floor with all the 18th Century dresses) during the day on the 3rd and 4th of March.  Also performing will be Thomas Truax, 85a, Mischief La Bas, a contortionist and the Britannia Panopticon.  

Despite the piles of Victorian underwear to sew, I did manage to sneak out for a day to do a spot of decorating in Glasgow last week, again during a bloody howling gale.  I really need to save yarnbombing for quiet, calm, sunny days.  At least it was dry!  I'm going to leave you with the results for now.

I hope you can make it on the 11th of March.  I'm missing my girls and guys and cakes.  It's been ages since I've just sat down and knitted for the hell of it, in fact, I might have been in Iceland the last time I just knitted something random (a pixie hat for a Norwegian while drunk on schnapps and rotten shark).

xx

Here's a beautiful little film that was made by the gorgeous Jolene and Richard for the BBC earlier this year.