Tuesday 26 October 2010

It's amazing what you find in Birmingham!


A couple of weeks ago I had made a resolution to myself to blog more, read more, etc etc, this week I am making a resolution to not make any more resolutions!
I am sure when I was a kid that time went a lot slower - holidays lasted for ever, weekends stretched out to infinity on a Friday and Monday was an eternity away, Christmas really was some dream in the far far distance - These days it feels like not only the weeks are shorter, but the months and years too - weeks are flashing before my eyes, and it sometimes feels like we have skipped a month or two all together - and Christmas, well, Slade got there wish!

Last week My Brother and I travelled to Birmingham to help set up the sound for the first 'professional' concert my Auntie Nilam had staged. After My Uncle Died she took up Classical Indian Singing, and for the past few years has been living with her Guru-ji in South India training intensively. She now wants to do more professional performances, as most Classical Indian Music is only played and performed at private house gatherings these days.

We were in for a surprise when we found the Temple complex - I had no idea anything like this existed in the UK - this photo is of a TINY part of it!



 These two ladies were in the entrance to the community centre - I have no idea who she is, but I love the colours!



And this is my Auntie tuning up for the performance.
If you ever get the chance to go to a classic Indian concert - GO TO IT! The Audience were just so enraptured they call out and throw their hands up with passion at a particular note or phrase - and you feel yourself becoming more and more involved - wonderful!

The rest of my week has been taken up with knitting and nattering, sewing and Autumn cleaning!

I have actually completed TWO projects this week for my daughters friend who is expecting her first baby in March next year...



This gorgeous baby grow from a pattern a Friend copied for me took just over a week to complete with a few lessons in sewing up techniques from my Friend Debbie
The wool is a Regia 6 Fadig sock wool bought in Wales about 3 years ago that has been itching to be knitted ever since

And this tiny newborn Eyelet Cardi from a free Ravelry pattern by Linda at Clickertyclick
It is a seamless cardi done on a circular then 4 DPNS 


I always think most baby wools are a bit insipid - so went for something darker that will hopefully suit a boy or girl!
This is knitted in King COles Merino Blend DK with Anti-Tickle (???)

It took me about 6 hours to knit up, it grows incredibly quickly and like magic the cardi appears very quickly - a really quick and very satisfying project!



5 comments:

Christy said...

Such adorable knits! What a lucky baby. :) Your Aunt sounds quite talented. Best of luck to her.

Simone said...

How wonderful that your auntie took up classical indian singing after your uncle died. It seems that it brings her a great deal of pleasure. Lovely photo of her. You have been soooo busy making things. I love the vibrant baby knits. Much nicer than washed out pastels. x

Pooch Purple Reign said...

i dont understand your "knit language" but im too much a beginner anyway for those projects :)
gorgeous wool.
would love to hear your auntie sing too
~laura

Crafts @ Home said...

I love the knitted baby grow, I would treasure that for ever if it was given to me :)

Anonymous said...

Well, I love both those baby outfits. I have never understood the reason we put babies in insipid clothing, pastels, lemon and pale green if you're not sure what the sex will be, blue for a boy and pink for a girl when you do know beforehand. Back in the 70s I knitted my baby son a bright yellow jumper with patchwork knitted patches on elbows, and patchwork knitted trousers. The pattern came from an American book. When my granddaughter was on her way, out of deference to her mother's tastes (at the time) I did pastels, but also one or two more colourful items. They were all stuffed in a cupboard, never have been used, especially not since d-in-law thinks handmade items are not good enough, only labels will do.