Phew

Outdoorsy ideas

I'm quite relieved that I've shelved the extension for a few reasons, one of them being that my wee garden remains intact and I don't have to sacrifice any outdoor space. Since the weather is so beautiful I've been planning how I would like it to look in order to optimise space for both growing plants and veg, and sitting out in the fresh air. I love this concrete built-in-y style bench thingy in the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, California. The powdery blue colour is lovely and fresh, and this allows you to get maximum use from the space at hand.

Knit wit

Hmmm, I wonder how long it will take before I get bored of my own bad knitting pun-thingies? Thought I would give a knitting update - so, I popped into This is Knit in Powerscourt on Saturday, where Lisa very kindly helped me figure out what I needed. She recommended the Stitch n Bitch book (apparently the Vogue Knitting book is something of an encyclopedia), and I got some lovely soft grey yarn to get me started. My first project, I decided, is going to be a little scarf for my godson Naoise, who will be two on Friday. Clearly, he is to be my first victim/recipient of my knitting efforts because A) he is too small to object and B) he is too small to be too cool to wear a scarf that his auntie knitted for him. And also because I love him very much, obviously.

As per usual, I set into my task all gung ho and all 'how hard can this be, really?' Half an hour later I was wailing 'I can't tie a slip knot'. My boyfriend rather wisely absconded, while I squinted at the pictures in the book, as well as trawling the internet for something, anything that would put me on the right track. I dug through the Vogue Knitting website, the Martha Stewart Living website and yelled at a video uploaded by someone called Cassie on youtube. I eventually got the hang of it and my needles were a-clacking last night while I watched a DVD. Very relaxing, very satisfying, highly recommended.

I do recommend Stitch n Bitch, but I must say that the innuendo stuff gets a bit tired - I mean, a scarf pattern called 'ribbed for her pleasure'? Yawn. 

Anyhow, here's Cassie - she's a bit annoying, but she did help me get there in the end:

Anyone in need of an overhaul?

That's an overhaul of your home, of course - the RTÉ programme Showhouse is returning to our screens this autumn as My Showhouse, and they are currently looking for anyone who has just bought a new or second hand home and is planning a makeover, or anyone who wants to do some work on the home that they have lived in for years. You could be in with a chance to have a professional designer (under the watchful eye of the inimitable Neville Knott) jazz up your home - and to be on the telly! If you fancy it then get in touch with Lisa with details of your property (location, size, budget, etc) at myshowhouse@vipmg.tv or 01 864 1444. The pics below of previous Showhouse projects are a little taster of what your home could eventually look like.