Ahhh, it’s Friday. I’ve been at work seeing patients, and then later I was at home, reading bedtime stories to the twinnage, and now, still home, I’m on the sofa with yarn, wine, and very little intention of moving. It’s been gloriously warm and sunny here these past few days…
…which feels slightly surreal, because exactly one month ago today, I took this photo whilst I was out on a run:-
Meanwhile, the Stoic Spouse has been perfecting his patisserie skills, and each weekend lately, the twinnage and I have come downstairs to scenes such as this. (This is a three-day recipe, of which he’s very proud. They were delicious.)
Anyway, my fine, fibrous friends, I have news! Two bits of news! The first is of a yarny nature and I’ve been excited to tell you but until yesterday it was a bit of an if-I-tell-you-then-I’ll-have-to-kill-you scenario, so I kept my trap shut in order to avoid needless bloodshed. But no longer! See this?
Top right in this picture is a sock yarn that I designed, and thanks to your votes, it will soon be a brand new addition to Stylecraft’s ‘Head Over Heels’ range, available to buy in a yarn shop near you! Wa-hey! In case you missed the goings-on, here’s the executive summary: the Stylecraft Blogstars visited the David Hockney exhibition at Saltaire, and we were then asked to each design a new sock yarn, inspired by one of the paintings that we had seen. I chose Hockney’s painting of the mill itself, and got to work:-
Stylecraft put all of our creations to the public vote, and many thousands of votes later, six of us will see our designs become real yarn! Squee! If you were one of the kind folks who voted for my design, thank you. These days, I’ve got a sock on the needles in one of the ‘Head Over Heels’ colourways pretty much all the time, so I’m very excited at the prospect of knitting and then wearing my own yarn. As you can see from the photo above, the other winning combinations are gorgeous, and knowing the people involved, the colourways reflect each of their personalities and styles pretty well.
And the other news? Well… it’s running-related. I’ve signed up for a marathon, specifically the Gloucester marathon on the 5th of August. I can’t quite believe that I’m doing this, but having run the Oxford half-marathon twice (here and here), it’s the obvious next step…
At the moment I’m confident that I’ll do this only once… but I realize that marathons are merely the gateway drug for ultra-marathons, and from there it’s a small progression to “Yeah, just parachute me into the middle of the Namib Desert and I’ll run home from there” or some-such craziness.
And yes, I do appreciate that a marathon is more than twice a half-marathon. Yes I know that I’ll likely lose a toenail or two during the race, so I’ve already said goodbye to each of my toenails individually. I can live with that. It’s not as though my career as an international footwear supermodel ever really got off the ground, anyway.
And yeah, I also realize that lots of folk have run marathons (1% of the population, apparently), some whilst dressed as giant pineapples, so I’m hardly breaking new ground. It does feel like a biggish deal to me, though, as someone who was once, long ago, the dunce of the PE class. I am not a natural athlete.
So I signed up. I wasn’t feeling very confident that day, so I paid the extra £5 that lets you get your entry fee back if your leg falls off during training. And when you fill in the entry form, you’re asked to specify your predicted finish time. Would you believe that “Some time next Tuesday” isn’t even an option?!
Oh well. You can all laugh heartily at me when I’m stretchered off after the first hundred yards.
I’m pretty sure you will make it farther than 100 yards. I will laugh, however, if you don’t. ????
You always bring a big warm smile to my face when I read your blogs. I so look forward to them. Good luck with the training ????
Well, at least you (and we) can take comfort in knowing that even if your toes, and feet, fall off, you’ll still be able to knit!!
Congratulations on your beautiful new yarn!
Congrats on the yarn design, the whole process must have been very exciting, and to top it off you can knit in your own yarn. Fabulous!
Your colors are lovely. I envy your visit to the Hockney exhibit. I have a huge print of one of his works and love looking at it. (this piece https://shop.getty.edu/products/david-hockney-pearblossom-hwy-11-18th-april-1986-2#). The idea of seeing it in yarn is pretty exciting. Want to do another design? (joking) (almost)
Maybe knit and run? Or maybe just run.
You’re going to do great, Phil. Congratulations for signing up. 1% is small number. You’re in an elite group of runners, and I say good for you. What fun to have your sock yarn design picked up by Stylecraft. You seem to succeed at all you set out to do. I’m impressed.
I miss reading to my boys (they’re 17 and 20 now, so unless it’s something on a menu or directions, reading to them is no bueno.) Enjoy it while you can.
Congratulations on your yarny news, I like that it doesn’t come out in straight lines, much more fun. Will you be knitting whilst participating in this marathon madness? I am extremely concerned about the amount of time this running malarky is going to take , and the consequent loss of yarny joys coming out of Oxfordshire. I may need a lie down just thinking of you, running , and the loss of knitting output, not to menton crochet.
Your blog is so warm and inviting. Congrats on your yarn design making it into reality..how exciting. Good luck with the marathon. I admire you.
If you are wearing socks knitted from any of these fabulous yarn the marathon will be plain sailing, or should that be plain knitting.
How exciting to be running a marathon, good luck! And well done on the yarn colour designing too. What a fab week for you!
I’m looking at the painting which was your inspiration for the new yarn – gorgeous btw! – and can’t you just see a shawl on the very left hand side? With the dark claret colour as the outside edge? Hmmmm! Good luck with the marathon, though you don’t get to be dunce of the PE class’ that was My job!
Yes to the shawl!
Congrats on the Marathon!! You’ll be fine!
Love your blog!!
Congratulations on the sock yarn !! Love the contrasting pics – spring/winter – bizarre weather we have been having! And well done to hubby, food looks yummy! And well done signing up for a Marathon. What a time you’be been having. Wow!
have a great run
Thank you!
You will do fantastic in your marathon!
I’m not convinced that’s true, but thank you anyway!
You can do it. You going to be death around 16/17 miles but if you just go through that point you’re there. I loved it. The rhythm, the breathing, Being one with those legs and NO thinking at all. And it’s no shame to stop half way because you think you can’t breath any more. Just the participation is a goal in itself. Love the sock yarn colours of all. You can pick the artists just by looking at the colours.
Thank you. Sounds very much like the voice of experience. I ran 14 miles today, so I’ve got a fair few miles to go…
It’s a slippery slope (just saying)!
I don’t doubt it.
Yippee!! If I can run a marathon, I’m certain you can ????
Thanks, but you’re more confident than I am!
Your sock yarn is totally gorgeous